A girl tries to save her dead father’s armed escort service and fulfill her godmother’s final wish by marrying her godmother's daughter to a good man.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Notable Actors/Actresses
Zheng Qiu Hong: Yue Zi Yuan
I Cannot Afford This Girl
[Ep1] Yue Zi Yuan is an orphan. Her parents died some time ago leaving her the Shenwei Escort Service. Zi Yuan and her faithful “brother” Shuan Zi are trying to keep the company going when they are stopped in the street by debtors demanding immediate payment. She appeals to the male lead, Yang Xiao (who is also an orphan and whose father died some time ago) for help. He not only doesn’t help her, he fans the flames. He declares that the only ethical thing for her to do is to sell the land deed to Shenwei Escort Service. Zi Yuan says she will but she will have 10 days to redeem the land deed. Her godmother, Lady Bai, steps forward and helps her settle the debts, taking the land deed in return. Lady Bai, in her carriage, mentally apologizes to Zi Yuan for setting her up and then coughs blood into her handkerchief.
[Ep4] He slowly leans in as if he’s going to kiss her and she slides away and runs off.
[Ep5] Zi Yuan arranges an assassination attempt for the two girls. She conveniently rescues them and tricks them into revealing that Bai Yi is behind the smear on Xiao’s character. The ladies publicly clear Xiao’s name but now everyone thinks Zi Yuan helped him because she likes him. Using a carrot as a microphone Zi Yuan declares her fervent hatred for Yang Xiao - but no one believes her. Xiao doesn’t help matters at all. A storyteller writes it all down and begins spreading the story that Xiao intends to marry Yin Ruo and take her best friend Zi Yuan as a concubine. Bai Yi is encouraging this story. Liu Tiao and some men ambush Bai Yi in an alley, sliding a black bag over his head so he can’t identify them, and beats him up for spreading false rumors. At the Bai mansion Zi Yuan confronts Bai Yi but when she starts to hit him he threatens to make her his “special maid”.
[Ep9] Zi Yuan wonders that Xiao isn’t worried his treatment of Zi Jun will cause Madam Hong to cancel the agreement. (They’re in a much nicer carriage that Madam Hong supplied.) She scolds him for his unvirtuous behavior and he offers her an orange. She leaves the carriage for some fresh air. He does too. He and Tiao walk along the river and Tiao asks why he doesn’t explain to Zi Yuan about the unequal agreement he made and clear up Zi Yuan’s misunderstanding of him? Xiao can win her love without telling her and he doesn’t want the risks he’s taking to impact Zi Yuan. After they head back to the carriage Zi Yuan steps out from behind a tree. She heard it all.
[Ep13] Zi Yuan wakes up in the mountain camp. She’s been unconscious for 7 days. Chief Zheng’s people are still looking for Yang Xiao. Zi Yuan insists on looking for Xiao herself. She doesn’t find him. She decides to drink on a rooftop while remembering her special moments with Xiao. (Why is it always a rooftop? Does no one understand how dangerous heights and alcohol are together?) Zi Yuan vows to open the trade route for Xiao.
[Ep14] Xiao overhears patrons talking about Zi Yuan’s imminent death. Mistress Sikong soon realizes he’s left.
[Ep21]Yin Ruo overhears people talking about the massacre of Qingfeng Camp. She actually looks a little guilty. She talks with Zi Yuan back at the Pavilion. She’s not angry with Zi Yuan anymore, just worried about Zhuo who is still affected by the poison. Yin Ruo asks Zi Yuan to ask Dr. Duan to save Zhuo. Zi Yuan won’t because she knows what price Yin Ruo would need to pay him. Yin Ruo tantrums again and closes her room door in Zi Yuan’s face.
Network: iQIYI
Recapper: Rianya
Recap Grade: B
First Impression: 3.5/5
First Impression: 3.5/5
cynlynn: Rianya will be juggling two dramas! (:
Mini Recaps
The employees of Shenwei Escort flee like lemmings - Shuan Zi is distressed but Zi Yuan is nonchalant. She swears they’ll revive Shenwei Escort without unwilling employees. However Yang Xiao and his aide Liu Tiao park in front of the Escort Service and pay people to not hire Shenwei. On the tenth day a servant arrives with an Escort request from Godmother.
Godmother has just died and she knew it was coming. That’s why she set up Zi Yuan. Her request is that Zi Yuan act as her daughter, Yin Ruo’s maid to protect her and her dowry from the greedy Concubine Yu. Master Bai is a weak man who is easily manipulated. Fortunately, Zi Yuan is better at it than Concubine Yu. Once Zi Yuan has gotten Yin Ruo married off to a good man her job will be done and she is to receive the land deed back.
Yang Xiao had a reason for picking on Zi Yuan. He is investigating the death of his parents which is somehow connected to both the opening of a new trade route and Shenwei Escort service. His uncle hears him discussing this with his cousin/brother and is instantly angry.
Yin Ruo reveals to Zi Yuan that the marriage prospect was Yang Xiao. Zi Yuan is horrified at the thought of Yin Ruo being connected to that terrible playboy.
Uncle Yang Yuan Dao has placed guards to keep Yang Xiao in his rooms. He and Liu Tiao escape anyway. Yang Xiao and Zi Yuan meet (by accident) on the wall of the estate. They manage to fall off the wall for an accidental kiss.
(I already can’t stand Yin Ruo. She’s got the personality of a wet rag but not the usefulness. Also, I’m not thrilled with Zi Yuan who is quite the bully in this initial episode. We’ll see how it goes. It had some funny parts too.)
[Ep2] Zi Yuan decides to use reverse psychology and demands that Xiao hurry up and marry Yin Ruo. Shuan Zi happened to bring along rope and suggests tying him up and forcing the matter. Yuan and Shuan Zi end up tied to a pole because Yuan’s martial arts are nowhere near Xiao’s level. Later Xiao speculates that Zi Yuan is pestering him because she’s in love with him while Zi Yuan rejoices that Xiao has no interest in Yin Ruo.
Uncle Yang sends his son Zhuo to console the Bai family for their loss. He wants to rush the marriage between Xiao and Yin Rou but knows he can’t while they’re in mourning. Zi Yuan overhears Concubine Yu (who has intercepted Zhuo and the gifts he brought) telling him that Yin Ruo has tuberculosis. She rejects his offer of a physician and suggests that the marriage won’t happen. Zhuo insists that they won’t abandon Yin Ruo. Zi Yuan is thrilled - she’s found Yin Ruo’s perfect match!
Yin Ruo reads a fan letter. She writes under the name “Meandering Jin”.
Zi Yuan brings Ruo to an orphanage to arrange an “accidental” encounter with Zhuo - he visits there regularly and teaches the children. Xiao interferes with her first attempt to get them alone together but she adapts and sends them off on an errand. Shuan Zi and Liu Tiao argue over whose wonderful master is pursuing who. Zi Yuan and Xiao argue over Xiao’s unfitness to be Yin Ruo’s marriage partner. Zhuo and Yin Ruo return and Zhuo tells Xiao to stop bullying Zi Yuan. Yin Ruo is smitten with Xiao.
[Ep3] Zi Yuan wants to know how Yin Ruo and Zhuo are getting along. Xiao realizes that Zi Yuan’s goal is to matchmake Yin Ruo and Zhuo. Zi Yuan’s next plan is to send the two up the hill to pick flowers. Yun Ruo looks at Xiao, hoping he’ll join them, but he volunteers to watch over Zi Yuan who has pretended to hurt her leg. After they leave he agrees to help Zi Yuan get Yin Ruo and Zhuo together but it doesn’t mean he’ll forgive what she’s done before. Zi Yuan is fine with that and starts to leave but he stops her to tell her not to hope to gain his affections this way. She’s amazed at his ego.
As they head up the only path to the top of the hill, Xiao accuses Zi Yuan of following him. She runs ahead of him and tells him not to follow her. Liu Tiao tells Shuan Zi that it’s spring.
