The Double Episode 4 Recap
> The Double Recap
Xiangqiao zealously directed Yunshuang and Tong Er in arranging flowers and watering plants in the garden, which stirred Yunshuang's envy. Xue Fangfei, noticing Xiangqiao's eagerness, gifted her a beautiful bracelet and hairpin, which Xiangqiao accepted with effusive praise, further encouraging her loyalty. Meanwhile, Ji Shuran was informed about Jiang Li's extensive flower arrangements.
Believing this to be a display of extravagance, Ji Shuran instructed Ms. Sun to let the rumors spread throughout the Jiang Residence about Second Lady Jiang's lavish spending and alleged harsh treatment of her servants. Later, Shen Yurong visited Jiang's Residence to express his gratitude to Jiang Yunbai for his guidance on the book compilation. Jiang Yunbai downplayed his contribution, but Shen Yurong insisted on thanking him, stating that without his counsel, he could not have satisfied His Majesty.
Ji Shuran joined their conversation, complimenting Shen Yurong as a role model among young officials. She then presented him with fine pastries from the Ji family and formally invited him to Jiang Ruoyao's coming-of-age ceremony next month. Shen Yurong accepted the invitation, considering it a great honor, and then took his leave. As Shen Yurong departed, he noticed Xue Fangfei's silhouette in the garden and felt a strange sense of familiarity, reminiscent of his late wife.
However, Ms. Sun quickly interrupted his thoughts, and by the time Xue Fangfei turned around, Shen Yurong had already left. Later, Xue Fangfei continued her efforts to win over Xiangqiao, subtly inquiring about the important guest who had visited. Xiangqiao, eager to share gossip, revealed it was Shen Yurong, the esteemed new Zhuangyuan. Xiangqiao elaborated on Shen Yurong's high standing with the Lord and the Emperor, noting his invitation to Ruoyao's coming-of-age ceremony.
She then recounted the common tale of Shen Yurong's "wicked wife" who had an affair, met a grim fate by falling off a cliff, and how Shen Yurong's apparent deep grief had ironically earned him the Emperor's favor and increased influence. As Xiangqiao spoke, Xue Fangfei, unable to control her emotions, spilled her tea, her hand trembling. Seeing Xue Fangfei's distress, Tong Er quickly pulled Xiangqiao away.
Alone with Tong Er, Xue Fangfei broke down, confessing that she was the very "wicked wife" Xiangqiao had spoken of. She recounted the night of her downfall, explaining that during a seemingly innocent family dinner, her drink was secretly drugged. She then awoke to find a strange man beside her and was utterly devastated to realize that Shen Yurong was not only aware of the plot but was the one who personally buried her alive.
This horrific betrayal ultimately led to the tragic deaths of her own father and brother. Overcome with grief and a burning desire for justice, Xue Fangfei declared that these were "blood debts" that must be avenged, and the evildoers "must be punished." Tong Er, deeply moved by Xue Fangfei's story, pledged her unwavering support.
Xue Fangfei then outlined her updated plan: since the people who framed her and Jiang Li would be present at Ruoyao's upcoming coming-of-age ceremony, she intended to use this occasion not just to be present, but to give Jiang Li the formal ceremony she was denied, thereby solidifying her identity as the true Second Lady of the Jiang family and reclaiming Jiang Li's rightful place.
Despite Tong Er's concerns about the difficulty and potential obstruction from Ji Shuran, Xue Fangfei vowed to push forward for Jiang Li, believing that Jiang Li's spirit would guide her. She affirmed that by appearing at the ceremony, her identity would be undeniable, and even if Shen Yurong had doubts, he would not dare cause trouble within the Jiang Residence.
To further her plan, Tong Er joined Xiangqiao in cutting chrysanthemums, then subtly inquired about a suitable, sunny spot to dry them. Xiangqiao, ever the know-it-all, suggested the courtyard, and Tong Er promptly led her there, while Xiangqiao continued to order her around. As they worked, Jiang Yunbai happened to pass by. Xiangqiao attempted to gain favor by showcasing their work, but Jiang Yunbai dismissed her, expressing concern for Jiang Li's well-being.
Tong Er quickly interjected, explaining that Jiang Li was well but was making chrysanthemum tea to alleviate "body heat." Jiang Yunbai, seeing the poorly arranged chrysanthemums, reprimanded Xiangqiao. Jiang Yunbai then approached Xue Fangfei, who was waiting for him in Fangfei Yuan. He asked if the sparsely planted chrysanthemums were hers, to which she confirmed, humbly attributing her "careless learning" to her late mother, Ye Zhenzhen, who cultivated flowers with great dedication.
