Song of Youth Episode 5 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Xu Fengqiao initiated contact with Lin Shaochun, attempting to deter her from Sun Yulou due to their differing social statuses. She then arranged for Lin Shaochun to undergo etiquette training with Jin Mama, a royal instructor. Despite initial reluctance, Lin Shaochun proved exceptionally skilled but resisted Jin Mama's overly strict methods, even physically overpowering her. Lin Shaochun subsequently told Xu Fengqiao to relay a message to Sun Yulou, urging him to cease his pursuits.
Noticing Lin Shaochun's change in attitude, Sun Yulou confronted Xu Fengqiao, who manipulated him by claiming her actions were for his own good and to gain the approval of Shen Qingyao. Believing her, Sun Yulou thanked Xu Fengqiao, unaware of her true intentions to deal ruthlessly with Lin Shaochun. Lin Shaochun's primary goal remained avenging her father. Her master, Liu Sanjue, advised her to abandon revenge and embrace happiness with Sun Yulou, but Lin Shaochun was resolute.
Her Mama, distressed to see Lin Shaochun seemingly distracted by romance, threatened to leave to find her long-lost daughter, Xiaoya, eight years after sacrificing Xiaoya for Lin Shaochun's safety. Lin Shaochun, ashamed, tearfully reassured Mama that she had not forgotten her quest for justice, vowing to remain focused. To distance herself from Sun Yulou without causing a permanent break that might hinder her plans, Lin Shaochun, advised by her senior sister, encouraged him to pursue an official career.
She took Sun Yulou to Long'en Temple, writing a wish for him to take the imperial examination and become a just official, thereby preventing injustices. She set a condition that they should not meet until he passed, which Sun Yulou reluctantly accepted, motivated by her vision. Sun Yulou diligently studied at home. While Xu Fengqiao mistakenly believed he had broken up with Lin Shaochun, Yao Dizhu suspected otherwise.
After confirming with Sun Yulou that Lin Shaochun had inspired his academic ambition, Yao Dizhu went to Long'en Temple to pray for him. There, a broken horse rein led her to encounter Lin Shaochun, cross-dressed as a man, engaging in deep discussions about national affairs with other male scholars. Upset by what she perceived as Lin Shaochun's unfaithfulness to Sun Yulou, Yao Dizhu, feeling Lin Shaochun was unworthy, resolved to win Sun Yulou's affection herself.
Lin Shaochun, meanwhile, sought to broaden her horizons through these discussions in preparation for her own exam attempt. The Emperor, emphasizing fairness in the upcoming imperial examination and to avoid conflict of interest given Sun Shijie and Sun Yulou's participation, appointed Wang Mian as the chief examiner, sidelining Sun Xun. Sun Yulou and Sun Shijie observed the talented but impoverished scholar Jia Fengyuan, who drunkenly recited poetry, asserting his patriotic sentiments.
Meanwhile, Sun Shijie was vexed by his wife, Wu Yuehong, who performed elaborate rituals to pray for his success, despite his disdain for her. On the eve of the exam, Yao Dizhu presented Sun Yulou with a pair of fine brushes. Lin Shaochun, accompanied by Mama, visited her father's grave, vowing to pass the exam and avenge him.
However, upon arriving at the examination hall the next day, Lin Shaochun was disheartened to find strict body searches were mandatory for all candidates to prevent cheating. Her years of preparation seemed to be in vain, leaving her silently despairing as Sun Yulou, seeing her, mistakenly believed she was there to support him. Mama suggested that if Sun Yulou passed, he could help with the revenge, but Lin Shaochun did not wish to rely on anyone. When the results were posted, Sun Shijie was awarded the title of "Zhuangyuan" (top scholar), Jia Fengyuan secured the second position as "Bangyan", and Sun Yulou ranked thirty-seventh.
