Episode Summary
Wei Liang's attempts to play matchmaker with a disastrous sightseeing tour fail comically. Meanwhile, Wei Dian plots to assassinate Wei Shao, who is en route to Rong Jun. During a rest stop, Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao share a tender moment before being attacked by assassins. Wei Shao is poisoned saving Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao astutely deduces Wei Dian's involvement and, prioritizing their mission and safety, directs the group to Rong Jun. Once there, and with Wei Shao recovering, Xiao Qiao cleverly manipulates Yuan Wang by first feigning a simple social visit (playing chess and "losing" his shoe) and then orchestrating a fake marriage proposal scenario for his daughter involving Wei Qu and Wei Liang. This series of ploys successfully pressures Yuan Wang into agreeing to plant winter wheat and dredge canals, while simultaneously sowing deep suspicion between him and Wei Dian. Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao's relationship also deepens through these trials.
Spoiler Alert
So, things kicked off with Wei Liang, bless his heart, trying to play matchmaker and tour guide all in one. He had this "foolproof" plan to get Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao closer, starting with some supposedly amazing sour plum soup and then hitting up a spot for rare delicacies. Xiao Tao was all for it, and with Wei Liang's enthusiastic (and, as it turns out, completely unfounded) guarantees, she managed to convince Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao to tag along.
First stop on Wei Liang's grand tour? The sour plum soup place. Except, plot twist, it was a latrine. Yep, you read that right. Wei Liang, flustered, asked if maybe it used to be a soup stall, but the old lady in charge was like, "Honey, this has been a toilet since my grandpa's time." Awkward. Undeterred, they moved on to the next "attraction" on his list – a hot spring – which turned out to be a tiny, sad little puddle. The grand finale was supposed to be a seaside feast, but when they got to the coast, it was... just the ocean. A regular, everyday ocean. Turns out, Wei Liang got his "guide" from some random friend of a friend. Total scam. He tried to salvage things by suggesting a trip to Tao Hua Wu (Peach Blossom Dock), but by then, Xiao Qiao and the crew had zero faith left and just turned around. You can't win 'em all, Wei Liang.
Meanwhile, trouble was brewing elsewhere. Wei Dian and Yuan Wang got word that Wei Shao was heading to Rong Jun. Wei Dian, ever the instigator, started whispering in Yuan Wang's ear that Wei Shao was coming to strip away their local power. Yuan Wang wasn't thrilled, and Wei Dian, not one to miss an opportunity for chaos, already had assassins lined up to make sure Wei Shao never even made it to Rong Jun.
Back with our main couple, Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao took a break from their disastrous sightseeing tour. Wei Shao was complaining of a headache, and Xiao Qiao, sweet as ever, offered to give him a head massage. He flinched at first – maybe her hands were cold, or maybe he’s just not used to the tenderness – but she warmed them up and gently coaxed him to relax. And relax he did! She opened up, saying that while she was there to teach farming techniques, her main goal was to support him and share his burdens, not just sit around while he worked himself to the bone. Wei Shao actually drifted off to sleep in her lap! Xiao Qiao, talking to herself, admitted she was also hoping this trip would bring them closer, wishing that, over time, he’d grow fond of her too. Aww! The next morning, Wei Shao woke up, realized he’d slept soundly in her arms, and his headache was much better. In a quiet gesture, he draped his own coat over her before getting up. Progress, people!
But peace never lasts long, does it? During another rest stop, assassins attacked! Xiao Qiao's carriage horses bolted, and in a heart-stopping moment, Wei Shao, trying to protect her, cut the reins and desperately held onto the carriage. Just as it was about to plunge off a cliff, Xiao Qiao leaped out, and Wei Shao caught her. He even managed a cocky, "See? I can catch you!" before Xiao Qiao noticed he was injured. What looked like a minor wound turned out to be serious – the blade was poisoned, and Wei Shao collapsed, unconscious.
