![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist, Character Guide, and Content Notes
I start by going over some of the earlier plot again, and then we move on to later episodes. I stopped for the night at the end of episode 12 so I'll end the post there as a nice clear marker. I was going to say "even though it's kind of short" but as I scroll down to select it to cut and paste into the dreamwidth post box... not so much, haha.
Going through a cast list and a young man I don't recognise out of costume has the name "Ou Yanxing / Lin Shixian". The Ou are the bad guys so is he SECRETLY an evil Ou but pretending to be an innocent Lin? Ooh.
Here's my original, more spoilery character summaries:
Luo Family:
Luo Shiyi: Protagonist. The unfavoured daughter of a concubine of Lord Luo.
Lord Luo: Shiyi's dad. A weak willed government official whose position is tenuous and who tends to go along with whatever his wife says while acting the Righteous All Knowing Patriarch.
Luo Zhenxing: Shiyi's older brother, the Luo heir. Seems nice enough, doesn't do much except go "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Madame Luo/"Mother": Shiyi's father's wife. Mother of Yuaniang. Despises Shiyi and her mother. Rules the Luo family with an iron fist. Hates Shiyi and her mother and sent them off to the boonies for three years after Shiyi's mother had a miscarriage.
Yuanniang: The only legitimate Luo daughter. Married to Lingyi. Spends the first 8 episodes dying. Weak and coughs delicately a lot but this doesn't stop her scheming to make sure her son Zhun, Lingyi's heir, who's like 8, has a good arranged marriage. Framed Lianfang to stop her becoming the next wife.
Erniang: Mean girl sister. Daughter of a concubine but has gained Madame Luo's favour. Bullies Shiyi. Has the vibe of... ok I can't find any videos but that Chinese woman who does funny videos with an exaggerated 'sexy' walk and bossing around men. The actress was given the assignment Mean Girl and WENT for it.
Dongqing: Shiyi's maid with the bad hair, stupid but very loyal.
Amber: Shiyi's less stupid maid, assigned by Madame Luo. Loyal to Shiyi after Shiyi accepts that Amber spying on her is just her job. Still spies for Madame Luo but tries to help out Shiyi as much as possible around this.
Xu family:
Xu Lingyi: Love interest. A Marquis, whose jobs are basically the House of Lords (aka the men with bad hats), fighting in wars, and hunting down criminals.
Xu Lingkuan: Lingyi's cheerful little brother.
Princess Danyang: Lingkuan's somewhat snooty but not totally awful wife. Thinks Shiyi and Lianfang need to know their place more.
Madame Xu: Lingyi's mother. Adores Lianfang, who is her niece, and treats her MUCH better than the other concubines in a really pointed way.
Qiao Lianfang: Noble woman, Madame Xu's niece. Fell in love with Lingyi as a girl and once Yuanniang started dying became determined to become Lingyi's next wife. Was tricked by Yuanniang into being seen with Lingyi in her underwear and forced to become his concubine instead. Thinks herself better than Shiyi and all the other concubines and is determined to take over as wife.
Concubine Wen: Merchant's daughter whose family bought her way into being Lingyi's concubine. Bitchy and materialistic but not super cruel. Was in a loose alliance with Yuanniang but is still deciding if she wants to ally with Lianfang (who is clearly trying to manipulate her, but seems strong) or Shiyi (who seems nicer, but weak and less connected)
Concubine Qin: Ex-maid favoured by Madame Xu, rewarded with becoming Lingyi's concubine. Shy and well meaning. Either had a miscarriage or had a kid with Lingyi who died, and is sad about it.
Zhun: Lingyi's legitimate son via Yuanniang. About 8. Shy, prone to crying, and not very accomplished.
Siyu: Lingyi's son via the concubine Wen. About 8. Seems well behaved and competent.
Xiang Yizhen: Widow of Lingyi's dead brother. Seems nice and sensible, doesn't do much except say "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Others:
Master Jian: Shiyi's embroidery teacher. An independent single woman with a prestigious shop who encourages Shiyi but is in a precarious position and will plausibly betray her imo.
Wang Yu: A creep who attempts to abduct Master Jian to be his mistress until Shiyi stops him, and ends up married to Erniang.
Nice And Cute Merchant Whose Name I Forgot: Shiyi befriended him earlier but he seems to have vanished from the narrative, I can see him ending up as a nice husband for some sympathetic side female character. I guess... the maids are single??
Ou Yanxing/Lin Shixian: Maybe Yingli's assistant?? Will keep an eye out!
Some stuff I didn't go into in my previous post:
When Shiyi sees Lianfang throwing herself at Lingyi early on, she thinks Lingyi is into it, and judges him for cheating on his wife and concubines.
Shiyi's mother was killed a few episodes in, while they were at a nearby temple, organising an escape with the help of Nice Merchant, so Shiyi wouldn't have to marry Wang Yu the creep.
