The Substitute Princess's Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis
The Substitute Princess's Love Synopsis
The God of War, Wen Ye, died in battle on the eve of his wedding, and the whole nation mourned. The bride-to-be was the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, and Lady Shen was reluctant to let her daughter marry and become a widow. However, she was also afraid of being criticized for canceling the wedding. So, she found Shen Keyi, her illegitimate daughter who had been living outside, and forced her to marry in her daughter's place.
Due to a mistaken war report, Wen Ye returned victorious and became the true royal consort after marrying into the palace. Shen Keyi and the prince became an loving couple. After facing various challenges, they finally understood the true essence of love and protection.
In the end, they chose to be together, not seeking riches or worldly prosperity, but only wishing to steal moments of leisure that belonged to just the two of them.
The Substitute Princess's Love Recap
Episode 1 Recap
In the bustling streets and alleys of the capital, a large red bridal sedan chair carried the young bride towards the Jin Mansion. The people on the street discussed animatedly, saying that Prince Jin guarded the border for the country and only married in his thirties, which was truly a blessing for the common people. On the other side, a coffin was carried out from the Jin Mansion.
As paper money continuously scattered to the ground, the steward led the way: Underworld King leads the way, coffin receives the bride, bride enters the door, guide the soul home… The bride's name is Shen Keyi. She is the illegitimate daughter of the current Prime Minister Shen Yurong. Prince Jin Wen Ye guarded the border, and news came from the army that Prince Jin had sacrificed himself for the country in a battle.
The Empress Dowager then quickly arranged a ghost marriage for her deceased son as a consolation. The in-laws were Prime Minister Shen Yurong. Everyone in court knew that Prime Minister Shen had a daughter. After receiving the imperial decree, Prime Minister Shen dared not disobey, but letting his daughter marry a ghost was even more unbearable for him.
Prime Minister Shen came up with a plan: he had an illegitimate daughter, Shen Keyi, living among the common people, so he might as well let her take the place. Shen Keyi drifted on the streets with her wet nurse since she was little. Therefore, even though Shen Keyi knew she was a substitute bride, she was still very grateful. She finally found a place to settle down for herself and her wet nurse and could eat their fill.
The Empress Dowager summoned Prime Minister Shen and his wife, instructing the two of them to properly educate their daughter to endure loneliness and not do anything out of line. Madam Shen stated that Prince Jin sacrificed himself for the country, and the Shen family was willing to let their daughter be buried with him to repay Prince Jin's kindness to the common people.
After leaving the mansion, Madam Shen was worried that Prime Minister Shen would blame her for being cruel and ruthless and hastily explained that having Shen Keyi buried with him was entirely for the sake of the Shen family. Shen Keyi grew up on the streets, her manners were not proper, and it was inevitable that she would reveal herself over time. When the Empress Dowager found out, the Shen family would be unable to explain themselves.
It was better to make a choice early and also show loyalty to the Emperor to help Prime Minister Shen consolidate his power in court. Prime Minister Shen was silent for a moment and actually agreed directly. Shen Keyi heard her wet nurse tell her about Prime Minister Shen's plan, so she secretly ran out of the mansion, causing a commotion.
After running for a long time, Shen Keyi hid in a theatre building, preparing to hide under a lion dance mask. She saw a man also hiding behind the mask. A moment later, the two of them disguised themselves as lion dancers and left, one in front and one behind. The man was precisely Prince Jin Wen Ye. Although he fell off a cliff, he managed to survive, but Shen Keyi did not know.
Wen Ye was injured in the waist and was soon discovered by several pursuers. After a fight, the pursuers were subdued. Wen Ye became exhausted and fainted. Shen Keyi originally wanted to escape, but then felt that the stranger was in danger. She finally brought Wen Ye to a dilapidated temple to bandage his wound. Prime Minister Shen met with members of the Southern Candle Pavilion at night.
The Southern Candle Pavilion were spies for the Liang Kingdom and had been planning to assassinate Wen Ye for a long time. After learning that someone had personally witnessed Prince Jin falling off the cliff, Prime Minister Shen breathed a sigh of relief. His embezzlement of disaster relief grain would finally no longer be pursued. Wen Ye rested for a night and was spirited the next day. He asked Shen Keyi why she was being pursued.
Shen Keyi also asked the same question in return. Wen Ye did not answer. Shen Keyi took out the pastries she brought from the mansion to fill Wen Ye's stomach. Wen Ye asked if she was escaping a marriage. Shen Keyi dared not reveal it, so she went out to help Wen Ye find water. As soon as Shen Keyi found a water source, she was caught by Madam Shen's informant, Aunt Xin.
Aunt Xin kidnapped Shen Keyi's wet nurse to threaten her. Shen Keyi had no choice but to obediently return to the mansion with Aunt Xin. Guard Wan and Nan Bo followed the marks left by Wen Ye and found the dilapidated temple. Only then did they realize that the news of Wen Ye's death was purely a conspiracy. The two of them advised Wen Ye to return to the capital first, but Wen Ye insisted on waiting for someone.
After waiting for a long time, still not seeing Shen Keyi return, suddenly several men in black burst into the dilapidated temple intending to assassinate Wen Ye. The three of them quickly subdued the group of men in black. The men in black took poison and committed suicide. Nan Bo recognized the poison as Seven-tailed Kite, which was the mark of the Southern Candle Pavilion of the Liang Kingdom. Since his whereabouts had been exposed, Wen Ye had no choice but to leave the dilapidated temple first.
Episode 2 Recap
Under Madam Shen's coercion, Shen Keyi had no choice but to agree to be buried with Prince Jin. The next day, the bridal sedan chair once again carried the bride towards the grave. Wen Ye returned to the capital and discovered that the woman in the sedan chair was the one who had saved him. A marriage contract fell to the ground.
Wen Ye picked it up and read it, only then realizing that what he had just witnessed with his own eyes was his own ghost marriage. Shen Keyi was brought to Wen Ye's tomb and given a length of white silk. Two guards, one on each side, prepared to strangle Shen Keyi. Wen Ye suddenly appeared and cut the white silk. The guards thought Wen Ye's ghost had appeared and scattered in fright.
Shen Keyi was rescued back to the Mansion. After resting for a night, her spirit recovered. Aunt Xin walked up to Shen Keyi and demanded that she must steal the jade pendant that Prince Jin carried with him. Shen Keyi did not want to be involved in trouble and only wanted to quietly leave the capital with her wet nurse. However, Aunt Xin said that only by stealing the jade pendant could she see her wet nurse again.
Shen Keyi had no choice but to find a way to stay. After Guard Wan investigated the hideout of the Southern Candle Pavilion spies, the hideout quickly disbanded. Nan Bo found out that the Vice Minister of the Board of Revenue, Li Bing, had some evidence. Wen Ye then took people to find Li Bing. When they met, Li Bing was already gravely wounded by an arrow.
Li Bing was originally the grain and fodder escort official and explained the truth to Wen Ye: the grain and fodder had all been embezzled by Prime Minister Shen. Wen Ye demanded to see the evidence. Li Bing explained that it was useless; Prime Minister Shen had been operating in the capital for many years and was not someone who could be easily overthrown. After saying this, he passed away. The Emperor summoned Wen Ye.
Only then did Prime Minister Shen learn that the news of Wen Ye dying in battle was false, and his face was full of mixed emotions. Disregarding the etiquette between ruler and minister, Wen Ye directly drew his sword in court and placed it against Prime Minister Shen's neck. Only after the Emperor repeatedly intervened did Wen Ye withdraw his blade. Shen Keyi was kicked out of the Jin Mansion by Wen Ye.
After seeing the jade pendant, she started looking for excuses to stay. She couldn't get through the Mansion gate, so Shen Keyi had no choice but to sit in front of the gate and wait patiently. Wen Ye set up a tent in the Mansion. To commemorate the soldiers who died on the battlefield, Wen Ye did not use charcoal fire for warmth, subjecting himself to hardship.
In the evening, while Shen Keyi was sitting in front of the Jin Mansion gate, she saw a graceful and noble woman arrive at the Mansion with a maidservant. It was Prince Jin's eldest sister, Madam Yun Ying. Upon learning of Shen Keyi's situation, Madam Yun Ying gave her own cloak and hand warmer. Inside the Jin Mansion, Madam Yun Ying gazed at the tent for a long time.
Guard Wan handed her an umbrella from behind and suggested that there was no need to plead for the Shen family daughter. Given Prince Jin's personality, he would not keep her at all. Madam Yun Ying, however, held a different opinion. Prince Jin had been on the battlefield for a long time and had a gloomy personality; perhaps he needed Shen Keyi to temper it.
After a night of heavy snow, Wen Ye walked out of the Mansion and found Shen Keyi still waiting at the gate. Shen Keyi continued to pester him, even calling Wen Ye "Third Uncle" by seniority. Wen Ye had no mind to pay attention, only feeling that the Mansion had gained an informant from the Shen family, and his actions were constrained everywhere.
For several days in a row, Shen Keyi stayed by the gate, eager to shovel snow and do cleaning. The steward, Yi Fu, was helpless and could only let Shen Keyi do as she pleased. The Emperor bestowed an imperial decree, requiring Prince Jin and his Princess Consort to receive the decree together. Shen Keyi couldn't enter the Mansion, so she looked for a convenient place nearby to climb over the wall. As she was about to announce the imperial decree, Shen Keyi suddenly fell heavily from the courtyard wall to the ground.
Episode 3 Recap
The imperial decree, in addition to commending Wen Ye for his victorious return and bestowing fertile land and gold, also included two bowls of Baizi soup from the Emperor, hoping that Prince Jin would soon have heirs. Considering that the Princess Consort was married in a ghost marriage without knowing Prince Jin was still alive, she was also granted a Golden Scroll and Seal, her status equivalent to that of a Crown Prince's Consort.
Shen Keyi returned the sword tassel Wen Ye had dropped in front of the Mansion gate. Not only did Wen Ye not express gratitude, but his face remained indifferent. Yi Fu settled Shen Keyi in Xingyue Pavilion and instructed her not to wander around unnecessarily, as Prince Jin preferred quiet. Shen Keyi was still worried: how could she possibly get close to Wen Ye and steal the jade pendant?
Madam Shen asked why it was necessary to steal the jade pendant. Prime Minister Shen explained that the jade pendant was a death exemption granted by the late Emperor, and even the current Emperor could not touch Wen Ye. However, if the jade pendant were lost, everything would be different.
Prime Minister Shen worried that the substitute marriage would be exposed sooner or later, and if Shen Keyi was not pregnant within a year, she would be divorced, which would be difficult to handle then. Madam Shen revealed that she had had Aunt Xin administer Bai Ri San to Shen Keyi, which would slowly become toxic. If Shen Keyi was truly unable to get pregnant, she would have already died from the poison by then.
Shen Keyi's idea was simple; she thought the best way to get close to Wen Ye was to share his bed. So, she secretly crawled into Wen Ye's quilt. Wen Ye was furious and threw Shen Keyi, quilt and all, out of the tent. A walnut was left on the bed. Wen Ye thought it was a hidden weapon and told Guard Wan to remove it carefully.
It wasn't until Nan Bo accidentally stepped on the walnut and crushed it that Wen Ye realized it had been a false alarm. Shen Keyi still couldn't stay idle. She learned from Madam Yun Ying that Wen Ye liked sweets, so she pestered her to let her make apricot blossom pastries herself in the small kitchen of Shanglin Pavilion. When Wen Ye heard Guard Wan's report, he suspected Shen Keyi would poison the pastries.
He found it increasingly difficult to see through the Shen family's schemes. Madam Yun Ying took Shen Keyi to pick many apricot blossoms in the Mansion courtyard. Shen Keyi climbed up and down, completely lacking the reserve of a noble lady. After picking the blossoms, she was also excellent at cooking and making pastries. She busied herself alone and quickly finished the preparation.
Madam Yun Ying felt a hint of curiosity; the Princess Consort seemed as familiar with every step of the process as if she had been doing housework since she was a child, unaware of the hidden truth about the substitute marriage. After seeing the apricot blossom pastries, Wen Ye tasted them piece by piece, thinking he would immediately chase Shen Keyi away once he found poison.
However, he ate many pieces and found nothing unusual; in fact, the taste was quite unique. When the last piece remained, Shen Keyi asked Wen Ye to leave one for her. Wen Ye did not agree, and the two started to fight over it. Finally, Shen Keyi got her hands on it and stuffed it into her mouth. There was no poison in the apricot blossom pastries.
However, through fighting over the pastry with Shen Keyi, Wen Ye felt that she was very strong. Although Guard Wan did not sense that Shen Keyi possessed inner strength, Wen Ye was still suspicious, perhaps Prime Minister Shen had arranged for his daughter to be by his side to assassinate him.
