Sassy Beauty Episode 21 Recap
> Sassy Beauty Recap
Qiguan Yi and Qiguan Da returned to Dongli City, where their father, the City Lord, celebrated their victory. Qiguan Da humbly admitted his rashness, but Qiguan Yi quickly praised Qiguan Da for his timely troop deployment that forced the Northland army to retreat. The City Lord expressed his pride in both of them, and also commended Bao for handling state affairs in his absence.
Qiguan Da then credited Qiguan Xiu for his crucial role in solving the missing provisions case, which saved their soldiers. The City Lord acknowledged Qiguan Xiu's newfound princely demeanor but urged him to work harder. The City Lord rewarded all the princes, confident that the Northland would not dare to invade for another decade. However, an unseen figure, a king, harbored dark intentions, wishing to see the City Lord suffer the loss of his son.
Amidst the celebrations, palace attendants gossiped, noting that while Qiguan Da received the imperial sword, Qiguan Yi was bestowed the jade crown of the crowned prince, clearly indicating him as the heir apparent, much to Qiguan Da's hidden fury. Meanwhile, Si Yan, having successfully completed her previous mission, was promoted to Ceremonial Officer. Her relationship with Hu Ying had improved, and Hu Ying congratulated her warmly.
Shortly after, the First Lady issued an order reassigning Si Yan to the Meditation Chamber as a makeup maid for Tong Rui, also known as Miss Min. Si Yan initially resisted serving Tong Rui, but when an attendant suggested sending her to the strenuous Beekeeping Site, she reluctantly accepted, asserting her proficiency in serving others.
Upon arrival, Tong Rui, with a hint of mockery, tasked Si Yan with finding palatable feed for pigs recently acquired from her father in the Northland. Si Yan, annoyed by the deliberate provocation, reminded Tong Rui of their agreement to maintain separate paths. Tong Rui, however, claimed she merely needed a maid and found Si Yan's skills "average but superior" to previous ones.
Si Yan, frustrated, retorted by asking Tong Rui to refrain from calling her "Glasses" if she didn't want to be called a "pig feeder." Si Yan pressed for Tong Rui's ultimate mission, but Tong Rui playfully insisted on mystery, then instructed Si Yan to summon Qiguan Yi to the Meditation Chamber the following day. Si Yan suspected Tong Rui was exploiting her new position for personal gain, but Tong Rui asserted she was merely adhering to the game's established rules.
Elsewhere, Qiguan Da's attendant observed General Min's continuous delivery of grand gifts to Qiguan Yi's residence, speculating that they were in fact dowry, foreshadowing an imminent marriage between Qiguan Yi and Tong Rui. This realization further infuriated Qiguan Da. Qiguan Yi and Qiguan Xiu intensified their investigation into the missing provisions by interrogating Manager Ruan. Ruan initially feigned ignorance, prompting Qiguan Yi to employ a silent, observant approach.
They brought in Ruan's young son, Long, who tearfully recounted that black-clothed men had murdered his grandparents and mother, eliciting a despairing cry from Ruan about a broken promise not to harm his family. With his family gone, Ruan confessed: ten years prior, as a grain depot assistant, he was coerced into framing his superior, Manager Lin (Si Yan's father), for embezzlement during a locust plague, leading to Lin Xu's wrongful execution and heavy casualties in the war against Northland.
Manager Ruan confirmed Manager Lin was indeed Si Yan's father. Qiguan Xiu questioned Si Yan's presence in the East Mansion, given her father's criminal past. Ruan further divulged that after his promotion, he was periodically contacted over the past three years to clandestinely transport military provisions to Northland via foreign merchants, using the Precious Treasures Pavilion as their meeting point. To cover the dwindling supplies, Ruan resorted to fabricating boating accidents.
Qiguan Yi connected these findings, revealing that a substantial mica smuggling operation, evident in ledgers Si Yan had previously uncovered, also funneled massive sums of money (tens of thousands of silver taels monthly) through the Precious Treasures Pavilion, confirming its role as an underground bank. He noted the Precious Treasures Pavilion was the only entity conducting "trade" with Northland under the guise of foreign exchange.
He also recalled that Manager Xue of the Precious Treasures Pavilion was a former subordinate of General Min, leading him to suspect the Precious Treasures Pavilion was General Min's covert base in Dongli. Qiguan Xiu grasped the implication: General Min was behind the entire conspiracy. Qiguan Yi elaborated on General Min's suspicious rise to power after miraculously saving Dongli's army ten years prior, and the recurring pattern of Northland invasions that only General Min successfully "resolved" without reported losses.
He deduced that General Min was likely supplying Northland with money and grain to maintain conflicts, thereby solidifying his own power. Recognizing his father's complex respect and apprehension towards General Min, Qiguan Yi stressed the critical need for irrefutable evidence.
He assigned Yun Li to monitor the Precious Treasures Pavilion and urged Qiguan Xiu to frequent the Meditation Chamber, hinting that if Tong Rui knew of General Min's treachery, she would pose a threat to their investigation if she remained in the East Mansion. He also jokingly added not to worry about Si Yan getting jealous. The Qiguan family men were suffering from hair loss, and the new hair-growth medicine was too bitter.
