Recaps

Zhao Ruyu planned to secretly take the Women's Academy examination while the old marchioness investigated whether Xu Xue or Xu Xi was the residence's true daughter. Matron Ruan returned with evidence supporting Xu Xue's identity, but the old marchioness continued to investigate Lady Wei's motives.

• Zhao Ruyu told Fushu to arrange a carriage so she could sneak out and take the Women's Academy examination.
• The old marchioness questioned Steward Liu about the day's events and ordered him to have the wet nurse questioned again.
• The old marchioness sent Matron Jin to investigate Xu Xue and Xu Xi's identities and secretly watch Little Banyan Village for contact from Lady Wei.
• The old marchioness sent for Matron Ruan, reprimanded her for failing to prevent Lady Wei from causing a scene, and asked her which girl was the young lady.
• Matron Ruan reported that villagers said Xu Xue resembled Madam Xie and was her birth daughter, easing the old marchioness's concerns about the girls' identities.

The marquis’s household sent servants to Little Banyan Village to manage the dispute over Xu Xi and Xu Xue, while Lady Wei secretly tried to persuade the clan leader to send Xu Xue to the household. Matron Ruan exposed that Xu Xue resembled Madam Xie and brought Matron Li to see the Xu Family, leaving them arriving at Xu Yongyi’s home.

• The old marchioness ordered Matron Ruan to stop further village visits and focus on the prefectural office, while Lady Zhu offered to visit Xu Xi if she refused to return.
• Lady Wei gave Matron Li a hundred-tael banknote and sent her to persuade Xu Chengguan to have Xu Yongyi send Xu Xue to the marquis’s household.
• Matron Ruan and Steward Liu arrived at Xu Chengguan’s house and found Matron Li there with the banknote.
• Matron Li claimed Lady Wei wanted to prevent Xu Yongyi from passing off his daughter as Xu Xi, but Matron Ruan said Xu Xue closely resembled Madam Xie and was her birth daughter.
• Matron Ruan took Matron Li to the Xu Family’s home, where Madam Xie welcomed them inside so they could inspect her and Xu Xue.

Matron Ruan and Matron Li saw Madam Xie and Xu Xue together and realized Xu Xue resembled her mother, while Xu Xi looked unlike Lady Wei and Zhao Yuanliang. After hearing Xu Xi’s demands for proof, the old madam learned the wet nurse had described a red mole behind Xu Xi’s ear and planned to verify it before bringing her back.

• Matron Ruan and Matron Li inspected Madam Xie, Xu Xue, and Xu Xi, and Xu Xi warned them not to bring her to the marquis’s residence without resolving doubts about her identity.
• Madam Xie insisted Xu Xue was her daughter and warned Matron Li not to take her by force.
• Matron Ruan returned to the marquis’s residence and reported the visit and Xu Xi’s words to the old madam and Lady Zhu.
• Steward Liu reported that the wet nurse had identified a tiny red mole behind the switched child’s ear and accused a former matron of arranging the exchange.
• The old madam told Matron Ruan to check for the mole, and Lady Zhu offered to bring Xu Xi back herself if her identity was confirmed.

Xu Xi and Xu Xue learned that they had both been admitted to the Women's Academy, then received their academy tokens and enrollment instructions. The sisters left with the information they needed to prepare for reporting to the academy.

• Madam Xie warned Xu Xi that her blunt behavior might make life difficult at the marquis's manor, but Xu Xi said she would not let others dictate her life.
• Xu Xi, Xu Xue, and Xu Yongyi went to the Women's Academy to see the examination results.
• Madam Cui's maid read the admissions list, naming Xu Xi first and Xu Xue second among the forty-six successful candidates.
• Xu Xi took Xu Xue and Xu Yongyi to a teahouse to avoid the crowd, then returned to the academy after it dispersed.
• Xu Xi and Xu Xue exchanged their examination tokens for engraved academy tokens and received papers listing the enrollment date and requirements.

Xu Xi took Xu Xue and Xu Yongyi to explore the county seat, hoping to find a way for the family to earn money while deciding whether she could afford to board at the academy. After surveying the shops, she entered a jewelry store and asked to see designs for a custom piece for her mother.

• Xu Xi decided she would live in the county seat rather than board, and asked Xu Yongyi to stop the cart so they could look for ways to make money.
• Xu Xi, Xu Xue, and Xu Yongyi walked through the county seat, where Xu Xi sampled snacks and explored the shops while considering the family's expenses.
• Xu Xi led Xu Xue and Xu Yongyi into a jewelry shop despite their worries about spending money.
• Xu Xi asked the shop assistant for a catalog so she could choose a distinctive design for a piece of jewelry for her mother's birthday.

