Practice Daughter Episode 15 Recap

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> Practice Daughter Recap

Seeing a token left by her adoptive fathers on Nangong Yao's sleeve, Douzi inquires about the outcome of the matter involving the disguised refugees. Nangong Yao informs her that the three men are scheduled for decapitation the following day. Distressed, Douzi insists on accompanying him, suggesting she could disguise herself as a eunuch or a coachman. Nangong Yao refuses, telling her she is currently grounded and that such a place is inappropriate for her, urging her to rest instead.

After Nangong Yao leaves, Douzi expresses her deep concern for her fathers' lives to Mei Yushan. She confirms their identity, mentioning a secret drawing that serves as their code. She explains her reluctance to reveal their true relationship to Nangong Yao earlier, fearing he would be put in a difficult position by knowing his close acquaintance had three "thieving" fathers.

They discuss the urgent need to leave the palace, acknowledging the challenge posed by the ever-present guards due to their grounded status. At that moment, Su Ruomei and Zhuang Yangyang arrive outside, calling out to Mei Yushan in a mocking tone, assuming she is having a terrible time. Douzi seizes this as an opportunity.

Using Mei Yushan's maid as a front, they convey to the guards and the two women that Mei Yushan is fine, having just been visited by the Crown Prince who brought food and gifts, and is now sleeping after eating too much. Skeptical, Su Ruomei and Zhuang Yangyang decide to enter the room to verify the story.

Meanwhile, Bai Ye receives a report revealing that the maid is not genuinely from the Mei family, has no registered identity, and grew up in the capital as a petty thief, having been brought into the palace privately by Douzi. Bai Ye notes Douzi's act of risking her life to save her, observing their close relationship, and expresses concern that the woman Douzi saved might be a potential threat.

Determined to escape, Douzi and Mei Yushan discuss the risks involved in drawing attention. Douzi insists on taking the lead, prioritizing the mission to save her fathers. Using their new disguises, they pass the initial guards. They spot a carriage belonging to the Eastern Palace and quickly form a plan to hide inside. Heading to the stable, they each conceal themselves in separate carriages, agreeing that whoever reaches the execution ground first must act to save the men.

Douzi hides herself in Nangong Yao's carriage. Separately, Mei Yushan finds Guard Xingshi and asks him to take her to the Government Office. Elsewhere, Bai Ye senses that the Crown Prince is in danger and instructs his guard, Lingxiao, to immediately head to the execution ground. Early the next morning, Douzi's three adoptive fathers are roughly forced to sign confessions and are swiftly led away for execution, which has been moved up from the scheduled noon time.

Douzi wakes up hidden in Nangong Yao's carriage. Realizing their destination is not the Government Office, she experiences a strong intuition that something is wrong and urgently pleads with Nangong Yao to divert their course. Despite his initial reluctance and offer to let her watch an execution later, she insists they must go to the government office immediately, fearing the execution will be advanced.

Upon their arrival, Nangong Yao and Douzi hear the devastating news that the execution is already commencing. Douzi charges through the gathered crowd and onto the execution platform. Just as the executioner prepares to strike, she cries out, declaring the three men's innocence and stopping the proceedings. Shen Yu, the official presiding over the execution, is startled and demands to know who she is, ordering her arrest for disrupting the court.

Douzi confronts the accuser, Ding Ermao, who stands nearby insisting the men stole his money and were caught with it. Douzi fiercely challenges his accusation, asking if he saw them steal it, which he admits he did not, and pointing out they were working together when the theft occurred, making it impossible for them to commit the crime then.

Shen Yu becomes increasingly agitated and repeats his order to arrest Douzi, but he is silenced when Nangong Yao arrives and gives him a commanding look. As the crowd outside the government office grows larger and more agitated, individuals begin inciting the people, demanding the immediate beheading of the three accused thieves. Adding to the turmoil, a woman claiming to be a prophetess appears, making dramatic pronouncements.

She declares that the Crown Prince carries a dark aura, asserting that a prophecy from over a decade ago foretold his love for Shengdong's princess would lead to Jixi's ruin. She points to the recent earthquake as a clear sign of this prophecy unfolding and claims that if he ascends to the throne, Jixi will be destroyed, holding him responsible for the current disaster.

