Wonderful Fate Episode 9 Recap
> Wonderful Fate 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.
