Episode Summary
Lady Li and her four daughters arrive in Bianjing to visit her married daughter, Fu Hui. Fu Hui's seemingly perfect marriage is troubled by her husband Lianghan's infidelity and weak character, turning her into a jealous wife. Fu Hui initially refuses to see her family, fearing her problems will disgrace them. After a confrontation and with the help of her sister Kang Ning, Fu Hui reconciles with her family. They plot to teach Lianghan a lesson. Meanwhile, Chai An, Lianghan's cousin, becomes intrigued by the spirited Kang Ning. The episode ends with Lady Li fainting after being cursed by a thief she tried to help.
Spoiler Alert
The scene opens in Bianjing, the bustling capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. It's a time of prosperity, and the city is alive with activity. Lady Li, a wealthy widow from Luoyang, arrives in Bianjing with her four daughters: Shou Hua, Kang Ning, Hao De, and Le Shan. They're here to reunite with Fu Hui, the second-eldest daughter, who is already married and living in the capital. The daughters are excited, hoping that their visit, will be the begining of a new life.
However, Fu Hui's marriage isn't as idyllic as it seems. While she and her husband, Fan Lianghan, were initially in love, time has revealed his flaws. Lianghan is easily swayed by others, a frequent visitor to courtesan houses, and prone to taking pity on women, much to Fu Hui's frustration. This has turned her into a jealous and often angry woman.
Meanwhile, the wealthy official Chai An meets with his friends, including his cousin Fan Lianghan, at a restaurant. He's surprised to see Lianghan wearing a bamboo hat, claiming he was stung by a bee. Chai An, however, quickly removes the hat to reveal a red mark on Lianghan's face, clearly inflicted by Fu Hui. Chai An decides to confront Fu Hui about her behavior.
Back at the Fan residence, Lady Li and her daughters arrive at the imposing gates, thrilled by the prospect of their wealthy relative's home. To their shock, Fu Hui refuses to see them, with the housekeeper claiming that both the master and mistress are away. Lady Li is about to leave when the housekeeper orders the servants to clean up the "filth" left by their carriage, implying an insult. Enraged, Lady Li slaps the housekeeper, vowing never to set foot in the Fan household again.
As they leave, Fu Hui opens the door, her eyes red with tears, watching their carriage disappear. Chai An, riding on horseback, passes the carriage, neither party noticing the other. Later that night, Chai An insists on staying at his friend Liang Junqing's house, deliberately leaving a woman's robe on a screen and instructing a servant to tell Fu Hui that Lianghan has two maids in his room. As expected, Fu Hui arrives with a sword, ready to confront her husband, only to find Chai An in bed.
Chai An, pretending to be asleep, sits up and scolds Fu Hui for her jealousy, warning her that her actions could disgrace the Li family. Ashamed, Fu Hui leaves in the middle of the night. Lianghan, who was hiding, emerges, and Chai An berates him for his behavior, urging him to change his ways.
Lady Li and her daughters find lodging at an inn, but Kang Ning is missing. During the day, Kang Ning sensed that Fu Hui was hiding something, so she returns to the Fan residence at night. She finds Fu Hui biting a stone in frustration, her mouth bleeding, and brings her back to the inn.
Fu Hui tearfully confesses her troubles to her mother and sisters, explaining that she avoided them earlier to prevent her mistakes from affecting the Li family. The family is outraged, and they decide that Kang Ning will help teach Lianghan a lesson.
The next morning, Lianghan is enjoying himself in his room, being served by maids, while his wife and mother-in-law are away. He's terrified when he hears that Fu Hui has returned and pretends to be sick. Fu Hui sees through his act, and a maid whispers something in her ear. Kang Ning prepares a fake remedy of "boy's urine," claiming it's a cure for headaches, and Fu Hui forces Lianghan to drink it. Afterward, Fu Hui laughs with her mother and sisters, feeling a sense of relief and support since their arrival.
Liang Junqing and others, passing by the garden, notice the beautiful Li sisters and disguise themselves as maids to spy on them. Kang Ning and Le Shan catch them and give them a good scolding.
Later, Liang Junqing provokes Chai An, who decides to confront Kang Ning. He kicks a cuju (an ancient Chinese football) at her, knocking off her headdress. Kang Ning immediately retaliates. Chai An is taken aback by Kang Ning's fiery personality and beauty. Lady Li notices this but doesn't comment, instead taking her daughters to a temple to learn more about the Chai family.
While Lady Li is praying for her daughters' marriages at the temple, she discovers a thief stealing offerings. She chases after him, causing a commotion that angers Lady Chai. However, Lady Li, despite her fiery temper, is kind-hearted. When she learns that the thief is poor and his daughter cannot marry without a dowry, she gives him the offerings. Kang Ning is puzzled as to why a woman would be unable to marry due to a lack of dowry. A woman nearby explains that in Bianjing, wealth is crucial for marriage, and families with daughters start preparing dowries early on. The thief returns, complaining that Lady Li's offerings are just melons and rotten fruit, and curses her daughters to remain unmarried. This causes Lady Li to faint from anger.