So, he had Nan Bo deliberately reveal false information, saying that Wen Ye had found evidence of Prime Minister Shen's corruption, but due to an old injury, he would not be able to use martial arts for a month. Spies from Liang Kingdom suggested that Prime Minister Shen transfer the capital guards and find an opportunity to kill the not-yet-recovered Wen Ye.
Wen Ye invited Shen Keyi to eat with him, deliberately revealing the news that his old injury had relapsed. Shen Keyi seemed not to listen carefully; instead, she listed a series of recipes she wanted to cook for Wen Ye. Wen Ye discovered that Shen Keyi didn't understand many courtesies, so he asked about the education she received before getting married. Shen Keyi stammered, worried she would reveal too much. Several men in black attacked Jin Mansion.
Shen Keyi rushed in front of Wen Ye to block the arrows and was hit by an arrow. Wen Ye became even more suspicious; if Shen Keyi had leaked the information, why would she block the sword for him?
Episode 4 Recap
Shen Keyi quickly recovered from her coma. Wen Ye walked into the tent and saw Shen Keyi reaching for snacks, so he asked her why she blocked the sword for him. Shen Keyi explained that she indeed wanted to make a good impression so that Prince Jin would like her. Besides, a family should help each other. Seeing that Shen Keyi was not hiding anything, Wen Ye slightly lowered his guard.
He remembered his mother saying the same words when he was a child and felt a sense of familiarity. All the assassins were captured. Except for one who refused to speak, the rest committed suicide by taking poison directly. Nan Bo asked if the Princess Consort knew martial arts. Wen Ye said that from the fighting scene, it didn't look like she knew martial arts, just had great strength in her fists and feet.
He suddenly remembered there was an ointment in the manor that left no scars after application and asked Guard Wan to find it. Guard Wan reminded him that Prince Jin had personally given it to Princess Yunxi. Wen Ye immediately stated that he must find a way to get it back. Shen Keyi found many books teaching how to charm men. She fantasized about Wen Ye being smitten by her beauty and amused herself. Wen Ye happened to pass by.
Seeing Shen Keyi waving a hairpin, he thought she was going to harm herself and stepped forward to stop her. They stumbled together and fell to the ground, kissing each other. Yi Fu came to the courtyard to look for Shen Keyi. Wen Ye was afraid of being discovered together, so he hid Shen Keyi under his cloak. Wen Ye eagerly rushed Yi Fu away, then hurried back to the tent himself, finding Shen Keyi's hairpin left on his robe.
Madam Yun Ying couldn't help but laugh when she saw Shen Keyi's attire. Learning that Shen Keyi wanted to attract Prince Jin, she asked her maid He Muer to carefully dress Shen Keyi up with high-quality rouge. Shen Keyi immediately looked livelier, and then He Muer escorted her back to her room. Guard Wan searched the assassins and found a map of Prince Jin's manor.
After repeated interrogation, the assassin stated that the map was provided by the Princess Consort, which was why they could find the back garden. Wen Ye's secretly relaxed nerves tensed up again. The next day, Nan Bo passed by the garden and saw Shen Keyi practicing martial arts, so he went up to ask. Shen Keyi said she was practicing Ba Duan Jin and taught Nan Bo a few moves. Suddenly, her stomach rumbled, and she hurried to the latrine.
Returning to her room, Shen Keyi was about to drink water when a maid rushed forward and stopped her with gestures, not daring to speak loudly. Shen Keyi guessed that Aunt Xin must have poisoned her food. Seeing Nan Bo and Shen Keyi getting close, Wen Ye punished Nan Bo by making him brush the chamber pot. Shen Keyi, learning that Nan Bo was implicated because of her, insisted on going to Wen Ye to demand justice.
Wen Ye punished Shen Keyi along with him, making Shen Keyi kneel for a long time in the rain. Shen Keyi obeyed the order and knelt until the rain stopped. The guard advised Wen Ye not to be too harsh on the Princess Consort. Wen Ye, however, said that Shen Keyi was Prime Minister Shen's informant, and he did not want her to take too deep root in the manor. Shen Keyi went to Madam Yun Ying's room to confide.
Madam Yun Ying asked Shen Keyi if she loved Wen Ye. Shen Keyi had a million thoughts and didn't know how to speak. As the two were talking, Wen Ye burst through the door, ordering Shen Keyi never to approach Shanglin Pavilion again. Madam Yun Ying was not well and should not be disturbed casually. Then he had Yi Fu drive Shen Keyi away. Shen Keyi returned to Xingyue Pavilion and found the door locked.
Aunt Xin forced Shen Keyi to kneel and beg her. Shen Keyi pretended to kneel, kicked Aunt Xin down, and then hid in a courtyard in the manor to sleep for the night.
Episode 5 Recap
Two spies from Liang Kingdom disguised as a fishing couple were selling fish in the market. One of them obtained information from Prince Jin's manor and was preparing to enter the Prime Minister's mansion to meet with Prime Minister Shen. After Wen Ye went to court, Shen Keyi felt a pang of loss in her heart, and couldn't help but wonder if she had truly developed feelings for Wen Ye. Poisoning causes stomach pain, but why did her heart ache?
There was no time to think more. Her wet nurse was still imprisoned in Prime Minister Shen's mansion. It seemed that gaining Wen Ye's trust by stealing the jade pendant was not feasible now. It would be better to raise some money first, make a replica at the market, and then rescue her wet nurse.
The young leader of the bandits, Zhou Yu, was staking out the entrance of a jewelry store, carefully analyzing every woman who browsed the store to find an opportunity to strike. Some women browsed for a long time and only bought one item, indicating they were short on money and didn't have much silver. Some women browsed for a long time and didn't buy anything, likely because they weren't impressed.
Such women were probably favored and shouldn't be targeted easily, or it would cause trouble. Shen Keyi happened to pass by with a bulging purse. Another thief snatched the purse from Shen Keyi's waist. Zhou Yu immediately chased after him, recovered the purse, and returned it. Shen Keyi was very grateful. After thanking him in public, she walked into the jewelry store, explained her purpose, and showed the jade pendant drawing.
The jewelry store owner demanded double the amount of silver before he would start working. Shen Keyi had no choice but to return to Prince Jin's manor to raise money. As she was tidying her dowry, she heard Aunt Xin in the next room scolding her personal maid, A Tao, who had stopped her from drinking water. Shen Keyi couldn't bear to see A Tao punished for saving her, so she rushed forward, rescued the maid, and left the room.
Aunt Xin suspected that Shen Keyi's whereabouts might have been exposed, drawing the manor's attention. Madam Shen had instructed that if Shen Keyi failed to steal the jade pendant, they should find a way to get rid of her. So she chased Shen Keyi into the courtyard. Shen Keyi accidentally dropped the jewelry she had just collected, and Aunt Xin shouted "Catch the thief! ". A Tao ran to Shanglin Pavilion to ask Prince Jin for help.
Wen Ye was busy with official duties, and Yi Fu turned down A Tao's request for an audience. A Tao had no choice but to deliberately fall into the water to attract Wen Ye's attention and incidentally ask Wen Ye to go to the back garden to save the Princess Consort. Shen Keyi had already been beaten beyond recognition by the group of maids.
Wen Ye stopped them in time and ordered that anyone who bullied the Princess Consort be given fifty strokes with a rod and expelled from the capital. Shen Keyi slowly moved away step by step, when suddenly she collapsed from exhaustion and fainted on the ground. Wen Ye quickly helped her back to the tent. Wen Ye asked Shen Keyi about her difficulties. Shen Keyi still tried her best to please him.
Madam Yun Ying came to the tent to visit. Wen Ye left first, leaving Madam Yun Ying to help Shen Keyi apply medicine and change clothes. A moment later, Madam Yun Ying walked out of the tent and said that the maid in Shen Keyi's room might be problematic. Shen Keyi had many old injuries, all in inconspicuous places. After diagnosis by the imperial physician, it was found that Shen Keyi had been poisoned with Hundred-Day Powder.
Fortunately, the poisoned blood had been let out, and there was no major danger. Wen Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Madam Yun Ying analyzed that Prime Minister Shen had many wives and concubines, and Shen Keyi might just be a victim of the struggle for favor in the Shen family. Wen Ye decided to thoroughly investigate. Aunt Xin confessed and implicated the maid Bi Yun. However, Yi Fu found Hundred-Day Powder in Aunt Xin's room.
Wen Ye immediately understood everything. Aunt Xin explained that the liquid medicine was a tonic. Wen Ye then ordered someone to give it to Aunt Xin every day. Wen Ye finally realized that Prime Minister Shen had set up a grand scheme long ago. First, he framed the Princess Consort for the assassination, and it seemed he had arranged some kind of mission.
Even a maid who came with the dowry could boss the Princess Consort around, showing that Shen Keyi was not valued at all in the Shen family. Wen Ye went to Xingyue Pavilion and stated his analysis. Shen Keyi was not favored in the Shen family, so she was married to Prince Jin's manor to become a widow. Unexpectedly, by coincidence, she actually became the Princess Consort. The rest of the Shen family became jealous and resorted to this tactic.
Shen Keyi quickly agreed. Seeing that Shen Keyi had suffered injustice, Wen Ye completely softened his heart and said he would punish Steward Yi. Shen Keyi came forward to plead for him. Wen Ye simply took back his angry words from before, forbidding Shen Keyi from approaching Shanglin Pavilion. To prevent Shen Keyi from being bullied again, Wen Ye took off his jade pendant and wanted to give it to her. Shen Keyi couldn't believe it was so easy to obtain it and quickly accepted it excitedly.
Episode 6 Recap
Yi Fu heard that Shen Keyi had pleaded for him, and arranged for many people to clean the courtyard at Xingyue Pavilion, promoting A Tao to head maid. Madam Yun Ying mentioned that giving Shen Keyi the jade pendant was inevitably too valuable, but Wen Ye said the death-exempting gold tablet was just an external object to him, and he could protect himself even without it.
He also asked Madam Yun Ying to prepare some clothes and accessories for Shen Keyi so she wouldn't be dressed too plainly.
Madam Yun Ying thought Wen Ye still couldn't fully trust Shen Keyi, so she explained that Shen Keyi was different from the rest of the Prime Minister Shen's mansion, that she was sincere and simple, and moreover, since Shen Keyi married into the manor, the entire manor had gained vitality, and Wen Ye had unconsciously increased the number of times he returned to the manor.
She said that only with a woman could one establish a home and he should treat Shen Keyi well. The Empress Dowager heard that Wen Ye had punished the maids for Shen Keyi, reminded Yi Fu to keep a close eye on Wen Ye, and not to be swayed by emotion and fall into Prime Minister Shen's trap. Liang Kingdom's spy Zuo Shuangzhi was preparing to break free from Prime Minister Shen and act alone.
Her subordinate thought that they didn't have enough people currently and must rely on Prime Minister Shen. Since Wen Ye had a new weakness, they could plan to start with the Princess Consort. Zuo Shuangzhi recalled when her mother was killed as a child, a male hero had once saved her life and given her a dagger. At that time, due to fear, she had hit the man's palm with a stone.
Once she got her revenge and regained her status as a princess, she must find that great hero and live happily together. Bi Yun reported Shen Keyi's experiences in the manor to Madam Shen. Madam Shen worried that the plan might be exposed and prepared to find another opportunity to silence Shen Keyi permanently. Shen Keyi missed her wet nurse and made sugar figures in the manor to amuse Wen Ye.
Madam Shen sent someone to make Shen Keyi a new set of Shu brocade clothes for the palace banquet, and also expressed her apology for the disloyal servants sent before. Shen Keyi asked if Madam Yun Ying would go to the palace banquet with her. Madam Yun Ying said that she was a widow and it might be unlucky. Shen Keyi found some examples of women who had remarried and lived happily.
He Muer quickly interrupted, telling Shen Keyi not to talk nonsense. A Tao washed the new Shu brocade clothes with clean water first. After hanging the clothes to dry, she found many red rashes on her hands. Shen Keyi quickly took them to rinse, guessing that the new clothes sent by Madam Shen must be poisoned. If she wore them for a day, her skin would surely fester.
A Tao suggested that if Shen Keyi got sick, she might not have to attend the palace banquet. Shen Keyi poured the poisoned water into the flower pond in the courtyard. Wen Ye happened to pass by and saw it, so he took a few drops back for testing, wanting to know what Shen Keyi was secretly doing. Walking near Shanglin Pavilion, he saw Shen Keyi bathing in the lake again, and couldn't help but feel his heart flutter.
Returning to his room, Guard Wan tested with a silver needle and found that the water Shen Keyi had poured away was poisoned. Guard Wan was about to go to the back garden to find out the truth. Wen Ye remembered Shen Keyi was bathing and stopped Guard Wan. The next day, Shen Keyi caught a cold and was confined to bed. It turned out that bathing on a cold night was just to deliberately make herself sick.
