Resumo do episódio 2 de Faithful
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Seven years have passed since the tragic events involving Lin Rulan. Meng Wan, now concubine to Xu Zhiyang, wakes from a haunting nightmare of Rulan in a red wedding dress plunging into a well. Moments later, her maids burst in with grave news: Gu Manshu, the principal wife of the Xu household, has succumbed to charcoal poisoning.
Servants immediately begin to whisper, led by a maid named Xiaoyue, speculating that Meng Wan, who had been in Manshu's room the previous night, tampered with the charcoal to seize Manshu's position. Meng Wan silences Xiaoyue with a sharp slap and a chilling challenge to air her accusations openly. Inside Manshu’s room, Xu Zhiyang, visibly distraught, asks Meng Wan what Manshu said to her. Meng Wan admits she was the only one with Manshu.
A flashback reveals Manshu, frail and bedridden, urging Meng Wan to find closure regarding "Miss Lin" and declaring that she had paved the way for Meng Wan and would no longer hold her back. Manshu then sincerely thanked Meng Wan for her care over the years. Meng Wan later recounts to Xu Zhiyang that Manshu only asked her to look after him.
Xu Zhiyang then reveals Manshu's will, which cleared Meng Wan of any blame and insisted she be formally elevated. To prevent scandal, Xu Zhiyang suggests Meng Wan change her name and assume the identity of Manshu’s younger sister, becoming the new "fill-in wife" in the household. Meng Wan readily agrees to Manshu's final wishes. Disregarding the ongoing funeral arrangements for Manshu, Meng Wan immediately orders a carriage.
She travels to a secluded tomb bearing the name "Lin Rulan," where she declares that although seven years have passed, Rulan's unresolved matters persist. Now, as the new Madame Xu, she finally possesses the standing to execute her long-awaited plan, confident that everything will fall into place. She softly asks Rulan to wait a little longer.
Soon after, Meng Wan attends a gathering at the Ning Mansion, where she is immediately accosted by Madame Wu, Chen Sujun, who spitefully mocks Meng Wan for swiftly replacing the deceased Madame Xu. Meng Wan calmly explains that the Xu family must uphold proper etiquette with Mrs. Ning.
When Madame Wu further insults Xu Zhiyang's standing and calls Meng Wan a "fill-in wife" and a harbinger of bad luck, Meng Wan, despite her maid’s indignation, advises against engaging in futile arguments. Inside the mansion, the wives of Huaizhou officials discuss the upcoming Empress Dowager's 70th birthday and the single gift allowed from each prefecture.
Zhou Yuqin, the legitimate daughter of Su'an Marquis, makes a grand entrance, proudly presenting an ancient painting and challenging Mrs. Ning to identify it, mentioning a "Mr. Xu from the previous reign." When Mrs. Ning hesitates, Meng Wan confidently interjects, identifying the painting as "Heavenly Longevity," a component of the revered "Twelve Constellations." Meng Wan introduces herself as Xu Zhiyang's wife and apologizes for any previous lack of etiquette.
Impressed by Meng Wan's insight, Mrs. Ning invites her to sit closer. Zhou Yuqin, still confident, boasts about the painting's significance to the Empress Dowager and her arduous efforts to acquire and bless this missing piece. Following the gathering, Meng Wan instructs her maid, Lancui, to investigate the origins of Zhou Yuqin’s painting.
She then acquires a copy of the "Heavenly Longevity" and has her husband, Xu Zhiyang, a skilled painter, create an even more authentic-looking duplicate, hinting at its potential to aid his career. Meng Wan presents this expertly crafted copy to Zhou Yuqin, feigning embarrassment.
She spins a fabricated tale about her husband's distant lineage to the "Mr. Xu" from the previous reign and a family heirloom that was forbidden to be sold, subtly suggesting their ancestor may have been swindled and implying Zhou Yuqin’s "original" might be the fake. Zhou Yuqin is unsettled by the uncanny resemblance and the copy's apparent age. Meng Wan clarifies it is a century-old copy and prepares to depart.
An anxious Zhou Yuqin requests to borrow the copy, but Meng Wan politely declines, emphasizing its status as a cherished family heirloom. Fueled by Meng Wan’s insinuations, Zhou Yuqin confronts the old man who sold her the painting. He tearfully confesses it's a fake and returns the one "guan" coin Zhou Yuqin paid for what he had initially priced at 100 "guan".
