Episode Summary
The episode kicks off with Ming Tingyuan and Bai Jingyuan successfully breaking off Ming Tan's engagement to the Liang family, a move orchestrated by Jiang Xu using Zhu'er. To counter other potential suitors and the Empress Dowager's plans, Jiang Xu proposes to the Emperor that he himself will marry Ming Tan, framing it as a sacrifice for the nation. A distressed Ming Tan retreats to Hanyan Temple for 49 days of prayer, where she unexpectedly encounters the Emperor and Jiang Xu. Her cousin, Shen Yu, hearing of the broken engagement, rushes to Hanyan Temple to propose to Ming Tan, much to her dismay and Jiang Xu's fury. Meanwhile, Su Wenjun and the Empress Dowager conspire to expedite Ming Tan and Jiang Xu's marriage. Despite her reluctance, Ming Tan, accompanied by Bai Minmin, attends a street parade featuring newly honored scholars, including Shu Jingran (whom Bai Minmin admires), only to run into Jiang Xu and Zhang Huaiyu yet again.
Spoiler Alert
So, Ming Tingyuan and Bai Jingyuan officially roll up to the Liang family estate to call things off with Ming Tan. You can bet the Liangs weren't exactly thrilled to let that connection go, but then – boom! – Zhu'er shows up, bawling her eyes out. Turns out, this was all part of Jiang Xu's master plan. He was not about to let the Liang family get what they wanted. With that little spectacle, the Liangs were toast, their reputation and prospects pretty much done for. Back home, Ming Tingyuan, probably feeling a mix of relief and stress, has a heart-to-heart with his late wife's memorial tablet, promising he'll find a really good match for Ming Tan this time.
Meanwhile, Shu Jingran is scratching his head, wondering if Jiang Xu has some other brilliant marriage lined up for Ming Tan. Jiang Xu, ever the strategist, basically sizes up the available bachelors. He thinks Zhang Huaiyu is a no-go because the Empress will have her own plans for him, and Lu Ting is just too darn emotional. So, who does that leave? You guessed it – Shu Jingran! Jiang Xu practically stares him down, suggesting he's the best man for the job. Shu Jingran, clearly not amused, is like, "Dude, if she's such a catch, why don't you marry her?" Touché, Shu Jingran, touché.
Poor Ming Tan is an absolute wreck. After that public mess, she’s convinced her dating pool has shrunk to zero. Who’d want to propose to her now? The Emperor, bless his heart, decides he needs to get Ming Tan hitched before the Empress Dowager can stick her oar in. But every candidate he throws out, Jiang Xu shoots down, claiming these sons of civil officials just aren't man enough to handle Ming Tan. The Emperor then starts fussing over Jiang Xu’s own love life. I mean, Jiang Xu and Jing'an Hou both have serious military power, and you know the Su family is eyeing that situation. This is where Jiang Xu pulls a classic move. He puts on this super noble face and declares he'll marry Ming Tan. For the good of the country, of course! "Sacrificing myself for the nation, who else but me?" he says. The Emperor? Totally eats it up, thinking this is the perfect solution.
Elsewhere, Liu Mo scurries to Su Wenjun with an update: the Liang family is being exiled. But Jiang Xu isn't done; he’s determined to dig deep into this corruption case and won't stop until he gets what he wants. Jiang Xu then gets wind that Su Wenjun and his wife paid a little visit to Jing'an Hou and Ming Tan, and everyone was getting along a little too well. Jiang Xu’s radar goes off – he’s worried Su Wenjun is there to talk marriage. And speaking of marriage, Ming Tingyuan is seriously not impressed with Su Wenjun’s potential involvement. Ming Tan has to jump in and remind her dad that her "godparents" (Su Wenjun and his wife) have been a huge help while he was out of the capital. Su Wenjun’s next bright idea is to take Ming Tan to the palace and let the Empress Dowager sort out her marriage. But Ming Tan throws a curveball: she’s off to Hanyan Temple for a 49-day prayer retreat.
