Wonderful Fate Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Wonderful Fate Synopsis
Li Fuzhu, a quirky schoolgirl, accidentally enters the barren Yunlai Kingdom in the comic book world by mistake and is mistaken for a celestial girl from heaven.
With her knowledge, she helps to enrich the kingdom of Yun Lai, but for no apparent reason, she becomes involved in the game between the ambitious minister and the puppet king, Yun Yi, who has no real power.
Wonderful Fate Recap
Episode 1 Recap
In the impoverished land of Yun Lai, continually harassed by enemy states, the people suffered greatly. Despite the recent loss of two cities, Guo Shi, who commanded the military, delayed sending troops. Emperor Yun Yi, unwilling to marry Guo Shi's daughter, Ruan Qing, defiantly declared his intention to castrate himself.
Ruan Qing, attempting to appeal to the emperor, presented fabric choices for their wedding attire, but Yun Yi remained steadfast in his refusal, stating he would rather die than marry her. Ruan Qing countered that if he were to die, she would be buried with him. Enraged by her persistence, Yun Yi decided to remove his "root of filthiness" to sever their fated connection.
Meanwhile, in a modern-day classroom, high school re-taker Li Fuzhu was engrossed in Xia Xiaozhu’s comic book during a geography lesson. Her teacher, frustrated by Li Fuzhu's lack of focus, confiscated the book and loudly reprimanded her, calling her a "shit-stirrer" and dismissing both her and Xia Xiaozhu from class. After class, the teacher instructed the class monitor to search Li Fuzhu’s backpack for more unauthorized books.
Li Fuzhu resisted, leading to a struggle where she accidentally pulled down the monitor's pants, exposing his underwear. Mortified, Li Fuzhu fled into the school bathroom. As she desperately tried to evade the monitor who was banging on the door and demanding she open it, she tumbled into a toilet. Suddenly, Li Fuzhu found herself transported into Yun Yi’s lavatory in ancient Yun Lai.
Startled by the appearance of Yun Yi, who bore a striking resemblance to her class monitor, she instinctively apologized. Guards rushed in to protect the emperor, while palace staff gossiped about a "heavenly girl" descending from the sky, mysteriously landing in the lavatory during the emperor's visit, an event some deemed a blessing for Yun Lai.
The Tai Hou, believing the heavenly girl's arrival to be an auspicious omen for their long-impoverished nation, immediately ordered the Imperial Household Bureau to prepare fine clothes and adornments, ensuring the heavenly girl was treated with the utmost respect. Emperor Yun Yi, however, was convinced that the "heavenly girl" was a ruse orchestrated by Guo Shi to deceive the populace and insisted on executing her.
Overwhelmed, Li Fuzhu realized she had transmigrated into Xia Xiaozhu's comic book, finding herself on the very day Ruan Qing was pressuring Yun Yi into marriage, leading to his planned self-castration. Panicked, she tried to hit her head against a wall, hoping to wake up from what she believed was a dream, but her courage failed her. Just as Yun Yi was about to execute Li Fuzhu, the Tai Hou arrived, saving her.
The Tai Hou explained to Yun Yi that their personal belief in the heavenly girl was secondary to ensuring that the court officials and common people believed in her. She advised Yun Yi to win over the heavenly girl, suggesting that if Yun Lai failed to prosper, the blame could be shifted onto her, making her a convenient scapegoat.
She also reaffirmed Yun Yi's impending marriage to Ruan Qing as a state affair, despite his strong objections and threats of extreme action. The Tai Hou also dismissed Yun Yi's idea of distributing palace treasures to the poor, stating it would be insufficient and could be discussed later. Later, Lan Er, a palace maid who Li Fuzhu initially mistook for Xia Xiaozhu, helped her bathe and dress.
Afterward, Li Fuzhu was taken to meet Yun Yi, the Tai Hou, Guo Shi, and Ruan Qing. Still amazed by Yun Yi’s resemblance to her class monitor, Li Fuzhu blurted out to Ruan Qing that her "husband" was going to castrate himself that very night, leaving Ruan Qing bewildered. Upon meeting Guo Shi, Li Fuzhu, aware of his power from the comic, profusely praised him.
Yun Yi challenged Li Fuzhu to make Yun Lai prosperous and strong within a month, but threatened to behead her publicly if she failed to reveal her method by tomorrow noon. Li Fuzhu, perhaps overly confident, boasted that she could reveal how to make "every place covered with gold" by tomorrow noon. Feeling trapped, Li Fuzhu, remembering her entry point, asked Lan Er to show her to the lavatory, hoping to use it to return to her world.
Appalled by the unsanitary conditions and a wooden "sanitary stick," she requested the area be cleaned. However, her morbid curiosity about Yun Yi's self-castration, "the monitor turning into an eunuch," proved too strong to resist, and she decided to stay and witness the spectacle, heading towards Yun Yi's chambers. Inside, Yun Yi once again rejected Ruan Qing's marriage proposal, reiterating his resolve to "cut this root of filthiness" to end their "doomed relationship."
Episode 2 Recap
In a modern classroom, Li Fuzhu and her friend Xia Xiaozhu were caught by their teacher for discussing comics instead of paying attention and were scolded. The teacher, frustrated, pointed out Li Fuzhu's incorrect answer to a question, where she wrote "Jin Lian gives medicine" instead of "golden autumn brings coolness," jokingly accusing her of wanting to poison someone (referencing a historical figure, Wu Dalang). After class, the two friends continued their comic discussion.
Xia Xiaozhu detailed the villainous Ruan Qing’s past, recounting how Ruan Qing, out of jealousy for her sister Ruan Jie's beauty, orchestrated Ruan Jie’s defilement by a servant, leading to Ruan Jie’s suicide. Xia Xiaozhu added that Ruan Qing later killed the emperor, expressing her dismay at such ruthlessness.
Meanwhile, in the Yun Lai kingdom, Emperor Yun Yi was on the verge of self-castration to avoid marrying Ruan Qing, who insisted on the union despite his reluctance, even declaring she would "share a grave" with him if he were to "go to heaven." Li Fuzhu burst into the room at this critical moment, interrupting his act. She apologized for the intrusion, saying, "Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. Keep going. Come on! See you later, girlfriends," before fleeing.
Yun Yi, angered by her carelessness, ordered his guards to catch the "assassin." Li Fuzhu, believing she could return to her own world, jumped into a latrine. She was later rescued by Yun Yi. When she woke up, disoriented, she excitedly believed she was back in her modern home, exclaiming about her wonderful family and life. However, upon seeing Yun Yi at her bedside, she realized she was still in the comic world.
She immediately asked him if he had gone through with the self-castration, which greatly offended the Emperor. He sternly rebuked her, asserting that as a head of a country, he would never make such an absurd decision, claiming he was merely threatening Ruan Qing. Li Fuzhu, recalling Ruan Qing's murderous future from the comic, wondered if Yun Yi’s rejection would be the cause of his death. Soon after, Ruan Qing, feigning concern, arrived with "medicine" for Li Fuzhu’s fall.
Li Fuzhu suspected it was poison and, to avoid taking it, performed a vigorous "radio gymnastics" routine, making Ruan Qing question if the "heavenly girl" had injured her head. Yun Yi then reminded Li Fuzhu of her promise to make Yun Lai prosperous by noon the next day, threatening to "cut off her head" in front of all civilian and military officials if she failed. He assigned guards to watch her through the night.
Left alone with Ruan Qing, Li Fuzhu directly confronted her. She revealed her knowledge of Ruan Qing's past misdeeds, including poisoning her sister Ruan Jie and arranging her defilement, which led to Ruan Jie's suicide. She also exposed Ruan Qing's father, the Guo Shi, for secretly colluding with enemy states and building an army to overthrow Yun Yi. Ruan Qing, surprised by Li Fuzhu's uncanny knowledge, reacted by attempting to stab her with scissors.
Li Fuzhu, however, effortlessly disarmed her, causing Ruan Qing to accidentally cut her own hand. Ruan Qing later informed the Guo Shi about Li Fuzhu's knowledge of their secrets and her childhood, making them wonder if she truly came from the heavens. The Guo Shi, while acknowledging her mysterious nature, declared that even if she commanded the heavens, she could not control Yun Lai's destiny.
He was perplexed by Li Fuzhu's threat that if she died, their secrets would be exposed and become a "trending topic," mistaking "trending topic" for a powerful hidden weapon. Meanwhile, Yun Yi, still fixated on the latrine incident, ordered his attendant, Hong Yi, to investigate if it held any secrets. Hong Yi, after enduring the foul stench, found nothing unusual.
Hong Yi then comically speculated that perhaps heavenly beings relieve themselves by submerging their entire bodies in latrines, leading Yun Yi to order a reluctant Hong Yi to demonstrate. Determined to escape her predicament, Li Fuzhu changed clothes and sneaked out of her room. She almost fell into a pond, but was saved by Prince Yun Li. When Yun Li hinted at expecting repayment for saving her life, Li Fuzhu promptly pushed him back into the water and fled.
Lamenting the lack of GPS in this ancient world and missing modern technology, she was soon mistaken for a eunuch by palace staff. She was then forced to spend the entire night chopping firewood for Chef Xue of the Imperial Kitchen, despite her protests that she was the Heavenly Maiden and that "eunuchs should not make things difficult for other eunuchs." She endured a grueling night of labor, exhausted and bruised.
The following morning, Yun Yi and his guards found Li Fuzhu asleep amidst the firewood. She clung to Yun Yi’s leg, tearfully complaining about her terrible ordeal of being starved, beaten, and forced to chop wood all night, unlike others who were spoiled by the emperor. At the morning court, with only a quarter of an hour remaining until noon, officials urged for the revitalization of Yun Lai, noting that many citizens were fleeing to enemy states.
Li Fuzhu frantically recalled her geography teacher mentioning ancient irrigation systems like the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Zhengguo Canal Irrigation System, which had brought prosperity to regions like Chengdu and the central Shaanxi plain. She requested a "map" to point out potential construction sites. However, upon examining the map of Yun Lai, she discovered it was landlocked and entirely surrounded by mountains, lacking any rivers or lakes suitable for irrigation.
Exclaiming that they lived in a basin and relied solely on wells, she realized her plans were useless. As noon arrived, a furious Yun Yi, accusing her of being an imposter and deceiving him, drew his dagger and advanced towards her, preparing to execute her.
Episode 3 Recap
Li Fuzhu once again angered her teacher in what appeared to be a classroom setting and was punished by being made to sit next to Yibo, the class monitor. However, this illusion quickly shattered as Emperor Yun Yi prepared to execute Li Fuzhu. At this critical moment, Yun Li suddenly appeared, interceding on Li Fuzhu's behalf. He argued that the heavenly lady was crucial for the prosperity of Yun Lai and that killing her would leave them without any solutions.
The Guo Shi also arrived promptly, supporting Yun Li’s suggestion that Yun Yi first hear Li Fuzhu’s powerful strategies for strengthening the state before making a decision. Other officials echoed this sentiment, urging the Emperor to listen. Confronted by the Emperor and his officials, Li Fuzhu, despite her limited knowledge of ancient canals, was pressured into agreeing to reveal the secrets of building such systems.
She spoke of the Zhengguo Canal and Dujiangyan Irrigation System, explaining how they transformed regions into a "land of abundance" with fertile land and plentiful food, a concept that greatly excited the officials. When pressed to build such a canal for Yun Lai, Li Fuzhu vaguely mentioned that its construction involved complex modern sciences like physics, geography, and mathematics.
