Episode Summary
The episode sees Ming Tan kidnapped right before her wedding but dramatically rescued by Jiang Xu. On the wedding day, tension peaks as Su Xiang Furen suspects the bride's absence, but Jiang Xu arrives just in time, and it's revealed Ming Tan is indeed present. During the Dingbei Wangfu ceremonies, Jiang Xu's heartfelt poems during the Que Shan ritual move Ming Tan. As newlyweds, they face awkwardness, highlighted when Jiang Xu opts to sleep separately and accidentally reveals a "Chun Gong Tu." Jiang Xu also identifies Liu Mo among the guests as Ming Tan's kidnapper. The episode ends with Ming Tingyuan worried about the Hai You Men sect's involvement in the abduction.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Ming Tan in a pretty terrifying spot – kidnapped and stuck in a carriage, desperately praying for Jiang Xu to pull off a last-minute rescue. She’s definitely not looking to die young, especially not before her own wedding! Fast forward to the big day, and there’s still no sign of Jiang Xu. Her dad, Ming Tingyuan, is sweating bullets, trying to keep the guests, especially the snoopy Su Wenchun and his wife, Su Xiang Furen, from realizing the bride is MIA. He tries to park the ladies in the courtyard for tea, but Su Xiang Furen is determined to see Ming Tan. The ever-loyal maid, Lu E, tries to cover, saying Ming Tan has a headache and isn't seeing anyone. Su Xiang Furen, however, isn't buying it and barges into the room. Crisis narrowly averted for now, as another quick-thinking maid throws on the wedding dress, fooling Su Xiang Furen temporarily. Just then, Bai Minmin bounces in, excited to see Ming Tan all glammed up, only to find an empty room and a whole lot of panic.
Su Xiang Furen, being the sharp character she is, quickly figures out Ming Tan isn’t actually in the mansion and tips off Su Wenchun. Ming Tingyuan is doing his best to play it cool, but you can tell he’s about to have a meltdown. When the auspicious moment arrives for the bride to bid farewell to her parents, Su Xiang Furen makes her move, stepping forward to chat with the "bride," clearly intending to get a peek at her supposed goddaughter. Bai Minmin, bless her heart, literally throws herself in the way, exclaiming that removing the bride's face covering (or bixi) before the right time would be a terrible omen. Su Wenchun and his wife are relentless, though, insisting on seeing Ming Tan. And just when you think the jig is up, who strolls in but Jiang Xu himself, ready to escort his bride! He calmly asks the bride to reveal herself, and surprise – it’s actually Ming Tan under the veil!
So, how did that happen? Flashback time! The previous night, Jiang Xu, like a true hero, tracked Ming Tan down using a hairpin she’d dropped and successfully rescued her. You can imagine Ming Tingyuan’s immense relief when he saw his daughter safe and sound. Later, Ming Tan, wearing a bracelet gifted by Su Xiang Furen, comes to formally bid farewell to her and Su Wenchun, but there's a noticeable new distance in her tone. As she’s leaving the family home, nerves get the better of her, and she stumbles. Jiang Xu, smooth as ever, just sweeps her up into a bridal carry and places her into the wedding sedan. Through the curtain, Ming Tan gazes at the dashing Jiang Xu – this man is now her husband.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Jiang Xu’s buddies, Zhang Huaiyu, Lu Ting, and Shu Jingran, are watching the whole spectacle. They’re pretty amused, commenting that they always thought the cool and reserved Jiang Xu would be the last of them to get hitched, and here he is, marrying such a dignified yet delightfully witty woman. Bai Minmin, never one to miss out on the fun (or cash), also joins them and manages to snag a good amount of "lucky money" from the guys.
Over at the Dingbei Wangfu (Prince Dingbei's Mansion), the ceremonies continue as Ming Tan is officially proclaimed Princess Dingbei. Jiang Xu, ever considerate, wants to cut through some of the red tape so Ming Tan can rest, but the head steward insists that all proper rites must be observed. Then comes the "Que Shan" ceremony, where the bride traditionally hides her face with a fan. Jiang Xu composes his first poem for her, but Ming Tan playfully refuses to lower her fan. So, he recites another, and this one hits her right in the feels – he remembered their very first meeting at Hanshan Temple! Still, she hesitates. It’s only when Jiang Xu recites a third poem, proving he remembers all her hopes and dreams, that Ming Tan is truly moved and finally lowers the fan.
Ceremony complete, Jiang Xu and Ming Tan find themselves alone on the wedding bed, and the awkwardness is palpable. Jiang Xu calls for Lu E and another servant to help Ming Tan remove her elaborate phoenix crown, then heads out to the courtyard to entertain the guests. Ming Tan is left with a whirlwind of emotions – a mix of anxiety and a sweet, budding hope that Jiang Xu’s actions mean he genuinely likes her. At the banquet, Jiang Xu’s sharp eyes spot a familiar pair of eyes in the crowd – he recognizes Liu Mo as the man who kidnapped Ming Tan the night before! His friends, Zhang Huaiyu, Lu Ting, and Shu Jingran, also pull him aside to offer some (probably unsolicited) advice on how to be a good husband, clearly worried he might not know how to please his new wife.
Back in the bridal chamber, Ming Tan has been waiting for what feels like ages when Jiang Xu finally returns. He tells her that her kidnapping was his fault, that she got dragged into his troubles. Ming Tan, however, practically melts, implying she’d gladly go through anything for him. Jiang Xu then announces it’s time to prepare for bed, as neither of them got any sleep the previous night. Ming Tan is taken aback – "That's it? We're just... sleeping?" As she’s nervously clenching her fists, Jiang Xu grabs a pillow and quilt from the bed, intending to sleep separately on a makeshift bed nearby. In his haste, he accidentally knocks a book of erotic art (a Chun Gong Tu), clearly planted by the household staff, onto the floor. Ming Tan is mortified and frantically explains she had nothing to do with it, silently cursing the pre-nuptial agreement they signed, worried he'll now think she's playing coy or being insincere about her desires.