That very night, Ming Tan packs up five carriages and heads to Hanyan Temple. Smart move, doing it at night. If she’d left during the day, Ming Chu would have undoubtedly given her an earful. Better to just bounce than deal with that drama. Life at Hanyan Temple is, shall we say, basic. Ming Tan swaps her fancy silks for simple robes. And the food? Legend has it that Hanyan Temple’s vegetarian meals are divine. Spoiler: they’re not. Ming Tan can barely stomach it and ends up getting sent to a prayer hall for some "self-reflection." There are a ton of prayer halls, so she just picks one at random. And who does she find inside? The Emperor and Jiang Xu, chilling with a game of chess! Apparently, it’s their old childhood hangout. They overhear Ming Tan praying her heart out for a dream husband, and her list of requirements is… extensive. Jiang Xu can’t help but crack a smile. The Emperor quips that her standards are ridiculously high and jokes that it’s a good thing Jiang Xu "claimed" her. Suddenly, Jiang Xu’s not really in the mood for chess anymore and makes a hasty exit.
Plot twist! There’s something fishy about Gu Jinzhong’s son. Shen Yu, a Vice-General in the Dingbei Army, was supposed to escort Zhu'er and her kid out of the capital – a one-day job, tops. But he’s mysteriously delayed. Jiang Xu is just wondering what’s up when he hears Shen Yu nearby, looking for Ming Tan. Turns out, Shen Yu is Ming Tan’s cousin and has been crushing on her for ages. The second he heard her engagement to the Liang family was off, he hightailed it over to propose. Ming Tan is understandably freaked out and shuts him down hard. She’s walking on eggshells as it is, and Shen Yu should know the proper proposal etiquette. If he had any respect for her situation, he wouldn’t have ambushed her like this. Jiang Xu, witnessing this, is absolutely livid and orders someone to tell Shen Yu to get back to camp and report to him ASAP.
Ming Chu, ever the meddler, hears Shen Yu is back and rushes to him. She knows he’s got it bad for Ming Tan and actually encourages him to talk to Jiang Xu, thinking Jiang Xu might just grant them a marriage. Little does she know, Jiang Xu is way ahead of her and has already punished Shen Yu by assigning him to…mucking out the horse stables. Ouch.
Meanwhile, the marriage plotting continues. Su Wenjun and the Empress Dowager are scheming about Jiang Xu and Ming Tan’s wedding. They want to make it official, and fast – definitely before the Emperor makes his own move.
Bai Minmin pops in to see Ming Tan. Ming Tan, no fool, figures her dad and godfather are still going to be on the husband hunt for her, so she decides she needs to find her own guy first. Bai Minmin has the local gossip: Shu Jingran, who just aced the imperial exams (scoring the Tanhua title, third overall!), along with the top scholar (Zhuangyuan) and second-place (Bangyan), will be in a celebratory street parade the next day. Maybe Ming Tan’s future husband is among them? Ming Tan’s not really feeling it, though.
Later, Bai Jingyuan is worried Ming Tan might actually be serious about this temple retreat and consider becoming a nun. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor have been summoning Ming Tingyuan non-stop about this marriage, but they can’t seem to agree on anything. Just then, the Emperor summons Ming Tingyuan again – it’s urgent, "ten thousand urgent fires" level of urgent!
Despite her earlier reluctance, Ming Tan ends up going to the parade with Bai Minmin. Bai Minmin is totally gaga for Shu Jingran. And she’s not the only one – Princess Feng Zhao also clearly has her eye on him. Bai Minmin is busy speculating about what kind of wife Shu Jingran will end up with when a voice pipes up from the private room next to theirs. Ming Tan and Bai Minmin peek through the curtain, and who do they see? Jiang Xu and Zhang Huaiyu. Again! These two are everywhere.