She then attempted to claim it was a "heavenly secret" that could not be divulged, fearing punishment if she revealed her true ignorance. The officials, however, suggested that if the heavenly lady imparted this knowledge directly to the Son of Heaven, it would not count as divulging a heavenly secret. They collectively pleaded for her to save the people. Li Fuzhu reluctantly agreed.
Addressing Yun Yi, she spoke rudely, calling him "Hey" and using informal address, which a eunuch quickly corrected. She, however, insisted on speaking as she liked. She asserted that if they couldn't get along, Yun Yi should reflect on his own behavior. She also challenged his sexist remarks, stating that in her world, talented women were common, capable of doing anything men could, even becoming bodyguards. She struggled to explain what a "bodyguard" was.
Yun Yi then sternly warned her to remember that her purpose was to achieve a prosperous state and a "land of abundance" for Yun Lai; otherwise, he and his officials would not let her off lightly. Feeling frustrated, Li Fuzhu returned to her chamber. There, Lan Er informed her that the Tai Hou had arranged for her to receive meals identical to the Emperor's. Li Fuzhu was delighted, finding the dishes far superior to her school cafeteria food.
Lan Er explained a palace rule that the Emperor could only take three bites of each dish to prevent poisoning. Li Fuzhu humorously pointed out that if all dishes were poisoned, the risk of getting sick would actually increase. She then invited Lan Er to eat with her. Lan Er was deeply touched, revealing that her parents sent her to the palace as a child, and no one had ever treated her with such kindness.
She had often gone hungry while serving the Tai Hou. Li Fuzhu declared Lan Er her "bosom friend," insisting on equality and asking her not to kneel so often. Meanwhile, Yun Yi, who had no appetite, ordered his own uneaten food to be sent to Chef Xue. He then learned that the heavenly lady was greatly enjoying Chef Xue's cuisine, usually reserved for himself and the Tai Hou.
When he personally went to check on her, he was dismayed to witness her and Lan Er eating crudely as she gorged herself. Chef Xue, proud of his culinary skills, was surprised when Lan Er conveyed Li Fuzhu's request for only "four dishes and one soup" starting the next day.
He instructed his staff to maintain the high quality of their cooking regardless of the number of dishes and ordered Yun Yi's untouched meal and all leftover ingredients to be discarded outside the palace. After her massive meal, Li Fuzhu complained of feeling too full and wished for "Jianweixiaoshi tablets" (digestion aid).
Lan Er offered to have haw soup prepared, but Li Fuzhu requested additional ingredients like tremella, longan, lotus seed, and pearl powder, jokingly stating she wanted to avoid getting hungry again after digestion. She relished her pampered life in the palace. Meanwhile, Guo Shi was burning incense for his deceased daughter, Ruan Qing's elder sister. Ruan Qing came to him, acting like a dutiful daughter, and expressed her gratitude for his continued remembrance of her sister.
Guo Shi lamented his daughter's death, revealing she had taken her own life to protect the Ruan family's reputation after public condemnation. Ruan Qing inquired why Guo Shi had intervened to save Li Fuzhu in court. Guo Shi explained he perceived a growing rift between Yun Yi and Li Fuzhu. He intended to leverage Li Fuzhu’s knowledge of many secrets by drawing her into the Ruan family’s influence for future strategic advantage.
He instructed Ruan Qing to seek permission from the Tai Hou to reside permanently in the palace. This would allow Ruan Qing to approach Yun Yi and to discern Li Fuzhu’s true intentions. Guo Shi then revealed his secret alliance with an enemy state, who had promised support for the Ruan family. His ultimate goal was for Ruan Qing to become Empress, thereby securing the Ruan family’s control over Yun Lai.
He ordered Ruan Qing to employ all necessary means to ensure Yun Yi married her. Later, as Li Fuzhu took a walk in the Imperial Garden to aid her digestion, she encountered Yun Li playing the flute. Yun Li expressed his desire to repay her kindness. Li Fuzhu, however, dismissed the notion of repayment, speaking of modern concepts like the "Lei Feng spirit" and how "helping people is the source of happiness," without expecting anything in return.
She explained that her "nine-year compulsory education" differed from his philosophy of "a drop of water in need should be returned with a spring indeed." Yun Li then requested that she tell him about her world as a form of repayment, expressing his curiosity about "another world." Li Fuzhu eagerly agreed, describing modern transportation via "sea, land, and air," giant steamships, and "mobile phones" that allowed people to converse face-to-face from a distance.
She excitedly shared ideas about equality and freedom, where anyone could become an artist, writer, or painter, and even "play the emperor." A crowd quickly gathered, captivated by her extraordinary tales of "flying chickens" (airplanes) that allowed people to travel wherever they wanted. Li Fuzhu further elaborated on concepts like "freedom of love," individual independence, and "marriage freedom," which starkly contrasted with their culture of obeying parental will.
She also revealed that in her world, there were no eunuchs or emperors, as "the people are their own masters." The commotion attracted Yun Yi's attention, and he arrived at the Imperial Garden. Simultaneously, a servant reported Li Fuzhu's "rebellious" statements to the Tai Hou. The Tai Hou, accompanied by Ruan Qing, soon appeared in the garden.
Yun Li, seeing the gravity of the situation, immediately took all the blame, falsely claiming that he had asked Li Fuzhu to concoct "deviant and heretical stories" to amuse him. Upon hearing this, the assembled crowd quickly dismissed Li Fuzhu's tales as mere fabrications. The Tai Hou, angered, reprimanded Yun Li for his "unrestrained disposition" and for "misleading" the heavenly lady. She punished him with seven days of confinement to his chamber for self-reflection.
When Li Fuzhu attempted to object, Yun Li subtly silenced her. The Tai Hou then warned Li Fuzhu to be cautious with her words. Ruan Qing then spoke up, defending Li Fuzhu as merely having spoken rashly due to her forthright nature. Ruan Qing announced her permanent residence in the palace and subtly suggested that Li Fuzhu should learn from her.
Li Fuzhu muttered under her breath about such a prospect, but quickly rephrased her comment to convey a positive willingness to learn from Ruan Qing. Later that night, Yun Yi was seen drinking heavily, clutching a small pouch. He was lost in a memory of Ruan Qing's elder sister, who had given him the pouch and asked him to carry it, promising to marry him upon his return from battle. Distraught, he cried out, "No!"
A servant reported to Ruan Qing that Yun Yi was drunk and was missing her elder sister. Ruan Qing then approached the inebriated Yun Yi, asserting that he would ultimately be hers.
Episode 4 Recap
In a dreamlike sequence, Li Fuzhu found herself in a modern classroom during a power outage. When a classmate jokingly asked if something was wrong with her, she playfully admitted to being "crazy," a revelation met with amusement. Back in the historical setting, a visibly drunk Yun Yi barely managed to escape Ruan Qing’s advances, rushing away to use the lavatory.
Reflecting on the close call, he vowed to abstain from excessive drinking to prevent Ruan Qing from taking advantage of him. Meanwhile, Hong Yi presented Yun Yi with Li Fuzhu’s backpack, which had been found when she first arrived and frequently made strange noises. Curious about its contents but unable to open it, Yun Yi ordered it to be split open. Just as they were about to strike, Li Fuzhu burst in, yelling for them to stop.
Apologizing profusely, she then revealed her modern belongings: a mobile phone and various snacks. Yun Yi, initially suspicious and thinking she might be trying to harm him, was reassured when Li Fuzhu explained it was a "heavenly treasure." He was then captivated by the novel taste of cola and spicy strips, wishing such delicacies could be enjoyed by all his subjects.
Hong Yi, observing Yun Yi’s genuine laughter, noted that it was the first time he had seen the Emperor smile since he became Crown Prince, recognizing Li Fuzhu’s unique influence. Later, Lan Er accompanied Li Fuzhu to the You Chamber, explaining it was where Royal Highness Yun Li was frequently confined by the Empress Dowager for his disregard of court etiquette.
After bribing the guards to gain entry, Li Fuzhu was startled by Yun Li, who playfully jumped out at her. She scolded him for scaring her, threatening to withhold the food she had brought. They soon made amends, agreeing to be "even" as Yun Li eagerly sampled her treats. Feeling disheartened, Li Fuzhu was approached by Yun Yi, who offered his assistance. To lighten her mood, Li Fuzhu taught him to play Gobang, and in return, he taught her archery.
Their playful interactions fostered a growing closeness. Li Fuzhu then shared music from her phone, further deepening their connection, and even persuaded Yun Yi to try durian. Li Fuzhu decided to make hotpot, preparing a massive, spicy hotpot, complete with an array of modern hotpot dishes. Yun Yi, initially cautious, soon found himself completely immersed in the joyful feast.
Upon hearing of the Emperor's unusual meal, Xue Paizhang and his subordinates rushed over, astonished by the sight of the "Heaven and Earth Pot" and Li Fuzhu’s remarkable culinary skills. Xue Paizhang, captivated by Lan Er, who was assisting Li Fuzhu, couldn't help but inquire about her identity, a clear sign of his immediate affection.
That night, as Xue Paizhang was diligently preparing a cooling tremella soup for Yun Yi, to alleviate the effects of the spicy hotpot, Ruan Qing arrived at the Imperial Kitchen. She brought gifts, attempting to win over the imperial chefs, particularly Xue Paizhang, to her side. However, Xue Paizhang, upholding his strict duty to ensure the Emperor's safety, politely but firmly refused her offerings.
Undeterred, Ruan Qing approached Li Fuzhu, presenting her with a pure gold necklace adorned with jade, hoping to gain her favor. Li Fuzhu, recognizing the bribe, cunningly leveraged the situation by complaining that the single necklace made her other limbs feel "monotonous" and "lacking." Ruan Qing, caught in her trap, was forced to promise more jewelry. Li Fuzhu then sarcastically told Ruan Qing to stop calling her "sister," stating it was "too dangerous" to be related to her.
Enraged by Li Fuzhu's audacity, Ruan Qing's maid, Bi Er, fumed, but Ruan Qing's cold reply, "Why don't you just stab her to death?" silenced her. Ruan Qing then stood before her deceased sister's memorial tablet, defiantly pulling out the incense and proclaiming that her father's favor and the Empress's throne belonged solely to her, vowing that no one could take what she desired.
Episode 5 Recap
In the modern world, Li Fuzhu participated in a prize draw, spending four yuan and fifty cents. Despite her friend Xia Xiaozhu's doubts about her luck, Li Fuzhu optimistically insisted that anything was possible. She carefully selected her prize and won a "limited edition mobile phone pendant," which, to her friend's dismay, looked quite ordinary. However, Li Fuzhu was thrilled, believing it signaled a turn in her luck. Unbeknownst to her, the prize itself was only valued at two yuan.
Back in the ancient world, Li Fuzhu continued to advise Yun Yi on finding a water source for the canal. Yun Yi initially expressed skepticism, mentioning that Yun Lai was surrounded by mountains with only wells for water. Li Fuzhu, drawing on her knowledge, explained that the "Earth" was round and largely covered by water, assuring him they would find a river if they persisted.
Confused by her concept of a "round Earth," which contradicted ancient beliefs, Yun Yi was startled by Li Fuzhu's exasperated outburst, claiming that as she stayed in heaven every day, she would know the truth. Li Fuzhu then challenged him, asking if he desired a prosperous nation.
