Recaps

Old Madam Lin confronted Lin Huabin over his treatment of Lin Yunwan and arranged to investigate Lingxiang’s case. When Lin Yunwan visited Lingxiang, Lingxiang revealed that Zheng Shi had allegedly orchestrated events to drive Lin Yunwan away and seize her late mother’s enormous dowry.

• Old Madam Lin warned Lin Huabin that his treatment of Lin Yunwan could damage his reputation, but he complained that she favored his brothers.
• Lin Huabin and Zheng Shi left, and Old Madam Lin coughed up blood before admitting she blamed herself for how her son had turned out.
• Old Madam Lin decided to investigate Lingxiang’s case so Zheng Shi could not cause further trouble for Lin Yunwan.
• Lin Yunwan met Lingxiang alone, and Lingxiang claimed Zheng Shi had drugged herself to drive Lin Yunwan away and gain access to her late mother’s dowry.

At Old Madam Lin’s birthday celebrations, Lin Yunwan’s reputation improved and she encouraged Dong Shuangshuang to help herself rather than intervene for her. After Lin Yunjiao confronted her, Yunwan suggested that Zheng Shi might have endangered Yunjiao before she was born, leaving Yunjiao rushing to confront her mother.

• Old Madam Lin warmly welcomed her family at the banquet and praised Lin Huabin, while Zheng Shi left after being snubbed.
• Lin Yunwan listened to guests speculate about Qi Lingheng’s absence, then met Dong Shuangshuang and urged her to find a way to help herself; Dong Shuangshuang offered to testify about Yunwan’s stepmother.
• After the birthday celebrations, Nanny Fan praised Lin Yunwan’s pattern tracing and said Old Madam Lin hoped she would make her a forehead band.
• Lin Yunjiao confronted Lin Yunwan, insisting that Yunwan could not take what belonged to her, and Yunwan told her to ask Zheng Shi whether she had drugged herself despite the danger to Yunjiao.
• Lin Yunjiao ran to Zheng Shi’s courtyard in tears, while Lin Yunwan returned to Bixi Hall to consider finding a suitable husband.

Old Madam Lin questioned the wet nurse and Taoist fortune-teller about the scheme that had harmed Lin Yunwan, exposing Zheng Shi’s role. Lin Huabin returned home and slapped Zheng Shi, while Lin Yunwan met her former wet nurse before the woman left the Lin residence.

• Old Madam Lin questioned the wet nurse, who said someone serving Madam had drugged her so she slept through Lin Yunwan’s injury.
• The Taoist fortune-teller confessed that Second Madam had paid her twenty taels to falsely claim Lin Yunwan was fated to bring calamity upon her parents.
• Old Madam Lin ordered the fortune-teller sent to the authorities, and Lin Huabin admitted he had been deceived and pleaded for Zheng Shi’s punishment to remain private.
• Old Madam Lin warned Lin Huabin to conduct himself properly, and he returned to his residence and slapped Zheng Shi.
• Lin Yunwan agreed to see the wet nurse, who praised her, kowtowed, and left; Xiruo escorted her out and asked about Lin Yunwan’s birth mother and dowry.

Lin Yunwan learned that Lingxiang had returned to her family and chose not to investigate further, then prepared to visit Ci'en Temple after receiving an invitation from Madam Dong. Zheng Shi tried to regain Lin Huabin’s favor by offering to arrange Lin Yunwan’s marriage, but he refused and warned her to stay out of it.

• Lin Yunwan asked Xiruo to check on Lingxiang, and the Eldest Madam let Lingxiang leave the Lin Residence with silver while secretly having her followed.
• Lingxiang returned to her hometown, reunited with her family, and chose to stay to care for her deaf father; after learning she met no one, Old Madam Lin ended the investigation.
• Lin Yunwan decided not to pursue Lingxiang and accepted Madam Dong’s invitation to meet at Ci'en Temple, arranging to go offer an Eternal Light Lamp for her late mother.
• Lin Huabin visited Zheng Shi, whose face was scarred from an accidental cut during their quarrel, and cautioned her against causing more trouble.
• Zheng Shi offered to arrange a good marriage for Lin Yunwan to restore their reputations, but Lin Huabin refused and ordered her to stay out of Lin Yunwan’s marriage.