At the top of the hill Zi Yuan reveals her plan to block Yin Ruo’s and Zhuo’s paths off the hill so they’ll be forced to spend the night together and grow closer. (She also shares that there are no dangerous animals, like pheasants or ducks, only tigers and lions.) They split up to dig pits. Zi Yuan planned to split up with Shuan Zi but Xiao insists he has to pair up with Zi Yuan and Liu Tiao can go with Shuan Zi. Of course Zi Yuan and Shuan Zi are the ones who do the work. Xiao and Tiao have discovered how to get Zi Yuan and Shuan Zi to do what they want - they pay them. But Shuan and Tiao fall into their pit when a tiger growls and Zi Yuan and Xiao get lost. Shuan Zi sleeps on Liu Tiao quite comfortably while Xiao pays Zi Yuan to let him sit on part of her skirt - so he doesn’t get that terrible dirt stuff on him. In the morning she’s got her head in his lap and he’s enchanted with her. She’s the first woman he’s ever let close to him.
Yin Ruo and Zhao were down the hill long before the pits were dug. They head back up the hill to find their missing friends and see Zi Yuan sleeping on Xiao. They jump to the wrong conclusion but Zi Yuan swears that nothing happened.
Back home Yin Ruo tells Zi Yuan she likes Xiao and thinks he’s the one she should marry. Zi Yuan says she’s weird because he’s a bully and will make her life miserable. Yin Ruo starts listing Xiao’s good qualities.
Xiao shares with Liu Tiao about his parents dying on the very first trip on the new Guiyue trade route. It was blamed on bandits but he doesn’t believe it because bandits want money, not lives. He’s determined to figure out what really happened and is suspecting people who didn’t want a new trade route.
Zi Yuan arrives to tell Xiao to propose to Yin Ruo. He doesn’t want to, which makes her happy. Next she wants Xiao to make Yin Ruo stop liking him. He suggests he take her, Zi Yuan, as his concubine. She tells him to “dream on” and adds that maybe if he wants to marry into the Shenwei Escort service… He agrees immediately and she says she was just kidding. She goes to leave and he kabedon’s her.
[Ep4] He slowly leans in as if he’s going to kiss her and she slides away and runs off.
Daddy Bai is preparing Yin Ruo’s dowry, much to Concubine Yu’s dismay.
Zi Yuan rants to Yin Ruo about how terrible Yang Xiao is. Yin Ruo wants to know if he’ll marry her. Zi Yuan says yes but he wants to make her his concubine. (Or mistress - the translation uses both.) Yin Ruo whines about how hard her life is. (Did I mention I can’t stand her?)
Concubine Yu pretends to be sick - she’s trying to stop the wedding. Zi Yuan seizes the opportunity to put Yin Ruo in charge of her dowry but Yu manages to get her son Bai Yi put in charge instead. Later, Bai Yi tries to swap out Yin Ruo’s good fabrics with damaged fabrics but Zi Yuan catches him in the act. He locks up the storehouse. She retaliates by adding another six locks that he doesn’t get the keys for. Yin Ruo asks Zi Yuan to beg Xiao to marry her again so she can escape the Bai house. Zi Yuan agrees but first they’re going to deal with Concubine Yu. They use “Medical Sutras” to discredit the doctor as a quack and force Concubine Yu and her two nasty maids to drink bitter medicine. Yu’s skinny maid suggests that maybe they should try to get Yin Ruo to not want to marry Yang Xiao.
Shuan Zi runs to report to Zi Yuan that two flower girls at the Fengya Pavilion are accusing Yang Xiao of molesting them. They’re creating a scene and threatening to kill themselves.
Xiao’s uncle berates him and Xiao says he may be in the prime of his youth but he’s not up for two girls at once.
Zi Yuan and Yin Ruo arrive at the pavilion - Zi Yuan tells Yin Ruo this is proof of what a terrible person Xiao is. He is behind her and thanks her for her kind words. The girls’ proof is exposed as a fake and Yin Ruo and Zi Yuan leave. Xiao meets with the Madam of Fengya Pavilion and asks her to have her girls spread the scandal far and wide.
[Ep5] Zi Yuan arranges an assassination attempt for the two girls. She conveniently rescues them and tricks them into revealing that Bai Yi is behind the smear on Xiao’s character. The ladies publicly clear Xiao’s name but now everyone thinks Zi Yuan helped him because she likes him. Using a carrot as a microphone Zi Yuan declares her fervent hatred for Yang Xiao - but no one believes her. Xiao doesn’t help matters at all. A storyteller writes it all down and begins spreading the story that Xiao intends to marry Yin Ruo and take her best friend Zi Yuan as a concubine. Bai Yi is encouraging this story. Liu Tiao and some men ambush Bai Yi in an alley, sliding a black bag over his head so he can’t identify them, and beats him up for spreading false rumors. At the Bai mansion Zi Yuan confronts Bai Yi but when she starts to hit him he threatens to make her his “special maid”.
Zi Yuan dresses like a man and goes to Xiao asking for help. He whirls her into a compromising position to hide from Uncle’s servants. Zhuo spots Xiao looking intimate with a man. Xiao teases Zi Yuan for a while then tells her he has a plan. Next thing you know, Zhao sees Xiao with his arm around Liu Tiao. Zhao is convinced Xiao likes men and scolds him for being so obvious about it. Minutes later Uncle Yang sees Xiao with Liu Tiao in a kabedon. Uncle just asks why everyone is acting weird and walks away, shaking his head.
Xiao has a pleasant dream of marrying Zi Yuan. Apparently Zi Yuan is having the same dream but to her it’s a nightmare.
Liu Tiao comes to bring Zi Yuan to the Fengya Pavilion - Yang Xiao has a surprise for her. She’s not interested so he threatens her with publishing the story of Xiao and her “romance” throughout the land. She goes and the nasty maids see it.
Yang Xiao has manipulated a drunk Bai Yi into having a competition to choose a wife (I assume it’s a concubine, not first wife). There are seven maids but he has JuJu (one of the girls who smeared Xiao) dance first and then declares her the winner. They protest that no one else competed. Xiao agrees and says he’s joining the competition. It’s going to be martial arts so JuJu concedes immediately. Xiao says if Bai Yi wins he’ll be his younger brother and do what he says but if Xiao wins Bai Yi will have to call him Shifu. Xiao wins, even though he flirts with Zi Yuan throughout the “battle”. The storyteller writes it all down.
[Ep6] Yin Ruo drops off a manuscript and a letter at a bookseller’s place. The bookseller figures out that she is “Meandering Jin” (her pseudonym for her stories) and gives her a letter from “The Vagabond of Jiang City”. Yang Zhuo shows up moments after she leaves and gets the letter she left and discovers he just missed her. He rushes out to find Meandering Jin. He runs into Yin Ruo and sees the letter in her hand, also figuring out that she’s Meandering Jin. He doesn’t tell her he’s Vagabond, though. She mentions needing material for her “friend’s” book since her friend doesn’t have much real life experience. He eagerly volunteers to share his stories of his travels around the world. Concubine Yu’s nasty skinny maid takes Yin Ruo off to see something “important”.
[Ep6] Yin Ruo drops off a manuscript and a letter at a bookseller’s place. The bookseller figures out that she is “Meandering Jin” (her pseudonym for her stories) and gives her a letter from “The Vagabond of Jiang City”. Yang Zhuo shows up moments after she leaves and gets the letter she left and discovers he just missed her. He rushes out to find Meandering Jin. He runs into Yin Ruo and sees the letter in her hand, also figuring out that she’s Meandering Jin. He doesn’t tell her he’s Vagabond, though. She mentions needing material for her “friend’s” book since her friend doesn’t have much real life experience. He eagerly volunteers to share his stories of his travels around the world. Concubine Yu’s nasty skinny maid takes Yin Ruo off to see something “important”.
Zi Yuan thanks Xiao for getting revenge for her on Bai Yi. He walks with her on the streets and tries to buy her gifts but she’s not interested and then she’s suspicious of his intentions. She offers to teach him how to drink and mocks him for having no alcohol tolerance. She’s just doing it for his sake so no lady gets him drunk and puts him in a compromising position.