Convinced, Yun Yi instructed Hong Yi to dispatch four teams from the Imperial Guards to search in the east, west, south, and north directions, promising a reward of a thousand taels to anyone who found a river. Li Fuzhu, calling Yun Yi "buddy," confidently declared that "the outcome is decided." Yun Yi questioned the term "buddy," to which Li Fuzhu explained it meant "bro" or "man" before dismissing his understanding.
During their conversation, Yun Yi handed Li Fuzhu her phone, asking her to check why it was flashing. Li Fuzhu explained it needed charging as she had been in this world too long. She then realized her special phone pendant, which she called her "male god" and a "god from heaven," was missing, causing her to panic. Unbeknownst to her, Yun Yi had secretly taken the pendant to protect it.
To prevent Li Fuzhu from being disappointed, Yun Yi had hung the pendant on a flower pot. He then suggested it might have fallen into a flower pot. Li Fuzhu scoffed, saying she hadn't arranged flowers, but Yun Yi insisted she search. When the pendant remained unfound, Yun Yi quickly asked Hong Yi about the flower pot's whereabouts. Hong Yi informed him that a eunuch had taken it out for pruning.
Realizing his mistake, Yun Yi desperately rushed to intercept the eunuch. Upon reaching him, Yun Yi discovered the pot was empty, and the pendant had fallen into a nearby river. Without hesitation, Yun Yi plunged into the water and retrieved the precious item. Witnessing his determined effort to recover her pendant, Li Fuzhu was deeply touched and cried, thanking him. Meanwhile, Ruan Qing, observing from a distance, felt a pang of intense jealousy.
Later, Yun Yi was seen bundled in a quilt, suffering from a runny nose and a cold. Li Fuzhu visited him, intending to perform a healing ritual called "rubbing the Baoping." Earlier, a eunuch had commented on Yun Yi's improved mood and appetite, attributing it to Li Fuzhu's presence, though Yun Yi dismissed the idea. Yun Yi, now smiling foolishly, was clearly recalling Li Fuzhu's earlier sayings, like "the outcome is decided."
Li Fuzhu, surprised to see him in such good spirits, humorously "rubbed his Baoping" by wiping his runny nose. Yun Yi, unfamiliar with the term, seemed confused. Meanwhile, Yun Li, who had been unbanned, was welcomed back with a feast specially prepared by Li Fuzhu, who enthusiastically called the dishes "KFC" and "hamburgers," encouraging him to "eat up." Yun Li was impressed by her talent, agreeing with her that her unique skills were often unappreciated.
Soon after, Ruan Qing arrived with a selection of ornaments, claiming she had brought them for Li Fuzhu, remembering a casual comment from her. Li Fuzhu politely declined the gifts and offered Ruan Qing some of her "KFC." Ruan Qing then subtly sent Yun Li away, feigning a need to discuss "girls' secrets" with Li Fuzhu. Alone, Ruan Qing asked Li Fuzhu why she seemed distant. Li Fuzhu nervously claimed she merely "cherished her life."
Ruan Qing then reminded Li Fuzhu of her father, the State Preceptor, who had saved her and supported her in court, implying that just as he could save her, "he is able to kill" her. She then explicitly asked Li Fuzhu to help facilitate her marriage to Yun Yi as a way to repay her father's favor.
Li Fuzhu, in a state of panic, denied having any romantic feelings for Yun Yi, calling him "as mum as a mouse" and declaring herself "not attracted at all." However, under Ruan Qing's subtle threat to involve her father, Li Fuzhu reluctantly relented, calling Ruan Qing "sister" and promising to take care of her marriage, even joking about helping raise her future children.
Concurrently, Yun Yi was embroiled in a conflict with his officials, who had submitted numerous memorials urging him to marry Ruan Qing. Enraged, he suspected the State Preceptor was behind the pressure. Hong Yi suggested that Li Fuzhu's intelligence might offer a solution, as she could devise a plan to prevent his marriage to Ruan Qing without incurring the blame of his court and the Empress Dowager. When Li Fuzhu arrived, Yun Yi reminded her of his earlier command.
Li Fuzhu found herself in a difficult predicament, caught between Ruan Qing, who wanted her to facilitate the marriage, and Yun Yi, who wanted her to sabotage it. She expressed her worry that she might inadvertently bring them together. Yun Yi, in exasperation, declared he would "commit suicide to prove his objective" if the marriage proceeded, adding menacingly that he would "kill her first" before he died.
Li Fuzhu tried to lighten the mood, pointing out Ruan Qing's good looks and suggesting he could simply marry and divorce her if it didn't work out, using their term divorce. Yun Yi disagreed with Li Fuzhu's assessment of Ruan Qing's appearance compared to hers and firmly reiterated that he would not marry Ruan Qing, leaving the entire matter in Li Fuzhu's hands.
Later that night, seeking solace from her overwhelming dilemma, Li Fuzhu decided to have a barbecue in the backyard with Lan Er. Lan Er expressed concern, warning Li Fuzhu that lighting a fire in the palace without permission was a severe crime punishable by death. Li Fuzhu, undeterred, confidently declared that "there's nothing that can't be solved by a barbecue. If there is, just have two," and playfully threatened to haunt Lan Er if she died of hunger.
Attracted by the aroma, Yun Li arrived, initially shocked by their daring activity. Li Fuzhu urged him to either help or leave, but Yun Li, intrigued, joined them. Despite Lan Er's continued worries about breaking palace rules, Yun Li savored the "heavenly delicacies." During the barbecue, Li Fuzhu seized the opportunity to ask Yun Li why Yun Yi was so adamant about not marrying Ruan Qing.
Yun Li sent Lan Er away to fetch wine before revealing a little-known secret: Yun Yi had once been deeply in love with Ruan Qing's elder sister, Ruan Jie. When Yun Yi was the Crown Prince, he had secretly pledged to marry Ruan Jie after returning from a military campaign, giving her a pendant as a token of his affection.
However, less than six months after he left, Ruan Jie was found to have had an illicit affair with a servant. Unable to endure the public shame and gossip, she tragically hanged herself. Yun Li concluded that this painful experience had caused Yun Yi to lose faith in everyone. Li Fuzhu immediately wondered if Ruan Jie might have been drugged.
Internally, she debated whether to share her suspicions with Yun Li but ultimately decided against it, fearing that uncovering the truth might offend Ruan Qing and endanger her own life. She dismissed her thought as a "random guess." Meanwhile, Yun Yi stood with Hong Yi, gazing at the scarlet night sky, feeling that even the heavens reflected his anger at the Ruan family's persistent provocations regarding his marriage. Suddenly, a panicked eunuch burst in, announcing that a fire had broken out in the palace, causing immediate chaos and alarm.
Episode 6 Recap
In a fleeting memory, or perhaps a dream, Li Fuzhu found herself back in her modern-day school. She was publicly chastised for allegedly writing a love letter to a male student named Xia from another class, despite repeating a grade twice. After the commotion, Li Fuzhu apologized to her friend for having used her name on the love letter. As other students ridiculed Li Fuzhu's looks and academic struggles, Li Fuzhu defended her friend against their cruel body-shaming remarks.
The two friends reconciled over a promise of hotpot. Back in the palace, an official reported to Tai Hou and Yun Yi that the fire in the Imperial Garden had been extinguished. Ruan Qing was the only one reportedly injured, having fainted from smoke inhalation after rushing into the flames. Tai Hou, furious about the destruction of her precious plants, prepared to punish Li Fuzhu. However, Lan Er quickly intervened, falsely confessing to causing the fire.
She claimed to have lost a hairpin given to her by Tai Hou and, while searching for it in the dark with an oil lamp, accidentally knocked it over. Despite Li Fuzhu’s attempts to confess, Lan Er silenced her. Enraged by the irreparable loss of her rare and exotic plants, Tai Hou ordered Lan Er’s execution. Li Fuzhu desperately pleaded on Lan Er’s behalf, insisting the fault was hers.
Yun Yi then stepped in, proposing that Ruan Qing’s injury was of paramount concern. He suggested that Lan Er be flogged twenty times for now, and a final decision would be made after Ruan Qing's condition was assessed. Tai Hou reluctantly agreed. Lan Er later thanked Yun Yi for saving her life. Tai Hou and Yun Yi then visited Ruan Qing, where Imperial Physician Chen confirmed that Ruan Qing's injuries were not severe, thanks to timely treatment.
Ruan Qing feigned modesty, apologizing for the trouble and claiming she only acted to protect Tai Hou and Yun Yi’s palaces, even if it meant sacrificing her own life. Tai Hou, seemingly touched by Ruan Qing's supposed selflessness, instructed Yun Yi to visit her more often, entrusting Ruan Qing to his care. Tai Hou also announced her intention to inform Ruan Qing’s father, the State Preceptor, of her injury.
Ruan Qing, despite appearing concerned for her father's worry, eventually conceded to Tai Hou's insistence, subtly reinforcing her "kind" image. Meanwhile, Li Fuzhu tended to Lan Er's badly flogged body, applying medicine. Li Fuzhu questioned why Lan Er had "carried her pot," or taken the blame. Lan Er tearfully explained that Li Fuzhu was the only one who had ever treated her as an equal, not a servant, and that she was willing to repay Li Fuzhu with extreme sacrifice.
Touched, Li Fuzhu promised that they would be best sisters, and she would protect Lan Er from any further harm. Just then, Guard Hong entered to deliver medicine for Lan Er and, in an accidental moment, caught a glimpse of Lan Er’s exposed back. Lan Er began to consider if she should marry Guard Hong, referencing the ancient custom that if a man saw a woman's body, he had to marry her.
Li Fuzhu then dismissed it as an outdated notion, joking that doctors would have hundreds of wives if that were true. Li Fuzhu then went to the Imperial Kitchen to get some delicious food for Lan Er, who excitedly requested two jin of meat. At the Imperial Kitchen, Chef Xue expressed his dismay over the Imperial Garden fire. He worried that since the Imperial Kitchen was responsible for fire control in the palace, the incident would bring shame upon them.
Later, Ruan Qing, still nursing her fake injuries, discussed her deception with an unnamed attendant (likely the Imperial Physician Chen), warning him to keep her true condition a secret and refusing his offered silver, asserting that serving the State Preceptor was honor enough. Back in her chamber, Ruan Qing grew impatient waiting for Li Fuzhu to facilitate her marriage to Yun Yi. She sent her maid, Bi'er, to summon Li Fuzhu immediately, despite the late hour.
Bi'er found Li Fuzhu happily sharing the delicious food she had prepared for Lan Er. Li Fuzhu tried to postpone the visit until morning, but Bi'er, emboldened by Ruan Qing's impending status as empress, threatened her. Lan Er, loyal to Li Fuzhu, spoke up against Bi'er's arrogance. Li Fuzhu then offered Bi'er some of Chef Xue's special dishes from the Imperial Kitchen. While Bi'er was distracted, secretly indulging in the food despite her initial disdain, Li Fuzhu quietly slipped away.
When Bi'er returned to Ruan Qing with greasy lips, Ruan Qing deduced that Li Fuzhu was deliberately avoiding her, angrily hit Bi'er, and vowed revenge. Hidden nearby, Li Fuzhu overheard an intimate conversation between Yun Yi and Tai Hou. Yun Yi questioned Tai Hou’s decision to inform the State Preceptor about Ruan Qing’s minor injury, fearing it would only cause more trouble.
Tai Hou explained that the State Preceptor had many informants, and it was better to proactively inform him rather than risk his wrath. She reiterated her demand for Yun Yi to spend more time with Ruan Qing to solidify their alliance. Yun Yi voiced his strong reluctance to marry Ruan Qing, citing the State Preceptor's corrupt practices of selling offices and abusing power, and expressed concern for the suffering such an alliance would inflict upon the populace.