The palace departments were tasked with creating pleasant "medicine parings." Si Yan, upon hearing this, volunteered for the task, bargaining for her return to the Makeup Service if she succeeded. Cui Shanggong agreed to advocate for her. While cleaning Tong Rui's palace, Si Yan observed Qiguan Yi delivering gifts to Tong Rui, which displeased her.
Later, eavesdropping on maids admiring Qiguan Yi's generosity to Tong Rui and calling them a "dragon and phoenix," Si Yan muttered about them being "two-timing cheaters." In the kitchen, Jack playfully teased Si Yan about her frequent presence, then praised her growing popularity and asked if she had fallen for him. Si Yan quickly changed the subject. That evening, Qiguan Yi visited Tong Rui at the Meditation Chamber. Tong Rui, noticing Qiguan Yi's subtle glances, pointed out Si Yan's absence.
Qiguan Yi used the opportunity to discreetly inquire about General Min's recent activities, expressing concern about Northland's potential return. Tong Rui confidently reassured him, highlighting her father's long-standing border defense and the fear he instilled in the King of Northland, citing the recent effortless recapture of Redbud Pass. Qiguan Yi, however, subtly hinted that Northland's resilience might stem from "sufficient money and grain," suggesting other hidden sources of power beyond the Redbud Pass.
Tong Rui, understanding his implication of other beneficiaries, deftly diverted the conversation to Qiguan Teng, claiming her father respected him and understood his fated death in battle. Qiguan Yi grew agitated, and Tong Rui continued, asserting her father's belief that a border soldier's destiny was to die defending Dongli, advising Qiguan Yi to seek direct clarification to avoid misconceptions. Qiguan Yi, acknowledging her astuteness, admitted he had learned a lesson.
Tong Rui then mentioned her father's anticipated presence at their wedding, mockingly criticizing Qiguan Yi's chess move as self-destructive. Qiguan Yi conceded defeat and prepared to leave. Tong Rui then pointedly highlighted his excessive and unsuitable gifts, like Persian silk threads, questioning if he expected her to knit him a sweater, and suggesting he exert more effort if he was merely putting on a show.
She reiterated her awareness of his lack of affection, asking him to maintain boundaries as she only sought a "title" and nothing more. Qiguan Yi apologized, stating he could grant any request except their engagement. Si Yan, having overheard the exchange, approached Qiguan Yi, jokingly praising his tactic and offering to knit him a sweater. Qiguan Yi, flustered, excused himself to the Patrol Squadron. Si Yan then arranged to meet him at their usual spot that night.
Qiguan Da later found Qiguan Yi looking troubled and learned that Manager Lin, the falsely accused former official, was Si Yan's biological father. Shocked, Qiguan Da asked if Si Yan knew the truth. Qiguan Yi admitted his guilt for not preventing the execution order years ago, which led to her family's ruin. In a flashback, a younger Qiguan Yi questioned his father about Manager Lin's alleged embezzlement during a locust plague, suggesting further investigation.
The scene then shifted to a young Tong Rui tearfully demanding strict punishment for corrupt officials, which prompted the City Lord to sign the execution order, despite Qiguan Yi's attempt to intervene. Back in the present, Qiguan Da advised Qiguan Yi against revealing the truth to Si Yan, fearing it would only re-open old wounds and cause more suffering. In the kitchen, Si Yan continued to work on the medicine parings.
Jack, joining her, was intrigued by her idea of sweet and chewy candy, reminiscent of what his mother used to give him. Despite his duties as a guard, he agreed to help her find fruits. Later, as they prepared the gummies, Si Yan affectionately told Jack she no longer differentiated between "Xiao Li" and "Jack," feeling their connection was more profound now that she could physically interact with him, and thanked him for always being there.
Jack, visibly distressed by her words, became disoriented, crying out about being in darkness and unable to see, clinging to Si Yan and proclaiming his willingness to sacrifice everything for her. He woke up, still disoriented and apologizing, continuing to express his inability to see. Si Yan comforted him, calling him "Xiao Li," reassuring him it was over, but he desperately pleaded for her to stay. Si Yan, frightened, eventually extricated herself, stating she had other matters to attend to.
Before she left, Jack offered her a transparent gummy bear. The following morning, during the medicine distribution, an attendant, previously caught by Jack wandering near Si Yan's kitchen, ensured that Qiguan Yi received a green gummy bear. The princes gathered to sample the medicine parings from various departments: the Royal Kitchen presented Dragon Beard Candy, the Garment Service offered Orange Cake, and the Protocol Department had Red Preserves. Si Yan's Makeup Service offered "Spongy Gummy Bear," which amused the princes.
Qiguan Da decided to save Si Yan's gummy for last. As Qiguan Yi reached for a green gummy bear, Jack "accidentally" bumped into Si Yan, spilling the gummies. The attendant attempted to replace them, but Jack, feigning graciousness, offered his own. Then, as Qiguan Yi prepared to drink his medicine, the same attendant tried to swap it, claiming it was cold and bitter.
Highly suspicious, Jack abruptly seized Qiguan Yi's medicine and drank it himself, then swiftly departed, pretending everything was fine. Later, Si Yan found a severely ill Jack. He managed to maintain his facade, urging her to return to the princes, stating he could not allow Qiguan Yi to be harmed and for her to be implicated. After Si Yan left, Jack collapsed.
