The Heiress Episode 12 Recap
> The Heiress Recap
During a street performance, an assassin disguised as a fire-breather launched hidden weapons. Chen Yanyi and Wang Zhongyu swiftly moved to block the attack. As they pursued the fleeing assailant, Han Shiyi picked up one of the darts and recognized it as identical to those used by the assassin who attacked her during her tree-climbing incident.
Realizing the assassin was deliberately luring Chen Yanyi into a trap, Han Shiyi instructed Jiye to ensure Chu Xiangyue's safety and then rushed to assist Chen Yanyi. In their pursuit, Wang Zhongyu managed to tear off the assassin's human skin mask, revealing him to be from the Central Plains.
The chase led them into a forest where, during a struggle, the assassin briefly held Wang Zhongyu by the neck but then released him, muttering that he couldn't kill the Prime Minister's son. Chen Yanyi observed this, making him suspicious of the assassin's true allegiances. The assassin then drew two swords, and multiple figures emerged from behind him, all armed with dual blades. They surrounded Chen Yanyi, trapping him in an Eight Diagrams formation.
Han Shiyi, recognizing the formation, quickly guided Chen Yanyi on how to break it, pointing out the loophole in the Zhen position and instructing him on the correct movements. The lead assassin then diverted his attention to attack Han Shiyi. She noticed a distinct birthmark on his hand, identical to the one on her younger brother's killer. Caught off guard by this realization, Han Shiyi was protected by Wang Zhongyu, who fended off the attack.
Chen Yanyi then identified the assailants as members of the Weiyuan Sect. During the skirmish, one of Chen Yanyi's guards, Xinting, was struck by a poisoned dart. Han Shiyi immediately administered an antidote, which, as Chen Yanyi later confirmed, stabilized his condition, ensuring he was out of danger.
Han Shiyi then revealed to Chen Yanyi that the assassin leader with the birthmark was indeed the murderer of her younger brother years ago, a memory she could never forget, and that this same assassin had chased her and her sibling in the past. Chen Yanyi then stated that this assassin, Peng Kun, was currently serving Prime Minister Wang Anli.
Chen Yanyi thanked Han Shiyi for her timely intervention, though she modestly insisted he could have managed alone, praising his martial arts skills despite his demanding military duties. Chen Yanyi vowed to avenge her, but Han Shiyi declined his help, stating she didn't want to implicate him and would seek revenge herself. She expressed her sorrow that the loyal Han Army, which had always defended the borders and protected the people, had become a target in the imperial power struggles.
Chen Yanyi promised to seek justice for her family, but Han Shiyi, recalling how history often sacrifices the justice of a few for the many, remained unconvinced. Chen Yanyi suggested Han Shiyi rest in the Warm Pavilion of the Western Chamber in Mingyuan Hall. Han Shiyi protested, reminding him it was traditionally reserved for his future wife and proposing a different room. Chen Yanyi, however, insisted.
When Han Shiyi brought up his previous decision to keep her two maids, Jinzi and Yinzi, out of the mansion, Chen Yanyi cited their failure to protect her from an earlier assassin attack and stated he had arranged for Ru Yi, a trusted maid left by his late mother, to care for Han Shiyi instead. Chen Yanyi then urged her to drop her act.
Han Shiyi confessed that after ten years of impersonating Han Shiyi, acting had become her second nature, blurring the lines between performance and reality. She added that she was content being the Han Heir and wanted to live happily. Chen Yanyi then assured her she would find happiness in the future.
Meanwhile, Wang Zhongyu confronted his father, Prime Minister Wang Anli, who lamented that Wang Zhongyu had ruined their plan to eliminate Chen Yanyi, which was necessary for the Second Prince to have any chance of becoming Crown Prince. Wang Zhongyu defiantly told his father that if he wanted Chen Yanyi dead, he should do it himself, but he would not permit any harm to come to Han Shiyi.
He asserted that the Han family was neutral and Han Shiyi should not be a casualty in their power struggle. Prime Minister Wang accused Han Shiyi of manipulating his son, also revealing that Wang Zhongyu had previously obstructed his efforts to contact Qingzhou. Wang Zhongyu retorted that Han Shiyi would never be interested in the son of an "evil minister."
He then threatened to kill Peng Kun himself if the assassin dared to lay a hand on Han Shiyi again, even daring his father to order Peng Kun to kill him first. Later, Chen Yanyi cautioned Han Shiyi about Wang Zhongyu, stating that Wang Zhongyu had feigned injury that day, allowing the skilled assassin to escape.
He further revealed that Wang Zhongyu's martial arts originated from the Weiyuan Sect, suggesting a deep connection and warning Han Shiyi not to protect him. Han Shiyi defended Wang Zhongyu, arguing that he seemed genuinely uninterested in partisan conflicts and his pursuit of the assassin didn't appear to be an act. She also doubted Prime Minister Wang would trust his unpredictable son with such critical matters.
