#jun jiuling

Making Money, Making Enemies

Lady Ning reluctantly agrees to give Zhenzhen 5000 silver taels to not marry her son. Her daughter is not happy with this and whines at length about it. I predict this girl will be our primary nemesis for at least 10 episodes. Gramma Fang and the fam are also not happy, because money is crass and stuff. However, later when they are alone, Gramma Fang gives Zhenzhen a jade bracelet because deep in her heart she is secretly pleased.

I Am Looking Respectfully

Enter Zhu Zan, general on the northern border and armor model. After the camera lingers on him so we can all admire the details of his, uh, costume, his parents arrive to kill the mood.

Wait, I'm not done respectfully looking

We find out Zhu Zan has been called to the capital to defend himself against accusations that he has been selling the enemy military plans including a map of the capital.  Mom asks if he's still sad Princess Jiuling married someone else. Zhu Zan's mouth says no, but his wedding present of a scraggly dried out flower (looking suspiciously like the one in the last episode) and the sad background music say yes. 

It's potpourri, I made it myself

He takes his sidekick Baotang and under armed imperial escort, heads to the capital.

A New Main Quest is Unlocked

At a roadside inn, Zhu Zan and Baotang receive a secret message. It says Princess Jiuling was imprisoned and subsequently killed in a fire, Jun Yingwen (the middle-aged doctor) was seen at the prison before the fire and now his daughter Jun Zhenzhen is with the Fangs in Zezhou. It's a very comprehensive secret message. Zhu Zan takes this news poorly. After he pulls himself together, he decides to slip the guards, head to Zezhou, find Zhenzhen and find out the truth of what happened.

Credit to actor Jin Han, he cries with his whole face, none of this single tear sliding artfully down the cheek business. 

Whatever Happened to That First Husband?

Lu Yunqi stands in the rain in front of the tomb of "Princess Jiuling" and has a long monologue where we discover that he loved his wife, and also that he set the fire that killed his wife. Oops. It was all part of his cunning rescue plan. He vows to marry Princess Jiuling's older sister to protect the family. This will provide a wellspring of drama in later episodes, I'm sure.

How can he ask that? He was the architect of her demise! 

Don't Be Suspicious

Zhu Zan and Baotang try to engineer a meeting with Zhenzhen. Alas, Zhu Zan has put all his points in Strength and Dexterity and far fewer in Wisdom and Charisma. He sets up a fake rescue wherein he will save Zhenzhen from Baotang’s street harassment. 

It's a little thing called showmanship

I love that Baotang isn't trying to escape but is instead hanging on for dear life

Zhenzhen immediately sees through this clumsy ruse and tries to leave, but ends up accompanying Zhu Zan to the restaurant to pay his lunch bill. 

Zhu Zan fishes for information on the whereabouts of the middle-aged doctor. Zhenzhen gives up nothing. Zhu Zan introduces himself as Ling Jiu, which visibly startles Zhenzhen as she's the one who gave him that name when they were children. Zhu Zan notices that Zhenzhen puts crushed rose petals in her tea, the same way Princess Jiuling did. Zhenzhen leaves and Zhu Zan plans to shadow her until she leads him to the doctor and Princess Jiuling whom he is convinced didn't die and is just in hiding.

I think it will definitely be a useful plot point 20 years from now.

Harem Count, Episode 2

Lu Yunqi (married to)

Ning Yunzhao (engagement terminated)

Zhu Zan (intrigued)