The Double Episode 14 Recap
> The Double Recap
Emperor Hong Xiaodi expressed concern to Xiao Heng about his confrontation with Princess Wanning. He told Xiao Heng that he should have reported to him first, rather than talking back to Wanning directly. Xiao Heng explained that if he had delayed, it would have been too late, as an injury to a student at a grand imperial feast would have been unacceptable.
The Emperor warned Xiao Heng that Wanning would not easily forgive such an insult and might target him, even attempting to kill him. Xiao Heng welcomed the challenge, stating he was curious to see her methods, and promised to be careful. The Emperor reiterated his fear that without Xiao Heng, he would have no other trustworthy confidants. Xiao Heng reassured him that as a trusted aide, his role involved taking risks and facing challenges, but he vowed not to die.
Meanwhile, Wanning learned from an informant that the Chief of Zhennyu Hall had been secretly moved and imprisoned in Hui City, with no further news. Later, Wanning penned a note with the chilling words "Kill now" and instructed her maid Meixiang to deliver it to the Li family. Privately, Wanning furiously confronted Shen Yurong, accusing him of publicly undermining her. Shen Yurong countered, suggesting her actions were absurd at an imperial feast.
He argued that harming any student would have incurred the Emperor’s wrath, and urged her not to lose her self-respect over Jiang Li. Enraged, Wanning struck him, hitting his previous injury. Shen Yurong then accused her of wanting him dead, to which Wanning responded by denying it and expressing concern for his wound.
He insisted that he had killed Xue Fangfei, having personally seen her buried corpse, and implored Wanning not to jeopardize herself by trying to test Jiang Li further. Wanning remained suspicious about Jiang Li, pointing out the suspicious disappearance of the Zhennyu Hall members. However, feeling pity for Shen Yurong, Wanning decided not to punish him by making him kneel that night and offered to personally help him clean his wound.
Consort Li visited the Emperor, suggesting she wished to go to Tianxiang Temple for a period of prayer, intentionally noting it was a place Empress Dowager Xia often frequented. The Emperor praised her thoughtfulness and fondly recalled her glutinous rice balls, which reminded him of his late mother's cooking. Later, Jiang Jingrui, concerned about Xue Fangfei’s low spirits after the incident at Wanfeng Hall, brought her favorite snacks.
He observed that her situation had become difficult, a sentiment Xue Fangfei (as Jiang Li) acknowledged, admitting that after the previous night's events, she had completely broken ties with her half-sisters. To avoid further conflict and Ji Shuran's schemes, Xue Fangfei revealed her decision to travel to Luyang and seek reconciliation with her maternal Ye family.
Jiang Jingrui enthusiastically supported the idea, highlighting the Ye family's immense wealth and Ye Shijie’s recent appointment as Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue, which meant the Ye family held influence in both official and business circles. He believed reconciliation would significantly improve her standing, even with her grandmother. However, he also voiced concern that leaving the capital at a time when her reputation was soaring might be a pity.
During their conversation, Xue Fangfei playfully teased Jiang Jingrui about his apparent affection for Liu Xu, causing him to become visibly shy and embarrassed. Xiao Heng, having learned of Consort Li’s plans to take Jiang Li to the temple for prayers, discreetly advised Xue Fangfei. He warned her about Consort Li’s favored status with the Emperor and asked about her next move. Xue Fangfei replied that she would bide her time and avoid direct confrontation.
Tong Er expressed worries about Xue Fangfei venturing alone to the Ye family. Xue Fangfei confessed her dual motives: while eager to fulfill Jiang Li’s wish for the Ye family’s forgiveness, she also intended to visit her original home in Huaixiang, near Luyang, to ensure her father, who was executed and likely left unburied, could finally rest in peace.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Jingrui and Liu Xu were disappointed when Ye Shijie arrived late, announcing he couldn't celebrate with them as he needed to accompany his second uncle, Ye Mingxuan, who had come to the capital on business. Jiang Jingrui, who had hoped Ye Shijie would pay for their outing, complained, but Ye Mingxuan graciously invited them all to a private dining room at a restaurant.
Jiang Jingrui initially declined, preferring the lively outdoor festivities, but Xue Fangfei (as Jiang Li) accepted, stating she wished to catch up with her uncle. At the dinner, Ye Mingxuan thanked Xue Fangfei for Ye Shijie's recent appointment, acknowledging her role in bringing honor to the Ye family. Xue Fangfei, in turn, proposed that Ye Mingxuan visit the Jiang family, suggesting it would facilitate his business dealings with the help of Grand Chancellor Jiang.
When Ye Mingxuan expressed hesitation due to past misunderstandings and a long-standing lack of contact between the two families, Xue Fangfei earnestly apologized for her youthful ignorance and promised to mediate with her father, Jiang Yunbai. She then boldly suggested accompanying Ye Mingxuan back to Luyang herself, arguing it would strengthen ties between the families. Initially wary, Ye Mingxuan eventually agreed, especially after Xue Fangfei gently probed if he truly welcomed her return to the Ye family.
As they left, Ye Shijie asked Xue Fangfei if her return to Luyang was premeditated. Xue Fangfei confided in him about the treacherous plot by her half-sisters at the palace, explaining that her difficult situation in the Jiang family necessitated her seeking support from her maternal relatives and clarifying past misunderstandings with the Ye family. Ye Shijie, accepting her reasoning, pledged to protect her in the capital. Ye Mingxuan, however, privately remarked that Jiang Li was "not simple."
Later, Ye Mingxuan, accompanied by Ye Shijie, visited Jiang Yunbai. While presenting gifts and discussing Ye Shijie's new position, Ye Mingxuan broached the topic of Xue Fangfei’s desire to visit Luyang and her grandmother, citing Old Madam Ye’s declining health and longing for family. Jiang Yunbai initially objected, mentioning Consort Li's imminent imperial decree for Xue Fangfei to join her at Tianxiang Temple for prayers, preferring she stay in the capital.
