My Sassy Princess Episode 2 Recap
> My Sassy Princess Recap
Liu Ling's carriage became deeply stuck in a pit, and instead of helping, the Jinlin Guard, led by Luo Fan, watched and mocked. Ling Bi confronted Luo Fan, urging him to fix the wheel before Lord Shen and Princess Liu Ling returned, warning of Lord Shen's displeasure. Luo Fan, however, retorted by questioning if Liu Ling had a crush on Lord Shen due to her persistent pursuit, dismissing the idea of Shen Yan escorting her to the capital as "daydreaming."
Liu Ling then appeared by the lake, where Shen Yan had chased her, showcasing her riding skills and challenging Shen Yan if it was enough to capture his attention. She openly stated that Shen Yan had "cudgeled his brains" to be alone with her, so she couldn't possibly "go against" his efforts. She then proposed a deal: Shen Yan must escort her all the way to Yejing, and only then would she return his waist token.
Unable to retrieve it by force as she kept it close to her person, Shen Yan reluctantly agreed. When Shen Yan inquired what would happen if he refused, Liu Ling dramatically threatened to take his token and cry to his subordinates. Shen Yan asked if she truly believed he wouldn't snatch it back, to which Liu Ling, feigning weakness, said she'd be powerless if he used force. She grew impatient, pressing him for a decision.
Shen Yan suggested they take different routes, with him on the mountain roads and her on the broad roads. Liu Ling, however, insisted on joining him on the mountain path, declaring she wasn't afraid of the hardships. His men expressed bewilderment that he couldn't handle such a "crazy girl," noting the added danger to their mission of escorting Yun Yi. Shen Yan, however, saw the "hassle" as having "its own advantages."
Their journey led them to a Jinlin Guard courier station, where sounds of a skirmish were heard. Shen Yan quickly identified the intruder as highly skilled. Liu Ling intervened, revealing the man was her bodyguard, Yang Ye. Shen Yan, puzzled, asked Liu Ling how her bodyguard knew his stopping point.
Yang Ye efficiently explained Shen Yan's strategy: coming to Jiangzhou to arrest Yun Yi, purposely leaving an exit to lure him out for ambush, and then taking mountain roads to the Jinlin Guard's camp. Shen Yan remarked on Yang Ye's impressive skill in gathering Jinlin Guard intelligence. Liu Ling openly admitted her intense interest in Shen Yan, saying she valued him so much that she made sure to know his every move.
When Shen Yan questioned if her carriage's arrival outside Jiangzhou City was also intentional, Liu Ling conceded it wasn't a coincidence, but added that many things in life are "out of expectation." When asked her true purpose for going to such lengths to accompany the Jinlin Guard, Liu Ling boldly declared it was "of course for Lord Shen." Liu Ling's servant, Ling Bi, attempted to claim Shen Yan's room for the princess, but Luo Fan insisted it was Lord Shen's.
Shen Yan, however, chose to move to a simpler room. His men were confused by his apparent compliance, but Shen Yan revealed his strategic intent. He confided that Princess Changle's presence, though a nuisance, would create a delay, which was "exactly what I want."
He planned to use Yun Yi as bait, and the news of a "wicked princess" unexpectedly joining the Jinlin Guard's escort would certainly entice power-hungry individuals, whom Shen Yan referred to as "hungry fish," in the capital to make a move, seeing it as a "Heaven-sent chance." Meanwhile, in the Lu Mansion, Lord Lu expressed his anxiety to his concubine's son, Lu Mingshan, over the Crown Prince's keen interest in the Jiangzhou case.
Lu Mingshan tried to reassure his grandfather, suggesting he was "muddled with anger" and downplaying the threat posed by Lady Xu, who had been praised for her meticulousness in serving the Crown Prince. However, Lord Lu dismissed Lady Xu as insignificant, revealing his true concern was the "Stern-faced Yama, Shen Yan." He feared that if Shen Yan successfully apprehended Yun Yi, the Lu Family would face grave danger.