Lin Yunwan went to Ci'en Temple hoping to meet Dong Shuangshuang, but learned that Dong was unable to come after being abused by her husband. Lin Yunwan decided Dong was still suited to help with an important task: finding Lin Yunwan a husband.

• Lin Yunwan stopped attending Nanny Fan's lessons and heard that Lin Yunjiao was still ill.
• Lin Yunwan visited Ci'en Temple to pray for her family and wait for Dong Shuangshuang, but Dong missed their appointment.
• Dong Shuangshuang's maid claimed the couple's daughter had choked, while hiding that Dong's husband had beaten her after gambling away money and risking their daughter's marriage as collateral.
• Lin Yunwan sent the maid home and reflected that Dong's husband needed to be stopped at the root, not merely beaten.
• Lin Yunwan told Xiruo that Dong was well suited to discreetly choose a husband for her.

Lin Yunwan decided to choose her own husband and rejected the idea of marrying Qi Lingheng, both to protect him and because the imperial family would not accept her past. After she encountered Xia Jin in Jiangqian, she stayed cautious about being recognized and sent word to Qi Lingheng that she was safe, while Xiruo urged him to understand how reluctant Lin Yunwan was to ask for help.

• Lin Yunwan told Xiruo she wanted a shrewd, responsible husband from a respectable family, but would not marry Qi Lingheng because doing so could harm him and invite the emperor and empress's wrath.
• Lin Yunwan and Xiruo left Ci'en Temple and encountered Xia Jin, who seemed to recognize Lin Yunwan; she decided he would not expose her because he had no proof.
• Back at Bixi Hall, Lin Yunwan waited for Shuangshuang and anticipated that Zheng Shi would try to arrange her marriage.
• Lin Yunwan wrote to Qi Lingheng and instructed Xiruo to report only that they were safe, refusing to ask him for help with Madam Dong's affairs.
• Xiruo told Qi Lingheng that Lin Yunwan repaid kindness but feared troubling others, and that he could not learn whether she was well merely by questioning her maid.

Lin Yunwan learned that Dong Shuangshuang was being abused by her gambling husband and feared for her daughter’s future, while Dong Shuangshuang’s booklet listed suitable Jiangqian families. The next day, Dong Shuangshuang returned in tears after discovering Lu Rong had taken her daughter to the creditor not to end the engagement, but to use the girl to bargain over his debt.

• Dong Shuangshuang showed Lin Yunwan her bruised face and explained that Lu Rong had wagered their daughter’s engagement, while claiming he would end it and handle his debt.
• Lin Yunwan questioned whether Dong Shuangshuang could trust a gambler and said she would need to act decisively to protect her daughter.
• Dong Shuangshuang left Lin Yunwan a booklet detailing prominent Jiangqian families and eligible young men.
• The next day, Dong Shuangshuang arrived with her daughter and told Lin Yunwan that Lu Rong had lied about breaking off the engagement.
• Dong Shuangshuang recounted how Lu Rong demanded that the creditor accept repayment of only the original three thousand taels after revealing the creditor’s son was disabled.
• The creditor agreed to accept the original loan, but Lu Rong refused, having brought his daughter to the creditor to bargain over his gambling debt.

Lu Rong traded his daughter’s future for gambling money, prompting Dong Shuangshuang to seek Lin Yunwan’s help. Lin Yunwan planned to use one of Lu Rong’s ruthless creditors against him while preparing for Zheng Shi’s attempt to arrange a match for her.

• Lu Rong demanded another two thousand taels from his creditor and signed a marriage contract promising his daughter to the creditor’s simple-minded son, then took the money to gamble.
• Dong Shuangshuang brought her frightened daughter to Lin Yunwan and admitted she had decided to act against Lu Rong; Lin Yunwan asked about his creditors, especially the loan sharks.
• Lin Yunwan whispered a plan to Dong Shuangshuang, and Xiruo kept watch while Dong Shuangshuang left with her sleeping daughter.
• Xiruo learned that Zheng Shi’s relatives had visited the Lin Residence, and Lin Yunwan concluded Zheng Shi wanted to arrange a match for her.
• Lin Yunwan told Xiruo that Master had always approved the household’s major decisions and said she would make things unpleasant for Zheng Shi if Zheng Shi moved against her.