Tai Hou coldly dismissed his concerns for the common people, reminding him that his primary duty was to secure his throne for the Yun family. She warned him that losing the throne would mean her downfall as Tai Hou, Yun Li's loss of a carefree life, and the complete ruin of the entire Yun family. She commanded him to hold onto the throne until a new heir, flowing with the Yun family's bloodline, was born and came of age.
With that, Tai Hou departed, advising Yun Yi to rest. Knowing Li Fuzhu was present, Yun Yi called her out. Li Fuzhu, feigning innocence, claimed she had merely been passing by and heard nothing. Yun Yi then lamented his fate as a powerful ruler unable to control his own marriage, calling it ridiculous. Li Fuzhu, sensing his deep conflict, light-heartedly asked if he truly loved or hated Ruan Qing (mistakenly referring to her as the Ruan family's eldest daughter).
Yun Yi confessed he couldn't articulate his emotions, which Li Fuzhu interpreted as "unable to let go." Li Fuzhu then offered profound comfort, explaining that humans have two hands: one to grasp the present, and one to grasp the future, with no hand to cling to the past. This philosophical insight deeply resonated with Yun Yi. Li Fuzhu then expressed her longing for her home in the modern world, missing her phone, internet, friends, teachers, and parents.
When Yun Yi asked about her life there, she admitted it was "not bad," despite having "re-taken" two years of schooling. She tried to explain the concept of re-taking and the frustration of trying hard but failing, preferring comic books to textbooks. Yun Yi empathized, acknowledging the pain of giving one's all only to fail to change the course of destiny, concluding that perhaps it was simply fate. That night, Li Fuzhu slept on the floor in Yun Yi's room.
Her loud snoring and undignified sleeping posture kept Yun Yi awake. He eventually got up and personally washed her feet, noting their unpleasant smell. Unbeknownst to them, Guard Hong witnessed this unusual sight, marveling at Yun Yi's unexpected act of service for the heavenly lady. The next day, Ruan Qing, still fuming over Li Fuzhu's evasion, ordered her guards to slap Lan Er until Li Fuzhu appeared.
Just as Lan Er was being beaten, Chef Xue arrived at Lan Er's residence with his subordinates. His men questioned the appropriateness of their presence, but Chef Xue proudly declared his status and his intention to see the "valiant woman who set fire to the Imperial Garden." When Ruan Qing confronted him, Chef Xue theatrically feigned a "brain disease" attack, acting erratically and even biting himself.
His alarmed subordinates corroborated his "illness," causing Ruan Qing and Bi'er to flee in fear. As soon as they were gone, Chef Xue immediately stopped his act, apologized to the bruised Lan Er, and introduced himself. Bi'er later informed Ruan Qing that despite Chef Xue's alleged brain disease, his cooking skills were legendary and highly favored by Yun Yi. Ruan Qing disdainfully scoffed at the idea of eating food prepared by a "person with the brain disease."
Chef Xue, in a kind gesture, provided Lan Er with boiled eggs to soothe her swelling. He offered to stay and protect her until Li Fuzhu returned, though Lan Er, having heard of his "brain disease," was somewhat wary. Later, Yun Li was seen diligently overseeing the replanting of the Imperial Garden.
He had promised Tai Hou to restore the garden within seven days to mitigate Li Fuzhu's punishment and had been tirelessly searching for rare plants, injuring his right hand in the process. Li Fuzhu joined him to help. While working, they discovered a flintstone at the site of the fire. Li Fuzhu recalled that they had used a flame stick that night and that the fire had started behind them, not at their barbecue spot. The discovery of the flintstone, coupled with their observations, led them to a crucial realization: someone else had intentionally set the Imperial Garden on fire.
Episode 7 Recap
Feeling puzzled and angry about who was responsible for burning the Imperial Garden, Li Fuzhu rushed to find Lan Er after hearing she had been beaten. Chef Xue had prepared a feast for Lan Er, telling her that if she ever craved anything, she should come to him, and he would always help her, no matter the trouble. Lan Er was deeply touched by his kindness.
When Li Fuzhu learned that Ruan Qing's maid had beat Lan Er, she was enraged. Grabbing a kitchen knife, she stormed off to confront Ruan Qing. However, upon entering Ruan Qing's room, she found Guo Shi already present. Thinking quickly, Li Fuzhu improvised, claiming she intended to demonstrate an acrobatic feat called "empty-hand knife catching." Ruan Qing, unimpressed, wasn't ready to let her off the hook. She then instructed her maid, Bi'er, to throw the knife at Li Fuzhu.
Just as Bi'er was about to strike, Yun Yi suddenly appeared, pulling Li Fuzhu into a protective embrace. Closely following, Hong Yi swiftly cleaved the knife in two with his sword. Witnessing this, Ruan Qing put on a theatrical display, feigning an apology to Li Fuzhu. Yun Yi, concerned for Li Fuzhu's safety, questioned her reckless behavior. Li Fuzhu, however, insisted she did it all for him, sacrificing herself to help break off his engagement with Ruan Qing.
Meanwhile, Ruan Qing, discussing the incident with Guo Shi, voiced her concern that Li Fuzhu might eventually ally with Yun Yi, and suggested eliminating her immediately to prevent future complications. Guo Shi, however, stopped her, wanting to assess Li Fuzhu's true intentions himself. He also rebuked Ruan Qing for speaking ill of her older sister, Ruan Jie, reminding her not to disparage her.
Separately, Chef Xue was furious to learn that Hong Yi had broken his kitchen knife, declaring it an insult to the Imperial Kitchen. He challenged Hong Yi to a duel at Zi Shi to settle the matter. In an effort to uncover the true culprit behind the Imperial Garden fire, Li Fuzhu and Lan Er decided to investigate independently. During their investigation, a used flint was discovered in the garden.
Li Fuzhu and Yun Yi deemed this suspicious, as it suggested someone else was responsible for the fire. Inspired by Li Fuzhu's suggestion of fingerprint analysis from her world, Yun Yi realized that even if they lacked the tools for such a method, simply making the palace staff believe Li Fuzhu, as the Heavenly Lady, possessed this ability would be enough.
Yun Yi also pointed out that Chef Xue seemed suspicious due to the changed palace guards and the common use of flints in the Imperial Kitchen. Li Fuzhu then tasked Lan Er with covertly trailing Chef Xue and his subordinates at Zi Shi, while she proceeded with collecting fingerprints from everyone in the palace. While playing Go, Yun Yi and Yun Li discussed Li Fuzhu, and in their conversation, they both subtly acknowledged their appreciation and affection for her.
Later, Guo Shi met with Li Fuzhu, presenting her with a deed to a four-hall residence, and even offered a five-hall residence if she found it too small. Li Fuzhu, though outwardly pleased and flattered, secretly wondered about Guo Shi's true intentions behind such a generous gift, suspecting it might be related to Ruan Qing's marriage to the Emperor.
Unbeknownst to Li Fuzhu, Guo Shi had indeed offered the house to test her magical abilities, planning to keep her if her powers proved useful, and eliminate her if they did not. To collect fingerprints, Li Fuzhu gathered the palace staff, dramatically presenting what she called the "Mirror of Erised" from "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" from Heaven. She explained that by placing their fingerprints on a white cloth, the mirror would magically reveal the true arsonist.
The staff, awestruck by the seemingly clear mirror and the visible, unique finger patterns, were convinced of her divine ability. Ruan Qing's maid, Bi'er, initially resisted, but Hong Yi intervened, reminding Ruan Qing that it was the Emperor's order for everyone to comply. Ruan Qing, though reluctantly, left her fingerprint, grumbling about "ordinary people" and muttering curses under her breath.
As the palace staff lined up to leave their fingerprints, Lan Er embarked on her mission to tail Chef Xue's group. She observed the imperial chefs passing through a gate with kitchen waste. Noticing that the number of people was incorrect, Lan Er realized someone was out of place. She confronted the intruder, realizing they were not from the Imperial Kitchen, and raised the alarm for them to be caught.
Episode 8 Recap
Li Fuzhu and Yun Li, determined to uncover the arsonist of the Imperial Garden, set up a trap using cloths imprinted with collected fingerprints. Late one night, as someone entered the room where the cloths were stored, Li Fuzhu and Yun Li rushed to catch them. To their surprise, it was Tai Hou, who explained she had come out of curiosity to see the "lines" after hearing the palace gossiping about the fingerprint collection.
Just as Li Fuzhu was about to explain their investigation, they heard someone quickly leaving outside the door. Li Fuzhu and Yun Li immediately gave chase. After an extensive search, Li Fuzhu and Yun Li found nothing. Li Fuzhu noted that the fleeing culprit was a woman dressed in cyan with patterned clothes. Yun Li remarked that the palace was vast, making it nearly impossible to find someone if they chose to hide.
Li Fuzhu, frustrated that the clue had vanished, felt disheartened. They even ventured into the cold palace, a creepy place rumored to be haunted by a former imperial concubine who was tortured to death. Yun Li initially tried to scare Li Fuzhu with the ghost story, only to reveal he was joking and had already searched the area himself. Meanwhile, Lan Er discreetly followed the Imperial Kitchen's food cart outside the palace walls.
She discovered Yun Yi and Chef Xue were secretly distributing surplus food from the palace to the impoverished common people, an act of great kindness that went against palace regulations. Lan Er was deeply moved by their compassion and promised to keep their secret safe, developing a profound admiration for Chef Xue. Chef Xue, after challenging Hong Yi to a duel which Hong Yi did not attend, fell into a well due to the cold while waiting.
As he was climbing back over the wall, Li Fuzhu accidentally threw a stone that struck and injured him further. Mistakenly believing Hong Yi was responsible for his injuries, Chef Xue angrily confronted Hong Yi the next day. Hong Yi, however, refused to fight, stating his duty was to guard the palace and he would not draw his blade for matters unrelated to its safety. Later, Lan Er helped the injured Chef Xue return to the Imperial Kitchen.
Grateful for her assistance, Chef Xue inquired about her favorite dishes. Knowing Lan Er usually dined with Li Fuzhu, he decided to prepare many sweet dishes for Li Fuzhu's meal that evening. At dinner, Li Fuzhu noticed the abundance of sweet food, but told Lan Er to enjoy it. Lan Er, however, insisted on maintaining proper boundaries between them due to their differing statuses.
Seeing Li Fuzhu's low spirits over the escaped arsonist, Yun Yi tried to cheer her up by offering to play archery or five-in-a-row. Li Fuzhu dismissed these suggestions as uninteresting. Thinking of something more engaging, Yun Yi decided to take her to the rooftop to watch the moon. Despite his fear of heights, he climbed up with her to make her happy.
From their vantage point, while drinking cola, Yun Yi spotted Hong Yi relieving himself and noticed eunuchs and maids engaging in illicit activities below. Enraged, he wanted to punish them, but Li Fuzhu persuaded him to relax and appreciate the "fun of common people" by using their imagination to guess what was happening. She even playfully improvised a dramatic breakup scene between a eunuch and a maid. Later, Yun Li arrived at Li Fuzhu's room with a Beggar's chicken.
The three of them—Li Fuzhu, Yun Li, and Lan Er—happily shared the meal. Shortly after, Yun Yi came bearing food for Li Fuzhu but paused upon seeing her laughing and conversing cheerfully with Yun Li. Feeling a surge of anger and jealousy, he turned and left without a word, immediately issuing an order to ban Beggar's chicken from the palace. The next day, Li Fuzhu informed Lan Er that she "had her period."
