New Life Begins Episode 1 Recap, Plot

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The world is divided into nine regions, each with its own customs and traditions. In the north, Mochuan boasts a strong military and nomadic peoples. In the northwest, Cangchuan is dry and barren, with scarce resources. The central region, Daichuan, is crisscrossed by mountain ranges and rich in minerals. In the south, Yanchuan is small and poor but abundant in flowers and fruits. The southeast region, Yingchuan, receives plentiful rainfall and remains green throughout the year.

In most of the nine regions, men are revered. However, in the southwest, Jichuan practices monogamy and equality between men and women. Everyone in Danchuan loves spicy food, and women are the heads of households. These women are bold and forthright, often marrying into their husbands’ homes. In the east, Jinchuan, located along the coast, thrives on trade. Generations engage in business and chase profits, with the wealthy held in highest esteem.

Xinchuan, the leader of the nine regions, places great importance on lineage, with a strict distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children and an emphasis on male superiority. After years of warfare among the nine regions, Xinchuan emerged victorious and established a century-long peace alliance. Each region was required to send an eligible girl to marry the Prince of Xinchuan as a symbol of the alliance, and none were allowed to defy this arrangement.

Today is the day when the eligible girls from each region are to be sent to Xinchuan. The streets of Xinchuan are bustling with excitement, and Li Wenbi’s family from Jichuan is among the crowd. His daughter Li Wei is naturally lively, and her greatest joy is eating. The Li family is reluctant to send Li Wei to Xinchuan, but since Li Wenbi holds a low official rank, they had no choice but to push her forward.

While the whole family was sighing in despair, the donkey cart suddenly stopped. With night falling, Li Wei had no choice but to bid her family farewell and lure the donkey toward the palace with a piece of flatbread. According to palace rules, nothing brought from outside is allowed to be taken in. Even though Li Wei had hidden her snacks well, a sharp-eyed nanny still spotted them.

Just as the nanny was about to make a fuss, Hao Jia, a Girl for selection from Yanchuan, walked over slowly and helped Li Wei out of the predicament. Seeing Hao Jia, Li Wei was delighted—at least she now had someone familiar in this strange palace. There are eleven Princes in Xinchuan. The eighth Prince died young, and the first four Princes have already married and moved outside the palace to open their own residences after joining court affairs.

The remaining six Princes live within the palace. The fifth Prince, Yin Qi, is simple and honest. The seventh Prince, Yin An, is quiet but kind. The other three Princes are still too young to marry. None of these six Princes have yet been granted the right to establish their own households or attend court. Hao Jia wishes to marry the Legitimate Eldest Prince, Yin Song, so that she and her mother could have someone to depend on.

In order to get close to Yin Song, she and Li Wei secretly visit the Princes’ private garden. The garden is full of birdsong and blooming flowers, but under the surface, tensions are brewing. Yin Zheng is sitting in the pavilion fiddling with a chessboard. When he sees Yin Song and the others approaching, he quietly messes up the game board.

Yin Qi realizes that the game belongs to Yin Song and, worried that Yin Song might get angry at his younger brother, quickly drags him away. But after a few steps, he spots Hao Jia walking toward them. Yin Qi is instantly captivated and stays behind to chat with her. Pretending to pass by the pavilion, Hao Jia comments on the chessboard. The move works—Yin Song even personally escorts her out.

Meanwhile, Li Wei has waited a long time without seeing Hao Jia. Her stomach growls with hunger, so she sneaks into the kitchen for food. Yin Zheng, holding his stomach, returns to his residence and hurriedly asks the steward to bring food. But the dishes brought to him are either incomplete or a total mess. Feeling puzzled, Yin Zheng goes to the kitchen to investigate and finds a strange young woman stealing food in his kitchen.

Li Wei panics upon seeing Yin Zheng and tries to sneak away, but accidentally knocks him over. Seeing him rolling on the ground in pain, she quickly helps him to the Imperial Medical Department. After learning about the incident, Hao Jia tries her best to comfort Li Wei, but bad news soon arrives. With a sinister smile, the nanny finds Li Wei and informs her that she is to become the concubine of the sixth Prince. Li Wei is completely confused and tries to escape, but unable to shake off the nanny, she is pushed into a bridal sedan.

Episode 2 Recap

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