Shiyi finds rich red brocade in her dead mother's hand, as if pulled from her assailant. The only people nearby were the shabbily dressed pirate Lingyi was pursuing, and the Xu family. A young monk mentions having seen a nicely dressed lady near Shiyi's mother... and then disappears before he can tell her any more.
The police close the case suspiciously quickly, saying it must have been the pirate. Shiyi briefly cross-dresses to try and persuade the police to keep investigating, but is ignored. Lingyi also, separately, thinks it's a little shady.
Shiyi is very good at recognising that people are scheming against her but generally doesn't bother doing anything except be snarkily mean back. After her mother dies she spends a few days being Very Upset and blaming herself (which Mother Luo absolutely encourages, saying this is all Shiyi's fault for being disobedient) before her sewing mentor Master Jian tells her to stray strong for her mother, who loved her, and Shiyi decides to take action. This is when she digs up that her sister Erniang tricked Wang Yu into being engaged to her. She tells Wang Yu what happened, which gets Erniang married to him instead. Which I guess was her only choice but still feels bad!
There's some bittersweet scenes between Yuanniang and Lingyi where they talk about both going into the marriage with good intensions but ending up estranged. On her deathbed, Yuanniang makes Lingyi promise to marry Shiyi, who he thinks is too young. She similarly makes Shiyi promise to marry him and look after her son, Zhun. She warns Shiyi that this house is dangerous, and she suspects her illness of not being natural, and then dies. DUN DUN!
A year of mourning passes. Lianfang use this time trying to win favour within the household, especially with the heir Zhun, and poison everyone against Shiyi with innuendo and sly insults.
Shiyi marries Lingyi. It's clear Madame Xu likes Lianfang more and thinks SHE should have been the wife.
Shiyi offers to make embroidery for all the women of the household. Lianfang tells the other concubines "we should make her feel bad by showing her how great our EXISTING embroidery is" and Shiyi just smiles because she doesn't care about gaining favour, she wants to investigate everyone's embroidery for Clues.
Everyone has these large collections of thin cloth with large embroidered pictures on them, just... sitting in boxes and not put into frames or anything. Do they take them out to look at sometimes? Ohh... maybe they were in frames but got taken out to show to Shiyi.
Pretty much every married guy is kinda weak and useless in the face of his more determined wife. Except Erniang's husband, and I suspect she will get the best of him in the end.
OK. NOW FINALLY ON TO NEW PLOT.
Lingyi's mother: You should spend time with your concubines.
Linyi: They just see me as a path to power and benefits.
Lingyi's mother: You are the only one they can rely on. And they care about you.
Linyi: *doubt.jpg* ...fine. I'll visit them.
Lianfang: *expresses enthusiasm for Lingyi's manly musical stylings and suggests 'playing together' in a way even I can tell is a blatant sexual proposition*
Lingyi: *Sends her a musical score*
Concubine Wen: My Lord, have this soup. It has ginseng which cost 20 taels of silver, deer antler, and pine mushrooms.
Linyi: *takes a sip, quickly puts it down* ...I have business to attend to.
Concubine Qin: Oh, are you admiring that painting? Your mother gave it to me. Do you think it's suitable to place it here?
Lingyi: Yes, it looks very nice next to the window.
Concubine Qin: :)
Lingyi: Is it by Lin Chun?
Concubine Qin: *smiles blankly* ...yes?
Lingyi: *smiles awkwardly*
OH NOOOOO they had a kid who DIED??? And she's infertile and sad about it??? She starts crying when reminded of it and he kindly but awkwardly takes his leave.
A sleeping Lingyi has a TRAUMATIC FLASHBACK to his whole family being SENTENCED TO DEATH when he was a child, because of something to do with his father. (I remember it being mentioned earlier than one of his father-in-laws helped the family survive, I think maybe Shiyi's dad?)
Lingyi gets up and encounters Shiyi in the garden, holding her Fabric Clue and praying to her mother to find the killer.
Linyi: This is a good place to think about your worries.
Shiyi: Someone as powerful as you has worries?
Lingyi: If I didn't, would you be here?
Lingyi: My new wife is sharp tongued and troublesome.
Coworker: Omg that's the most you've ever said to me about any of your wives.
TENSE EMBROIDERY EXAMINATION SCENES
Shiyi impresses her snooty princess sister-in-law Danfang with her Advanced Embroidery Knowledge.
Her less snooty sister-in-law Yizhen says "You've been looking so closely... this isn't just about making me a fan is it?"
OOOH and then Shiyi decides Yizhen is trustworthy enough to ask if she has seen anything suspicious!! Yizhen says no, and then tells Shiyi to let go of the past HMM.
Ok so earlier when Shiyi was Too Soft punishing a servant, the punishment was for stealing and selling some brocades from the Emperor. The brocades are divided between the wives, and at the suggestion of her nanny, Lianfang schemes to get the best ones. Shiyi's servants are PISSED and Shiyi's nanny hits the servant responsible, and Lianfang uses this as an excuse to get back at her. The nanny was very cruel to Lianfang at her wedding, are we supposed to feel sorry for her?
