The Heiress Episode 2 Recap
> The Heiress Recap
Han Shiyi was, in reality, Han Yuanniang, the Duke of Dingguo's daughter, disguised as her deceased twin brother to attend the Imperial College and tasked with hiding her true abilities. The two maids, Jinzi and Yinzi, prepared to draw their swords as assassins approached Han Shiyi in a dark alley. However, the attackers simply ran past them. Just then, Chen Yanyi appeared at the end of the alley and ordered his guards to corner the assassins.
An enraged assassin hurled a packet of powder, causing Jinzi and Yinzi to collapse. Han Shiyi, thinking, "Facial palsy tiger is here. I can't show my hand," quickly used her fan to block the powder. She then feigned terror, crying out, "Help! B. . . brave man, don't. . . don't kill me. Help. . . help me." The assassin seized her, holding her hostage.
Han Shiyi pleaded with Chen Yanyi not to leave her, asking, "Doesn't an ordinary person's life matter? You can't leave me in the lurch!" Internally, she resolved to face whatever came, "Fine. Let me see if I'll die." Chen Yanyi, feigning indifference and turning to leave, suddenly shot a silver needle at the assassin when he was distracted, causing him to collapse. Han Shiyi, almost falling from the roof, was caught by Chen Yanyi.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before she angrily bit his arm, accusing him, "You almost killed me just now! That's because I had the devil's own luck. If your weapon had deviated a little bit, I would have been dead now." Furious, she walked away.
Chen Yanyi instructed his guards to take the captured assassin to his mansion for interrogation and to replace him with a death row inmate at the Ministry of Justice, claiming the assassin had poisoned himself. Later, Jinzi and Yinzi apologized for their failure, but Han Shiyi told them it was Chen Yanyi's fault for trying to test her.
She explained to them that Chen Yanyi, whom she called a "facial palsy tiger," was deeply calculating and distrustful, making it dangerous for her to be his reading partner. Meanwhile, Chen Yanyi reflected on Han Shiyi's behavior; despite the Han family's martial background, she chose to fall rather than use lightness moves, making her an enigma. He realized that "people's reactions are instinctive only when it's the most dangerous," confirming his suspicion that she was hiding her true abilities.
The next morning, Han Shiyi decided to "continue with my mischief" at the Imperial College to further mislead Chen Yanyi. In class, she deliberately infuriated Wang Zhongyu by adopting a pet turtle and naming it "Wang Er," openly mocking Wang Zhongyu who was the second son in his family and called "Childe Wang Er." She proclaimed the turtle her adopted son, emphasizing the importance of early education.
Wang Zhongyu, provoked, challenged her to a cock racing match, betting she would have to change the turtle's name if he won. Han Shiyi accepted and won. Doctor Xia, discovering the students' illicit cock racing, demanded to know who initiated it. Han Shiyi and other students simultaneously pointed to Wang Zhongyu. During a lesson, Han Shiyi gave a nonsensical answer to a classical question.
When asked about her previous tutors, she claimed they all left for various personal reasons and never returned. Doctor Xia then suggested she demonstrate her equestrian skills at the drill ground. From a selection of fine horses, Han Shiyi chose a small donkey, declaring it gave her "safety" and "wouldn't hurt even if I fall." The other students scoffed at the "legendary scion of a general's family." She even requested a "donkey stool" to mount the animal.
When urged to make the donkey run, she refused, saying it was "too jolting" and that as a future general, she wouldn't need to personally lead charges into battle. Witnessing this display, Chen Yanyi quietly spoke to Doctor Xia, suggesting a test of military strategy. Han Shiyi confidently admitted she had never studied the Art of War, asserting that a general with competent advisors didn't need to know everything himself.
Her performance reinforced her image as an uncultured and incompetent heir. Later, outside the Imperial College, Shen Chengjun, her distant cousin, greeted Han Shiyi. He introduced himself as the grandson of Duke Han's elder sister and revealed that he had been betrothed to Han Yuanniang, who was publicly believed to have died young (and was, unbeknownst to him, Han Shiyi's true identity).
Shen Chengjun explained that the class was divided between Chen Yanyi and Wang Zhongyu, but with Han Shiyi's arrival, it was now three factions, and he pledged his support for her. Pleased with his loyalty, Han Shiyi prepared to accompany him to visit her grandaunt. However, Chen Yanyi interrupted, reminding Han Shiyi that as his newly appointed reading partner, she was required to accompany him after school. Han Shiyi apologized to Shen Chengjun, promising to visit another time.
At Chen Yanyi’s mansion, Han Shiyi complained about the tedium of reading, claiming books offered neither fun nor "beauty." Chen Yanyi calmly instructed her to grind ink. With feigned enthusiasm, she deliberately added too much water to the ink, then clumsily smeared it onto Chen Yanyi's clean robe. She dramatically apologized, expressing concern for his "ruined" clothing. Unperturbed, Chen Yanyi simply told her, "Let's call it a day. See yourself out."
As Han Shiyi left, pleased with her prank, Chen Yanyi internally affirmed his resolve: "You tried to get away with this little trick. You've underestimated me. You're definitely going to be my reading partner." Meanwhile, Wang Zhongyu, immersed in writing a romance, found his thoughts drifting to Han Shiyi. He deemed her "nasty but interesting" and decided to "play a few games" with her.
At the palace, the Emperor expressed dismay over Duke Han's excessive spoiling of Han Shiyi, noting his lack of martial and scholarly skills, and small stature. He worried about the future of the Han army. He then sadly recalled his brilliant eldest son, Crown Prince Ruizheng, who died from a cold, and how his mother, Empress Yuan, had harbored a grudge against him ever since.
The following day in class, Wang Zhongyu brought a piglet adorned with a ribbon, calling it "Miss Han" and pointedly describing it as a "boar" that merely looked cute, implying Han Shiyi, though male, behaved effeminately. Han Shiyi ignored him and moved to sit beside Chen Yanyi, asserting it was her duty as his reading partner. She offered to take notes for Chen Yanyi, but deliberately defaced them, leaving him visibly fatigued.
Chen Yanyi's attendant suggested sending Han Shiyi away, but Chen Yanyi decided it was time to "teach him a lesson," confident in his ability to control him. As a short holiday was announced before an upcoming exam, Han Shiyi excitedly planned leisure activities. However, Chen Yanyi stopped her, reminding her of the impending exam. He declared he would personally help her study and immediately ordered her to carry two heavy buckets of water.
When she tried to rest, he ignored her. Later, he used a dog to chase her, forcing her to cling to him in fright. That evening, he refused to let her leave, insisting she stay for supper. Then, he instructed Jiye to bring rope and, to Han Shiyi's shock, tied her hair to a beam, employing the traditional "tie my hair to the beam" method to prevent sleep during study.
Han Shiyi pretended to study diligently but eventually fell asleep, hidden behind her book, a sight Chen Yanyi observed without waking her. On the day of the exam, Han Shiyi was fast asleep at her desk. Wang Zhongyu and other students conspired to frame her, placing a cheat sheet on her desk. Doctor Xia discovered it and confronted Wang Zhongyu, who denied involvement. Doctor Xia then suspected Han Shiyi, noting the handwriting, and woke him.
Han Shiyi denied the cheat sheet was hers, arguing she wouldn't bother with such a thing when she cared more about sleeping than scores. When other students demanded a search, Han Shiyi grew anxious, fearing her true identity as a woman would be exposed. Just as Doctor Xia was about to proceed, Chen Yanyi intervened, stating that as Han Shiyi's reading partner, he would conduct the search himself.
