The Double Episode 34 Recap
> The Double Recap
Jiang Yuanbai sent a letter to Consort Li, hoping she would meet Ji Shuran. Consort Li initially refused to forgive Jiang Yuanbai for his past actions against her sister. However, upon learning the letter concerned Ji Shuran, she read it and learned of a new leisure home. She then went to the residence to find Ji Shuran in a deranged state, calling out for "Father" and attempting to offer her flowers. Seeing her sister so broken, Consort Li was heartbroken.
Jiang Yuanbai explained that the new house, complete with Ji Shuran's favorite flowers and attentive maids, was arranged for her to live out her days peacefully. Xue Fangfei was already waiting at the residence. Consort Li initially treated her coldly, but Xue Fangfei made a gesture of goodwill, offering tea and acknowledging Consort Li's kindness in securing Ji Shuran's peaceful retirement. Xue Fangfei then raised the topic of her impending marriage to Shen Yurong, which Consort Li had ostensibly facilitated.
Xue Fangfei expressed her concern that Consort Li, like her own mother, was being manipulated by Princess Wanning and used as a pawn. She recounted how Wanning had exploited her mother's desire to harm her, turning it into an opportunity for "killing with a borrowed knife." Xue Fangfei claimed Wanning was now targeting Consort Li, coercing her regarding the marriage.
She offered a partnership to solve Consort Li's problem, promising to ensure Ji Shuran's continued comfort and bury their past grievances. Consort Li remained silent. As Consort Li left, she told Jiang Yuanbai that Xue Fangfei was remarkably cunning. She still couldn't forgive him for driving her sister mad and insisted that Xue Fangfei must pay a price.
Consort Li maintained that the arranged marriage was non-negotiable but promised not to implicate the Jiang family, advising him on the principle of "abandoning a pawn to save the chariot." Jiang Yuanbai vehemently disagreed, stating that a parent's duty is to protect their children, not abandon them. Meanwhile, a maid reported to Princess Wanning that Consort Li remained unmoved and had rejected Xue Fangfei's request. Wanning, considering Consort Li an "unstable pawn," decided against further delay.
She suggested to Shen Yurong that they perform together again before His Majesty, Consort Li, and herself to hasten the arranged marriage. Shen Yurong expressed reluctance to perform harmoniously with someone he supposedly hated, but Wanning, implying his guilt, pressured him until he agreed to her wishes. Xue Fangfei, seeking a way out of the impending marriage, had already sent a message to Situ Jiuyue for a fake pregnancy medicine, which Zhao Ke later brought to her.
Jiang Jingrui and Liu Xu, aware of the marriage arrangement, confronted Xue Fangfei, questioning why she had retracted her previous testimony without apparent reason. Xue Fangfei admitted the situation was "tricky" and she was formulating a plan. Back at the palace, Consort Li visited His Majesty, bringing desserts and appearing concerned for his well-being.
She subtly mentioned her upcoming birthday and her regret at having missed the previous banquet where Xue Fangfei and Shen Yurong's performance was said to be "a match made in heaven." His Majesty, in his generosity, agreed to invite both Xue Fangfei and Shen Yurong to Consort Li's birthday celebration, and also extended an invitation to Princess Wanning to foster reconciliation.
Concurrently, Wen Ji informed Xiao Heng about Consort Li's invitation for the performance, suspecting an on-site marriage arrangement, and also about Jiang Yuanbai meeting with Ye Shijie. Jiang Yuanbai, desperate to prevent Xue Fangfei's forced marriage, had indeed invited Ye Shijie. Ye Shijie offered to approach His Majesty and claim a fabricated engagement pact made before their birth between his family and the Jiang family, hoping His Majesty, who valued civilian traditions, would retract the imperial marriage decree.
The Ye family had already agreed to support this false claim. Xue Fangfei, however, refused the offer, stating she wouldn't implicate Ye Shijie due to her "damaged reputation." Ye Shijie insisted he was willing to be implicated, but Xue Fangfei firmly rejected his help. Jiang Yuanbai urged her to reconsider, warning that Consort Li likely intended to arrange the marriage at the birthday banquet. Just then, Xiao Heng's guard arrived, summoning Xue Fangfei outside.
Outside, Xiao Heng informed Xue Fangfei they were going to the palace to ask His Majesty to arrange their marriage. Xue Fangfei, thinking it a jest, questioned him. Once inside, Xue Fangfei met with Consort Li and presented her with the confession from the palace maid involved in Consort Xian's death.
She reiterated her offer to help Consort Li escape Wanning's blackmail and stop her interference in the marriage, stating it was a long-planned strategy and only required Consort Li's cooperation at the upcoming birthday banquet. Meanwhile, Xiao Heng confronted His Majesty, angrily questioning why he hadn't rejected Shen Yurong's request for marriage, especially since His Majesty knew of Xiao Heng's feelings for Xue Fangfei.
His Majesty explained that the affair was already public knowledge, and he sought to avoid humiliation for both families, urging Xiao Heng to "drop this matter." Xiao Heng, feigning anger, stormed out. Outside, Xue Fangfei found a weary Xiao Heng. He told her he had a "quarrel" with His Majesty. She playfully teased him for being the first to argue with the Emperor but seemed pleased that Consort Li had agreed to help.
