Category: Recaps

Princess Yuchang invites everyone to eat golden dates and ridicules Cheng Shaoshang, who has never eaten them. Wang Ling and Lou Li mock Wan Qiqi, whose family always shows off their wealth. Speaking eloquently, Cheng Shaoshang lists the sacrifices of military families to protect the country, but aristocratic families living in luxury in the capital treat them with disrespect.

Wang Ling calls Cheng Shaoshang a country bumpkin for not knowing someone named “Zisheng.” Cheng Shaoshang says “Zisheng” likes her, but the feeling isn’t mutual, so she won’t stay to see him. Ling Buyi and Cheng Shaoshang meet, and he introduces himself by repeating her boast verbatim.

With Cheng Shaoshang gone, Ling Buyi also leaves, despite Princess Yuchang’s plea for him to stay.

Wan Qiqi confirms Cheng Shaoshang’s fear. “Zisheng” turns out to be Ling Buyi. Furthermore, Princess Yuchang has become a joke after her drowning at the Lantern Festival was sabotaged by Cheng Shaoshang. 

Prince Xiao proposes marriage to He Zhaojun.

Yuan Shen asks Cheng Shaoshang why she dresses like an old lady.

He Zhaojun and Lou Yao don’t want to marry each other, but they have been betrothed since they were children.

Weapons have been smuggled into the Shu region, and the extent of the Xiao family’s involvement is unknown.

Cheng Yang cries for help after falling into a pond. Wang Ling and Lou Li hide nearby, waiting for Cheng Shaoshang to trip on their rope and fall into the pond after Cheng Yang. Cheng Shaoshang cuts the rope and saves Cheng Yang. Wang Ling insults Cheng Shaoshang. Cheng Shaoshang beats up Wang Ling and Lou Li, then punches herself in the face.

Cheng Shaoshang and Wang Ling blame each other when they explain what happened to the elders. Ling Buyi threatens everyone with an investigation by the Ministry of Justice. Thus, Princess Consort Ruyang changes her tone from wanting to punish Cheng Shaoshang to dismissing the incident as a prank. Wang Ling wails in despair. Acting more melodramatic, Cheng Shaoshang faints.

In actuality, Wang Ling, a victim of Cheng Shaoshang’s pinching attack, has worse injuries. 

Not fooled by Cheng Shaoshang’s theatrics, her mother orders her to apologize to Wang Ling.  

Cheng Song and Cheng Shaogong urge Cheng Shaoshang to leave home for a while to avoid punishment from their mother. 

Leaving in a hurry, Cheng Shaoshang shivers in the cold and vows to plan better if she were to run away from home again. 

Cheng Shaoshang won’t go to a matchmaking event for Yuan Shen organized by his mother. Yuan Shen says he doesn’t want to marry Cheng Shaoshang either, and although they continue to argue, he gives her ointment to treat the bruises on her face.

Cheng Shaoshang decides to go to Wan Qiqi’s house.

Ling Buyi asks Wan Songbai to hand over a map of the Shu region. Even though Wan Songbai has fought there, he says he doesn’t have the map.

At the Cheng family’s housewarming banquet, Cheng Shaoshang meets her father’s sworn brother, Wan Songbai. Wan Songbai gives Cheng Shaoshang a dagger as a gift and offers his help if she gets into trouble.

Old Madam Cheng shows off a new hairpin, which costs two taels of gold. Wang Ling and Lou Li disdain people who are not from aristocratic families like them, so they belittle Cheng Shaoshang based on rumors they have heard about her. The young ladies are happy to see Yuan Shen, but Cheng Shaoshang remains oblivious to his charms.

Yuan Shen asks Cheng Shaoshang to deliver a message in the form of a rhapsody to Third Aunt.

Cheng Shaoshang only remembers a couple of words. Nevertheless, Cheng Yang can identify the rhapsody and explains it to Cheng Shaoshang.

Cheng Shaoshang is happy to get out of the house, even if she is just accompanying Cheng Yang to pick a birthday present for Princess Yuchang.

The fire destroys Tian Shuo’s restaurant, including any evidence from Prince Xiao. Ling Buyi orders his guards to cause trouble at Prince Xiao’s shops to force Prince Xiao to continue dealing weapons illegally to make money. The sight of Cheng Shaoshang distracts Ling Buyi.

Yuan Shen mocks Cheng Shaoshang for not knowing different types of poetry.

