Episode Summary
Jian Mingshu decides to start a jewelry business in the capital but lacks funds. She meets Tao Yiqian, who reveals her true identity as Yin Xianjun and helps Mingshu get a job as a companion reader to her troubled elder sister, Yin Shujun, within the influential Yin household. Meanwhile, Lu Chang and Song Qingzhao investigate mysteries surrounding the Yin family – Lu Chang seeking clues about his late teacher, and Song Qingzhao probing Yin Shujun's character for his cousin, Prince Rui, who is considering marrying her. Both men end up becoming tutors within the Yin residence. Mingshu navigates the difficult dynamics with the volatile Yin Shujun, witnessing her cruelty and uncovering secrets, including Shujun potentially meeting a man secretly and harming animals.
Spoiler Alert
Serendipity: Episode 4 Recap & Spoilers – Let's Talk Business, Drama, and Dodgy Hairpins
So, the episode kicks off with our girl Jian Mingshu bumping into Song Qingzhao on the street. She's got ambition buzzing in her head – she wants to start a business right here in the capital city. Even though her companion Lu Chang told her not to worry about money, Mingshu isn't the type to just sit around. Song Qingzhao hears this and is clearly impressed by her drive. Major respect points earned!
He treats her to some snacks at a tea house, and Mingshu is still brainstorming business ideas. Song Qingzhao starts rambling about the rouges and powders his mom loves, and ding ding ding – a lightbulb goes off for Mingshu. Cosmetics, maybe?
While they're out, they witness a little scene. A maid working for Tao Yiqian (remember her?) is arguing with a shop owner. The hairpin she bought was apparently poorly made and broke soon after purchase, but the owner refuses a refund. Ever the helpful one, Jian Mingshu steps in. She whips out a quick sketch, suggesting a way to modify the broken hairpin into something new and better. Both the owner and the maid are pretty wowed. Mingshu herself finds it odd – she just knows how to fix or improve jewelry when she sees it, like it's instinct. Interesting skill!
Meanwhile, over at the academy, some guy named Yang Zishu swaggers in looking to pick a fight with Lu Chang. Bad move. Lu Chang quickly puts him in his place, and suddenly Yang Zishu is all respectful. It's also here at the academy that Lu Chang and Song Qingzhao finally cross paths properly.
Back to Mingshu's business dreams: she's now set on opening a jewelry shop. First step? Finding a location. Serendipitously (heh), she learns that the very same hairpin shop owner from earlier needs to leave town due to family matters. Mingshu sees her chance and asks about taking over the shop. The catch? She only has 90 liang, which isn't nearly enough.
Just when she's stressing about the cash, who shows up but Tao Yiqian. Tao Yiqian generously offers to lend her the money, but Mingshu politely refuses. This is her dream, and she wants to achieve it herself. This leads to a reveal: Tao Yiqian confesses her real name is Yin Xianjun, the third daughter of the influential Yin family. She explains she used an alias because it's often inconvenient for women traveling alone. Mingshu totally gets it, no judgment here.
Now, let's talk politics and marriage! Rui Wang (Prince Rui) is supposed to marry into the Yin family, but he apparently hates extravagance and refuses to deck out his mansion for the occasion. Plot twist: Rui Wang is Song Qingzhao's cousin! He asks Song Qingzhao for a favor: attend an upcoming Yin family tea party and discreetly investigate the eldest Yin daughter, Yin Shujun. Why? Because the Noble Consort heard rumors that Yin Shujun's character is... questionable. If the rumors are true, Rui Wang might need to find a different bride.
Lu Chang has his own agenda. He's secretly working to clear the name of his late teacher. It turns out Grand Preceptor Yin (Yin Taishi), the teacher's own master, might hold some clues. Seeing Song Qingzhao has an invite to the Yin tea party, Lu Chang asks if he can tag along.
Okay, how do these threads connect? Money! To earn the funds she needs for her shop, Jian Mingshu takes up an offer from Yin Xianjun (her new friend, the third Yin daughter) to become a companion reader for the eldest sister, Yin Shujun, at the Yin household. Yin Xianjun gives her a heads-up: Yin Shujun, the eldest daughter from the main wife (making her status very high), had a drastic personality change about a year ago. She allegedly started abusing servants, torturing animals (yikes!), and even pushed her governess into the water. With the potential marriage to Rui Wang looming, the family (specifically Yin Dafuren, the First Madam Yin) wants someone to keep an eye on her.
So, Mingshu enters the Yin household. She meets the second sister, Yin Liangjun, who seems nice enough. But Yin Shujun? Not so much. She immediately looks down on Mingshu, calling her a "down-and-out." However, being Lu Chang's sister, Mingshu holds her own, especially when it comes to poetry. But Yin Shujun isn't playing fair – she secretly slips Mingshu a note to frame her during a lesson.
When the inevitable confrontation happens, Yin Shujun demands Mingshu be thrown out. Mingshu stays calm, explains the situation logically, and manages to convince the teacher of her innocence. Yin Shujun won't let it go, though, causing a scene. Song Qingzhao and Lu Chang (who are perhaps visiting or present for other reasons related to the tea party invite?) witness this and start getting worried for Mingshu. Just then, Yin Dafuren arrives, shuts down Yin Shujun's tantrum, and tells Yin Xianjun to bring Mingshu to see her after class.
Lu Chang, by the way, is not happy that Mingshu took this potentially dangerous job without consulting him.
After class, Mingshu tells Yin Xianjun to go ahead to Yin Dafuren's meeting. Why the delay? Because Mingshu spots Yin Shujun secretly meeting a man! Yin Liangjun was apparently trying to catch her sister in the act, but Mingshu steps in and creates a diversion, helping Yin Shujun avoid exposure. Drama!
Elsewhere (or perhaps at the same tea party/gathering?), Song Qingzhao and Lu Chang meet with Yin Yushi (Censor Yin). After a short while, Censor Yin excuses himself for business. Soon after, a Jiang Gongzi (Young Master Jiang) also makes his excuses to Censor Yin, saying he needs to leave due to family matters, and departs looking quite flustered. Song Qingzhao clocks this as suspicious.
Later, Censor Yin hears that the teacher resigned today and is furious. He storms over to Yin Dafuren's place and chews out Yin Shujun. Jian Mingshu finds this timing odd – if Yin Shujun has been acting out for a while, why did the teacher quit now? Censor Yin wants a replacement tutor ASAP. Seizing the opportunity (perhaps to get inside the Yin household for their own investigations?), Song Qingzhao and Lu Chang volunteer for the position. Censor Yin, eager to solve the problem, immediately arranges for them to stay at the Yin residence.
The episode wraps up with Jian Mingshu and Yin Shujun having another tense face-off. Yin Dafuren, seemingly impressed by Mingshu's backbone or perhaps seeing her as a necessary check on her daughter, decides Mingshu will stay. Then, Mingshu sees Yin Liangjun frantically searching for her cat. Following her, she finds Yin Shujun holding the very cat Yin Liangjun was looking for. Yin Liangjun looks absolutely terrified. A maid whispers the chilling reason: every animal Yin Shujun has touched recently has ended up dead. Yin Liangjun is scared for her beloved pet.
Phew! So Mingshu is diving headfirst into business and household intrigue, Lu Chang and Song Qingzhao are infiltrating the Yin residence as tutors/investigators, and the eldest Yin daughter seems seriously unhinged. Things are definitely heating up! Can't wait to see what happens next.