The crowd, inflamed by her words, turns hostile, chanting slogans against the Crown Prince and demanding his execution. Just as the situation reaches a fever pitch and the crowd surges forward, Mei Yushan and Xingshi arrive at the scene. Seeing the escalating danger, Mei Yushan rushes towards Douzi to protect her. A large ceremonial drum is knocked over in the melee, threatening to crush Mei Yushan.

Xingshi quickly shoves her out of harm's way, shielding her from the falling drum with his body and injuring his hand on a protruding nail. Complete chaos erupts among the people. Amidst the confusion, a man dressed in black subtly draws a dagger from his sleeve and advances towards Nangong Yao. Dongxi, ever vigilant, spots the attacker and kicks him away. The man recovers and charges again, this time wielding a wooden stool.

Douzi, seeing the danger, instinctively throws herself onto Nangong Yao's back, shielding him with her own body. The stool strikes her, rendering her unconscious. Guards swiftly surround the attacker, who, rather than be captured, swallows a hidden poison and dies. Nangong Yao carefully lifts the unconscious Douzi and carries her back into the relative safety of the government.

Inside, Shen Yu immediately kneels before Nangong Yao, expressing his profound apologies for failing to protect him from the attack and requesting punishment. Nangong Yao assures him he is unharmed and tells him to rise, adding that if punishment is necessary, Shen Yu should seek it from the injured Douzi.

Shen Yu then turns to Douzi, who is beginning to regain consciousness, and humbly apologizes for the day's events, thanking her profusely for her courageous act of shielding the Crown Prince and offering himself for her judgment. Douzi, still recovering, tells him it is alright and to get up. Her primary concern remains her adoptive fathers, and she urgently asks Shen Yu about their safety and location.

Both Nangong Yao and Shen Yu are clearly astonished to hear her refer to the accused men in this way. Douzi clarifies that they are her adoptive fathers. Understanding the situation, Shen Yu promptly brings the three men forward: Big Head Yu, Que Kuai'er, and Xia Xiaodan. Shen Yu hosts a dinner for the three adoptive fathers to help them recover from their harrowing experience.

Douzi is overjoyed to be reunited with them, and they express immense relief and affection for her, acknowledging that the signal drawing left by one of them allowed Douzi to find them. They explain their reason for taking the strange job was the hope of seeing Douzi, as they had heard she was in the palace.

Shen Yu confirms their story, stating that they were indeed the only ones willing to take on the labor recruitment contract when the refugees refused. Initially served a spread of refined cold dishes, the three men, used to a simpler, heartier diet, express their dissatisfaction and loudly demand generous portions of meat, fish, chicken, duck, beef, shrimp, pork legs, and multiple bottles of wine. Nangong Yao agrees to their requests, and Shen Yu arranges for a more suitable feast.

As they enjoy the abundant food, the three men chat and joke freely, completely unaware of Nangong Yao's true identity. They make light of Shen Yu and playfully compare Nangong Yao to a minor official like a deputy village chief, confidently stating he couldn't possibly be the Crown Prince. Unable to watch their unguarded irreverence any longer, Douzi finally declares that Nangong Yao is, in fact, the Crown Prince.

The three men are struck with terror and immediately fall to their knees, profusely apologizing for their earlier comments. Douzi tells them to get up, reassuring them there is nothing to fear. Once they tentatively resume their seats, they begin whispering excitedly to Douzi about the possibility of her becoming the Crown Princess. They enthusiastically speculate about becoming the Crown Prince's fathers-in-law and the potential for gaining official positions, like becoming a mayor.

Nangong Yao asks Douzi how she came to be named Douzi. Her fathers eagerly interrupt, launching into a boisterous and often contradictory account of finding her as a baby in a box, arguing loudly about who actually discovered her and raised her, mentioning feeding her soy milk made from soybeans, and recounting her childhood habit of always carrying soybeans in her pocket. During the chaos at the execution ground, Mei Yushan expresses her concern for Douzi's safety to Xingshi.

Xingshi reassures her that Douzi is likely fine, perhaps just a little sore. Mei Yushan thanks Xingshi for his quick action in saving her from the falling drum. Xingshi downplays it, calling it his duty, but Mei Yushan points out that this is not the first time he has come to her aid. She then asks him about a night she was sick with a cold and had the distinct feeling someone had visited her room.

Xingshi acknowledges he was there, assuring her he had no malicious intent and apologizing if his presence disturbed her. Mei Yushan quickly clarifies that she did not mean to imply anything negative by her question. Xingshi then notes that Mei Yushan herself also sustained injuries during the tumultuous events.

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