Wen Ye wanted to find an imperial physician to diagnose her. Shen Keyi quickly said she only had a minor illness and would be fine after a short rest, but she couldn't stop coughing and probably couldn't attend the palace banquet. Wen Ye also knew the reason why Shen Keyi had been constantly bathing in the back mountain recently. Just after leaving Xingyue Pavilion, Shen Keyi got up and prepared to leave the manor.
She climbed over the wall and fell, right into Wen Ye's arms. Wen Ye asked if she pretended to be sick to avoid going to the palace. Shen Keyi neither confirmed nor denied, just waiting for Wen Ye to scold her. Unexpectedly, not only was Wen Ye not angry, but he also said there was still an hour until the banquet, and he could accompany Shen Keyi to stroll through the night market.
Episode 7 Recap
The night market was extremely lively, but Shen Keyi was full of thoughts about Wen Ye mentioning someone had seen a female ghost bathing in the back mountain. She carefully asked Wen Ye if he had seen the female ghost's true appearance. Wen Ye lied, saying he had only heard about it. Shen Keyi slightly breathed a sigh of relief. The night was cold and she sneezed. Wen Ye quickly pulled Shen Keyi into his arms with his cloak.
Shen Keyi walked to a grilled skewer stall and used her skill to make a string of grilled gluten for Wen Ye. Guard Wan prepared to test it with a silver needle. Wen Ye didn't want Shen Keyi to feel disheartened, so he stopped Guard Wan. It was almost time to enter the palace, so Wen Ye told Shen Keyi to stroll around for a while longer on her own.
He left Nan Bo to secretly follow Shen Keyi and observe her movements. Zuo Shuangzhi also went for a stroll in the night market and bought a tassel string, which she gave to her attendant. Madam Shen heard that Shen Keyi had not entered the palace and asked Aunt Xin what the problem was.
Aunt Xin couldn't explain the reason and only begged Madam Shen to save her and leave Prince Jin's manor as soon as possible, otherwise, she would sooner or later be poisoned to death by Hundred Day Powder. Madam Shen told Aunt Xin to bear with it for a few days, and she would find another way to eliminate Shen Keyi, after which she could bring Aunt Xin back to the Prime Minister's mansion.
Shen Keyi bought a pair of red stone bracelets at the night market, symbolizing "one life, one world, one pair". Madam Nian San, who sold folding fans, suddenly ran up to Shen Keyi and invited her to the Shen mansion for dinner. Madam Nian San had previously been close to the wet nurse, so Shen Keyi was not wary. Madam Nian San explained that after remarrying, her husband became an official, so she had stopped selling folding fans long ago.
What Shen Keyi didn't know was that Madam Nian San's husband had committed an offense and wanted to ask Prime Minister Shen for help, and thus she had agreed to Madam Shen's request to trick Shen Keyi back to the Shen mansion. Shen Keyi asked about her wet nurse. Madam Nian San said that the wet nurse had long since left the capital and gone to the countryside.
In reality, the wet nurse had already been harmed, and the reason was deliberately fabricated to prevent Shen Keyi from becoming suspicious. Nan Bo saw that Shen Keyi had returned to the Shen mansion and stopped tracking her. Madam Nian San asked Shen Keyi to first meet the wet nurse in the outskirts of the capital before going to the Shen mansion, and then she got off the carriage first.
Madam Shen had long heard that there were bandits in the outskirts of the capital. If Shen Keyi was taken to the outskirts and killed, it would both resolve the issue of Shen Keyi having the jade pendant and frame Wen Ye, killing two birds with one stone. The carriage driver prepared to kill Shen Keyi. Unexpectedly, Shen Keyi was very strong and snatched the dagger, kicking the carriage driver off the carriage.
Soon, the bandit Zhou Yu hijacked Shen Keyi and took her to Qiyu Village. Wen Ye returned to the manor and saw someone in Shen Keyi's room lying in bed, covered with a quilt. Guessing that Shen Keyi had not yet returned, he ordered the person in the room to show themselves. It turned out to be A Tao. Wen Ye was not angry, nor did he blame her.
He only told A Tao to leave a lamp outside the door for the Princess Consort. Madam Shen learned that the attempt to kill Shen Keyi had failed and that the bandits had taken Shen Keyi and hidden her in Qiyu Village. She then urged Commander Zhang, a subordinate of Prime Minister Shen, to quickly launch an encirclement and suppression, stating that Shen Keyi absolutely must not be allowed to return alive to Prince Jin's manor.
At that time, Shen Keyi's death could also be blamed on the bandits. Seeing that Shen Keyi had not returned all night, Wen Ye thought she had lingered at the Shen mansion and felt a trace of jealousy. Yi Fu saw through Wen Ye's thoughts and suggested going to the Shen mansion to bring the Princess Consort home.
Wen Ye pretended not to care and still went to the military camp first, instructing Yi Fu to be sure to inform him as soon as Shen Keyi returned to the manor. Zhou Yu and the bandits had been trapped in Qiyu Village for one night. Uncle Dao discovered a small path behind the village from which they could leave. So the few of them divided the remaining dry provisions.
Shen Keyi swallowed hard, but she didn't even get a piece of steamed bun. In the latter half of the night, several bandits fell into a deep sleep. Shen Keyi put several straw mats next to the bonfire, wanting to start a fire to create chaos. A Tao was still waiting for Shen Keyi to return to the manor. Aunt Xin walked closer and gloatingly said that Shen Keyi would never appear again. A Tao had a premonition of something bad, so she quickly went to inform Prince Jin.
Episode 8 Recap
Wen Ye was discussing with Madam Yun Ying the matter of Shen Keyi not returning all night. A Tao, ignoring the obstruction, knelt directly before Wen Ye, explaining that Shen Keyi was adopted by Madam Shen and had always been out of favor. This time, hearing Aunt Xin's veiled words, the Princess Consort was very likely to encounter misfortune. Wen Ye was extremely worried. He furiously stormed into the Prime Minister's mansion, demanding to see the Princess Consort.
Madam Shen said that Shen Keyi hadn't returned to the Prime Minister's mansion at all. Perhaps Prince Jin was too strict, and Shen Keyi might have been scared and dared not return. She then hypocritically advised Wen Ye to resolve spats and for husband and wife to be considerate of each other. Seeing that Shen Keyi was indeed not there, Wen Ye declared that if he found Prime Minister Shen to be deceitful, he would investigate to the end.
After Wen Ye left, Madam Shen realized time was pressing and again sent a message for Commander Zhang to act quickly and eliminate Shen Keyi. Zhou Yu realized it was Shen Keyi who deliberately set the fire, attracting the attention of the officials. He called Shen Keyi aside on the pretext of looking for food and asked her what her intentions were.
Shen Keyi clearly remembered Zhou Yu snatching back her purse in front of the jewelry store and just now sharing half a steamed bun with her, which showed Zhou Yu was not a bad person. Zhou Yu saw a jade pendant hanging from Shen Keyi's waist and wanted to take it for himself. Shen Keyi quickly explained that the jade pendant was a gift from her husband and was extremely precious to her.
If Zhou Yu returned the jade pendant and let her leave, any amount of money she needed would be no problem. Shen Keyi helped the bandits find many sweet potatoes. Zhou Yu greatly admired Shen Keyi's survival skills and said that even if no one came to redeem her, he would release her eventually. After speaking, he dropped a purse. Shen Keyi discovered it was something her wet nurse carried with her, so she questioned him carefully.
Zhou Yu replied that one day he saw an old woman on the roadside who was about to die, so he went to help. The old woman couldn't take another breath and gave him a purse before she died. Only then did Shen Keyi realize Madam Shen had been lying to her. She cried out loud and fainted from excessive grief. After Shen Keyi slightly woke up, Zhou Yu found many red rashes on her neck.
Immediately after, someone urged Zhou Yu to leave quickly. Zhou Yu came to the bandit encampment and found several people constantly vomiting. Uncle Dao believed Shen Keyi had poisoned them. Zhou Yu tested the well water with a silver needle and discovered the water had been poisoned. Shen Keyi had also drunk the water, so she was clearly not the poisoner. Commander Zhang brought guards and kidnapped Shen Keyi, claiming to be Prince Jin's subordinate.
He said that because the matter of Shen Keyi replacing the bride had been revealed, she was given poisoned wine by Prince Jin. Shen Keyi didn't believe him at all. If Wen Ye truly knew about her situation, he would definitely send Nan Bo or Guard Wan to investigate first. She asked some questions, but Commander Zhang could not answer.
He simply had the guards force Shen Keyi to take the medicine and casually took the jade pendant from her waist. Zhou Yu found the location where Shen Keyi was kidnapped in time and subdued the guards in a few moves. Commander Zhang took the opportunity to escape in the chaos. Zhou Yu advised Shen Keyi not to have any more expectations for Prince Jin, but Shen Keyi insisted that Prince Jin would definitely save her.
A Tao explained about Madam Shen sending poisoned Shu brocade and Shen Keyi deliberately catching a cold. Wen Ye then found Aunt Xin to interrogate her. Aunt Xin dared not conceal anything and revealed Madam Shen's series of arrangements regarding Shen Keyi. Thus, Wen Ye understood all of Shen Keyi's previous actions.
Episode 9 Recap
Wen Ye led a large team to search overnight, quickly locking onto the abandoned house in Xihe Village. Upon approaching, they found guards stationed there. Inside the rooms were scattered items and clothes, indicating someone had stayed briefly. In another room, they found the bracelet Shen Keyi bought at the night market, suggesting she couldn't be far away. Wen Ye ordered the Tiger Leap Battalion soldiers to seal off the mountain.
Zhou Yu expressed that Qiyu Village was too close to the capital, and such a large-scale troop deployment might be counterproductive if exploited by ill-intentioned people. Wen Ye couldn't spare many thoughts for that; he had to find Shen Keyi even if there was only a glimmer of hope. Madam Shen received the jade pendant, extremely satisfied.
Upon hearing that Wen Ye had deployed troops to seal off the mountain and search, she worried her lie would be exposed and again sent a message to Commander Zhang to act quickly before Wen Ye arrived. Shen Keyi was taken by Zhou Yu to a cool spot in the mountains to rest. She stated that she had been poisoned and was close to death, unable to fetch a ransom.
She sighed that at the end of her life, she was being hunted by the person she cared about most, only to be saved by a stranger. Zhou Yu advised Shen Keyi not to worry and said he would find a way to detoxify her. After speaking, he took out a few freshly picked fruits for Shen Keyi to eat. After eating the fruits and sleeping, Shen Keyi found herself surrounded by bandits.
Zhou Yu's father had brought people to find them. Shen Keyi was much more energetic. Zhou Yu's father was skilled in medicine and stated that the fruits Shen Keyi had just eaten were Earth Spirit Fruits, which have detoxifying properties. Zhou Yu had inadvertently saved Shen Keyi's life. Zhou Yu suggested returning to the bandit camp immediately, but Shen Keyi was worried about the poisoned well water. The Chief bandit said that Prince Jin had mobilized the Tiger Leap Army.
Shen Keyi thought Prince Jin was coming to hold her accountable and didn't want to implicate Zhou Yu, so she insisted on returning to Qiyu Village alone. Zhou Yu was worried and went with her. The Chief bandit, worried about his son, also quietly followed behind. After Commander Zhang spotted Shen Keyi, he ordered her immediate capture. Zhou Yu helped block arrows, but was powerless due to the large number of opponents.
The Chief bandit organized his men to cover Zhou Yu's escape. Moments later, Zhou Yu and Shen Keyi were still surrounded by Commander Zhang's men. Just as they were about to lose their lives under Commander Zhang's blade, Prince Jin arrived with his team and rescued them. Shen Keyi admitted that she was the substitute illegitimate daughter bride and had deceived the Prince's mansion.
She only asked that Zhou Yu and his group be spared, offering to atone with her death. Wen Ye was very sad, realizing that Shen Keyi still didn't truly understand him. So, he let Shen Keyi leave. Guard Wan investigated Tianhe Village, which is said to often rob the rich to help the poor and are not wicked lawbreakers. Commander Zhang continued to pursue relentlessly, likely acting on a secret order from Prime Minister Shen.
Zhou Yu learned that Shen Keyi was going to pick Earth Spirit Fruits the next day to detoxify the villagers. He suggested that Prince Jin could send more men to facilitate talking with Shen Keyi. Prince Jin pretended not to care, but immediately agreed verbally. Madam Yun Ying fasted for two days, praying for Wen Ye's safety. Guard Wan worried that Madam Yun Ying's body couldn't endure it and forcibly carried her back to her room to rest.
Madam Yun Ying stated that in her lifetime, she didn't want to witness her brother in danger and wished to exchange her life for Prince Jin's safety. Guard Wan replied that Madam Yun Ying's life was most precious. With the officials and bandits working together, the villagers were quickly treated. Shen Keyi wanted to climb a cliff to pick fruits. Wen Ye worried that Shen Keyi would be in danger and picked many fruits on her behalf.