Lan Er, misunderstanding the modern term, thought Li Fuzhu's literal aunt had arrived and offered to respectfully welcome her. Li Fuzhu was given plant ash to use as a sanitary pad, a stark reminder of the primitive conditions in ancient times compared to her modern world. A physician explained that her menstrual pain was caused by obstructed qi and blood, and offered acupuncture at specific points and a ginger decoction to ease her discomfort.
Despite his earlier display of jealousy, Yun Yi had thoughtfully prepared a special bowl of congee for Li Fuzhu, knowing she was unwell. However, he childishly brought spicy food to her room and ate it in front of her, while she was restricted to only the plain congee. Li Fuzhu found his behavior immature. When asked later about the congee, she admitted that while Chef Xue's food was delicious, the congee was also very tasty, and asked for more.
The State Preceptor, having learned that Li Fuzhu had not facilitated Yun Yi's marriage to Ruan Qing, decided to send a warning. He dispatched a domestic servant of the Ruans to escort Li Fuzhu out of the palace to a grand house. Once there, in a chilling display of power, the State Preceptor had everyone in the residence massacred in front of Li Fuzhu, proclaiming that he had "cleared the obstacles" and the house now belonged to her.
The gruesome event left Li Fuzhu utterly distraught. Upon hearing that the State Preceptor had taken Li Fuzhu out of the palace, Yun Yi immediately rode out with Hong Yi to find her, desperately hoping she was safe.
Episode 9 Recap
In a modern setting, Li Fuzhu's teacher, Mr. Zhang, expressed his concern over her academic performance, lamenting that despite numerous explanations, Li Fuzhu still struggled with a particular math problem. Another teacher remarked that Li Fuzhu was known throughout the school as a slow learner, but Mr. Zhang defended her, saying she was clever but didn't apply herself. He also mentioned a missing comic book from the staff room.
While acknowledging that extracurricular reading could broaden knowledge, he stressed the importance of focusing on studies with the college entrance exam approaching. Mr. Zhang then revealed his plan to gift Li Fuzhu a complete set of comic books once she entered university, touching Li Fuzhu deeply. Back in ancient times, the State Preceptor had dispatched his men to escort Li Fuzhu out of the palace, ostensibly to bestow a mansion upon her.
However, once there, the State Preceptor's men brutally murdered the residents of the house in front of Li Fuzhu, leaving her utterly horrified. Emperor Yun Yi, upon learning that Li Fuzhu had been taken from the palace by the State Preceptor's men, rushed to find her. He discovered her traumatized and huddled in fear. Yun Yi embraced the weeping Li Fuzhu, promising to ensure her safety.
She broke down, blaming herself for accepting the mansion, believing it led to the innocent people's deaths, including a child. Yun Yi reassured her, explaining that it was merely one of the State Preceptor's cruel ploys, as he viewed common folk as pawns to achieve his goals.
Yun Yi then shared his own anguish, recounting how he had been forced to watch his esteemed Grand Mentor, a man who feared no power and upheld righteousness, be beaten to death by the State Preceptor for speaking truth to power. The Grand Mentor's final words were that an upright man fears nothing. Yun Yi questioned if he would face a similar fate before again vowing to protect Li Fuzhu.
Later, while bathing, Li Fuzhu tried to rally her spirits, telling herself she could overcome this, just as she had conquered many challenges in her modern life (alluding to video games). Meanwhile, a eunuch informed Prince Yun Li that Li Fuzhu had been out of the palace and seemed deeply troubled since her return. Yun Li suspected the State Preceptor's involvement.
The State Preceptor, dismissive of Li Fuzhu, remarked that she was nothing special, having expected someone from Heaven to possess magical abilities, and expressed his disappointment. A servant echoed his sentiment, adding that the heavenly lady paled in comparison to the State Preceptor. Buoyed by this flattery, the State Preceptor declared that not only the empire, but even the heavens themselves, were within his grasp. Just then, Yun Li arrived at the State Preceptor's mansion, unannounced.
As a "gift," he presented a dead fowl, claiming that while out with the heavenly lady, it had repeatedly dive-bombed and pecked at her, forcing him to shoot it. He implied that he would protect the heavenly lady from any harm. The State Preceptor remained undeterred, cautioning Yun Li that if it had been a tiger instead of a fowl, Yun Li might not be so composed, to which Yun Li boldly replied he would "wait and see."
Later, Yun Yi presented Li Fuzhu with an imperial edict, explaining that the Ruan family had been pressuring her to arrange his marriage to Ruan Qing. This edict, to be read in her name by the Imperial Grand Secretary at the morning court, would declare their union as not a perfect match and an act against Heaven's will if forced. Li Fuzhu, unable to read the local script, was concerned about the contents.
She feared such a proclamation would openly defy the Ruan family and provoke the ruthless State Preceptor, leading to her demise. She also admitted she did not wish for Ruan Qing to become empress due to the Ruan family's wickedness. In her distress, Li Fuzhu sought out Lan Er, who was diligently embroidering a handkerchief for Hong Yi. Li Fuzhu, agitated, urged Lan Er to stop, fearing the State Preceptor would kill her if she read the edict.
Lan Er suggested approaching the Empress Dowager, who favored Yun Yi's marriage to Ruan Qing, but Li Fuzhu refused, worried Yun Yi would resent her, and reiterated her desire for Ruan Qing not to be empress. Trapped, she desperately asked Lan Er for a solution. Lan Er then visited the Imperial Kitchen, where Chef Xue enthusiastically introduced his new creation, "Fume-Sky Tofu" (stinky tofu), paired with his Lanqiyuan Spicy Sauce.
Lan Er sampled it and, to Chef Xue's delight, found it incredibly delicious. She then pleaded with him to help the heavenly lady, acknowledging that it might bring trouble to the Imperial Kitchen, but insisting it was the only way to save Li Fuzhu from her predicament. Chef Xue readily agreed. Meanwhile, Yun Li confronted Yun Yi, imploring him to reconsider his decision regarding the edict.
Yun Yi questioned Yun Li's unusual frequent involvement in Li Fuzhu's affairs, which was unlike his usual disinterest in court matters. Yun Yi mused that he only inherited the throne because he was the eldest son, implying that Yun Li, known for his wisdom and talent, was more suited for it, despite Yun Li's humble disagreements.
Yun Li again pressed Yun Yi to think carefully, reminding him of the State Preceptor's cruelty and the potential regret if Li Fuzhu were harmed. Yun Yi, however, remained resolute, dismissing Yun Li and stating that he still believed Yun Li doubted his ability to protect her. Yun Li departed, repeating his plea for Yun Yi to think thrice.
Later that night, Yun Li found Li Fuzhu and Lan Er, informing them that with Yun Yi's stubbornness, their only chance for survival was to escape the palace. He led them away from the heavily guarded palace gates, towards a secret "doghole" he had dug as a child to sneak out. Li Fuzhu hesitated, finding it undignified, but Yun Li insisted that life outweighed decorum and squeezed through first.
As Li Fuzhu attempted to follow, she got stuck, her clothes snagging on the rough opening. She worried she had gained weight, while Yun Li and Lan Er struggled to pull her out. Suddenly, the voices of approaching eunuchs and guards echoed nearby. The eunuchs, discussing a ghost sighting in the Cold Palace, were startled by the commotion. With renewed urgency, Yun Li and Lan Er yanked Li Fuzhu through the hole.
A eunuch quickly reported to Yun Yi that Prince Yun Li was attempting to flee the palace with Li Fuzhu through the doghole. Yun Yi, despite being aware, calmly instructed his subordinate to let them go. Once outside, Li Fuzhu was suddenly gripped by a severe stomachache.
Lan Er then confessed her "plan": she had asked Chef Xue to put croton in Li Fuzhu's food, hoping that severe diarrhea would prevent her from attending the morning court and reading the edict. Li Fuzhu was exasperated, calling Lan Er foolish and a "pig-like teammate," pointing out that this was merely a temporary reprieve. She lamented that she might die from this ordeal before the State Preceptor even got to her, and urged Yun Li to hurry.
Episode 10 Recap
As Li Fuzhu and Yun Li desperately tried to escape the palace, guards relentlessly pursued them. A sword lunged towards Li Fuzhu, but her backpack miraculously deflected the blow, saving her life. Frightened and in pain, Li Fuzhu shared her fear with Yun Li, who then made a solemn vow, swearing to protect her from all harm with his own body, shielding her from any axe, sword, or arrow.
The next morning, Li Fuzhu was brought before the court to present an imperial edict that Yun Yi had drafted. While she had previously believed Yun Yi intended the edict to protect her, she was shocked when the internal attendant publicly proclaimed its content: the Heavenly Girl (Li Fuzhu) affirmed Yun Yi and Ruan Qing's union as "God's will" and a "perfect match," commanding them to proceed with the six ceremonies for their marriage on an auspicious date.
Yun Yi outwardly accepted this decree, much to the delight of the Empress Dowager, who then promptly set the wedding for the eighth day of the following month. The Empress Dowager specifically thanked Li Fuzhu, crediting her edict with finally swaying Yun Yi. Distraught, Li Fuzhu confronted Yun Yi, questioning why the edict's content had changed. Yun Yi simply reiterated his promise to protect her, leaving Li Fuzhu heartbroken and confused.
Ruan Qing, now certain of her imminent ascent to empress, quickly abandoned her pretense of cordiality. The Empress Dowager even encouraged her to be more assertive, granting her authority over palace affairs and ordering that her provisions be immediately upgraded to empress standards. Ruan Qing wasted no time in asserting her new status, acting disdainfully towards Li Fuzhu and having her maid slap Lan Er.
Li Fuzhu angrily retaliated, hinting at Ruan Qing's indirect role in her elder sister's death and warning her not to be too arrogant. Ruan Qing’s maid, Bi'er, then went to the Imperial Kitchen to demand empress-level meals for her mistress. However, Chef Xue and his staff refused, stating they only followed orders from the Head Lord.
Chef Xue further taunted Bi'er, questioning Ruan Qing's authority before she was officially empress and provocatively suggesting she might not even live to see the next month. In a chaotic exchange, Bi'er was "accidentally" doused with foul-smelling liquid used to soak stinky tofu, leaving her thoroughly humiliated. Later, Li Fuzhu, worried about Yun Yi, went to caution him to be careful. However, Yun Yi rebuffed her, causing Li Fuzhu to storm off angrily.
Unbeknownst to Li Fuzhu, Yun Yi was aware that Ruan Qing was eavesdropping outside the window and deliberately spoke harshly to create a false impression of distance between them, thereby protecting Li Fuzhu. Subsequently, Bi'er tearfully reported the incident to Ruan Qing, exaggerating how Chef Xue had insulted her. Ruan Qing, enraged, marched to the Imperial Kitchen and staged a scene, "discovering" a suspiciously large worm in her food.
She accused the kitchen staff of negligence and implied a plot to poison her, demanding severe punishment. When Chef Xue bravely stepped forward to take sole responsibility for the supposed transgression, Ruan Qing decreed he be flogged eight hundred times. Each time Li Fuzhu pleaded for mercy, Ruan Qing maliciously added ten more strokes to Chef Xue’s sentence. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Li Fuzhu secretly sent Lan Er to fetch Yun Li.