Zheng Shi proposed her eighteen-year-old xiucai nephew as a husband for Yun Wan, while Lin Huabin considered using the match to gauge Zhao Jingyi’s attitude. Lin Huabin agreed to ask Yun Wan first, but Zheng Shi secretly resolved to force her approval and arranged a banquet for the meeting.

• Zheng Shi told Lin Huabin that her young, unmarried xiucai nephew needed a match and praised his prospects of passing the juren examination.
• Zheng Shi suggested that the nephew marry Yun Wan, and Lin Huabin angrily reminded her that Yun Wan’s marriage was not her concern.
• Lin Huabin reconsidered the proposal as a possible way to test Zhao Jingyi’s attitude and said they should ask Yun Wan what she wanted.
• Zheng Shi told Nanny Fan that Yun Wan would have to agree and ordered a banquet where Yun Wan would meet the Zheng relatives.

Lin Yunwan learned that Zheng Shi had arranged a banquet to introduce her to a xiucai from her natal family, so she visited Lin Yunjiao before the gathering. While Lin Yunjiao caused a scene with Zheng Shi’s relatives, Lin Yunwan went with Old Madam Lin to Ci'en Temple, leaving the banquet in chaos.

• Nanny Fan told Lin Yunwan to wear Zheng Shi’s new clothes to welcome relatives, but Lin Yunwan questioned the arrangement and asked whether Lin Yunjiao would attend too.
• Lin Yunwan visited Lin Yunjiao and said something privately that left her silent for the rest of the evening.
• Zheng Shi grew anxious when her bangle cracked, then ordered Nanny Fan to prepare the banquet and hurry Lin Yunwan along.
• A maid told Zheng Shi that Lin Yunjiao had attacked Zheng Shi’s sister-in-law and other relatives with scissors, accusing them of wearing her clothes and sleeping in her bed.
• Zheng Shi rushed to the fight and demanded to know where Lin Yunwan was, while Lin Yunwan had already gone to Ci'en Temple with Old Madam Lin.
• Old Madam Lin praised Lin Yunwan’s talents and led her to sit in a cool place, as chaos continued at the Lin Residence.

Old Madam Lin questioned Lin Yunwan about her countryside upbringing and privately wondered whether her unusual qualities were connected to the Lin family’s past. Yunwan recognized that Old Madam would not protect her marriage prospects, then went shopping and watched a tavern and gambling den frequented by Lu Rong.

• Old Madam Lin questioned Lin Yunwan about her life in the countryside, then discussed with Nanny Fan her suspicions about Yunwan and the person who had targeted the second branch.
• Lin Yunwan told Xiruo that Old Madam suspected she had gathered people around her in the countryside but did not suspect her true identity, and that she could not rely on Old Madam to secure her future.
• Lin Yunwan asked to shop while the carriages were delayed, and Old Madam Lin allowed her to go with Xiruo and attendants.
• Lin Yunwan bought jewelry and rested at a teahouse overlooking a tavern and gambling den that Dong Shuangshuang said Lu Rong often visited.

Dong Shuangshuang tricked Lu Rong into taking fake silver to the gambling house, where he was caught trying to gamble with it. Lin Yunwan watched the commotion from a teahouse and met Qi Lingheng’s gaze across the street as he sent A Fu toward the gambling house.

• Lu Rong forced Dong Shuangshuang to hand over her mother’s gold neck ring, but she secretly used a fake one to deceive him.
• Dong Shuangshuang sent silver to Lu Rong at the gambling house, intending it to pay his debt to Li Laosan.
• Lu Rong gave five hundred taels to the boy to repay part of his debt, then carried the rest into the gambling house to gamble.
• The gambling house shut its doors, and Lu Rong screamed that his silver was not fake as people drove him out.
• Lin Yunwan watched the commotion from a teahouse and recognized Qi Lingheng across the street.
• Qi Lingheng told A Fu that the residence guards were on their way and sent him to the gambling house.

