The Four Episode 35 Recap
> The Four Recap
Ji Yaohua returned to Shenhou Mansion, where Zhuge mentioned her father's passing. Unwilling to revisit sad memories, Ji Yaohua was advised by Zhuge to rest at Shenhou Mansion for a few days. However, Ji Yaohua secretly sought to uncover information about Leng Xue and Chu Limo, first from Zhuge, who revealed nothing, and then from Wu Qing. Although Wu Qing did not explicitly disclose details, Ji Yaohua understood he knew the truth and began her own discreet investigation.
Meanwhile, Leng Xue left a mark to meet Wu Qing and Zhui Ming, who were being closely monitored by Six Doors. Wu Qing, incensed by Six Doors' surveillance, wanted to confront them, but Zhui Ming prevented a clash to avoid implicating Zhuge or giving Six Doors a reason to hold him accountable. Leng Xue risked meeting Wu Qing and Zhui Ming, seeking their help to arrange a meeting with Zhuge Zhengwo.
Leng Xue believed that they could not escape An Shigeng's surveillance no matter where they fled, and therefore, overthrowing An Shigeng was the most pressing matter. With their assistance, Leng Xue brought Chu Limo to meet Zhuge in a cave. Zhuge did not admonish Chu Limo for changing her name and infiltrating Shenhou Mansion as a female servant. Chu Limo expressed her fear that her identity as a potential imperial concubine, if exposed, would implicate Zhuge.
Following these events, Zhuge was suspended from his post, and Shenhou Mansion was sealed. Leng Xue was convinced that An Shigeng was directly linked to Shenhou Mansion's sealing, as An Shigeng had consistently opposed them. Leng Xue urged Zhuge to actively engage in a battle of wits and courage against An Shigeng. Zhuge, for his part, repeatedly instructed Leng Xue to protect Chu Limo and to not disclose her whereabouts to anyone, believing that her non-appearance would ensure temporary peace.
A critical incident then occurred: the Mint Bureau's vault caught fire. This vault stored the essential money molds, crucial for the nation's currency. If destroyed, new coins could not be minted. Wang Shijie, an official, rushed into the blaze to retrieve the molds and tragically perished, burned to death in the inferno, while his subordinates anxiously called out from outside. Six Doors received news and promptly dispatched investigators to the Mint Bureau.
Their inspection revealed that the money molds salvaged from the fire were fake, indicating that the original molds in the Mint Bureau had been swapped. Yu Chuntong led his subordinates to investigate the cause of the fire. When an official from the Mint Bureau made an inappropriate remark, Yu Chuntong declared he would report the incident directly to the Emperor. Zhuge discussed the Mint Bureau fire with Wu Qing and others, acknowledging that Six Doors was officially investigating.
Zhuge believed that creating fake currency was not An Shigeng's true objective, and that Wang Shijie's death and the burned vault were their sole clues. Anticipating that An Shigeng might lay a trap to ensure Shenhou Mansion's permanent downfall, Zhuge instructed Wu Qing and Zhui Ming to proceed with extreme caution in their secret investigation, and to be wary of Yu Chuntong. Amidst a series of incidents in the capital, King Xiang considered reinstating Zhuge to investigate everything.
An Shigeng, however, actively obstructed this, inciting King Xiang to prevent him from changing his mind. Prince Zhu visited King Xiang, proposing that the money mold case, due to the widespread circulation of fake currency in the capital harming many citizens, concerned the very foundation of the nation. He argued that restoring Zhuge's position was essential for quickly resolving the case. However, An Shigeng's interference made it impossible for Prince Zhu to convince King Xiang to reinstate Zhuge.
Seizing the opportunity, An Shigeng suggested appointing a new leader for Shenhou Mansion. Prince Zhu then proposed Ji Yaohua, who ranked highest among those after the famous trappers. King Xiang agreed and promptly appointed Ji Yaohua as the interim leader of Shenhou Mansion.
