When last we left our Handsome Stranger and the Pig Butcher, Qian needed Changyu’s help.
Qian wants to rent Yan Zheng as her husband!
Yan Zheng feels complicated about Changyu selling him. But when he learns it’s to get rid of Qi, he accepts. Qi is tied to this grain business.
Qian introduces Yan Zheng to Qi as her husband. There is non-romantic staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaring. Qian leaves to avoid this intensity.
Yan Zheng tells Qi to come to him directly if he wants to do business. He’s interested in a large amount of grain. Then he throws a piece of chopstick, stabbing one of Qi’s guys through the hand before they can try to kill him.
Qi thinks this is enough for one day. He’s laugh-coughing because he’s recognized Yan Zheng as the Marquis Wu.
At some point, we’ll meet this Prince Changxin guy, right?
Qi is his oldest son, and buying all that grain is part of his father’s plan to stir unrest and panic. Yan Zheng knew the large amount of grain they’d purchased, which revealed his identity and knowledge of the plan.
Qi thinks this is good fun because he’s the one who somehow got Yan Zheng interested in the 16-year-old grain mystery. He wanted Chancellor Wei to murder his nephew.
But now, with Yan Zheng alive but probably not on his Uncle’s side, maybe Qi can get Yan Zheng on his side.
Qian is thrilled Qi isn’t bothering her anymore. Changyu gets Qian to agree to bring Bao to visit them and play with Ning. She suggests Qian might be a bit strict. Qian says she isn’t.
Next, Qian gets Changyu drunk so she can interfere with her sex life
Changyu admits she hasn’t slept with her husband. Deep down, she knows Yan Zheng is leaving one day. But Changyu, remember, a well-trained falcon returns!
Qian thinks Changyu should have Yan Zheng’s child before he leaves. Is this how she ended up with Bao? She’s happy to help Changyu get pregnant. Kindness.
Qi’s grain guy visits Yan Zheng, calling him Marquis Wu. He’s got a seal for Prince Chengde, which reveals Qi’s identity, because I think he’s his grandfather? They want Yan Zheng’s help in overthrowing the emperor, who is only a prop held up by Chancellor Wei.
He blames Chancellor Wei for the death of Yan Zheng’s Father and Crown Prince Chengde.
He also reveals that Chancellor Wei’s assassins were after men who were once, but no longer, under his service. Yan Zheng figures Changyu’s father was one of them.
Yan Zheng says that for him to trust them, he needs the grain.
When Qi hears this, he’s encouraged that Yan Zheng has named a price. Qi’s father never valued him, but maybe he will now. He’s guessing Yan Zheng is done working with his Uncle.
It’s New Year’s, and Changyu wants Yan Zheng to write couplets
Her Mom used to do them every New Year’s.
Changyu definitely has a thing for scholars, watching him dreamily as he writes. Then, when she gets closer, he gets distracted, dripping ink. When Changyu and Ning write their own couplet, it’s his turn to stare.
His couplets are poetry. Changyu and Ning’s is about making money.
The roaming neighbors need couplets too! This turns into a social afternoon of couplet writing for everyone. Even the Horrible Gossip. Turns out she has a Sad Story. What she really wants is no fighting and for her grandsons to grow up safe and sound.
I still don’t like her.
Back to the Grand Princess!
Apparently, she was once betrothed to Marquis Wu, but there was nothing there. Her Mom doesn’t care about feelings. The Grand Princess is never allowed to see Sun again and must meet with Li.
Changyu, Yan Zheng, Ning, and the Zhaos enjoy New Year’s dinner together. Changyu won’t let her husband drink, but drinks as much as she wants despite his trying to stop her.
She’s nearly passed out but mumbling, so Yan Zheng leans in to listen. She lifts her head, going in for a drunk, half-asleep kiss! There is possibly light skin contact, but then she passes out.
Yan Zheng looks complicated as the OST plays. He decides he wants that kiss anyway, but Ning interrupts. Children are terrible.
He carries Changyu to her bed, then goes to his own. There, he finds a red envelope from Changyu. He remembers when his parents were still alive, and his mother gave him a red envelope.