Xue Fangfei, present during this discussion, eloquently argued that she had never visited Luyang and, having endured the hardships of Zhennyu Hall, would find Luyang's liveliness far more agreeable. Jiang Old Madam then intervened, overriding Jiang Yunbai’s objections and granting permission for Xue Fangfei to go, suggesting that Consort Li could be persuaded by Ji Shuran to postpone the temple visit and that Xue Fangfei deserved a break after the arduous exams.
After the meeting, Jiang Old Madam privately chastised Jiang Yunbai for his blatant favoritism, reminding him of Ji Shuran's self-serving nature and the potential damage to his reputation if personal family disputes continued to reach the Emperor's ears.
Ji Shuran, speaking to Jiang Ruoyao, insisted that with Xue Fangfei (as Jiang Li) leaving the capital, Jiang Ruoyao should seize the opportunity to regain her father’s favor and improve her standing among noble families, ensuring Jiang Li would have no place in the capital upon her return. Jiang Ruoyao, however, was still distraught over her canceled engagement to Zhou Yanbang, proclaiming her love for him.
Ji Shuran dismissed her sentiments, stating that love was the least valuable thing in the world and that she had already arranged a better match for her daughter. As Xue Fangfei prepared for her journey to Luyang with Ye Mingxuan, Jiang Jingrui and Liu Xu came to bid her farewell, joined by Ye Shijie. They presented her with an abundance of snacks for the road.
Jiang Jingrui insisted that she host a meal for them upon her return, claiming she owed him one, which she agreed to. In her heart, Xue Fangfei vowed that upon her return to the capital, she would make everyone pay for their wrongdoings. Xiao Heng, needing a cover for his operation against Lord Cheng, invited Xue Fangfei to a play.
He explained that her assistance was needed to ensure his plans went smoothly, and this would count as repayment for one of the favors she owed him. While watching the play, he offered her three kinds of tea to choose from. Xue Fangfei chose what she perceived as bitter tea, but Xiao Heng pointed out it was the sweetest aged tea, suggesting she harbored bitter feelings in her heart.
He probed about her past, and she defined bitter things as "life's struggles, love, and hate." After the play, the performer, Taohong, approached them. Xiao Heng deferred to Xue Fangfei, who praised the performance. Suddenly, Taohong and her accomplices brandished daggers and attacked Xiao Heng. Xue Fangfei quickly reacted, pushing Xiao Heng away and then taking a sword strike to her arm to protect him.
Xiao Heng ordered his men to capture Taohong alive and interrogate her to find the mastermind. As he bandaged Xue Fangfei's wound, she insightfully accused him of using her as a decoy to ambush the assassins, a role she wryly accepted. Xiao Heng personally interrogated Taohong, who confessed to diverting ill-gotten gains from the capital to the northern borders, using theatrical performances as a cover to fund Lord Cheng’s army recruitment efforts, all while dreaming of becoming his consort.
Xiao Heng dismissed her fantasy, threatening to disfigure and cripple her. Frightened, Taohong revealed that Lord Cheng had established a secret assassin training ground in Luyang. Xiao Heng concluded that this was a critical threat, as Lord Cheng’s limited resources meant he would resort to assassinating key officials. He decided to personally go to Luyang to dismantle the training ground.
Xiao Heng had previously ordered a subordinate to gather information on Xue Fangfei’s movements, but upon learning she was also heading to Luyang, he punished his subordinate for "wasting informants on useless information," despite having initially given the order. Upon their arrival in Luyang, Ye Mingxuan arranged for Xue Fangfei and Tong Er to stay in a guest room at the Ye residence before he departed to attend to urgent business matters.
With no one else present in the house, Xue Fangfei suspected the Ye family might be facing some difficulties. Meanwhile, Ye Mingxuan’s wife, returning from dealing with issues at the family’s shop, overheard servants discussing a "seductress" at a neighbor's house. Misunderstanding, she assumed her husband had brought a mistress into their home and became enraged, demanding to confront the newcomer. Her maid wisely intervened, advising against a direct confrontation that could backfire, and offered to investigate herself.
When the maid approached Xue Fangfei’s room, Tong Er sternly rebuffed her, accusing her of being a "vicious servant" and demanding that Ye Mingxuan himself ask them to leave. Feeling the hostility, Xue Fangfei and Tong Er decided to leave the residence and wait for Ye Mingxuan elsewhere. Xue Fangfei then sought information about her childhood friend Qiongzhi, and learned that Qiongzhi had become a top courtesan at Luyang’s Xihua Brothel.
Xue Fangfei decided to visit, hoping Qiongzhi could provide details about the Xue family, especially given Qiongzhi’s past relationship with Xue Fangfei’s brother, Xue Zhao. Concurrently, Xiao Heng, following intelligence that Lord Cheng’s confidant Chu Lan frequented Xihua Brothel to see his lover, Wu Lan, also made his way to Luyang. He had already learned that the Li family was subtly ensnaring the Ye family, who remained oblivious to the trap.
Xiao Heng decided to personally infiltrate the brothel disguised as a patron to capture Chu Lan through Wu Lan. His subordinate, Wen Ji, advised caution due to Wu Lan’s high alertness. Upon entering a room, Xiao Heng was met by a courtesan who invited him to tea, mentioning that Wu Lan had not yet arrived. Shortly after, another woman—his target, Wu Lan—entered and swiftly attacked him with hidden weapons. Separately, Xue Fangfei found Qiongzhi, and when they met, Xue Fangfei mentioned her brother Xue Zhao’s name.
