Jun Jiu Ling Episode 6 Recap
> Jun Jiu Ling Recap
Madame Su met secretly with her cousin, Shopkeeper Song, who expressed his frustration that Chengyu's condition had not improved despite the upcoming wedding. He asserted that the only remaining obstacle was the possibility of Jun Zhenzhen conceiving a Fang family heir through the marriage. Madame Su realized he intended to kill Jun Zhenzhen, though he dismissed it as a minor, unfortunate accident.
Despite Madame Su's reservations, citing the Fang family's current decline and Jun Zhenzhen's seeming harmlessness, Shopkeeper Song accused her of fear. He emphasized that their decade-long plan hinged on this moment and threatened Jinxiu's safety if Madame Su failed to cooperate. Meanwhile, Ms. Cao received a report from her spy about Madame Su's suspicious meeting with a cloaked, cautious man who used a carriage to evade detection. Ms. Cao was shocked, calling Madame Su a "poisonous snake" in the family.
The spy revealed Madame Su's connection to Shopkeeper Song, explaining that she was his distant cousin whom he brought to Zezhou after her family faced trouble. Shopkeeper Song had previously saved the Fang master's life, which led to Madame Su being taken in as a concubine. Ms. Cao's spy surmised that only someone like Shopkeeper Song, who had been with the Fang family for decades, could operate without immediate suspicion.
They concluded that Madame Su and Shopkeeper Song were conspiring, noting Madame Su's repeated attempts to check Chengyu's condition by bringing him soup, indicating their growing impatience and potential for error. At an inn, Zhu Zan was informed by Zhang Baotang that Lu Yunqi was set to marry Princess Jiuli, with the wedding scheduled for Jiuling's birthday.
This news enraged Zhu Zan, who immediately instructed Zhang Baotang to dispatch more personnel around Prince Huai's residence, prioritizing the safety of Prince Huai and his sister without needing his direct approval or restraint on their methods. Meanwhile, Lu Yunqi visited a tomb marked "Tomb of Beloved Wife Princess Jiuling," bringing eight-treasure cakes he had just learned to make.
He spoke to the deceased Jiuling, reminiscing about the first time he saw her when she, as a child, saved him from bullies. He expressed regret for not having saved her and revealed his impending marriage to Princess Jiuli was a desperate measure to protect her and her brother, as the Emperor had grown suspicious of them. He hoped Jiuling would forgive him.
Later, as Jun Zhenzhen and Liu'er traveled by carriage out of the city, their horse suddenly became spooked and bolted. Despite Jun Zhenzhen's efforts to control the runaway horse, her strength was insufficient. Just as danger loomed, Zhu Zan arrived, intercepting the carriage and shielding Jun Zhenzhen in his embrace, thus averting a disaster. After the rescue, Zhu Zan informed Jun Zhenzhen that a silver needle had been found on the horse's hip, indicating the incident was deliberate.
He suspected the same individuals who had poisoned the Fang family's young master were behind this, aiming to prevent the auspicious wedding. Liu'er observed that Jun Zhenzhen and Zhu Zan, despite their familiarity, pretended to be strangers. She wondered if Jun Zhenzhen's aloofness was to protect Zhu Zan's reputation, suspecting romantic feelings. However, Jun Zhenzhen clarified the difference between liking and admiration.
She explained that while she initially held no affection for Ning Yunzhao or his family due to their broken engagement, a chance encounter where they played blind chess without knowing each other's identities led her to admire his character and chess skills. She reiterated that this admiration did not equate to romantic affection, a distinction Liu'er slowly began to grasp.
Later, Jun Zhenzhen presented Zhu Zan with wound medicine as a gesture of gratitude for his earlier rescue, insisting on treating his injuries herself given her medical expertise. Zhu Zan then urged her to prioritize the investigation into Deshengchang of the Fang family, revealing his limited time in Zezhou. He explained the urgency stemmed from Lu Yunqi's impending marriage to Princess Jiuli, a union approved by the Emperor and slated for Jiuling's birthday.
Zhu Zan needed to return to the capital before then, expressing his frustration aloud and calling Lu Yunqi "mad." Before heading to Jinyun Restaurant, Jun Zhenzhen discussed accelerating her marriage to Chengyu with his grandmother and aunt. She proposed that once married, she could immediately begin medicinal baths and golden needle treatments to repair Chengyu's meridians, predicting his ability to stand would soon follow.
Accompanied by Liu'er, Jun Zhenzhen then arrived at the Jinyun Restaurant, which was unusually open to all for a special March 3rd event. Inside, Ning Yunyan, who had orchestrated Jun Zhenzhen's visit, waited with her friend in a private room. Ning Yunyan was confident that Jun Zhenzhen would fall for her trap, believing her attire was meant to seduce Ning Yunzhao.
