Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Episode 4 Recap
> Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Recap
Fu Jinzhan expressed her distress to Fu Yuzhan, concerned that Liu Chengfu's decision to advance the wedding date would jeopardize their carefully laid plans, especially with the main army's unknown location. Convinced Liu Chengfu was merely infatuated with her sister, Jinzhan declared her intent to assassinate him immediately, but Yuzhan calmly assured her that this turn of events was anticipated and that she already had a solution.
Earlier, Jinzhan had lightheartedly promised Jiang Shao that after their mission in Jincheng was complete, she would bring the Tianxiong Army to help him dig for his mother's lost wooden badge, which he had lost during the kidnapping. Jiang Shao shared that the badge was his last memory of his mother. Prince Jin, Xue Rong, happened to walk in, subtly indicating he overheard their conversation.
To delay the wedding, Fu Yuzhan took a cold bath, which led her to suffer from a fever, diarrhea, and dizziness, symptoms consistent with being unacclimated to the local environment. A doctor confirmed her poor health, stating that while she could technically marry, she would be unable to perform her marital duties. Upon hearing this, Liu Chengfu, after some contemplation, decided to postpone the wedding by three days.
Meanwhile, Xue Rong, now in possession of a guard token for Prince Cheng's Mansion to aid his movement, informed his attendant that once he located the main army, he would send a signal via an eagle's cry to alert the guards to open the city gates for their entry into Jincheng.
On the new wedding day, Liu Chengfu, ever suspicious, ordered his servants to thoroughly search Yuzhan before she entered the bridal chamber and to keep a close watch on her retinue. He also had drugged pastries prepared, instructing her to eat them to ensure her cooperation. Yuzhan, feigning compliance, consumed the pastries but secretly spat them out when the maid left, noting Liu Chengfu’s excessive caution.
Later, a disoriented Liu Chengfu, having indulged in too much wedding wine, stumbled into the bridal chamber. Yuzhan seized the opportunity and used a hairpin, coated with an anesthetic rather than a fatal poison, to stab him, rendering him unconscious. Outside, Jinzhan saw Yuzhan's signal and promptly launched a firework, signaling the Tianxiong Army. Xue Rong and his forces then stormed Liu Chengfu’s mansion. In the ensuing chaos, Huang Jian valiantly protected Xue Rong but was outnumbered and killed.
Yuzhan had Liu Chengfu taken away, leaving a message for Prince Jin to meet her in the bamboo forest five kilometers outside the city. There, Yuzhan revealed to Prince Jin that she had already sent word back to the capital, claiming he had successfully killed Liu Chengfu and captured Jincheng. She warned him that if Liu Chengfu were to reappear alive in the capital, Prince Jin would face charges of deceiving the Emperor.
To avoid this severe consequence, Yuzhan proposed an alliance: in exchange for her life, the Fu family would pledge their allegiance and military support to Prince Jin. After weighing the risks, Prince Jin agreed. Upon his return to Lingyang, the Emperor, pleased with Prince Jin's presumed success, showered him with praise and appointed him governor of the capital city. Concurrently, Yuzhan and Jinzhan returned to the Fu family estate.
To protect Yuzhan from imperial retribution, they spread a fabricated story: Yuzhan had been ill and confined to her bed, never leaving home. Instead, Jinzhan had substituted for her as the bride, was kidnapped en route, and had only just escaped and returned.
Prince Jin also reported to the Emperor that after the initial bride was unexpectedly kidnapped, he arranged for a substitute, and later learned that Fu Yuzhan had not boarded the wedding carriage due to illness, and the Fu family had used Jinzhan as the substitute. Meanwhile, Zhao An’s investigation confirmed Jiang Shao's identity as the Emperor's long-lost son and the "wanderer" who kidnapped Jinzhan. He also reported that Jiang Shao was now residing in Prince Jin’s Mansion.
Overjoyed by the news of his son, the Emperor was also informed by Zhao An that he had discovered a Lucky Words Coin—a unique coin personally designed and distributed by the Emperor—in Liu Chengfu’s possession, indicating a high-ranking court official's betrayal. The Emperor, who had only ever issued twelve such coins, decreed that all recipients must present theirs for inspection the following day.
Additionally, believing Prince Jin had intentionally misled him about Yuzhan's involvement, the Emperor secretly ordered Zhao An to assassinate Fu Yuzhan. Later, in Bianjing, as Fu Yuzhan and Fu Jinzhan strolled through the streets, Zhao An orchestrated a diversion to separate Jinzhan from Yuzhan. Just as Zhao An prepared to strike Yuzhan, Prince Jin intervened. Zhao An, bound by the Emperor's direct command, refused to yield, forcing Prince Jin to kill him in defense of Yuzhan.
The Emperor, learning of Zhao An's death, surprisingly expressed more relief than anger, musing that while Prince Jin's "softness" for a woman was not ideal, it was preferable to a traitorous ambition. Separately, the Princess Royal discovered her Lucky Words Coin was missing. She immediately suspected Cao Ying, an official she had coerced into collaborating with Liu Chengfu and betraying the Fu family and Xue Rong.
She surmised Cao Ying stole her coin to implicate her and secure his own position, fearing she would dispose of him once he was no longer useful. The next day, during the court’s inspection of the Lucky Words Coins, all officials presented theirs except for Prince Jin. He claimed his coin had been stolen before entering the palace and asserted that his coin bore a distinctive notch, requesting a re-examination.
However, the eunuch in charge declared all presented coins to be unblemished, thereby discrediting Prince Jin’s claim. Enraged, the Emperor accused Prince Jin of colluding with Liu Chengfu (Prince Cheng of Pengze) and ordered his immediate imprisonment in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon, appointing Zhang Yongyao, a highly regarded young official, to preside over the case. It was later confirmed that the Princess Royal had indeed taken Cao Ying's Lucky Words Coin, using it to ensure his continued loyalty.
Upon learning of Prince Jin’s imprisonment, Fu Yuzhan, convinced of his innocence, went to the Ministry of Justice. She confided in her father, arguing that assisting Prince Jin now, while he was in disgrace, would yield immense benefits for the Fu family in the future. She pointed out that the Emperor’s previous appointment of Prince Jin as governor of the capital city was a clear indication of his status as the chosen Crown Prince, making him a worthwhile ally.
Yuzhan further explained that the Fu family's powerful Tianxiong Army made them a target of imperial suspicion, and inaction would only exacerbate their precarious position. She resolved to prove Prince Jin's innocence by finding the true owner of the stolen coin. Realizing she needed to get the Ministry of Justice to re-examine the coins and that Zhang Yongyao, known for his keen intellect and successful legal career, was presiding over the case, Yuzhan sought a way to meet him.
Jinzhan then remembered that Zhang Yongyao was a childhood friend of Li Huaijin. Through Li Huaijin, a meeting between Yuzhan and Zhang Yongyao was arranged. Yuzhan then successfully persuaded Zhang Yongyao to petition the Emperor for a new, thorough examination of the Lucky Words Coins, confident that inconsistencies would be uncovered.