Yin Ruo sees this interaction from a balcony. They tell her Zi Yuan has been pretending to care about her but in reality is stealing her fiance. Yin Ruo is suspicious.
Zi Yuan and Xiao drink amicably and eventually end up on some grass (at the Bai residence, I assume but I’m not sure). She talks about how she’ll go back and revive Shenwei Escort once he marries Yin Ruo. He says he doesn’t love Yin Ruo - he loves her. She’s surprised. He kisses her. She’s paralyzed with shock - neither responding nor pushing him off. She jumps up and walks away. He hugs her from behind and reiterates that he loves her and wants to marry her. Yin Ruo sees this but she walks away before she can see Zi Yuan shove him off and stay away. He can’t love her because if he does, what happens to Yin Ruo. He says it was her who kept appearing before him and seducing him. She (quite rightly) asks him when she ever seduced him. She just wanted to keep them apart. He’s agreeable with that “be with me then”. No, she can’t - Yin Ruo likes him now. Xiao wants to know why it’s all about Yin Ruo’s wants - what about Zi Yuan’s feelings? He asks her if she doesn’t love him. She doesn’t answer, just mumbles that she’s already paid to marry him and Ruo off together.
When she returns to Yin Ruo’s rooms Yin Ruo accuses her of trying to steal her fiance. She tells Zi Yuan to leave and never let her see Zi Yuan again. (She does give her the land deed back.) Zi Yuan is heartbroken. (For some unfathomable reason, she likes Yin Ruo. I REALLY can’t stand that spoiled brat.)
Zi Yuan is drunk on the steps of the Shenwei Escorts building. Shuan Zi hasn’t heard her calling to be let in and she’s complaining and still drinking. Xiao materialized in front of her eyes and she tells him it’s all his fault. She complains that he always bullies her (even in her dreams). He tells her he’ll bully her for the rest of her life. (and they say romance is dead…) He puts her to bed and she continues to share how much she hates him while hitting a pillow.
Next day Xiao asks the Madam of Fengya Pavilion for information about the massacre 3 years ago. She just knows that his parents initiated the idea of opening a new trade route and that other people joined in. No one survived. The Chief of the Escorts was also killed in the massacre. It was Zi Yuan’s father.
Zi Yuan approaches “Uncle Song” asking him to come back and help her revive Shenwei. He says it wasn’t her fault Shenwei failed. It’s been blacklisted from the official trade route ever since her father supported opening the new trade route.
Liu Tiao has followed his instructions and spread the news that Yang Xiao and Shenwei are going to open the new trade route. Tiao worries that this is dangerous but Xiao swears to protect her with his life. She has to do it, he reasons, to revive Shenwei anyway. The Madam of Fengya eavesdrops on this conversation.
[Ep7] Zi Yuan is fixing her Shenwei plaque with Shuan Zi holding the ladder. He sees Xiao approaching and shakes the ladder. She falls and Xiao catches her. He has a job for her and offers her a deposit of 30,000 taels. She refuses. He says he’ll pay another 70,000 when the job is completed. She’s willing to listen - Shenwei can go anywhere except the new trade route to Guiyue. He wants her to escort him in opening up the new trade route. He says it’s for her benefit too since she’s been blacklisted from the official route. She refuses again.
Xiao comes back with a carousel toy for Zi Yuan. He’s using romance to get her to agree. As they arrive a person in black throws a dart with a message and races off. The message is that those who open the new trade route to Guiyue will die. Xiao races inside to make sure Zi Yuan is okay.
Zhuo takes Yin Ruo to the Fengye Pavilion. He tells her the owner, Sikong Mu Yun, has branches in Guiyue and Nanyang too. He goes off to get some snacks for her and she overhears two men talking about a book about Yuan Xiao and the Female Armed Escort. One says the storyteller fails to capture the essence of the story, which is the romance. Yin Ruo asks them to share their thoughts with her but they want to take advantage of her. Zhuo returns in time to save her.
Zi Yuan tells Xiao to save his life by staying in the capital and being quiet. He can’t do that. He must discover the truth of his parents’ death and opening the trade route is the only way. She says the route is inauspicious with bandits that killed everyone. He says their deaths were murder to keep the new trade route from opening. Besides, opening the new trade route was his parents last wish so he has to honor it. She wants him to leave. He’ll only do that if she gives him a kiss and agrees to help him. She tells him (quite earnestly) that her only desire right now is to marry him off to Yin Ruo happily and without obstacle. He says she can either help him open the trade route or marry him as a concubine and he’ll do what she wants. She orders him to leave and not return.
Yin Ruo asks Zi Yuan to work with Xiao so he’ll marry her. (She’s heard about the offer.) Xiao is the man of Yin Ruo’s dreams. Zi Yuan agrees but she hopes Yin Ruo won’t regret it in the future. She goes to Xiao and agrees to work with him but says he has to keep his promise to marry Yin Ruo at the end. He’s happy she’ll work with him and sad that she’s insisting he marry Yin Ruo still.
The four of them set out (because no one else would join their group). One of Mu Yun’s girls reports that they’ve left. She says Xian Xian is to remain undercover at Manager Qian’s side and tells her to start the operation. She thinks: “Yang Xiao, whether I can take revenge or not depends on you. You must hang in there. You must not let me down.”
Xiao decides they will stop at Yang Village. Zi Yuan’s godmother’s sister is there and sells wine. She refuses to help Zi Yuan make a business deal with Madam Hong
[Ep8] The group rescues Yuan Zi Jun from a trap he triggered. He’s thrilled to see Zi Yuan, who still isn’t interested in marrying him. (He looks to still be in his teens.) Xiao separates the two and scolds Zi Jun about touching the opposite sex. (It’s rivalry at first sight.) As soon as they reach the Yuan residence Zi Yuan hands Madam Hong a letter from Xiao asking for a business arrangement. She refuses the offer.
[Ep8] The group rescues Yuan Zi Jun from a trap he triggered. He’s thrilled to see Zi Yuan, who still isn’t interested in marrying him. (He looks to still be in his teens.) Xiao separates the two and scolds Zi Jun about touching the opposite sex. (It’s rivalry at first sight.) As soon as they reach the Yuan residence Zi Yuan hands Madam Hong a letter from Xiao asking for a business arrangement. She refuses the offer.
Yin Ruo walks all by herself through the woods. Three men harass her. Zhuo saves her. He offers to escort her to find Xiao since it’s too dangerous for her to walk around alone.
Zi Yuan and Zi Jun pretend to be engaged. Xiao expected that and catches them out immediately after a few questions to Zi Jun have him spilling the beans. (It was a funny scene and the drama nerd in me wonders how much practice it took for them to work that one out.) He goes off to drink with Mu Yun and Zi Yuan and Zi Jun get thoroughly drunk. Xiao talks to drunk Zi Yuan who tells him she just can’t do this to Yin Ruo who is like a sister to her. He gets her to admit to liking him but she changes it to she doesn’t hate him. He kisses her but she sobers up and runs back to the Yuan place with Zi Jun. She feels she’s been disloyal to Godmother and Yin Ruo.
Madam Hong agrees to work with Xiao if he can get Zi Jun to agree. That’s easy - he tells Zi Jun he can have Zi Yuan if he agrees. (All of these names that are so close to each other, if not identical, are making my head spin.) Zi Yuan is furious with him but the agreement is signed. When Zi Jun skips out to join their party he finds they’ve left him and disabled the carriage.
Madam Hong agrees to work with Xiao if he can get Zi Jun to agree. That’s easy - he tells Zi Jun he can have Zi Yuan if he agrees. (All of these names that are so close to each other, if not identical, are making my head spin.) Zi Yuan is furious with him but the agreement is signed. When Zi Jun skips out to join their party he finds they’ve left him and disabled the carriage.