She had arranged for her subordinate to serve Jun Zhenzhen tea laced with a potent drug, intending to publicly disgrace her. However, Jun Zhenzhen immediately detected the drug in the tea. Feigning composure, she subtly instructed Liu'er to go downstairs and sign her up for a pitch-pot game. The subordinate, unaware of Jun Zhenzhen's discovery, excitedly confirmed to Ning Yunyan that their plan to discredit Jun Zhenzhen was in motion.
Soon after, Ning Yunzhao arrived at the Jinyun Restaurant with his friends, expressing an interest in finding the girl who had given him a lantern previously. Simultaneously, Zhu Zan, initially reluctant to join, was persuaded by Zhang Baotang to attend for the potential winnings. The host of the Jinyun Restaurant then announced a pitch-pot game, detailing the simple rules and the grand prize for anyone who could break the house record: lifetime VIP status and free expenses.
Ning Yunzhao's friends urged him to showcase his well-known skills, but he demurred. Downstairs, Liu'er confirmed she had signed up Ning Yunyan's name for the competition. Jun Zhenzhen, confident in her plan, declared their intention to "make a fortune" from the Ning family, specifying a target of five thousand taels, and stated that her childhood pastime of pitch-pot would prove useful. The host then formally announced Ning Yunyan and Jun Zhenzhen as the participants in the pitch-pot challenge.
Upon hearing her name, Ning Yunyan became incensed that she was matched against Jun Zhenzhen, declaring Jun Zhenzhen unworthy. Despite her initial fury and considering a no-show, Ning Yunyan decided to uphold her family's reputation and confidently stated her own proficiency in pitch-pot. Spotting her brother, Ning Yunzhao, she insisted he play on her behalf. Reluctantly, and after much urging from his sister and friends, Ning Yunzhao agreed to take her place.
The host then announced that Ning Yunzhao would replace Ning Yunyan. Jun Zhenzhen and Ning Yunzhao exchanged formal greetings, both acknowledging the serendipitous nature of their reunion. Ning Yunzhao expressed his joy in their renewed acquaintance, finding it more delightful than a mere single meeting. He complimented Jun Zhenzhen's chess prowess and inquired if her pitch-pot skills were equally exceptional. Jun Zhenzhen modestly deflected the praise, stating it would be her honor to witness his skill.
Ning Yunzhao apologized for any trouble caused by his sister, but Jun Zhenzhen dismissed the matter, asserting that outside rumors had no bearing on them. The host then explained the betting rules: all wagers would go to the victor, while the loser would return double the wager to the bettors. Ning Yunyan, brimming with confidence due to her brother's participation, encouraged her friend to increase their bets, viewing it as an easy win. The pitch-pot game commenced with three rounds.
The first two rounds allowed each player six throws at twelve pots, while the final round allowed twelve throws. The winner would be determined by the most successful throws, with two out of three rounds deciding the overall victor. Ning Yunzhao threw first in the initial round, sinking all six arrows. When it was Jun Zhenzhen's turn, she managed to land five out of six.
Ning Yunzhao, having won the first round, subtly offered her advice on her wrist movement for the next attempt. In the second round, Ning Yunzhao deliberately eased his throws, landing five out of six, while Jun Zhenzhen successfully sank all six of her arrows, winning the round. This resulted in a tie, and both acknowledged having given each other a chance, agreeing to play seriously in the decisive final round.
As betting opened for the final round, wagers poured in for Ning Yunzhao. Zhu Zan, however, instructed Zhang Baotang to bet on Jun Zhenzhen, intentionally escalating the stakes with Ning Yunyan. Ning Yunyan raised her bet to two thousand taels on her brother, prompting Zhu Zan to counter with another thousand, then a further five hundred, eventually bringing his total wager on Jun Zhenzhen to five thousand taels.
Ning Yunyan remarked on the recurring sum of five thousand taels, alluding to a past incident with the Ning family. Observing the escalating challenge, Jun Zhenzhen calmly placed her own five thousand taels bet on herself. Ning Yunyan scoffed, viewing it as Jun Zhenzhen wasting money to embarrass herself. Ning Yunzhao then performed flawlessly, sinking all twelve of his arrows into the pots.
As Jun Zhenzhen stepped up for her turn, Ning Yunyan loudly accused her, recalling how Jun Zhenzhen had supposedly defrauded the Ning family of five thousand taels with a false marriage contract, and challenged her to see how she would try to "cheat" money now in public.
