Episode Summary
Prince Yu, injured during a hunt, is tended to by Su Tangli, who uses the moment to subtly manipulate him. Meanwhile, Wei Furen reveals to Jian Mingshu the horrifying truth about Wei Dushi's deceased concubines and his "freak" offspring, suggesting he killed them to hide a secret illness. Jian Mingshu and Song Qingzhao's investigation into a concubine's death leads them to Lv Momo, who dramatically murders her own despicable father, Huang Laosi, in public. In court, Lv Momo confesses to killing Wei Dushi as well, but Jian Mingshu and Lu Chang suspect she was manipulated. It's revealed that Su Tangli orchestrated Lv Momo's revenge, promising to bury her with her daughter. While Lv Momo awaits her fate, Lu Chang tries to help her. Elsewhere, Prince Rui and Yin Shujun finally reconcile and consummate their marriage. The episode ends with Prince Yu planning a grand birthday confession for Su Tangli, intending to make her his concubine.
Spoiler Alert
Love Hurts, Literally and Figuratively
We kick things off with Prince Yu, who managed to get himself scratched by a tree branch while out hunting. Ever the opportunist, Su Tangli patches him up, and get this – she uses a piece of cloth that belonged to his late mother. Talk about a direct hit to the feels! Prince Yu, clearly overcome, grabs her hand and begs her to stay. But Su Tangli, cool as a cucumber, brushes him off with a "you need to rest" excuse. He then demands she promise never to leave his sight, to which she poetically replies, "Am I a caged bird?" Girl knows her worth, or at least, how to play the game.
Secrets, Lies, and a Trail of Dead Concubines
Meanwhile, there's drama brewing in the Wei household. Lv Momo, a servant, asks for leave due to a "family matter" (uh-huh, sure). Then, Wei Furen drops a bombshell on Jian Mingshu: all of Wei Dushi's previous concubines have mysteriously died. Wei Furen herself had a miscarriage, and every concubine who got pregnant after her not only lost the baby but also their own life.
The latest victim in this tragic saga was Huang Yiniang, who, about six months prior, gave birth to what Wei Furen described as a "freak." This apparently sent Wei Dushi into a rage. Wei Furen's chilling conclusion? Wei Dushi has some kind of "hidden illness," and all his children are born as "freaks." To keep this horrifying secret under wraps, he’s been systematically eliminating anyone who knows, including the mothers and their unfortunate offspring. Seriously, this show just went dark.
The Detectives and a Mother's Vengeance
Jian Mingshu and Song Qingzhao, our resident investigators, decide to dig deeper into the concubine deaths, starting with Huang Yiniang's family. They find her family's shop eerily empty during the day. A neighbor spills the tea: Huang Yiniang's father, Huang Laosi, is a despicable man who made a living by selling his daughters. Classy.
Outside the shop, Jian Mingshu notices a familiar way of tying a knot – the same kind Lv Momo uses! The pieces start clicking into place, and Jian Mingshu suspects Lv Momo might be Huang Yiniang's mother. Lu Chang, ever the sharp one, reaches the same conclusion and rushes off to investigate.
They all converge on Huang Laosi's home just in time for a truly shocking scene: Lv Momo has Huang Laosi tied to a chair, absolutely seething with hatred for him. She's furious about him selling his daughters and then completely abandoning Huang Yiniang after her death. Before anyone can intervene, Lv Momo publicly kills Huang Laosi. Mic drop.
Confessions, Manipulations, and a Veiled Visitor
In court, Lv Momo confesses to everything, including murdering Wei Dushi, and insists that Jian Mingshu and Wei Furen are innocent. She claims that framing Jian Mingshu with the dagger was just a tactic to buy herself a couple of days to enact her revenge on Huang Laosi, and she fully intended to turn herself in afterward. Jia Fuyin sentences her to death, a fate Lv Momo seems to accept, feeling her gruesome tasks are complete.
However, Jian Mingshu and Lu Chang aren't convinced she acted alone. Feeling a debt to Jian Mingshu, Lv Momo finally spills the real story. After her daughter Huang Yiniang died, Lv Momo initially suspected Wei Furen. She infiltrated the Wei household to get close to her, only to discover that Wei Furen was also a victim, not the perpetrator. With Wei Dushi keeping a tight grip on the inner workings of the house, Lv Momo was hitting dead ends. Then, a mysterious woman approached her, revealing that Wei Dushi was the one who killed her daughter. This woman also made a promise: if Lv Momo avenged her daughter and paid the ultimate price, she would ensure Lv Momo was buried with Huang Yiniang.
Later, a veiled Su Tangli visits Lv Momo in prison, assuring her that the promise will be kept. Jian Mingshu, who had been waiting, confronts Su Tangli. It turns out Su Tangli was indeed the mastermind, admitting this isn't the first time she's "borrowed a knife to kill someone." Cold. Su Tangli then taunts Jian Mingshu, saying that because of her amnesia, she can't possibly understand the depth of Lv Momo's pain. When Jian Mingshu shows Su Tangli a bracelet, asking if she recognizes it, Su Tangli (likely thinking of Lu Chang) denies any knowledge of it.
Nightmares, Allegiances, and Unrequited (?) Love
Jian Mingshu is understandably shaken, waking up from nightmares fearing she'll become as consumed by revenge as Lv Momo and Su Tangli. Lu Chang also knows Su Tangli was the one pulling Lv Momo's strings. Su Tangli, however, is far from done. She's convinced that more people than just Wei Dushi were involved in her own father's death and is determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
In a bid to save Lv Momo, Lu Chang writes a "Ten Thousand People Petition," a gesture for which Jian Mingshu is deeply grateful. This whole ordeal has Jian Mingshu questioning her identity and her feelings. She sees Lu Chang as a wonderful brother figure, but if she can't remember who she truly is, how can she ever navigate any potential romantic feelings for him? The angst is real, folks.
A Royal Thaw and a Birthday Plot
On a lighter note (kind of), the Emperor has reviewed the accounts of Hualang Ge and discovered that, far from exploiting the populace, they've actually been involved in a lot of charitable work. He even praises them to the Noble Consort. Prince Rui shares this news with Yin Shujun. Taking a bold step, Yin Shujun not only has Prince Rui's belongings moved to her quarters but also gifts him a hand-embroidered pouch. Prince Rui had previously told her to be direct if she had feelings for him, and well, she took him at his word! Yin Shujun embraces him, and after a long wait, the two finally consummate their marriage. It’s about time these two found some happiness!
Finally, back to the ever-persistent Prince Yu. He’s busy planning an elaborate birthday confession for Su Tangli, complete with a rabbit lantern. His grand plan? He wants to make Su Tangli his concubine, give her a new name and a "clean" identity. Oh, Prince Yu, when will you learn?
And that’s where Episode 27 leaves us! So many threads, so much intrigue. What will Su Tangli do next? Can Lu Chang save Lv Momo? And will Jian Mingshu ever recover her memories? Stay tuned!