[Ep9] Zi Yuan wonders that Xiao isn’t worried his treatment of Zi Jun will cause Madam Hong to cancel the agreement. (They’re in a much nicer carriage that Madam Hong supplied.) She scolds him for his unvirtuous behavior and he offers her an orange. She leaves the carriage for some fresh air. He does too. He and Tiao walk along the river and Tiao asks why he doesn’t explain to Zi Yuan about the unequal agreement he made and clear up Zi Yuan’s misunderstanding of him? Xiao can win her love without telling her and he doesn’t want the risks he’s taking to impact Zi Yuan. After they head back to the carriage Zi Yuan steps out from behind a tree. She heard it all.
Yin Ruo and Zhuo arrive at the Yang residence. Zi Jun gives Zhuo the letter Xiao left for him. He’s headed to the Xia Family Court - Zhuo is displeased with this news. Zi Jun invites himself along as they head out after Xiao and the others.
Xiao tells Zi Yuan that Xie Ling’er has been in love with his brother for years. He bets her he can make a deal with Ling’er in three days. If he can’t he’ll marry into Shenwei Escorts and help her make lots of little escorts. “In your dreams” she tells him. Ling’er refuses to talk business with Xiao. She’ll only work with Zhuo.
Zhuo, Yin Ruo, and Zi Jun arrive. Ling’er rushes out and snatches Zhuo from that “vixen” Yin Ruo. Zi Yuan promises Yin Ruo she’ll stay away from Xiao and congratulates her on her book sales.
Yin Ruo sees Tiao and Shuan Zi reading her book. They want to know what happens next? She says she needs details from them in order to write it.
Xiao and Zi Yuan stop at a Yang family shop run by Manager Qiang. He’s mistreating a couple who trade in tea. Xiao uses eyebrow sign language to send Zi Yuan after the couple for more information while he talks to Manager Qiang.
He tells Qiang he’s here to open the new route. Qiang protests that he has to use the official route and besides, bandits killed Xiao’s family on the new route. Xiao gets some money from Qiang and leaves.
Qiang reports to Hu Mei Ren, wife of General Fan, about Xiao’s intentions. She says to get rid of him. He tells her he can’t act because of who Xiao is. She mentions the person behind them, who helped him get his position. (It’s Lord Wang Rong who manages the official route.) He says he knows what to do.
Assassins ambush Zi Yuan and Xiao just after Zi Yuan reports that Manager Qiang has gotten all the traders to oppress the tea couple because they previously supported the new trade route. As they fight the assassins, Zi Yuan and Xiao work together perfectly. Xiao gets hurt protecting Zi Yuan and the leader of the assassins tells him to drop the new trade route or next time they’ll die.
Wu Shuang, leader of the assassins, reports to Mei Ren the results. She’s furious that they let Xiao live but Manager Qiang says he’s badly injured so he won’t be any more trouble. She tells Manager Qiang to keep an eye on Xiao - if he opens the trade route they’ll all be in trouble.
Zi Yuan treats Xiao’s injury (it’s not that bad). They share an intimate moment while she wraps up his abdomen. She’s thankful he saved her (and feeling a bit like a burden to him.)
[Ep10] Zi Jun interrupts their tender moment with some water they told him to boil. It dawns on him that they were just getting him out of the way. He tells Zi Yuan that she can only like him. Zi Yuan runs off in embarrassment, Yin Ruo shows up, Xiao is totally uninterested and brushes her off.
Zhuo is spotted by Ling’er. He says they aren’t suited for each other and her response is to get married right now. Also, he’s not allowed to love Yin Ruo, only her. (Anyone else seeing the two kids being paired up? Zi Jun and Ling’er are obviously made for each other.)
Zi Yuan cooks a nourishing soup for Xiao. She’s never cooked before and it’s terrible but he eats every drop of it because she made it for him. Zi Jun, on the other hand, admits it’s terrible. Xiao scolds him for not being properly appreciative of Zi Yuan’s hard work and devotion. She’s touched. He then asks for her help with something.
Zhuo is leaving. Zi Yuan intercepts him and convinces him to return. She says he doesn’t have to lie to Ling’er to keep trying to persuade her to help Xiao. Also, he can keep pursuing Yin Ruo if he sticks around.
Everyone else gets together to plan how to get Ling’er and Zhuo together. They decide they need help from an expert - Yin Ruo. (Because she writes about romance in her novels.) Yin Ruo teaches them the five necessary aspects of romance. (No, I’m not writing them out for anyone.)
Xiao figures out from Zi Yuan’s report that Zhuo likes Yin Ruo. He says when those two get together he’ll marry into Shenwei Escorts as a matrilocal husband. Zi Yuan wants to avoid Qingyue Mountain but Xiao insists.
Ling’er and Zi Jun drink and complain to each other about their unreasonable loves.
Zi Yuan and Xiao talk to the guards of the mountain about negotiating to use the mountain paths for their trade route. Xiao almost messes the initial meeting up but Zi Yuan earns her escort money by knowing the correct phrases to use.
Yin Ruo changes the lead character in her book to be more like her. Except for Zhuo, everyone hates it and she gets numerous requests to change the character back. Her jealousy for Zi Yuan grows. She gets angry with Zi Yuan when Zi Yuan scolds her for revealing the agreement between Xiao and Madam Hong in her book.
[Ep11] Zi Yuan finally stands up to Yin Ruo (but only on Xiao’s behalf - still not for herself). She tells Yin Ruo that if she actually cared about Xiao she wouldn’t sabotage his work like that. Yin Ruo admits no wrongdoing.
Xiao says that this revelation can be a good thing. More merchants are signing up to work with them now but none of them are from Guiyue. His uncle sends a message that he’ll be breaking both of Xiao’s legs when he gets back.
Yin Ruo approaches Xiao wearing Zi Yuan’s clothes. Xiao tells her he loves Zi Yuan. He adds that even though he really loves Zi Yuan, he’s using her and putting her in danger to get what he wants. He tells Yin Ruo that she’s useless to him and makes it clear that she disgusts him because she’s selfishly hurting Zi Yuan to get what she wants. Xiao tells her that they are just the same. (Selfish, I assume.)
Yin Ruo pouts in the woods. Zhuo finds her and comforts her. He reveals that he’s the Vagabond of Jiang City and a big fan. Yin Ruo likes that but she’s STILL focusing her desire on Xiao. (Almost halfway through this show and I still think she’s as useless as Xiao says she is. I’ve stepped on used chewing gum I like more than her.)
Xiao is invited to go up the mountain and meet with the leader of the camp. He doesn’t want Zi Yuan to come along. So she gasses him that night and takes off on her own. He wakes up that afternoon and immediately heads out after her.
Manager Qiang is given the news that Xiao went up the mountain. He tells his subordinate that they don’t have to work on the accounts (aka “cook the books”) because Xiao won’t be coming back down.
Chief Zheng has also read Yin Ruo’s book about Xiao and Zi Yuan’s romance. She’s curious. She insists that Zi Yuan fight to prove their eligibility to use the route. She fails in martial arts against Chief Zheng, cheats to win at arm wrestling, and drinks to win the third match. Xiao arrives. Chief Zheng says the Yang family is no good and threatens Zi Yuan to get Xiao to agree to fight. He’s distracted worrying about Zi Yuan and ends up badly hurt. Zi Yuan breaks free and rushes to his side crying over him.
[Ep12] Chief Zheng has her men take the two to a room. Tiao arrives. Xiao is still unconscious. Zi Yuan leaves Xiao in Tiao’s care and goes to confront Chief Zheng.
[Ep12] Chief Zheng has her men take the two to a room. Tiao arrives. Xiao is still unconscious. Zi Yuan leaves Xiao in Tiao’s care and goes to confront Chief Zheng.
Zheng says she won’t show mercy on the Yang family because they’re keeping everyone from using the new trade route. She points to Manager Qian as proof. Zi Yuan says that Qian is only the manager of one store and doesn’t represent the Yang family. She says Xiao’s parents died trying to open this trade route and now he’s risking his life to do it for them. Zheng is convinced and offers Zi Yuan some special medicine for Xiao as an apology.
Zhuo takes Yin Ruo to teach her to ride a horse. He’s guessed she wants to do that since she’s always been very sheltered. The lessons consists of him leading the horse while she sits on it. (That’s not how you learn to ride a horse but I suppose it could be considered romantic.)