Lin Yunwan let Qi Lingheng assist her during a street disturbance, then faced Lin Huabin’s questions about Lin Yunjiao and agreed to meet Zheng Shi’s visiting relatives. She planned to use the meeting to see the man Shuangshuang had chosen for her before he married someone else.

• Lin Yunwan sent Xiruo to speak with Qi Lingheng, who arranged for A Fu to help the garrison soldiers knock Lu Rong unconscious as they cleared the street.
• Lin Yunwan waited until the way was safe, then returned home and went to see Lin Huabin.
• Lin Huabin questioned Lin Yunwan about what she had said to Lin Yunjiao, but accepted her account and told her not to visit her younger sister while she was ill.
• Lin Huabin asked Lin Yunwan to meet Zheng Shi’s visiting relatives, and she agreed because she hoped to meet the husband Shuangshuang had chosen for her.

Lin Yunwan arranged to take lessons at Old Madam Lin’s courtyard and met Dong Shuangshuang, who revealed how her husband’s paralysis and her pregnancy had changed her position in the Lu family. Dong Shuangshuang also told Lin Yunwan where she could observe the scholars she was considering.

• Lin Yunwan noticed Nanny Fan’s poor health and suggested taking lessons at Old Madam Lin’s courtyard to spare her the daily journey.
• Old Madam Lin agreed to let Lin Yunwan come for lessons, and Dong Shuangshuang later visited her.
• Lin Yunwan asked Dong Shuangshuang about her husband, Lu Rong, and learned that he was paralyzed, while the Lu family had accepted Dong’s explanation about the fake silver.
• Dong Shuangshuang told Lin Yunwan she was pregnant and had persuaded Old Madam Lu to cancel her daughter’s engagement.
• Dong Shuangshuang told Lin Yunwan that the scholars she had selected belonged to the Ji Mountain Society and gathered at Ji Mountain.

Lin Huabin arranged for Wenhai to join the Ji Mountain Society after reading his essay, while Zheng Shi planned to bring him to the West Lin Residence's birthday gathering. At the garden, Lin Yunwan received a note from Dong Shuangshuang directing her to Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

• Old Madam Lin told Lin Huabin to have Zheng Shi take Lin Yunwan and Lin Yunjiao to the birthday celebration at Ji Mountain.
• Lin Huabin asked Zheng Shi to obtain an essay from Wenhai and said he would help him join the Ji Mountain Society if it was good.
• Zheng Shi hurriedly brought Wenhai's essay to Lin Huabin, who praised it and wrote a letter recommending Wenhai to the society.
• The East Lin Residence party traveled to the garden, where Lin Yunwan noticed Wenhai had brought papers and Lin Yunjiao remained in a bad mood.
• Dong Shuangshuang passed Lin Yunwan a note bearing the words Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Lin Yunwan visited Xiaoxiang Pavilion with Qi Lingheng and watched the Ji Mountain Society scholars debate, revealing that she hoped to choose a husband among them. Qi Lingheng questioned her plans and saw that Dong Shuangshuang had given her a booklet to help assess the scholars.

• Dong Shuangshuang told Lin Yunwan about Xiaoxiang Pavilion and led her toward the spot where she could watch the Ji Mountain Society scholars.
• Lin Yunwan sent Dong Shuangshuang back to keep watch, then found A Fu waiting at Xiaoxiang Pavilion and learned that Qi Lingheng was there.
• Qi Lingheng explained that the garden belonged to his maternal uncle, who planned to give it to him when he married, and invited Lin Yunwan into the pavilion.
• Lin Yunwan watched the scholars from the second floor and admitted to Qi Lingheng that she had come to choose a husband.
• Qi Lingheng asked how she could judge which scholar was trustworthy, and Lin Yunwan showed him the booklet Dong Shuangshuang had given her.

Lin Yunwan watched the Ji Mountain Society scholars with Qi Lingheng and picked three men she might consider as a husband, favoring Yan Jingzong. She devised a scheme to test the scholars’ temperaments by having an essay read aloud among them, and waited to see their reactions.

