The Double Episode 2 Recap
> The Double Recap
Xue Fangfei proposed a clever solution to the Chief of Zhennyu Hall: she would assume the identity of Jiang Li. She pointed out that since Jiang Li had not left Zhennyu Hall for ten years, no one in the outside world would remember her appearance, and the Chief's authority within the hall would ensure cooperation.
When the Chief questioned her motives, Xue Fangfei cunningly claimed she simply desired a life of luxury as the daughter of the Secretariat Director, a far cry from her current status as a poor country girl. Convinced, the Chief agreed to the plan and arranged for Xue Fangfei to recuperate for seven days, instructing everyone to leave "Jiang Li" alone during this time.
Tong Er, Jiang Li's loyal maid, overheard the conversation and mistakenly believed Xue Fangfei intended to usurp her late mistress's identity. After Xue Fangfei and Tong Er buried Jiang Li, sprinkling pear blossoms over her resting place, Tong Er confronted Xue Fangfei with a dagger, accusing her of causing Jiang Li's death and being an ungrateful opportunist. Xue Fangfei managed to disarm Tong Er and calmly explained her true intentions.
She argued that merely killing the Chief or herself would achieve nothing; the real culprits—those who condemned Jiang Li to Zhennyu Hall and neglected her for a decade—would suffer no consequences, only feigning sorrow before returning to their privileged lives. Xue Fangfei emphasized that Grand Chancellor Jiang, Jiang Li's father, had abandoned her for ten years and would not genuinely seek justice for her. Instead, his family would likely use her death to enhance their own reputation.
Xue Fangfei revealed her plan to live as Jiang Li, clear her name, and ensure those who wronged her faced punishment. She explained that they were both vilified and untrusted women, and now, she would speak for the deceased Jiang Li. Her compelling arguments persuaded Tong Er, and they decided to strategize further. During her seven-day recuperation, Tong Er tutored Xue Fangfei on the "Lessons for Women," a text on female virtues.
The Chief frequently checked on their progress, often praising Xue Fangfei's needlework. Xue Fangfei noticed the Chief's inconsistent behavior regarding the lantern outside the ancestral shrine. Tong Er explained that the lantern was exclusively for the Chief's use and served to enforce strict night curfews, bolstered by tales of a "tall female ghost" who haunted the hall, scaring anyone who dared to venture out after dark.
Xue Fangfei, however, suspected the ghost stories were a fabrication designed to control the nuns. Her suspicions were confirmed after she noticed a distinctive "ylang-ylang" scent on the Chief on certain days. Tong Er identified ylang-ylang as a "perfume for seduction." Xue Fangfei observed a correlation: when the Chief wore this scent, the lantern would be raised high; otherwise, it remained low.
She also deduced that when the lantern was high, it was visible from the nearby Helin Temple, which held rituals every other night. To test her theory, Xue Fangfei deliberately lowered the lantern one day while others were out collecting fruit. That night, she witnessed the Chief re-raising the lantern and then, under the guise of the "tall female ghost," sneaking out.
Xue Fangfei realized the strict rules and ghost stories were all a ruse by the Chief to facilitate her own secret rendezvous. A critical opportunity arose when Mrs. Liu, the wife of Vice Minister of Revenue Liu Yuanfeng and a close friend of Jiang Li's deceased mother, Mrs. Ye Zhenzhen, announced her visit to Zhennyu Hall. The Chief made elaborate preparations, instructing Xue Fangfei and Tong Er to remain out of sight.
Recognizing the significance of Mrs. Liu's friendship with Jiang Li's mother, Xue Fangfei devised a plan. She instructed a reluctant Tong Er to inflict injuries upon her to create the appearance of long-term abuse. Tong Er, despite her hesitation, complied, using a whip on Xue Fangfei's back. Xue Fangfei then gave Tong Er Jiang Li's hairpin—a gift from Mrs. Liu to Mrs. Ye—and told her to present it to Mrs. Liu, claiming Jiang Li was in dire straits.
Xue Fangfei also plotted to expose the Chief's affair, stating that if Mrs. Liu witnessed the Chief in a disgraceful act, she would be compelled to intervene. Xue Fangfei confirmed her calculated move, having already raised the lantern high to signal the Chief's lover. Meanwhile, Xiao Heng, Duke Su, tracked Mr. Qin, a salt trafficker, to Zhennyu Hall. Cornered, Mr. Qin took Xue Fangfei hostage. Realizing Xiao Heng's identity, Xue Fangfei quickly adapted her plan.