Xiao is up and about. Zi Yuan scolds him for being in the mountain breeze before he’s recovered. Chief Zheng says she’ll give them full support in opening the trade route - it’s what they wanted all along. She also suggests she and Zi Yuan become blood brothers. (Is it illegal to be blood sisters?)
Xiao tells Manager Qian that he’s taking the tea to Guiyue via the new trade route. Qian sets off a signal firework that night. Mu Yun warns Zi Yuan the next day that Qian was saying Xiao wouldn’t return from this trip. Zi Yuan rushes off.
Xiao’s tea caravan is attacked by those assassins with the creepy smiley faces. Everyone except Xiao and Tiao are killed almost immediately. Xiao tells Tiao to get help. Xiao fights well but is injured numerous times because he’s outnumbered. Zi Yuan arrives before they can finish Xiao off. She cuts down a few with thrown darts and then she and Xiao escape after she sets off a smoke bomb.
She and Xiao share a moment in a cave. He tells her if they live he’ll cancel his engagement and marry only her, but the assassins are nearby. Xiao tells Zi Yuan she must live on and then knocks her out. He leaves the cave and lures the assassins after him.
Chief Zheng hears a report of a big fight with lots of casualties. Not on her territory! She heads out with her men to investigate. Zi Yuan wakes up. Xiao is trapped at the edge of a cliff. The leader of the smiley faces stabs through his abdomen as Zi Yuan arrives. Zi Yuan tells Xiao to live on and open the trade route for him. He pulls the head smiley face off of the cliff with him.
Yin Ruo returns home. Concubine Yu and her ladies are spreading the rumor that Yin Ruo is a curse to those who love her and that she’s the reason Xiao and Yin Ruo’s mother died.
Master Yang (Xiao’s uncle) mourns Xiao and feels he failed his brother and sister-in-law.
Zi Jun tries to convince Zi Yuan to return with him to his home. She won’t, she has to meet with General Fan of Guiyue State. Zi Jun will help her. His Shifu, Gu Shu Yu, is Fan’s right hand man (- person - she’s a female.)
Madam Hu (Fan’s wife, I think) is told to stop the opening of the trade route, kill anyone in her way, and don’t get caught.
Zi Yuan meets with Fan alone (as Madam Hu said she had to do). He dies of poison. Zi Yuan is immediately arrested.
Xiao lies on a bed in Yinfeng Pavilion in Guiyue. He’s calling out for Zi Yuan, much to Mistress Sikong’s dismay.
Yin Ruo leaves the Bai mansion, bowing outside of it to apologize to her mother for failing to fulfill mother’s last request and marry Xiao.
Zhuo talks to his dad about Yin Ruo. Daddy Yang tells him if he wants to marry the girl to go get her.
Daddy Bai is worried because Yin Ruo is missing. Zhuo, who came to visit Yin Ruo, rushes off to search for her. He finds out she went towards the river.
Zi Jun begs his shifu to free Zi Yuan. Nothing doing, she’ll be beheaded in 7 days for killing General Fan. (Seriously? No investigation, no trial, nothing? Where are Xiao Jin Yu and Chu Chu when you need them?) Shifu lets Zi Jun visit Zi Yuan. She’s fine with dying, only regrets not opening the trade route. She gives Zi Jun the flute Chief Zheng gave her and tells him to blow it if he needs help.
Mistress Sikong scolds Xiao for being up and about while still seriously injured. He says he’s fine and he needs to find Zi Yuan, he’s worried about her. Sikong doesn’t want him to know Zi Yuan’s life is forfeit in a few days because he’s too injured to save her.
Zi Jun goes out to the mountain and blows the whistle until he’s brought before Chief Zheng. He begs her to save Zi Yuan.
[Ep14] Xiao overhears patrons talking about Zi Yuan’s imminent death. Mistress Sikong soon realizes he’s left.
Chief Zheng and her men arrive at the execution grounds. She tells Zi Jun to stay out of the way. Just as the executioner swings his sword Xiao arrives and knocks the sword away with a thrown star. Xiao takes Zi Yuan away as Chief Zheng and her men hold off the guards.
Xiao and Zi Yuan have a brief, touching reunion before Xiao starts coughing blood. Zheng tells Zi Yuan to take him to her camp, she’ll hold off the pursuers.
Zheng and Gu Shu Yu battle one on one. They’re both good but I think Zheng is a little better. Zheng mocks Gu for believing Zi Yuan killed the man everyone hates. She says it’s all his fault the trade route never opened and people are starving and being driven into banditry.
Zi Yuan nurses Xiao who is still coughing blood. She talks to him about all the wonderful things they’ll do together until he falls asleep. Then she begs Zheng to find a way to save Xiao.
Zhuo has stopped Yin Ruo’s “suicide attempt” (she didn’t even go in water up to her knees!) and they have traveled to Guiyue State. There are wanted posters everywhere for Zi Yuan. Zhuo asks Yin Ruo if Zi Yuan really killed General Fan and Yin Ruo says Zi Yuan would never have done such a thing. (Finally she says something that doesn’t make me feel like slapping her.) Zhou suggests they stay in Guiyue to look for Zi Yuan and to find out what happened to Xiao.
Zi Yuan has been kneeling outside of Physician Duan’s place for a day and a night to ask him to heal Xiao. He finally calls her in. He’ll heal Xiao (who he knows she loves because of that book Yin Ruo wrote) if she’ll be his subject for an experiment. He’s got a collection of venomous creatures and she needs to be bitten, stung, whatever so he can monitor and record her symptoms. She wants him to cure Xiao first, then she’ll return for the experiment.
[Ep15] Physician Duan seems surprised that Zi Yuan passed out. His granddaughter begs him to stop before Zi Yuan dies. He’s doing this for her - she has a poison he’s trying to cure. She begs again and he agrees to give Zi Yuan the antidote.
Duan treats Xiao. He says he’ll be okay as long as he stays in bed for 24 hours. He and Zi Yuan return to his place where she’s stung by scorpions until she passes out.
Xiao begs Zheng to clear Zi Yuan’s name. She’s been trying but she can’t get a copy of the post mortem report. Xiao is sure his friend Sikong can get it.
[Ep15] Physician Duan seems surprised that Zi Yuan passed out. His granddaughter begs him to stop before Zi Yuan dies. He’s doing this for her - she has a poison he’s trying to cure. She begs again and he agrees to give Zi Yuan the antidote.
Xiao is recovering and fretting because Zi Yuan hasn’t been there to see him. She shows up as he’s pestering Tiao about her whereabouts and scolds Xiao for almost dying.
Gu Shu Yu is planning with her men to storm Qingfeng Camp when a scout comes to report that Qingfeng Camp and Chief Zheng aren’t what they thought. She’s been taking in people who would otherwise starve or resort to banditry. She’s made farmlands with irrigation and safety for the elderly and vulnerable. Gu says she was wrong about Zheng and cancels the attack.
[Ep16] Zi Jun reports to our leads that Madam Hu is indeed the killer. It was he who bribed the eavesdropping maid. Our leads say this is great but they need evidence and a witness. They decide to obtain Chun Tao’s parents to get evidence and a witness from her.
Xiao and Zi Yuan sneak into the city - Zi Yuan is disguised as a man. Sikong meets them and takes them to her pavilion. After scolding Xiao for risking his life, which was disrespectful to her hard work saving him, she shares the post mortem report on General Fan. He died from a very exotic poison that no one recognizes. Xiao suggests that Gu can help them investigate. Sikong says General Fan’s two seconds are Gu Shu Yu and Wang Rong. She says Wang looks kind but is not and is in charge of running the official trade route. When Sikong leaves Zi Yuan reveals her jealousy at how informally and nicely he talks to Sikong. He teases her about being jealous and Shuan Zi shows up calling Xiao “brother-in-law”.
Shuan Zi and Tiao ask Zi Jun to help them search General Fan’s place. Zi Jun agrees and mentions that Gu has also been secretly investigating Madam Hu as well. She no longer believes Zi Yuan is the murderer.