Xu Xi and Xu Xue passed the entrance examination for the Women's Academy, and Xu Xi explored jewelry designs as a possible way to earn money for the Xu Family. Matron Ruan learned of their success and reacted with surprise, suggesting the news would delight the old madam.

• Xu Xi studied the jewelry catalogue at the Prosperous and Bright Pavilion and asked how the shop would price a piece made from her own design.
• Xu Xi learned there was another jewelry shop in the county, bought steamed buns, and returned to the village with Xu Xue and Xu Yongyi.
• Matron Ruan waited for Xu Xi, while Madam Xie reproached her for returning late.
• Xu Xi told Matron Ruan she had passed the Women's Academy entrance examination, and Xu Xue announced that she had passed too.
• Matron Ruan spoke privately with Xu Xi and praised her success, saying the old madam would be delighted to hear of it.

Xu Xi confirmed she was the marquis’s manor’s switched child after Matron Ruan found the red mole behind her ear. Before agreeing to return, Xu Xi insisted she be allowed to attend the Women's Academy and stay in contact with the Xu Family, warning that otherwise the manor could take someone else in her place.

• Matron Ruan explained that the wet nurse had revealed the marquis’s child had a red mole behind her ear, and Xu Xi recognized the mark from her memories.
• Xu Xi allowed Matron Ruan to inspect the mole, and Matron Ruan confirmed her identity and formally acknowledged her as Fifth Miss.
• Matron Ruan told Xu Xi that the Marchioness of Suiping would come the next day to take her back to the manor.
• Xu Xi insisted she would attend the Women's Academy and remain in contact with the Xu Family, warning that keeping her confined would make their conflict irreconcilable.
• Xu Xi suggested the manor could take someone else instead, noting that Second Madam Lady Wei seemed to care more about appearances than which girl was her real daughter.

Xu Xi agreed to return to the Marquis of Suiping's Residence, provided her household registration stayed unchanged while she studied at the Women's Academy and she could remain close to the Xu family. After Xu Chengguan brought official proof of her identity, Xu Xi showed the red mole behind her ear and asked Matron Ruan to relay her terms.

• Matron Ruan assured Xu Xi that the old madam and madam would support her attending the Women's Academy and likely accept her request to keep her registration unchanged until her studies or marriage.
• Xu Xi said she would continue treating her uncle and aunt as family and staying in contact with them if she returned to the residence.
• Matron Ruan said she would report Xu Xi's terms and that Lady Zhu would confirm them when she came to fetch Xu Xi the next day.
• Xu Xi agreed to return to the Marquis of Suiping's Residence, while the system celebrated and Xu Xi told it to be quiet.
• Xu Chengguan showed Xu Yongyi the prefectural yamen's document containing the wet nurse's confession and mark, and Xu Xi examined it, revealed the red mole behind her ear, and asked Matron Ruan to pass on her words.

Xu Xi prepared to return to the marquis's residence and then enroll at the academy, while discussing a possible move to the county seat with Xu Yongyi. She taught Madam Xie to make spicy cold dishes, and the family discovered they might sell well.

• Xu Xi confirmed that the authorities' proof was genuine and said she would return to the marquis's residence the next day.
• Xu Xue cried at the thought of Xu Xi leaving, but Xu Xi explained she would soon live with her in the county seat or attend the academy.
• Xu Xi proposed that Madam Xie make snacks to sell and asked the family to gather kelp, chilies, tofu skin, and cucumbers.
• Xu Xi taught Madam Xie to make chili oil and mixed it with the prepared ingredients to create cold dishes.
• Xu Xue, Madam Xie, and Xu Yongyi tasted the dishes and praised their flavor.

Xu Xi proposed selling cold dishes made with her chili oil, and Xu Yongyi agreed to share the profits with her. The family approved of the business and began planning how to improve and protect its recipes.

• Xu Xi explained that the family could sell a variety of cold dishes at stalls and to restaurants, with different prices for vegetable and meat dishes.
• Xu Yongyi offered Xu Xi forty percent of the profits, but she accepted twenty percent and said she might someday need the Xu Family as a refuge.
• Madam Xie assured Xu Xi that the Xu home would always be hers, and Xu Yongyi resolved to provide her with a substantial dowry when she married.
• After Xu Chongwen returned from school and praised the dishes, he worried that other sellers could copy them; Xu Xi and Xu Yongyi said the complex chili oil would be difficult to imitate.
• Xu Xi promised to write down additional spices for Xu Yongyi to seek and planned to have Madam Xie experiment with dried shrimp and shiitake mushroom powder as seasoning.

