Princess Agents Episode 4 Recap, Plot

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Continuing from their conversation, Yan Xun observed that Yuwen Yue's grief over his grandfather's recent passing seemed too typical, suggesting it was an act to deceive others. Yan Xun pointed out that Yuwen Yue's grandfather, despite not being his real one, was the only family he truly cared about. He then warned Yuwen Yue that Grand Uncle Yuwen Xi planned to visit Qingshan House under the guise of an elder, intending to force women upon him.

Yuwen Yue responded that he, too, had no choice when it came to women. Later, Grand Uncle Yuwen Xi arrived, reminiscing about the old days in Qingshan House. He claimed that with Yuwen Yue's grandfather gone, Qingshan House had no master, and he feared Yuwen Yue would be bullied. Yuwen Yue assured him he could still manage the household.

Yuwen Xi then challenged Yuwen Yue's status as a direct descendant of Household One, stating that his birth father, the Zhuguo Commander, had not signed the family's descendant registry sixteen years ago. He concluded that Qingshan House was no longer Yuwen Yue's to claim. Yuwen Yue, however, insisted he would still manage it due to his grandfather's upbringing. Yuwen Xi retorted that Yuwen Yue alone couldn't decide, to which Yuwen Yue countered that if the Emperor commanded it, he could.

An imperial decree then arrived, confirming Yuwen Yue's authority over Qingshan House. Despite this, Yuwen Xi continued to meddle, offering Jinxin as a bedchamber maidservant. Yuwen Yue surprisingly declared he would accept Jinxin, along with all the other women sent by his three brothers from Household Two, Zhao Jieyu from the palace, and various relatives in Chang'an, asserting that Qingshan House would soon be filled with beautiful women.

Yuwen Xi, contradicting his earlier intention, expressed concern about such a promiscuous life. Yuwen Yue then proposed a selection process for all the maidservants, including copper and silver bells from the Yuwen Manor and Hongshan House, ensuring fairness and not offending anyone. Yuwen Xi agreed, stating his satisfaction with the lively atmosphere. After Yuwen Xi left, Yuwen Yue privately fumed, wishing he could kill him if he weren't an elder.

Yuwen Yue then instructed Yue Qi to announce the selection for his bedchamber maidservant. Meanwhile, Xiaoba and Xiaoqi discussed the recent deaths of their older brother Linxi and sister Zhixiang, fearing they would be implicated in Madame Song's disappearance. They noted Yuwen Yue's coldness in holding the selection so soon after his grandfather's death and lamented their status as iron bell servants, which disqualified them from participating, though one of them even expressed a desire to seek revenge if selected.

Chu Qiao, overhearing this, silently resolved to enter Qingshan House to escape Yuwen Huai's grasp, protect her sisters, and seek revenge for her family. She believed that even as a weak plant, she could fight against sturdy rocks if she leveraged strength. Later, a guard leader attempted to arrest Chu Qiao, accusing her of being involved in Madame Song's disappearance based solely on an argument at the pond, and threatening her sisters if she resisted.

Yan Xun, the Heir Apparent, intervened, subtly mocking the guard leader's arrogance and demonstrating his own power by arbitrarily punishing his subordinate, Feng Mian, for a fabricated crime, asserting his word was also evidence. After Yan Xun saved Chu Qiao and her sisters, he playfully demanded tea, which Chu Qiao initially refused, stating their lowly status. Xiaoqi, however, went to fetch it. Yan Xun claimed to have saved Chu Qiao three times, though she corrected him to two.

Chu Qiao, still grieving her siblings, expressed her lack of humor, prompting Yan Xun to give her medicine for scars. Chu Qiao bravely went to Qingshan House, kneeling outside to participate in the selection despite being an iron bell servant. The other maids ridiculed her audacity. Yuwen Yue, upon hearing of her stubbornness, initially dismissed her, allowing her to kneel as long as she wished, though he secretly observed her resolute demeanor late into the night.

When guards later tried to remove her, Yuwen Yue stopped them. He then directly confronted Chu Qiao, asking her purpose. Chu Qiao humbly requested to be allowed to participate and serve him, stating that staying with him was her only way to preserve her life. Yuwen Yue clarified that staying meant becoming his bedchamber maidservant, which involved catering to his pleasure. He challenged her, asking about her dignity, given that he had killed her brother.

Chu Qiao replied that as a slave, she had no right to talk about dignity, only begging for a path to survive. Yuwen Yue then ordered Yue Qi to allow Jing Xiaoliu (Chu Qiao) to participate in the selection, telling her to rest for the next day. Concurrently, Zhu Shun reported to Yuwen Huai about Yuwen Yue's decision to allow Jing Xiaoliu to join the selection. Yuwen Huai immediately ordered her killed to prevent further complications.