Sikong sends Zi Yuan and Xiao to the market to ask an herb vendor about the poison. The vendor says it was a flower poison. When they get back Zi Jun is there to report that there’s something suspicious about Fan’s “nurse”. (She milked the goats for his goat-milk so they called her a wet-nurse.) Zi Jun says she’s been coming and going from General Fan’s place a lot recently.
They try to follow her but soldiers interrupt. The nurse reports this to Madam Hu and leaves. Hu turns to her maid, Chun Tao and says: “You know what to do, right?”
Shuan Zi reports that a female body from the General’s manor was dumped in the mass grave that night. They find the body and realize she was poisoned by the same flower poison. They take the body from the mass gravesite to a safe place to continue their investigation. They can’t figure out the poison so Xiao says they should ask Physician Duan. Zi Yuan hates this notion because she knows of the price Duan asks for his help. Shuan Zi gets Duan and Duan says it’s Zhenling Flower poison. Then Duan spills the beans about testing poison on Zi Yuan (because that’s the agreement they made, right?) and Xiao has to be restrained from attacking Duan (by Zi Yuan) while Shuan Zi carries Duan to safety.
Madam Hu questions Chun Tao about the body. She’s angry when she realizes the nurse was just dumped in a mass grave to be discovered. Another maid eavesdrops outside the door and hears this. Hu threatens Chun Tao with her parents, who she has living at her place.
Manager Qian from Huifu Pavilion visits Lord Wang. Wang is unhappy that Zi Yuan is still alive. Qian protests that Xiao should be dead after falling off the cliff and Zi Yuan was supposed to be beheaded. Qian reveals that Gu is investigating Madam Hu. Wang say Qian will be in charge of the store from now on. After Qian leaves Wang says to his guard(?) “You know what to do, right?” (So I assume we’ll learn about Qian’s “accidental” demise soon too.)
[Ep16] Zi Jun reports to our leads that Madam Hu is indeed the killer. It was he who bribed the eavesdropping maid. Our leads say this is great but they need evidence and a witness. They decide to obtain Chun Tao’s parents to get evidence and a witness from her.
Zhen grabs the parents and Chun Tao. She agrees to talk if they will keep her parents safe. She tells all including the fact that the poison flower is still in Madam Hu’s room. Our leads break into Hu’s room wearing the cutest paper bunny masks!
With evidence and witness in hand they summon Gu and lay out everything. Hu Mei Re has already escaped but our leads intercept her carriage on the road out of town. Notices are posted throughout the town stating Zi Yuan’s innocence and Hu Mei Re’s guilt.
They have a party at Qingfeng Camp to celebrate. Everyone is there. They talk about opening the new trade route and improving people’s lives and Gu agrees. Later Gu notices Sikong staring sadly at Zi Yuan and Xiao flirting on the rooftop (where she’s drinking again…). Gu asks if she should come in between the two lovebirds but Sikong doesn’t want that. Zi Yuan makes Xiao happy so Sikong accepts her.
Wang sends his guard (executioner?) to deliver poison to Madam Hu in prison.
Zi Yuan and Xiao go to town for a lantern festival. Yin Ruo and Zhuo are both there. They see Zi Yuan and Xiao kissing on a bridge. Yin Ruo immediately has a temper tantrum and runs off, Zi Yuan following. Zhuo stays behind to berate Xiao. Yin Ruo tells Zi Yuan to stop following her and never see her again or she’ll kill herself. Zi Yuan is devastated - again.
(I actually feel sorry for the actress playing Bai Yin Ruo. Yin Ruo’s character is unremittingly unpleasant and yet she doesn’t even have the interest of being a villain - she’s just a spoiled, selfish brat. I don’t know why Zi Yuan and Zhuo like her at all.)
[Ep17] The group all sit around Qingfeng Camp discussing opening the new trade route. They need Wang Rong’s approval so Xiao decides it’s time to meet him. A soldier runs in to report to General Gu that Madam Hu committed suicide after writing a confession letter in her own blood. She confessed to everything, including the massacre three years earlier.
Xiao walks in the bamboo forest feeling somewhat empty and directionless. His parents are avenged now and he’s not sure what to do with himself. Zi Yuan comforts him and tells him what her life was like after her father died in the massacre. After a talk he renews his resolve to open the new trade route for the good of everyone.
Xiao and Sikong meet with Lord Wang about opening the new trade route. He doesn’t oppose the idea but after they leave he’s plotting with his right hand man to derail the opening.
Xiao feels uneasy. It was too easy getting Lord Wang’s approval. He’s right to feel uneasy because no merchants will work with him. Zi Yuan is also having trouble hiring people for her escort service, which will need to expand to keep up with the work the new route will give them.
Xiao learns from a kinder shop owner that if any merchant works with him they will no longer be able to do business in Guiyue. He goes to Sikong to ask for help. Zi Jun sees the two meeting together, and the gift of rouge Xiao gives Sikong, and immediately misconstrues the situation. He rushes off to tell Zi Yuan.
[Ep18] Zi Yuan confronts Xiao about giving another woman presents. Then she flounces off to confront Sikong. They guys all sneak up to listen outside the door, waiting for the love rivals to fight. They become friends instead. (It’s actually quite refreshing to see a show where at least one hopeless love interest has a healthy response to their unrequited love.)
Jian’s men attack the camp (Zheng is on the rescue mission). They kill everyone except Zheng’s three lieutenants. Jian uses them to force Zheng’s surrender.
Zi Yuan is giving Xiao the cold shoulder, much to his dismay. He’s frustrated and Shuan Zi and Tiao bring books on how to make a woman love you again. Sikong and Zi Yuan get even closer and have a sleepover. Sikong shares with Zi Yuan that she also lost her parents in the massacre three years ago. She says her parents’ bodies were never found. (Now I’m hoping that her parents are imprisoned somewhere and will be rescued before the end of the show! Maybe they’ll be important witnesses against Lord Wang!!!)
Xiao is trying scheme after scheme to regain Zi Yuan’s attention and affection. None of them are working. One of them causes her to trip which triggers an accidental kiss that then triggers a more enthusiastic kiss on both their parts.
Shuan Zi, Tiao, and Zi Yuan walk the streets beating a gong and advertising the wonderful new trade route. Wang’s man reports about their actions. Xiao and Zi Yuan plan a diversionary escort trip.
Wang’s men attack Shuan Zi and Tiao’s diversion caravan. They run away and Qingfeng’s people lightly injure the leader (Wang’s man). They realize it was a diversion. Wang’s man confesses his failure and Wang seems to now be plotting against General Gu.
[Ep19] Chief Zheng and her men head home. The guys are worried about interfering with the rest of the world instead of staying hidden on their mountain. Zheng says they have to do this because more refugees keep arriving and they can’t care for them all. They have to address the core issue and maybe then they can even go back to their homes.
Yin Ruo overhears people talking about Yang Xiao and Zi Yuan being engaged. Zhuo tries to comfort her but she yells at him for not making Xiao marry her. He leaves.
Xiao and Zi Yuan argue amicably over who should marry into whose family. Zhuo arrives after Zi Yuan leaves to bathe and confronts him about needing to marry Yin Ruo. Xiao says it’s not going to happen. He loves Zi Yuan and she’s the only person he’ll marry. Zi Yuan overhears him and is touched.
Yin Ruo has trashed her room (like the spoiled child she is) and won’t eat so Zhuo lies that Xiao agreed to marry her. The next day Yin Ruo shows up to Xiao’s business convention to sign up people for the new trade route and says she’s there to support her fiance's business. Sikong quickly ushers the business folks away to let the three discuss things alone. Xiao is very honest that he will only marry Zi Yuan. Yin Ruo runs off. Zhuo finds her pouting on some steps. She slaps him for lying to her and accuses him of colluding with the others to humiliate her. Wang Jian hears everything.
Zi Yuan brings Xiao to apologize. Yin Ruo just gets angrier. As they leave Xiao assures Zi Yuan that the best thing to do now is let Yin Ruo realize that Zhuo is the right man for her.
Jian plots to use Yin Ruo and Zhuo to defeat everyone by overwhelming them with problems and getting them to turn against each other. He kidnaps Yin Ruo and Zhuo.