Midway, his hand was cut, so he asked Shen Keyi to bandage it for him. When Zhou Yu and Shen Keyi were distributing fruits to the villagers, Wen Ye intentionally helped to get closer to Shen Keyi. However, Shen Keyi deliberately avoided him, leaving Zhou Yu and Wen Ye to work together.
Episode 10 Recap
Zhou Yu and Wen Ye distributed the Earth Spirit Fruits together. Zhou Yu mocked Wen Ye for being hypocritical. Wen Ye stated that Shen Keyi was his wife, and his family matters were not for outsiders to comment on. Zhou Yu admitted that he also liked Shen Keyi, so the two started arguing. Zhou's Chief came forward to admit fault and pulled Zhou Yu aside. Zhou Yu advised his father not to stop him.
He said that when he meets a girl he likes, no matter how strong the opponent, he must try his best to win her over. Zhou's Chief told Zhou Yu to give up the fantasy. He said that although Shen Keyi seemingly deliberately avoids Wen Ye, as long as the two are together, Shen Keyi's eyes light up, which is an expression that cannot be hidden between lovers. Therefore, he should recognize the reality early to avoid unnecessary trouble.
When Shen Keyi was washing her hair, Wen Ye deliberately walked in to help. Shen Keyi still saw herself as a guilty person and asked Wen Ye to punish her. Wen Ye didn't know how to express himself. In the evening, Shen Keyi sat alone under a big tree. Zhou Yu made a windmill for Shen Keyi to cheer her up.
Shen Keyi said she didn't know where her future lay, but planned to first erect a tombstone for her wet nurse. Zhou Yu suggested Shen Keyi return with him to the bandit camp. Shen Keyi replied that she considered Zhou Yu a good friend and would visit the camp in the future, but couldn't stay permanently. The next day, after returning to Prince Jin's mansion, Nan Bo had confirmed that Commander Zhang was Madam Shen's trusted subordinate.
He had once falsely claimed to act under Prince Jin's orders to force Shen Keyi to drink poisoned wine. Wen Ye finally understood why Shen Keyi had continuously requested punishment. So he directly went to Qiyu Village and forcibly brought Shen Keyi back, ordering Yi Fu to guard her strictly and not allow Shen Keyi to leave the mansion. Zhou Yu saw Shen Keyi being forcibly taken away. He insisted on going to Prince Jin's mansion to rescue Shen Keyi.
Zhou's Chief knew his son was trapped by love and that talking more would be futile, so he let Zhou Yu return to the capital. Shen Keyi was listless, neither eating nor drinking. Madam Yun Ying asked for the reason. Shen Keyi said she was angry because she felt Wen Ye didn't respect her. Madam Yun Ying advised that the lifestyle in the mansion was different from that outside, but Wen Ye was definitely reliable.
Madam Yun Ying then asked how to deal with the rift between husband and wife. Wen Ye stated that he would still investigate Madam Shen, and even if it involved the substitute marriage, he had to clear Shen Keyi's name. Guard Wan investigated everywhere and collected evidence of Madam Shen's maternal family members breaking the law. Wen Ye ordered a full exposure.
Soon, Madam Shen's rice shop was sealed, and her nephew was dismissed from office and exiled to the frontier. Madam Shen became impatient and poured out her troubles to Prime Minister Shen. Prime Minister Shen knew that his family and Madam Shen's maternal family rose and fell together. He realized now was the time for him to act. He told Madam Shen to smash the jade pendant she had taken back.
He said Wen Ye was glorious for a while, but without the death-exempting gold tablet, he would sooner or later become a prisoner. Shen Keyi made many pastries, preparing to erect a tombstone and perform rites for her wet nurse. A Tao suggested informing Prince Jin to prepare together. Shen Keyi, however, thought it was better to rely on herself than depend on others. Wen Ye was listening to their conversation nearby.
Suddenly, a note flew in from outside the wall. It was a reminder from Zhou Yu, who had surveyed the terrain in advance to help Shen Keyi leave the mansion. Wen Ye found the note and replied directly in Shen Keyi's tone: "I have reconciled with Prince Jin and we are back to how we were, therefore I do not plan to leave the mansion. " Prime Minister Shen brought gifts to apologize to Wen Ye.
Wen Ye stated that since it was an apology, it should show full sincerity. Prime Minister Shen advised Wen Ye to back down a step, which would be good for both sides. In the evening, Shen Keyi packed her luggage, preparing to leave during the night. Wen Ye suddenly blocked her path, forcibly carried Shen Keyi back to the room and passionately kissed her. Shen Keyi pushed him away. Wen Ye pleaded with Shen Keyi again to stay in the mansion.
Episode 11 Recap
Wen Ye ordered his maid to dress Shen Keyi lavishly for a grand visit back to the Shen Residence to visit her family. He explained that Shen Keyi had lost her jade pendant while staying at the Shen Residence a few days ago and asked for it to be returned as soon as possible if found. Prime Minister Shen stated he had never seen it and immediately dispatched people to search.
Nan Bo reported that the lost consort's jade pendant was found in Madam Shen's room, but it had already been smashed. Madam Shen was speechless and could only seek help from Prime Minister Shen. Prime Minister Shen could barely protect himself, and when trouble arose, he only looked out for his own safety.
Not only did he not plead for her, but he also lectured Madam Shen on behalf of Wen Ye for disregarding the item bestowed by the late emperor. Wen Ye stated that he had always heard Madam Shen enjoyed the punishment of flogging with a cane, suggesting she might as well have a taste of it herself.
Madam Shen quickly knelt at Shen Keyi's feet, begging Shen Keyi to spare her, considering she had helped prepare her dowry, and moreover, she was already old and simply could not endure it. Shen Keyi retorted, asking if Madam Shen had considered the age of her wet nurse when she dealt with her. Wen Ye insisted on not changing his mind, so Madam Shen received forty heavy blows.
Shen Keyi was still not satisfied, feeling that Madam Shen had bullied her and her wet nurse for many years and had not received the punishment she deserved. Even if she had a chance for revenge, she couldn't bring herself to be cruel. Wen Ye tightly pulled Shen Keyi into his arms, stating that by his side, Shen Keyi would never have to grow up and would never be bullied again.
Zhou Yu saw the two getting along harmoniously on the street and knew his feelings were unrequited. He went to a tavern to drown his sorrows, asking the bartender who was better, him or Prince Jin. Drunk and unable to hear what the bartender said clearly, he decided he would snatch Shen Keyi for himself. In the evening, Wen Ye and Shen Keyi reconciled under the moon, letting go of past grievances.
Wen Ye felt guilty for knowing the truth too late. Shen Keyi mentioned the conflict between Wen Ye and her father. Wen Ye explained that during the Liang Kingdom's invasion, he led ten thousand Tiger Leap troops to defend Xiguan. Prime Minister Shen, due to his selfish desires and greed for military funds, caused the delay in grain and fodder, leading to the fall of Xiguan.
A group of his brothers covered him as he fought his way out of the encirclement, with no second survivor. Shen Keyi finally understood Wen Ye's difficulties and declared she would always support him. After their conversation, they had a few drinks together, then slept in the same bed. Waking up the next day, Shen Keyi saw Wen Ye lying beside her and thought they had consummated their marriage.
Her face was full of shyness, and she dared not look directly at Wen Ye. However, Wen Ye said he had only carried Shen Keyi back to the room because she was drunk and that he had not overstepped the line. Shen Keyi couldn't help but get angry at Wen Ye's lack of romantic sensitivity, so she chased Wen Ye back to Shanglin Pavilion for breakfast.
Shen Keyi found Madam Yun Ying to complain, saying that Wen Ye had slept in the same bed with her but did nothing, which clearly meant he disliked her. Madam Yun Ying burst into laughter and quickly explained that Wen Ye grew up in the military camp and simply didn't understand romance, but he was absolutely sincere towards Shen Keyi.
Shen Keyi realized there was much to learn about being a good wife and decided to study hard to please Wen Ye. Madam Yun Ying said that the first thing a consort should learn is managing the mansion, so she handed the mansion's account books and the keys to the storeroom to Shen Keyi for safekeeping. Shen Keyi checked the mansion's account books and found that the savings were not substantial.
Wen Ye liked to help the common people and therefore did not accumulate wealth. Shen Keyi planned to do something using the mansion's savings. After explaining her plan, Madam Yun Ying was very supportive and had Yi Fu accompany her to the street for purchases. Shen Keyi bargained at a fabric shop and bought a lot of cloth at a very low price.
When she was about to return to the mansion, Yi Fu went to hitch the carriage, and Shen Keyi waited alone. Zhou Yu sent a note through a child, indicating there was an urgent situation and arranging to meet behind the mountain. Shen Keyi then changed her plans.
Episode 12 Recap
Wen Ye waited for Shen Keyi to go to the Great Zhao Temple together for blessings, but after waiting for a long time, he didn't see her. As he was preparing to return to the mansion, he found Shen Keyi talking with Zhou Yu in front of the Great Zhao Temple. Zhou Yu expressed his willingness to take Shen Keyi away from the mansion and live a free and unrestrained life.
Shen Keyi replied that she and Wen Ye were very much in love and all previous misunderstandings had been resolved, so she was very content just being by Wen Ye's side. Zhou Yu mentioned that Wen Ye would take concubines in the future and Shen Keyi would just be dispensable. Shen Keyi stated that she absolutely trusted Wen Ye. Wen Ye was very happy to hear Shen Keyi's words about him from the side.
He then stepped forward and thanked Zhou Yu for saving Shen Keyi, saying he would grant any reward he wished, but he could not take Shen Keyi away. Seeing that he could not persuade Shen Keyi, Zhou Yu had no choice but to leave alone. At the Great Zhao Temple, Wen Ye set up a memorial tablet for her wet nurse and asked the abbot to perform rituals for her salvation.
Shen Keyi was very grateful and prayed silently in her heart that her wet nurse's spirit in heaven would bless her and Wen Ye to grow old together. After offering incense, she hung a wish tag on the wishing tree in the courtyard. Zuo Shuangzhi brought her attendants and infiltrated the Prince Jin's Mansion under the pretense of delivering fish, vowing to personally kill Wen Ye this time to avenge her parents.
Most of the guards in Prince Jin's Mansion had gone out with Wen Ye, and the defenses were lax. Wen Ye entered the palace to meet the Emperor and report on the construction plan for the military base camp. Several ministers saw Wen Ye looking radiant and whispered among themselves, discussing how Wen Ye had married a young and beautiful consort. Shen Keyi bought many fresh flowers to decorate the mansion.
While she was moving them at the entrance, Guard Wan happened to pass by. Seeing the flowers looking fresh and vibrant, he thought about secretly taking a pot to give to Madam Yun Ying, figuring that with so many pots, no one would notice. Shen Keyi checked them one by one and found that one pot of orchid was missing. Guard Wan took the orchid to Madam Yun Ying's room.
When they first met, Madam Yun Ying was tending to orchids, and the past events were vivid in his mind. Shen Keyi taught everyone in the Prince Jin's Mansion to practice Eight Brocade Qigong. Wen Ye happened to return to the mansion after court. Shen Keyi forcefully pulled Wen Ye to learn with her and even touched him. Wen Ye felt he was losing face in front of the servants, so he carried Shen Keyi back to the room.
Shen Keyi thought Wen Ye was going to consummate their marriage, but unexpectedly, Wen Ye was still discussing Eight Brocade Qigong. Shen Keyi was greatly disappointed and finally understood what Madam Yun Ying meant by Wen Ye's lack of romantic sensitivity. Madam Shen's cousin brought up the matter of Shen Keyi being kidnapped by bandits before the Empress Dowager. Yi Fu had not reported this, so the Empress Dowager was completely unaware.
It was difficult to say whether her body had been defiled after spending several days with bandits. Madam Shen's cousin seemed to be concerned about the consort, but was actually taking the opportunity to seek revenge for her cousin. Under Wen Ye's arrangement, Shen Keyi dressed up elaborately, finally preparing to meet the Empress Dowager. After asking Wen Ye about some palace rules, a maid reported to Wen Ye that the Empress Dowager wanted to discuss matters with him alone.
Shen Keyi had a bad feeling, but still reassured Wen Ye to go see the Empress Dowager first while she returned to the Prince Jin's Mansion to wait. Shen Keyi returned to the mansion alone, feeling dejected. Yi Fu comforted her and asked her to understand the thorough etiquette of the imperial family. The Empress Dowager asked about the matter of the jade pendant being smashed.
Wen Ye stated that he was open and aboveboard, and could protect himself even without the jade pendant. The Empress Dowager then brought up the rumors about Shen Keyi's identity. Wen Ye was unwilling to say more, so he found an excuse to leave early. As he walked to the palace gate, a guard was carrying crabs offered as tribute from Jiangnan's Mingyue Lake to the Imperial Kitchen. Wen Ye intercepted them and took them back to his mansion.