• Qi Lingheng asked Lin Yunwan which scholars had caught her eye as the Ji Mountain Society debated the way to learning.
• Lin Yunwan identified three men and named Yan Jingzong as her favorite, while Qi Lingheng warned that his name recalled the treacherous minister Xu Jingzong.
• Lin Yunwan explained that she wanted to judge the men’s temperaments through a scheme rather than choose a husband based on appearances alone.
• At Lin Yunwan’s request, Qi Lingheng had paper and a brush brought, and she wrote an essay in the scholars’ style.
• Qi Lingheng read Lin Yunwan’s essay and sent A Fu to have it slipped among the scholars’ papers and read aloud.

Lin Yunwan’s essay sparked a brawl among the Ji Mountain Society scholars, giving her a chance to observe Yan Jingzong’s character. When the Garden steward failed to settle the dispute, Qi Lingheng intervened and silenced the scholars.

• Lin Yunwan explained that her essay used School of Principle arguments in the style of the School of Mind, and the scholars began fighting over it.
• Lin Yunwan watched Yan Jingzong calmly avoid the brawl, send his book attendant for help, and speak to the Garden steward when he arrived.
• The steward failed to settle the scholars’ arguments, and Yan Jingzong could not make himself heard.
• Qi Lingheng went to the courtyard, examined Lin Yunwan’s essay, and questioned the disputing scholars until they fell silent.

At Ji Mountain Garden, Qi Lingheng confessed to Lin Yunwan that he wanted to marry her, leaving her shaken and unsure how to respond. The next day, Lin Huabin called Lin Yunwan to his study and began praising Wenhai as a marriage prospect.

• Qi Lingheng asked Lin Yunwan whether she understood that he was the one who could wield authority, then told her he wanted to marry her.
• Lin Yunwan fled from Qi Lingheng and returned to the Flower Hall, where she evaded Dong Shuangshuang’s questions about choosing a husband.
• Lin Yunjiao returned home frustrated that she had not met the Prince and demanded Zheng Shi arrange a meeting before she would go out again.
• Lin Yunwan asked Xiruo whether anything had happened with Wenhai and his mother, then heard the next day that Wenhai had exchanged essays with the Ji Mountain Society scholars but suffered a setback.
• Lin Huabin summoned Lin Yunwan to his study and began praising Wenhai, while Lin Yunwan listened without interrupting.

Lin Yunwan decided to ask Zhao Jingyi to help arrange her marriage to Yan Jingzong, refusing to let Qi Lingheng’s proposal change her plans. After reading her letter, Qi Lingheng burned it and wrote to her, determined not to let her marry Yan Jingzong.

• Lin Huabin suggested introducing Lin Yunwan to her cousin Wenhai, but she declined to encourage the match.
• Lin Yunwan considered writing to Zhao Jingyi and, after weighing her concerns about Qi Lingheng, wrote to ask him to discuss her marriage to Yan Jingzong with Lin Huabin.
• Zhao Jingyi read Lin Yunwan’s letter and joked about preparing her dowry, while Qi Lingheng read it and realized she had refused him.
• Qi Lingheng returned to his residence, burned the letter, and wrote to Lin Yunwan, determined to prevent her marriage to Yan Jingzong.

Lin Yunwan impressed Old Madam Lin with her embroidery and began learning household management from Zheng Shi, while Zheng Shi and Wenhai’s mother maneuvered to arrange a marriage between Lin Yunwan and Wenhai. Lin Yunjiao learned that Lin Yunwan had received a gold bracelet and, angered that she had received nothing, went after her when she next visited Zheng Shi.

• Lin Yunwan showed Old Madam Lin and Nanny Fan her improved embroidery, then agreed to learn household affairs from Zheng Shi.
• Lin Yunwan met Wenhai’s mother, who gave her a flimsy gold bracelet, and met Wenhai when he came to Zheng Shi’s quarters.
• After Lin Yunwan left, Wenhai’s mother asked Zheng Shi about marrying Wenhai to Lin Yunwan, and Zheng Shi said Lin Yunwan and Lin Huabin would have to agree.
• Lin Yunjiao heard that Lin Yunwan had received a gold bracelet, became furious that she had received none, and decided to confront her.
• Lin Yunjiao followed Lin Yunwan to Zheng Shi’s quarters on her next visit, frightening Wenhai.

