Even though *Huang-ah-ma gets Xiaoyanzi out of trouble with the empress, Yongqi and Er’tai are worried that she is making unnecessary enemies with her mischief and that Ziwei poses a danger to her. These two guys are a little biased toward Xiaoyanzi, they even consider asking Ziwei to let the whole thing go.
Yongqi meets Ziwei for the first time at the Fu residence. He is happy to have another sister, especially one that is so traditionally proper. Totally different from the new “sister” he has back in the palace.
Ziwei nearly faints from happiness because Yongqi believes her story and requires no proof at all. Yongqi has one request, though: don’t do anything that might harm Xiaoyanzi, because she is in a delicate situation.
Ziwei goes back to her room to think. Unfortunately, Jinsuo is with her, so we have to endure another round of complaints and weepy pleas. Ziwei notices that Yongqi and Er’tai both seem to be heart-eyeing Xiaoyanzi. Very sharp eyes. But Jinsuo actually points out something useful to Ziwei in the end: Er’kang likes her.
Xiaoyanzi writes to Ziwei. But she is illiterate, so what she sends to Ziwei is a pack of badly done sketches that depict what happened.
Ziwei is a total bada**, though; she takes these sketches and recites the content out loud in the form of a poem, which causes everyone — especially Er’kang — to feel like they have reached enlightenment.
Ziwei is shocked to learn NOW that Xiaoyanzi was shot by an arrow and mortally wounded. She breaks into tears and asks why no one bothered to tell her.
YONGQI: Really? You didn’t know?
ER’TAI: I thought Er’kang told you.
ER’KANG: I thought Er’tai told you.
Yep, so Ziwei beat herself up with worry and torment about Xiaoyanzi for days because these guys forgot to give her the one crucial piece of information in this mystery. By the way, I can understand why Er’tai thought Er’kang already told her, but why would Er’kang think that Er’tai told Ziwei anything at all? When has Er’tai ever hung out with Ziwei?
Ziwei decides right there that this is enough. Xiaoyanzi did not lie to her and Yongqi acknowledges her, and that’s all she wanted to hear. She would not mind if Xiaoyanzi took her place as a princess forever. Oh, Ziwei, you are way too good for this world, nobody deserves you.
Er’kang, however, is so touched by this declaration that he vows to put things right for Ziwei.
Yongqi returns and talks to Xiaoyanzi, he advises her to be careful around the empress, because if anything happens to her, he would be heartbroken. Oops, he did not mean to say it like that, but it came out of his mouth anyway. He is flustered. Xiaoyanzi, as usual, has no idea.
At the Fu manor, Er’kang visits Ziwei, only to find out that she intends to leave and go back to her home town. Uh-oh, Ziwei really meant it when she said she is done with things here.
Er’kang freaks out, asks Jinsuo to leave so he can talk to Ziwei alone. He apologizes for all the pressure Ziwei has had to face and wants her to feel at home here. Also, he intends to help her meet Xiaoyanzi and the emperor, too.
But Ziwei refuses all offers — why would she want to meet the emperor now if she can never be acknowledged? And she is aware that her existence puts Xiaoyanzi in danger so why remain?
Out of options, Er’kang pulls his last card: What if I ask you to stay for me? Oooh.
But even with his panicky earnest confession, Ziwei still says no. Er’kang is a nobleman, and he is not free to arrange his own marriage. It doesn’t matter if he likes her. I’ve got to say that for a fragile and sheltered girl with little life experience, Ziwei is incredibly clear-headed, a lot more than the guys and Xiaoyanzi combined.
Er’kang grabs her arms (wrists?) out of desperation but lets go immediately and apologizes. Haha.
But Ziwei changes her mind, she wants to take a chance with fate, after all. And if you think you have seen Er’kang being paranoid, you have seen nothing yet. Wait till they actually start dating.
The emperor speaks with his first wife that night, pointing out that she used to be gentle and soft; and he wants to know what has caused her to become so inflexible lately. It’s a peaceful talk and the empress is extra sweet tonight. In the end, she promises to take Xiaoyanzi under her wing and make her a proper lady. As much as I want to believe this gentle side of the empress, it’s too good to be true. Even if she means well, you can bet that Nanny Rong won’t let her.