Wonderful Fate Episode 11 Recap
> Wonderful Fate 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.