After they managed to detoxify him, Wei Shao was out of immediate danger but still wouldn't wake up. Xiao Qiao, sharp as a tack, figured these weren't your average bandits; they were too well-trained. She suspected it was connected to their trip to Rong Jun and that Wei Dian was the most likely culprit. Wei Liang, furious, wanted to go storming off to kill Wei Dian, but Xiao Qiao, ever the strategist, stopped him. Without proof, she argued, they’d just make Wei Dian panic, possibly incite the common folk, and ruin Wei Shao's reputation. The priority, she insisted, was to get the winter wheat planted and reach Rong Jun ASAP. They were in a vulnerable, neutral zone, making it easier for enemies to strike. Once in Rong Jun, Yuan Wang would be less likely to try anything bold. Wei Qu and the others, impressed by her clear thinking, agreed to follow her lead and they made a beeline for Rong Jun.
Wei Shao finally woke up, finding himself already in Rong Jun. Wei Qu filled him in on how Xiao Qiao had masterfully handled everything, which clearly pleased Wei Shao. Wasting no time, Xiao Qiao went to see Yuan Wang alone to discuss planting the winter wheat. Yuan Wang refused, but Xiao Qiao picked up on a crucial detail: he wasn't against the wheat itself, but against dredging the necessary canals.
No sooner had Xiao Qiao returned than she heard Wei Shao was awake and asking for soup. She practically flew to his side, throwing herself into his arms. Wei Shao, bless his stoic heart, got all flustered and pretended his arm was hurting to get a little space. Men. Xiao Qiao then relayed her read on Yuan Wang. Wei Shao's first instinct was to send in troops, but Xiao Qiao, advocating for brains over brawn, convinced him to let her try a different approach: drive a wedge between Yuan Wang and Wei Dian. If Yuan Wang felt isolated, he'd be much more compliant.
And so began Xiao Qiao's brilliant scheme!
First, she invited Yuan Wang for a game of chess. After losing the first game, she insisted on another. They played for hours. When Yuan Wang finally got up to leave, he realized one of his shoes was missing. Smoothly, Xiao Qiao had someone fetch him a new pair. Meanwhile, Wei Dian had been waiting all day, expecting some major political maneuvering between Xiao Qiao and Yuan Wang. Imagine his surprise when Yuan Wang told him they’d just played chess all afternoon. Wei Dian, naturally suspicious, immediately put spies on Yuan Wang.
Next, Wei Qu "accidentally" dropped a fancy box near Yuan Wang’s house, scattering jewels everywhere – all for Wei Dian's spies to see and report. Wei Dian, of course, assumed Wei Shao was trying to bribe Yuan Wang. The reality? The box Wei Qu actually delivered to Yuan Wang inside his house contained nothing but his missing shoe. Genius!
Wei Qu reported back to Xiao Qiao, totally impressed by her foresight – they really were being watched. Wei Shao, full of admiration, praised Xiao Qiao, saying she was becoming more and more like a true "Nǚ Jūn" (a term for a female head of household or even a female ruler). Then, in a rather intimate moment, Xiao Qiao noticed Wei Shao was a bit uncomfortable (probably from days of travel without a proper bath) and offered to help him bathe. Let's just say their relationship took another significant step forward.
The next day, Xiao Qiao continued her machinations. She had Wei Qu and Wei Liang go to Yuan Wang's place to "propose marriage" to his daughter, telling them to show off and see who Yuan Wang thought was a better match. Wei Liang, who’s clearly still hung up on Xiao Tao, deliberately acted like a bumbling fool, much to Yuan Wang's disgust. As this was happening, Yuan Wang's daughter was peeking through a crack in the door, got startled, and stumbled out, falling right into the room. Wei Qu rushed to help her up, and in that moment, sparks flew between them!
Yuan Wang, probably horrified at the thought of either of these guys as a son-in-law (especially after Wei Liang's performance), immediately declared he wouldn't agree to any marriage. And just like that, he also agreed to the winter wheat and the canal dredging – anything to make them go away, it seems! Xiao Qiao, who had clearly anticipated this outcome, wasn't fazed at all. She left Yuan Wang's residence with a smile and headed straight to a goldsmith to order a set of gold and silver wedding jewelry. (For Wei Qu and Yuan Wang's daughter, perhaps? Or another clever move to unsettle someone?)
Naturally, news of all this – Yuan Wang's sudden cooperation and Xiao Qiao's trip to the jeweler – quickly reached Wei Dian. His suspicions about Yuan Wang went through the roof, and he immediately summoned Yuan Wang to see him.