Yuan Shen asks Cheng Shaoshang if she likes him and is playing hard to get. Cheng Shaoshang promises to deliver Yuan Shen’s message so that he will stop bothering her.

Ling Yi and Madam Chunyu are cousins and had an affair while he was married to Ling Buyi’s mother. Pretending not to notice Ling Buyi’s coldness, Madam Chunyu tries to persuade him to attend Princess Yuchang’s birthday banquet.

Liang Qiufei accepts the invitation without Ling Buyi’s permission and gets a flogging as punishment. 

Unable to recite Yuan Shen’s rhapsody, Cheng Shaoshang struggles to explain it to Third Aunt. Third Aunt and Third Uncle realize that the message comes from Yuan Shen’s teacher, an old friend of Third Aunt, wanting to know how she is doing. 

Princess Yuchang has invited the Cheng family and He Zhaojun to her birthday banquet. He Zhaojun and Prince Xiao have been spending a lot of time together, so he’ll likely be there. Ling Buyi decides to go, too. Liang Qiufei could get another flogging if he can’t find the invitation, which he has thrown away.

At Princess Yuchang’s birthday banquet, Cheng Shaoshang meets Wan Qiqi, Wan Songbai’s youngest daughter. Wan Qiqi shares her jewelry with Cheng Shaoshang and Cheng Yang because they can’t dress plainly when meeting their peers.

Princess Yuchang finds out who sabotaged her drowning at the Lantern Festival. If looks could kill, Cheng Shaoshang would be slayed by Princess Yuchang’s glare.  

Cheng Yang’s nanny accuses Lianfang of stealing Cheng Yang’s desk. However, Cheng Shaogong’s desk has a carving of a qilin head, making it a unique item. Cheng Shaoshang’s mother gives Lianfang and Changpu a chance to explain why they fought.

[Seeing Lianfang retrieving a desk for Cheng Shaoshang, Changpu instructed her maidservant friends to grab it and put it in Cheng Yang’s room, promising to return it after Cheng Yang has seen it. Lianfang knew better than to believe Changpu’s lie.]

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother punishes not just Changpu but also Lianfang.

With a few questions, Cheng Shaoshang exposes Changpu for stealing her desk. Cheng Shaoshang’s mother blames Cheng Shaogong for not giving Cheng Yang a desk, too. Frustrated, Cheng Shaoshang points out that she needs a desk, not Cheng Yang, and confronts her mother for disguising favoritism under the name of fairness. Cheng Shaoshang’s brothers support her for speaking out.

Life is unfair for Cheng Shaoshang. Cheng Yang doesn’t have a mother but seems to have a mother everywhere. Ironically, Cheng Shaoshang has a mother but doesn’t seem to have a mother at all.

To make up for what happened, Third Aunt allows Cheng Shaoshang to go to the Lantern Festival.

At the Lantern Festival, Cheng Shaoshang’s mother walks with Cheng Yang. Cheng Shaoshang forms another group with her brothers and father.

Ling Buyi and his guards are at the Lantern Festival to find the person with a lantern made by Xu Jinzhong. From a distance, Ling Buyi sees Cheng Shaoshang for the first time.

Cheng Shaoshang watches as her mother buys hairpins for Cheng Yang.

A restaurant gives out lanterns to people who can solve the riddles on the lanterns. He Zhaojun points to the lantern she wants, but her companion, Lou Yao, doesn’t know the answer.

Like every year, Yuan Shen solves all the riddles. For everyone’s enjoyment, he comes up with his own riddle: how deep is the restaurant’s well?

The restaurant owner, Tian Shuo, will give a jar of Thousand Miles Drunk to the winner.

Cheng Shaoshang figures out the answer, to everyone’s amazement.

The buyer of Xu Jinzhong’s weapons turns out to be Prince Xiao. His father, Prince Yong, is from Fengyi Prefecture like Xu Jinzhong, and has erased all traces of Xu Jinzhong there.

Princess Yuchang’s maidservant begs Ling Buyi to save her mistress.

Lou Yao isn’t Cheng Shaoshang’s only admirer. Yuan Shen throws Cheng Shaoshang an embroidered ball, but she throws it back, not understanding his intention.

Ling Buyi ignores Princess Yuchang’s plea to save her from drowning. Cheng Shaoshang kicks a servant of Princess Yuchang into the water to show that the water isn’t deep.

The restaurant is on fire, so Cheng Shaoshang doesn’t know how she’ll get her jar of Thousand Miles Drunk. Before a burning section falls on Cheng Shaoshang, Ling Buyi saves her. He leaves before she can see his face clearly and thank him.

