The Wolf Episode 7 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
Following an evening banquet, court officials dispersed. Outside the palace gates, Prime Minister Jingxiang questioned Captain Yang Hou about a rumor that Second Prince Chu Yougui's biological mother had been involved with another man. Yang Hou confirmed the story, which he'd heard from a dying captain: half a month before Emperor Chu Kui took her as his own, she had an intimate relationship with a Bozhou Army cook, coincidentally making Chu Yougui's birth half a month premature.
Both acknowledged the sensitivity of such a claim without concrete evidence, fearing Chu Kui's wrath. Yang Hou, eager to expose the truth and taint Chu Yougui's bloodline, asserted he would find the army cook, as many former Bozhou militiamen were now capital slaves under Jingxiang's command. Jingxiang, who oversaw these court slaves, urged caution. Meanwhile, in a slave camp on the outskirts of Suyang, a slave named Lin Guang, weary of his predicament, resolved to escape.
Despite a fellow slave's despairing words about their unlikely return to the capital, Lin Guang declared he had one unfulfilled wish and must flee. Using a stone to free himself, he slipped away while others ate. Guards quickly discovered his absence and, fearing repercussions from Prime Minister Jingxiang, immediately pursued him, believing he was headed towards the capital.
At the Prince of Bo Manor, Chu Youwen, the Prince of Bo, conveyed Emperor Chu Kui's decree that Ma Zhaixing would reside there as the Princess Consort of Bo starting the next day. His subordinate, Hai Die, speculated that Chu Kui intended for them to secretly assassinate Ma Zhaixing, but Chu Youwen sternly corrected her. He reiterated that Ma Zhaixing was genuinely to be the Princess Consort of Bo and ordered his subordinates to treat her with the utmost courtesy.
The next morning, Ma Zhaixing awoke with a pounding headache and a blank memory of the previous night, including falling into a pond. Her companion, Ma Jing, explained that Ma Zhaixing had been wearing the Prince of Bo's cloak when she fell, but he had left without looking back.
Ma Jing deduced that Chu Youwen had intended to treat Ma Zhaixing courteously, but Ma Zhaixing, in her drunken state, had committed offensive acts, possibly even mistaking Chu Youwen for Wolf Boy. Ma Zhaixing was horrified, realizing she had created a terrible first impression. Soon after, Ma Fengcheng arrived to apologize for his recklessness, which led to Ma Zhaixing's forced marriage.
Ma Zhaixing, however, reassured him, saying the union was a blessing, as it would prevent Chu Kui from questioning the loyalty of the Ma Family Army. Ma Fengcheng was deeply moved by her demeanor, which was reminiscent of her father, Ma Ying. He then instructed Ma Jing to stay by Ma Zhaixing's side, promising to return from the capital if Ma Zhaixing ever faced mistreatment.
Ma Zhaixing light-heartedly suggested that perhaps Chu Youwen would be the unlucky one, given her reputation as a "Jiangmen hunÇš," a tigress from a military family. Later, Ma Zhaixing and Ma Jing waited at the West Palace Gate for Chu Youwen's carriage. After more than an hour, Chu Youwen had still not arrived. Ma Jing expressed her frustration, but Ma Zhaixing remained understanding, reasoning that her own rudeness the previous night made the wait acceptable.
Mo Xiao then appeared, informing them that Chu Youwen had official duties and had dispatched him to escort Ma Zhaixing to the Prince of Bo Manor. Ma Jing complained loudly about the lack of respect, but Ma Zhaixing graciously accepted the escort. As their carriage proceeded, Ma Zhaixing heard cries outside. Peeking out, she saw a group of children beating a frail, ill-clad man. She felt a pang of sympathy, noting the man's age was similar to her father's.
Despite Mo Xiao's objections that taking in a stranger would violate the manor's strict rules, Ma Zhaixing insisted on bringing him back for treatment. She argued that in Kuizhou City, helping common people was commonplace and hoped it would improve the manor's image. She instructed Mo Xiao to search the man for any threats before carrying him to the manor.
Upon their arrival at the Prince of Bo Manor, Hai Die and Wen Yan were surprised by the sudden appearance of the injured man. Hai Die, cool and reserved, reminded a subordinate of Chu Youwen's orders: to treat Ma Zhaixing with courtesy but maintain distance and secretly monitor her. Wen Yan, however, acted with compassion, immediately examining the man. He determined that the beggar was not in serious condition and only needed rest and healing concoctions.