UH OH. Princess Danfang is pregnant and having complications.
Yizhen offers to pray with her and commiserates about her own difficult pregnancy (I think she either miscarried or her kids were killed). I got an intense SHE'S THE NICE SEEMING VILLAIN vibe, probably poisons anyone who looks like they might have kids.
Hmm though Concubine Wen would make more sense, since she HAS an heir to promote. But maybe Yizhen just went Crazy when her husband died, this feels like that sort of canon.
Lianfang: Lingyi will DEFINITELY want me when I'm dressed in this cool peony fabric I stole from his wife.
Lingyi: Are you familiar with the five poisons?
Lianfang: Yes. Desire, anger, ignorance, pride, and envy :)
Lingyi: When you have too many desires in your heart, you covet things that don't belong to you. Don't wear this again.
Lianfang, holding back tears: You are right of course, My Lord.
Back at her quarters she sobs and cuts the dress to pieces, crying that she just wants him to realise she's the most qualified to stay by his side.
Lianfang: What did I do wrong? ;_;
Her nanny: Nothing! This is all that illegitimate daughter's fault!!
Lianfang: Yes! If I was his legitimate wife he wouldn't slight me!!
The weight of evidence is that he would, Lianfang. I think she is going to go Crazy :/
I thought maybe the brocades would be related to the Clue but I guess this is just a fabric plot heavy story.
Lingyi: You are matron and should not let yourself be mistreated. If you directed the sharp tongue you show me at others noone would bully you.
Shiyi: Nothing bad will happen unless other people cause trouble :)
I've been describing most dialogue as what characters MEAN instead of the layered metaphor and sharp edged smiling politeness they actually use. Eg
Shiyi: The flowers in the garden are beautiful :)
Lianfang: I only like peonies, no other flower will do :)
Shiyi: There is no flower more beautiful than a peony. But some prefer other flowers. I myself prefer the plum blossom, which blooms in winter :)
Lianfang, because it wouldn't make sense for the servants to ask: I don't quite follow your meaning :)
Shiyi: The peony and plum blossom bloom at different times of year. There is no need for them to compete. But if they do... the peony may be beautiful, but it is more delicate :)
Lianfang's servant: What did she mean?
Lianfang: It doesn't matter >:(
Yeah, even I managed to figure that one out.
A guy I absolutely do not remember the identity of is being smug about a friend of Lingyi's who was killed for "treason", Hu Jin. Probably an Ou. This pisses off another guy whose name I don't remember (ah they said it, Duke Wei/Ren Kun), who was also friends with Hu Jin, and has a deciding vote on the sea ban legislation Lingyi is pushing for. Lingyi is sincere in mourning Hu Jin but not above using his death as a way to push Duke Wei to vote to lift the sea ban.
Unfortunately the sea ban was decided by an emperor, and all the officials have to be SO careful about advocating for any change that implies that any emperor in their dynasty might, at some point, have made a bad decision.
One thing I like about this show is how it compares and contrasts Shiyi and Lingyi, as both try to navigate murky frustrating situations with tact, ethics, and caution (Lingyi can be tactful when it comes to politics lol) despite being surrounded by hotheads and malicious bad actors.
Madame Xu sends Shiyi to the Xu's house in the country for dubious reasons to do with the zodiac and Danyang's pregnancy, but that's ok because that's where the leftover fabric from people's clothes is stored! CLUES!!
But the maid in charge of the country villa seems to be in Lianfang's pocket and Shiyi's nanny warns that it's a dangerous place.
Aww. Shiyi's maid Amber has always been on the outside a bit because she originally worked for Madame Luo, but Shiyi finally decides to tell her about the investigation.
Lianfang shows Zhun a puppy in secret and then Shun comes out in a rash and Lianfang uses this as an excuse to undermine Shiyi's nanny's authority. Did she poison Zhun D:
Nanny: This is all Shiyi's fault for abandoning Zhun to Lianfang!!
As much as I hate this nanny, while Shiyi does seem to care about Zhun a moderate amount she really is more of a vaguely affectionate aunt than a doting stepmother.
She FINDS FABRIC MATCHING THE CLUE IN THE XU FAMILY STORAGE!! She goes back to the capital to get Master Jian to confirm it, and Master Jian gives her a rose perfume which feels Significant.
Outside Master Jian's building, Shiyi and her maids can't find their carriage or guards, and while Amber is looking for them Shiyi and Dongqing are lured into a TRAP by an old lady!! (told to look for the woman with rose perfume, perhaps...)
Amber rushes back to inform Master Jian and then manages to bluff the guards that Shiyi is visiting her family at the Luo residence. When they ask to go in she gains a sharpness she has never exhibited before and says Mr Luo will have them SKINNED for their INSOLENCE.
It becomes clear that Lianfang organised the kidnapping, because the simple fact of being kidnapped is enough to ruin a noble woman's reputation and cause a divorce. Lianfan told the guards not to hurt them and has every intention of freeing them once a reputation ruining period of time has passed, so I guess she's not maximum evil. Yet.
