Youthful Glory Episode 1 Recap, Plot

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The news of the marriage alliance between the Duke Ling's Residence and the Marquis Jing'an's Residence spread throughout the streets and alleys. Miss Ming of the Ming family was the most distinguished lady in the capital, and the betrothal gifts sent by the Duke Ling's Residence became the talk of the town. When Miss Ming, Ming Tan, learned that Madam Li Lingyi from the Duke Ling's Residence had entered the household, she did not rush but calmly dressed herself.

The Liang family had ill intentions in arranging this marriage—they were clearly after the military power of the Marquis's Residence. Moreover, Liang Zixuan had long been privately involved with his cousin. How could she possibly agree to such a marriage? Li Lingyi began to grow impatient. When she saw Ming Tan arrive, she quickly put on a smile, eager to welcome her into the residence immediately.

However, when Ming Tan saw the betrothal gifts brought by Li Lingyi, she pointed out that the matchmaker had mixed in inferior items. It wasn’t that she was being picky, but the betrothal gifts had their own significance. To outsiders, it might seem as though she was trying to climb above her station. Upon hearing this, Li Lingyi hurriedly held her hand and promised to send new betrothal gifts and not let her suffer any grievance.

But now that the whole city had seen the betrothal ceremony, if it were to fall through, it would not look good. As Li Lingyi handed her the marriage contract, Ming Tan signaled to her maid, who deliberately knocked over a screen. Taking the incident as an ill omen, Nanny Li used it as a reason to temporarily reject the marriage.

Hearing that Liang Zixuan was taking his cousin Zhu'er to pray for blessings, Ming Tan quickly ordered her servants to prepare a carriage. On his way back to the capital, the General of Dingbei, Jiang Xu, was ambushed by assassins. He suspected they were sent by the Liang family. Due to injuries sustained in battle, Jiang Xu was unable to fight back and had to flee in haste to Hanyan Temple.

Liang Zixuan arrived at the temple with his cousin Zhu'er. Zhu'er was already pregnant with his child and feared that life would become unbearable for her and the baby once Ming Tan entered the household, causing Liang Zixuan to feel deeply distressed. Ming Tan watched secretly and resolved to obtain the wooden prayer plaque they had used together, as it would have their names on it and could serve as proof should they deny the affair during the engagement annulment.

Ming Tan had her maid stand guard outside while she waited for them to leave and entered the main hall to search for the wooden plaque. Jiang Xu happened to be in the corner of the hall and, seeing her nearly fall from a chair, rushed over to save her. When Ming Tan noticed that her silk stocking was torn, she quickly freed herself from his arms and thanked him.

At that moment, sounds came from outside—the county constable had arrived to arrest thieves. The maid hurriedly presented a token to stop them from entering. Ming Tan suspected Jiang Xu had led them there. To protect both their reputations, she loudly threatened the constables and forced them to leave, fearing the power of the Marquis Jing'an's Residence. After Ming Tan left, Jiang Xu picked up a jade pendant she had dropped.

He intended to return it but, upon encountering a group of soldiers searching the area, quietly hid on the roof of Ming Tan's carriage. On the way, before Ming Tan even realized what was happening, a flying dagger suddenly struck. Jiang Xu told her to leave quickly, but the frightened coachman had already fled. Jiang Xu killed all the assassins and returned to ask for a ride into the city.

However, Ming Tan refused, saying it would be inappropriate for a man and woman to share a carriage, especially since they were strangers and she didn’t even know who he was. Jiang Xu, clutching his wound, looked angrily at the water pouch and medicine that had fallen from her carriage. Bai Minmin, upon hearing that Ming Tan had encountered assassins at Hanyan Temple, hurried over.

Only then did Ming Tan realize the prayer plaque she had taken was missing—now she had no evidence. Bai Minmin suggested they infiltrate the residence to find proof of Liang Zixuan's affair with his cousin. Ming Tan went to see her adoptive parents, the Left Chancellor Su Wenchun and Zhang Yunru, hoping that Zhang Yunru would accompany her to the Duke Ling's Residence to offer an apology.

While Zhang Yunru conversed with Li Lingyi, Ming Tan made an excuse to go find Miss Rong'er and left. She dismissed her maid and quietly entered the study. After an unsuccessful search, she stumbled into a hidden room. Suddenly, a sword was pressed to her neck—it turned out to be Jiang Xu from that day. Ming Tan mistook Jiang Xu for a thief and suggested they each take what they needed and part ways.

When Li Lingyi heard that Ming Tan had disappeared, she quickly instructed Zhu'er to stay put and not cause any trouble. In the secret chamber, Jiang Xu found a large amount of government silver. Ming Tan tried to take a silver ingot as evidence but was knocked unconscious by Jiang Xu. She later woke up in the residence, confused. Bai Minmin was extremely worried.

Ming Tan realized that if the engagement wasn’t annulled, the Ming family would be dragged into a disaster! Back at the Liang Residence, Liang Qiwei discovered that all the silver in the secret room had vanished. The General of Dingbei, Jiang Xu, had left a letter accusing him of embezzling military funds and claiming that what he found was just the tip of the iceberg.

During the Lantern Festival banquet at the palace, Li Lingyi smiled and greeted Ming Tan enthusiastically, trying to bring up the marriage between the two families. But Ming Tan deliberately ignored her. Suddenly, the General of Dingbei returned to the capital and appeared at the banquet, stirring up a wave of discussion among the guests.

Episode 2 Recap

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