Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 2 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
A Fan purchased the burned-down Dragon Boat, formerly part of the Dragon & Phoenix Pleasure Boat, for two hundred taels after it was sold for fifty as a "Piggy Boat." She then reopened it as the Springtime Pleasure Boat. At the newly reopened Springtime Pleasure Boat, A Fan, unaware of his true identity, hired a "priest" for a mere three taels to conduct an opening ceremony.
However, Tao Junran and Cao Qing arrived, immediately identifying the priest as an Azurelander and arresting him. Desperate to prove her innocence and no connection to the Azurelanders, A Fan tearfully pleaded with Tao Junran, clinging to his legs. She insisted she was wronged and had no idea the old man was an Azurelander, only hiring him because he was cheap. Tao Junran, though believing she had no direct involvement, noted that an Azurelander was found on her boat.
As a condition for her freedom, he ordered her to report her daily activities to the Tao Mansion. Later, Cao Qing spoke to Tao Junran, reminding him of his parents' death in battle due to Azurelander betrayal, and how he avenged them by personally slaying Situ Tian, the king of Westland. Tao Junran declared his intention to use his sword to protect the people from then on.
The next morning, A Fan arrived at the Tao Mansion with freshly caught fish, claiming they were the famous four-gilled perch from Biyun County. She then gave Tao Junran a painstakingly detailed account of her day, from tending to her father to buying a flatbread from Old Zhang's shop and her frustration over the lack of customers at her boat, which she attributed to her daily visits to the Tao Mansion.
Overwhelmed by her chatter, Tao Junran asked Cao Qing to take the fish and escort A Fan out. That night, A Fan secretly entered Tao Junran's study, determined to retrieve her "chiba". In her haste, she accidentally tripped Tao Junran. When he confronted her, she explained her presence by claiming she never left and was plagued by mosquitoes outside.
To keep her compliant, Tao Junran offered her a deal: if she agreed to undertake all cleaning duties at the Tao Mansion for ten days, he would release her. Though initially hesitant about her boat, she quickly accepted when he hinted at harsher alternatives. He immediately put her to work, ordering her to clean the study before going home. Later, several of Tao Junran's female admirers saw A Fan emerging from his study.
Believing her to be seducing their beloved Lord Tao, they angrily confronted her at her home, threatening to tear it down. A Fan, seeing an opportunity, leaned in and secretly promised them access to Tao Junran's personal items and information, claiming her cleaning duties would provide the perfect cover. She then proceeded to steal his calligraphy and, even bolder, took his measurements while he was bathing to create customized dolls, which she sold at exorbitant prices to his eager fans.
Cao Qing eventually discovered A Fan's schemes, presenting Tao Junran with evidence of her selling his "customized figures." Outraged, Tao Junran ordered Cao Qing to seal the Springtime Pleasure Boat and confiscate all of A Fan's illicit earnings. A Fan vehemently denied the accusations at first, but Cao Qing produced proof, including an illicitly replicated official seal, which was enough to send her to jail. Cao Qing explained that merely sealing her boat was a generous act.
Undeterred by the main entrance being barred, A Fan attempted to sneak into the Tao Mansion through a dog's hole, only to get stuck. Her father tried to pull her out, and Tao Junran's men soon discovered her predicament. Instead of anger, Tao Junran calmly instructed his men to enlarge the dog's hole to free her.
Still wedged, A Fan angrily confronted Tao Junran, accusing him of using his authority to retaliate against her because he suspected a romantic involvement between her and Lian Qi, which led to her boat's closure. Tao Junran firmly stated that his orders were final. Frustrated by her boat's closure and Tao Junran's unyielding stance, A Fan decided to defy surveillance. She cunningly evaded Cao Qing, who later reported her disappearance to Tao Junran.
Learning of her disappearance, Tao Junran rushed to find her. A Fan had been abducted by people sent by Lian Qi, and while in captivity, she bravely attempted to escape by faking a severe stomach ache. Tao Junran arrived just in time, engaging in a fierce fight with the abductors, who were identified as Azurelanders. He successfully rescued A Fan, who was visibly injured on her face.
Back at her home, A Fan's father expressed his concern about her facial injuries. As Tao Junran prepared to leave, A Fan stopped him, explaining the profound sentimental value of the "chiba" he had confiscated. It was the only item her mother had left her, and her father remembered nothing else about her mother. For A Fan, the "chiba" was a tangible link to her deceased mother, making her feel like she still had a maternal figure in her life.
She confessed that she shared this intimate detail because she believed it was the only way Tao Junran would trust her. Understanding its significance, Tao Junran promised to return the "chiba" the following day. A Fan also reaffirmed her innocence, stating she truly didn't know why the Azurelanders had abducted her and had no connection to them.