[Ep20] Zi Jun arrives with gifts for Yin Ruo and realizes she’s gone. He sees her necklace on the ground and knows something is wrong.
Jian has Yin Ruo and Zhuo in a private prison. They’re chained and in prison clothes. He says that Xiao has colluded with the bandits of Qingfeng Camp and claims he needs to interrogate them. He wants the location of the camp. He threatens to burn Yin Ruo’s face and Zhuo tells him to torture him if he must torture someone. Jiang gives him a poison that will slowly eat away his organs and kill him. Yin Ruo finally realizes that Zhuo is the one who cares for her.
The crew are all worried about Yin Ruo and Xiao, Zi Yuan most of all.
Jian reports to Wang that Zhuo and Yin Ruo will “break” soon. Wang says that humans are inherently selfish. He says they’ll get the location soon but first they need to establish that the Qingfeng Camp is actually full of bandits so they can have the people’s support when they attack. Jian goes off to frame Qingfeng Camp.
Zheng tells her men to stay in camp so they’ll be safe after Jian frames them for wiping out a trade convoy.
The crew are all worried at the news that Qingfeng is blamed for attacking the convoy. Sikong muses that the attack is just like the one three years ago that killed their parents.
Zhuo vomits blood and tells Yin Ruo to live a good life and not obsess over things that aren’t hers. She tells him that she wants to be with him if they can escape. She gives up the location of the camp in return for the antidote for Zhuo.
The crew locate Wang’s secret prison and rescue Zhuo (Yin Ruo isn’t there).
Zi Yuan wants to rescue Zheng and the others but the citizens are celebrating because they believe Qingfeng was full of vicious bandits. General Gu tries to get the right to interrogate the prisoners but Jian won’t let her. Xiao blames himself because he insisted on opening the new trade route. Zi Yuan points out that he wasn’t doing that selfishly but for the good of the people. He’s still blaming himself.
He and Zi Yuan visit the camp and mourn the carnage.
[Ep21]Yin Ruo overhears people talking about the massacre of Qingfeng Camp. She actually looks a little guilty. She talks with Zi Yuan back at the Pavilion. She’s not angry with Zi Yuan anymore, just worried about Zhuo who is still affected by the poison. Yin Ruo asks Zi Yuan to ask Dr. Duan to save Zhuo. Zi Yuan won’t because she knows what price Yin Ruo would need to pay him. Yin Ruo tantrums again and closes her room door in Zi Yuan’s face.
Xiao tells Yin Ruo exactly why Zi Yuan didn’t want them to go to Dr. Duan. It will be hard to find Dr. Duan, though, because Xiao bought his land and turned it into a chicken farm. He tells her that he’s already asked Zi Jun to find Dr. Duan for her if she wants to pay the price. (I get the distinct impression that this is a bit of revenge on his part because she’s hurt Zi Yuan so much.)
[First Impression (Ep1-5)] This is a cotton candy show (sweet and fluffy with no substance). It’s not taking itself seriously and it’s quite blatant about it. They make lots of references to modern things (like the carrot microphone) and they are throwing out romance tropes like nothing else exists. It’s a typical “hate to love” show (both in the sense that the main characters start out hating each other and in the sense that I hate myself for loving it so much.) The interactions are quite funny so far, with the exception of the second female lead. She’s just a whiny, spoiled brat. I’m wondering if the show can get me to like her at all. In short, watch this for fun. If you expect anything serious, you’ll be disappointed. So far, however, it has definitely made me laugh.
[Actors/Actresses]
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Happy, if rather abrupt, ending.
[Review & Rating]
General Gu secretly retrieves the bodies from the caravan massacre to autopsy them. The coroner finds a letter on one of the bodies.
Zi Yuan is pacing, desperate to break Zheng out of prison. Gu and Xiao talk her down. Shuan Zi and Tiao arrive with the news that Zheng and her men are to be beheaded the next day.
Jian is about to give Zheng a poison that will destroy her Qi (and martial arts strength)* when General Gu shows up. She has the letter (in his handwriting) and threatens to send it to the capital to initiate an investigation. Jian might not be worried but she’s sure the man behind it all is. Zheng is released.
*(Okay, but WHY is this coward trying to destroy her Qi when she’s already going to be beheaded? That part made no sense to me, except it gave Zheng a reason to spit in Jian’s face - which was a satisfying moment.)
Xiao, Zi Yuan and Zheng talk in the bamboo forest. An assassin arrives. Zheng gets shot protecting Zi Yuan. Xiao takes off after the assassin. Zheng dies in Zi Yuan’s arms after telling Zi Yuan she’ll be her chief in the next life and asking her to take care of her two lieutenants and give them stable homes and lives. She also asks Zi Yuan to make sure the new trade route opens to make everyone’s lives better. Zheng is buried at the foot of the mountain.
Sikong has temporarily closed the pavilion to keep Jian from sending in any spies. Gu is still searching for proof of Wang Rong and Wang Jian’s guilt.
Rong and Jian plot against the remaining crew. They decide to reveal Yin Ruo’s betrayal to divide the group so they can pick them off one by one.
Zi Yuan decides to kill Jian for revenge. Xiao tries to stop her. She argues and blames him for everything because he insisted on opening the trade route. She leaves and he gets drunk.
[Ep22] Zhuo asks why Zi Yuan and Xiao haven’t visited for a while. Yin Ruo lies that they’re busy with the new trade route. Zhuo tells Yin Ruo to apologize to Chief Zheng for revealing the location of the camp. He tells her that he’ll apologize to Zheng for her too. Yin Ruo doesn’t tell him Zheng is dead.
Xiao is still drunk. He can’t find Zi Yuan and he’s to blame for everything. Gu arrives and tells him to stop blaming himself for what evil people did. She tells him how to find Zi Yuan. (By staking out Wang Rong’s house.) Sikong keeps looking at Yin Ruo like she suspects something.
Yin Ruo pays a visit to Qingfeng Camp. She’s upset and resolves to do whatever is necessary to cure Zhuo as repentance for her sins.
Zi Jun finds Duan who wants nothing to do with the Yang family. Zi Jun convinces him that Zhuo is different from Xiao and that this is a favor for his cousin Yin Ruo. After Duan sees a letter from Yin Ruo promising to be his test subject he agrees to treat Zhuo.
Shuan Zi and Zi Yuan follow Jian after he leaves Rong’s house. Xiao arrives but Zi Yuan just left. Jian leads them to a bamboo forest where he already ordered Yin Ruo to meet him. He executes his plan to reveal Yin Ruo’s wrongdoing. Shuan Zi tries to tell Zi Yuan that Yin Ruo must have had a reason.
Zi Yuan confronts Yin Ruo in her rooms. Yin Ruo blames everything on Zi Yuan for trying to open the trade route with Xiao. (Urgh! EVERY time I think the brat will grow up she just gets worse!) Zi Yuan goes and cries at Zheng’s grave. Zheng’s lieutenants show up and ask if Yin Ruo really betrayed Qingfeng. Zi Yuan tells them she’ll get to the bottom of it (instead of answering) and takes them back to the pavilion. After Zi Yuan leaves they ask Sikong if Yin Ruo is also staying there.
Xiao finds Zi Yuan drinking up high on a tower battlement. He tells her how much he misses her smile and blames himself for everything. She blames herself and apologizes for what she said to him. He apologizes for not being understanding enough. She agrees that they need proof before they seek vengeance.
Yin Rou is asleep draped across Zhou’s bed when someone enters holding a dagger.
[Ep23] Zhuo is asleep on the bed and Yin Ruo is draped over the side. Someone with a knife approaches. It’s Zheng’s two lieutenants (I don’t know what happened to the huge one). Sikong saves Yin Ruo from death. Worried, Zhou tells her she should return to the capital but she refuses to leave him until he has recovered fully.
Sikong tells Zi Yuan about what the guys tried to do and says maybe they should stay somewhere else. Zi Yuan talks to them about the need to fully investigate what happened before taking action. She points out Zhou’s condition and says Yin Ruo’s actions were coerced. They agree that they were rash.
