Practice Daughter Episode 8 Recap
> Practice Daughter Recap
During the Royal Mala Race, Mei Yushan demonstrated remarkable speed, outpacing everyone. Nangong Yao, noting her swiftness, questioned her secret, especially since a "Little Master" had advised slowing down. Mei Yushan inwardly reflected that running fast was a crucial skill for a thief to survive. She quickly secured first place in the race. Afterward, the slow runners, including the Eighth Prince and Miss Su, were playfully teased by Mei Yushan for being last and punished with one hundred extra laps.
In the etiquette class, Madam Liu remarked that Miss Su had become "rounder" lately and needed more exercise to maintain her figure. While teaching standing posture, Madam Liu instructed the students to alternately lift their left and right legs. Zhuang Yangyang found the exercise exhausting and was ordered to stand facing the wall to reflect on her complaints. Mei Yushan followed the instructions easily, lifting and lowering her legs with little effort.
Eunuch Zhang, who managed the Imperial Garden, passed by Chongwen Academy with fresh flowers. Madam Liu saw him and went over to chat, completely forgetting about the students balancing on one foot. Many of the young ladies and princes began to wobble. Mei Yushan also found it increasingly difficult to maintain her balance. Seeing this, Nangong Yao subtly used his foot to support Mei Yushan.
However, after standing in the position for too long, Nangong Yao accidentally extended his leg, causing several princes in front of him to fall over. Chongwen Academy later held a challenge match.
Guard Xingshi announced the rules: teams of two, one person would shoot arrows until they hit the tenth ring, then the other person would navigate an obstacle course involving crossing a bridge, running a lap, turning three times, climbing a rope net, and ringing a bell at the top. During the archery practice, the four young ladies struggled to aim correctly. Mei Yushan and Nangong Yao were paired together.
Noticing Mei Yushan's difficulty even holding the bow, Nangong Yao stood close behind her, guiding her posture and aiming. His helpfulness and affectionate gaze made the other ladies feel jealous. Bai Ye arrived at Chongwen Academy just as Nangong Yao was closely assisting Mei Yushan. The fondness in Nangong Yao's eyes left Bai Ye with a clear understanding of the situation. Only three teams, including Mei Yushan's, Huang Yuanyuan's, and Su Ruomei's, advanced to the second round.
Mei Yushan and Huang Yuanyuan pulled ahead early in the obstacle course, quickly reaching the high pole and climbing the red silk ribbons. As Mei Yushan was about to grab the embroidered ball at the top, her silk ribbon ripped. Just as she was about to fall awkwardly, Nangong Yao swiftly flew towards her and caught her, cradling her as they gently descended to the ground. Despite the scare, their team won the round.
Other students commented on the Crown Prince's quick and kind reaction, speculating it was because he and 'Douzi' were classmates. After the match, Bai Ye reported to Nangong Yao on the disaster relief efforts, including the successful recruitment of men to build barracks and women and children to work in workshops. Nangong Yao praised Bai Ye's competent handling of the matter, mentioning he already knew the details.
However, noting Bai Ye's subdued mood despite the success, Nangong Yao offered to share his burden. Bai Ye stated he was fine but took the opportunity to mention the Empress's frequent inquiries about Nangong Yao taking a wife and asked if he had someone in mind. Before Nangong Yao could fully respond, Mei Yushan walked by in the rain. She boldly mimicked an archery pose towards him.
Nangong Yao immediately shifted his attention, acknowledging her with affection in his eyes, leaving Bai Ye feeling like an unnecessary presence. In the Grand Tutor's etiquette class, while learning from the "Analects for Women," Huang Yuanyuan fell asleep at her desk. Su Ruomei played a trick on her, drawing on her face. When Huang Yuanyuan woke up and discovered the drawing, she complained loudly.
The Grand Tutor reprimanded Huang Yuanyuan for disrupting the class and raising her voice, quoting the text: "Do not laugh while happy. Do not raise your voice while angry." He punished her by making her copy the "Analects for Women" ten times. Mei Yushan stood up and challenged the Grand Tutor's instruction, arguing that people should express their joy and anger. She explained that suppressing laughter and putting on fake smiles seemed insincere and even vicious.
She used the example of performers, suggesting they would feel disheartened if the audience didn't laugh. Although her reasoning was unconventional, the Grand Tutor admitted her point had some merit and rescinded Huang Yuanyuan's punishment. After class, Huang Yuanyuan thanked Mei Yushan for speaking up for her. Mei Yushan encouraged her to retaliate next time someone drew on her face, saying her martial arts shouldn't go to waste.
Huang Yuanyuan hesitated, mentioning her mother called her rough, but Mei Yushan insisted it was simply returning the favor. Later, discussing the upcoming hunting activity, Su Ruomei and Zhuang Yangyang eagerly anticipated the event, speculating about hunting dangerous animals or protecting the Crown Prince.
Mei Yushan arrived, having seemingly had an internal conversation with a voice representing 'Douzi's' original thoughts, where the voice questioned her changing priorities from the Moon Spirit Pearl to the academy and noted her apparent enjoyment of her current life, to which Mei Yushan responded she was still focused on her mission but needed to gain trust. Hearing about the hunting, Mei Yushan expressed her disapproval, calling it cruel to hunt innocent animals like deer and sheep.
Su Ruomei scoffed, calling hunting a traditional and sophisticated hobby, and argued the animals would die eventually anyway. Mei Yushan countered sharply, suggesting Su Ruomei would also die someday, provoking Su Ruomei to threaten to report her to Eunuch Song. Mei Yushan dismissed the threat, saying Eunuch Song was too busy for such trivial matters.
Bai Ye sent Mei Yushan a pair of gloves through his attendant, Ling Xiao, as a gift to protect her hands during the hunting event, indicating his concern for her. Mei Yushan received the gloves, noting they were nice but felt strange receiving them for hunting. Later, Mei Yushan visited Bai Ye at Tianji Mansion, finding him with an injured leg.
As a return gift, she gave him a bottle of traditional ointment for sprains and bruises, explaining it was a folk remedy taught by her father that worked quickly and felt cooling. Ling Xiao, observing Mei Yushan, later remarked to Bai Ye how she lacked the usual arrogance of a young lady and was instead casual, free, and lovable, noting Bai Ye's clear admiration for her.
In a flashback to seventeen years prior, a young Bai Ye was presented to the Emperor after General Wei's military success. Bai Ye, identified as a Spiritual Friar, warned the Emperor against personally joining the pursuit of the remaining Shengdong forces, predicting he would die at the hands of the Shengdong general, Xuan Bing, if he did. The Emperor dismissed the child's warning as nonsense, confident in Jixi's victory. Despite Bai Ye's repeated insistence, the Emperor departed.
The flashback concludes with an imperial edict formally inviting Bai Ye to the palace to assist with military affairs due to his spiritual abilities, though some viewed his subsequent residence as akin to confinement. Back in the present, Bai Ye was seen looking at and gently touching a teacup that Mei Yushan had used, further emphasizing his affection for her. The annual palace hunting event was announced.
The goal this year was shifted from large animals like wolves and tigers to smaller ones like rabbits, intended to demonstrate finer archery skills. As the rabbits were released, Mei Yushan commented that she didn't expect "Little Master" (Nangong Yao) to be so cold-blooded. Nangong Yao, overhearing her, remarked on Mei Yushan's unexpected competitiveness as they set out.