Madame Luo is of course upset that Shiyi EMBARRASSED THE FAMILY ONCE AGAIN and even Master Jian thinks such a loss of reputation is worse than death, but Shiyi's brother actually cares about her safety and says that if she gets divorced he'll look after her, aww.
Usually in fiction when someone is kidnapped all they have to do is get free and explain what happened, but in this case that's what the kidnappers want, because it will still ruin Shiyi's life :( So the Luos agree NOT to call the police and instead send trusted Luo family retainers to search.
Lingyi comes back from his trip and is furious Shiyi was exiled for such a dumb reason as horoscopes. When he storms towards the Luo residence Lianfang tags along and quietly tells her maid to tell the police that poor Shiyi has been kidnapped.
Madame Luo: I'm sorry, Shiyi has just now gone out :)
Lianfang: Where to? :)
Madame Luo: In the Xu household, does the WIFE have to answer to a CONCUBINE???
Lianfang: I manage the Xu household, and am worried about Shiyi. Does Madame Luo not wish to tell us her whereabouts for some reason?
Madame Luo: Marquis Xu, will you let a concubine tell me what to do in my own house?
BITE EACH OTHER'S DICKS OFF
Lingyi tells Lianfang to apologise then asks Mr Luo himself, who lies better than I would have expected and says she's gone shopping.
Lianfang: Shiyi is taking a long time... I'm so worried! I'll send someone to find her!
Madame Luo: No, I want to make sure she's ok, I'll send someone!
Lingyi, not sure what's going on but aware both of these women would happily see Shiyi dead: I'll send my deputy.
We cut to Shiyi and Dongqing waking, tied up, in a warehouse. One of the guards reports to the police that he "heard two women calling for help". The deputy hears about this and follows along quietly.
The police show up at the Luo residence and say there's been a report of missing women from this house.
Madame Luo: No, nothing like that has happened here, good bye :)
Lingyi: *narrows eyes*
Lianfang: Oh my goodness, I just heard from my maid that the guards say Shiyi hasn't been seen leaving this house today? :)
Lingyi: What. Where on earth is-
Shiyi: Mother, father, I'm back! Oh, hello my lord :)
Madame Luo: Come, Shiyi, I will show you some fabric before you go and we canmake sure we have our stories straight chat :)
ha! Shiyi got Dongqing to shout that she'd collapsed and then knock the guard out with a pot when he went to check.
Aww and then Master Jiang and Shiyi's brother found her from the smell of rose perfume? I'm sorry I doubted you Master Jiang. Unless you turn out to be evil after all.
Madame Luo: Huh, you were actually quick witted. Keep an eye on that concubine, she kept reminding Lord Xu that you were missing. And someone reported you missing to the police.
Shiyi: on't worry, Mother, I know what to do.
oooh complex shifting alliances!!
Shiyi is surprised Lingyi is so determined that she be allowed back at the main house and he says he's not going to let his wife be treated unfairly.
Shiyi: Those guards were so incompetent, vanishing for so long just as I was ready to go home. But I shouldn't complain, I should be grateful Lianfang was kind enough to decide to spend the day with you, reminding you I was missing :)
Lingyi: ...I will interrogate those guards.
Lingyi doesn't outright accuse Lianfang of kidnapping Shiyi, but he does berate her for hiring the housekeeper who hired the 'incompetent' guards, and the housekeeper is fired. She acts contrite but is of course just angry to have been foiled.
Aw, Shiyi doesn't have any money, I guess because Lianfang has been cutting her allowance, so she gives her maids hairpins from her dowry as thanks for saving her, they're all really sweet together.
Zhun has fallen into a coma D: Shiyi didn't even know he'd been sick and flashes back to promising to take care of him.
Just as Madume Xu is about to kick Shiyi out so Lianfang can keep taking care of Zhun, Shiyi suggests a Luo family skin medicine, and Lingyi insists she be allowed to try it. When it works, he also insists Shiyi be the one to take care of Zhun from now on.
Yeah, I wouldn't want Lianfang anywhere near my kids either.
We see Shiyi playing with a healed Zhun, who hides behind her when Lingyi comes to check on him.
Aww Concubine Wen's son Yu comes to check on his little brother and she pulls him away just as Shiyi is welcoming him.
Shiyi's nanny: Madame doesn't want them to be close. A concubine's son is not the same as the heir.
Shiyi, a concubine's daughter: It would be nice if they could be friends :(
Concubine Wen: Don't visit Zhen when he's sick, what would you say if he got worse while you were with him?
Yu: :(
Awww
Meanwhile Concubine Qin helps look after Zhun, saying she cares about her duty to the Xu family more than gossip.
Lianfang tries to make Shiyi look bad for not letting Zhun eat something that will give him a stomach ache, so she changes it to asking him if he chooses to eat it and get a stomach ache, and when she puts it like that he doesn't want it any more. The she gets him to give it to his dad as a present instead and they have a cute bonding moment aww.
