Resumo do episódio 36 de A Splendid Match
> Resumos de A Splendid Match
Lord Fu is highly displeased with Chen Yanyun's rising defiance. Speaking with his associate Keqian, the Chancellor scoffs at the young Emperor's backing of Yanyun, noting that a green ruler is far too impatient and incapable of patching the endless leaks of the imperial court. Keqian fuels his anger, labeling Yanyun an ungrateful wolf who has led the Emperor astray. He then presents a new Hanlin Academy registry of alternate lecturers, pointing out that Chen Xuanqing's name is conspicuously missing.
Keqian explains that Yanyun personally intervened to exile his academically brilliant nephew to Anqing Prefecture. Recognizing the severe rift between the two, Lord Fu finds the situation highly intriguing and decides to exploit it, boasting that since he had the power to elevate Yanyun, he also has the power to destroy him. Meanwhile, Ji Yao meets with Gu Jinzhao and Chen Yanyun to deliver a crucial report.
Following Yanyun’s leads to the northern borders, Ji Yao successfully uncovered a network of Chunyuan Cult remnants disguised as ordinary citizens, ranging from poor laborers to wealthy merchants. Using the specific cult hand signs Yanyun taught him, Ji Yao tracked their movements but learned that their grand leader remains a mystery. However, he discovered that when Prince Chengqing's rebellion failed, a wealthy patron named Lady Weirui funded the cultists' escape to the Northern Wastes.
Yanyun admits he has never heard of this woman. Shortly after, Jinzhao receives a midnight invitation from Xue Qinglan, requesting an urgent meeting at a silk shop. At the silk shop, Xue Qinglan demands to know what they have uncovered about the Chunyuan Cult. When Yanyun asks why she did not consult Ye Xian, she admits that Ye Xian refused to share his findings.
Recognizing her desperation, Yanyun reveals he knows her mother was poisoned to death by a close associate connected to the cult over a decade ago. He explains that his status as a Grand Secretary grants him access to such secrets, which is also why he trusted her to remain by Ye Xian's side. Yanyun then shares his suspicion that the mastermind behind the Chunyuan Cult might be Qinglan's own uncle-in-law, Lord Fu.
Though stunned, Qinglan offers Yanyun a favor in gratitude. Yanyun politely declines, urging her as a subject of the realm to remember how to choose when faced with major decisions of right and wrong. Seeking to avoid his exile, Chen Xuanqing performs as a theatrical clown at Lord Fu's estate to secure his favor. Impressed by his quick intellect, the Chancellor asks why Xuanqing has not pleaded with his own uncle to stay in the capital.
Xuanqing bitterly confesses that he is only Yanyun's adopted son and that his uncle has suppressed him out of jealousy over his academic success. Seizing this opportunity, Lord Fu demands that Xuanqing formally accuse Yanyun of moral corruption and stealing his nephew's wife. When Xuanqing hesitates, fearing the legal punishment for a son accusing his father—which legally requires forty strokes of the cane first—Lord Fu reveals he has captured Xuanqing's servant, Yunting.
Out of terror, Yunting has confessed to Nanny Wang's murder and Xuanqing's past interactions with Jinzhao. Lord Fu mockingly reminds Xuanqing that as the secret son of a canal bandit, he has already committed the capital crime of deceiving the throne. With his career already ruined, Lord Fu urges him to gamble everything to ruin Yanyun and make a name for himself in court. Elsewhere, Yu Wanxue drowns her sorrows with Gu Lan, devastated by Chen Xuanqing's rejection.
Gu Lan tries to comfort her, insisting that Xuanqing is a heartless man unworthy of her affection, and prepares a carriage to take her home. As they step outside, Wanxue spots Xuanqing passing by and desperately cries out his name. Xuanqing coldly ignores her cries and walks away without a backward glance. Gu Lan pulls Wanxue away, telling her to stop wasting her breath on someone who clearly has no desire to see them.
The next day, Lord Fu manipulates the young Emperor into holding the imperial lecture at Huangji Hall so the assembled ministers can witness the proceedings. Chen Xuanqing unexpectedly appears as a substitute lecturer. Before the lessons can begin, Xuanqing steps forward to formally impeach Chen Yanyun. He falsely claims that he and Gu Jinzhao fell in love after he saved her life years ago, only for the Ji family to offer her to Yanyun to climb the ranks.