Xiao Heng then raised a concern: what if Wanning still proposed the marriage at the banquet? Xue Fangfei confidently stated that even if the marriage was arranged, she had a month before the wedding to find a way for Shen Yurong to "cancel the engagement by themselves." Xiao Heng, however, countered, stating that even a nominal engagement was unacceptable. Elsewhere, Shen Yurong was serving Wanning, but a sense of unease filled him. Just then, Xiao Heng's arrival was announced.
Wanning, recalling Shen Yurong's previous mention of Xiao Heng retrieving Xue Fangfei from prison, instructed Shen Yurong to hide. Xiao Heng then met with Wanning, playfully asking if she regretted Shen Yurong not becoming a princess consort. He asserted his possessiveness over the person he favored and questioned what it would take to cancel Xue Fangfei's marriage. He then presented Wanning with the Longwu Army fish talisman. Hidden nearby, Shen Yurong watched, recognizing the significant item.
Xiao Heng declared he cared not who ruled the kingdom, only for Xue Fangfei. On Consort Li's birthday, His Majesty hosted a modest celebration, explaining that Consort Li preferred it that way. He then requested Xue Fangfei and Shen Yurong to recreate their renowned performance. Both agreed. Prior to their performance on a boat, Shen Yurong confronted Xue Fangfei, claiming he saw "mingled love and hate" in her eyes.
Xue Fangfei retorted, calling him arrogant and questioning if he intended to use her again to appease Wanning. Shen Yurong then revealed that Xiao Heng had given Wanning the Longwu Army fish talisman for Xue Fangfei's sake, warning her of the severe consequences for Xiao Heng if His Majesty learned of such a betrayal. This revelation deeply unsettled Xue Fangfei. During her performance, she was distracted, worried about Xiao Heng facing execution.
Wanning, noticing Xue Fangfei's lapse, attempted to openly criticize her performance, but Consort Li intervened, graciously excusing it as a sudden request and invited everyone to drink Nu'erhong wine, discreetly slipping the fake pregnancy medicine into Wanning's cup. Wanning then continued to provoke Shen Yurong about Xue Fangfei's distraction, prompting Xue Fangfei to boldly declare she was thinking of Xue Zhao, Magistrate Xue's son, whom Wanning's claims of Xue Fangfei's survival had inspired her to seek.
She announced that Xue Zhao had been found and, once he recovered, could help Shen Yurong identify the true murderers of his father-in-law and brother-in-law. His Majesty praised her foresight. Xue Fangfei then offered to perform a Huaixiang Ditty, a song Shen Yurong should have known well. Shen Yurong, claiming to have "been away from home for too long," declined to play, instead watching Xue Fangfei perform solo.
The familiar melody evoked powerful memories of their early courtship, causing Shen Yurong to drink heavily. Wanning, observing his emotional distress, also began to drink excessively from her doctored cup. After the banquet, Xue Fangfei urgently confronted Xiao Heng, berating him for sacrificing the vital Longwu Army fish talisman for her. Xiao Heng, unfazed, confirmed it was part of a larger plan.
He revealed that he and His Majesty had been in a stalemate with Lord Cheng and Wanning's growing power, which threatened the stability of the kingdom. Lord Cheng's strategic accumulation of public support and military prestige in the north made direct confrontation difficult without His Majesty appearing tyrannical. Wanning and Li Zhongnan's faction further complicated matters by draining the treasury.
Xiao Heng explained that Xue Fangfei's appearance and her actions—protecting the Ye family, exposing the gold mine, and the Xue Huaiyuan case—had provided them with crucial openings to weaken their opponents. With Lord Cheng's financial lifelines cut, he would soon be forced to act.
Giving Wanning the true Longwu Army fish talisman, he explained, was a "lure" to entice Lord Cheng into a direct confrontation at the upcoming ancestor worship ceremony in the capital, which was less destructive than a full-scale rebellion from the north. He and His Majesty had staged their earlier quarrel to make Xiao Heng appear blinded by emotion, ensuring Wanning would trust the talisman.
Xue Fangfei questioned why he didn't use a fake talisman, but Xiao Heng asserted Wanning's shrewdness would discern a fake, alerting their enemies. He then informed Xue Fangfei that he would be leaving for Da Zhao in a few days, revealing Da Zhao as his "trump card." Before he departed, Xue Fangfei promised to stage another "play" for him and instructed him to keep a close watch on the Princess Residence, as she had further plans.
Xiao Heng then openly confessed his feelings for her, asking her to admit her feelings for him in return. Meanwhile, Wanning confronted Shen Yurong, accusing him of still harboring feelings for Xue Fangfei, noting his distracted behavior at the banquet. Shen Yurong claimed he was merely concerned about Xiao Heng's potential tricks with the fish talisman. Wanning bitterly compared his "love" for Xue Fangfei—where he killed her to survive—to Xiao Heng's willingness to die for her.
Shen Yurong, no longer intimidated by Wanning's threats against his family, calmly retorted that he had become a "shameless person" the day he killed Xue Fangfei, a path Wanning herself had pushed him down. He stated he was tired and no longer knew which of his words were true or false. When Wanning furiously threatened to send his entire family to the guillotine, Shen Yurong calmly told her to do as she pleased if it brought her joy.