I start by going over some of the earlier plot again, and then we move on to later episodes. I stopped for the night at the end of episode 12 so I'll end the post there as a nice clear marker. I was going to say "even though it's kind of short" but as I scroll down to select it to cut and paste into the dreamwidth post box... not so much, haha.
Going through a cast list and a young man I don't recognise out of costume has the name "Ou Yanxing / Lin Shixian". The Ou are the bad guys so is he SECRETLY an evil Ou but pretending to be an innocent Lin? Ooh.
Here's my original, more spoilery character summaries:
Luo Family:
Luo Shiyi: Protagonist. The unfavoured daughter of a concubine of Lord Luo.
Lord Luo: Shiyi's dad. A weak willed government official whose position is tenuous and who tends to go along with whatever his wife says while acting the Righteous All Knowing Patriarch.
Luo Zhenxing: Shiyi's older brother, the Luo heir. Seems nice enough, doesn't do much except go "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Madame Luo/"Mother": Shiyi's father's wife. Mother of Yuaniang. Despises Shiyi and her mother. Rules the Luo family with an iron fist. Hates Shiyi and her mother and sent them off to the boonies for three years after Shiyi's mother had a miscarriage.
Yuanniang: The only legitimate Luo daughter. Married to Lingyi. Spends the first 8 episodes dying. Weak and coughs delicately a lot but this doesn't stop her scheming to make sure her son Zhun, Lingyi's heir, who's like 8, has a good arranged marriage. Framed Lianfang to stop her becoming the next wife.
Erniang: Mean girl sister. Daughter of a concubine but has gained Madame Luo's favour. Bullies Shiyi. Has the vibe of... ok I can't find any videos but that Chinese woman who does funny videos with an exaggerated 'sexy' walk and bossing around men. The actress was given the assignment Mean Girl and WENT for it.
Dongqing: Shiyi's maid with the bad hair, stupid but very loyal.
Amber: Shiyi's less stupid maid, assigned by Madame Luo. Loyal to Shiyi after Shiyi accepts that Amber spying on her is just her job. Still spies for Madame Luo but tries to help out Shiyi as much as possible around this.
Xu family:
Xu Lingyi: Love interest. A Marquis, whose jobs are basically the House of Lords (aka the men with bad hats), fighting in wars, and hunting down criminals.
Xu Lingkuan: Lingyi's cheerful little brother.
Princess Danyang: Lingkuan's somewhat snooty but not totally awful wife. Thinks Shiyi and Lianfang need to know their place more.
Madame Xu: Lingyi's mother. Adores Lianfang, who is her niece, and treats her MUCH better than the other concubines in a really pointed way.
Qiao Lianfang: Noble woman, Madame Xu's niece. Fell in love with Lingyi as a girl and once Yuanniang started dying became determined to become Lingyi's next wife. Was tricked by Yuanniang into being seen with Lingyi in her underwear and forced to become his concubine instead. Thinks herself better than Shiyi and all the other concubines and is determined to take over as wife.
Concubine Wen: Merchant's daughter whose family bought her way into being Lingyi's concubine. Bitchy and materialistic but not super cruel. Was in a loose alliance with Yuanniang but is still deciding if she wants to ally with Lianfang (who is clearly trying to manipulate her, but seems strong) or Shiyi (who seems nicer, but weak and less connected)
Concubine Qin: Ex-maid favoured by Madame Xu, rewarded with becoming Lingyi's concubine. Shy and well meaning. Either had a miscarriage or had a kid with Lingyi who died, and is sad about it.
Zhun: Lingyi's legitimate son via Yuanniang. About 8. Shy, prone to crying, and not very accomplished.
Siyu: Lingyi's son via the concubine Wen. About 8. Seems well behaved and competent.
Xiang Yizhen: Widow of Lingyi's dead brother. Seems nice and sensible, doesn't do much except say "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Others:
Master Jian: Shiyi's embroidery teacher. An independent single woman with a prestigious shop who encourages Shiyi but is in a precarious position and will plausibly betray her imo.
Wang Yu: A creep who attempts to abduct Master Jian to be his mistress until Shiyi stops him, and ends up married to Erniang.
Nice And Cute Merchant Whose Name I Forgot: Shiyi befriended him earlier but he seems to have vanished from the narrative, I can see him ending up as a nice husband for some sympathetic side female character. I guess... the maids are single??
Ou Yanxing/Lin Shixian: Maybe Yingli's assistant?? Will keep an eye out!
Some stuff I didn't go into in my previous post:
When Shiyi sees Lianfang throwing herself at Lingyi early on, she thinks Lingyi is into it, and judges him for cheating on his wife and concubines.
Shiyi's mother was killed a few episodes in, while they were at a nearby temple, organising an escape with the help of Nice Merchant, so Shiyi wouldn't have to marry Wang Yu the creep.