Upon Yun Li's arrival, the brutal flogging ceased. Ruan Qing recounted her fabricated story, implying a threat to the emperor's life. Yun Li calmly offered to personally oversee all food inspections in the Imperial Kitchen, particularly for Ruan Qing's meals. Faced with Yun Li's intervention, Ruan Qing reluctantly declared the matter closed, claiming she merely intended a slight punishment.
Li Fuzhu thanked Chef Xue for his sacrifice, promising to repay his kindness, while Chef Xue warned her to be vigilant against Ruan Qing's cunning and deceitful nature. Later, Yun Li once again suggested that Li Fuzhu consider leaving the palace, perhaps by sneaking out through a "doghole," and offered to accompany her. He emphasized that with Yun Yi's marriage, the Ruan family's power would only grow, making the palace an unsafe place for her.
Li Fuzhu, however, remained hesitant, fearing that even outside the palace, they would not escape the Ruan family's wrath, and decided to reflect on her options. Meanwhile, Lan Er attended to the injured Chef Xue. Misunderstanding Li Fuzhu's playful suggestion to give Chef Xue the handkerchief Lan Er had embroidered, Chef Xue mistook it as a love token. Overwhelmed by presumed affection, he impulsively proposed to Lan Er.
He laid out absurd conditions, demanding she bear him a male heir because his family had only one son for three generations, and that she must not interfere with his plans to take multiple concubines – initially five, then haggling down to just one, or even just her. Lan Er, bewildered by his "brain disease," firmly rejected him, clarifying that the handkerchief was never meant for him but for Guard Hong, whom she admired for standing diligently under the sun.
Chef Xue was left seething with jealousy. That night, Lan Er secretly presented the handkerchief she had retrieved from Chef Xue to a shy Guard Hong, telling him to use it to wipe his sweat, as if she were always by his side. Later, while conversing with Li Fuzhu, Lan Er learned that the arsonist who set fire to the Imperial Garden had been described as wearing a cyan-colored robe with distinctive floral patterns.
Soon after, Lan Er spotted Ruan Qing's maid carrying a stack of laundered clothes, among which was a cyan robe with the exact floral design Li Fuzhu had described. This discovery led Lan Er to Ruan Qing's palace, where the maid was entering.
Episode 11 Recap
Lan Er was nowhere to be found, having not returned all night, causing Li Fuzhu considerable worry. She immediately set out to search for her. As she looked for her friend, Yun Yi questioned why she cared so deeply for a mere maid. Li Fuzhu explained that Lan Er was her "bathroom bestie," a term she used to describe their profound friendship.
She clarified that it meant they were so close they would go to the toilet together, like men drinking together, and they shared unspoken understanding. They would always support each other, getting angry, crying, and even self-consoling together, always bearing their burdens as one. Li Fuzhu added that friends were not for making progress and pointed out Yun Yi’s lack of friends. Yun Li and Chef Xue joined the search.
Chef Xue, who harbored feelings for Lan Er, enlisted the entire Imperial Kitchen staff to help. Li Fuzhu discovered that Hong Yi was the last person to see Lan Er. She rushed to question him. Chef Xue, remembering that Lan Er had made a handkerchief for Hong Yi and his earlier impression of Hong Yi as an "evil-looking" person, angrily accused Hong Yi of harming Lan Er.
Hong Yi calmly stated that Lan Er had merely given him a handkerchief and then left. Yun Yi then ordered all palace divisions and the Imperial Guards, led by Hong Yi, to intensify the search. Seeing Li Fuzhu falter from exhaustion, Yun Yi, despite the stares from courtiers who found his actions unusual, picked her up and carried her. To avoid further public scrutiny, he had everyone kowtow, so they would not be watching him.
The search led to another confrontation between Chef Xue and Hong Yi. Chef Xue again demanded Lan Er's return, accusing Hong Yi of hiding her, while his followers mocked Hong Yi by claiming Lan Er was infatuated with Chef Xue, the "most handsome man in the Imperial Kitchen." Hong Yi firmly denied any involvement, asserting his sole focus was on guarding the palace and the Emperor, with no room for personal romantic entanglements.
He stressed his strict adherence to palace rules forbidding private affairs, though Chef Xue scoffed, pointing out that such rules were often ignored. Their argument escalated into a brawl involving their respective followers from the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Guards. Yun Yi, witnessing the chaotic fight, was furious. He reprimanded both Chef Xue and Hong Yi for their unseemly conduct, given their important roles.
Hong Yi immediately took responsibility for his impulsiveness, but Chef Xue dismissed it as a show of false bravery. Li Fuzhu intervened, pleading with Yun Yi to be lenient, reminding him that they were only fighting out of concern for Lan Er. Yun Yi initially proposed a harsh punishment of fifty strokes but, swayed by Li Fuzhu, changed it to two hours of kneeling in the sun. After their punishment, they were to resume the search for Lan Er.
Chef Xue, though kneeling, warned Hong Yi that if Lan Er wasn't found, he would personally hold him accountable, implying Hong Yi had "stolen his beloved." Hong Yi reiterated his commitment to palace rules, stating he would never "transgress the bounds." Meanwhile, Ruan Qing reported the palace-wide disruption caused by the search for a maid to Tai Hou.
Tai Hou was outraged, deeming it a disgraceful affair, especially with Yun Yi involving himself and mobilizing palace staff, which she believed reflected poorly on his governance. Tai Hou swiftly issued an edict, commanding all palace servants to strictly adhere to their duties and refrain from meddling in others' affairs, effectively halting any official search efforts. Ruan Qing was delighted by this turn of events.
With official help cut off, Li Fuzhu, Yun Li, and Chef Xue decided to take matters into their own hands. They pooled their personal assets to offer a bounty for any information about Lan Er. Chef Xue reluctantly offered his life savings, intended for marriage, while Yun Li contributed his valuable calligraphy and paintings. However, their efforts attracted many unscrupulous individuals who provided false leads purely for the reward money.
Li Fuzhu grew increasingly frustrated by the deception, and Yun Yi, observing the fruitless efforts, was also deeply disheartened. Reflecting on Li Fuzhu's words about friendship and his own loneliness, Yun Yi decided to cultivate a friendship with Hong Yi. He invited Hong Yi to join him in relieving themselves, drawing a parallel to Li Fuzhu's "bathroom besties." Hong Yi initially hesitated due to their differing statuses but ultimately complied.
While seeking a secluded spot, Yun Yi and Hong Yi unexpectedly stumbled upon Lan Er, unconscious and badly injured, in a dry well. They immediately dispatched a messenger to inform Li Fuzhu, who rushed to the scene. Seeing the badly injured Lan Er, Li Fuzhu broke down in anguished tears.
Episode 12 Recap
The imperial physicians arrived to treat Lan Er, who was barely clinging to life. The chief physician informed Yun Yi and Li Fuzhu that Lan Er's wound had been stitched with mulberry bark threads, and she would need daily medication. However, when she would wake depended entirely on her fate, though ginseng could be used to aid her recovery. Li Fuzhu was furious that someone had dared to commit such a violent act within the palace walls.
She immediately ordered Hong Yi to find the culprit and asked Yun Yi for permission to personally handle the perpetrator once identified. Yun Yi agreed. Chef Xue, deeply concerned for Lan Er, rushed off to prepare a special soup, believing that delicious food might rouse her from her coma. Li Fuzhu stayed by Lan Er's bedside, refusing Yun Yi’s suggestion to rest.
When Yun Li offered to keep her company, Yun Yi, not wanting Li Fuzhu and Yun Li to be together, tried several unsuccessful ploys to send Yun Li away before ultimately compelling him to play chess. Alone again, Li Fuzhu spoke to the unconscious Lan Er, reminiscing about modern life, mentioning high heels and how her teachers would be shocked to see her in her current attire. Later, Yun Yi returned to Lan Er's room, finding Li Fuzhu asleep.
He gently placed his outer coat over her, but Li Fuzhu suddenly awoke and caught him. Embarrassed, Yun Yi mumbled an excuse about needing to use the latrine, prompting Li Fuzhu to sarcastically suggest he fertilize her garden before he quickly departed. Despite warnings from his colleagues about the severe punishment for theft, Chef Xue was determined to use a precious millennium ginseng, originally intended for the Empress Dowager's ginseng feast, to brew a tonic for Lan Er.
He declared he would bear all consequences alone. When he brought the soup to Lan Er, he found Hong Yi tending to her. Enraged, Chef Xue confronted Hong Yi, who then openly admitted his affection for Lan Er, nearly infuriating Chef Xue to death.
Despite his anger, Chef Xue then tenderly spoon-fed the soup to the unconscious Lan Er, tearfully promising to cook her favorite dishes every day when she awoke, even inventing a new dish called "A Colorful Rainbow" just for her. Amidst these personal concerns, exciting news arrived: the troops sent to the south had discovered a river. Yun Yi was overjoyed, exclaiming that Yun Lai would be saved from its drought. Soon after, Lan Er stirred and fully regained consciousness.
Li Fuzhu rushed to her side, demanding to know who was responsible for her injuries. Lan Er, with difficulty, identified "the bastard surnamed Ruan," confirming the attack happened in Ruan Qing's chambers. Enraged, Li Fuzhu stormed to confront Ruan Qing, accusing her of the crime. Ruan Qing brazenly denied any involvement, suggesting Li Fuzhu was framing her.
She then taunted Li Fuzhu, asserting that even if she had harmed Lan Er, Li Fuzhu could do nothing, as Lan Er was merely a maidservant, and she could even kill her without repercussions. In a fit of fury, Li Fuzhu slapped Ruan Qing, criticizing her lack of upbringing and declaring that without a good beating, Ruan Qing would never understand the ways of the world. A physical altercation ensued, which Yun Yi quickly intervened to stop.
Li Fuzhu then demanded severe tortures for Ruan Qing, including "torture-racks and pepper spray." Yun Yi, however, shifted the conversation to the urgent need to build a canal now that the river had been found, suggesting the matter with Ruan Qing be set aside for the time being. Li Fuzhu pressed him, reminding him of his promise, but Yun Yi insisted it was not the right time and asked for her trust, assuring her he would uphold justice later.
Li Fuzhu noticed a shift in Yun Yi's attitude toward Ruan Qing, which left her feeling uneasy. Yun Yi then presented Li Fuzhu with a map of the newly found river. Drawing on her knowledge from her own world, Li Fuzhu explained a plan to construct an "underground arch canal" similar to the Zhengguo Canal, emphasizing the importance of utilizing natural drops in terrain for self-irrigation and building robust arched walls to prevent collapse from strong water flow.
She even playfully chided Yun Yi for his clumsy apple-peeling skills. Following her advice, Yun Yi issued an edict to recruit 100,000 able-bodied men to build the canal, aiming to bring prosperity to Yun Lai and reclaim lost territories. News of the ambitious canal project reached Guo Shi and his advisors. The officials expressed skepticism, fearing it would be a costly and fruitless endeavor proposed by the Heavenly Girl. Guo Shi, however, remained calm.
He explained that if the project succeeded, Yun Lai would flourish, and his Ruan family would ultimately benefit when they took over the throne. If it failed, public discontent would lead to Yun Yi's downfall, also serving Guo Shi's interests. He saw it as a win-win situation. Later, a visibly bruised Ruan Qing came to her father, Guo Shi, complaining bitterly about Li Fuzhu's assault and claims of framing.
Guo Shi reprimanded Ruan Qing, emphasizing that Li Fuzhu's expertise was crucial for the canal project at this critical juncture. He ordered his subordinate, Ruan Ding, to prepare lavish gifts for Li Fuzhu as a gesture of apology and to appease her, privately instructing them to take their time in dealing with Li Fuzhu in the future. Li Fuzhu and Lan Er received the opulent gifts.
