Nancheng Banquet Episode 17 Recap
> Nancheng Banquet Recap
Princess Jiayang took Yan Changyun shopping, buying numerous gifts and an 800 tael belt for him. Fu Xiao accompanied them, feeling competitive with the princess. To prove herself, Fu Xiao started exercising and dieting, aiming to lose 2. 5 kilograms, betting with her friends who tempted her with meat to win the wager. Meanwhile, Guard Qiang was using Yudai Incense, claiming it energized him. Fu Xiao smelled a barbecue scent and found Princess Jiayang enjoying a feast.
She ate some before asking the princess why she liked Yan Changyun. Princess Jiayang said it was because of the spark in his eyes and her own natural charm. Fu Xiao mentioned feeling tired, and Princess Jiayang offered her Yudai Incense and face creams from Ning State to improve her mood and complexion. Back at home, Yan Changyun took the Yudai Incense from Fu Xiao, saying she shouldn't use it, despite her claims of improved skin, hair, energy, and charm.
Xiao Quan presented a trade agreement with Ning State to the Emperor, who asked Yan Changyun to review it. Yan Changyun discovered that Yudai Incense was a condition for every proposed commodity. He also reported that excessive use of the incense led to hyperexcitability and requested more time to investigate, which the Emperor granted. At the barracks, Qiang's friend Yidao noticed he looked thin and tired since Yan Changyun took his Yudai Incense. Fu Xiao, despite dieting, gained 1.
5 kilograms and had to pay her bet of 3 taels each to her friends. Yan Changyun arrived, declared gambling forbidden, fined everyone 10 taels and then gave that fine money to Fu Xiao to buy the meat she loved, making her very happy and earning her a total of 21 taels. Princess Jiayang then invited Yan Changyun to return to Ning State with her, promising him a better future, but he refused, stating he was a Nancheng subject.
Fu Xiao, angered, told Yan Changyun to buy his own food. Fu Xiao went to Chu Yue, who was playing the guqin. She expressed concern about Princess Jiayang's pursuit of Yan Changyun, but Chu Yue remained unconcerned, seeing them as minor tricks. When Fu Xiao described Princess Jiayang's flirtatious behavior, Chu Yue acknowledged them as skills but believed Yan Changyun would naturally be attracted to a more excellent woman.
Fu Xiao disagreed, insisting Yan Changyun was not superficial and wouldn't leave for Ning State. She pointed out that Yan Changyun even bought Wangyou's freedom from Yunshao House to care for Chu Yue. Feeling like she needed to act, Fu Xiao dressed in her uniform and returned to the barracks. Fu Xiao devised a plan to have guards seduce Princess Jiayang, but only Changsheng volunteered. She arranged for three guards to "harass" the princess so Changsheng could "rescue" her.
However, Princess Jiayang's guards mistook Changsheng for the instigator and beat him severely. Later, Fu Xiao visited Princess Jiayang, and after pretending to sleep, she criticized Yan Changyun's character. Princess Jiayang, however, interpreted Fu Xiao's descriptions as positive traits, only solidifying her interest in him. Princess Jiayang advised Fu Xiao to not fixate on one man. Yan Changyun arrived and confronted Fu Xiao about badmouthing him.
Fu Xiao twisted his words, claiming he had "seduced" her, "let her fall in love" with him, "hindered" her, and "pushed her away." Yan Changyun hugged her, apologizing, and explained he was only investigating Princess Jiayang's connection to a case and asked for her trust, which she affirmed. Fu Xiao, disguised as a man, took Princess Jiayang's four men to Yunshao House to extract information.
Xiao Quan's manager appeared and was recognized by one of the men, but the manager denied ever having been to Ning State. Fu Xiao reported this to Yan Changyun, believing it proved Xiao Quan was colluding with Ning State, and warned that Princess Jiayang was dangerous. Yan Changyun dismissed her findings and warned her to stay away from the princess, causing Fu Xiao to leave angrily. Xiao Quan's manager reported the Yunshao House encounter.
Xiao Quan warned him to stay put and gave him a secret letter for Princess Jiayang, instructing her to agree to "any" of the Emperor's demands to finalize the trade agreement so their plan could proceed. The next day, the Emperor told Princess Jiayang he would impose a 50% tariff on Ning State's goods to protect Nancheng merchants, which she accepted. She then requested that Yan Changyun become her husband.
