Practice Daughter Episode 9 Recap
> Practice Daughter Recap
The hunting competition commenced, with the prey changed from large beasts to smaller rabbits to test the participants' accuracy. After the rules were announced, Mei Yushan was the first to eagerly head to the hunting field, with the others following behind. As Nangong Pin aimed at a rabbit, Mei Yushan caused a diversion by introducing a large spider. When Su Ruomei prepared to shoot, a flying insect startled her away.
Huang Yuanyuan and Nangong Pin also fell victim to triggered mechanisms, resulting in beehives landing on them, leaving their faces covered in stings. These disruptions were all orchestrated by Mei Yushan. As Zhuang Yangyang took aim at a rabbit, Mei Yushan was nearby. Nangong Yao stepped forward to push Mei Yushan out of the way, and they ended up tumbling down a hillside together. Su Ruomei eventually shot a rabbit, only to be informed it was a stuffed toy.
The participants learned that Nangong Yao disliked killing and had arranged for stuffed toys, manipulated by strings, to be used instead of real animals for the annual hunt. As they prepared to return, someone noticed that one of Nangong Yao's sachets was missing, presumably dropped in the forest. Nangong Yao didn't seem concerned, stating the Household Department could make another, and instructed the group to begin the journey back.
Upon reaching the area where the waiting maids were gathered, Douzi realized Mei Yushan was not among them. With the day drawing to a close, Nangong Yao immediately ordered a search for Mei Yushan in the woods. Entering the woods to search, Xing Shi received a signal from Que. After dismissing the accompanying guards, Que reported that they had investigated the three men in Black Dog Alley.
The men had been overheard while drunk, discussing details of adopting a foundling girl years ago. Xing Shi concluded that this foundling was very likely Princess Yueying, a person he had previously left in the care of these men with a specific wooden box, promising to return for her. He resolved to visit Black Dog Alley himself to investigate further. Meanwhile, Mei Yushan made her way back to the spot where she and Nangong Yao had fallen.
Searching around, she found a roasted sweet potato left from an earlier moment. Just as she was about to eat, she spotted a shadow behind her. Fearing she was caught, she quickly knelt and pleaded for mercy, offering good food and wine. Looking up, she saw it was Nangong Yao. Nangong Yao questioned why Mei Yushan had stayed behind alone in the woods.
Mei Yushan explained she had wanted to help him look for his lost sachet, adding that she thought he believed she only cared about eating the sweet potato. Nangong Yao dismissed the sachet as unimportant, expressing concern for her safety in the woods late at night. They built a fire and roasted the sweet potato. When Mei Yushan eagerly took a bite, she burned her mouth.
Nangong Yao leaned close to blow on it, and in that intimate moment, Mei Yushan found herself distracted before the pain brought her back to reality. Upon returning to the residence, Mei Yushan began persistently asking Douzi to teach her embroidery, intending to make a sachet for Nangong Yao. Douzi observed that Mei Yushan seemed less focused on retrieving the Moon Spirit Pearl and more content spending time with Nangong Yao.
Mei Yushan blushed, insisting her sole purpose was to gain Nangong Yao's trust to get the pearl back sooner. Recognizing her lack of talent for embroidery, Mei Yushan then suggested that Douzi, who was skilled at drawing, create a portrait of Nangong Yao instead, believing that gifting both would make him happy and expedite the return of the pearl.
When Mei Yushan presented the handmade sachet to Nangong Yao, he couldn initially couldn't help but laugh at its peculiar shape, even jokingly asking if it was from "the little rabbit." However, upon learning Mei Yushan had made it herself, he expressed that it was very precious to him. Mei Yushan then felt emboldened to bring up the matter of the Moon Spirit Pearl, asking for it back. Nangong Yao inquired about its purpose.
Unable to reveal the truth, Mei Yushan concocted a story about a friend, a noble lady from a wealthy family, who suffered from hysteria and could only be cured by this specific pearl, based on an expert's advice. Nangong Yao found this explanation strange, questioning why a pearl would cure hysteria and why her friend wouldn't seek medical treatment. Their conversation was interrupted by the summons for jurisprudence class, and Nangong Yao departed, pleased with his new sachet.
Later that evening, Dongxi reported to Nangong Yao regarding the theft of the Moon Spirit Pearl from the Museum on the night of the exhibition. He confirmed that although the theft was discovered, it was suppressed because Nangong Yao had been present and the pearl was from Shengdong. Dongxi noted that since the pearl's disappearance, there had been no further thefts at the Museum, indicating the pearl was the primary target.
Dongxi suggested something peculiar must have happened that night and that only Mei Yushan could explain why she possessed the pearl. Meanwhile, Xing Shi had found his way to Black Dog Alley. There, he spotted a familiar sealed wooden box, recognizing it as the one he had used to protect and leave Princess Yueying with the men years ago.
Connecting this finding with a feeling of familiarity he had experienced upon first meeting someone he calls "Little Stone," he finally realized that "Little Stone" was indeed Princess Yueying. Nangong Yao summoned Mei Yushan to the Eastern Palace and confronted her, asking why the Moon Spirit Pearl was in her possession and why she had lied.
Mei Yushan became visibly distressed, stumbling over her words and claiming it wasn't the Moon Spirit Pearl at all, but just an ordinary pearl from the Grand Chancellor's residence. Her story about the friend needing the pearl for hysteria became increasingly difficult to justify. Seeing he wasn't getting a clear answer, Nangong Yao, while reassuring her that she wouldn't be punished and offering her pastries, persisted in questioning the pearl's origin.
Mei Yushan, flustered, asked why he was interrogating her instead of just returning the pearl as he'd summoned her for. Nangong Yao explained he couldn't return it while questions remained unanswered. He then instructed Zuo to escort Mei Yushan back to the Guixiu Pavilion. Despite being sent away and her story being doubted, Mei Yushan, determined to retrieve the pearl, decided to attempt to infiltrate the Eastern Palace herself.
That evening, the Eastern Palace grounds were being heavily sprayed with mosquito repellent, particularly around delicate plants. Mei Yushan, in her swapped body, attempted to sneak through the palace grounds. While trying to evade staff, she encountered a eunuch who recognized her as the "little palace maid" he claimed had molested him earlier. Despite her protests, the eunuch raised an alarm, calling her a scoundrel and demanding justice. The commotion drew Nangong Yao's attention.
Upon hearing the eunuch's accusation that the small palace maid had molested him and was hiding nearby, Nangong Yao found the claim highly improbable but ordered the guards to apprehend her. Facing capture, Mei Yushan desperately cried out for help, calling to "Little Master."
