My Queen Episode 2 Recap
> My Queen Recap
Jiang Mengmeng made a grand entrance at the hall, adorned in elaborate girl-group style makeup with sparkling eyelids and shading to achieve a V-shaped face, and a revealing long dress to "try to be cool." Sister Queen Jiang Wan was intrigued by her makeup and asked about it, though she found Mengmeng's explanation of face contouring nonsensical and inquired if she was cold in her attire. Jiang Sisi, observing Mengmeng's striking appearance, scoffed that her makeup was "vulgar."
The marriage competition officially began with the princes entering. Jiang Mengmeng was captivated by the elegant Wu Ze prince, finding him handsome. However, she was startled to see Murong Chen among the contestants, recognizing him from the "game" and internally questioning if he was "Mr. System," though she denied knowing him when asked. The competition was announced to consist of four rounds: beauty, wisdom, talent, and courage. In the first round, "beauty," maids presented flowers to their three favorite princes.
Murong Chen, the Wu Ze prince, and the second son of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue received the most support. Princes who received no flowers were eliminated. The second round, "wisdom," challenged the contestants to open an intricate mechanism box. Song Che, the son of the Ruo Shui Kingdom's general, a "fighter's descendant" known for his straightforward nature, opened the box first by forcefully using his sword.
Maidservant Hai confirmed his victory, as the rules only required opening the box, not a specific method. Xiao Ai informed Jiang Mengmeng that Song Che was her childhood sweetheart who had rushed back from settling a rebellion in Nan Cang, having exhausted four horses to reach the competition. Mengmeng was thrilled, envisioning him as her "white horse prince" – powerful, devoted, ambitious, protective, decent, and possessing a "kind of silly" charm.
Jiang Sisi, however, was annoyed, thinking this would prevent Mengmeng from competing for Murong Chen. The third round, "talent," required the princes to paint portraits of Jiang Mengmeng and Jiang Sisi. Jiang Sisi tried to provoke Mengmeng, accusing her of seeking attention with her attire. Mengmeng retorted with a sharp comeback, suggesting Sisi show her own legs if she wanted attention, to which Sisi, disgusted, labeled Mengmeng's behavior as "improper."
During the presentation of paintings, someone slipped, causing a bowl of ink to fly towards Murong Chen. He instinctively used his painting to shield himself, ruining his work, which led to his elimination with zero points. He was secretly relieved his clothes remained clean, a testament to his germophobia. Song Che's painting was notably ugly, disappointing Mengmeng. The Wu Ze prince ultimately won this round.
With the first three rounds concluded, eight princes advanced to the final round, "courage," a "hero shall save the beauty" challenge. The princesses were tied to trees in opposite directions, and princes had to navigate forest traps to rescue them before nightfall. Jiang Sisi, expecting Murong Chen, was surprised when the Wu Ze prince arrived first. He confessed his long-standing admiration for her and proposed a new year travel arrangement for their future married life.
Annoyed by his unclear speech and presumption, Jiang Sisi knocked him unconscious from behind and returned to Jiang Wan, vaguely answering questions about the other princes. Meanwhile, Murong Chen, desiring not to win, deliberately delayed his progress, even taking a tea break, believing he should "lose with dignity." He reflected that although his path had been surprisingly lucky, his own directionless and lazy character ultimately led to his failure.
Jiang Mengmeng, refusing to wait, managed to untie herself but accidentally fell into a pit. She called out for Song Che, lamenting the game's flaws and her determination to secure her true love. Song Che, hearing a faint call, rushed towards Mengmeng's location, but found her gone, concluding he was too late. Murong Chen, passing by, heard Mengmeng's cries from the pit. He initially considered leaving her but relented after she threatened to tell Sister Queen of his abandonment.
He extended a vine to her, but it broke, causing him to fall in as well. They bickered about who was heavier and his lack of apology. Murong Chen eventually used his lightness skill to carry Mengmeng out. She chastised him for not using it earlier, to which he replied she hadn't asked. Discovering she had sprained her leg in the pit, Murong Chen carried her out, the two of them still exchanging sharp words.
Jiang Wan then publicly declared Murong Chen the winner, congratulating him on becoming the "emperor's 9th son-in-law." Back in the palace, Xiao Ai reminded Mengmeng of her past ambition to leave the palace and "wander the martial world," implying Mengmeng had a forgotten history. Mengmeng, experiencing amnesia from a fall while sneaking out of the palace, found herself torn between two potential love interests: Song Che, her childhood sweetheart, and Murong Chen, her presumptive "post-marriage love."
She asked Xiao Ai to list their advantages and disadvantages for comparison. Xiao Ai described Song Che as a devoted warrior often away at war, rarely home, with no hobbies besides fighting and martial arts, old-fashioned, humorless, not understanding romance, and a "straight guy." For Murong Chen, Xiao Ai detailed numerous flaws: neglecting studies and martial arts since age thirteen, being uneducated, militarily inept, indifferent to national affairs, and skilled only in hedonistic pursuits.
She painted him as luxurious, dissipated, narcissistic, germophobic, obsessed with appearance, lacking self-care, having no sense of direction, and possessing a sharp, hurtful tongue that could make anyone cry. His only virtues, according to Xiao Ai, were his handsome appearance and good family background, leaving Mengmeng deeply disappointed. Unbeknownst to Mengmeng, Murong Chen was feigning his dilettantish facade.
His elder brother, Murong Yi, the Crown Prince of Cang Yun Kingdom, was paralyzed after being poisoned by the Jing Yue Sect nine years prior. Murong Yi had written to Murong Chen, expressing happiness at his brother's new position as the 9th son-in-law and advising him to stay in Ruo Shui Kingdom if he found a life he enjoyed.
However, Murong Chen's true goal was to find the "blood night-blooming cereus" and its medical supplement to cure his brother, vowing not to give up and to return to Cang Yun Kingdom as soon as possible. His subordinate, Chang Kong, reported finding the blood night-blooming cereus seller, now named Zhao Qian, at Baiji Tavern on Jin Xiu Street.
Murong Chen instructed Chang Kong to observe carefully without alerting Zhao Qian and reiterated his intention to break off his engagement, regardless of whether he found the cure in Ruo Shui Kingdom. Meanwhile, Song Che, heartbroken by his failure in the competition, furiously practiced sword fighting in his courtyard. He had promised Mengmeng he would win and take her out of the palace to live a free life, and his inability to keep that promise weighed heavily on him.
Jiang Sisi, observing Song Che's despair with her maid Dong Kui, plotted to tell him about Mengmeng's amnesia, believing his deep affection would compel him to sabotage Mengmeng's engagement with Murong Chen. Jiang Mengmeng later visited Song Che. She saw him from the doorway, channeling his frustration into sword practice. Jiang Sisi, noticing Mengmeng's presence, quickly departed with Dong Kui.
Song Che, nearly hitting Mengmeng with his sword, apologized for failing to win the competition and fulfill his promise to take her away. Mengmeng, still suffering from amnesia, did not recall their agreement. However, she affirmed that she had untied herself during the competition to seek him out.
Mengmeng declared her resolve to break off her engagement with Murong Chen and expressed her desire for a carefree life with Song Che, then immediately asked Xiao Ai for ways to annul the marriage.