Xu Xi designed a distinctive bird-shaped bracelet and planned to sell the design to a silver shop. She encouraged Xu Xue to earn her own money and suggested that she turn her storytelling into storybooks.

• Xu Xi drew a bird-shaped bracelet design, and Xu Xue admired its lifelike details.
• Xu Xue asked whether Xu Xi would have the bracelet made, and Xu Xi said she planned to sell the design to a silver shop.
• Xu Xi explained to Xu Xue that earning money would let women support themselves and avoid depending on a man's mood.
• Xu Xue agreed with Xu Xi but worried that she had no useful skills to earn money.
• Xu Xi suggested that Xu Xue write storybooks, since she was good at making up stories.

Xu Xi prepared to return to the marquis's household while encouraging Xu Xue to write storybooks and advising Xu Yongyi on starting a cold-dish business. As her family saw her off, she emphasized cleanliness and food safety as essential to the business's success.

• Xu Xi praised Xu Xue's writing and encouraged her to practice writing storybooks, inspiring Xu Xue to start planning one.
• Xu Yongyi and his wife discussed preparing their county-town home and finding a place to sell cold dishes after Xu Xi left.
• Xu Xue and Xu Chongwen struggled to sleep because Xu Xi was returning to the marquis's household the next day, while Xu Xi slept soundly.
• Xu Xi declined to pack household possessions and gave Xu Xue her design drawings to keep and later take to a silver shop.
• Xu Xi ate an early meal with her family and advised Xu Yongyi to keep the food and equipment clean, make small batches, and avoid selling spoiled dishes.
• Xu Yongyi questioned the cost of whitewashing and tidying the county-town home, and Xu Xi explained that cleanliness would protect customers' trust and the business's reputation.

Xu Xi shared a meal with her family before the marquis’s household came to take her away, encouraging Xu Chongwen to study so he could protect his sisters. Lady Zhu arrived at the Xu home and warmly praised Xu Xi’s resemblance to her eldest uncle.

• Xu Yongyi promised Xu Xi he would keep his house and cold-dish business clean and hygienic.
• Xu Chongwen admitted he feared Xu Xi would be bullied at the marquis’s residence, and Xu Xi urged him to work hard and become an official.
• Xu Chongwen said his teacher thought he could try the exams next year, and the family encouraged him.
• Three carriages from the marquis’s residence arrived at Little Banyan Village, carrying Lady Zhu and her attendants.
• Lady Zhu took Madam Xie’s hand, praised Xu Xi’s resemblance to her eldest uncle, and exchanged warm words with Madam Xie.

Lady Zhu promised Xu Xi she could continue studying at the Women's Academy and keep ties with the Xu Family, while delaying the transfer of her household registration. As Xu Xi prepared to leave for the capital, Matron Ruan took her aside, apparently to speak privately.

• Lady Zhu told Xu Xi that the marquis's residence would allow her to study, visit the Xu Family, and come and go for legitimate reasons, but would keep her registration with the Xu Family until she finished studying or became engaged.
• Xu Xi said she had no other concerns and would leave her everyday belongings with the Xu Family, while Lady Zhu assured Madam Xie that she and the family could visit.
• Madam Xie declined Lady Zhu's invitation to visit the marquis's residence, and Lady Zhu praised the Xu Family's character.
• Steward Liu announced that clan leader Xu Chengguan had arrived, and Lady Zhu received him after explaining the visit's purpose.
• Matron Ruan used Xu Xi's supposed need to pack as a reason to take her out of the hall, and a young maid followed them carrying a bundle.

Xu Xi changed into a new outfit and jewelry prepared by Lady Zhu before returning to the room. Matron Ruan praised her appearance, and Xu Xi declined makeup, leaving her ready to face the household in her new clothes.

• Matron Ruan gave Xu Xi the outfit and jewelry Lady Zhu had prepared for her and explained that more clothes were being made.
• Xu Xi changed by herself and returned wearing the well-fitting pink and purplish-red outfit.
• Matron Ruan put a jade hairpin, beaded flowers, pearl earrings, and jade bangles on Xu Xi.
• Xu Xi stopped Matron Ruan from applying makeup, and Matron Ruan only tidied her eyebrows.