Shiyi finds rich red brocade in her dead mother's hand, as if pulled from her assailant. The only people nearby were the shabbily dressed pirate Lingyi was pursuing, and the Xu family. A young monk mentions having seen a nicely dressed lady near Shiyi's mother... and then disappears before he can tell her any more.
The police close the case suspiciously quickly, saying it must have been the pirate. Shiyi briefly cross-dresses to try and persuade the police to keep investigating, but is ignored. Lingyi also, separately, thinks it's a little shady.
Shiyi is very good at recognising that people are scheming against her but generally doesn't bother doing anything except be snarkily mean back. After her mother dies she spends a few days being Very Upset and blaming herself (which Mother Luo absolutely encourages, saying this is all Shiyi's fault for being disobedient) before her sewing mentor Master Jian tells her to stray strong for her mother, who loved her, and Shiyi decides to take action. This is when she digs up that her sister Erniang tricked Wang Yu into being engaged to her. She tells Wang Yu what happened, which gets Erniang married to him instead. Which I guess was her only choice but still feels bad!
There's some bittersweet scenes between Yuanniang and Lingyi where they talk about both going into the marriage with good intensions but ending up estranged. On her deathbed, Yuanniang makes Lingyi promise to marry Shiyi, who he thinks is too young. She similarly makes Shiyi promise to marry him and look after her son, Zhun. She warns Shiyi that this house is dangerous, and she suspects her illness of not being natural, and then dies. DUN DUN!
A year of mourning passes. Lianfang use this time trying to win favour within the household, especially with the heir Zhun, and poison everyone against Shiyi with innuendo and sly insults.
Shiyi marries Lingyi. It's clear Madame Xu likes Lianfang more and thinks SHE should have been the wife.
Shiyi offers to make embroidery for all the women of the household. Lianfang tells the other concubines "we should make her feel bad by showing her how great our EXISTING embroidery is" and Shiyi just smiles because she doesn't care about gaining favour, she wants to investigate everyone's embroidery for Clues.
Everyone has these large collections of thin cloth with large embroidered pictures on them, just... sitting in boxes and not put into frames or anything. Do they take them out to look at sometimes? Ohh... maybe they were in frames but got taken out to show to Shiyi.
Pretty much every married guy is kinda weak and useless in the face of his more determined wife. Except Erniang's husband, and I suspect she will get the best of him in the end.
OK. NOW FINALLY ON TO NEW PLOT.
Lingyi's mother: You should spend time with your concubines.
Linyi: They just see me as a path to power and benefits.
Lingyi's mother: You are the only one they can rely on. And they care about you.
Linyi: *doubt.jpg* ...fine. I'll visit them.
Lianfang: *expresses enthusiasm for Lingyi's manly musical stylings and suggests 'playing together' in a way even I can tell is a blatant sexual proposition*
Lingyi: *Sends her a musical score*
Concubine Wen: My Lord, have this soup. It has ginseng which cost 20 taels of silver, deer antler, and pine mushrooms.
Linyi: *takes a sip, quickly puts it down* ...I have business to attend to.
Concubine Qin: Oh, are you admiring that painting? Your mother gave it to me. Do you think it's suitable to place it here?
Lingyi: Yes, it looks very nice next to the window.
Concubine Qin: :)
Lingyi: Is it by Lin Chun?
Concubine Qin: *smiles blankly* ...yes?
Lingyi: *smiles awkwardly*
OH NOOOOO they had a kid who DIED??? And she's infertile and sad about it??? She starts crying when reminded of it and he kindly but awkwardly takes his leave.
A sleeping Lingyi has a TRAUMATIC FLASHBACK to his whole family being SENTENCED TO DEATH when he was a child, because of something to do with his father. (I remember it being mentioned earlier than one of his father-in-laws helped the family survive, I think maybe Shiyi's dad?)
Lingyi gets up and encounters Shiyi in the garden, holding her Fabric Clue and praying to her mother to find the killer.
Linyi: This is a good place to think about your worries.
Shiyi: Someone as powerful as you has worries?
Lingyi: If I didn't, would you be here?
Lingyi: My new wife is sharp tongued and troublesome.
Coworker: Omg that's the most you've ever said to me about any of your wives.
TENSE EMBROIDERY EXAMINATION SCENES
Shiyi impresses her snooty princess sister-in-law Danfang with her Advanced Embroidery Knowledge.
Her less snooty sister-in-law Yizhen says "You've been looking so closely... this isn't just about making me a fan is it?"
OOOH and then Shiyi decides Yizhen is trustworthy enough to ask if she has seen anything suspicious!! Yizhen says no, and then tells Shiyi to let go of the past HMM.
Ok so earlier when Shiyi was Too Soft punishing a servant, the punishment was for stealing and selling some brocades from the Emperor. The brocades are divided between the wives, and at the suggestion of her nanny, Lianfang schemes to get the best ones. Shiyi's servants are PISSED and Shiyi's nanny hits the servant responsible, and Lianfang uses this as an excuse to get back at her. The nanny was very cruel to Lianfang at her wedding, are we supposed to feel sorry for her?