Xu Jinzhong sold a large batch of weapons quickly, so he must have dealt directly with the buyer. Seeing the Cheng family’s carriage, Ling Buyi feels nostalgic because he will celebrate the Lunar New Year in the capital for the first time. 

Auspicious hours are critical for Old Madam Cheng. Thus, the Cheng family moves to their new residence before dawn and watches an exorcism dance before going inside.

Old Madam Cheng can’t wait for Cheng Shaoshang’s father to get a government position, so she could get monetary gifts and show off by hosting a banquet lasting three days. 

Cheng Shaoshang is tired. Her mother compares Cheng Shaoshang to Cheng Yang, who wakes up early to study every day. Her father is also tired, having to appease Old Madam Cheng.

Cheng Shaoshang speculates that the Emperor still needs her father for military matters, hence a title but no government position, so her father will leave home again. Her cleverness impresses her father but worries her mother.

Cheng Shaoshang builds a swing from discarded wood items. Since she has time for carpentry, starting tomorrow her mother expects her to have time to study the classics.

Cheng Shaoshang asks Lianfang to decipher the smile that flashed across her mother’s face. Lianfang is impressed by Cheng Shaoshang’s carpentry skills, so she assumes Cheng Shaoshang’s mother must be, too.     

Old Madam Cheng‘s favorite child, Third Uncle, has come home with her least favorite person, Third Aunt. Cheng Shaoshang also meets her second brother, Cheng Song, and fraternal twin, Cheng Shaogong. Old Madam Cheng pushes Cheng Shaoshang out of the way to fuss over her grandsons, again wishing for more males in the family.  

Old Madam Cheng disapproves of Third Aunt, even though Third Aunt is of higher status because she is Bailu Mountain Master’s daughter. Seeing her three children get along, Cheng Shaoshang’s mother reminds her sons to pay attention to Cheng Yang, too.  

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother teaches Cheng Yang, but not Cheng Shaoshang, how to manage a household. Cheng Shaoshang hears her mother complain about her to Third Aunt.

Ling Yi and Madam Chunyu urge Ling Buyi to marry Princess Yuchang. Like always, Ling Buyi ignores his father and stepmother, despising them for what they have done to his mother. Ling Buyi is certain he’ll know his future wife at first sight, and she isn’t Princess Yuchang.

Lanterns have a bamboo frame, but the lanterns at the blacksmith shop where Xu Jinzhong hid had a metal base.

Princess Yuchang leaves a lantern for Ling Buyi, with a message on it expressing her feelings. Ling Buyi realizes that Xu Jinzhong made lanterns and used them to communicate with the buyer.

Cheng Shaoshang receives an abundance of gifts from her brothers. Outraged that Cheng Shaoshang uses a child’s desk, Cheng Shaogong will let her have his mahogany desk. Cheng Shaoshang sends Lianfang to retrieve it.

Second Aunt yells at Cheng Shaoshang for tricking her. Following what seemed to be sound advice, Second Aunt vowed not to move out of the main quarters until she has a boy. However, the Cheng family, including Second Uncle, will move to another residence. Cheng Shaoshang sees her mother eavesdropping outside, so she goads Second Aunt to air grievances against Second Uncle, who is disabled.

[Cheng Shaoshang’s mother had just given birth to a boy. Ordered by the Emperor, Cheng Shaoshang’s parents must go rescue the Huo family at Gu City. Second Aunt said the baby can shield Old Madam Cheng from misfortune, so Old Madam Cheng insisted on keeping the baby. Cheng Shaoshang’s mother gave birth to another child, this time a girl.

Cheng Shaoshang’s parents left with their three sons, leaving newborn Cheng Shaoshang behind.]

Ling Buyi discovers Xu Jinzhong hiding in a secret room of a blacksmith shop. Xu Jinzhong, who has a birthmark on his neck, commits suicide.

[Troops delivered defective weapons to Gu City. Identified by the distinctive birthmark, the troop leader was Xu Jinzhong.]

Ling Buyi orders his guards to arrest anyone connected to Xu Jinzhong and demolish the blacksmith shop.    

Cheng Yang is happy to see her maternal grandfather, Old Master Ge, and Aunt Ge again. 

Old Master Ge apologizes to the Cheng family, then slaps Second Aunt for causing trouble. Although the Ge family helped the Cheng family by providing provisions during the war, Old Master Ge won’t object if Second Uncle divorces Second Aunt.