He smiles a little as he takes the money out
Changyu wakes up with a hangover and no memory of getting into bed
I think she’s worried her husband removed her outer garments and saw her in her inner garments! But before she gets the courage to ask, Qian and Bao arrive.
Qian allows Bao to run off to play in the snow with Ning. But she’s right to be strict because her assistant gets distracted, letting a Strange Grandma ask Bao personal questions.
Then the kids are missing again! But they’re fine again! They went to find more snow. Qian freaks out, but a snowball fight puts everyone in a good mood.
Strange Grandma reports to Qi that Bao looks like him as a child, but the birthday is wrong. Qi has kidnapped another grandma, Bao’s nursemaid, I think. She reveals that Bao lied, and his real birthday has the right timing.
Qi releases the woman. He’s nice!
But then he has one of his guys shoot her in the back with a crossbow. He’s evil! This is to show Strange Grandma that she had better follow his orders. He’ll get his son back. He just doesn’t want to mess things up with Marquis Wu right now
Wei Xuan takes grain from the common people, which is Very Wrong. General He tries to stop him, so Wei Xuan orders that he be imprisoned. Rather than create more conflict, General He willingly goes.
Wei Xuan orders that they take So Much Grain from the people. He’s evil!
Never mind any of that, it’s Lantern Festival time
Changyu, Ning, and Yan enjoy the festivities together.
Changyu realizes all the women are writing her Horrible Ex-Fiancé’s name on the floating lanterns. She has to save these women by stealing the lanterns and erasing his name.
Of course, Horrible Ex-Fiancé catches her and figures this means that She Still Wants Him Bad. He gets a lantern for them to share, but she’s disgusted and loudly brings everyone’s attention to what he’s doing.
Then Horrible Ex-Fiancé’s Fiancée shows up, and he lies that he got the lantern for her, but jealous Changyu wanted it for herself!
Changyu warns Fiancée that Ex-Fiancé is using her as a stepping-stone to a higher position. That’s why they aren’t married yet.
Yan Zheng wants Ex-Fiancé to apologize for flirting with a married woman, failing, and slandering her. Yan Zheng mocks Ex-Fiancé using… poetry? And Changyu pretends not to know him.
Our wandering crowd of villagers laughs at Horrible Ex-Fiancé, but Changyu still isn’t satisfied.
So they beat him in a dark alleyway
They’re pleased with themselves, and so is the OST.
Then they get excited by falling snow. Doesn’t… that happen often there? Sun is nearby, upstairs, and catches sight of them being sweet together. He draws a picture of them and brings it to them.
And he needs to talk to Yan Zheng. Uh-oh.
Sun fills Yan Zheng in on all the latest grain news. Changxing will likely take advantage of Wei Xuan’s horribleness. With the situation getting this bad, Yan Zheng has to come back.
Yan Zheng agrees to go back in 3 days.
Sun has discovered Changyu’s father and General He have met, but no connection to Chancellor Yan.
Meanwhile, Li and the Grand Princess are eating together. They are not interested in each other. But she has a plan that would bring them both peace. He’s interested in that.
Yan Zheng and Changyu get to spend the night at Qian’s, which Qian has set up for romance! Baby making time!
These are the good times before things fall apart
Something big needs to happen soon, or these two will successfully kiss.
Because I think they’re both in love. Yan Zheng lying about his entire identity is the only thing between them. It’s a huge betrayal, but at the same time, his true identity doesn’t have any extra emotional conflict built in. She likes Marquis Wu.
But there are 40 episodes total. So. Time for them to be torn apart.
Also, I still don’t know what Yan Zheng wants besides Changyu. Revenge for his parents? I thought he already got that, but maybe now he thinks his Uncle was secretly involved?
As far as the war, what does he want? Who does he want to be in power? Himself? I have no idea.
I’m guessing Changyu’s father’s true identity and relation to Chancellor Wei will make Yan Zheng’s true identity more of an emotional obstacle. Later. When it’s revealed. Someday.
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