UH OH. Princess Danfang is pregnant and having complications.
Yizhen offers to pray with her and commiserates about her own difficult pregnancy (I think she either miscarried or her kids were killed). I got an intense SHE'S THE NICE SEEMING VILLAIN vibe, probably poisons anyone who looks like they might have kids.
Hmm though Concubine Wen would make more sense, since she HAS an heir to promote. But maybe Yizhen just went Crazy when her husband died, this feels like that sort of canon.
Lianfang: Lingyi will DEFINITELY want me when I'm dressed in this cool peony fabric I stole from his wife.
Lingyi: Are you familiar with the five poisons?
Lianfang: Yes. Desire, anger, ignorance, pride, and envy :)
Lingyi: When you have too many desires in your heart, you covet things that don't belong to you. Don't wear this again.
Lianfang, holding back tears: You are right of course, My Lord.
Back at her quarters she sobs and cuts the dress to pieces, crying that she just wants him to realise she's the most qualified to stay by his side.
Lianfang: What did I do wrong? ;_;
Her nanny: Nothing! This is all that illegitimate daughter's fault!!
Lianfang: Yes! If I was his legitimate wife he wouldn't slight me!!
The weight of evidence is that he would, Lianfang. I think she is going to go Crazy :/
I thought maybe the brocades would be related to the Clue but I guess this is just a fabric plot heavy story.
Lingyi: You are matron and should not let yourself be mistreated. If you directed the sharp tongue you show me at others noone would bully you.
Shiyi: Nothing bad will happen unless other people cause trouble :)
I've been describing most dialogue as what characters MEAN instead of the layered metaphor and sharp edged smiling politeness they actually use. Eg
Shiyi: The flowers in the garden are beautiful :)
Lianfang: I only like peonies, no other flower will do :)
Shiyi: There is no flower more beautiful than a peony. But some prefer other flowers. I myself prefer the plum blossom, which blooms in winter :)
Lianfang, because it wouldn't make sense for the servants to ask: I don't quite follow your meaning :)
Shiyi: The peony and plum blossom bloom at different times of year. There is no need for them to compete. But if they do... the peony may be beautiful, but it is more delicate :)
Lianfang's servant: What did she mean?
Lianfang: It doesn't matter >:(
Yeah, even I managed to figure that one out.
A guy I absolutely do not remember the identity of is being smug about a friend of Lingyi's who was killed for "treason", Hu Jin. Probably an Ou. This pisses off another guy whose name I don't remember (ah they said it, Duke Wei/Ren Kun), who was also friends with Hu Jin, and has a deciding vote on the sea ban legislation Lingyi is pushing for. Lingyi is sincere in mourning Hu Jin but not above using his death as a way to push Duke Wei to vote to lift the sea ban.
Unfortunately the sea ban was decided by an emperor, and all the officials have to be SO careful about advocating for any change that implies that any emperor in their dynasty might, at some point, have made a bad decision.
One thing I like about this show is how it compares and contrasts Shiyi and Lingyi, as both try to navigate murky frustrating situations with tact, ethics, and caution (Lingyi can be tactful when it comes to politics lol) despite being surrounded by hotheads and malicious bad actors.
Madame Xu sends Shiyi to the Xu's house in the country for dubious reasons to do with the zodiac and Danyang's pregnancy, but that's ok because that's where the leftover fabric from people's clothes is stored! CLUES!!
But the maid in charge of the country villa seems to be in Lianfang's pocket and Shiyi's nanny warns that it's a dangerous place.
Aww. Shiyi's maid Amber has always been on the outside a bit because she originally worked for Madame Luo, but Shiyi finally decides to tell her about the investigation.
Lianfang shows Zhun a puppy in secret and then Shun comes out in a rash and Lianfang uses this as an excuse to undermine Shiyi's nanny's authority. Did she poison Zhun D:
Nanny: This is all Shiyi's fault for abandoning Zhun to Lianfang!!
As much as I hate this nanny, while Shiyi does seem to care about Zhun a moderate amount she really is more of a vaguely affectionate aunt than a doting stepmother.
She FINDS FABRIC MATCHING THE CLUE IN THE XU FAMILY STORAGE!! She goes back to the capital to get Master Jian to confirm it, and Master Jian gives her a rose perfume which feels Significant.
Outside Master Jian's building, Shiyi and her maids can't find their carriage or guards, and while Amber is looking for them Shiyi and Dongqing are lured into a TRAP by an old lady!! (told to look for the woman with rose perfume, perhaps...)
Amber rushes back to inform Master Jian and then manages to bluff the guards that Shiyi is visiting her family at the Luo residence. When they ask to go in she gains a sharpness she has never exhibited before and says Mr Luo will have them SKINNED for their INSOLENCE.
It becomes clear that Lianfang organised the kidnapping, because the simple fact of being kidnapped is enough to ruin a noble woman's reputation and cause a divorce. Lianfan told the guards not to hurt them and has every intention of freeing them once a reputation ruining period of time has passed, so I guess she's not maximum evil. Yet.