Chen Yanyi then hinted that Wang Zhongyu's words at the performance might have resonated with her. Han Shiyi, exasperated, asked Chen Yanyi to treat her as the Han family's heir and not as a woman, emphatically stating that she would never revert to her female identity in this life. At the Imperial College, students gossiped about Han Shiyi, calling her a "vamp" for supposedly seducing both the Fifth Prince and now Wang Zhongyu.
Gu Wan even made vile comparisons, asking whether the Duke's heir or a male courtesan from a brothel smelled better. Shen Chengjun, angered by the insults, struck Gu Wan. When Wang Zhongyu arrived, he verbally defended Han Shiyi, telling Gu Wan to think before speaking. Gu Wan questioned if Wang Zhongyu, too, had been "mesmerized." Han Shiyi, growing frustrated, told Gu Wan to shut up, and Shen Chengjun advised her to ignore such people.
During class, Wang Zhongyu continued to provoke Han Shiyi, who responded by throwing a book at him. Dr. Xia, their teacher, scolded them for "flirting in broad daylight" and expelled Han Shiyi from the classroom. As Han Shiyi stood outside as punishment, Chen Yanyi, who had just arrived and was unaware of the situation, offered her his handkerchief to wipe her sweat. Dr. Xia emerged, chastising Han Shiyi again for not being still.
Once inside, Chen Yanyi inquired about Han Shiyi's punishment. Wang Zhongyu, in a teasing manner, divulged the details, hinting at "little secrets" between himself and Han Shiyi. Chen Yanyi surmised that Wang Zhongyu must have discovered Han Shiyi's true identity and developed feelings for her, realizing that a prince falling for a female heir was a love doomed to be empty. He then announced to Dr. Xia that he, too, was late and voluntarily joined Han Shiyi in punishment.
Outside, Han Shiyi asked if his action was intentional. Chen Yanyi confirmed it, expressing mock annoyance that she didn't appreciate his company, and playfully accused her of flirting with another man. Han Shiyi retorted that his words might lead others to believe she was "his man," to which Chen Yanyi simply asked, "Aren't you my man?" Frustrated, Han Shiyi told him she couldn't communicate with him and asked him to leave.
Meanwhile, in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Wang Xiyuan overheard her father discussing how Chu Xiangyue was likely to become the Fifth Prince's consort. Her father explained that while they couldn't stop the marriage, they could ensure the person Chu Xiangyue wished to marry, implicitly Chen Yanyi, "disappeared." He hoped this news would deter Wang Xiyuan from pursuing the Fifth Prince and avoid future heartache for her.
At Prince Qi's Mansion, two palace ladies, who had been assigned to Chen Yanyi by the Emperor and Empress, complained to Chu Xiangyue. They had been dismissed by Chen Yanyi simply for offending Han Shiyi and expressed frustration that Han Shiyi was occupying the Mingyuan Hall's Western Chamber, a place designated for the future Princess Consort.
They alleged that Chen Yanyi, known for his preference for men, was intimately involved with Han Shiyi, even openly flirting in public, implying Han Shiyi was merely Chen Yanyi's "bedmate" rather than his companion. Chu Xiangyue attempted to reassure them that Chen Yanyi wasn't a womanizer and that Han Shiyi was merely a close confidant, but the ladies insisted on the strong connection between Chen Yanyi and Han Shiyi.
Shortly after, Wang Xiyuan arrived at Prince Qi's Mansion, ostensibly to visit Chu Xiangyue. Han Shiyi, passing by, overheard their conversation. Wang Xiyuan immediately launched into a tirade, questioning Chu Xiangyue's familiar address of Chen Yanyi as "Cousin," given their distant relation.
She chastised Chu Xiangyue for living in a male household without proper female chaperones, implying her "wild" upbringing in the western territory made her ignorant of capital etiquette, and also insulted her for being an orphan from a branch family. Chu Xiangyue retorted, defending her family's honor and her close bond with Chen Yanyi, despite being an orphan from a branch family, asserting that her family rules were taught by the Duchess of Zhenguo.
Han Shiyi observed the escalating argument, noting Wang Xiyuan's sharp tongue and realizing her reputation as a "tigress" was well-deserved. The argument turned physical, with Wang Xiyuan slapping Chu Xiangyue. When Wang Xiyuan then saw Han Shiyi, she called both of them "vamps," labeling Han Shiyi as "sissy" and "seductive." Han Shiyi tried to de-escalate the situation and offered to escort Wang Xiyuan out, but Wang Xiyuan refused, threatening to "trample on you vamps."
Chu Xiangyue then ordered her servants to seize Wang Xiyuan. Han Shiyi, initially amused by the spectacle, intervened when Chu Xiangyue instructed her servants to dislocate Wang Xiyuan's arm, warning that such an act would only bring trouble to Chen Yanyi. At that moment, Chen Yanyi appeared. Seeing him, Chu Xiangyue immediately burst into tears, feigning victimhood and blaming Wang Xiyuan for hitting her and making trouble. Han Shiyi, bewildered by the sudden change in Chu Xiangyue's demeanor, watched as Chen Yanyi approached.