She pretended to be Mr. Qin's accomplice, loudly suggesting they surrender and confess to "salt trafficking," feigning solidarity to confuse Mr. Qin and manipulate the situation. Mr. Qin, bewildered by her sudden shift, was swiftly captured. In the struggle, Xue Fangfei's veil was accidentally removed. Xiao Heng's subordinate, Wen Ji, found her appearance familiar, and Xue Fangfei recalled seeing Xiao Heng in the past.
Xiao Heng, recognizing her, asked if her surname was Xue, which she denied, stating he had "the wrong person." Seizing the moment, Xue Fangfei demanded that Xiao Heng take her to the capital for interrogation. Intrigued by her audacity, Xiao Heng agreed, deciding to observe her next move. Tong Er then led Mrs. Liu to the scene, where she found Xue Fangfei tied up. Mistaking her for Jiang Li, Mrs. Liu expressed alarm.
Xue Fangfei, playing her role, tearfully pleaded with "Aunt Liu" for help, claiming she was framed and asking her to intercede with the Chief. Unable to directly challenge Xiao Heng, Mrs. Liu went to rouse the Chief. In her room, the Chief was being embraced by her lover, who had come in response to the high lantern. Despite her initial concern about Mrs. Liu's presence, she succumbed to her lover's advances, unaware of what was about to unfold.
Moments later, Mrs. Liu, accompanied by several nuns, burst into the Chief's room, catching her and her lover in a compromising position. Outraged, Mrs. Liu ordered them tied up and dragged before Xiao Heng. The Chief, mortified, desperately claimed she was framed, unaware that Xue Fangfei had orchestrated the entire exposure by deliberately hanging the lantern high, knowing it would signal her lover and lead to her public downfall. Observing the scene, Xue Fangfei knew her plan was working perfectly.
Mrs. Liu subsequently reported the Chief's scandalous conduct, and her husband, Liu Yuanfeng, submitted a memorial to Emperor Hongxiao. In the imperial court, the Emperor was already presiding over a heated dispute between Grand Chancellor Jiang Yuanbai and Li Zhongnan regarding alleged hemorrhaging funds for Empress Dowager Xia's mausoleum. Liu Yuanfeng's memorial, followed by Xiao Heng's report accusing a nun from Zhennyu Hall (Jiang Li) of colluding with salt traffickers by harboring criminals and concealing illegal funds, enraged the Emperor.
He ordered Xiao Heng to conduct a thorough investigation, vowing that "whoever is behind it will not be spared." This public scandal and the mention of Jiang Li's name reminded Jiang Yuanbai of his long-estranged daughter. Jiang Yuanbai discussed the incident with his current wife, Ji Shuran, expressing concern that Jiang Li's involvement would tarnish the Jiang family's prestigious reputation.
Ji Shuran, feigning magnanimity, suggested they arrange a grand and public return for Jiang Li to showcase the family's virtue and silence any gossip. Jiang Yuanbai was deeply touched by her apparent generosity, praising her for being forgiving despite Jiang Li's past actions, which he believed led to the loss of "our unborn child." He promised to deal severely with Jiang Li if she returned unrepentant. Xue Fangfei was taken into the capital under Xiao Heng's custody.
Fully aware of her manipulation, Xiao Heng ensured no harm came to her and even arranged for Tong Er to be brought to her side. While in custody, Xue Fangfei, now posing as Jiang Li, made a bold demand: she insisted on meeting the Chief and the other nuns from Zhennyu Hall. She threatened Xiao Heng with a hunger strike, ensuring he couldn't return her "unharmed" to the Jiang family if he refused.
When she met the imprisoned Chief and nuns, Xue Fangfei delivered a chilling warning. She reminded them that the Chief's affair was a crime of indecency that would result in a relatively light sentence. However, she starkly reminded them that "killing the daughter of the Grand Chancellor" was "a capital crime." Xue Fangfei made it clear that while her own deception was merely for "greed" and not a capital offense, their guilt for murder was undeniable.
She sternly warned them against attempting to blackmail her, stating, "I won't die, but you will." She thereby ensured their silence, solidifying her new identity as Jiang Li on her return to the capital.