Ma Zhaixing apologized for causing trouble on her first day, promising to arrange for the man's departure once he recovered and to bear full responsibility. Wen Yan then introduced Hai Die, who was responsible for arranging Ma Zhaixing's living quarters. As Hai Die led Ma Zhaixing and Ma Jing through the extensive manor, Ma Jing commented on its starkness, noting the absence of flowers.
Hai Die pointed out a particular courtyard, designating it as the Prince of Bo's living quarters and a "forbidden place" where no one was permitted without his explicit consent. Later, in her assigned room, Ma Jing expressed her discomfort, finding the manor "spooky" and calling the Prince of Bo "cold and ruthless." Ma Zhaixing, to tease her, exaggerated Chu Youwen's flaws, only for Chu Youwen himself to appear, having overheard her.
He accused her of maliciously creating rumors and demanded an explanation for her unauthorized act of taking in the injured man. Ma Zhaixing apologized for breaking the rules. Chu Youwen dismissed her apology, calling her actions "disgraceful."
Ma Jing attempted to defend Ma Zhaixing by explaining that the man was injured protecting a child, but Chu Youwen questioned how a "kindhearted" person would criticize her husband behind his back, scoffing at her for treating the royal manor like her own home. Ma Zhaixing accepted responsibility, yet countered that Chu Youwen was not truly cruel-hearted, citing his earlier protection of her when she was unconscious.
Chu Youwen retorted that he had only protected her due to her status and his imperial orders. Ma Zhaixing insisted that the man's age reminded her of her father, making it difficult to abandon him. Chu Youwen warned her not to "casually show charity because of a moment of pity and then just casually abandon the person in the next moment."
After the tense encounter, Ma Zhaixing received a bundle from Kuizhou City containing her belongings, including a cherished portrait of her mother and a shadow puppet. Hoping to mend relations, she carefully selected gifts for everyone. She gave Mo Xiao a bottle of wine, Wen Yan a rare medical book ("The Pulse Classics" by Wang Shuhe), and Hai Die a beautiful hairpin, which Hai Die refused. For Chu Youwen, she presented a top-tier Duan Yan inkstone.
However, Chu Youwen, declaring his detestation for calligraphy and such "scheming" attempts to win him over, shattered the inkstone in front of everyone, ordering all gifts returned. Ma Zhaixing, despite her public humiliation, maintained her composure, stating he did not need to trample on her intentions so brazenly. Ma Zhaixing then requested a private audience with Chu Youwen, asking if his cold treatment was solely due to her recent actions.
He implied there were "other prejudices" and then lied that Ma Fengcheng had secretly visited him to propose collusion, a capital crime. When Ma Zhaixing immediately took sole responsibility for the idea, Chu Youwen smirked, revealing it was a trick to expose what he perceived as her deceitful nature. He declared their marriage was merely a mutually beneficial arrangement: they would maintain appearances in public but, in private, would be strangers with no marital affection.
Ma Zhaixing pleaded for peaceful coexistence, but Chu Youwen remained distrustful, finally challenging her to make the courtyard's "iron tree bloom" as the only acceptable proof of her sincerity before coldly dismissing her. Ma Zhaixing confided in Ma Jing about Chu Youwen's deep, seemingly unprovoked hostility. Ma Jing, ever outspoken, called Chu Youwen "crazy" and reminded Ma Zhaixing of her past popularity in Kuizhou City. Meanwhile, the rescued man, Lin Guang, awoke, thanking Ma Zhaixing.
He revealed he was from Bozhou, having come to the capital to find a benefactor. Ma Zhaixing offered him rest at the manor while she tried to locate his benefactor. Separately, Chu Youwen was asked by a subordinate if the shattered inkstone should be repaired, but he angrily ordered it thrown out. Later, Prime Minister Jingxiang received an urgent report: the escaped slave, Lin Guang, had, while drunk, claimed his son was the current Second Prince.
The report also confirmed Lin Guang had been an army cook for Chu Yougui's mother in Bozhou decades ago and knew about a finger-length scar on her left calf. Jingxiang immediately dispatched men to silence all who might know this information and to capture Lin Guang. Concurrently, Chu Yougui, the Second Prince, and his pregnant wife, Princess Consort Jing Chuchu, visited the Prince of Bo Manor.
While the princes spoke, Jing Chuchu went to meet Ma Zhaixing, proposing they address each other as sisters. During their conversation, Lin Guang entered. Jing Chuchu commented on his origin in Bozhou, the same place Chu Yougui was born, mentioning Chu Yougui's fondness for his mother's Bozhou dishes. Upon hearing this, Lin Guang, overcome with emotion, revealed that Second Prince Chu Yougui was the benefactor he had traveled to the capital to find.
