Sassy Beauty Episode 12 Recap
> Sassy Beauty Recap
Plagued by guilt and distress over Qiguan Yi's injury, Si Yan lamented her failure to understand her true identity earlier, fearing Qiguan Yi's death as a consequence. Jack, her system butler, reassured her that the current events were pre-ordained, yet Si Yan questioned why her ultimate goal of becoming the head matron had morphed into assassinating Qiguan Yi.
Jack explained that while normal promotion would take ten years, assisting the mastermind behind Qiguan Yi's assassination was the quickest path to achieving her goal, a hidden objective within the game. He clarified that Qiguan Yi, an NPC, was a component of her mission, destined to die for her to live. However, Si Yan's act of saving him had steered the game in an unpredictable direction.
Si Yan vehemently rejected this, stating the setup was a scam and unfair, as she could restart if she died, but Qiguan Yi would be gone forever. Jack, dismissing Qiguan Yi as mere data, questioned her deep concern for an NPC, to which Si Yan retorted that Jack was also a program. Jack clarified that he was her butler, born for her, and would always protect her.
Si Yan then expressed her belief that the mission was flawed and declared her intention to find the game's mastermind to change their fate. The system then presented two identical mission options: "Get exiled to Linchuan Cliff" and "Find the blood mica." Si Yan, seeing this as the system forcing her hand, refused to choose. Despite her refusal, the First Lady ordered Si Yan's banishment to Linchuan Cliff.
Qiguan Bao, distraught by this news, pleaded with his mother, arguing for Si Yan's innocence. He confessed his feelings for Si Yan, declaring he would do anything for her and did not care about her status or rumors about her and Qiguan Yi. His mother, though sympathetic, explained that Si Yan was at the epicenter of political intrigue, and exile to Linchuan Cliff was a lifeline, while remaining in the mansion would only invite greater disaster.
She advised Qiguan Bao, as a royal, to be discreet and build his own strength to protect those he cared for, to which he agreed. Meanwhile, Qiguan Da met Min Taotao, still disguised as a man. Min Taotao revealed her knowledge of Qiguan Da's true identity, remarking on the City Lord's extensive search for Qiguan Yi's assailant.
She implied Qiguan Da possessed superior virtues and combat skills compared to Qiguan Yi and noted his disadvantage as a son of a concubine. She offered her assistance in helping him become the Young City Lord. Qiguan Da, skeptical of her motives, questioned if she sought trouble or profit, to which Min Taotao, identifying herself as a merchant, admitted to pursuing self-interest, aspiring to become his advisor.
Upon arrival at Linchuan Cliff, Director Li, the mine's overseer, greeted Si Yan with seemingly generous provisions, which Si Yan found unsettling, remarking it felt like a "last meal." Director Li also inquired about her birth details, citing strict mining regulations. Si Yan soon discovered Director Li was exploiting prisoners' children for hard labor and embezzling their wages.
Shortly after, Si Yan was abducted, blindfolded, and taken to a tomb, where Director Li's men, acting on the First Lady's orders, physically abused her. Si Yan overheard their conversation, learning that a miner named Amu was falsely accused of stealing mica and died in a staged mine collapse designed to silence him. His friends had given the mica to Director Li, who then orchestrated this forced ghost marriage ritual between Si Yan and the deceased Amu at his tomb.
As Si Yan struggled against her captors, she was rescued by a black-clad figure who turned out to be Qiguan Bao. He urged her to return with him, confessing his love and fearing she would evade him as she had at the Lantern Festival. Si Yan, while acknowledging his feelings, rejected his offer, stating she didn't want to implicate him and that her feelings for Qiguan Yi were the reason.
Qiguan Bao then informed her that Qiguan Yi's poison had been detoxified but he was still recovering. Si Yan, deeply concerned, expressed her desire to see Qiguan Yi. Realizing her true affections, Qiguan Bao left to retrieve a horse, leaving her with a masked individual. Si Yan initially addressed the masked individual as Qiguan Bao, indicating her mistaken belief.
Later, at Qiguan Yi's bedside, Si Yan poured out her heart, believing herself to be his bad luck charm, responsible for his repeated dangers. She confessed her fear of what she had become—no longer the fearless person she once was, but someone burdened by worry and concern for him and others like Lan Miao, Lady Liao, Qiguan Bao, and Juzi. She admitted her fear of facing him and not wanting him to be a sacrifice for her game mission.
Acknowledging that he was no longer "just a random guy" to her, she kissed his forehead and bid him farewell, intending to distance herself. As she turned to leave, Qiguan Yi, who had been feigning unconsciousness, suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her hand, begging her to stay. Just then, Manager Wang announced the First Lady's arrival. Si Yan, tearing herself away, implored Qiguan Yi never to seek her out again.
Outside, Si Yan confronted Jack, explaining that her continued presence would only endanger Qiguan Yi further. She refused to accept the system's "kill or be killed" narrative, believing there must be another way to reconcile her awakening with Qiguan Yi's survival. She declared that "choices are for kids" and vowed to find the game's mastermind, convinced that the man in black and the courtesan with dandelion makeup were linked.
She decided to investigate Director Li, suspecting him of being a key to a hidden route. Despite his incomplete recovery, Qiguan Yi attended the morning court, driven by his desire to clear Si Yan's name. During the session, Qiguan Da, recalling Min Taotao's advice to observe before acting, waited for others to speak. After various theories about the assassin's identity were proposed, Qiguan Yi expressed doubt about the Northern Abyss theory, as their people disdain the use of poison.
Qiguan Da then revealed a newly discovered female corpse in Hunyong River, whose appearance and attire matched the description of the courtesan. The City Lord promptly dispatched him to investigate. Meanwhile, Qiguan Xiu mused on finding a secret recipe and avenging his father, while his guard Yun Li advised caution, suggesting the true culprits might be internal rather than external. Under the cover of night, Si Yan stealthily searched Director Li's room, locating the blood mica.
She then discovered a hidden compartment containing a ledger and a blood-written letter. These documents revealed Director Li's illicit blood mica smuggling and his ruthless act of orchestrating the mine collapse to silence the miner Amu and other witnesses. Enraged by this heinous crime, Si Yan was about to leave when Director Li unexpectedly returned. He attempted to strangle her, but Qiguan Xiu intervened, subduing Director Li and taking him away.
Upon regaining consciousness, Si Yan thanked Qiguan Xiu for saving her, asking if Qiguan Bao or Qiguan Yi had sent him. Qiguan Xiu inquired about her presence on the courtesan Yuege's carriage that fateful night, to which Si Yan vaguely attributed it to coincidence. She described Yuege as having a burn scar covered by a dandelion leaf painting. Qiguan Xiu indicated this detail was sufficient.
Before leaving, he conveyed a message from Qiguan Yi: he would wait for her return to admire the bright full moon together. Qiguan Xiu then presented Si Yan with a blood mica piece, revealing it was found on Director Li and had "Xue Yunmu" carved on it. Si Yan realized this was a pun, connecting the miner's name to the blood mica.
Qiguan Xiu insisted Si Yan return to the mansion with him, citing concern from Qiguan Yi and Qiguan Bao. He also returned a lost token to Si Yan, which she recognized as having gone missing from the Imperial Institute of Medicine, making her wonder if Qiguan Xiu had also been there.
The ledger eventually fell into Qiguan Yi's hands, and Si Yan, due to her meritorious service in cracking the Linchuan Cliff black ledger, was able to return to the Makeup Bureau. Later, Qiguan Xiu's servant Yun Li expressed frustration at his master's continued meddling.
