The Heiress Episode 7 Recap
> The Heiress Recap
Chen Yanyi was brought before the Emperor for questioning regarding the Second Prince's assassination attempt. He readily admitted that the arrow found in the Second Prince was from his mansion. However, he argued that the assassin had taken poison and died upon capture, leaving no other evidence.
Chen Yanyi pointed out that if he truly intended to harm the Second Prince, he would not be so foolish as to use an arrow clearly marked from his own residence, which would instantly expose him. He suggested it would be simple for someone to acquire one of his arrows and frame him, especially given the known rivalry for the Crown Prince position. Chen Yanyi then asked the Emperor if he believed he would be "this stupid."
The Emperor considered Chen Yanyi's argument reasonable and ordered Dai Xing to conduct a thorough reinvestigation, much to Empress Wang's visible dismay, who had accused Chen Yanyi of jealousy and attempting to kill his brother. Chen Yanyi had anticipated such a move, having already taken precautions by having Qi Tai monitor the situation.
He reiterated his lack of personal ambition for the throne, stating his primary concern was preventing his "incompetent" Second Prince from potentially ruining the country due to external threats and his poor governance. Later, at the Imperial College, Han Shiyi was visibly pleased to see Chen Yanyi. He was also happy to see her, sensing her concern for him. He promised to smile more often, humorously admitting he hadn't done so previously.
Han Shiyi even noted his unusual change in self-reference from "this prince" to "I." While Chen Yanyi was discussing the ongoing investigation of the Second Prince's assassination, Han Shiyi accidentally overheard him. He then brought her to a dungeon, which frightened her, making her believe she was being punished for eavesdropping. Chen Yanyi revealed that Cheng Mingsi, a skilled assassin from the Weiyuan Sect, was one of the attackers at the Lantern Festival.
He explained that he had secretly kept Cheng Mingsi in his mansion, as the Capital Governor, Chang Guozan, was a loyal subordinate of Prime Minister Wang, and other captured assassins had committed suicide to prevent confession. Han Shiyi initially tried to flatter Chen Yanyi, calling him "wise," but then admitted he was "not wise" when pressed. During their conversation, Chen Yanyi probed Han Shiyi, asking if she only regarded him as her lord.
Han Shiyi quickly distanced herself, stating her clear preference for women and firmly declaring she could not be his "bedmate," which left Chen Yanyi momentarily speechless. Soon after, Cheng Mingsi was brought in, pleading for mercy and claiming to have confessed everything. Han Shiyi, observing Cheng Mingsi's unusually compliant behavior, wondered what torture Chen Yanyi had used. She correctly deduced that he employed sleep deprivation as his interrogation method.
Horrified by this cruel tactic, Han Shiyi thought Chen Yanyi was trying to intimidate her into compliance. However, Chen Yanyi reassured her, stating, "You are my man; how could I torture you?" He added that he wanted to be completely open with her. Han Shiyi was puzzled by his declaration that she was "his person," but Chen Yanyi insisted on it.
Cheng Mingsi then fully confessed, revealing he was sent by Prime Minister Wang and that Liao Wu from Daxizhuangzi was the contact person. Later, alone with her maids, Han Shiyi expressed her deep fear of Chen Yanyi's ruthless methods, worrying about what he might do if he ever discovered her true identity. She also pondered how perfectly his clothes fit her when she wore them.
With the inauguration ceremony for the new supervisor, Zhou Xuezhang, approaching, Han Shiyi was reminded of her bet to portray the Goddess of Lightning. Wang Zhongyu, feeling somewhat guilty about his win in the tree-climbing competition—especially since Han Shiyi's fall was a factor—decided to join her in dressing in female attire as an act of solidarity.
Han Shiyi jokingly instructed the maids to apply the "most glamorous" and "most seductive" makeup on Wang Zhongyu, and they playfully walked with their arms around each other. This display did not go unnoticed by Chen Yanyi, who looked on with visible jealousy. During the parade, the duo appeared in black and white costumes.
Wang Zhongyu, in a pristine white dress, looked remarkably delicate and shy, appearing more feminine than Han Shiyi, who, to hide her identity, sported a large fake beard. As they paraded through the streets, they continued their playful banter, each teasing the other about being the "real girl." In their lighthearted scuffle, Wang Zhongyu accidentally pushed Han Shiyi into a river.
He immediately prepared to jump in after her, but Chen Yanyi, who had been watching, swiftly intervened and rescued Han Shiyi, carrying the now beardless and beautiful woman away. Chen Yanyi took Han Shiyi to the Western Chamber in his mansion, instructing his attendant to guard the room and prevent anyone from approaching. Shortly after, Han Shiyi's maids, Jinzi and Yinzi, arrived, expressing their relief and thanking Chen Yanyi for his swift action.
Han Shiyi, however, downplayed his actions as a political maneuver, though she secretly admitted to finding him attractive. Yet, she worried about the implications of his kindness and her identity being exposed, fearing he might use his "sleep deprivation" method on her. After the river incident, Wang Zhongyu recalled a glimpse of Han Shiyi's chest binding and Chen Yanyi's intense anxiety when she fell.
These observations solidified his suspicion that Han Shiyi was indeed a woman and that Chen Yanyi had long known her secret, hence his protective actions. Driven by this new suspicion, Wang Zhongyu instructed his servant, Suiyi, to acquire a design sketch of the Duke Han's Mansion from his father's study. Meanwhile, Han Shiyi's maids observed Chen Yanyi's attentive care for her, interpreting it as genuine affection.
Han Shiyi, however, dismissed it as merely a political tactic to win over the Han family. Despite this, she admitted a nascent fondness for Chen Yanyi, particularly after his swift rescue. Yet, her thoughts were quickly overshadowed by the fear of his alleged preference for men and the potential for his ruthless "sleep deprivation" methods if her true identity were ever to be exposed. Later, Chen Yanyi confronted Han Shiyi about her public "flirting" with Wang Zhongyu.
Han Shiyi was genuinely confused, firmly stating that she and Wang Zhongyu were adversaries. She then wondered why Chen Yanyi would be concerned about her interactions with Wang Zhongyu, especially given Prime Minister Wang's open hostility towards her. Pondering his true motivations, she playfully teased him about his "cold face" and then boldly asked if he genuinely had feelings for her. Chen Yanyi responded, "Do you truly not know my feelings for you?"
Misinterpreting his seriousness and fearing he wanted her to "pledge herself" to him for saving her, Han Shiyi cleverly diverted the conversation by suggesting they become sworn brothers, leaving Chen Yanyi utterly speechless. Meanwhile, Wang Zhongyu, having obtained the design sketch of the Duke Han's Mansion from his father's study with the help of Suiyi, disguised himself as a servant and successfully infiltrated the Han family residence.
Later that night, a fire broke out in the mansion, prompting everyone, including most of Han Shiyi's maids, to rush out to help extinguish it. Seizing this opportunity, Wang Zhongyu hid behind Han Shiyi's door. He watched as Han Shiyi, finding her chest binding uncomfortably tight, asked her remaining maid to re-adjust it. As she removed her outer garments, Wang Zhongyu confirmed his suspicions by witnessing her chest binding firsthand, revealing her true identity as a woman.
