Episode Summary
Episode 5 throws Ming Tan's world into chaos when she's unexpectedly betrothed to the formidable Dingbei Wang, Jiang Xu, by imperial decree, a decision heavily influenced by the Empress Dowager and reluctantly accepted by her brother, Ming Tingyuan. Initially horrified by the Dingbei Wang's fearsome reputation, Ming Tan's shock turns to disbelief when she discovers he's the same handsome man she's encountered multiple times. Jiang Xu seems to know more about her than she realizes and suggests their marriage is the best solution to her current situation, though Ming Tan misinterprets it as a contract marriage. Despite her reservations and attempts to understand Jiang Xu's motives and true character, the marriage seems inevitable, with her brother assuring her of Jiang Xu's good nature and ability to protect her. The episode ends with Ming Tan confiding her anxieties to her late mother, while Jiang Xu appears determined to marry and protect her.
Spoiler Alert
So, things kick off with Ming Tan and Bai Minmin looking absolutely horrified at the sight of Jiang Xu and Zhang Huaiyu. Meanwhile, the Emperor urgently summons Ming Tingyuan to the palace. Turns out, the Emperor has a husband picked out for Ming Tingyuan's sister (we're looking at you, Ming Tan!), but plot twist – the Empress Dowager also has her own candidate, and apparently, her choice carries a lot more weight. When Ming Tingyuan sees Jiang Xu's name on the proposal, he looks like he's been handed a live grenade he desperately wants to toss. But the Emperor drops the bomb: the Empress Dowager has already issued an edict for this forced marriage, and it's already on its way to the Jing An Marquis's residence. Since Ming Tan wasn't home when the edict was supposed to be read, Ming Tingyuan knew he was cornered and, with a metaphorical knife to his throat, had no choice but to accept Jiang Xu as his brother-in-law.
Later, Shu Jingran, who apparently didn't just leave after his big parade, pops back up at the restaurant, much to Feng Zhao's delight. When Shu Jingran bumps into Ming Tan and Bai Minmin, Feng Zhao can't resist throwing some shade. Zhang Huaiyu tries to play peacemaker, but Ming Tan, not one to be outdone, brings up the Empress Dowager's plan to marry Feng Zhao off to the Dingbei Wang (that's Jiang Xu, folks!). Bai Minmin gleefully adds some juicy, bloody details about the Dingbei Wang's reputation. Little do they know, Jiang Xu is just behind a screen and can't help but chuckle at the whole exchange. Just as Ming Tan is about to make her exit, the marriage decree officials arrive and announce that Ming Tan is to be married to none other than the Dingbei Wang, Jiang Xu. Ming Tan is stunned silent for a good while before promptly fainting. Classic.
Back at their residence, Ming Tingyuan explains the day's drama to Ming Tan. He knew the Empress Dowager is a stickler for rules, so when Ming Tan wasn't home (she was at Wen Tao Ge, by the way), he told the Emperor, effectively sealing the deal in front of everyone. Ming Tan and Bai Minmin are practically in tears; this marriage situation is way worse than the Liang family fiasco they were worried about before. They're convinced the Dingbei Wang must be some hideous brute, and this marriage has to be called off!
The next morning, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin are all over Ming Tingyuan, trying to get him to annul the engagement and digging for dirt on Jiang Xu. Ming Tingyuan, however, sings Jiang Xu's praises, talking up his battlefield achievements and insisting that landing such a son-in-law is a stroke of luck for their family. Plus, he drops a bombshell: this supposedly rough military man is actually incredibly handsome, apparently rivaling the pretty boy scholar they saw in the street parade the day before. Ming Tan, after mulling it over, decides she needs to see this Jiang Xu for herself. If he's as bad as the rumors say, imperial decree or not, she's backing out. To get a look at him without revealing her identity, Ming Tan and Bai Minmin disguise themselves as maids, using the excuse of bringing food to a certain Bai Yu to sneak into the Dingbei Wang's camp. Jiang Xu, spotting Ming Tan in her servant getup, totally gets what she's up to and deliberately turns his back, letting her get a good look at his physique. But when Ming Tan finally sees Jiang Xu's face, she's utterly shocked – it's him again!
Ming Tan can't believe that the guy she keeps running into is actually the Dingbei Wang. She's baffled as to why he’d want to marry her. Jiang Xu then brings up all those wishes she made at the temple, claiming that he's pretty much the only guy in the world who could meet all her criteria. Ming Tan argues that even if that's true, it doesn't mean she has to marry him; they have no emotional connection, and a marriage between them would be a disaster waiting to happen. But Jiang Xu tells her that becoming the Dingbei Wangfei (Princess of Dingbei) is the best possible outcome for her current predicament. Ming Tan, however, completely misinterprets this as him proposing a marriage of convenience, a contract marriage. Bai Minmin is anxiously waiting for Ming Tan, who emerges feeling pretty overwhelmed. Today has been a rollercoaster of surprises, and she needs some serious time to process.
Meanwhile, the Dingbei Wang's steward, Fu Shu, hears about the engagement to Ming Tan and is thrilled, praising her as the cream of the crop among the capital's young ladies – virtuous, gentle, and kind. Jiang Xu can barely contain his amusement at this description. Fu Shu continues, explaining that a few years back when the army was short on funds, Ming Tan frequently "visited" and found reasons to "donate" to the military coffers, declaring them a match made in heaven.
Ming Tan is, understandably, a bundle of nerves about the wedding. Ming Tingyuan firmly reassures her that Jiang Xu is a good man, recounting how Jiang Xu single-handedly fought through enemy lines to save the current Emperor during the late Emperor's reign, and that he always has his reasons for what he does. Ming Tan worries about how to break the news to Su Wenchun, but Ming Tingyuan isn't concerned, saying he'll support the Ming family. He tells her that both she and Ming Chu should choose partners they genuinely like. He even goes as far as to say that in the entire Da Xian empire, apart from the Emperor himself, if Jiang Xu can't protect her, then no one can. Shu Jingran, on the other hand, suspects Jiang Xu isn't genuinely interested in the marriage and worries the Emperor might have reservations. But Jiang Xu is resolute: he's determined to protect Ming Tan and ensure her lifelong happiness.
Later, Ming Tan visits the ancestral hall to pour her heart out to her late mother. She admits that Jiang Xu, in terms of family background, status, looks, and talent, is a perfect match for her and seems like a dependable person. Her only hesitation is that she knows so little about him and isn't sure if he's truly the man Ming Tingyuan describes. She even asks her mother's spirit if she approves of the marriage. Ming Tan also voices her feeling of estrangement from Ming Tingyuan after their long separation, a sentiment Ming Tingyuan, who is eavesdropping outside the door, hears with a heavy heart full of guilt.
