Rebirth For You Episode 4 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Jiang Baoning cleverly placed a cricket on Commandery Princess Qingyi's shoulder, causing her to lose composure in front of Emperor Zhao Yi and make a hasty exit. Zhao Yi then apologized to Baoning for forcing their marriage. Baoning acknowledged that the marriage was inevitable but admitted her discomfort with the prospect of sharing a husband with many women. However, with her grandmother's decision, she committed to learning how to be a good empress.
Baoning keenly observed that the man playing crickets with Zhao Yi was not a professional, noting the calluses on his finger joints indicated he was accustomed to writing with a brush. Zhao Yi confessed the man was Yan Huanian, a former councilor of the Office of Grand Council, whom he had secretly invited back to the palace to teach him governance. He explained that since Empress Dowager Cao had taken control, his official tutors only taught him superficial knowledge.
Baoning advised Zhao Yi to study diligently, acknowledging Yan Huanian as her uncle's contact. Separately, Han Tongxin’s grandfather, Lord Jian, expressed his deep concern for her well-being, especially given the complexities of palace life where Empress Dowager Cao held all real power, leaving Zhao Yi a mere puppet.
He warned Han Tongxin that she would become a pawn if she married Zhao Yi and reminded her of Zhao Yi's many concubines and his close bond with Commandery Princess Jia’nan, questioning how much love she could truly receive. Han Tongxin, however, steadfastly declared her intention to marry solely for love, convinced that her genuine affection would win Zhao Yi's heart. She confidently added that her beauty, wisdom, and status as Lord Jian’s granddaughter would secure her an honored position.
Reluctantly, Lord Jian agreed to relay her wishes to Empress Dowager Cao. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Cao was informed that the Machinist Contest she had investigated was merely Zhao Yi’s elaborate charade to entertain Baoning. Dismissing it as childish, she soon grew suspicious of Zhao Yi's new obsession with cricket fighting. She ordered her eunuch to investigate the identity and background of the outside trainer.
That night, Baoning realized she had forgotten to return a book on governance belonging to Zhao Yi. While examining it, she discovered detailed blueprints for a waterfowl ship. She connected these to the intricate mechanisms from the recent Machinist Contest, deducing that Zhao Yi had organized the competition not to amuse her, but to secretly gather expertise for building the ship.
Realizing Zhao Yi's hidden agenda, Baoning had her maid, Qingke, discreetly return the book to him and then urgently wrote a letter to her uncle, Jiang Zhenyuan, at The Archduke’s Mansion. Zhao Yi, relieved to recover his hidden book, noted that Baoning must have concealed it from Commandery Princess Qingyi. Upon her return to The Archduke's Mansion, Baoning learned that her cousin, Jiang Lyu, though publicly reported as ill, had been secretly dispatched to Zhuo’an by Jiang Zhenyuan.
Her suspicions were confirmed during a meeting with Jiang Zhenyuan. Baoning revealed her discovery of Zhao Yi’s secret tutelage under Yan Huanian and the waterfowl ship blueprints. She deduced their plan to use the ship to transport fighters to Longevity Hill during Empress Dowager Cao’s birthday banquet, aiming to force her to cede power.
Baoning pointed out that Zhao Yi’s eagerness to marry her was solely to secure the Jiang family’s backing to stabilize the court after Empress Dowager Cao's removal. While unwilling to marry Zhao Yi, Baoning also sought to protect her family. She argued that the Jiang family’s safety lay in neither Empress Dowager Cao nor the Emperor holding absolute power. She then revealed Zhao Yi's secret: he had a child with a palace maid, hidden outside the palace.
She believed that if Empress Dowager Cao gained custody of the child, Zhao Yi would be compelled to act cautiously. Jiang Zhenyuan agreed on the critical importance of protecting the maid. Baoning explained she had learned this information from Li Qian, whom she had met by chance and who had agreed to help her in exchange for her assistance in finding something in the palace.
