Truth or Dare Episode 9 Recap
> Truth or Dare Recap
Mei Shiqing told Xiao Wanzi that she could leave Mei Mansion as soon as she learned to write three characters. He then wrote his own name, "Mei Shiqing," which Xiao Wanzi found much more difficult than the characters she had practiced previously. She expressed frustration, feeling she would never be able to leave. Mei Shiqing insisted that she must learn his name if she wished to leave.
Seeing her struggle, Mei Shiqing offered a "quick way" to learn, and when she begged him to teach her, he embraced her from behind, guiding her hand as she wrote. The intimate proximity caused both their hearts to race, but their moment was interrupted by Siheng, who announced Qiaoyun had brought tea. Mei Shiqing, visibly flustered, asked Siheng to accompany him for a walk.
Xiao Wanzi later confided in Qiaoyun that she suspected Mei Shiqing was "setting her up," though she didn't elaborate. Qiaoyun worried Mei Shiqing might have discovered something due to his attempts to separate them, but Xiao Wanzi insisted he was merely trying to humiliate her handwriting. Xiao Wanzi continued to practice diligently, even skipping meals, driven by her desire to see her father.
Mei Shiqing tried to get her to rest, but she refused, stating she would only be able to see her father once she had angered him enough to let her go. He asked why she was so eager to leave, and she declared, "I have someone special I want to see."
Misinterpreting this as a desire to meet Situ Ling, Mei Shiqing angrily forbade her from leaving, leading to a heated argument where she called him "insane" and told him to leave. Furious, Mei Shiqing went to practice swordsmanship with Siheng. When he returned, Xiao Wanzi was gone, leaving behind distorted renditions of his name scrawled all over the room, which he angrily looked at. Mei Shiqing then had his carriage taken to the chamber of commerce with Siheng.
Siheng reported that Situ Ling had been at the chamber all day, receiving merchants, and had not met with "Lady Yingyao." Siheng, who had discovered Xiao Wanzi's true identity, promised Mei Shiqing to keep it a secret. Meanwhile, Xiao Wanzi met her father, He Yizhi, at the agreed location, where she was relieved to find him safe. He Yizhi, however, was anxious, informing Xiao Wanzi that she and the true Princess Lu Yingyao had been "wrongly married."
While Xiao Wanzi was in Mei Mansion, the princess was now in the perilous Dragon Stockade, facing "a severe matter." He Yizhi suggested they escape, but Xiao Wanzi refused, unwilling to abandon Qiaoyun and Qiuhua and risk their families being condemned. Seeing her resolve, He Yizhi agreed to stay and help. Qiaoyun, upon learning the princess was at Dragon Stockade, blamed herself and broke into tears.
He Yizhi quickly reassured her, explaining that Lu Yingyao was "very smart" and had cleverly used an herbal paste to cover her face with pimples, making herself appear "even worse" than him, effectively deterring the bandits. Xiao Wanzi proposed revealing the truth to Mei Shiqing and having him lead troops to attack the stockade, but Qiaoyun vehemently opposed this.
She reminded Xiao Wanzi that Mei Shiqing had always been reluctant to marry the princess, and exposing the fake princess's identity would be "deceiving the emperor," a crime punishable by death. They concluded that the fewer people who knew, the better, and resolved that only Xiao Wanzi, He Yizhi, Qiaoyun, and Qiuhua should be involved in the rescue. He Yizhi, however, cautioned that Dragon Stockade was "an incredibly dangerous place" and they would need a more carefully considered plan.
At Dragon Stockade, Nan Batian angrily questioned Master Bao about his pawnshop's failure to send money up the mountain, attributing it to attacks by Lord Nocturnal-elf that had left his men terrified. He further chastised Master Bao and Wu for their constant infighting, warning that their disunity would weaken the stockade. Nan Xiang tried to console Master Bao, subtly suggesting that Nan Batian's anger might not entirely stem from the pawnshop.
She proposed a solution: Master Bao should offer "the rock-breaker" (Lu Yingyao, as she was known by then) to Nan Batian and then marry Nan Xiang herself. Master Bao was angered by Nan Xiang's suggestion and overheard his brothers discussing the recent marriage of Mei Shiqing to the princess, wondering who was more beautiful between her and Xiao Wanzi.
Seething with rage, Master Bao impulsively declared he would kidnap the princess and "bring her back to present her to Dad Batian," with his brothers commenting that it would be a "double wedding at Dragon Stockade" if he succeeded. Privately, Master Bao intended this act to divert Nan Batian's attention from Xiao Wanzi and to exact revenge on Mei Shiqing for a previous ambush.
Later that night, Xiao Wanzi continued to practice calligraphy, finding Mei Shiqing's name frustratingly difficult to write. She briefly rested, but Mei Shiqing, seeing her dozing, showed no pity. Instead, he employed an ancient method, tying her hair to a rafter to keep her head elevated and prevent her from falling asleep. Xiao Wanzi was outraged, calling his methods "too cruel" and "inhuman," begging him to stop, but he insisted she would be released only when her writing improved.
