Mengfei Comes Across Episode 2 Recap
> Mengfei Comes Across Recap
After her ten-day confinement finally ended, Bu Meng's mood greatly improved. She joined Consort Yan for a meal when Qu Wanwan, disgruntled from failing to catch a glimpse of His Majesty, arrived at Bu Meng's chambers. Qu Wanwan ate with an astonishing appetite, much to the bewilderment of both Bu Meng and Consort Yan. Qu Wanwan explained that since entering the palace, she had been coldly received and rarely saw the Emperor, which led her to simply eat and sleep.
She confirmed that Bu Meng and Consort Yan had no intention of vying for the Emperor's favor, and then declared them her "life or death buddies." Consort Yan explained that she entered the palace to escape her constantly challenging junior sister. The three consorts took a walk together and noticed Noble Lady Xiao performing arduous tasks alone. Her servants, seeing her disinterest in vying for the Emperor's favor, openly bullied her.
They even intentionally soaked her pillow and tossed it onto the roof to dry. Unable to stand by, Bu Meng and Qu Wanwan intervened to help. To their surprise, Noble Lady Xiao displayed formidable martial arts, effortlessly tossing one of the offending maids onto the roof. Noble Lady Xiao then spoke rudely to them, asking why they were staring, and threatened to pluck out their eyeballs, causing Bu Meng, Qu Wanwan, and Consort Yan to quickly retreat.
Back in her chambers, Bu Meng's pet dog, Di Bai, refused to eat, deeply concerning her maid, Yan'er. At that moment, a palace maid arrived with an urgent summons from Noble Consort Ru, inviting Bu Meng to Yuquan Palace. Yan'er, desperate, rushed to seek Consort Yan's help. Meanwhile, Eunuch Wu informed Wen Lou that Bu Meng's ten-day confinement had concluded, playfully remarking that Bu Meng was even better at chess than he was. Wen Lou scoffed at Eunuch Wu's meddling.
Consort Yan delivered the news of Noble Consort Ru's summons to Bu Meng, nearly causing her to collapse. Consort Yan explained that Noble Consort Ru was notoriously two-faced, acting charmingly in front of the Emperor but tyrannical with everyone else, and warned Bu Meng that refusing the summons would only hasten her demise. With no choice, Bu Meng reluctantly made her way to Yuquan Palace.
Upon her arrival, before she could utter a single word, Noble Consort Ru ordered her attendants to beat her. Bu Meng and Yan'er frantically fled. Wen Lou, already informed of the summons, rushed to Yuquan Palace and intercepted Bu Meng's pursuers. Wen Lou demanded an explanation from Noble Consort Ru, who feigned innocence, claiming she was merely "playing a game" with Bu Meng. Playing along, Bu Meng enthusiastically praised Noble Consort Ru's humor.
Wen Lou then subtly warned Noble Consort Ru that Bu Meng suffered from a weak heart, implying she should not be subjected to such frights again, before departing. Instead of gratitude, Bu Meng complained to Wen Lou that his intervention would only bring her more trouble from Noble Consort Ru. Wen Lou mocked her for being a coward, prompting Bu Meng to fantasize about him slowly falling in love with her due to his "curiosity" about her unique disposition.
Wen Lou then playfully offered her a cup of "special" tea, intimidating her. Bu Meng, however, noticed a venomous scorpion crawling on Wen Lou's shoulder. Seizing the opportunity, she swiftly killed it, believing she had saved him. To her dismay, the scorpion turned out to be Wen Lou's cherished pet, leaving him distraught and angry. Upon returning to her palace, Bu Meng found Qu Wanwan and Consort Yan, who had heard rumors of Wen Lou's "heroic rescue."
Soon after, Imperial Physician Liu Jinyan arrived, sent by Wen Lou to check Bu Meng's pulse. Annoyed, Bu Meng told Liu Jinyan to inform the Emperor that she never wished to see him again. Consort Yan urged Bu Meng to seize the opportunity and fight for the Emperor's favor, arguing that her current passive approach was only leading to more trouble.
Bu Meng retorted that she had no interest in competing for favor and told Consort Yan to mind her own business. Frustrated by their disagreement, Qu Wanwan left in anger. Consort Yan, equally vexed, harshly told Liu Jinyan to leave. Wen Lou, however, found Bu Meng's defiance amusing and instructed Liu Jinyan to visit her three times a day, intending to annoy her. Yan'er made pastries for Bu Meng.
Still troubled by the argument, Bu Meng asked Yan'er to take half of them to Qu Wanwan. Shortly after Yan'er departed, Liu Jinyan returned. Annoyed by his presence, Bu Meng offered him a pastry. Liu Jinyan, ever cautious, tested the pastry with a silver needle and discovered it was poisoned. Bu Meng was horrified, realizing Yan'er was already on her way to Qu Wanwan with the other half. Yan'er, rushing, tripped and scattered the poisoned pastries.
As she was about to stop Di Bai from eating them, Noble Lady Xiao passed by and called out to her, telling her to check on her mistress. Distracted, Yan'er failed to stop Di Bai, who then ate the poisoned pastries and died. Later, Consort Yan, while strolling, heard Yan'er's cries and sent her maid, Chunping, to investigate. As Consort Yan waited on a bridge, a eunuch subtly crept up behind her.
Just as he was about to push her, someone called out Consort Yan's name, causing her to turn around, and the eunuch, losing his footing, tumbled into the water instead. Bu Meng and Consort Yan mourned Di Bai's death. Soon after, news arrived that Qu Wanwan's Youthful Courtyard was on fire. They rushed to the scene, where they found Qu Wanwan, safe but shaken.
Noble Lady Xiao was also present and injured, explaining that she had merely been passing by and intervened after accidentally encountering the situation. Bu Meng realized that all these misfortunes were aimed at her, and that anyone close to her suffered bad luck. She urged her friends to distance themselves, but Qu Wanwan and Consort Yan steadfastly refused, insisting they would face the troubles together.
That night, the three women discussed the recent chain of unfortunate events, concluding that Noble Consort Ru was behind them. However, they lacked concrete evidence, and they knew the Emperor would not believe them without proof. Meanwhile, Wen Lou was furious about the poisoned pastry and the fire, ordering a thorough investigation into both incidents. Imperial Physician Liu Jinyan jokingly gave Wen Lou an extra bottle of mind-clearing pills, predicting that the Emperor would have many more worries this month.
Noble Lady Xiao's bedding was all wet, causing Bu Meng to feel remorseful. Noble Lady Xiao, however, assured her that she already had many enemies. She then recounted her past, revealing that she and the Emperor had been childhood sweethearts who fought alongside each other in battles. She had disguised herself as a man to accompany her father to war. After her father's death, with no one left to depend on, the Emperor brought her into the palace.
Their special friendship was greatly envied by other concubines, but Noble Lady Xiao's heart belonged to Shen Shang, a man who discovered her true identity during a martial arts match. He had vowed to marry her after the war, but he had been missing for three years without a trace. Despite her outwardly tough demeanor, she secretly loved him and continued to wait for his return. Bu Meng and the others offered words of comfort and encouragement, and with this shared vulnerability, Noble Lady Xiao finally joined their newfound sisterhood of four.
