Rebirth For You Episode 3 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Jiang Baoning’s friend, Bai Su, discovered her in disguise and questioned her whereabouts. Baoning initially claimed she had merely sneaked out to an event outside the palace, but Bai Su saw through her lie, remarking on Baoning’s secretive behavior lately. Pressed by her close friend, Baoning finally revealed the matter of the Funing Hall prescription record. She explained that she had seen Maid Fang Yiru, who was officially declared dead, alive outside the palace.
This led Baoning to investigate the Imperial Hospital, where she found a prescription for “finest abortion prevention medicine” under the name Xiao Rongniang. Her investigation revealed that Xiao Rongniang was not pregnant and had left the palace six months prior. Baoning concluded that Emperor Zhao Yi had used Xiao Rongniang's name for Fang Yiru to obtain the medicine, then faked Fang Yiru's death to secretly move her out of the palace to hide her pregnancy.
Baoning felt she needed to see Fang Yiru herself to confirm this. Bai Su tried to reassure her, explaining that even if Zhao Yi had a secret child, neither Empress Dowager Cao nor the Court of the Imperial Clan would recognize it, so the child would pose no threat to Baoning as a future Empress. However, Baoning adamantly refused to marry Zhao Yi. Despite knowing him since childhood, she felt suffocated by his possessiveness and the lack of freedom.
She believed that if the Grand Empress Dowager, who favored the marriage because she thought Zhao Yi truly loved Baoning, knew about Zhao Yi’s secret child, she would call off the engagement. Bai Su, while feeling resigned to her own fate, promised to help Baoning find happiness, urging her to burn the copied prescription record to avoid discovery, and keep the information to herself.
Meanwhile, Young Master Zhao Xiao was searching for a lost opal bead in the palace when he unexpectedly encountered Li Qian. The two men, having previously met under assumed names during the Machinist Contest, introduced themselves formally, with Zhao Xiao learning that “Zhang Qian” was actually Li Qian. Zhao Xiao invited Li Qian to share drinks after his duty, and Li Qian extended an open invitation to his residence in Sanli Lane.
In her chambers, Empress Dowager Cao, while being attended, lamented her aging appearance. Her senior attendant comforted her, attributing her worries to state affairs. Empress Dowager Cao expressed frustration that court officials were using natural disasters as an excuse to pressure her into returning power to the Emperor. At this moment, an eunuch introduced Song Xianyi, a maid Empress Dowager Cao intended to place as her spy by Zhao Yi's side.
Song Xianyi, despite admitting her frail health made her unsuitable to bear royal children, pledged loyalty to Empress Dowager Cao and promised to serve the Emperor well. Empress Dowager Cao emphasized the importance of discretion in the palace, and then ordered Song Xianyi to the Funing Hall. Later, Zhao Xiao was still searching for his bead when he again ran into Jiang Baoning.
When Baoning asked what he was looking for, he described the shiny and dazzling opal bead that was a precious heirloom from his late mother. Baoning immediately surmised that a crow had taken it, as they were known to collect shiny objects. She led Zhao Xiao to a crow’s nest high in a tree, asking him to give her a boost.
As she reached for the nest, she lost her footing and fell, but Li Qian, who happened to be nearby, swiftly caught her, saving her from injury. Baoning successfully retrieved the bead for Zhao Xiao, who expressed his gratitude. As Baoning was called away to the Shoukang Palace, she told Zhao Xiao he could find her at the Three Abodes of the East whenever he came to the palace again. Zhao Xiao and Li Qian commented on Baoning's intriguing personality.
Upon arriving at the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace, Jiang Baoning found Emperor Zhao Yi there. Zhao Yi complained that Empress Dowager Cao had forced Song Xianyi upon him, but swore his heart belonged only to Baoning. The Grand Empress Dowager seemed pleased with Zhao Yi’s apparent devotion, but Baoning remained unimpressed, even rejecting Zhao Yi's invitation to view his collection of Luban Locks. On her way back to her chambers, Jiang Baoning encountered Li Qian.
Li Qian, using the pretense of a damaged peacock feather gold thread cape, subtly asked Baoning to recommend an embroidery shop. Understanding his true intention, Baoning offered to meet him outside the palace the following day at Qingshi Lane. Just then, Zhao Yi arrived and questioned Li Qian, a new Imperial Guard. Baoning, maintaining her cover, claimed not to know Li Qian, stating she only knew he was the guard who saved Empress Dowager Cao.
Li Qian then excused himself to continue his patrol. The next day, Baoning met Li Qian outside the palace. She directly asked him to state his true request, to which Li Qian admitted he wanted The Book of Supreme Weapons. Baoning informed him that the version from the Machinist Contest was a fake, but she could obtain the real one.
When Li Qian guessed it was hidden within the palace, Baoning proposed a trade: if he could find Fang Yiru’s whereabouts and confirm if she was alive, she would give him the genuine Book of Supreme Weapons. Li Qian readily agreed. That evening, while playing cards with the Grand Empress Dowager, Baoning subtly inquired about the late emperor’s Book of Supreme Weapons.
