Resumo do episódio 16 de A Splendid Match
> Resumos de A Splendid Match
At a post house on the way back to Tongzhou, Gu Jinzhao is consumed by regret. She tells Chen Yanyun that she has decided to drop the lawsuit against her father, Gu Dezhao, wondering if her mother might still be alive had she not been so impulsive. Chen Yanyun, noticing her deep sorrow, tries to comfort her with music, remarking that post houses are never short of heartbroken souls.
Once they return to Tongzhou, Jinzhao buries herself in work at the Ji family granary to keep her mind occupied. The local situation is tense; the canal has silted up, forcing grain to be transported by land, which has caused prices to soar. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun receives word that a grain convoy is approaching. He realizes that smugglers are exploiting his ties with the Ji family, betting that he would not dare expose a scandal involving his own relatives.
Ji Yao and Gu Jinrong also become suspicious of the porters. They stage a loud argument over grain prices, intentionally crashing into the porters' cargo. The collision reveals that the sacks are filled with sharpened swords and military-grade weapons rather than rice. Ji Yao realizes the Ji family is being used to smuggle weapons into the capital and instructs Jinrong to warn Jinzhao while he gathers men to surround the granary.
Chen Yanyun, monitoring from a distance, fears the commotion has alerted the outlaws and moves in to intervene. Before she can reach safety, Jinzhao is taken hostage by a bandit leader. She tries to negotiate, coolly informing her captor that as a mere servant to the Chen family, her life isn't worth a master's risk. Chen Yanyun arrives and proves her wrong, offering his own life in exchange for hers, stating that a high-ranking official is a more valuable prize.
During a struggle, both Chen Yanyun and Jinzhao tumble over a cliff. They survive the fall thanks to a thick layer of fallen leaves. While Chen Yanyun treats Jinzhao’s sprained ankle, he asks why she has been acquiring stakes in Shanxi exchange houses. Jinzhao admits she plans to become a "self-combed" woman, remaining unmarried to focus on business and caring for her grandmother. She explains that she sees no personal benefit in marriage and wishes to avoid its inherent risks.
Near the site of their fall, they discover the body of the kidnapper, who died after hitting a rock. Among his belongings, they find a letter. Jinzhao is stunned to recognize the handwriting as that of Physician Xiao (Xiao You), who is Ye Xian's master and the man who treated her mother. Chen Yanyun identifies the man's true identity as Xiao Qishan, the most formidable advisor to the late rebellious Prince Chengqing.
Years ago, it was the Marquis of Changxing who killed the prince, making Xiao Qishan a dangerous figure to have inside the Marquis's household. Chen Yanyun learns from captured bandits that the weapons were destined for an estate belonging to Prince Ruichang. To keep the masterminds from catching on, Chen Yanyun orders a secret delivery of the weapons to the estate, acting as if nothing happened. Despite his caution, Jinzhao decides she must warn Ye Xian.
She borrows horses from Ji Yao and rushes back to the capital overnight, keeping her departure a secret from her grandmother. In the capital, the Crown Prince meets with Ye Xian to discuss the growing unrest due to the Emperor's illness. Fearing that Prince Ruichang intends to seize the throne, the Crown Prince provides Ye Xian with a secret map of the palace passages. When Jinzhao finally meets Ye Xian, she reveals her discovery about his master.
Ye Xian is initially defensive, refusing to believe his mentor is a traitor, but he is privately shaken. Jinzhao returns to the Gu manor to find her father drowning his sorrows in alcohol while Gu Lan manages the household. Gu Lan approaches Jinzhao, seemingly apologetic, and asks for help with her future marriage. She knows Jinzhao successfully negotiated control over her own marital prospects from their father.
However, Jinzhao refuses to make a deal, telling Gu Lan she has no intention of meddling in her affairs. Ye Xian eventually sneaks out of the Gu manor through a discreet side gate to meet Chen Yanyun. They discuss the suspicious activities of Xiao You, who has been "helping" the Marquis monitor Prince Ruichang.
Chen Yanyun explains the trap: by letting the Marquis know of Prince Ruichang’s plot, Xiao You is baiting the Marquis into mobilizing his own troops for "protection." This unauthorized mobilization will then be used as definitive evidence of the Marquis's own rebellion. Chen Yanyun admits that while a solution exists to break this deadlock, it is incredibly dangerous.