Lu Mingshan confidently offered to handle the situation, believing that even Shen Yan, being an "ordinary man," must have a weakness. Elsewhere, Shen Yu, the Administrator of Nandian, received a pigeon from Shen Yan, acknowledging Shen Yan's meticulous planning even from afar. His subordinate reported that a wealthy man, Zhang, had been hosting lavish banquets for Lord Lu for three days, seemingly seeking an official post through the Lu Family.
The subordinate also detailed Lady Xu's elaborate preparation of "Lord Yu's Hangover Soup" and "Five-bean Soup" for the Crown Prince, noting the four to five hours she spent on them, highlighting her scrupulousness. Later, Shen Yu visited a flower pavilion, where he overheard discussions about Shen Yan, the "Stern-faced Yama" from the capital, allegedly getting into a "love affair" with the "Wicked Princess Liu Ling" on his return journey.
The singing girl there described Shen Yu himself as "the most infatuated man in the world," contradicting the popular image of him as a "lady-killer." Amidst the fresh mountain air, Liu Ling, convinced that her repeated encounters with Shen Yan were "fate," danced with joy. Shen Yan, however, remained distant, stating he had business to attend to. Ling Bi observed his coldness and the mocking whispers of his men, questioning if Liu Ling's efforts were worth it.
Liu Ling brushed off Ling Bi's concerns, asserting that Shen Yan had "lost heart to me at first sight" and was merely "shy." She revealed Shen Yan had even smiled at her earlier, a rare occurrence she valued immensely, making any other grievances seem trivial. Ling Bi continued to lament the small, uncomfortable room and Shen Yan's consistently unpleasant demeanor towards them. Liu Ling, undeterred, explained her strategic approach to love, drawing parallels to "favorable climatic, geographical condition and coincidence."
She believed their current living and traveling arrangements gave her the "geographical condition," putting her in a prime position to "carefully devise a scheme to date Shen Yan." Despite falling ill with a cold from the mountain chill, Liu Ling stubbornly followed Shen Yan. He urged her to return, concerned about her health and the infectious nature of her cold, but she refused, asserting control over her own actions.
Shen Yan, exasperated, sped up, leaving Liu Ling struggling to keep pace. Exhausted, she rested on a rock. Ling Bi, lamenting Shen Yan's "iron-hearted" nature, referred to him as a "dangerous beauty" and "Stern-faced Yama," questioning Liu Ling's persistence given the notorious reputation of the Jinlin Guard. Liu Ling, however, countered by reminding Ling Bi of her own infamous reputation in Jiangzhou as the "wickedest girl," suggesting they were both "jinxes."
She then philosophized that true character is revealed through actions, finding "a frank poker face" more valuable than "fake smiles." She reiterated her complete infatuation with Shen Yan. Suddenly, a snake appeared, startling Liu Ling into a shriek. Shen Yan immediately appeared and pulled her into a hug to protect her. Feigning faintness, Liu Ling dramatically claimed she had been bitten by a poisonous snake and was close to death.
Shen Yan, seeing through her act, pointed out her "bold and powerful" nature and questioned her attempt to falsely accuse a harmless grass snake. Liu Ling, then revealing her true intent, admitted she had been searching for him and, pretending weakness, threatened to sell his waist token in the market if he dared to escape again, calculating its high value.
When Shen Yan warned her against breaking the law, she cunningly escalated her threat, vowing to have countless copies of his "No. 128" token made and scattered throughout the market, effectively making "Jinlin Guard everywhere while everyone can be a commander." Shen Yan, amused, warned her to behave or he would drop her. Liu Ling then playfully asked how much he had overheard of her conversation with Ling Bi, reiterating her infatuation with him.
