This episode opens with the Emperor asking Minister Fan to debrief the Imperial Court on the official court restructuring plan (basically new rules to promote ministers that are capable, replace corrupted and useless ones, and strip the power of high-ranking officials to appoint their own family members as ministers).
At the same time, Noble Consort Zhang (I like her) meets up with her younger brother, Zhang Gui (Yu Jin’s BFF). ZG asks help from the Noble Consort to secure a position as an official through the Emperor (cause Yu Jin has one too, LOL). The consort tells him that it maybe bad timing at the moment due to Minister Fan’s court restructuring (duh) but ZG being a child, whines and tells that she’s the Emperor’s favourite – so getting him a job shouldn’t be too difficult. Unable to resist her younger brother, she promises him that she will speak to the Emperor.
Back at the Imperial Court, the Emperor asks if anyone has an opinion on Minister Fan’s suggestion. The old general and Ye Zhao verbally supports the restructuring. Everyone in the court ends up agreeing – I’m pretty surprised there wasn’t any disagreement from Qi Wang’s side.
The court is dismissed and Noble Consort bumps into Minister Fan. She brings up ZG’s matters and asks him for his opinion (very politely, might I add). Minister Fan tells her that he is in no position to decide and will speak to the emperor about it. He looks a little upset as he leaves. Honestly, the Noble Consort as nice as she is, couldn’t have found a worst time to do this.
Minister Fan meets the emperor and starts bombarding the emperor with questions about the court restructuring and the emperor’s commitments to the restructuring. The Emperor gets a little annoyed and asks him what’s up. Minister Fan replied with “Ask Noble Consort Zhang” (what a child!!! hahaha). The emperor tells Minister Fan that the official position that Zhang Gui is asking for is a very low and unimportant position. He tells Minister Fan not to worry about it. Minister Fan, clearly agitated, tells the Emperor that if he bends the rules for Noble Consort today, there will be more people coming to him asking to bend the rules. As he explains (more like tells off the emperor) this to the emperor, he walks closer and closer to the emperor whilst raising his voice.
The emperor replies with a “how dare you?” and walks off. Not before smacking Minister Fan in the face with his hat though, LOL.
I would say that the emperor is more annoyed with the situation (getting sandwiched between your employee and wife is no fun) instead of upset at Minister Fan. The emperor walks into the Noble Consort’s place and tells her what just happened. Noble Consort says that she didn’t think it would be that big of a deal since what Zhang Gui was asking for is a lowly position. The emperor understands where she is coming from but tells her that she has to understand what type of person Minister Fan is (basically inflexible). The Noble Consort, realising that she brought trouble to the emperor, apologises for being unthoughtful and asks for forgiveness. The emperor smiles and thanks the noble consort for being so understanding.
Back in Qi Wang’s manor, Qi Wang is told that Minister Fan is currently investigating his assets. Qi Wang says that he already knows and it’s no big deal. Lu Ye (the sidekick) worryingly tells him that Minister Fan is powerful in the Imperial Court and favoured by the emperor. Not only did the emperor not punish him for raising his voice, the emperor even went to the noble consort to advise her against asking for a position for Zhang Gui. Qi Wang explains that he has been acting accordingly in the Imperial Court and hasn’t upset anyone in the court or the Pugilistic world. As long as he takes a step back at the moment and hide under the radar, no harm will come to them. He explains that the casino he has is official and has been bestowed to him by the royal family ages ago. On top of that, the emperor has accepted the gambling money won by Yu Jin for the Emperess Dowager’s birthday previously. He then asks about Xiao Ma Que (the boy that caused the whole casino trouble) and the spy they have in place (very vague, but I’m assuming it is Hong Qiang??). He tells Lu Ye to kill the spy if he/she is of no use to them.
Qi Wang’s wife (Yu Er) brings him some food. Qi Wang apologises for not spending enough time with her and having to have her travel back and forth from the city to the land of Qi all the time. He promises to give her a more stable life in two year and to relocate them in the city (definitely talking about the throne).
Back at Lu Ye’s place, he is unhappy about Qi Wang’s decision to remain passive and decides to help Qi Wang to get rid of Minister Fan’s investigations. He asks for Xiao Gui Zi (the empress dowager’s servant who worked for him after the empress dowager’s death).
Xiao Gui Zi goes to Yu Jin’s manor and looks for Xiao Xia Zi. He asks Xiao Xia Zi that he is interested in meeting the Hong Qiang that XXZ has been talking about so much. XGZ meet Hong Qiang and asks Hong Qiang for her lantern.
After a few days, the three of them meet up again. XGZ told Hong Qiang that he managed to sell her lantern for a profit. He suggested that three of them set up a lantern business – with Hong Qiang’s writing, he promises that the lanterns will sell well. Hong Qiang seems reluctant as she thinks that Minister Fan wouldn’t agree. Seeing this as an opportunity to spend more time with Hong Qiang, XXZ agrees with XGZ. He tells Hong Qiang that she can use the profits to buy something nice as a gift to Minister Fan since his birthday is coming soon. Hong Qiang happily agrees. XXZ looks at Hong Qiang happily while XGZ looks on evilly.
The three of them sets up their stall in the city. A lady in pink walks up to them saying that she admires Hong Qiang’s writing. She asks Hong Qiang if she is willing to write some words for her in her manor – offering them a lot of money. Hearing the price, they quickly agree. XXZ tells XGZ to follow Hong Qiang to the lady’s manor as he needs to go back to Yu Jin’s manor. After XXZ leaves, XGZ makes up some lame excuse and says that he needs to leave as well – Hong Qiang tells XGZ to not worry about her. The lady offers to send Hong Qiang home after she is done. I knew something was up when Hong Qiang said that her writing can’t be differentiated from Minister Fan’s writing!!!
Hong Qiang follows the pink lady to…. Lu Ye’s home! Turns out, she’s Lu Ye’s wife. Hong Qiang looks at the document she’s been told to copy. She takes a look at the document and it is Minister Fan’s document on the court restructuring.
Back at Yu Jin’s manor, Yu Jin sees XXZ staring at Hong Qiang’s lantern like an idiot. Yu Jin takes a look at the lantern and praises Hong Qiang’s writing and comments on how it is similar to Minister Fan’s writing.
At night, Ye Zhao’s grandfather tells XXZ that he saw XXZ with Hong Qiang in the market selling lanterns. XXZ tells him that he must not tell anyone about them selling the lanterns. Grandpa Ye then gives XXZ some tips on how to win Hong Qiang over (lol).
Hong Qiang finishes writing and leaves the room. Lu Ye pops into the room and comments on how the written document looks as if it is written by Minister Fan himself. He comments that they can now control Song and help Da Xia grow.
Back at Qi Wang’s manor, Yu Er asks Qi Wang if he remembers what day is it today. Qi Wang doesn’t and tells Yu Er to tell him what she wants as he is busy with work. Yu Er gets upset and walks out of the room. Qi Wang sighs and walks out of his room. Just as he steps into the garden, he receives an arrow with a message (I wonder if they ever accidentally get killed by these secret messages).
And… Yu Er sees everything.
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Thoughts:
Well, this wasn’t a fun episode to recap. I’m honestly confused as to whether Hong Qiang is on who’s side. She seems to be the spy Qi Wang is talking about but at the same time, she seems to be on Qi Wang’s side! I’m also trying to understand how the restructuring document copied by Hong Qiang can lead help Da Xia. I can’t help but feel like the writer is overcomplicating everything – hopefully they’ll be able to close all these loose ends.
No Coffee Please 