Wen Ye asked Madam Yun Ying to make "crab steamed in orange" with the crabs for the consort to taste something new. Shen Keyi had never eaten crab before and, when it was suddenly placed before her, did not know how to eat it, inevitably causing embarrassment. Madam Yun Ying was also comforted to see how much Wen Ye cared for Shen Keyi.
Episode 13 Recap
At night, Wen Ye brought the prepared "crab steamed in orange" to Shen Keyi. It was Shen Keyi's first time eating the rare crab, and she didn't expect it to be cooked in combination with ordinary fresh oranges. Wen Ye said that although it was just a common food, it could bring out the best flavor of the crab. The two ingredients complemented each other, both finding their best state suitable for themselves, symbolizing their marriage.
Prime Minister Shen arranged to meet Zuo Shuangzhi, mentioning that Wen Ye wanted to build a military base camp in Quezhou to store grain, fodder, and equipment. If Zuo Shuangzhi could sabotage the military base construction plan, he would find a way to make Wen Ye leave the capital and guard his fiefdom. Zuo Shuangzhi told Prime Minister Shen that her ultimate goal was not for Wen Ye to leave the capital, but that he must die.
Before Wen Ye departed for Quezhou to supervise the construction, Shen Keyi prepared many items. Wen Ye suggested they use them when they return to the mansion for an outing after the project is completed. The two then reluctantly parted ways. Zuo Shuangzhi secretly followed Wen Ye and stationed herself in Quezhou. She analyzed the Cang Dynasty's garrison plan with her attendants.
Once the military base camp is completed, the Cang Dynasty can join forces with two other countries, putting the border of Liang State in jeopardy. Therefore, the plan to build the military base must be interrupted. By then, the people and wealth will have been wasted in vain, Wen Ye will be held accountable, and he must relinquish his military power and bear the responsibility.
On the necessary route for transporting grain and fodder, there is a mountain stronghold, which is Tianhe寨. Its geographical location is excellent. Zuo Shuangzhi planned to wipe out Tianhe寨 so that she could ambush the grain and fodder transport team. At that time, by luring the tiger away from the mountain, she might find an opportunity to assassinate Wen Ye. Uncle Dao received benefits from Nanzhu Pavilion and became an inside informant planted in Tianhe寨.
Uncle Dao suggested ambushing a merchant caravan that recently appeared at the foot of the mountain. Zhou Yu heard that the Prince Jin was recently building a military base, so it was not advisable to act rashly. Uncle Dao agreed on the surface, but in reality, he had no intention of obeying orders and still planned to ambush Wen Ye's grain transport team. After finishing supervising the construction, Wen Ye returned to the mansion.
Shen Keyi suggested they go out and play together. The two came to the lakeside, where someone was holding an activity to pick the rare species, the Three-Colored Chrysanthemum. Seeing that Shen Keyi liked it, Wen Ye won the first prize to obtain the Three-Colored Chrysanthemum for Shen Keyi. Suddenly, many men in black appeared by the lake. Shen Keyi hid by the shore, but her foot was tied with a rope and she was pulled into the lake.
Seeing Shen Keyi fall into the water, Wen Ye immediately jumped into the lake to rescue her. Tianhe寨 was celebrating its 30th anniversary. Uncle Dao put medicine in the wine. Zhou Yu drank too much and walked out of the room alone. He found a handkerchief with an iris pattern dropped at the bottom of the steps. Wen Ye and Shen Keyi drifted to a shallow beach.
After slowly waking up, Wen Ye found that he had been shot in the leg with an arrow. Shen Keyi was very distressed and helped Wen Ye find a place to rest. Shen Keyi remembered that the assassins also had iris patterns on them. Wen Ye had a premonition that it was Nanzhu Pavilion from Liang State causing trouble. The next day, he arranged for grain transportation. Nanzhu Pavilion should have been planning for a long time.
Just then, Nan Bo arrived with guards. Wen Ye ordered Nan Bo to arrange for Shen Keyi to return to the capital, while the rest followed him to Qushan. After Zhou Yu realized that Uncle Dao had betrayed him, Zuo Shuangzhi had already taken people to control Tianhe寨, forcing Zhou Yu to surrender to Nanzhu Pavilion. Zhou Yu preferred death to surrender, so he knocked over a candlestick and set himself on fire to attract the officials.
Zuo Shuangzhi did not expect Zhou Yu to have such integrity. For safety's sake, she could only retreat immediately. Before leaving, she killed Uncle Dao.
Episode 14 Recap
Zhou Yu wandered outside for a few days, returned to Tianhezhai to prepare to celebrate the establishment of the stronghold with his father, but found his father brutally murdered, with a Nanzhu Pavilion handkerchief next to him. In his grief, Zhou Yu vowed to avenge his father. The imperial physician removed the arrow for Madam Yun Ying. Fortunately, the injury was not fatal, and she could recover with a few days of rest.
Guard Wan stayed by her bedside day and night, unwilling to leave. On the way back to Qushan with his troops, Wen Ye happened to encounter Zuo Shuangzhi, who was busy retreating. The two sides fought fiercely. Zhou Yu also rushed to reinforce. Zuo Shuangzhi was almost shot and quickly escaped using Qinggong. Zhou Yu pursued closely. After bandaging her wound, Zuo Shuangzhi recalled the scar she had noticed when fighting with Wen Ye during the day.
It turned out that the person who saved her back then was Wen Ye. Shen Keyi prepared to meet the Empress Dowager to ask for instructions regarding Wen Ye's birthday banquet. The Empress Dowager deliberately made things difficult, making Shen Keyi kneel and wait for a long time. Madam Shen arranged for a neighbor from when Shen Keyi sold candy figures to enter the palace to say some unsavory things about Shen Keyi.
She also asked if there were any newly selected maidens in her family. Bi Yun replied that there happened to be a niece. Madam Shen ordered a presentable dowry to be prepared as a gift, relying entirely on her niece to bring down Shen Keyi and vent her anger.
The Empress Dowager finally allowed Shen Keyi to enter the room but ordered someone to bring out several portraits of maidens, asking Shen Keyi to choose some concubines for Wen Ye, to ensure he has many descendants. Shen Keyi said choosing concubines was absolutely not Wen Ye's intention. The Empress Dowager, citing Shen Keyi's jealousy, slapped her twice. Shen Keyi wanted to return to the Prince Jin's mansion to cook longevity noodles for Wen Ye.
The Empress Dowager softened and allowed Shen Keyi to return to the palace. At the same time, she summoned Yi Fu to the palace to ask about matters at the Prince's mansion. On the way back to the mansion, A Tao said she must tell Prince Jin about today's humiliation. Shen Keyi quickly stopped her, saying she couldn't let her own minor grievance affect Wen Ye's birthday celebration.
Yi Fu explained that Wen Ye and Shen Keyi had a very good relationship. The Empress Dowager sighed that she hadn't remembered Wen Ye's birthday for several years in a row, but it was rare for the Princess Consort to be so thoughtful and concerned about Wen Ye everywhere. However, Wen Ye couldn't stay in the capital for too long; he would still have to return to his fiefdom after the military base was completed.
The late emperor had originally intended to pass the throne to Wen Ye, but the current Emperor had always held a grudge. Moreover, Wen Ye had lost the jade pendant, and his future fate was unpredictable. It was better for him to return to his fiefdom sooner to ensure a lifetime of peace. As for the Princess Consort, although she hadn't colluded with the Shen family, she wouldn't be able to stay with Wen Ye for long.
Madam Shen had made many small moves in court, and Shen Keyi would be divorced sooner or later. Wen Ye ordered the search for Nanzhu Pavilion remnants to stop. He had clashed with the leader of Nanzhu Pavilion several times; the opponent's martial arts skills were quite high, not inferior to his own. Furthermore, Nanzhu Pavilion was operating in the shadows. Spending a lot of effort sealing off mountains to search would likely not have much effect.
It was better to let them return to the capital and, in one fell swoop, uncover Nanzhu Pavilion's internal contacts in the court. That night, Wen Ye returned to his mansion. Shen Keyi brought him longevity noodles, and only then did Wen Ye remember it was his birthday that day. A warmth welled up in his heart. Shen Keyi sat on Wen Ye's lap and acted spoiled, noticing a scar on Wen Ye's palm. She asked about the reason.
Wen Ye explained that he accidentally got the injury years ago while saving a little girl. Zuo Shuangzhi quietly sneaked into the Prince Jin's mansion and overheard their conversation, further confirming that the person who saved her back then was Wen Ye. She only felt that fate was cruelly playing tricks on her.
Episode 15 Recap
Wen Ye saw Shen Keyi's swollen face and guessed it was the Empress Dowager's doing. Shen Keyi made excuses to cover it up, but Wen Ye picked her up and carried her back to the bedroom. Wen Ye felt extremely pained. He personally washed Shen Keyi's feet and blamed himself for his family causing her to suffer injustice and beatings.
Shen Keyi said she was happy even if she was beaten, considering it a way to sacrifice a little more for Wen Ye. The Emperor accompanied the Empress Dowager for a walk. Seeing several maidens happily playing in the palace, each holding a sugar figure, he stopped to ask. One maiden said that a sugar figure master had come to the palace, whose craftsmanship was lifelike, and many palace maids rushed to buy the sugar paintings to satisfy their cravings.
The Emperor praised the exquisite skill of folk art, calling it unique. The maiden added that if one were to say who was the best at sugar painting in the capital, it would be a princess consort who married into a princely mansion last winter. The Emperor thought carefully and calculated according to the season that it could only be Prince Jin's Consort.
The Empress Dowager demanded that the Emperor thoroughly investigate the matter of a commoner maiden being brought into the palace. Prince Jin bitterly guarded the frontier but was deceived and concealed by Chancellor Shen, which also damaged the royal family's reputation. The Emperor stated that he would definitely hand the case to the Dali Temple for a strict investigation and exterminate the nine generations of those with malicious intentions.
The Empress Dowager felt the punishment was too severe, saying she was old and couldn't bear to see bloodshed, and it would be enough just to drive out the substitute princess consort. The Dali Temple quickly took Shen Keyi away for investigation. Chancellor Shen questioned Madam Shen about leaking the information about the substitute marriage for revenge. Madam Shen naturally denied it, instead believing that Chancellor Shen always had a way to resolve things.
Chancellor Shen, being ruthless at a critical moment, walked to Shen Lingling's room with a broken tile and disfigured Shen Lingling. Madam Shen arrived a step late, saw her daughter's miserable state, and cursed Chancellor Shen as cold-blooded and heartless. When Wen Ye heard that Shen Keyi had been taken away by the Dali Temple, he rushed to the entrance of the Dali Temple in a fit of rage and dispersed the guards.
A Dali Temple official relayed the Emperor's oral decree, ordering Wen Ye to avoid suspicion, otherwise, the princess consort would be executed immediately. Wen Ye had no choice but to return to his mansion and wait for news.
Chancellor Shen took his disfigured daughter into the palace to plead guilty, stating that when Shen Keyi learned that the Shen mansion was to marry off a daughter to Prince Jin, she ran into the mansion for glory and wealth and used a dagger to slash her legitimate sister's face, only then did he implicitly allow the concubine-born daughter to be the substitute bride.
The Empress Dowager saw that Shen Lingling's facial scar was pale pink and didn't look like an old injury. Chancellor Shen explained that Shen Keyi had poisoned the dagger, causing the wound to not heal for a long time. Upon hearing of Shen Keyi's viciousness, the Emperor declared that the Dali Temple must conduct a thorough investigation. Chancellor Shen sent someone to prepare lavish gifts for the Dali Temple Minister, demanding that Shen Keyi be convicted.
The Dali Temple subjected Shen Keyi to severe torture to extract a confession and intimidated her into signing it. Shen Keyi endured all sorts of cruel punishments but still refused to plead guilty. Wen Ye's brother stopped the furious Wen Ye, explaining that Chancellor Shen had disfigured his daughter to prove his innocence, and urged Wen Ye to remain calm. Compared to clearing the Emperor's surroundings and rectifying the court, sacrificing one woman was nothing.
Wen Ye could not accept this and still insisted on breaking into the Dali Temple to save her. Madam Yun Ying told Wen Ye not to act impulsively. Since the rumors about Shen Keyi originated from the inner palace, it indicated that the Shen mansion's inner courtyard had long been harboring disloyalty, and this could be used as a starting point for the investigation. The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching.
Wen Ye arranged for lotus paste mooncakes to be sent to Shen Keyi in prison. Chancellor Shen arranged for Shen Lingling to accept the marriage proposal from Minister Li's son. Shen Lingling was resentful because of her disfigurement and prepared to commit suicide to resist her father's selfishness. Wen Ye secretly sneaked into the Shen mansion, stopped Shen Lingling from committing suicide, and asked her to go into the palace with him to expose Chancellor Shen.