She recalled her mother's admiration for chrysanthemums, calling them "unwavering" and "a symbol of strength and virtue, like a gentleman," echoing qualities she saw in her father. This touched Jiang Yunbai, who was pleased she remembered these details.
While Tong Er and the other maids were sent away under the pretense of getting snacks or using the lavatory, Xue Fangfei persuaded Jiang Yunbai to sit for tea before he left for the palace, also asking him to take some pastries to the Old Madam, expressing remorse for a previous disturbance. As Jiang Yunbai settled, Xue Fangfei feigned a traumatic flashback, cowering and murmuring "don't beat me." Disturbed by her reaction, Jiang Yunbai tried to console her.
Xue Fangfei then revealed the brutal truth: she was often beaten and punished in Zhennyu Hall whenever she failed to complete her tasks. Jiang Yunbai was appalled to learn of the wounds all over her body. She then produced a piece of her intricate hand-embroidered work, meant for the Old Madam, expressing her fear that her father would find her "unpresentable" due to her forced labor.
She tearfully explained that she had to resort to secretly selling these embroideries to "eat her fill," causing Jiang Yunbai immense pain and indignation at the indignities his daughter had suffered. He angrily questioned how Zhennyu Hall dared to treat his daughter so harshly. Upon returning, Jiang Yunbai confronted Ji Shuran, expressing his anger and concern over Jiang Li's suffering in Zhennyu Hall.
Ji Shuran, feigning deep sorrow, first blamed the managers for misconduct before blaming herself, claiming she was too busy with Ruoyao's ceremony and lamenting that Jiang Li didn't confide in her, choosing instead to tell her father as if to "remind" Ji Shuran of her maternal duties. However, Jiang Yunbai was resolute. Citing Jiang Li's numerous scars, he declared that after years of neglect, Jiang Li would attend Ruoyao's coming-of-age ceremony, determined not to hurt her feelings further.
Ji Shuran objected, expressing concern that Jiang Li, having never attended such an event and unfamiliar with proper etiquette, might "make a fool of herself," which would only "freak her out." Jiang Yunbai dismissed her worries, arguing that if the details of Jiang Li's mistreatment at Zhennyu Hall were to become public, and she were still excluded from the ceremony, the Jiang family would face ridicule for their "bad parenting." Cornered, Ji Shuran reluctantly agreed to make the arrangements.
Following this, Ji Shuran ordered Ms. Sun to deal with Xiangqiao and Yunshuang. Under Ms. Sun's stern questioning, Yunshuang quickly exposed Xiangqiao for accepting "small profits" from Jiang Li and helping her. Xiangqiao, in turn, defended herself, asserting that she only aimed to gain Jiang Li's trust to gather information for Ji Shuran, and implicated Tong Er in the chrysanthemum tea incident. To prove her loyalty, Xiangqiao offered to surrender the jewelry Jiang Li had given her.
Ji Shuran, however, instructed her to keep the rewards, acknowledging that this incident, despite being a minor setback, had allowed Xiangqiao to build Jiang Li's trust. She warned both maids that any future failures would result in more severe punishment than just docking their monthly wages. Afterward, Xiangqiao, emboldened by Ji Shuran's decision, gloated over Yunshuang, highlighting her favor with both the Madam and Second Lady.
Their bitter rivalry quickly escalated into a heated exchange of insults and a physical fight. As Jiang Yunping and his wife, Lu, passed Fangfei Yuan, Jiang Yunping remarked on Jiang Li's continued absence, wondering if she was shy or if "someone" was deliberately keeping her hidden. Lu, however, steered the conversation to their son, Jiang Jingrui, reminding Jiang Yunping to focus on his upcoming annual Imperial Academy exam.
She expressed concern over Jingrui's laziness and the potential disgrace of expulsion, which would upset the Old Madam. Back in Fangfei Yuan, Tong Er was startled by a turtle. Xue Fangfei, composed, picked it up to remove it from the courtyard, but was stopped by Jiang Jingrui, who emerged to reclaim his beloved "little tortoise."
Jiang Jingrui was taken aback by Xue Fangfei's formal address of "Cousin," finding her composed and serious demeanor unsettling and "uncomfortable," quite unlike the Jiang Li who used to affectionately call him "Rui." He reminisced about how deeply he missed her after she was sent away, claiming he was heartbroken and could only rely on his tortoise for companionship, expressing relief that she was finally back. After Xue Fangfei offered a formal thanks, Jingrui insisted she call him "Rui" again.
