The Double Episode 13 Recap
> The Double Recap
At a palace banquet, Princess Wanning challenged Xue Fangfei to an archery game, intending to use Li Jin as a living target. Shen Yurong bravely volunteered to be the target instead, hoping to appease the princess. Angered by this, Princess Wanning ordered for real arrowheads to be used, demanding Xue Fangfei shoot a wine pot balanced on Shen Yurong's head.
Xue Fangfei noticed an ornament on Princess Wanning, recognizing it as one Shen Yurong had once given her, and the realization struck her that Princess Wanning was the true mastermind behind her past suffering. As Xue Fangfei drew her bow, aiming for Shen Yurong, Xiao Heng suddenly intervened, blocking the arrow with his fan, causing it to only graze Shen Yurong's arm. Princess Wanning was displeased with Xiao Heng's interference, but he asserted his duty to ensure the banquet's safety.
He pointed out the danger of using real arrowheads, especially when Shen Yurong had offered his life, and stated that such a risky game required the Emperor's explicit approval. Xiao Heng challenged her to seek the Emperor's permission to open the armory if she truly desired a bloodbath. Princess Wanning, frustrated, declared she would inform Lord Cheng and have him look into Xiao Heng's duties. Later, Xue Fangfei thanked Xiao Heng.
He chided her for her impulsive actions, warning that her directness in challenging Shen Yurong could expose her true identity and attract unwanted suspicion. He also alluded to the leverage they held over each other with a person held in the Ministry of Justice and reminded Xue Fangfei that she now owed him a third favor.
Xue Fangfei, acknowledging her lack of connections and informants, confided in him that she was willing to risk her life for the truth, which was more important to her than anything else. Overwhelmed by the revelation of Princess Wanning's involvement, Xue Fangfei stepped outside for air and nearly collapsed, but Ye Shijie caught her. To avoid stirring up rumors, she suggested they return to their seats.
Shortly after, a note was secretly slipped to Xue Fangfei, asking her to meet Zhou Yanbang at Minxiu Pavilion. Meanwhile, Jiang Ruoyao and Jiang Yu'e began their own scheme. Jiang Ruoyao covertly instructed a maid to serve Xue Fangfei wine, then Jiang Yu'e came over to insist that Xue Fangfei drink with her. Though Xue Fangfei initially refused, Jiang Yu'e persisted, and Xue Fangfei drank the drugged wine. Soon, Xue Fangfei feigned dizziness and collapsed.
Jiang Yu'e helped her to a nearby room, but as they entered, Xue Fangfei deliberately dropped the note. Jiang Yu'e picked it up, saw Zhou Yanbang's message, and mistakenly concluded that Xue Fangfei was planning a secret rendezvous with him. After Jiang Yu'e left, Xue Fangfei, who had only pretended to be unconscious, woke up, confirming her suspicions of a setup. Moments later, Ye Shijie, also pretending to be drunk, was led into the same room by a eunuch.
Xue Fangfei revealed the plot to him, explaining that someone intended to "kill two birds with one stone" by ruining both her reputation and Ye Shijie's promising career as the recently appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue. She explained her contingency plan to stab him with her hairpin if he had truly been incapacitated, to stage an attack and avoid the disgrace of being found compromised.
She passionately described the immense suffering and humiliation that would follow such a loss of reputation. Recognizing the danger, they decided to separate and find different hiding places to foil the scheme. In a different room, Zhou Yanbang, who had dimmed the lights and feigned intoxication, eagerly awaited Xue Fangfei. Instead, Jiang Yu'e entered. Zhou Yanbang, mistaking her for Xue Fangfei, embraced her. Jiang Yu'e, who harbored feelings for Zhou Yanbang, willingly went along, and they spent the night together.
Jiang Ruoyao, confident her plan had worked, gathered other women to "catch" Xue Fangfei and Ye Shijie. They first checked Xue Fangfei's room, finding it empty. They then moved to Minxiu Pavilion, where they discovered Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Yu'e in a compromising situation. Enraged, Jiang Ruoyao attacked Jiang Yu'e, pushing her face onto a table and disfiguring her. Back at the Jiang residence, Yang, Jiang Yu'e's mother, was heartbroken.
Jiang Yu'e vehemently insisted on marrying Zhou Yanbang, complaining that her parents, being from a concubine's branch of the family, had never truly planned for her future, leaving her constantly inferior to others. Jiang Yunxing, her father, a concubine's son himself, was too timid to speak out, fearing the wrath of Ji Shuran. Yang then suggested uniting Jiang Ruoyao and Jiang Yu'e against a common enemy: Xue Fangfei.
Meanwhile, Ji Shuran scolded Jiang Ruoyao for her rash actions, explaining that her public attack on Jiang Yu'e had only given her rival an advantage. Ji Shuran implied that Xue Fangfei was behind the entire incident and urged Jiang Ruoyao to direct her anger toward her instead. The family gathered before Old Madam to address the scandal. Jiang Yunxing and Yang apologized, while Ji Shuran tried to play the peacemaker, subtly shifting blame towards Xue Fangfei.
Jiang Yu'e, manipulating the truth, claimed Xue Fangfei had forced her to drink excessively at the banquet, led her to a secluded room, and then abandoned her, resulting in her encounter with Zhou Yanbang. She implied that Xue Fangfei had orchestrated for Jiang Ruoyao to discover them. When Xue Fangfei (referred to as Li by the family) was called to account, she calmly recounted the true events.
She explained that after Jiang Yu'e had brought her to a room, Ye Shijie had also been led there, but they both maintained their decorum and left separately. She revealed that she had encountered Xiao Heng, who helped her find her way back to the main hall. Xue Fangfei highlighted inconsistencies in Jiang Yu'e's story and pointed out the oddity of Jiang Ruoyao calling out for her before even entering the room where Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Yu'e were found.
Old Madam, exasperated by the family infighting, dismissed everyone except Xue Fangfei. Xue Fangfei then confessed the full truth to Old Madam, including the hidden note from Zhou Yanbang that had gone missing. Old Madam gently rebuked her for not confiding in her earlier but then, to maintain fairness, punished Xue Fangfei by requiring her to copy sutras ten times, and Jiang Ruoyao and Jiang Yu'e to copy "Lessons for Women" twenty times each.
Following the scandal, Jiang Yunbo sent a letter to the Marquis of Ningyuan, formally breaking off Jiang Ruoyao's engagement. The Marquis, furious with his son, Zhou Yanbang, forced him to marry Jiang Yu'e to salvage their reputation. Zhou Yanbang reluctantly agreed. Consort Li, displeased with Ji Shuran for the botched plan that she had to smooth over with the Emperor, spoke of her own desire to conceive a child. Ji Shuran, seeing an opportunity, proposed a new scheme to deal with Xue Fangfei while Consort Li visited Tianxiang Temple to pray for offspring.