Lin Yunwan told Qi Lingheng plainly that she did not want to marry him, though he had arranged for her to meet the Yan family at the Zhao Residence banquet. Qi Lingheng then offered her a letter from Yun Yi, leaving her eager to hear from her brother and mother.

• Lin Yunjiao interrupted Zheng Shi's visit with Wen Mu and later confronted Wenhai, who fled from her before she stopped him.
• Wenhai returned to the Front Courtyard discouraged by his performance at the Ji Mountain Society and his meeting with Lin Yunjiao.
• Lin Yunwan learned that the Zhao Residence would host a banquet and received a letter from Qi Lingheng saying the Yan family would attend.
• At the banquet, Lin Yunwan met Qi Lingheng and told him she did not want to marry him.
• Qi Lingheng said he did not blame Lin Yunwan and offered her a letter from Yun Yi.

Lin Yunwan learned her mother could see again and discovered that Qi Lingheng had secretly given her a gold hairpin, which she refused to wear. Determined to investigate Yan Jingzong, she accepted Qi Lingheng’s offer to observe him, while their banter revealed her growing awareness of Qi Lingheng’s appearance.

• Lin Yunwan thanked Qi Lingheng for arranging Seventh Master Li’s visit after she received word that her mother could see people again.
• Qi Lingheng admitted that he had given Lin Yunwan the gold hairpin, and she said she had even less reason to wear it once she knew it came from him.
• Lin Yunwan told Qi Lingheng she had come to learn about Yan Jingzong, and he offered to help her observe him.
• Lin Yunwan agreed to follow Qi Lingheng, who led her to a courtyard wall where she could watch Yan Jingzong speak with a maid.
• Lin Yunwan saw Yan Jingzong and teased Qi Lingheng about whether he was satisfied with her answer, then privately reflected that Qi Lingheng was the most striking man she had ever seen.

Qi Lingheng showed Lin Yunwan how a maid’s advances tested Yan Jingzong’s propriety, then urged Lin to consider marrying him. Lin refused, saying a marriage to him would bring trouble beyond her ability to handle, and she returned to the Zhao household’s gathering.

• Lin Yunwan watched a maid approach Yan Jingzong with a poem, and Yan eventually offered her advice while keeping their interaction proper.
• Qi Lingheng warned Lin Yunwan that the maid’s pursuit could lead to trouble if Yan failed to refuse her, then claimed no woman could approach him without his permission.
• Qi Lingheng asked Lin Yunwan to consider marrying him, but she said she did not want to take on the unpredictable trouble that marrying him would bring.
• Lin Yunwan left Qi Lingheng, found Xiruo, and returned to the Zhao household’s gathering.
• Zheng Shi urged Lin Yunwan to join the poetry and ci gathering, but Lin declined, saying Nanny Fan had not taught her to compose them.

Lin Yunjiao endured a poetry gathering at the Zhao Residence, then encountered Wenhai and quarreled with him. The next day, Lin Yunwan asked Zheng Shi to let her choose a capable household helper, but Zheng Shi resisted.

• Zheng Shi sent Lin Yunjiao to the Zhao Residence to write poetry and impress Madam Zhao, but Lin Yunjiao grew frustrated and complained that she never saw the Prince.
• On the way home, Lin Yunjiao met Wenhai, demanded to see his composition, and was left dumbfounded when he stepped on her foot and ran away.
• Lin Yunwan declined Wen Mu's request to trace a pattern and explained that the gold bracelet Wen Mu had given her was bent out of shape.
• When Zheng Shi tried to make Lin Yunwan stay and learn household management, Lin Yunwan said she wanted to choose a capable person from the residence to assist her.
• Zheng Shi objected that it was too soon for Lin Yunwan to learn how to employ people, while Lin Yunjiao watched Wenhai sitting silently nearby.