He then subtly advised her to "be smart" if she wished to avoid being "kicked out again." Jiang Jingrui then told Xue Fangfei about Jiang Ruoyao's resentment, stemming from Jiang Li's original engagement to Zhou Yanbang. He explained that after Jiang Li was sent away, the engagement was transferred to Jiang Ruoyao, and now that Jiang Li was back, Ruoyao was naturally jealous.
He advised Xue Fangfei to skip the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony to avoid witnessing Ruoyao and Zhou Yanbang together, which he believed would cause her pain. Xue Fangfei, however, dismissed his concerns, feigning tiredness. Determined to make an impression at the ceremony, Xue Fangfei decided to go out and buy a gift for Jiang Ruoyao, sending Tong Er to a pawnshop to redeem her mother's precious jade pendant. Xiangqiao and Yunshuang tried to dissuade her, claiming no coachmen were available.
Xue Fangfei offered money for a carriage, which Yunshuang was about to accept, but Xiangqiao quickly snatched the money, declaring she would find a vehicle herself, only to stumble clumsily. As Xue Fangfei departed, Zhou Yanbang spotted her and courteously removed a chrysanthemum petal from her hair, inquiring about her identity. Upon learning she was Second Lady Jiang, or Jiang Li, he appeared visibly moved. Just then, Jiang Ruoyao emerged, observing their interaction with a sharp pang of jealousy.
She immediately clung to Zhou Yanbang, making a pointed remark about canceling their engagement so he could reunite with Jiang Li, forcing Zhou Yanbang to reassure her that Jiang Li's past at Zhennyu Hall made her "vulgar" and incomparable to Ruoyao. At the gift shop, Xue Fangfei encountered Shen Yurong's calligraphy, and overheard other customers praising him as an upright and benevolent official. Overwhelmed by emotion, she nearly gave herself away, spilling her tea.
The shop owner, momentarily recognizing her as "Mrs. Shen," was quickly dismissed as Xue Fangfei regained her composure, pretending not to know the person they were speaking of. Meanwhile, Tong Er returned from the pawnshop with troubling news: the jade pendant had already been purchased by Duke Su, Xiao Heng, who was currently at a nearby tea house. Xue Fangfei realized that Xiao Heng was deliberately targeting her.
Xue Fangfei bravely confronted Xiao Heng at the tea house, demanding the return of what she called "a late friend's keepsake." Xiao Heng, however, corrected her, revealing he knew the pawnshop owner had identified it as belonging to a "married woman named Li." He then, through a series of subtle hints and a feigned recollection, reminded Xue Fangfei that the jade pendant was a precious heirloom from her mother, intended for her marriage to ensure lifelong peace.
This evoked a powerful, almost hallucinatory memory for Xue Fangfei of her father handing her the jade, reaffirming its profound significance. Xiao Heng, still probing, asked why her "old friend" had pawned it. This triggered another vivid memory for Xue Fangfei: she had been forced to pawn the priceless jade pendant to afford expensive caterpillar fungus for a gravely ill Shen Yurong, whose recovery was crucial for his upcoming Palace Examination.
Xiao Heng then directly challenged her to disclose the hiding place of Mr. Qin's stolen evidence, promising the return of her jade pendant in exchange. Xue Fangfei vehemently denied knowing Qin. However, recalling Qin's hands stained with "mulberry-like" fruit juice when he had held her hostage, she shrewdly deduced the location: the backyard of Zhennyu Hall. She explained the unique staining properties of the fruits from a particular tree in the backyard, indicating that Qin must have been digging there.
Acting on her tip, Wen Ji confirmed the location and successfully recovered the stolen evidence. With her jade pendant finally returned, Xue Fangfei attempted to leave. Xiao Heng, however, provocatively asked if she had no concern for "her little lover" Qin, who remained in his custody, implying a clandestine relationship between them. Infuriated by his baseless accusation, Xue Fangfei retorted, questioning his "brain" for implying an "affair" when she had been held at knifepoint and was merely sharing known information.
She fiercely defended her reputation, emphasizing the grave consequences of such slander on a woman's honor. She challenged him, asking if he was trying to force her to her death, and declared that if he truly believed her to be involved with his "prisoner," he should simply "lock her up" at the Jiang family home. Xiao Heng, rather than being offended by her defiant outburst, appeared intrigued, finding her "special." He then, with a dismissive gesture, ordered his guards to cease following her, deeming their stares "filthy."