The Grand Empress Dowager recalled that Empress Dowager Cao had obtained the map and presented it to the late emperor, a move that helped her solidify her position in the harem. Meanwhile, Bai Su's mother tried to arrange a marriage for her daughter with Marquis Jin’an’s son, Cai Yuan, but Bai Su simply stated that her parents could decide her fate. Li Qian soon located Fang Yiru’s residence and met with Baoning.
After they had a meal, an informant confirmed that Fang Yiru was indeed living there, visibly pregnant by about five or six months, and the house was heavily guarded by four protectors and two maids to prevent any infiltration. Baoning insisted on seeing Fang Yiru with her own eyes. When they arrived outside the house, they found no obvious activity.
Baoning wanted to enter for a closer look, but Li Qian stopped her, pointing out that the situation clearly indicated Zhao Yi’s involvement and questioning why Baoning would involve herself in such a risky matter. Baoning feigned distress, claiming that as childhood sweethearts, Zhao Yi had promised to be devoted to her, and she couldn't accept his betrayal and the impending marriage unless she saw the proof with her own eyes.
Li Qian, concerned about the potential repercussions for his family, still cautioned her that the matter was too serious and far-reaching to act recklessly. Seeing that Li Qian was hesitant, Baoning decided to take matters into her own hands. She lit a small bundle of grass and threw it into Fang Yiru's courtyard, successfully forcing Fang Yiru and the other residents out of the house to extinguish the fire.
Baoning watched from a distance, confirming that Fang Yiru was indeed pregnant. After Li Qian escorted Jiang Baoning back to the palace, Baoning reiterated her promise to find The Book of Supreme Weapons for him, explaining that she had learned from the Grand Empress Dowager that Empress Dowager Cao held the real map and that she would find a way to approach her.
Shortly after, the Grand Empress Dowager urgently summoned Baoning and Empress Dowager Cao to discuss the Emperor’s marriage to Baoning. Empress Dowager Cao attempted to delay the proceedings, citing Zhao Yi's lingering illness and her own busy schedule with state affairs, then suggested waiting until her upcoming birthday celebration. However, the Grand Empress Dowager was resolute, asserting her authority and accusing Empress Dowager Cao of having ulterior motives for the delay.
Zhao Yi intervened, proposing that the betrothal edict be announced on Baoning's birthday in three days, turning it into a double celebration. Empress Dowager Cao objected, stating that Baoning's birthday coincided with Princess Yong’an’s death anniversary. The Grand Empress Dowager dismissed her concern, explaining that Princess Yong'an was Baoning’s birth mother and would surely wish for her daughter's happiness. With no further excuses, Empress Dowager Cao was forced to agree.
Baoning suspected Zhao Yi had manipulated the Grand Empress Dowager into rushing the betrothal. At that moment, Li Qian appeared, returning Baoning’s perfume ball, which he had modified with a retractable chain and sharp spikes, making it a more effective self-defense weapon. Li Qian then returned to his residence, where he was delighted to find his childhood companion, Gao Miaorong, who he considered a sister, had arrived from Bingzhou.
She had already taken the initiative to tidy up his new residence and even prepared lotus seed soup for him, much to his appreciation, though he remained oblivious to her deeper feelings for him. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Cao, resigned to Baoning becoming the Empress, strategized to place her own loyal person close to Zhao Yi. She summoned District Princess Qingyi Han Tongxin and Lord Jian, Han Tongxin’s grandfather.
After talking with Han Tongxin, who expressed her fondness for the palace and her willingness to stay by the Emperor’s side, Empress Dowager Cao sent her to greet Zhao Yi, while she discussed her plans with Lord Jian. Empress Dowager Cao proposed appointing Han Tongxin as Zhao Yi’s Noble Consort, assuring Lord Jian that the Grand Empress Dowager would not object. Lord Jian, however, expressed reluctance, citing Han Tongxin’s unruly nature and lack of palace etiquette.
Empress Dowager Cao insisted, reminding Lord Jian of his crucial support for her regency and emphasizing that such a marriage alliance would further strengthen their bond, leaving Lord Jian unable to refuse. District Princess Qingyi Han Tongxin, eager to see Zhao Yi, forcefully entered the Qinzheng Hall after being told he was busy, dismissing the eunuch’s attempts to stop her. Inside, she found Zhao Yi engrossed in a cricket fight.
Just then, Jiang Baoning also arrived, bringing ginseng chicken soup from the Grand Empress Dowager for Zhao Yi’s lingering cold. Baoning quickly noticed books on governance hidden nearby. Realizing that Han Tongxin was Empress Dowager Cao’s spy, Baoning, who was disguised as Zhao Yi’s "cricket fighting master," discreetly concealed the books, covering for Zhao Yi. She then playfully distracted Han Tongxin by making a cricket jump onto her shoulder, startling her.