Faced with the impending imperial edict to make her empress, Baoning vowed to find a way to annul the marriage, asserting she would not passively accept her fate. Jiang Zhenyuan expressed regret for not being able to shield her from these political entanglements, but Baoning reassured him that their family was her strongest support. Concurrently, Li Qian’s subordinate, Wei Shu, reported seeing Jiang Lyu, supposedly ill, secretly depart for Zhuo’an, the closest level-one garrison to Longevity Hill.
Li Qian immediately deduced the Archduke’s and Emperor’s plan to stage a coup at Empress Dowager Cao’s upcoming birthday banquet. Strategizing for his own family, Li Qian covertly entered Shoukang Palace to meet Baoning. He proposed a daring alliance: the Jiang family would secretly arrange for him to be by Empress Dowager Cao's side during the coup.
This would allow him to protect her, absolving the Jiang family of any blame for "offending" the Empress Dowager, while simultaneously giving him an opportunity to acquire The Book of Supreme Weapons. To earn her trust, Li Qian presented a commitment letter, pledging his entire family’s lives as collateral. Baoning accepted and gave him her personal jade pendant, instructing him to present it to Jiang Zhenyuan as proof of their agreement.
Li Qian then met Jiang Zhenyuan, candidly outlining his plan and requesting to be assigned as a guard at Longevity Hill. Trusting Baoning's judgment, Jiang Zhenyuan agreed to the dangerous alliance. Baoning visited Empress Dowager Cao under the pretext of presenting a handcrafted fan, hoping to subtly inquire about The Book of Supreme Weapons. However, Empress Dowager Cao quickly dismissed her, claiming preoccupation with state affairs, prompting Baoning to realize Li Qian's risky plan was their only option.
Separately, Empress Dowager Cao arranged for Commandery Princess Qingyi (Han Tongxin) to study with Baoning under Grand Mentor Xiong, suspecting Han Tongxin had designs on Zhao Yi. During their first lesson, Han Tongxin, despite presenting a valuable gift from her grandfather to Grand Mentor Xiong, exhibited an arrogant demeanor. She openly challenged the mentor's lesson topic and made disparaging remarks towards Baoning, even intentionally staining Baoning’s Jin County rice paper while boastfully claiming hers was superior, unaware they were identical.
Baoning, seeing Han Tongxin's aggressive and foolish behavior, sarcastically thought she was a "perfect candidate for the Empress." Baoning remained focused on her own strategies, ignoring Han Tongxin's provocations. While flying a kite, Baoning spotted Eunuch Min Zhou from Empress Dowager Cao's palace secretly trailing Yan Huanian. Fearing exposure, Baoning quickly changed into a maid's attire, and with Li Qian's timely intervention and clever deception, she managed to slip out of the palace.
Baoning explained Yan Huanian's true role to Li Qian—secretly teaching Zhao Yi governance—and the severe repercussions if Empress Dowager Cao discovered it. They then devised a plan. Baoning bought a horse and caused a chaotic diversion in the streets, successfully drawing Min Zhou's attention. This allowed Li Qian to discreetly escort Yan Huanian safely back to his residence. After the successful rescue, Li Qian noticed Baoning's sprained wrist, sustained during her ride.
Returning to his mansion, he requested Gao Miaorong to prepare a specialized ointment for a "friend." Later that night, despite Gao Miaorong's curiosity, Li Qian secretly brought the medicine to Baoning in Shoukang Palace, where Baoning, recognizing his characteristic lack of discretion, accepted it.
Back in the palace, Baoning immediately informed Zhao Yi of Empress Dowager Cao's growing suspicion towards Yan Huanian, urging him to cease Yan Huanian's visits to the palace and instead find another cricket trainer to serve as a decoy to dispel the Empress Dowager's doubts. Zhao Yi, while grateful, attempted to steer the conversation back to their marriage, but Baoning skillfully redirected him to focus on security.
Later that night, as Li Qian secretly delivered the sprain ointment to Baoning in her chambers, the Grand Empress Dowager unexpectedly arrived for a visit. To prevent Li Qian’s discovery, Baoning quickly hid him under her covers and feigned a severe cold, warning the Grand Empress Dowager not to approach her for fear of contagion. Convinced, the Grand Empress Dowager soon left, escorted by Qingke, allowing Li Qian to safely depart.