She threw her pen in defiance, threatening to "tear the house down" as he left. Meanwhile, Master Bao infiltrated Mei Mansion. Upon seeing the "princess" (who was actually Xiao Wanzi), he noted her "average figure," considering her less beautiful than "his Xiao Wanzi," before tranquilizing her. Just as he was about to carry her away, Mei Shiqing appeared, confronting the "bandit" and demanding his purpose. As they fought in the garden, Xiao Wanzi regained consciousness and witnessed the confrontation.
Mei Shiyuan and Mei Changyun arrived with guards, and Mei Shiyuan exclaimed that Mei Shiqing was not blind after all. Mei Changyun, furious at his son's deception, ordered Master Bao arrested and, ignoring Mei Shiyuan's attempts to explain, had Mei Shiqing also thrown into prison as a "rebellious son." Back in her room, Qiaoyun questioned Xiao Wanzi, asking if she had known about Mei Shiqing's feigned blindness.
Xiao Wanzi confessed, revealing her contract with Mei Shiqing: he would not expose her as the fake princess if she kept his secret. She noted he had honored their agreement. Qiaoyun realized that Mei Mansion likely wished to keep the princess's disappearance a secret, which explained Mei Shiqing's cooperation. They agreed their "first priority" was to rescue the true princess.
Qiaoyun proposed a plan: since Master Bao was Nan Batian's adopted son and Third Master of Dragon Stockade, they could rescue him and exchange him for Lu Yingyao. Xiao Wanzi agreed to use her false identity as Lady Yingyao to enter the prison and gather information the next day, planning to "secretly take Master Bao out." The next day, Xiao Wanzi visited Mei Shiqing in his prison cell to thank him for saving her.
He then asked if she had learned to write his name. When she affirmed she had, he expressed disbelief, prompting her to write "Mei Shiqing" on his palm. Impressed by her progress, Mei Shiqing smiled, gazing at her. Mei Shiyuan, witnessing their exchange, commented that they were "quite romantic" for "flirting in the prison," yet he expressed sympathy for Mei Shiqing, noting his father's cruelty.
Mei Shiyuan reminded Mei Shiqing to reflect on his actions, then ushered Xiao Wanzi out, telling her she had visited long enough. As she left, Xiao Wanzi jokingly admitted, "You said I was a big liar in the contract. That's true." Xiao Wanzi then went to the interrogation room to question Master Bao, demanding to know why he had invaded Mei Mansion and kidnapped her. Master Bao, finding the "princess" "too ordinary," decided to "just tease her."
He leaned in to whisper something, then openly mocked her appearance and figure, suggesting she join him at the stockade. Enraged, Xiao Wanzi nearly attacked him, but Mei Shiyuan intervened, dismissing Master Bao's evasive answers as cunning. Mei Shiyuan ordered Xiao Wanzi to leave, forbidding her from returning to the interrogation room. Outside, Xiao Wanzi fumed to Qiaoyun about Master Bao's insults to her looks and figure.
Qiaoyun confirmed that Master Mei Changyun was away and that Master Bao was comfortably held in his cell. As they discussed a rescue plan, Qiaoyun pointed out a secluded gate, which she learned was used exclusively for the "dung cart" and rarely frequented, sparking an idea for their escape. Qiuhua had already been dispatched to inform He Yizhi of their plan.
Meanwhile, at Dragon Stockade, Nan Batian heard that Master Bao had bravely attempted to kidnap the new princess for him. Surprisingly, instead of being angry about Master Bao's capture by the Mei family, Nan Batian ordered Wu to descend the mountain and rescue his adopted son. Despite Wu's hesitation and concerns about the difficulty of infiltrating General Mei's Palace, Nan Batian threatened him, stating that if he failed to bring Master Bao back, he need not return himself.
Lu Yingyao, confined in the stockade, overheard news of Master Bao's arrest. She initially dismissed her concern, reminding herself he was merely a bandit, but then reflected on his past kindness towards her. Convinced it was only right to "repay his kindness," she sought out Nan Xiang to inquire about Master Bao's safety. Nan Xiang confirmed Master Bao's capture by Mei Shiqing for creating a disturbance at General's Palace, adding that Wu was already on his way to rescue him.
Nan Xiang coldly rebuffed Lu Yingyao's concern, reminding her that as "the Miss of Dragon Stockade," her status was far superior to Lu Yingyao, a "girl used by your father to cover his debts," and that Lu Yingyao had "no qualification to mind my business." Lu Yingyao tried to suggest that Nan Xiang's intelligence could aid Wu, but Nan Xiang again dismissed her, asserting that Lu Yingyao had "no qualified to tell us what to do about our stockade's affairs."
Despite the cold reception, Lu Yingyao's brow remained furrowed with genuine worry for Master Bao. Elsewhere, Qiuhua attempted to smuggle He Yizhi into Mei Mansion, disguised as a caterer delivering food for "Lady Yingyao." Siheng, on patrol, found He Yizhi's face "familiar" and grew suspicious, despite He Yizhi's explanation of frequently delivering food in the city. Xiao Wanzi arrived, asking "What's going on?" as Siheng reported the man was "very suspicious" and prepared to draw his sword. Seizing the moment, He Yizhi quickly knelt and loudly pleaded with "Lady Yingyao," asking her to "Please help me."