Episode 16 Recap
Shen Lingling was completely disappointed in her father. Instigated by Wen Ye, she revealed the location where Chancellor Shen's ledger of corruption evidence was stored. Nan Bo quickly found it and handed it to Wen Ye. Wen Ye dismissed his guards and returned home for Mid-Autumn reunion. Chancellor Shen learned that Wen Ye had obtained his evidence of guilt and was restless.
He immediately went to Prince Jin's mansion to explain the serious implications, stating that historically, military generals whose merits overshadowed their lord had all ended tragically. If he were truly removed, Wen Ye would lack constraints in court and might face the Emperor's suspicion. Wen Ye carefully considered this and only demanded that Chancellor Shen reveal the person who framed Shen Keyi. Chancellor Shen confessed it was Madam Shen.
Following this, he entered the palace to meet the Emperor and report the decision regarding Madam Shen's punishment. Madam Shen was granted death by a length of white silk. Chancellor Shen was only fined half a year's salary. Wen Ye personally went to Dali Temple to bring Shen Keyi back. Zuo Shuangzhi saw that Chancellor Shen was no longer reliable, so she prepared to change her plan of action.
Shen Keyi quickly recovered and began recounting her heroic unyielding spirit and Wen Ye's timely help repeatedly at the mansion. Wen Ye told Shen Keyi to stop exaggerating. As the New Year approached, Shen Keyi expressed her hope to personally manage the preparations for her first New Year in the mansion. Wen Ye strongly supported her and handed over the treasury key.
The Empress Dowager issued a decree ordering Wen Ye and the princess consort to enter the palace together for New Year's Eve. Having been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager once, Shen Keyi was anxious and kept asking Wen Ye what preparations she should make. Wen Ye repeatedly comforted her, but Shen Keyi remained very nervous.
Seeing Shen Keyi's discomfort, Wen Ye simply took her out through the sedan's back door and snuck back to the mansion to celebrate the New Year. In front of the mansion gate, a lively market had been set up. This was specially arranged by Wen Ye for Shen Keyi. Servants dressed as vendors exchanged New Year greetings with the couple. Nan Bo performed breaking stones on his chest, and spectacular firework displays greatly impressed Shen Keyi.
Only then did Shen Keyi understand that Wen Ye had deliberately taken her to pretend to enter the palace, actually leaving time for the servants to set up the scene. Shen Keyi grew up among the common people and must deeply miss the New Year celebrations there. At the New Year's Eve banquet, Shen Keyi invited all the servants to join the feast.
Yi Fu reminded her that it was against the rules, but Wen Ye agreed upon seeing Shen Keyi happy. Someone had placed money inside the dumplings, and finding money in a dumpling symbolizes great fortune in the new year. Madam Yun Ying got the dumpling with money in it and said that Guard Wan had let her have it, wishing Guard Wan more smoothness in the coming year. She also proposed visiting her in-laws once.
Although there were many past grievances, they were not enemies, and the proper courtesies should not be omitted. Shen Keyi worried that it would be unsafe for Madam Yun Ying to go back alone. Wen Ye said that Madam Yun Ying always had a sense of propriety and there was no need to worry too much.
Shen Keyi wished for them to be together every year from now on, but Wen Ye did not dare to echo her words, seemingly having something else on his mind. Carrying Shen Keyi back to the room, Wen Ye was about to embrace her tenderly but then saw the imperial decree bestowed by the Emperor, completely losing his mood.
This was precisely Zuo Shuangzhi's new plan: using the pretext of the Princess of Liang Kingdom marrying into the Da Cang Dynasty for a political alliance, to gradually bring down Wen Ye. The person for the alliance marriage was Wen Ye himself. Back then, to save Shen Keyi, Wen Ye had already agreed to the Emperor's request. Zuo Shuangzhi finally met the Empress Dowager in her identity as a princess.
The Empress Dowager showed concern in every way and expressed that she would arrange for their wedding soon. Zuo Shuangzhi was quite satisfied, as everything was within her plan.
Episode 17 Recap
After the banquet dispersed, Madam Yun Ying took Muer back to their room. They encountered Guard Wan waiting halfway. Madam Yun Ying let Muer go back first. Guard Wan couldn't hold back and finally expressed his feelings to Madam Yun Ying. Even with the constraints of status and family background, Guard Wan still hoped to follow his heart, as life is short, only a few decades. Madam Yun Ying had long known Guard Wan's intentions.
She said that they couldn't be together immediately and that she needed time to handle some matters. She also hoped that the final step would be for her to walk towards Guard Wan. While Madam Yun Ying was packing her luggage, Shen Keyi ran into the room to help, looking troubled. When Madam Yun Ying asked, Shen Keyi revealed what was on her mind.
She said that recently she felt Wen Ye was completely compliant with her every whim, almost doting, a kind of eagerness to give her everything. When she was a child, she saw a neighbor who couldn't afford to raise their daughter, and in the few days before giving her away, they would fulfill all the daughter's wishes. She felt exactly like that now. Madam Yun Ying scolded Shen Keyi for thinking wildly and urged her to trust Wen Ye implicitly.
As the wedding date approached, Wen Ye didn't know how to explain it to Shen Keyi. Yi Fu suggested sending Shen Keyi to stay in a suburban house for a few days and bringing her back after the wedding was over. Wen Ye neither agreed nor disagreed, still unwilling to deceive Shen Keyi. Shen Keyi personally made a cloak for Wen Ye. When she delivered it to Shanglin Pavilion, Wen Ye was not in the room.
Shen Keyi prepared to put it in the wardrobe. When she opened it, she found a pair of brand new wedding robes. Shen Keyi guessed Wen Ye had prepared a New Year's surprise for her and was secretly delighted for a long while. Then she saw an imperial decree placed next to the wedding robes. Opening it, she found it was an order for Wen Ye to marry the Princess of Liang Kingdom. She was instantly struck by a thunderbolt.
Shen Keyi threw the imperial decree and the wedding robes onto the ground and cried heartbrokenly. Wen Ye returned to Shanglin Pavilion and saw Shen Keyi collapsed on the ground, instantly understanding everything. Shen Keyi asked who the bride was and why Wen Ye hadn't told her beforehand. Wen Ye didn't know how to answer and could only remain silent. Shen Keyi was overcome with grief and suddenly fainted as she was about to leave Shanglin Pavilion.
The imperial physician took Shen Keyi's pulse and discovered that she was pregnant. Wen Ye was overjoyed and demanded that both the Princess Consort and the fetus in her womb must be protected. However, it had to be kept a secret. The medicine did not need to go through the Imperial Pharmacy; it should be sent directly to Prince Jin's mansion. Prince Xian suddenly came to Prince Jin's mansion for an important matter to discuss.
During the late Emperor's reign, Xu Fang, the Minister of Punishment, had a rift with the current Emperor and defected to Liang Kingdom several years ago. This time, as a gesture of sincerity for the political marriage alliance, Liang Kingdom sent Xu Fang back to Cang Chao. To save his life, Xu Fang revealed a secret when he was granted an audience with the Emperor: the person designated by the imperial decree of succession back then was Wen Ye.
Wen Ye naturally knew this. Considering the safety of the country, he had made an agreement with the Empress Dowager to keep the secret permanently. Currently, although Xu Fang had no conclusive evidence, it was inevitable that the Emperor would become suspicious. Arranging the marriages of Chancellor Shen's daughter and the Princess of Liang Kingdom both indicated that the Emperor did not wish for Wen Ye to get what he desired.
Wen Ye said that if he were alone, nothing would matter, but now that the Princess Consort was pregnant, it was truly difficult to move forward or retreat. Prince Xian heard that Shen Keyi was pregnant and suggested aborting the fetus. If the Emperor was apprehensive, he would certainly keep the Princess Consort and the child in the palace as leverage.
Wen Ye was unwilling to abort the pregnancy, so he decided to treat Shen Keyi coldly to ensure the safety of the mother and child. Wen Ye instructed Yi Fu to keep the news of Shen Keyi's pregnancy a secret. After Shen Keyi woke up, she ran to Wen Ye's room and begged him not to take a concubine. Wen Ye reprimanded Shen Keyi for not understanding the bigger picture and punished her by confining her to Xingyue Pavilion for a period to reflect on her mistakes.
Episode 18 Recap
Although Shen Keyi was confined, her daily life was still well taken care of. A Tao comforted her and explained that Prince Jin still cared about the Princess Consort. Shen Keyi did not know why Wen Ye suddenly treated her coldly, she just felt wronged. She treated A Tao as a family member and cried and complained to her. Wen Ye looked in from outside Xingyue Pavilion several times. Yi Fu suggested meeting the Princess Consort.
Wen Ye knew he couldn't let his efforts go to waste. Madam Yun Ying returned to the Marquis's mansion, slightly delayed due to the cold weather. The principal Madam ridiculed her in every way. Madam Yun Ying did not resist, but instead requested punishment. The principal Madam arranged for her to guard the eternal lamp. Madam Yun Ying accepted it calmly. The weather was cold, and the long night was difficult to endure.
A Tao felt sorry for Madam Yun Ying's health. Madam Yun Ying said the reason she let the principal Madam make things difficult for her was that she had come to understand something. She had originally planned to live out the rest of her life by the ancient lamp and Buddha, but since she met the Princess Consort, she realized a woman's life could be so vibrant and unrestrained. She also wanted to live for herself like the Princess Consort.
This time was her final farewell to the Marquis's mansion. Prince Jin's mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with festive wedding preparations. Shen Keyi felt even more lonely and climbed onto the eaves alone to watch. Wen Ye saw Shen Keyi was in danger and hurried to Xingyue Pavilion. Shen Keyi slipped and fell from the eaves, landing right into Wen Ye's arms. Wen Ye carried Shen Keyi back to the room and personally fed her medicine.
Shen Keyi asked if it was because he loved her or was worried that her getting sick would bring bad luck to the mansion. Wen Ye scolded Shen Keyi for being unreasonable and left directly. --- Zuo Shuangzhi was elaborately dressed, showing a bride's charm and shyness. However, Tang Ti suggested taking advantage of Wen Ye's wedding when the capital guards were relaxed to seize the opportunity to escape, otherwise her identity would be exposed eventually.
Zuo Shuangzhi clearly had no plan to escape and instead seemed a little expectant, but said verbally that as a concubine-born princess, she could only be a chess piece for her father to manipulate. Zuo Shuangzhi also had jealousy towards Shen Keyi. Both being concubine-born daughters, the immense favor Shen Keyi enjoyed originally belonged to her. Therefore, even if she died by Wen Ye's hand, she would have no complaints.
On the wedding day, listening to the noisy sound of drums and gongs, Shen Keyi only felt as if a knife was piercing her heart. Zuo Shuangzhi got out of the sedan chair and waited for the ceremony. Wen Ye was absent on the grounds of feeling unwell. Zuo Shuangzhi refused to omit the procedure and completed the ceremony alone. Zhou Yu joined the Imperial Guards.
Hearing from a colleague that Prince Jin got married that day and that both the Princess of Liang Kingdom and Shen Keyi were Princess Consorts, he secretly accused Wen Ye of betraying love and prepared to break into Prince Jin's mansion to rescue Shen Keyi. Shen Keyi couldn't stay in Prince Jin's mansion. She secretly climbed over the wall and sneaked out. She just happened to run into Zhou Yu. The two chatted for a few sentences.
Shen Keyi asked Zhou Yu to treat her to a drink. Wen Ye discovered Shen Keyi had gone out and quietly followed behind her. Shen Keyi told him about her experience. Zhou Yu still advised Shen Keyi to leave Wen Ye and that he could help. Shen Keyi said the mansion was her home and indeed did not know where to escape to. Wen Ye suddenly stood behind them and acupunctured Shen Keyi. Zhou Yu was confused.
Wen Ye explained that Shen Keyi was pregnant and couldn't drink. Zhou Yu asked since he loved Shen Keyi why he let her grieve alone. Wen Ye had nothing to say and carried the unconscious Shen Keyi back to the mansion. Seeing Wen Ye carrying Shen Keyi, Zuo Shuangzhi went forward to ask Wen Ye if he was feeling better. Wen Ye directly replied that he had never been unwell, he just didn't want to go through the ceremony.
Zuo Shuangzhi explained that she was following her parents' orders and had no intention of competing for favor. Wen Ye asked Zuo Shuangzhi to act freely in the mansion, just not to bother him, and that she would not lack the proper status and position. Looking at Wen Ye gazing affectionately at Shen Keyi, Zuo Shuangzhi felt wronged inside. She had clearly known Wen Ye first, yet couldn't explain anything.
Episode 19 Recap
Zuo Shuangzhi quickly took action, going to Shanglin Pavilion to look through Wen Ye's correspondence. Wen Ye felt something was off, walked into the tent and found Zuo Shuangzhi inside. Zuo Shuangzhi explained that her cat ran around and accidentally broke into Wen Ye's official room, and then offered to change the withered flowers for Wen Ye. Wen Ye told Zuo Shuangzhi not to be sentimental, and even less to imitate Shen Keyi's futile efforts.
