Episode Summary
In short, Shi Fake's two elaborate plans to unite Liu Luan'er and Qi Shaoheng backfire spectacularly. The first, a social deception, is exposed and ends in humiliation. The second, a staged bandit attack, collides with a real assassination plot, putting everyone in grave danger and resulting in both Lu Chi and Liu Luan'er being injured, though Liu Luan'er's selfless actions may have inadvertently begun to win over Mrs. Qi.
Spoiler Alert
"Better Halves" Episode 4: A Dangerous Deception
In this episode, Shi Fake's matchmaking endeavors take a perilous turn. The story picks up with Lu Chi taking Shi Fake to Liu's Teahouse, where he offers surprisingly direct advice on how to handle the delicate situation between Qi Shaoheng and Liu Luan'er. This is a departure from his usual passive support, and it helps Shi Fake move forward.
Taking the initiative, Shi Fake confronts Liu Luan'er, who tearfully admits her secret relationship with Qi Shaoheng. She explains that her family's teahouse is on property rented from the Qi family, which is how they met.Realizing that Qi Shaoheng's formidable mother, Mrs. Qi, would never approve of her son marrying a woman of such humble origins, Liu Luan'er was prepared to leave quietly. However, a determined Shi Fake believes that true love must prevail and vows to unite the couple.
The first plan is a classic makeover. Shi Fake transforms Liu Luan'er into a lady of high society, complete with a fabricated noble identity and a hired actor to play her father. Initially, the scheme is a resounding success. Mrs. Qi is charmed by Liu Luan'er's beauty and poise, though she has a nagging feeling they've met before. Just as Mrs. Qi is about to give her blessing for the marriage, the rival Matchmaker Deng, aware of the deception, arrives with Liu Luan'er's real father in tow. The ruse is exposed, leaving Mrs. Qi furious and the matchmaking attempt in ruins.
Devastated, Liu Luan'er gives up all hope of being with Qi Shaoheng, but she harbors no ill will toward his mother. Unwilling to accept defeat, Shi Fake concocts a new, far more dangerous plan: a staged "damsel-saves-the-matriarch" scenario. The idea is for Lu Chi to pose as a bandit and attack Mrs. Qi, allowing Liu Luan'er to heroically intervene and take a fake blow for her. Lu Chi reluctantly agrees to hire some skilled martial artists for the act, but only after making Shi Fake promise him an unspecified favor in return. That night, he secretly coordinates with a locked-up Qi Shaoheng to lure Mrs. Qi to their chosen location.
The next day, as Qi Shaoheng accompanies his mother on an outing to pray, the "bandits" ambush them. However, the situation spirals out of control when a second, real group of assassins appears with the intent to kill Qi Shaoheng. The staged drama turns into a genuine life-or-death battle. Lu Chi is forced to fight to protect a terrified Shi Fake. In the chaos, Liu Luan'er, who has no fighting skills, is wounded by one of the real assassins. Mrs. Qi, seeing the girl in peril, surprisingly rushes to her rescue. As Mrs. Qi tends to Liu Luan'er's injury, an attacker lunges at her from behind. Without a second thought, Liu Luan'er throws herself in front of Mrs. Qi, taking the blow that was meant for her, only to be saved at the last second by Qi Shaoheng.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that Marquis Wu'an is disappointed by the failed assassination but pleased that his ally, Matchmaker Deng, is now positioned to become the head matchmaker, giving him influence over the marriages of the capital's officials.
In the aftermath, Lu Chi has been injured while protecting Shi Fake. The sight of his blood causes Shi Fake to faint. He carries her to Xi Bao Ge for medical attention. While unconscious, she has a nightmare about being assassinated and wakes up in a panic, immediately concerned for Lu Chi. He tries to hide his injury to spare her worry, but she soon discovers the truth.