Xuanqing accuses his uncle of threatening his academic career with failure in the metropolitan exam, forcing him into a marriage with the Yu family, and forcibly wedding Jinzhao while he was away on a diplomatic mission, presenting a letter as evidence. Lord Fu immediately feigns outrage, lamenting Yanyun’s ruined virtue and asking the Emperor to punish his former student.
Unfazed by the theatrical display, Yanyun steps forward and questions how Xuanqing, who resigned from the Hanlin Academy a month ago, managed to enter the palace as a lecturer, demanding to know the mastermind behind this clear violation of court protocol. Lord Fu arrogantly confesses to bringing him in, claiming that compassion must override the law. Yanyun asks Xuanqing directly if he is acting out of his own free will or under coercion.
Remembering Lord Fu’s blackmail, Xuanqing firmly declares he does not regret his actions. Yanyun calmly tells the Emperor he has no further defense, stating that justice resides in people's hearts and that while Xuanqing has disgraced his family, he himself must still protect his loved ones. Outraged by the scandal, the Emperor abruptly dismisses the court and summons Yanyun to his private chambers.
Following the chaotic court session, Xuanqing revels in his perceived triumph, believing he has finally dismantled his uncle's reputation and secured Lord Fu's powerful backing. Meanwhile, Madame Fu discusses the scandal, noting that regardless of the accusation's validity, the stain of a grand secretary stealing his nephew's wife is too shameful for the Emperor to shield Yanyun. Though she pities Gu Jinzhao's misfortune, she believes it is simply her fate for aligning with Yanyun.
At the same time, Mr. Jiang frantically warns Gu Jinzhao that Xuanqing has aligned with Lord Fu to destroy Yanyun, warning that if the Chancellor discovers the classified Xingdaosi records hidden at the Ji residence, everyone will be ruined. Meanwhile, Xue Qinglan visits Madame Fu to share a troubling development.
She reveals that during her travels to Xuanfu with Ye Xian, she captured several Chunyuan Cultists, one of whom claimed to have seen Lord Fu and Madame Fu at a cult meeting before Prince Chengqing's rebellion. Madame Fu dismisses the claim as a ridiculous lie, and Qinglan reassures her that she has already executed the cultist to silence any baseless accusations. She adds that she is privately investigating to root out the cult's mastermind.
Sensing the danger of exposure, Madame Fu advises her to keep the investigation quiet to protect Lord Fu's reputation and demands that Qinglan report any new leads to her first. In the private chambers, the Emperor apologizes to Yanyun, admitting he was foolish to give Xuanqing a platform to show his face, only to have the ungrateful nephew turn against his benefactor. Yanyun assumes responsibility for his domestic troubles but reassures the Emperor that the situation remains within his calculations.
The Emperor expresses deep anxiety over Lord Fu’s attempts to slash border troops and military funding, fearing the Chancellor might be colluding with the Northern Barbarians to betray the realm. Yanyun advises that they must quietly investigate active cult remnants and secretly secure the support of military nobles like the Marquis of Jingyuan, keeping both actions completely hidden from Lord Fu.
Yanyun notes that his suspension from office actually serves as a perfect cover, allowing him to operate undetected in the shadows while the Emperor handles the court. Emboldened by his new alliance, Chen Xuanqing leads soldiers to raid the Ji family residence, taking the entire household hostage and ordering his men to ransack the property. Gu Jinzhao confronts Xuanqing, demanding that he release her family and threatening to kill him on the spot.
Xuanqing, entirely unhinged, laughs off her threats and declares he wants to see Yanyun kneel and beg for mercy. Yanyun arrives shortly after, ignoring the nervous soldiers who claim they are merely following orders. Xuanqing boasts that once his men uncover the secret Xingdaosi records hidden on the property, the entire Ji family will be executed unless Yanyun falls to his knees.
Yanyun looks at him with pity and calls him incredibly foolish, stating that Xuanqing's absolute ignorance of imperial politics was the exact reason he sought to exile him to the provinces.
