Episode Summary
Lu Chang reveals Jian Mingshu's potentially sensitive identity to Prince Rui while aiming for a position at the Da Li Si. During a charity auction Mingshu organizes, Song Qingzhao publicly rejects another woman and shows his affection for Mingshu. Family drama erupts when Song Qingzhao's mother disapproves of Mingshu's background and sends a servant to insult her. This confrontation leads to the shocking revelation that Minister Lu (Lu Shangshu) is Lu Chang and Mingshu's long-lost father, who believed them dead after a flood years ago. Zeng Yi explains their complicated past. Despite the turmoil, Lu Chang excels in the palace exam, becoming the top scholar (Zhuangyuan), and shares a meaningful look with Mingshu during his celebratory parade.
Spoiler Alert
Serendipity Episode 21 Recap & Spoilers: Secrets, Showdowns, and a Shocking Reveal!
Alright, so we kick things off with Lu Chang spilling the tea to Prince Rui about Jian Mingshu's true identity. He's piecing things together, suspecting her family's tragic end is linked to some mysterious "Mr./Teacher" figure (the source calls him xiansheng(Teacher)). Lu Chang believes Mingshu is a crucial witness and needs to stay under the radar for now. Prince Rui is impressed and basically tells Lu Chang that once he aces the palace exam, a sweet gig as a sizheng (a judicial position) at the Da Li Si (think Supreme Court-ish) is waiting for him.
Meanwhile, Jian Mingshu is busy running a charity auction at the Hualang Ge (Flower Gallery Pavilion?). But you know how it goes – her closeness to the eligible Song Qingzhao has already put a target on her back. Jealousy, darling, it's always lurking!
Speaking of drama, Yin Shujun gets cornered by that clingy Jiang Gongzi (Young Master Jiang), who's whining about being "bewitched" and wanting her back. Perfect timing for Prince Rui to show up! He witnesses Yin Shujun rightfully calling out Jiang Gongzi for being a two-timing liar. Prince Rui, not one to stand by, gives the guy a swift kick, orders him locked up, and bans the entire Jiang family from ever setting foot in his residence again. Ouch.
Back at the charity sale, a certain Lu Niangzi (Madam Lu) approaches Mingshu, wanting to buy a gift for her supposed beau, Song Qingzhao. Mingshu suggests a piece of jewelry for 500 liang. Seeing this, Song Qingzhao swoops in, dramatically ups the price to 1000 liang (all for charity, of course!), and then publicly shuts Lu Niangzi down. He makes it crystal clear they are not a thing and declares his heart already belongs to someone else (wink wink, nudge nudge, Mingshu!).
The charity event is a smash hit, and Song Qingzhao whisks Mingshu off for a celebratory dinner. Lu Chang swings by Hualang Ge looking for Mingshu, only to hear she's out with Song Qingzhao. Bummer. Adding insult to injury, some "Jiang Niangzi" (maybe related to the disgraced Gongzi?) seems to have taken a liking to Lu Chang. Elsewhere, Yin Shujun formally thanks Prince Rui for defending her honor, admitting Jiang Gongzi was trash. But Prince Rui sadly notes that the fiery, passionate Yin Shujun he once knew seems lost to that past heartbreak.
Later that night, Mingshu finds Lu Chang waiting for her... on the roof! Classic C-drama move. They share a rooftop moment, gazing at the view. Mingshu confesses she does like Song Qingzhao, but isn't quite thinking wedding bells yet. Lu Chang, ever the supportive (and maybe slightly hopeful?) friend/brother figure, tells her not to hide her feelings but also gently advises her not to commit to Song Qingzhao until she's absolutely sure her feelings run deep. He just wants her to be happy. Mingshu gets a bit playfully stubborn, saying she needs to think about it. When Lu Chang leaps off the roof, she reminds him they promised to act like they used to, bringing a smile back to his face. Aww.
But uh-oh, trouble's brewing. Song Mu (Song's Mom) does not approve of Mingshu for her son. She thinks Mingshu's background isn't good enough ("doors don't match," the classic status issue) and decides to give Mingshu a harsh reality check.
Before that happens, though, we get another subplot snippet: Wei Zhuo helps Zeng Yi (Aunt Zeng, who raised Lu Chang and Mingshu) fix her roof. Just as he leaves, Lu Shangshu (Minister Lu) shows up! Zeng Yi gives him the cold shoulder. Turns out, Lu Shangshu is convinced Lu Chang and Jian Mingshu are his long-lost children! He remembers seeing young Lu Chang but didn't know about Mingshu because Zeng Yi was pregnant when they were separated. Zeng Yi reveals she told the kids their father was dead. She explains she didn't even know his real, high-status identity when they married. When she later found out he'd returned to the capital and remarried, how could she possibly tell him about Mingshu then?
Okay, hold onto your hats for the BIG REVEAL: Song Mu sends her momo (an older female servant/governess) to basically tell Mingshu she's not worthy of Song Qingzhao because of her humble origins. Mingshu, never one to back down, gives as good as she gets. Suddenly, Lu Shangshu bursts out of the house like a protective papa bear! He furiously defends Mingshu, yelling that his daughter is worthy of marrying royalty, let alone the Song family, before chasing the terrified servant away!
Mingshu is completely stunned by this sudden appearance of a "father." Lu Chang quickly pulls her back inside, shutting the door on Lu Shangshu. Later, Zeng Yi finally tells them the whole heartbreaking story: She was an embroiderer who ran away from an arranged marriage; he was a noble son who ran away after a fight with his grandfather, hiding his identity. They met, fell in love, and married. When Lu Chang was four, a massive flood separated them. Zeng Yi, pregnant with Mingshu, fled with Lu Chang. She later heard Lu Shangshu had returned to the capital and remarried, so, heartbroken and angry, she took the children to Jianglin and told them their father died. However, she just learned today that Lu Shangshu had searched for them but tragically assumed they perished in the flood. He only remarried later because his grandfather was critically ill. Zeng Yi states she feels nothing for him now, and it's entirely up to Lu Chang and Mingshu whether they want to acknowledge him as their father.
After Zeng Yi is asleep, Lu Chang confesses to Mingshu that he actually always knew their father wasn't dead – he just never imagined he was a high-ranking Minister. He vividly remembers being four years old, going with his mother to a grand mansion to find his father, only to be turned away. That's why he never brought it up again. His father's current status means nothing to him. Mingshu feels even less connection; this powerful, complicated man isn't the father she might have imagined.
Word spreads like wildfire: Lu Chang and Jian Mingshu are Minister Lu's estranged children! Song Fu (Song's Dad) orders Song Mu to go apologize immediately, bringing the offending servant with her. Song Qingzhao is furious with his mother for insulting Mingshu. Faced with a united front from her husband and son, Song Mu threatens to leave home in a huff. Song Fu tries to apologize to Lu Shangshu himself after court but gets the door slammed in his face too.
Amidst all this family chaos, it's the day of the crucial palace exam. Lu Chang, brilliant as ever, absolutely nails it and wins the title of Zhuangyuan – the top scholar in the entire empire! The episode ends on a high note: the traditional celebratory parade for the top three scholars. Mingshu proudly helps Lu Chang get ready, applying his makeup and pinning flowers (traditional for the occasion). As Lu Chang rides through the streets in glory – the handsome, triumphant Zhuangyuan on horseback – his eyes keep drifting up, searching for and finding Jian Mingshu watching him from a balcony above.