Xu Xi left the Xu home with Lady Zhu to return to the marquis’s residence, relieved that she no longer had to pretend around the Xu Family. Lady Zhu began telling her about the marquis’s residence as their carriage traveled.

• Xu Xi returned to the main hall dressed for the journey, and the Xu Family praised her beauty.
• Lady Zhu prepared to take Xu Xi back, while Madam Xie, Xu Xue, Xu Yongyi, and Xu Chongwen reluctantly said goodbye.
• Steward Liu told Matron Ruan that Xu Yongyi had refused the two hundred taels of silver, so Lady Zhu decided the families should visit and exchange holiday gifts as relatives.
• Xu Xi boarded the carriage with Lady Zhu and forced herself to shed a few tears as they left the Xu home.
• Xu Xi felt relieved to be leaving, silenced the celebrating system, and listened as Lady Zhu began explaining the marquis’s residence.

Lady Zhu introduced Xu Xi to the relatives in the Marquis's household, explaining her father's branch, the first and third branches, and the paternal aunts. Xu Xi listened and thanked her First Aunt, leaving Lady Zhu increasingly fond of her.

• Lady Zhu corrected Xu Xi's formal address and asked her to call her First Aunt.
• Lady Zhu explained that Xu Xi's parents were Lady Wei and Zhao Yuanliang, and named her twin brother Zhao Jing'an, half sister Zhao Rurui, and the household's other relatives in the second branch.
• Lady Zhu introduced her own children, including heir Zhao Jingli, and recalled how she and Lady Wei had given birth on the same day amid a family crisis.
• Lady Zhu described the third branch and Xu Xi's paternal aunts and their families.
• Xu Xi thanked Lady Zhu for the introductions, and Lady Zhu urged her to sit and treated her warmly.

Xu Xi arrived at the Marquis of Suiping's Residence with Lady Zhu and was introduced to the household guards along the way. The women of the inner household gathered to meet her, while Lady Wei and Zhao Ruyu concealed their unease.

• Lady Zhu and Xu Xi reached the Marquis of Suiping's Residence after a bumpy carriage ride from Little Banyan Village.
• Lady Zhu introduced Xu Xi as the fifth miss to the gate guards and warned them to treat her with respect.
• Lady Zhu showed Xu Xi through the outer courtyard and explained how the family used its halls and studies.
• Lady Zhu and Xu Xi arrived at the inner courtyard, where a maid announced their return to the gathered women.
• Third Madam Lady Su welcomed their arrival, while Lady Wei and Zhao Ruyu tried to hide their agitation as everyone waited to see Xu Xi.

The children of the Marquis of Suiping's Residence went to welcome Xu Xi, whom Lady Zhu brought back to the old madam. The old madam welcomed Xu Xi warmly and gave her an exquisite set of gold and jade hair ornaments, leaving the household to wonder what the gift meant for the branches of the family.

• The old madam sent the household's children to welcome Xu Xi, and Zhao Ruyu grew troubled by how differently the old madam treated Xu Xi than in her previous life.
• Zhao Rurui tried to reassure Zhao Ruyu, but Zhao Ruyu pulled away and left her confused about their sudden distance.
• The nine children met Lady Zhu and Xu Xi at the main courtyard entrance, and Lady Zhu brought Xu Xi into the hall to greet the old madam.
• Xu Xi kowtowed to the old madam, who helped her up and welcomed her with tears as the others followed suit.
• The old madam presented Xu Xi with a valuable set of gold and jade hair ornaments, and the family members wondered whether the first madam would object to the gift going to the second branch.

Xu Xi was warmly welcomed into the marquis household, where the old madam renamed her Zhao Ruxi and the family gave her valuable jewelry. Zhao Ruyu realized Xu Xi had been admitted to the Women's Academy, a change from their previous lives, and feared Xu Xi might now outshine or oppose her.

• Lady Zhu praised Xu Xi's admission to the Women's Academy and gave her a set of valuable jewelry.
• Zhao Ruyu recalled Xu Xi's shabby, timid reception in their previous life and was shocked by how poised and well dressed she was now.
• Zhao Ruyu suspected Xu Xi had been reborn and worried that Xu Xi would try to surpass her.
• The old madam named Xu Xi Zhao Ruxi and ranked her fifth among the sisters.
• Matron Ruan led Xu Xi to greet the elders, who gave her jewelry and other gifts, including presents from Lady Zhu, Lady Wei, and Lady Su.