Zuo Shuangzhi cried to the Empress Dowager about her plight. The Empress Dowager comforted her, saying not to take it to heart, as Wen Ye had always been insensitive. Zuo Shuangzhi brought up Shen Keyi's pregnancy, deliberately informing the Empress Dowager. Wen Ye accompanied Zuo Shuangzhi to see off the envoys who escorted the bride from Liang Kingdom. Zuo Shuangzhi said there was no need to trouble Wen Ye to make the trip himself.
Wen Ye replied that the etiquette should be complete, and he could also understand Zuo Shuangzhi more. This sudden concern made Zuo Shuangzhi very uncomfortable, but since they had clearly spent very little time together, it shouldn't reveal any flaws. Wen Ye asked about the return itinerary of Liang Kingdom's envoy, Xu Zhou. Xu Zhou said they would take the waterway, the same way they came. Wen Ye asked if Cangluzhou, a necessary route, was still prosperous.
Xu Zhou and Zuo Shuangzhi both replied that it was as Wen Ye said. Wen Ye had exposed their lies back then; Cangluzhou had suffered from flooding in recent years, and everyone had fled, so how could it be prosperous? Xu Zhou stammered that his memory was poor. Wen Ye did not press further. Zuo Shuangzhi returned to the Prince's mansion. Yi Fu cautioned her not to go near Shanglin Pavilion, as Wen Ye liked quiet and disliked being disturbed.
Zuo Shuangzhi told Yi Fu not to call her Princess anymore, but should call her Princess Consort. Yi Fu said that Wen Ye had instructed him on how to address her, and he couldn't decide on his own. The Empress Dowager asked Yi Fu about Shen Keyi's pregnancy. Wen Ye had originally asked Yi Fu to keep it a secret for him.
Now that the Empress Dowager knew, she ordered Yi Fu to get rid of the fetus in Shen Keyi's womb. Yi Fu also knew that the Empress Dowager was planning for Wen Ye's future, so he could only accept the order. Wen Ye casually found a portrait and asked the peace-marriage entourage if the woman in the painting was the Princess of Liang Kingdom.
Several people agreed without hesitation, indicating they had never seen the Princess at all, and the peace-marriage entourage only appeared on the Cang Dynasty section of the road, suggesting they were temporarily assembled. The envoys' replies were contradictory, and Wen Ye likely directly confirmed his suspicion. Since the peace-marriage entourage entered the dynasty, the Nanzhu Pavilion had stopped causing trouble. The so-called peace-marriage entourage was simply an organization of the Nanzhu Pavilion.
Yi Fu returned to the Prince's mansion and administered an abortifacient to Shen Keyi. Wen Ye asked about Shen Keyi's recent eating habits. Yi Fu answered truthfully. Wen Ye asked Yi Fu to arrange for a Jiangnan chef to cook suitable meals for Shen Keyi.
Shen Keyi saw the Chinese medicine A Tao brought to her and thought she was not sick in the first place and did not need to take medicine, so she arranged for A Tao to secretly do something for her. Tang Ti snuck into the Prince's mansion to discuss the next plan with Zuo Shuangzhi. Suddenly, they heard someone shouting to catch an assassin. Zuo Shuangzhi told Tang Ti to hide first and she would go out to check.
She discovered it was just a scene directed and performed by Wen Ye himself to see Shen Keyi. Tang Ti suggested quickly leaving before Wen Ye became too suspicious. Zuo Shuangzhi disagreed with Tang Ti's plan, stating that she had already told the Empress Dowager about Shen Keyi's pregnancy, and Shen Keyi would soon be expelled from the Prince's mansion.
By then, she would be the only Princess Consort and would have plenty of opportunities to get close to Wen Ye. Tang Ti still wanted to dissuade her, but Zuo Shuangzhi did not listen at all and even demanded that Tang Ti wait for her at a designated location the next day.
Episode 20 Recap
Zuo Shuangzhi told Wen Ye that she had concealed something previously; she did not come to Cang Dynasty with the peace-marriage entourage, but was kidnapped by Nanzhu Pavilion midway and forced to marry the Prince. Zuo Shuangzhi initially disagreed, but Nanzhu Pavilion subjected her to various humiliations, forcing her to reluctantly agree. Even after marrying into the Prince's mansion, Nanzhu Pavilion continued to harass her, demanding that she assassinate Wen Ye.
Wen Ye asked if she knew the whereabouts of Nanzhu Pavilion. Zuo Shuangzhi said the location for transmitting secret messages was Huaifeng Tower. Wen Ye had an idea in mind and stated that as long as Zuo Shuangzhi stayed put and behaved herself in the mansion, he would ensure her safety. Zuo Shuangzhi pretended to be pitiful and asked Wen Ye to escort her back to her room. However, Wen Ye directly arranged for Nan Bo.
Zhou Yu was patrolling the streets and saw A Tao entering a pharmacy, so he didn't ask further. A Tao brought a female doctor to the Prince's mansion and encountered Yi Fu, claiming she was a tailor making clothes for the Princess Consort. After taking her pulse, Shen Keyi only then learned that she was pregnant. However, she had her pulse taken once in the first lunar month, so Wen Ye should have known she was pregnant long ago.
Why then did he specifically punish her with confinement? Even if he had changed his heart towards her, the child was innocent. Wen Ye was about to turn thirty; did he not want a child of his own? Shen Keyi's mind was in a turmoil. Wen Ye prepared to surround Huaifeng Tower. Zuo Shuangzhi arrived early to meet with Tang Ti.
Tang Ti knew that Zuo Shuangzhi deliberately betrayed Nanzhu Pavilion, but still urged her to seize the last opportunity to leave with him. Zuo Shuangzhi disagreed. Tang Ti explained that Zuo Shuangzhi had developed feelings for Wen Ye, both craving his true affection and wanting to complete the assassination mission. Soon, the Huyue Army surrounded Huaifeng Tower. Tang Ti pretended to hold Zuo Shuangzhi hostage and retreated step by step.
As he walked out of Huaifeng Tower, preparing to ride away, Wen Ye shot an arrow from behind. Tang Ti immediately fell to the ground and died. Wen Ye brought Zuo Shuangzhi back to the Prince's mansion, instructing her to rest and recover well. He also took out the pendant he picked up at Huaifeng Tower and returned it to her.
Zuo Shuangzhi asked Wen Ye to stay with her for the night, but Wen Ye said he needed to deal with the remaining members of Nanzhu Pavilion. Zuo Shuangzhi was extremely depressed. Seeing the pendant intensified her mixed feelings. Tang Ti was willing to face danger to protect her, even knowing the risks. But she had been fanciful, thinking she could both gain Wen Ye's affection and avenge herself. Was Tang Ti too foolish, or was she too naive?
Yi Fu delivered medicine to Shen Keyi again. Shen Keyi suddenly asked why she was taking the medicine. Yi Fu said he was acting on the Prince's orders and could not say more. Shen Keyi drank the medicine, and a moment later, her abdomen was in constant pain. Yi Fu prepared to find Wen Ye. In his panic, he fell heavily. Zuo Shuangzhi stopped Yi Fu. It turned out Yi Fu could not bring himself to administer the medicine.
Zuo Shuangzhi had secretly tampered with it. Yi Fu insisted on finding Wen Ye, so Zuo Shuangzhi simply strangled him to death with a rope. Shen Keyi was bleeding profusely, but no imperial physician appeared. So she asked A Tao to go out and check the situation.
Zuo Shuangzhi walked into Xingyue Pavilion and told Shen Keyi that Wen Ye absolutely did not want the child in Shen Keyi's womb, which was why he had been giving Shen Keyi medicine all along. She said she had been intimate with Wen Ye recently and knew his heart best. Shen Keyi did not believe her.
Zuo Shuangzhi further provoked her, saying that she had known Wen Ye since childhood, and the scar on Wen Ye's hand was also caused by her accidentally scratching him while being mischievous. Shen Keyi had heard Wen Ye talk about the origin of the scar and realized that Zuo Shuangzhi was indeed Wen Ye's childhood sweetheart, and she herself was the redundant one.
She then stated that she would leave the Prince's mansion, but pleaded for a doctor to first help her save the child. Zuo Shuangzhi was completely impatient and pushed Shen Keyi to the ground. Shen Keyi got up and stumbled towards the outside. Before Yi Fu died, he had sent someone to deliver a message to Wen Ye. Wen Ye rushed back to the Prince's mansion. When Shen Keyi reached the doorway, Zuo Shuangzhi stopped her again, making things difficult. Zhou Yu arrived in time and rescued the dying Shen Keyi.
Episode 21 Recap
Wen Ye returned to the Prince's mansion and felt the atmosphere was different from usual. Every time he returned, Yi Fu would be at the entrance to greet him, but now it was deserted. Wen Ye had a bad premonition and rushed to Yi Fu's room. Yi Fu was hanging from the beam, looking like he had committed suicide by hanging. Nan Bo took the body down.
Wen Ye rushed to Xingyue Pavilion, but Shen Keyi was also not in the room. Supported by a maid, Zuo Shuangzhi weakly walked towards Wen Ye, claiming that Yi Fu had poisoned Shen Keyi, causing her miscarriage, and that she was preparing to take Shen Keyi to see a doctor when an imperial guard suddenly broke into the mansion, injured her, and then took Shen Keyi away.
Wen Ye guessed it was Zhou Yu and hurried out of the mansion to look for him. Zhou Yu was driving a carriage through a bamboo forest. Wen Ye stopped him, opened the sedan chair compartment on the carriage, but did not see Shen Keyi. He quickly questioned Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu blamed Wen Ye for hurting Shen Keyi's feelings and provoking her with the sweet affection between him and the new Princess Consort.
Wen Ye explained that it was not at all as Zhou Yu had guessed, but could not clarify it clearly at the moment. Zhou Yu produced a farewell letter written by Shen Keyi, telling Wen Ye not to bother her anymore as she was safe. Wen Ye went directly into the palace to see the Empress Dowager, questioning why she was so heartless towards him.
The Empress Dowager replied that everything she did was for Wen Ye; only by going far away to the border could he avoid suspicion, enduring some hardship but ensuring a lifetime of peace. Wen Ye had essentially lost his reason and could no longer listen to the Empress Dowager's earnest advice. He angrily left. Shen Keyi could not eat or sleep, depressed all day long. Zhou Yu comforted her, telling her to cheer up for the child.
Since she had kept the child through sheer willpower, she could not give up halfway. Shen Keyi gradually came to understand that now she only had the fetus in her womb, and she must ensure the child came into the world healthy. The tailor shop delivered the high-quality fabric Yi Fu had chosen before his death to the Prince's mansion, stating that Yi Fu had specially ordered it to make a baby swaddling cloth.
Wen Ye had not believed that Yi Fu would commit suicide or administer poison, so he asked Nan Bo to find a coroner to examine the body. The autopsy revealed that Yi Fu was first strangled before being hung from the beam, and there were skin flakes under his fingernails, indicating he struggled fiercely before death. Nan Bo suggested gathering everyone in the mansion for examination one by one.
Wen Ye suddenly remembered the scratch marks on Zuo Shuangzhi's arm that she had accidentally revealed when she was preparing to support him the day before yesterday. Everything finally became clear. Wen Ye went to Zuo Shuangzhi's room and drew his sword without waiting for her explanation. Zuo Shuangzhi recounted their fortuitous encounter years ago and produced the dagger he had given her.
Only then did Wen Ye realize that Zuo Shuangzhi was the Princess of Liang Kingdom he had saved. Wen Ye regretted the kindness he had shown back then, which had led to today's grave mistake. Since Zuo Shuangzhi was the Princess of Liang Kingdom, he could not kill her directly. Therefore, he ordered her to be strictly guarded and imprisoned her in her room. Zhou Yu told Shen Keyi about Wen Ye's actions.
As they were talking, they heard someone knocking at the door. Shen Keyi hurried to open it, only to find it was Wen Ye. Zhou Yu followed closely to the doorway. Wen Ye said he had come specifically to visit a subordinate, and Nan Bo had brought many baby items. Shen Keyi was unmoved. Zhou Yu had no choice but to ask them to leave. Learning that Shen Keyi was safe, Wen Ye felt a little relieved.
Lady Yun Ying was still keeping the perpetually lit lamp in the Zheng family ancestral hall. The weather was freezing, and she coughed up blood. He Muer advised Lady Yun Ying to rest. Guard Wan suddenly burst into the ancestral hall, demanding that Lady Yun Ying leave with him to recuperate. Lady Yun Ying remained unmoved. The Eldest Madam followed them into the ancestral hall and accused Lady Yun Ying of not being virtuous.
Lady Yun Ying stated that she had been a widow for her deceased husband Zheng Zhi for ten years and had kept the perpetually lit lamp for several nights, stating that her feelings for the Zheng family were exhausted and she would never set foot there again. Guard Wan brought Lady Yun Ying back to the Prince's mansion to recuperate.