Madame Luo is of course upset that Shiyi EMBARRASSED THE FAMILY ONCE AGAIN and even Master Jian thinks such a loss of reputation is worse than death, but Shiyi's brother actually cares about her safety and says that if she gets divorced he'll look after her, aww.
Usually in fiction when someone is kidnapped all they have to do is get free and explain what happened, but in this case that's what the kidnappers want, because it will still ruin Shiyi's life :( So the Luos agree NOT to call the police and instead send trusted Luo family retainers to search.
Lingyi comes back from his trip and is furious Shiyi was exiled for such a dumb reason as horoscopes. When he storms towards the Luo residence Lianfang tags along and quietly tells her maid to tell the police that poor Shiyi has been kidnapped.
Madame Luo: I'm sorry, Shiyi has just now gone out :)
Lianfang: Where to? :)
Madame Luo: In the Xu household, does the WIFE have to answer to a CONCUBINE???
Lianfang: I manage the Xu household, and am worried about Shiyi. Does Madame Luo not wish to tell us her whereabouts for some reason?
Madame Luo: Marquis Xu, will you let a concubine tell me what to do in my own house?
BITE EACH OTHER'S DICKS OFF
Lingyi tells Lianfang to apologise then asks Mr Luo himself, who lies better than I would have expected and says she's gone shopping.
Lianfang: Shiyi is taking a long time... I'm so worried! I'll send someone to find her!
Madame Luo: No, I want to make sure she's ok, I'll send someone!
Lingyi, not sure what's going on but aware both of these women would happily see Shiyi dead: I'll send my deputy.
We cut to Shiyi and Dongqing waking, tied up, in a warehouse. One of the guards reports to the police that he "heard two women calling for help". The deputy hears about this and follows along quietly.
The police show up at the Luo residence and say there's been a report of missing women from this house.
Madame Luo: No, nothing like that has happened here, good bye :)
Lingyi: *narrows eyes*
Lianfang: Oh my goodness, I just heard from my maid that the guards say Shiyi hasn't been seen leaving this house today? :)
Lingyi: What. Where on earth is-
Shiyi: Mother, father, I'm back! Oh, hello my lord :)
Madame Luo: Come, Shiyi, I will show you some fabric before you go and we can
ha! Shiyi got Dongqing to shout that she'd collapsed and then knock the guard out with a pot when he went to check.
Aww and then Master Jiang and Shiyi's brother found her from the smell of rose perfume? I'm sorry I doubted you Master Jiang. Unless you turn out to be evil after all.
Madame Luo: Huh, you were actually quick witted. Keep an eye on that concubine, she kept reminding Lord Xu that you were missing. And someone reported you missing to the police.
Shiyi: on't worry, Mother, I know what to do.
oooh complex shifting alliances!!
Shiyi is surprised Lingyi is so determined that she be allowed back at the main house and he says he's not going to let his wife be treated unfairly.
Shiyi: Those guards were so incompetent, vanishing for so long just as I was ready to go home. But I shouldn't complain, I should be grateful Lianfang was kind enough to decide to spend the day with you, reminding you I was missing :)
Lingyi: ...I will interrogate those guards.
Lingyi doesn't outright accuse Lianfang of kidnapping Shiyi, but he does berate her for hiring the housekeeper who hired the 'incompetent' guards, and the housekeeper is fired. She acts contrite but is of course just angry to have been foiled.
Aw, Shiyi doesn't have any money, I guess because Lianfang has been cutting her allowance, so she gives her maids hairpins from her dowry as thanks for saving her, they're all really sweet together.
Zhun has fallen into a coma D: Shiyi didn't even know he'd been sick and flashes back to promising to take care of him.
Just as Madume Xu is about to kick Shiyi out so Lianfang can keep taking care of Zhun, Shiyi suggests a Luo family skin medicine, and Lingyi insists she be allowed to try it. When it works, he also insists Shiyi be the one to take care of Zhun from now on.
Yeah, I wouldn't want Lianfang anywhere near my kids either.
We see Shiyi playing with a healed Zhun, who hides behind her when Lingyi comes to check on him.
Aww Concubine Wen's son Yu comes to check on his little brother and she pulls him away just as Shiyi is welcoming him.
Shiyi's nanny: Madame doesn't want them to be close. A concubine's son is not the same as the heir.
Shiyi, a concubine's daughter: It would be nice if they could be friends :(
Concubine Wen: Don't visit Zhen when he's sick, what would you say if he got worse while you were with him?
Yu: :(
Awww
Meanwhile Concubine Qin helps look after Zhun, saying she cares about her duty to the Xu family more than gossip.
Lianfang tries to make Shiyi look bad for not letting Zhun eat something that will give him a stomach ache, so she changes it to asking him if he chooses to eat it and get a stomach ache, and when she puts it like that he doesn't want it any more. The she gets him to give it to his dad as a present instead and they have a cute bonding moment aww.