Li Fuzhu remarked that using money to settle disputes was a "bad habit" prevalent in both ancient and modern times. Lan Er, hesitant, suggested that they might consider letting the matter go, citing Guo Shi's power and the lingering uncertainty about Ruan Qing's guilt. Li Fuzhu, however, declared her intention to accept the money but still pursue justice.
She explained that in her world, fines do not exempt criminals from further punishment, unlike Yun Lai's laws which might view harm to a maidservant as trivial. Li Fuzhu decided to allocate half the compensation to Lan Er and the other half to Chef Xue, acknowledging his sacrifices. Lan Er initially refused her share, but Li Fuzhu insisted, reminding her of Chef Xue's devotion. Lan Er then commented on one of the gift boxes looking like a coffin.
Chef Xue soon arrived with another bowl of soup for Lan Er. He tried to give his share of the compensation to Lan Er, declaring that after their marriage, she would manage their household. Lan Er, visibly uncomfortable, told him to stop his nonsense. While Chef Xue showered her with attention, Lan Er's heart, however, belonged only to Hong Yi. Li Fuzhu jokingly said she would not interfere in their "couple's business."
Xue Baochang then offered soup to Li Fuzhu, and his comment about her having "constipation" (a misunderstanding on his part) led Li Fuzhu to sigh about the immense "chasm" in their understanding. Meanwhile, in her own palace, Ruan Qing was seething with anger, calling herself a "good-for-nothing" for the humiliation she suffered, as her maid tried to comfort her.
Episode 13 Recap
Li Fuzhu dreamt that Ruan Qing had her captured and suffocated to death, while Yun Yi merely watched, offering no help. Startled awake by the nightmare, she was soon approached by Ruan Qing's maid, who delivered an invitation for a meal at the palace. Apprehensive, Li Fuzhu reluctantly went, deciding to apologize to Ruan Qing for their previous altercation to prevent any schemes against her. However, Ruan Qing had her own plan.
After Li Fuzhu ate some of the dishes, Ruan Qing dramatically collapsed, feigning poisoning. The imperial physician quickly attended to Ruan Qing, declaring her condition stable and in need of only a few days' rest. The State Preceptor, seizing the opportunity, pressured Yun Yi to take action against Li Fuzhu.
He stressed that Ruan Qing was destined to be the Empress and that justice must be served to appease public opinion, even offering to handle the matter himself if Yun Yi was hesitant. Despite Li Fuzhu's vehement denials and pleas, Yun Yi reluctantly ordered Guard Hong Yi to imprison Li Fuzhu in the imperial prison. Furious at Yun Yi's seemingly cold and unfaithful behavior, Li Fuzhu called him out as a "changeable" and "unfaithful man" as she was led away.
Meanwhile, to avenge Li Fuzhu, Chef Xue and his colleagues in the Imperial Kitchen conspired to add "holy water" (their spit) to Ruan Qing's meals, declaring it her deserved punishment for being "vicious." They ensured, however, that separate, wholesome dishes, including yam and winter melon, were prepared for Li Fuzhu to combat the dampness of the prison. On the way to deliver Li Fuzhu's food, Lan Er candidly told Chef Xue that her heart belonged to someone else.
She expressed deep gratitude for his past kindness and proposed they become siblings, leaving Chef Xue heartbroken but pretending to be moved by the idea of gaining a sister. News of Li Fuzhu's imprisonment reached Yun Li, who promptly brought barbecue ingredients to the prison, feeding her until she was full and trying to cheer her up.
Yun Yi, though appearing indifferent, instructed Hong Yi to ensure Li Fuzhu was well-treated, her meals continued from the Imperial Kitchen, and extra bedding was provided, with all drafts in her cell sealed. However, when Hong Yi mentioned Yun Li staying with Li Fuzhu to relieve her boredom, Yun Yi's mood soured. Noticing Yun Yi's underlying concern, Hong Yi suggested he visit Li Fuzhu in disguise.
Initially scoffing at the idea of visiting such a "filthy place," Yun Yi eventually agreed. Later that night, Yun Yi, in plain clothes, arrived at Li Fuzhu's cell. Li Fuzhu was far from welcoming, suggesting he should be with Ruan Qing. Their conversation quickly devolved into an argument, with Li Fuzhu repeatedly mentioning Ruan Qing's name to provoke him. Just as Yun Yi was about to leave, Ruan Qing unexpectedly arrived at the imperial prison.
Panicked, and to prevent Ruan Qing from discovering his visit and bearing more resentment towards Li Fuzhu, Yun Yi quickly hid himself among the straw in the cell at Li Fuzhu's urgent instruction. Guard Hong Yi stalled Ruan Qing briefly, claiming he was interrogating a prisoner, before allowing her to enter Li Fuzhu's cell.
Ruan Qing, to Li Fuzhu's surprise, offered an apology for her past actions and revealed a shocking truth: she was not responsible for burning the Imperial Garden, harming Lan Er, or the poisoning incident that framed Li Fuzhu. She explained that she hadn't pleaded for Li Fuzhu earlier because she wanted to draw out the real culprit who was targeting both of them.
Ruan Qing swore a solemn oath to the heavens, vowing terrible consequences for her entire family if she lied. Convinced by Ruan Qing's sincerity, Li Fuzhu agreed to cooperate in finding the ambitious individual plotting against them. The next morning, Ruan Qing summoned her maid to deliver her medicine. Suspicious, Ruan Qing insisted the maid taste it first. After the maid reluctantly did so, Li Fuzhu emerged from hiding, revealing that she was not in her cell.
Together, Li Fuzhu and Ruan Qing confronted the maid, accusing her of poisoning Ruan Qing's medicine and framing Li Fuzhu. They pointed out that only she had access to Ruan Qing's residence and the food from the State Preceptor's Mansion, as well as being responsible for the Imperial Garden fire. Cornered, the maid confessed, driven by years of Ruan Qing's harsh treatment and jealousy of Lan Er's close bond with Li Fuzhu.
Believing both Ruan Qing and Li Fuzhu deserved to die for their perceived injustices, she lunged at Li Fuzhu with a dagger. At that critical moment, Yun Yi, still hidden, sprang out and bravely blocked the maid's attack, taking the blade himself.
Episode 14 Recap
Imperial physicians informed Tai Hou that while Yun Yi's wound had been sewn up, he was suffering from a persistent high fever. They assured her they were trying to cool him down. Tai Hou, furious, threatened them with death if anything happened to Yun Yi. She inquired about using a thousand-year ginseng, but an imperial physician advised against it, explaining that Yun Yi's condition, characterized by a "fire of deficiency type," made nourishing remedies unsuitable.
Ruan Qing then entered, feigning distress and claiming responsibility for Yun Yi's injuries, saying she was naive to believe a "lowly maid" and that she wouldn't want to live if Yun Yi didn't recover. Tai Hou curtly told her it was not the time for such pronouncements.
Li Fuzhu, remembering her cold medicine from the modern world, tried to reach Yun Yi, insisting that his condition was a traumatic infection requiring modern medication, not just cooling measures, which she feared would worsen his state. Tai Hou, however, reprimanded Li Fuzhu for her usual recklessness and forbade her from interfering with matters concerning the Emperor's safety.
Although a weak Yun Yi attempted to permit Li Fuzhu to try, Tai Hou firmly refused, declaring that His Majesty's life was not to be trifled with. Guards forcibly removed Li Fuzhu despite her desperate pleas to save Yun Yi, and Tai Hou ordered strict surveillance to prevent her from approaching him. Outside, Hong Yi knelt under the sun, consumed by guilt for failing to protect Yun Yi.
A servant urged him to eat, reminding him that Yun Yi would need his protection upon recovery. Another servant offered to stand vigil with Hong Yi. Meanwhile, Yun Li arrived, inquiring about Yun Yi, but guards, citing Tai Hou’s orders, denied him entry. To create a diversion, Yun Li feigned severe chest pain, prompting the guards to call for imperial physicians. Capitalizing on the ensuing chaos, Li Fuzhu sneaked into Yun Yi’s room.
She tenderly encouraged him to recover and administered the cold medicine. When Tai Hou unexpectedly entered, Li Fuzhu quickly hid beneath Yun Yi’s quilt. Believing she was alone with her son, Tai Hou spoke candidly, expressing her profound love for Yun Yi. She revealed her awareness that Yun Yi had previously imprisoned Li Fuzhu not as punishment, but as a means to protect her from the State Preceptor's wrath after the Ruan Qing incident.
Li Fuzhu, hidden, was deeply touched and finally understood Yun Yi’s actions. Soon after, an imperial physician announced that Yun Yi’s fever had broken and he would awaken around midnight. Tai Hou, believing the physicians were solely responsible for the recovery, generously rewarded them. Later, Ruan Qing visited Li Fuzhu, offering a seemingly sincere apology for past misunderstandings and proposing they "bury the hatchet." Li Fuzhu, believing in Ruan Qing's sincerity, accepted.
Ruan Qing then asked Tai Hou for permission to stay and care for Yun Yi. However, Ruan Qing’s true nature was soon revealed when she was seen harshly scolding her maid, Bi'er, for failing to kill Lan Er and leaving behind evidence of setting fire to the Imperial Garden. Bi'er desperately pleaded for her life, mentioning her family.
Ruan Qing, with chilling indifference, promised to "take care" of Bi'er's parents and brothers and even grant her brother an official post if the maid took the blame, all to facilitate her becoming empress. After Bi'er reluctantly agreed, Ruan Qing coldly ordered the entire family to be killed, so Bi'er would not be lonely in the afterlife. Subsequently, Ruan Qing sent Li Fuzhu away to freshen up, then positioned herself by Yun Yi’s bedside.
When Yun Yi awoke and asked if she had been with him, Ruan Qing affirmed it, reinforcing his mistaken belief that she had been his devoted caregiver. An urgent report arrived detailing a crisis in the canal construction; impassable hard rocks had halted progress, and there was no way to go around them. Li Fuzhu suggested using gunpowder, but Yun Yi informed her such a substance did not exist in their era.
When she then proposed gradual digging, Yun Yi explained there was no time due to mounting public resentment. He revealed that the State Preceptor had cut off food supplies the previous day, making the situation critical and threatening civil unrest. Li Fuzhu recalled her teacher mentioning how Li Bing and his son had overcome a similar problem without gunpowder, and she promised Yun Yi she would find a solution within a day.
Ruan Qing later conversed with Tai Hou, feigning ignorance of the State Preceptor's actions but offering to write to him. She then casually mentioned a thousand-year ginseng gifted to Tai Hou by the Imperial Censor, expressing a fondness for it. When Tai Hou offered it to her, Ruan Qing "innocently" brought up rumors that Chef Xue of the Imperial Kitchen had privately used it. This implied a severe lapse in Tai Hou’s governance, enraging her.
Li Fuzhu, meanwhile, was consumed with trying to remember the ancient method for clearing the rocks. Lan Er tried to inform her about Chef Xue's predicament, but Li Fuzhu was too preoccupied. When Lan Er finally broke the news of Chef Xue's arrest, Li Fuzhu rushed to Tai Hou, taking full responsibility for the ginseng incident and claiming she had forced Chef Xue to give it to her.