However, Zhu Shun then reported a crucial detail from the manor's cook: on the night Madame Song disappeared, the three Jing sisters were seen arguing with her by the pond, followed by a splash sound. Yuwen Huai, enraged at the delayed report, questioned Zhu Shun's intentions. Zhu Shun, terrified, begged for mercy. Yuwen Huai acknowledged Chu Qiao's unusual nature, noting that even Madame Song couldn't handle her.

Zhu Shun then proposed a new plan: if Jinxin failed, they could use Chu Qiao as a pawn against Yuwen Yue, since she would surely seek revenge for her brother Linxi's death. Yuwen Huai agreed to this, anticipating a good show. The selection began. As the maidservants gathered, Jinxin, a silver bell maid, confronted Chu Qiao for releasing a caged parrot, calling Chu Qiao a fool and attempting to ruin her clothes.

Chu Qiao, however, deftly disarmed Jinxin, taking her clothes and leaving Jinxin disheveled. Yuwen Yue, observing the scene, noted Chu Qiao's quick reflexes and agile movements, recognizing her potential for martial arts training, despite her lack of formal knowledge. He dismissed the list of performers sent by Grand Uncle Yuwen Xi, stating he wanted a bedchamber maid, not an entertainer.

He then announced the three rounds of the competition: tea brewing, serving ink and brush, and playing Pupu chess, with elimination after two losses. The remaining participants would then compete in a final tie-breaker round. The first round was Pupu chess, which Chu Qiao admitted she did not understand, leading to a loss. For the second round, tea brewing, Chu Qiao observed the other maids.

Inspired, she fetched fresh well water and added an herb to filter out the "fiery" nature of midday water. Yuwen Yue remarked on her innovative approach, calling her bold, detailed, and quick to learn. Yan Xun agreed that Chu Qiao should win this round, and she did. The final round was memorizing and silently writing a Sanskrit Buddhist scripture. The maids were given one incense stick's time to memorize and another to write.

Chu Qiao's sisters worried, as Chu Qiao was illiterate. Despite this, Yuwen Yue's servant noted that Chu Qiao, though unskilled with a brush, had clearly figured out a method. When the results were presented, Chu Qiao's was among the best. Jinxin accused her of cheating, claiming she must have peeked at the scripture.

Yuwen Yue, however, dismissed the accusation, stating that the Avatamsaka sutra of the Huayan school had been brought by Zen Master Ba Luo Tuo the previous day and had never been revealed to the world, making prior knowledge impossible. Yuwen Yue then questioned Chu Qiao for not signing her name. Chu Qiao argued that the rules only required memorization and writing, not a signature. Yuwen Yue offered her one last chance: if she could sign her name, she would win.

Chu Qiao confirmed he would keep his word, then calmly removed a small copper bell from her hair, dipped it in ink, and used it to stamp her name onto the scripture. Yuwen Yue declared Jing Xiaoliu the winner. As he turned away, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. Following her selection, Chu Qiao was brought before Yuwen Yue. He again questioned her motive for becoming his bedchamber maidservant.

Chu Qiao knelt and explained that she had promised her older sister to care for their younger sisters. Yuwen Yue responded by saying that if she passed all his tests, he would set them free. Chu Qiao expressed her gratitude. Yuwen Yue then asked her to shave him. Chu Qiao hesitated, her hand trembling as she held the razor, remembering how Yuwen Yue had killed her brother.

She slowly brought the blade towards his throat but then gently began to shave his beard. Yuwen Yue, his voice cold, asked why she didn't strike. Chu Qiao immediately lowered the razor and bowed. Yuwen Yue then led her to the window, where Xiaoba and Xiaoqi were tending to flowers in the courtyard. He told Chu Qiao that one could only entrust a knife to another when they held that person's weaknesses.

Yuwen Yue began to train Chu Qiao, who understood little of his world, and gave her the new name Xing'er. Under the influence of incense, Chu Qiao fell into a deep sleep. Yuwen Yue watched her, lost in thought. Unbeknownst to Chu Qiao, many other maidservants in the same compound, including her sister Xiaoba, lay awake, unable to sleep due to Chu Qiao's selection.

Later that night, Yuwen Yue was found in his secret chamber, reading a confidential letter from his grandfather. The letter stated: "This woman has beast nature; use her, guard against her, discard her. . ."

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