Shen Yan, in response, simply instructed his men to prepare ginger decoction to ward off her chill. Shen Yan advised Liu Ling to return to the courier station and then departed. Undeterred, Liu Ling decided to press on with her pursuit. Later, in the pouring rain, Shen Yan efficiently dealt with dangerous figures lurking in the forest. Liu Ling's unexpected appearance forced him to take her to a small mountain cabin for shelter.
Inside, Liu Ling offered to help Shen Yan remove his soaked outer clothes, citing her "smattering" of medical knowledge from Jiangzhou and her concern for his health. She then remarked that he would have ample time to discover her many "advantages" during their long journey. Shen Yan, however, simply directed her to rest on the bed, noting the cabin's small size but asserting it wasn't so cramped as to necessitate close proximity.
When Liu Ling attempted to use her illness as an excuse for closer contact, he advised her to "behave" and "sleep early" while he remained nearby. Liu Ling then questioned Shen Yan about his family, asking if he was related to the Shens of Yejing. He confirmed that Lord Shen was his father. Puzzled, Liu Ling asked why she had never seen him during her childhood visits to the Shen Mansion.
Shen Yan explained that he had "hated making contact with strangers ever since I was a kid," making it normal for her not to remember him. A brief flashback showed their younger selves. The next morning, Liu Ling awoke to find Shen Yan had spent the entire night guarding outside the cabin.
Upon their return to the courier station, Liu Ling immediately confronted Shen Yan, demanding he "give me an answer" and take responsibility for her reputation after they had "spent the beautiful night together." Luo Fan and other Jinlin Guard members stood by, bewildered. Shen Yan stated that their overnight stay was a matter of emergency, and he had "didn't do anything improper or offensive." He accused Liu Ling of "turning the facts upside down" and misunderstanding the situation.
At that moment, Lu Mingshan arrived, addressing Liu Ling intimately as "Ling." He then shocked her by announcing that his grandfather, Lord Lu, had sent betrothal gifts to Prince Guangping, who had consented, making Lu Mingshan her "betrothed." Liu Ling, furious, tore up the red betrothal post, vehemently denying his claim. Lu Mingshan chided her for being childish and warned her against trivializing marriage. He expressed concern for her haggard appearance, assuming she had suffered during her journey.
Shen Yan intervened, coldly advising Lu Mingshan to leave if he had no real business, warning him against the grave charge of "spying on information of Jinlin Guard." Despite Luo Fan's apprehension, Shen Yan instructed his men to prepare a guest room for Lu Mingshan, sensing that his unexpected arrival at this critical juncture was not as simple as it seemed.
Liu Ling attempted to enter Shen Yan's room, but Luo Fan blocked her, asserting that it was a military secret location and that even she, the princess, could not bear the accusation of spying. Liu Ling insisted she wasn't being unreasonable, acknowledging Shen Yan's busyness, but demanded to know if his avoidance meant he planned to "forsake me" after "ruining a girl's reputation." From inside, Shen Yan stated he had heard her.
He had Luo Fan convey to Liu Ling that her reputation had nothing to do with him, and that he did not understand her words, stating, "Princess and I haven't begun yet. Why would she mention 'forsake'?" Luo Fan awkwardly explained that "haven't begun" meant "not dating." Lu Mingshan tried to pacify Liu Ling, calling it a misunderstanding.
Liu Ling, however, defiantly rejected this, asking Shen Yan what he would call "what Lord Shen and I did in that cabin last night" if they hadn't "begun." Shen Yan then had his subordinate tell her that he had a clear conscience, and if she insisted on "turning the facts upside down," she could go to Yejing and "appeal to the imperial court" for His Majesty's judgment.
Lu Mingshan again tried to calm her, but Liu Ling confronted Shen Yan directly, asking if he was driving her away. Shen Yan replied that her decision to stay or leave was "up to you," and then, mentioning it was dinner time, asked her to leave as she was affecting his appetite. Liu Ling, puzzled by his sudden coldness after their earlier "jovial" conversation, wondered if he might be "jealous."