After visiting her, Wen Ye prepared to attend court, instructing Guard Wan that he did not need to leave together with him. If he truly liked Lady Yun Ying, he should cherish the time they had together and not worry about others' gossip. Shen Keyi gradually cheered up. She went for walks every day. Zhou Yu took meticulous care of her. The two relied on each other, and their days were comfortable.
Episode 22 Recap
Guard Wan stayed by Lady Yun Ying's bed day and night. Lady Yun Ying woke up from her sleep and said she had just had a nightmare, dreaming that Shen Keyi was covered in blood. Since Zuo Shuangzhi entered the Prince's mansion, everything has changed, and Wen Ye and Shen Keyi's affection has also vanished like smoke.
Guard Wan explained that neglecting Shen Keyi was a necessary measure to protect the child, and that the person who should take care of her health the most right now was the one before him. Lady Yun Ying was aware of her illness. Spring was coming soon, so she suggested that Guard Wan go out more often and breathe fresh air. Shen Keyi heard from A Tao that Lady Yun Ying was seriously ill.
She sneaked into the Jin Prince's mansion at night. Just after He Muer had persuaded Guard Wan to leave, Shen Keyi appeared in Lady Yun Ying's room. Lady Yun Ying sighed about the impermanence of life. Shen Keyi had faced a lot on her own, and her face had become even thinner. Shen Keyi was concerned about Lady Yun Ying's health. Thinking about how she had been constantly taking medicine recently, she made some flower candies and brought them over.
Because she didn't want Wen Ye to know about her sneaking into the mansion this time, He Muer was keeping watch at the door. Seeing Wen Ye approaching, she raised her voice and exchanged a few greetings. Hearing this, Shen Keyi quickly hid in the closet. Wen Ye had just returned from the palace and said that the Emperor had invited ministers for singing and dancing, but he only found it boring.
Since the Princess Consort left, everywhere felt cold and deserted. Because he was drunk, Wen Ye became more talkative. Lady Yun Ying advised him not to blame himself. Being born into the royal family meant he was destined to bear a lot. As it was late, she told Wen Ye to return to his room and rest early. After Wen Ye left, Shen Keyi came out of the closet.
Lady Yun Ying instructed her to definitely take care of her health and give birth to the child safely. Shen Keyi also advised Lady Yun Ying to take good care of herself. After that, the two parted reluctantly. Wen Ye sobered up slightly. As he was nearing his room, he saw a plum blossom petal candy fall from his clothes. Shen Keyi was the best at making similar preserves when she was in the Prince's mansion.
He guessed that Shen Keyi must have been here, so he ran back to Lady Yun Ying's room to ask. Lady Yun Ying did not hide anything. Wen Ye hurried to search in the direction Shen Keyi had left, but it was all in vain. Wen Ye could no longer suppress his sorrow. He walked under the apricot blossom tree, remembering how Shen Keyi picked apricot blossoms to make pastries for him last year.
It had now become an irreversible thought. He burst into tears. During the morning court session the next day, several ministers whispered among themselves that the Jin Prince's Princess Consort and Zhou Yu were living together. Wen Ye did not offer any explanation. When someone reported that the northern nomadic tribes were frequently invading, Wen Ye suggested pursuing and annihilating them, stating that 100,000 soldiers needed to be prepared immediately. Zhou Yu immediately expressed his opposition.
For a series of matters, as long as Wen Ye made a proposal, Zhou Yu directly refuted it. Prime Minister Shen stated that it would be better to appease the northern nomadic tribes first. Deploying 100,000 soldiers was a huge expenditure, which might drain the imperial treasury. Wen Ye directly retorted that as long as Prime Minister Shen did not interfere, the court could afford it. The Emperor made up his mind that suppressing the invaders was imperative.
However, the northern nomadic tribes had a long border, and Wen Ye couldn't handle everything alone. He needed more people to be responsible for the war efforts. Zhou Yu volunteered, and the Emperor was very pleased. Prime Minister Shen didn't understand why Zuo Shuangzhi was willing to be kept under house arrest by Wen Ye. With Zuo Shuangzhi's ability, leaving the Jin Prince's mansion wasn't impossible. Regardless, they couldn't rely on Zuo Shuangzhi anymore.
Since Wen Ye insisted on leading troops to war, they could arrange their own people in the army. If Wen Ye lost the battle, he would no longer be arrogant and overbearing. Zhou Yu was appointed as the General of the Swift Cavalry to suppress the rebels, serving under the Jin Prince. Before departing, Zhou Yu repaired the house for Shen Keyi and chopped half a year's supply of firewood.
Zhou Yu asked Shen Keyi to definitely wait for him to return, saying he would surely achieve merit and fame by then, and that whatever Wen Ye could do, he could do too. Shen Keyi didn't dare to promise anything, so she only offered Zhou Yu a farewell meal for the army.
Episode 23 Recap
Some time passed, Wen Ye and Zhou Yu won a battle in the northern border, Lady Yun Ying and Guard Wan officially got married. Shen Keyi helped her get dressed. Lady Yun Ying suggested Shen Keyi reconcile with Wen Ye. As the fetus in Shen Keyi's belly grew larger, she had more concerns. The royal family was heartless, and even if Wen Ye had the intention, he might not be able to ensure the child's safety.
Lady Yun Ying didn't let Shen Keyi and He Muer accompany her. She left alone in a sedan chair to marry Guard Wan. There was no noisy celebration with gongs and drums. The two bowed to heaven and earth and drank the cross-cupped wine on a small secluded island in a lake. Afterwards, Guard Wan played the flute and Lady Yun Ying danced. Both got their wish. After the music ended, Lady Yun Ying suddenly fainted on the ground.
Guard Wan was about to find an imperial physician, but Lady Yun Ying said there was no need. She could finally sleep in the arms of her beloved person for the first time, and had no regrets in this life. The joyous news of the great victory in the northern border was reported from the palace. The Emperor ordered rewards for the three armies. The atmosphere in the military camp was still tense.
Wen Ye analyzed that they had won by luck once, and the northern border would definitely adjust their tactics. At that time, Zhou Yu would act as the vanguard, leading a team to first lure the enemy, remembering not to be captured. Zhou Yu received a letter from Shen Keyi, subtly stating that the child had been born. The anxiety in Wen Ye's heart finally subsided.
Zhou Yu ran out of the military camp and just happened to meet Guard Wan. Guard Wan was holding a stone tablet. Only then did Wen Ye learn that Lady Yun Ying had passed away. Fortunately, before her death, she married the person she loved most in this life, which could be considered fulfilling her wish. Shen Keyi held the newborn child, Susu, and mourned Lady Yun Ying, feeling grateful for Lady Yun Ying's spiritual protection over the child.
A Tao told Shen Keyi that Nan Bo would return to the capital after some time to escort Zuo Shuangzhi back to her country, and asked if she should give Wen Ye a family letter at that time. Shen Keyi had some insights from Lady Yun Ying's death. Life is only a few decades long, and cherishing the present can hold happiness more firmly. So, she took a few wedding cakes for Nan Bo to take to Wen Ye.
Upon receiving the wedding cakes, Wen Ye didn't understand their meaning. He had written to Shen Keyi more than ten times before but had not received a reply. Guard Wan and Nan Bo analyzed together but couldn't guess Shen Keyi's intention.
Shen Keyi wrote to Zhou Yu, explaining that since giving birth to the child, her thoughts had changed a lot, and she decided to follow her heart and still be with Wen Ye, and also hoped that Zhou Yu would find his own happiness soon. Prime Minister Shen advised the Emperor that if the peace talks went smoothly, after the great war, Wen Ye would have outstanding military achievements, unmatched in court.
The implication was that Wen Ye's achievements overshadowed the ruler. The Emperor asked Prime Minister Shen for his opinion. Prime Minister Shen suggested that Wen Ye die in battle and never pose a threat again. After finishing his escort mission, Zhou Yu captured a spy from Nanzhu Pavilion. Wen Ye ordered a thorough interrogation. The Emperor issued an imperial decree ordering Wen Ye to continue guarding the border for three years.
The Empress Dowager thought it was too harsh on Wen Ye. The Emperor said that the court was full of slanderous rumors, and this decision could also show Wen Ye's loyalty. Zhou Yu also felt dissatisfied with the imperial decree. Wen Ye had clearly made great contributions, but was treated unfairly. Nan Bo was preparing to escort Zuo Shuangzhi back to Liang country.
Zuo Shuangzhi said that she had the mission of a marriage alliance, and if Nan Bo forced her, he would bear all consequences. Shen Keyi was preparing to eat in the countryside when a guard rushed into the courtyard, stating that Wen Ye's rebellion had been exposed, and the mansion was in chaos. He asked Shen Keyi to return to the Jin Prince's mansion. When Shen Keyi returned to the mansion, she saw bodies strewn across the courtyard, and Zuo Shuangzhi sitting in the main hall, looking at her with a fierce gaze.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
Zhou Yu surveyed the surrounding terrain for Wen Ye, facilitating cultivation and grain farming during the three years guarding the border. Wen Ye appointed Zhou Yu as the Garrison Farming Official. As the two were joking, a guard reported that a spy from Nanzhu Pavilion had drawn a portrait of the leader. Wen Ye opened it and discovered it was Zuo Shuangzhi.
On the other side, Guard Wan brought a letter from Zuo Shuangzhi, stating that if Wen Ye wanted to see Shen Keyi for the last time, he should immediately return to the capital to meet her. Wen Ye ordered horses to be prepared. Guard Wan reminded him that the imperial decree had mentioned that if Wen Ye returned to the capital without permission, he would be treated as an accomplice in rebellion.
Moreover, if the northern border learned of Wen Ye's departure, they would surely invade on a large scale. Wen Ye hesitated. Zhou Yu stepped forward, reassuring Wen Ye to return to the capital to protect Shen Keyi, and also bringing a token of his own regard. Wen Ye rushed back to the Jin Prince's mansion. Zuo Shuangzhi had already presented an imperial decree to the Emperor. Wen Ye asked about Shen Keyi.
Zuo Shuangzhi demanded that Wen Ye kneel before her to be told. Wen Ye disregarded his status, threw down his sword, and knelt before Zuo Shuangzhi. Zuo Shuangzhi then demanded that Wen Ye sever his hand and foot tendons, becoming a cripple from then on. Wen Ye immediately prepared to act, but Zuo Shuangzhi suddenly used her sword to stop him. When asked again where Shen Keyi was imprisoned, Zuo Shuangzhi said she had fallen off a cliff.
Wen Ye grabbed Zuo Shuangzhi's throat, angrily denouncing her as cruel and brutal. Zuo Shuangzhi intended to resist, and the two immediately began to fight fiercely. Only then did Wen Ye realize that Zuo Shuangzhi was skilled in martial arts, by no means inferior to himself. After a struggle, Zuo Shuangzhi committed suicide by Wen Ye's sword. Prime Minister Shen saw the treasure box presented by Zuo Shuangzhi, thinking it was the imperial decree of succession.
He instigated Wen Ye to secretly keep the decree to destabilize the state, and asked the Emperor to punish Wen Ye. Wen Ye entered the palace to plead guilty. The Emperor directly stated that what Zuo Shuangzhi had presented were the criminal proofs of Prime Minister Shen colluding with Nanzhu Pavilion. Prime Minister Shen was instantly struck as if by a thunderbolt.
It turned out that Zuo Shuangzhi, seeing Shen Keyi fall off the cliff for Wen Ye, immediately understood that love was about protection, not destruction. Therefore, she handed over the letters exchanged between herself and Prime Minister Shen to the Emperor, wanting to protect Wen Ye's safety for his entire life. As for her own guilt-ridden body, she only requested to die by Wen Ye's hand.
After dealing with Prime Minister Shen, Wen Ye stated that the war was over and requested to resign from his official position and military power and live in seclusion in the mountains. The Emperor mentioned their deep brotherly affection in childhood. As for the groundless imperial decree, he hadn't taken it to heart at all, so there was no need to worry about it. If Wen Ye had made up his mind, he would not hinder him.
Three years later, at the vast Zhenxi Pass, Guard Wan played the xiao, reminiscing about Lady Yun Ying. Zhou Yu had taken office as a great general, guarding the border in place of Wen Ye, and also protecting the harmonious and prosperous era that allowed Shen Keyi to live in peace. Nan Bo and A Tao developed feelings for each other over time.
Nan Bo made a fake grasshopper to scare A Tao, and then took out carefully prepared earrings and put them on A Tao. The two expressed their feelings for each other. Wen Ye and Shen Keyi wore wedding attire once again. Shen Keyi had been predicted to marry twice, but now she was still marrying Wen Ye. However, his status had changed from Jin Prince to commoner. The family was harmonious and happy, full of joy and warmth.
