Sassy Beauty Episode 14 Recap
> Sassy Beauty Recap
Min Taotao instructed her maid to ensure Si Yan was assigned the task of procuring sun-blocking hats. The maid, who had previously pawned Min Taotao's jewelry, justified her actions by claiming Si Yan was trying to seduce Qiguan Yi and steal the marriage from Min Taotao. Min Taotao, however, expanded the sabotage plan, ordering all hats and their raw materials in East City to be bought out, determined for Si Yan to fail.
Later, Prince Xiu hosted a gathering at a restaurant with Prince Da, Prince Bao, and Min Taotao, who was disguised as Adviser Tong. Prince Xiu confidently placed a large bet that no one would dare take down the marriage poster he had put up, believing it was a guaranteed win. Prince Bao, however, warned him against celebrating too early.
Qiguan Yi soon joined them, and Prince Xiu, noticing Qiguan Yi and Prince Bao seemed upset, invited Si Yan, who was downstairs, to join their drinking game. They played Truth or Dare. Prince Bao's dare was to carry the person next to him and twirl, so he carried Prince Da. Next, Prince Xiu's dare was to kiss the person he most wanted to kiss; he surprised everyone by kissing Prince Da.
Prince Da’s dare was to imitate a woman shouting, "I'm the most beautiful," which he did, sparking laughter as he recalled childhood antics involving Qiguan Yi and Prince Xiu playing pranks with him by the lake. When Adviser Tong (Min Taotao) chose Truth, she revealed her biggest childhood wish was simply to have birthday cake, as her father always forgot her birthdays. Prince Da, feeling sympathetic, promised to celebrate her birthdays in the future.
During the game, Si Yan's rosewood powder box vibrated, and she discovered a letter inside. The letter, from Tong Hui (Min Taotao's father) to "Rui" (Min Taotao's real name), revealed that Tong Hui was losing control of the game because Si Zheng (Si Yan's father) was interfering to protect his daughter. Tong Hui urged "Rui" to complete her mission and return soon as his health was declining.
Si Yan, realizing the implications and the box's purpose as a communication tool, debated what to do with the letter. She then pretended to make new dares but secretly placed the letter back inside the box, ensuring Min Taotao would find it. When Qiguan Yi chose Truth and was asked when he would return in time, he said he wished to go back to the Beiyuan battlefield, but now there were many places he wanted to revisit.
He discreetly gave Si Yan some blue indigo flowers and information about the First Lady's makeup preferences. Si Yan then made sure Min Taotao (as Adviser Tong) drew the dare containing the letter intended for her. Upon reading it, Min Taotao's face turned pale. She quickly drank a cup of wine as a self-imposed punishment and excused herself, claiming to be tipsy. Finally, it was Si Yan's turn, and her dare was to take down Prince Xiu's marriage poster.
Si Yan suspected the dare was tampered with, as she hadn't created it, but under pressure from everyone, she eventually took down the poster. The group then amusingly scored each other's appearances based on various idioms. News quickly spread that Si Yan, a mere court lady, had taken down Prince Xiu's marriage poster.
Prince Xiu vehemently opposed the forced marriage, but the King gave him an ultimatum: either marry Si Yan or banish his attendant (Min Taotao, still disguised as Adviser Tong). The First Lady then stepped in, offering to handle the delicate situation, subtly mentioning Si Yan's status as a maid in her Palace Makeup Service. Si Yan's task to procure sun-blocking hats quickly turned into a crisis.
Shop owners informed her that her orders were mysteriously canceled, and all the hats and black gauze in the market were sold out. Min Taotao appeared, mocking Si Yan and confirming that she was behind the sabotage, gloating about the looming half-day deadline. Meanwhile, Qiguan Yi expressed his distress over Si Yan being forced to marry Prince Xiu, despite his attendant's reassurance that there was no romantic connection between them.
Qiguan Yi, who harbored feelings for Si Yan, worried that his mother, the First Lady, would manipulate the situation to ensure the marriage. He rushed to find Si Yan, only to learn she was out trying to buy hats. Si Yan scoured the market for materials but found everything either sold out or exorbitantly expensive. Eventually, she settled on coarse linen.
Recognizing her as Prince Xiu's soon-to-be wife, the shop owner offered the cheap linen to her for free, asking only that she promote his store. Upon returning to the East Mansion, Si Yan was immediately summoned by the First Lady. She was given a luxurious bath and dressed in exquisite clothing, making Si Yan jokingly wonder if she was being prepared like a concubine for the Emperor.
That evening, the First Lady dined with Qiguan Yi, reminiscing about his deceased brother Teng'er and their childhood fondness for marshmallow biscuits. She then pressed Qiguan Yi to marry Lady Min and revealed that Si Yan and Prince Xiu were expected to consummate their marriage that very night. Qiguan Yi, distraught, attempted to leave but was prevented by his mother. Si Yan was escorted to Prince Xiu's room, where she found him lightly dressed.
They quickly realized they had been tricked and locked inside. Both were unwilling to consummate the marriage. Prince Xiu, attempting to lighten the mood, jokingly asked if she liked someone else, despite his "handsome, attractive, wise, and strong" presence. He proposed a temporary solution: they would pretend to accept the marriage for now. He planned to compete in the annual Fall Hunt, where the "First hunter" could make one request to the King.
He intended to win the title and ask the King to annul their engagement. He emphasized the crucial need for absolute secrecy, even from Qiguan Yi. Their conversation was interrupted by shouts of "Fire!" A servant reported seeing a shadow jump into the courtyard before a fire erupted by the fence. Si Yan initially suspected Qiguan Yi was orchestrating a rescue. Soon after, Qiguan Yi appeared, ordering Prince Xiu to investigate the East Wing, subtly hinting at his involvement.
Si Yan returned to her room to change, only to find it ransacked and her rosewood powder box stolen. It was then revealed that Min Taotao, still disguised as Adviser Tong, had started the fire and stolen the box. She read her father Tong Hui's complete letter, which detailed how he had conceived the game but was now losing his authority due to Si Zheng's interference to protect Si Yan.
Min Taotao resolved to complete her mission swiftly and return home. A lotus motif was noticed from the box, leading Min Taotao to ponder if her mission's target was connected to the lotus. She then placed the box back in Si Yan's room.