Second Aunt wants sons, not daughters, so Cheng Yang was raised by the Ge family. Cheng Shaoshang used to think Cheng Yang was unlucky, but the Ge family provided a loving environment. It’s Cheng Shaoshang who is unlucky. 

Cheng Yang wants to live with the Ge family, but by law, she belongs to the Cheng family. Aunt Ge tells Cheng Yang that children are not at fault for their parents’ misdeeds and that females need to be independent and self-reliant. Agreeing wholeheartedly, Cheng Shaoshang offers Aunt Ge buttermilk.

[Cheng Shaoshang didn’t offer Aunt Ge buttermilk to shift everyone’s attention from Cheng Yang to her. Despite Cheng Shaoshang’s explanation, her mother doesn’t believe calculative people will act without wanting something in return.  

Her mother intends to apply methods she used to train stubborn soldiers to turn Cheng Shaoshang into a carbon copy of Cheng Yang, who is gentle and diligent.]

Steeling her heart, Cheng Shaoshang would rather depend on herself than change to please people who don’t like her.

Old Master Ge and Aunt Ge will take Second Aunt back to the Ge family. Divorced from his wife, Second Uncle is free to go to Bailu Mountain to study. Cheng Shaoshang’s mother assures them that she will treat Cheng Yang like her daughter. Cheng Shaoshang sees her mother comfort Cheng Yang.

Granduncle Dong sold weapons to Xu Jinzhong. Ling Buyi will let Granduncle Dong say goodbye to the Cheng family before being exiled to the frontiers.

Over the years, Cheng Shaoshang’s mother accumulated gifts until she could give them to Cheng Shaoshang. Cheng Shaoshang likes everything except books. To her parents’ horror, she is illiterate.

Unlike Cheng Shaoshang, Second Aunt’s daughter, Cheng Yang, is educated and well-mannered.

Granduncle Dong blames the Cheng family for his predicament, so he makes the farewell memorable by revealing some secrets. Old Madam Cheng mistreated Cheng Shaoshang because she hates Cheng Shaoshang’s mother. Second Aunt didn’t educate Cheng Shaoshang on purpose, and she stole all the money Cheng Shaoshang’s father had sent home over the years.

Xu Jinzhong is hiding somewhere, probably a place familiar to him. Since Xu Jinzhong comes from a family of blacksmiths, Ling Buyi dispatches guards to blacksmith shops to find him.

Second Aunt refuses to move out of the main quarters even though Cheng Shaoshang and her parents should live there because her father is the patriarch of the family.

Cheng Shaoshang is too hungry to memorize anything. Her father brings her food, but her mother forces her to study instead of letting her eat.

Cheng Shaoshang wants to study the mechanics of how things work in the real world, not the classics. Her mother fears that if she doesn’t teach Cheng Shaoshang right from wrong, a troublemaker like Cheng Shaoshang can cause the family’s downfall.

Cheng Shaoshang contemplates why her mother allows Second Aunt to live in the main quarters.

Cheng Shaoshang teaches Second Aunt how she can remain in the main quarters. If Second Aunt says living there is auspicious and helps her to conceive a son, Old Madam Cheng will believe her. Second Aunt takes Cheng Shaoshang for a fool. It seems Cheng Shaoshang will help an enemy to get back at her mother.

Cheng Shaoshang modifies brushes to write multiple words at the same time so she can copy books faster. Her mother scolds her for taking revenge on Second Aunt. Cheng Shaoshang has figured out that the Emperor will reward her parents for fighting in the war, so they will move to a better residence, which explains why her mother doesn’t care who lives in the main quarters.

The Emperor promotes Cheng Shaoshang’s father to Marquis Quling, responsible for 500 households.

The Emperor wants Ling Buyi, his foster son, to wrap up the armament case. However, Ling Buyi is too invested to stop.

Ling Buyi passes by his father’s residence without going inside to see his father, Ling Yi, Marquis Chengyang.

Cheng Shaoshang continues to pretend to be sick, fooling her father but not her mother.

While Cheng Shaoshang’s parents were away, the Cheng family punished Cheng Shaoshang by banishing her to the countryside. They didn’t give her money, clothes, or food and wouldn’t pay for a physician when she fell sick. 

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother returned home earlier to see how the Cheng family treats her daughter. She intends to be strict in disciplining Cheng Shaoshang to curb her from being rebellious.

Cheng Shaoshang sends Ling Buyi a bundle of hay and fabric pieces.

