Episode 30 recap: Chu Lan of the Chuwang faction made a move against Si Tu Jiu Yue.
Xue Fang Fei deliberately approached Shen Yu Rong in hopes of finding leverage against him, but Shen Yu Rong avoided meeting her. Xue Fang Fei was troubled, thinking about Shen Yu Rong's motivations, and directly asked him about the Xue family matters. Shen Yu Rong pretended to be unconcerned, making Xue Fang Fei feel disgusted by his feigned indifference. Xiao Heng felt sorry for her and advised her not to jeopardize herself in her pursuit of the truth. Shen Yu Rong assigned Xue Fang Fei to the Music Bureau, and Jiang Jing Rui stood up for her.
Xue Fang Fei suspected Shen Yu Rong had a trump card, knowing he was primarily responsible for compiling classics, and wanted to catch him and Wan Ning out. Xue Fang Fei joined the Music Bureau, but her chance to perform solo was taken over by Mr. Xiao, who deliberately mocked her pride and forced her to only play in accompaniment.
During rehearsals, Mr. Xiao intentionally made Xue Fang Fei fall behind the musical score, and she stayed behind to practice alone. Wen Ji, stumbling and bruised, finally found Si Tu Jiu Yue but was bitten by a venomous snake. Xiao Heng had Xue Fang Fei stay at the Duke's residence for her safety while awaiting the Prince of Zhao's arrival.
Si Tu Jiu Yue was quite pleased, but Xiao Heng asked for her help in saving the two. Si Tu Jiu Yue guessed Xiao Heng was helping Xue Fang Fei, and had her accompany him in catching spiders, deliberately staging a drowning incident to test Xiao Heng's intentions.
Shen Yu Rong presided over the alliance meeting, and Mr. Xiao, concerned that Xue Fang Fei's rehearsal schedule was exhausting her, informed Shen Yu Rong, who then had her temporarily suspend rehearsals to rest. Ye Shi Jie sent medicine to Xue Fang Fei, who hoped he would speak for her before the Emperor and planned to introduce innovative performance forms.
Hong Xiao Di supported Xue Fang Fei's idea, leaving Shen Yu Rong without a counterargument. When Xue Fang Fei went to the Hanlin Academy to see Shen Yu Rong, she coincidentally encountered Zhao Qi, who teased her about her relationship with Shen Yu Rong.
Shen Yu Rong arranged for Xue Fang Fei to perform with Zhao Qi, and she did not refuse, instead having Xue'er bring out a cloud brocade handkerchief to negotiate with Zhao Qi. Zhao Qi had initially wanted to enjoy Xue Fang Fei's performance, but found himself entangled in her scheme. Xue Fang Fei used the cloud brocade handkerchief to tempt Zhao Qi into asking Shen Yu Rong not to have them perform together, and Zhao Qi reluctantly complied.
Shen Yu Rong reprimanded Zhao Qi, saying he should focus on the Zhao envoy matters and not have personal emotions. When Zhao Qi's request was rejected, Xue Fang Fei again manipulated him to act out a quarrel with her, deliberately making Shen Yu Rong think their relationship was special and that they could not perform together due to their previous matchmaking attempt.
Shen Yu Rong saw Zhao Qi angrily leave and asked Xue Fang Fei about the reason. Xue Fang Fei believed Shen Yu Rong was deliberately obstructing her, and declared she would not give up. Shen Yu Rong had no choice but to say he would find her another performing partner.
The next day, the young master Du came to the Hanlin Academy, and coincidentally encountered Zhao Qi, asking him why he did not accept the good opportunity.
Zhao Qi deliberately told Xue Fang Fei that he was not, frightening Du Gongzi that the matter was not as good as imagined. Du Gongzi believed it to be true and pretended to have diarrhea and could not rehearse, not knowing that Zhao Qi had already been bribed by Xue Fang Fei, who promised to give him a pearl necklace.
The rain was pouring, and Xue Fang Fei was late for the rehearsal. Upon learning that Du Gongzi did not come, she pretended not to know. Shen Yu Rong comforted her and asked her to wait until the rain stopped before leaving. Xue Fang Fei saw the remaining scroll and recalled the past, and learned that Shen Yu Rong was going to compile it into a classic.
The two had a long conversation, and Xue Fang Fei probed Shen Yu Rong's state of mind. Though they did not explicitly state it, they both understood each other. Xue Fang Fei left the Hanlin Academy, unable to suppress her nausea, and Xiao Heng saw her wearing Shen Yu Rong's clothes and took her back to the Duke's mansion.
The two joked about each other's singleness, and Xiao Heng reminded her that getting close to Shen Yu Rong was dangerous. Xue Fang Fei was confident, and she wanted to find Shen Yu Rong's weakness, even if it meant facing Wan Ning. Xiao Heng hoped she wouldn't include him in her schemes, saying he couldn't afford the loss.
Shen Yu Rong returned home and was questioned by his mother. His mother reminded him that the life he had now was not easy to come by, and he should not offend Wan Ning or associate with Xue Fang Fei. Shen Yu Rong said he knew what he should do and asked his mother not to interfere. Si Tu Jiu Yue was drunk, and Xiao Heng planned to keep her locked up in the Duke's mansion until the Great Zhao envoy arrived in Yan.
Xiao Heng asked Wen Ji to stay, and he and Lu Ji went out to handle some business. Chu Lan and the others had already tracked them down and were waiting for an opportunity to attack Si Tu Jiu Yue. When Si Tu Jiu Yue woke up, she shouted that she wanted to go treat Xue Huai Yuan, and Wen Ji, fearing the military stick, accompanied her to the Ye family.
Ye Shi Jie, hearing that they were Xiao Heng's people, did not let them in. Si Tu Jiu Yue unleashed a poisonous spider, and Ye Shi Jie was immediately poisoned at the corners of his mouth. He had no choice but to watch as Si Tu Jiu Yue prepared the poison for Xue Huai Yuan.
Si Tu Jiu Yue sent Wen Ji away, intending to slip away quietly, but was ambushed by Chu Lan. She and Wen Ji were no match for Chu Lan, and both were seriously injured. Wen Ji antidoted Ye Shi Jie so he could go find Xiao Heng, and Si Tu Jiu Yue had no choice but to gamble, throwing a smoke grenade, causing all three to pass out.
Comments(Episode 30)