It doesn’t take the emperor and Lady Ling long to figure out that Xiaoyanzi has gone out without permission again. They come into the bedroom and start questioning why Xiaoyanzi — who is actually a maid in disguise — is covering up her face again with a thick blanket. All the servants fear for their lives.
By the way, the emperor just kind of… reacts to one of the dangly things on Lady Ling’s headdress. Maybe he’s thinking they are more trouble than they’re worth.
Xiaoyanzi parts with Ziwei at the gates. Ziwei and Er’kang both phase out a little. Er’tai laments his life of forever having to cover up for his friend and brother who just don’t seem to think clearly when they need to.
Xiaoyanzi and Yongqi are about to grab some drinks when they walk in on the Emperor in Xiaoyanzi’s guestroom.
EMPERROR: Where were you two?
XIAOYANZI: Walking, and Yongqi taught me some poetry!
Worst lie ever. Xiaoyanzi’s inability to learn literature is kind of the highlight of this show. Every time she mentions “poem”, you can expect comedy to follow.
In the end, Xiaoyanzi tells the truth: she and Yongqi went to the Fu’s. This puts the emperor’s mind at ease because the Fu family is Lady Ling’s family. Emperor is still determined to punish her at dawn, though.
The next morning, the Forever-Confused Trio — Yongqi, Er’kang, Er’tai — hold a meeting to see what they can do to help Xiaoyanzi.
Xiaoyanzi herself is anxious so she comes to see them. But before they can have any real discussion, the empress arrives. It seems she has spies all over the palace to report to her every single thing so she can decide when to make whose life miserable.
The empress catches Xiaoyanzi and steps on her fingers on purpose, only to slip and fall on her back when Xiaoyanzi reacted. Maybe the empress wouldn’t have fallen so easily if she hadn’t been wearing those unnaturally high heels. Those things are the real killers here, not Xiaoyanzi.
The emperor was going to punish Xiaoyanzi, but her bruised fingers soften his anger a little and he lets the whole thing go. He is still displeased with the guys, though. The Trio looking down in shame while the emperor points out how they have been a bad example for Xiaoyanzi is the best shot in this ep.
After Xiaoyanzi is forgiven — there was no chance of her getting punished to begin with, the emperor practically sees her flaws as his source of laughter — Er’kang brings Ziwei the good news. Both he and Lady Ling believe there’s some attachment between Xiaoyanzi and Er’tai. What a perfect world it would be if they got married – Er’kang expresses to Ziwei — because then Xiaoyanzi would live at the Fu’s and get to meet Ziwei every day. Er’kang is assuming that Ziwei already accepted his marriage proposal.
Even though Ziwei is more hopeful now that she has reunited with Xiaoyanzi and sorted things out, she understands it won’t be an easy road for her and Er’kang.
Ziwei also isn’t betting on Er’tai and Xiaoyanzi, though. She knows more than anyone that Xiaoyanzi is a tomboy who sees everyone as a buddy. So good luck to any guy who has a crush on her.
In the middle of their poetic… slow, misery-loaded afternoon chat, Er’kang is summoned back to the manor because his parents would like a word.
Guess what, they have seen Er’kang’s affection toward Ziwei and warn him that this is in no way a good idea. Er’kang’s marriage will be decided by the emperor so he’d better not think about choosing his own bride. And of course, Er’kang, as the elder son and a personal guard to the emperor, responds to this concern with composure.
Nope, just kidding. He says he loves Ziwei and no one else, briefly assumes that his parents only care about status and reputation, and ignore his mom’s reasonable logic. What? It’s Er’kang. What’s more, it’s a smitten, deep-in-love Er’kang; reason is always more like plan B, OK?