Acting on the tip, Ling Buyi investigates a fabric store owned by Second Aunt. The ledger shows a large amount of money laundered by Granduncle Dong.

Cheng Shaoshang doesn’t want to take bitter medicine. Her father allows her to add sugar but not her mother.

Old Madam Cheng threatens suicide. Acting just as melodramatic, Cheng Shaoshang’s father doesn’t see how he can save Granduncle Dong. If she wants to report him for being unfilial because he doesn’t do what she wants, just know that conviction means he could be executed and his assets seized.

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother catches Cheng Shaoshang watching the theatrical battle with glee.

Afraid of torture, Granduncle Dong confesses to Ling Buyi.

Cheng Shaoshang’s father convinces Old Madam Cheng to put their family first instead of siding with relatives.

Cheng Shaoshang’s father tells his wife to not scold Cheng Shaoshang while they are eating.

Old Madam Cheng adores Cheng Shaoshang’s father and Third Uncle as much as she disapproves of their wives. 

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother hits Cheng Shaoshang’s hand with a ruler for gossiping about her elders. Cheng Shaoshang has been looking forward to going to the Lantern Festival for the first time, but now she has to stay in her room and copy the Book of Rites.

[Smoke didn’t come out of the chimney, so Old Madam Cheng panicked. It turns out Cheng Shaoshang modified the chimney to scare her superstitious grandmother. 

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother had a ruler because she wanted to take Cheng Shaoshang’s measurements to make new clothes for her.]

News of victory reaches the capital, followed by the return of Ling Buyi and his troops. For his accomplishments on the battlefield, he is awarded more titles, authority, and privileges by the Emperor.

Servants from the Cheng family have to bring Cheng Shaoshang back to the capital, dead or alive.

The Cheng family abandoned Cheng Shaoshang in the countryside, not caring that she fell ill and almost died. Her parents are away fighting in a war and send her sporadic letters over the years.

Ling Buyi monitors Cheng Shaoshang’s house.

Falling for Cheng Shaoshang’s prank, Head Housemaid Li calls her a troublemaker.

Head Housemaid Li will use force if Cheng Shaoshang refuses to go with them.

Cheng Shaoshang, haggard and dressed shabbily, looks old to Ling Buyi’s lieutenants, Liang Qiufei and Liang Qiuqi.

Cheng Shaoshang notices footsteps from the carriage going to a haystack.

Lianfang, Cheng Shaoshang’s maid, doesn’t like how the carriage smells. Cheng Shaoshang says it’s the smell of a man who hasn’t bathed for some time.

Unlike Lianfang, Cheng Shaoshang isn’t as optimistic in thinking her life will improve if her parents return home.

Ling Buyi’s group demands to search the Cheng family’s carriage. Head Housemaid Li protests, citing impropriety because Cheng Shaoshang is unmarried. Cheng Shaoshang urges Ling Buyi to burn the haystack next to her house first, and he might find what he is looking for. Ling Buyi doesn’t see Cheng Shaoshang’s face, just her hand pointing to the haystack.

After the haystack is set on fire, Cheng Shaoshang’s Granduncle Dong crawls out and is arrested.

Cheng Shaoshang would rather betray her granduncle than have the Cheng family get in trouble for hiding a criminal. Her parents will return home soon, but her future is uncertain. If her parents love her, why did they abandon her when she was born?

Ling Buyi looks at the procession of the Cheng household and repeats the name he heard: Cheng Shaoshang.

Cheng Shaoshang meets her parents for the first time. Her grandmother, Old Madam Cheng, and Second Aunt claim they tried their best to raise Cheng Shaoshang, but her parents see that isn’t true. Old Madam Cheng pretends to be sick and faints, but she loses to Cheng Shaoshang, who appears sicker and faints more dramatically.

Old Madam Cheng and Second Aunt lament how they sacrificed, dealing with a rebel like Cheng Shaoshang. Cheng Shaoshang’s parents see through the lies, but they can’t criticize Old Madam Cheng. Assessing the situation, Cheng Shaoshang acts contrite to gain sympathy for her suffering.

Cheng Shaoshang’s parents learn that Ling Buyi arrested Granduncle Dong for stealing armament. Their shock seems genuine to Ling Buyi.

Ling Buyi praises Cheng Shaoshang for putting country before family. Moreover, he compares her to officials in the Ministry of Justice because she upheld justice by turning in a relative.

But to Cheng Shaoshang, it sounds like Ling Buyi is mocking her.