Infuriated, Zhou Yuqin then seeks out Meng Wan, expressing admiration for her copy and offering to purchase it for a significant sum. Meng Wan initially feigns reluctance, citing her husband's deep attachment to the piece, but then graciously offers the painting as a gift, dismissively calling it a mere "fabrication" and suggesting their newfound friendship is more valuable than money. Zhou Yuqin accepts the gift gleefully.
Later, Mrs. Ning, having heard of Meng Wan’s meeting with Zhou Yuqin, summons Meng Wan. Meng Wan confirms she gifted the painting to Zhou Yuqin, adding cryptically that its true nature would be revealed once the Ministry of Rites received it. Shortly after, a disheveled old man appears at Meng Wan's residence, attempting to thank her for retrieving his family heirloom, but Meng Wan instructs Lancui to deny any acquaintance.
Subsequently, an emergency report from the Ministry of Rites arrives for Zhou Yuqin, sternly admonishing her for presenting a forgery to the Empress Dowager and placing her under house arrest at Su'an Marquis for a year and a half. Simultaneously, Minister Han urges Mrs. Ning to expedite her own "Yanyu Embroidery" preparations. These events confirm Meng Wan's earlier hints, and Mrs. Ning fully comprehends Meng Wan's intricate plan.
At a subsequent gathering, Mrs. Ning publicly elevates Meng Wan's status, seating her in a place of honor ahead of Madame Wu. Mrs. Ning praises Meng Wan's homemade chestnut cakes and, after dismissing the other guests, invites Meng Wan to share some newly acquired tea leaves. Mrs. Ning expresses gratitude that Zhou Yuqin’s impatience inadvertently bought them time to prepare a superior gift, acknowledging that Meng Wan was the crucial element in this success.
Mrs. Ning questions Meng Wan's earlier reticence. Meng Wan explains her disciplined approach of speaking only when she held a high degree of certainty about her plans. Seeing through Meng Wan's calm demeanor, Mrs. Ning probes her true motives. Meng Wan straightforwardly requests Mrs. Ning's patronage for her husband, Xu Zhiyang, who, despite his talents, has remained idle due to his poor social skills. Impressed by Meng Wan's candor, Mrs. Ning inquires about her past.
Meng Wan credits her "elder sister" (Manshu) for her current standing, explaining that becoming Madame Xu was a calculated step to gain access to the Ning Mansion and serve Mrs. Ning. She then shares a poignant story of personal despair after a family tragedy, where she contemplated suicide.
It was Lin Rulan, a dear friend "like a sister," who, with a silent smile and a box of chestnut cakes, gave Meng Wan a reason to live, making her reluctant to abandon the world. As Meng Wan prepares to leave, Mrs. Ning's maid announces the arrival of Mr. Wu (Wu Lian), who is there to discuss the birthday gift. Meng Wan and Wu Lian briefly cross paths.
Wu Lian senses a faint familiarity with Meng Wan but cannot place her. Meng Wan, observing him, privately reflects that a villain who has harmed countless individuals would inevitably fail to recognize the vengeful spirits of his victims. Wu Lian later asks Mrs. Ning about Meng Wan, but Mrs. Ning provides a deceptive origin story for Meng Wan, claiming she is Manshu's sister from a distant province.
Meanwhile, a defiant Zhou Yuqin, having escaped her house arrest, appears at Meng Wan's residence, demanding an explanation for her ruined reputation. Meng Wan calmly points out Zhou Yuqin’s own culpability, reminding her of the warning about the painting's authenticity and the one "guan" she paid for a painting valued at 100 "guan".
Meng Wan then proposes a deal: Zhou Yuqin can move freely during her house arrest by adopting a sister's identity, provided she ceases her rivalry with Mrs. Ning. Meng Wan guarantees that Mrs. Ning will no longer trouble her if she agrees. Confronted by Meng Wan's irrefutable logic and the imminent threat of discovery by her searching servants, Zhou Yuqin reluctantly accepts, asking Meng Wan to first smooth things over with Mrs. Ning.
Meng Wan agrees to the "deal" and has her maid escort Zhou Yuqin out. With the Ning Mansion now securely within her influence, Meng Wan reflects that the time has come for the next phase of her grand scheme. Her attention shifts to Liu Xin, a former captain of the Huaizhou Prefecture Yamen, who has just been released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence for embezzlement. Liu Xin, now a commoner, is seen buying a humble pancake, a stark contrast to his past authority, as bystanders comment on how the "tide has turned."