Xu Xi met her siblings and cousins at the old madam’s residence, where Zhao Jing'an learned that his twin sister did not resemble him. She had met nearly all the household’s masters by the end, but had yet to meet its concubines.

• The old madam told the children they did not need to exchange gifts when they met, sparing Xu Xi embarrassment because she had returned from the countryside empty-handed.
• Matron Ruan introduced Xu Xi to Zhao Jingli, the household heir, and Zhao Jing'an, her twin brother.
• Zhao Jing'an complained that Xu Xi did not look like him and was taller, until Lady Zhu explained that twins of different sexes did not resemble each other.
• Xu Xi met Zhao Ruxin and Zhao Rurui, noticing a trace of disdain and hostility in Zhao Rurui’s eyes.
• The younger children greeted Xu Xi in order of age, leaving her yet to meet the household’s concubines and two uncles, Zhao Yuanxun and Zhao Yuankun.

Xu Xi received her household servants and went to the front courtyard to meet her uncles and father. She met her eldest uncle, Zhao Yuanxun, and received gifts from him and Zhao Yuanliang before being introduced to her third uncle.

• The first madam assigned Matron Yuan, Qingfeng, Yicui, Dianjiang, and Old Woman Yu to Xu Xi.
• The old madam sent Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an to accompany Xu Xi to the front courtyard, while Lady Wei was told to wait and take Xu Xi home.
• Zhao Jing'an asked Xu Xi about her life with her adoptive parents and how she had entered the women's academy.
• Zhao Yuanliang introduced Xu Xi to Zhao Yuanxun, who welcomed her and gave her a set of the four treasures of the study.
• Xu Xi paid her respects to Zhao Yuanliang, who gave her a jade ornament, and Zhao Yuanliang then introduced her to Zhao Yuankun.

Xu Xi met Zhao Yuankun and the other principal members of the marquis's household, while privately recalling the conflicts hidden beneath their appearance of harmony. As Lady Wei led the girls back to the second branch, Zhao Ruyu approached Xu Xi to ask about the Women's Academy entrance examination.

• Zhao Yuankun greeted Xu Xi and presented her with jade paperweights, completing her introductions to the household's principal masters.
• Zhao Yuanliang confirmed that Matron Ruan and the others would escort Xu Xi back to the second branch, and Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an saw her to the courtyard gate.
• Xu Xi recalled that Zhao Yuankun resented the old madam's suppression and would eventually bring disaster upon the household.
• Lüqi met Xu Xi and Matron Ruan, then led Xu Xi to where Lady Wei, Zhao Rurui, and Zhao Ruyu were waiting.
• Lady Wei complained about Xu Xi's delay, finished her tea and pastry, and hurried toward the second branch while Xu Xi followed at her own pace.
• Zhao Ruyu caught up with Xu Xi and asked why she had decided to take the Women's Academy entrance examination.

Xu Xi used Lady Wei’s attempt to impose stricter discipline as a chance to provoke a break with the second branch. Her defiance enraged Lady Wei, who ordered someone to slap her.

• Xu Xi explained that she and Xu Xue had easily passed the Women's Academy entrance exam, startling Zhao Ruyu.
• Lady Wei scolded Xu Xi for lacking manners and ordered Matron Li to supervise her conduct.
• Lady Wei claimed Matron Yuan and Qingfeng were now servants of the second branch and could not interfere with her discipline of Xu Xi.
• Xu Xi refused Matron Li’s instruction, saying she would attend the academy the next day and learn from its teachers.
• Lady Wei flew into a rage and ordered someone to slap Xu Xi.

Xu Xi provoked Lady Wei into trying to beat her, testing whether the servants assigned to her would protect her. Lady Wei called for reinforcements after her first attempt failed, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Matron Li and Lady Wei's maids moved to restrain Xu Xi, but Matron Yuan and Qingfeng stepped in to protect her.
• Xu Xi urged Lady Wei to hit her, and Lady Wei ordered Matron Li to slap her and threatened anyone who interfered.
• Matron Yuan, Qingfeng, Old Woman Yu, and Xu Xi's two young maids fought back against Lady Wei's servants.
• Xu Xi judged the servants had passed her first test, though she planned to watch their behavior further.
• Lady Wei ordered Fushu to fetch Old Woman Zhang and the others, and Zhao Ruyu nodded for Fushu to obey.