Episode Summary
In "Feud" Episode 17, Bai Jiusi's clumsy attempts to court Li Qingyue, guided by Lin Fan, lead to a small but significant emotional breakthrough. Meanwhile, Zhang Suan confronts Qu Xingman to get an antidote, a tense negotiation that ends with Fan Ling'er deciding to join his quest. The episode takes a somber turn with the news of Scholar Kong's death after passing his exams, a tragedy that allows Li Qingyue to see Bai Jiusi's hidden vulnerability and prompts a moment of shared grief. Finally, Lin Fan's anxiety about becoming a father leads to a blunt but honest exchange with Bai Jiusi, deepening their unlikely friendship.
Spoiler Alert
Feud:Episode 17 Recap & Spoilers: An Antidote, a Tragedy, and a Thaw
This episode balances tense negotiations with quiet heartbreak as Bai Jiusi continues his awkward courtship of Li Qingyue. While Zhang Suan makes a dangerous deal for an antidote, the sudden death of a friend creates an unexpected moment of connection, and Lin Fan’s anxieties about fatherhood reveal the simple, unfiltered nature of true friendship.
A Clumsy Courtship
At the dinner table, Bai Jiusi watches Li Qingyue quietly pick unwanted vegetables from her bowl. Taking a cue from his friend Lin Fan, he abruptly tries to feed her a bite, nearly making her choke. Annoyed and flustered, Li Qingyue storms away, leaving a confused Bai Jiusi to seek advice. Lin Fan, ever the optimist, laughs it off, suggesting, "She must have been embarrassed."
This failed attempt is just one of many. For two months, Bai Jiusi follows Lin Fan’s suggestions to win over Li Qingyue: he brings her delicate pastries, finds rare books for her, and brews exotic teas. Yet, Li Qingyue remains unmoved, treating his efforts as if they were invisible. Exasperated by the lack of progress, Lin Fan finally asks, "What on earth did you do to her?" When Bai Jiusi remains silent, Lin Fan advises him to simply apologize.
Later, Bai Jiusi tries a different approach. Finding Li Qingyue reading in the courtyard, he "accidentally" knocks over her teacup, splashing her sleeve. He quickly produces a fresh set of clothes he had prepared. In a move mimicking the casual intimacy he's seen between Lin Fan and his wife, Bai Jiusi leans in and bites off a loose thread from her damp sleeve.
A Desperate Bargain
Meanwhile, Zhang Suan, suffering from the effects of a poison, ambushes Qu Xingman at her residence, demanding a permanent antidote. Qu Xingman scolds him for his long absence, revealing she was worried something had happened to him, which would sever her only connection to Fan Ling'er. Zhang Suan plays his trump card: "Meng Chu is out of prison." When she doesn't believe him, he threatens her, "What if I told Meng Chu that you were the one who secretly informed on him?" Cornered, Qu Xingman is forced to agree to his terms.
As Zhang Suan leaves, Fan Ling'er appears. Moved by the lengths Zhang Suan is willing to go for Li Qingyue's sake, she makes a snap decision to join him on his quest for the antidote. Qu Xingman, seeing them leave, packs a bag to follow but is stopped by her mother, Qu Ke, who sternly tells her to wait for Fan Ling'er to return on her own.
Shared Grief and a New Understanding
The friend groups are brought closer by Lin Fan’s relentless matchmaking efforts and the simple kindness of Scholar Kong, a man they have both been secretly funding so he can afford to take the imperial exams.However, tragedy strikes when a letter arrives bearing the news that Scholar Kong, after finally passing his exams, fell ill and died on the way to his new post. Lin Fan is wracked with guilt, wondering if his financial help only enabled the scholar to work himself to death. Bai Jiusi maintains a calm exterior, but Li Qingyue sees through his stoicism to the hidden pain beneath. That night, she seeks him out, bringing wine to keep him company in his silent grief.
The weight of life also presses on Lin Fan, who is overwhelmed by his wife's impending labor. He confides in Bai Jiusi, expressing his fears about becoming a father. Seeing Bai Jiusi’s usual cool and collected demeanor, Lin Fan blurts out in frustration, "You spoiled, stubborn aristocrat, you don't understand the struggles of the common man!" Instead of taking offense, Bai Jiusi finds the blunt assessment refreshing. This raw, honest friendship is a new experience for him—a taste of the authentic human connection he has never known.