Tai Hou, however, was unswayed, listing Chef Xue's other alleged crimes of deception and theft, declaring his execution necessary to uphold palace rules. Tai Hou sternly warned Li Fuzhu to focus on the canal project, stating that if she failed to resolve the crisis, she would be the first to be sacrificed to appease public anger and preserve the Yun Lai dynasty. Distraught, Li Fuzhu realized her only recourse was to seek Ruan Qing's help to save Chef Xue.
Yun Li humbly knelt before the State Preceptor, implicitly pleading for the country. The State Preceptor responded with a cryptic parable about a dog barking at a tiger, then kneeling for mercy, implying that once caught, there was no escape, thereby coldly rejecting Yun Li's intercession and hinting at his own formidable power. Later, Yun Yi visited Ruan Qing, initially attempting to appear nonchalant.
They discussed the canal crisis, and Ruan Qing, while agreeing to persuade her father to restore food supplies, insisted that the root of the public's anger lay in Li Fuzhu's failed project. She demanded that Li Fuzhu be executed to quell unrest and protect the country's foundation. Yun Yi tried to also plead for Chef Xue, citing his loyalty and the importance of integrity. However, Ruan Qing reiterated that beheading Chef Xue was necessary to display these principles.
Yun Yi lamented his inability to protect anyone, to which Ruan Qing chillingly replied that he could, however, save "this dragon robe," referring to his imperial power. Li Fuzhu, nearby, overheard this devastating conversation, crushed by Ruan Qing's ruthlessness and Yun Yi’s apparent willingness to sacrifice her. Li Fuzhu visited Chef Xue in prison, who, despite his predicament, reassured her not to worry. He urged her to focus on the canal project, emphasizing its importance for the people.
When Lan Er prompted Li Fuzhu to plead with Yun Yi again, Chef Xue stopped her, stating, "Everyone has his fate." He reiterated that it didn't matter and tried to ask for one final favor before being led away, his words cut short.
Episode 15 Recap
Chef Xue, nearing his execution, tearfully confessed his feelings to Lan'er while preparing a final dish for her, named "A Colorful Rainbow." He explained it was his last culinary creation for her, named because he found her as beautiful as a rainbow, and assured her the Imperial Kitchen staff would continue to provide her with delicacies while she remained in the palace. Lan'er was deeply moved by his confession.
Meanwhile, Hong Yi overheard Ruan Qing cruelly ordering the executioner to use a blunt blade on Chef Xue to prolong his suffering. Distraught, Hong Yi stepped forward, offering to carry out the execution himself, making an exception to his usual rule of not drawing his sword unless the palace was in danger.
Chef Xue, in his final moments, requested that Hong Yi care for Lan'er and asked that one of their future children be given the Xue surname, a plea Hong Yi tearfully accepted. As Chef Xue was executed, Lan'er and the Imperial Kitchen staff, recalling his kindness and Lan'er's earlier offer to consider him a brother, broke down in grief.
News arrived that the State Preceptor had colluded with an enemy state and was marching on the capital with an army of 100,000. The Empress Dowager pressured Yun Yi to execute Li Fuzhu as a scapegoat to quell public unrest and secure his throne, a demand echoed by Ruan Qing. Yun Yi found himself in a difficult position, caught between their demands and his conscience, and refused to hand over Li Fuzhu.
Ruan Qing, whose father's forces had taken over the Imperial Guards, further threatened Yun Yi, implying he would be held responsible for the nation's calamity if Li Fuzhu was not found. She maintained that the State Preceptor's domestic guards were merely protecting him from a resentful populace and advised him to sacrifice Li Fuzhu for his own safety. Li Fuzhu, seeing Yun Yi's distress, offered to show him her world.
She confessed that she was not a heavenly lady but a person from thousands of years in the future, where there was no war or suffering, and people lived freely. She told him about a kind yet annoying monitor in her class who resembled him and became her good friend. She encouraged him to close his eyes and imagine her world, urging him not to abandon his dream of a peaceful era, which she believed would eventually come true.
Yun Yi expressed his sorrow for being unable to save Chef Xue and, more acutely, his inability to protect Li Fuzhu. He explained that as crown prince, he was obligated to bear the country's fate, for better or worse, and could not flee, believing some responsibilities must be shouldered. Li Fuzhu, knowing Yun Yi's historical fate, warned him that Ruan Qing would kill him.
Yun Yi, however, assured her he had a plan and, having never protected anyone before, vowed to protect her with his life. Li Fuzhu then gave him her lucky pendant, hoping it would bring him good fortune. Yun Yi, having devised an escape plan, informed Li Fuzhu and Yun Li that the palace was sealed, including Yun Li's secret escape route.
He instructed the Imperial Kitchen staff to escort them out of the palace at midnight and entrusted Li Fuzhu's safety to Yun Li once they were outside, while he himself would remain in the palace to bear responsibility. Meanwhile, the State Preceptor's forces, now in control of the Imperial Guards, searched the palace for Li Fuzhu but found no trace of her. Ruan Qing issued a strict order that no one could leave the palace without the State Preceptor's token.
Following Yun Yi's plan, Yun Li approached Ruan Qing, feigning loyalty and informing her that the Imperial Kitchen staff would escort Li Fuzhu out using the swill carts. Ruan Qing immediately dispatched her guards to intercept the swill carts at the palace gate. A fierce battle erupted between the Imperial Kitchen staff and Ruan Qing's guards, with the chefs fighting to avenge Chef Xue. During the diversion, Yun Li and Li Fuzhu managed to slip away in the chaos.
Witnessing the Imperial Kitchen staff sacrificing their lives for her, Li Fuzhu was overcome with guilt. Yun Li clarified that Yun Yi's plan was a feint, and the chefs had willingly accepted their fate, eager to avenge Chef Xue and uphold their loyalty. Li Fuzhu reflected on her and Yun Li's shared tendency to avoid responsibility.
She contrasted this with Yun Yi, who, despite being able to flee like many emperors in history, chose to bear the burden so others wouldn't suffer for his inaction. Deeply affected by the chefs' sacrifice, Li Fuzhu realized that her previous inclination to retreat had led to their deaths. She declared that while "flinching is instinct, taking responsibility is true ability," and resolved not to retreat this time.
Li Fuzhu suggested they head south, recalling Yun Li's words about its beautiful scenery, but then reminded him of Yun Yi's predicted death at Ruan Qing's hands. They decided to face the challenges ahead together.
Episode 16 (Ending) Recap
As Ruan Qing led the State Preceptor's henchmen to confront Yun Yi, Lan Er courageously drew her sword, declaring her intent to kill Ruan Qing to avenge Chef Xue and the heavenly lady. Ruan Qing's henchmen swiftly blocked Lan Er, and Ruan Qing instructed Ruan Ding, remarking that some people in the world are heedless of consequences. As Ruan Ding moved to kill Lan Er, Hong Yi, having previously received Yun Yi’s permission to protect whom he must, intervened.
He fought off Ruan Ding's men, but was fatally wounded in the process. With his last breaths, Hong Yi looked at the lifeless Lan Er, reflecting on their past, including a time when she offered him a handkerchief and playfully teased him about his feelings for her, which he had finally admitted. Ruan Qing then approached Yun Yi, her hands stained with the blood of many innocent people.
Yun Yi confronted her, questioning how much blood she had on her hands and angrily denouncing her cruelty. Ruan Qing tried to justify her actions, claiming they were not her desire and that her victims deserved their fate for trying to harm her. Yun Yi refuted her, listing her many cruel deeds, including causing her elder sister Ruan Jie's death, harming the heavenly lady, and betraying Chef Xue.
When Ruan Qing accused him of being swayed by the heavenly lady's seductive words, Yun Yi revealed that Li Fuzhu had never spoken of these matters, and Ruan Qing herself had inadvertently divulged her own guilt regarding her sister's death. He also exposed her elaborate scheme to use a maidservant carrying a dagger as a scapegoat to eliminate the heavenly lady and divert suspicion from herself, calling it a clumsy trick.
Yun Yi confessed he had merely indulged her love for pretense, always knowing who truly cared for him during his coma. Ruan Qing, realizing she had been mocked and played for a fool, grew enraged and overturned Yun Yi's dining table. She boasted that her father's army had surrounded the palace, rendering Yun Yi a mere puppet emperor.
Yun Yi calmly explained that he had seen a beautiful future and would not allow it to perish at the hands of the Ruan family. He asserted that he protected not only the heavenly lady but the future of all people, likening it to grasping the present with one hand and the future with the other. Just then, Li Fuzhu arrived outside, calling for the gate to be opened and announcing the heavenly lady's return.
Yun Yi then revealed his final act of defiance. He took the poisoned wine Ruan Qing had prepared, stating that by drinking it, he would leave her with the indelible infamy of regicide, ensuring that while she might win for a moment, he would triumph in history, cursed by later generations to leave a bad name forever. Yun Yi then drank the poison. Li Fuzhu and Yun Li rushed to Yun Yi's side, finding him on the verge of death.
Li Fuzhu cried out, begging him not to leave her. Yun Yi, with his last strength, expressed his heartfelt desire to travel to the future, live as a commoner with her, go to school, and see her smile. Overwhelmed by remorse, Li Fuzhu sobbed, admitting her past mistakes and her irresponsible words about canal building. Yun Yi gently told her that the future should not cry.
As Yun Yi took his last breath, the Tai Hou arrived, confronting Ruan Qing and declaring herself the one who loved Yun Yi the most and would not allow anyone to harm him. She then killed Ruan Qing, and they both plummeted from the city wall. In a flashback, Li Fuzhu remembered giving Yun Yi a lucky pendant, wishing all her good fortune upon him.
Li Fuzhu suddenly awoke in a bathroom stall, realizing the harrowing events were just a dream. She hurried back to her classroom to find Xia Xiaozhu, desperately asking for the true ending of the "Wonderful Fate" comic. Xia Xiaozhu explained that the first volume concluded with the emperor drinking poisoned wine, and the original artist, due to poor health, had not continued the series, leaving the second volume's true ending unknown.
Li Fuzhu was then struck speechless upon seeing her class monitor, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Yun Yi. The vivid dream became a profound lesson for Li Fuzhu, teaching her to always strive to be her best self to meet every future challenge, with learning as the path to that goal. She expressed gratitude for the dream, which had brought her "Yun Yi, the greatest friend in my life."
Embracing this new outlook, Li Fuzhu committed to her studies, eventually enrolling in university to major in hydraulic engineering, a field she found noble and impactful, drawing inspiration from ancient stories of canal builders like Li Bing and his son. Li Fuzhu then drew her own sequel to the "Wonderful Fate" comic. In her version, Yun Yi was saved, and Yun Li seized the State Preceptor's Tiger Seal to rally troops and suppress the State Preceptor.
The corrupt State Preceptor ultimately faced retribution, losing all the power and wealth he had relentlessly pursued, realizing too late that they were not life's most valuable treasures. Using her hydraulic engineering knowledge, the heavenly lady constructed vital canals, bringing prosperity to Yun Lai. Yun Yi reclaimed lost territories, ensuring the people of Yun Lai lived happily, free from worries about food and clothing.
In her imagined ending, Yun Yi and the heavenly lady grasped both the present and the future together. This sequel was so compelling that a publisher decided to release it as the second volume of the original comic. During a contract discussion at the publishing house, Li Fuzhu coincidentally encountered her class monitor. To her surprise, he had a phone pendant identical to hers.
He then revealed that he was the original author of "Wonderful Fate," having drawn the comics secretly while a student because his family disapproved of his artistic pursuits, hence why he never used his real name. Their collaboration was celebrated, marking a full circle for the "Wonderful Fate" narrative.