Zhou decides to return to the capital with Yin Rou. Yin Rou promises Xiao that she’ll return after Zhou is fully recovered if anyone from Qingfeng Camp wants her to answer for her betrayal. She’ll accept whatever they decide for her. Zhou tells Xiao to make sure he is blamed for the betrayal if anyone has to be. Zi Yuan doesn’t show up which makes Yin Ruo sad. Zi Yuan emerges from behind the pillar where she was lurking. She’s worried if they’ll be safe without escorts.
Gu meets with Xiao, Zi Yuan and Zi Jun. Sikong’s spy has retrieved compelling evidence of Wang Jain and Rong’s crimes. Sikong tells them to act quickly because Lord Wang will know about the removal of the ledgers and letters soon.
Yin Rou is feeling very bad. (Duan’s poison is acting up.) Zhou is worried sick. He doesn’t know she took poison for Duan. Duan shows up with a pill for her. Zi Yuan promised to return his land to him if he cured Yin Rou’s poison. He leaves with the hope that he never meets any of them again. Yin Rou is glad Zi Yuan still cares about her. Yin Rou and Zhou talk about their feelings for each other.
Jian runs in to tell Lord Wang about the missing letters and ledgers. Wang tells him to recover everything immediately or he’ll put all the blame on Jian. He tells Jian to get Qian to look for the records too.
Zi Yuan and Xiao see Qian rushing into the store he managed. They catch him digging up a chest of money and records he’s kept. Qian is arrested and the money and records confiscated.
Guards burst into the Wang residence. Gu is there to arrest him. He claims he’s being framed. Gu informs him they have physical evidence and witnesses. He can’t get away with his crimes this time. He walks off with the guards laughing. (I’m not sure if he lost his mind or what.) Zi Yuan worries because Jian isn’t there. Xiao has a plan to lure him back. He sends him a letter that’s supposedly from Lord Wang. (How does he do this? I don’t know. Why, if he knows where to send a letter, doesn’t he just arrest him? I don’t know.)
Jian arrives but he’s not going down without a fight. Zi Jun arrives and Jian is killed.
Gu hires Shenwei to escort Lord Wang to the capital for trial using the new trade route
[Ep24] Tiao and Shuan Zi work together re-hanging Shenwei’s sign while Zi Yuan and Xiao watch. Xiao proposes again but Zi Yuan is hesitant. She tells him she needs time to think about it. He mentions that Yin Ruo wanted to meet with her and she agrees, which is a good thing because Yin Ruo just arrived.
Yin Ruo and Zi Yuan get drunk together. Yin Ruo says she feels ashamed and guilty every day. She wishes Zi Yuan punished her heavily. Zi Yuan doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Yin Ruo tells her to hurry up and marry Xiao so she won’t have any regrets. After Zi Yuan marries Yin Ruo plans to return to Guiyue and spend the rest of her life atoning by helping people. Zi Yuan asks what about her marriage? Yin Ruo says Concubine Yu spread so many rumors about her being bad luck but now she believes they’re true. She IS bad luck. She can’t marry Zhuo because he’s too good for her. Firecrackers go off outside, frightening Yin Ruo. Zi Yuan scolds Shuan Zi for frightening Yin Ruo - Yin Ruo is touched that Zi Yuan still cares about her. (I’m baffled that she still cares - or ever cared - but I’m not the spunky lead in this drama.) Zi Yuan promises Yin Ruo that no one will bully her as long as she’s around.
Yin Ruo’s brother is creating a scene at the storyteller’s place. It’s been so long and they still haven’t heard the end of “The Story of Yang Xiao and the Female Escort”. The storyteller is sorry but Meandering Jin hasn’t been writing lately. Xiao and Zi Yuan show up. Xiao calls Bai Lang (Yin Ruo’s brother) “disciple”. Bai Lang cheerfully calls Xiao “Shifu” and Zi Yuan “Shifu’s Wife”. He introduces them to the crowd as the main characters of the story and they’re instantly mobbed by fans wanting autographs. The three run off. When they’ve lost the crowd, Bai Lang asks Xiao if it’s the finale already? He wants to go back and listen to the end of the story but Xiao tells him the story will never be finished if he doesn’t convince his mother to let Yin Ruo marry. Bai Lang protests that with Yin Rou’s bad reputation no one would marry her. Xiao says if the people shun Meandering Jin then who will entertain the people? Bai Lang is stunned that his sister is Meandering Jin. Xiao tells him he won’t even need her dowry if Meandering Jin writes “The Story of Bai Land and Jin Huan” next. (Jin Huan is the Concubine’s skinny mean maid.) He eagerly runs home to convince his mother.
Zhou arrives with gifts at the Bai residence to propose to Yin Rou. Daddy Bai isn’t sure he likes the groom switch but Zhou’s sincerity and Yin Rou’s happiness convince him. It helps that Bai Lang stops his mother from protesting again.
Zi Jun, now in soldier’s armor (he’s joined General Gu’s army since she’s his Shifu) read the edict announcing Lord Wang’s imminent execution for his crimes. He’s reading it in the courtyard of Shenwei Escorts to all the people there. After the edict is read he tells Zi Yuan that Gu is building a Righteousness Hall in Qingfeng Camp with the names of everyone who died opening the new trade route so they can be honored forever. Zi Yuan is touched.
Everyone has a celebratory meal at Sikong’s pavilion. Zi Jun tells Zi Yuan that all of the men of Qingfeng Camp have joined Gu’s army and are living good, law-abiding, lives now. Yin Ruo apologizes again for her terrible choice. She and Zhou will be going to live in Giuyue State where they’ll make amends for the rest of their lives by taking care of the children and the old. Zi Yuan has completely forgiven her and says they’ll be able to visit each other whenever she has an escort mission to Giuyue. Xiao leaves the room, obviously a little sad. Sikong follows. He tells Sikong he’s going to propose to Zi Yuan. She says he better hurry up or she’ll marry Zi Yuan. If she can’t have him she can settle for Zi Yuan who will help her pavilions to prosper. Xiao tells her he’ll be proposing tomorrow.
Next day Shuan Zi tricks Zi Yuan into a wedding dress (and all the makeup and hairdo and stuff) by telling her it’s for a big escort job. She walks out and Xiao is waiting for her in his own wedding finery. He wants to marry her. She’s worried his uncle won’t accept her. He says he’ll only marry her and takes her off to meet Uncle. (I’m wondering if taking your bride-to-be to meet the family dressed for a wedding has some significance I don’t know of.)
Uncle Yang seems cheerful as he meets them. He asks her about what books she’s read. She clearly doesn’t do a lot of reading and stammers out an answer only to be cut off when he pulls out THE book. He loves the book and says that after they marry they have to keep him updated on the latest chapters. Then he laughs and tells them to marry as soon as possible.
Everyone is gathered at Shenwei Escorts but instead of going to the Yang place to marry they decide to marry right there. Liu Tiao officiates and sends them off to the bridal chamber. Zi Yuan is clearly a bit shy now. Just before they kiss Shuan Zi runs in with a lucrative new mission from Sikong. For 300,000 Zi Yuan is perfectly willing to put off her wedding night. She rushes off, pulling Xiao along as he begs for just a few hours with his wife first.
Remarks
by Rianya
[First Impression (Ep1-5)] This is a cotton candy show (sweet and fluffy with no substance). It’s not taking itself seriously and it’s quite blatant about it. They make lots of references to modern things (like the carrot microphone) and they are throwing out romance tropes like nothing else exists. It’s a typical “hate to love” show (both in the sense that the main characters start out hating each other and in the sense that I hate myself for loving it so much.) The interactions are quite funny so far, with the exception of the second female lead. She’s just a whiny, spoiled brat. I’m wondering if the show can get me to like her at all. In short, watch this for fun. If you expect anything serious, you’ll be disappointed. So far, however, it has definitely made me laugh.
[Actors/Actresses]
[Behind the Scenes]
[Ending] Happy, if rather abrupt, ending.
[Review & Rating]
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