The Wolf Episode 10 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
The upcoming visit of Princess Bao Na from the Qitan Kingdom casts a shadow over Chu Youwen, who is tasked with her reception. His anxiety stems from a past incident three years prior when she, infatuated with him, placed laxatives in his tea. The act left him bedridden for days and forced him and Chu Yougui to flee Qitan in disarray.
Now, with the Yang Kingdom seeking to borrow troops from Qitan to attack the Jin Kingdom, securing the alliance rests on his handling of Princess Bao Na. Even before her arrival, Princess Bao Na demonstrates her deep infatuation. Her greeting gifts fill a large hall, and among them is a lengthy five-page letter and four seasonal portraits of herself.
In the letter, she requests that Chu Youwen hang her paintings in his living room, study, bedroom, and training hall so that he can see her everywhere. She has also sent his favorite meat jerkies from Qitan, including a half-eaten piece he left behind three years ago, which she has meticulously preserved.
Recognizing Princess Bao Na's extreme and stubborn nature, Ma Zhaixing agrees with Chu Yougui's suggestion to conceal Chu Youwen's engagement from her for the three days of her visit to secure the troops. However, Chu Youwen vehemently refuses, determined to use this opportunity to make her give up on him entirely. Ma Zhaixing persistently tries to persuade him, even presenting him with a rare, lost calligraphy scroll by Suo Jing that she spent an entire afternoon finding.
Ultimately, Chu Youwen agrees to hide the engagement and display the princess's paintings, but only if Ma Zhaixing personally prepares fried sugar pastries for him, noting that the Double Seventh Festival is approaching. Ma Zhaixing accepts his terms. Preparing for Princess Bao Na's visit proves challenging due to her spoiled nature. She requires her room to face east, be decorated entirely in bright red, and filled with peonies, despite it being the wrong season.
She also insists on specific "Flower Moon" rouge. Ma Zhaixing has these requirements sent to Chu Yougui to arrange at the guest palace. Meanwhile, in the manor's kitchen, Ma Zhaixing learns to make fried sugar pastries with Ma Jing. She initially complains about Chu Youwen's request but becomes enthusiastic when Ma Jing explains the pastries are a traditional offering for the Cowherd and Weaver Girl during the Double Seventh Festival, a custom for a "princess consort-to-be" to ensure eternal love.
Unexpectedly, Princess Bao Na arrives days early, making a grand entrance on a white horse. She demands a "bridge of magpies" be laid out with golden silk, insisting only she and Chu Youwen can step on it. As Chu Youwen is still at the palace, Ma Zhaixing welcomes her. When Bao Na demands flowers, Ma Zhaixing informs her that Chu Youwen dislikes them.
Bao Na is pleased when Zhaixing tells her that her portraits are already hanging in Chu Youwen's private courtyard. Bao Na then presents a precious scroll depicting a white horse and a green ox, central figures in Qitan's creation myth. Ma Zhaixing, having done her research, recounts the legend, impressing the princess. Surprised by her knowledge, Bao Na questions her identity. Ma Zhaixing clarifies she is merely a guest, taken in by Chu Youwen after her family's misfortune.
Relieved that she is not a rival, Bao Na asks her to make the fried sugar pastries on her behalf, effectively making Ma Zhaixing her "stand-in" in the kitchen. When Chu Youwen finally arrives, Princess Bao Na rushes to greet him, but he immediately asks, "Where's Zhaixing?" causing Bao Na to declare she no longer likes him and threaten to leave. Chu Yougui quickly interjects, explaining Chu Youwen's question was merely to ensure Bao Na had been well-received.
Chu Youwen then tries the pastries Ma Zhaixing made on behalf of Bao Na, proclaiming them the best he has ever tasted. During their conversation, Princess Bao Na hints at marriage and states her intention to stay in his manor instead of the guest palace. She insists on taking Ma Zhaixing's room because it is closer to Chu Youwen's adjacent suite. Ma Zhaixing graciously agrees.
Later that evening, Chu Youwen visits Ma Zhaixing in her new room, expressing remorse for her inconvenience. Ma Zhaixing reassures him that her comfort is secondary to facilitating the troop alliance. The next morning, Chu Youwen deliberately acts overly affectionate toward Princess Bao Na in front of Ma Zhaixing, hoping to provoke her jealousy. During breakfast, Princess Bao Na feigns a hand injury and asks Chu Youwen to feed her, which he does.
Ma Zhaixing, watching them, suddenly feels a stuffiness in her chest and dizziness. Afterward, Chu Youwen takes Princess Bao Na shopping in Suyang, leaving Ma Zhaixing behind. Mo Xiao and Hai Die speculate that he did so out of concern for her leg injury. At the market, Chu Youwen purchases a perfumed sachet after asking the vendor if a noble, somewhat tomboyish girl would like such a gift. Soon after, Ma Zhaixing, having secretly followed them, is spotted.
Chu Youwen confronts her, directly asking if she was following him. Ma Zhaixing claims she was out to buy malt candy. Chu Youwen buys two bags, then takes a piece of candy from her hand, eats it, and comments that it "tastes like vinegar," a clear insinuation about her jealousy. He then tells her not to run, reminding her of her leg injury, and says he has something for her before walking away.
