Song of Youth Episode 10 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Sun Xun vehemently opposed Sun Yulou's marriage to Lin Shaochun, citing her past as the daughter of a criminal and her participation in the palace selection. He feared her background would jeopardize Sun Yulou's career and implicate Sun Youzhen. Sun Yulou, however, vowed to marry only Lin Shaochun, even threatening to leave the capital, which led to his punishment by Sun Xun. Desperate, Sun Yulou sought advice.
Yao Dizhu, suspecting Lin Shaochun was using Sun Yulou to clear her father Lin Yuandao's name, suggested testing her sincerity. Sun Yulou, confident in Lin Shaochun's true affection, refused. Xu Fengqiao, aware of Sun Yulou's stubbornness, worried he might defy his parents and marry Lin Shaochun. She urged Yao Dizhu to win Sun Yulou over, but Yao Dizhu preferred to make Lin Shaochun retreat gracefully. Yao Dizhu devised a plan that required Sun Yulou to be absent for several days.
During a family meal, Shen Shi, prompted by Xu Fengqiao, feigned her grandmother's illness and requested Sun Yulou accompany her to her old home. Sun Yulou initially resisted but was compelled by Sun Xun's insistence and Shen Shi's use of filial piety. Sun Jingge attempted to volunteer but was subtly stopped by Xu Fengqiao, a moment observed by Sun Xiaoxian. Sun Yulou wrote a letter to Lin Shaochun, entrusting Huan Lang with its delivery.
However, Xu Fengqiao intercepted Huan Lang, seized the letter, and, threatening him with the authority of Sun Xun and Shen Shi, claimed she would deliver it herself while going to the Lin family to propose. Xu Fengqiao then visited Lin Shaochun, offering false congratulations on Lin Yuandao's name being cleared. She then fabricated a story, claiming the Emperor had decreed Sun Yulou marry Princess Nan'an due to his service in clearing Lin Yuandao's case, which had earned him imperial favor.
Xu Fengqiao advised Lin Shaochun to find another husband. Lin Shaochun, disbelieving, demanded to hear it from Sun Yulou himself. Xu Fengqiao then directed her to Shuiyue Temple to confirm the news with Princess Nan'an, who was a close friend of Yao Dizhu and part of the elaborate scheme. At Shuiyue Temple, Lin Shaochun, disguised as a nun, confronted Princess Nan'an. She revealed her identity, professed her love for Sun Yulou, and pleaded with Princess Nan'an to relinquish him.
Princess Nan'an refused, asserting the imperial decree, and had Lin Shaochun taken to her residence. There, Lin Shaochun overheard "Sun Yulou" begging for her release and then being beaten. Though she couldn't see him, she suspected it wasn't Sun Yulou. Princess Nan'an brought her out, revealing a badly beaten figure claiming to be Sun Yulou, whose voice Lin Shaochun recognized, leading her to believe it was him.
Princess Nan'an then presented Lin Shaochun with two choices: have "Sun Yulou" killed (and declared ill) or drink a cup of "poisoned" wine herself. Without hesitation, Lin Shaochun drank the wine and collapsed. Yao Dizhu witnessed the entire event, finally convinced of Lin Shaochun's genuine love for Sun Yulou. Lin Shaochun soon awoke to find Princess Nan'an beside her, who explained that the entire ordeal was a staged test of her sincerity.
Lin Shaochun rushed to find Sun Yulou but instead encountered her Master, Liu Sanjue, who admitted to impersonating Sun Yulou. Relieved, Lin Shaochun then saw Yao Dizhu, who confessed to orchestrating the test. Lin Shaochun and Yao Dizhu resolved their misunderstandings, and Yao Dizhu sincerely wished happiness for Lin Shaochun and Sun Yulou.
Upon Sun Yulou's premature return from his old home (where he discovered his grandmother was not ill), he was greeted by Lin Shaochun, who rushed into his arms, realizing how deeply she cared for him. Meanwhile, Shen Shi, eager for an update, learned that Lin Shaochun had passed the test. She decided to send a betrothal gift to Yao Dizhu's family, but Yao Dizhu unequivocally refused.
She desired a husband whose heart belonged solely to her and declined to disrupt Sun Yulou and Lin Shaochun's relationship. Despite Xu Fengqiao's pleas, Yao Dizhu packed her bags and departed from the Sun family. Later, Yao Dizhu learned from Xu Fengqiao that Shen Shi was planning a "Thousand Red Banquet" at the Sun residence to select a wife for Sun Yulou.
Yao Dizhu diverted her journey to the Lin family to inform Lin Shaochun, where Sun Yulou was also present. Yao Dizhu advised them to temporarily separate, as their unbetrothed cohabitation could harm Lin Shaochun's reputation and negatively affect Sun Yulou. Lin Shaochun, impressed by Yao Dizhu's magnanimity, agreed. At the Sun residence, while preparing for the "Thousand Red Banquet," Shen Shi noticed Su Yingxue drinking again and advised her not to attend.
Su Yingxue, distressed by the prolonged absence of letters from Sun Junhao, felt her status as the second mistress was merely nominal. She found a measure of solace when a melodious flute tune drifted to her ears. Separately, Jia Fengyuan's memorial concerning the Yellow River flooding disaster was rejected by Sun Xun. When confronted, Sun Xun rebuked Jia Fengyuan for overstepping his authority and disrespecting the Grand Secretaries, warning him against seeking rapid advancement.
