Episode Summary
A rigged lion dance competition leads to an assassination attempt on Yang Xian, orchestrated by the gambling ring of Bai Fan Restaurant. Yang Xian is then tasked with finding the owner of a mysterious handkerchief, leading him to uncover a conspiracy involving his stepmother, Chen Xiaogu, and the manipulative Jiang Chaozong. A fire at the ancestral hall is set as part of their plot, but Le Shan and Yang Xian outsmart them, exposing the truth. Further family secrets are revealed, and the Yang family is ultimately stripped of their wealth and exiled, finding refuge with a relative.
Spoiler Alert
This episode of Perfect Match is packed with drama, intrigue, and close calls, as the Yang family faces internal conspiracies and external threats.
The Lion Dance Disturbance
The episode opens with the fallout from the chaotic lion dance competition. Emperor is alerted to the disruption and summons Yang Xian and Le Shan for questioning. Le Shan, ever fearless, explains that the chaos was caused by malicious competitors and those seeking to sabotage the event. Surprisingly, the Emperor is amused by Le Shan's boldness and promises to punish those responsible.
Investigation and Betrayal
Back at the Yang household, Le Shan tends to Yang Xian's wounds from the competition, showing a mix of anger and affection. Zhao Liangcheng reveals that the lion dance incident was fueled by a gambling scheme orchestrated by Bai Fan Restaurant, with many high-ranking officials placing large bets. It's also confirmed that the person who injured Yang Xian with a hidden blade was a hired assassin, but the mastermind remains unknown.
Yang Xian then faces Le Shan's second test: he must discover the owner of a handkerchief found in the garden and uncover the story behind it. Recognizing the handkerchief's familiar needlework, Yang Xian gathers the household's female servants and maids, pretending Le Shan is making a "Bai Jia Yi" (a patchwork garment) and needs their help with embroidered designs.
When none of the servants' embroidery matches the handkerchief, Le Shan suspects the owner might be among the Yang family's masters. The Li sisters comment on the situation, joking about Yang Xian marrying such a "ruthless" and demanding wife.
Unmasking Chen Xiaogu
Yang Xian's investigation leads him to his stepmother, Chen Xiaogu. He pretends to ask her to sew the Bai Jia Yi. Yang Yi, unusually, rebukes Yang Xian for treating his mother like a servant. Yang Xian then presents the handkerchief, and Chen Xiaogu, in a desperate attempt to save herself, blames Yang Yi, claiming he had an affair with a maid. Yang Yi, forced to protect his mother, accepts the false accusation.
However, Yang Xian remains unconvinced, believing Yang Yi is not that kind of person. Meanwhile, Jiang Chaozong, aware that Chen Xiaogu has been exposed, blackmails Yang Wan'er into helping him. Yang Wan'er reluctantly asks Le Shan to spare Yang Yi and then asks her to meet Yang Yi at the ancestral hall.
The Ancestral Hall Fire
That night, Le Shan seemingly falls into the trap and goes to the ancestral hall. She is quickly knocked unconscious with a drug. A man, who had been lying in wait, sets the hall on fire. Yang Xian, hearing that Le Shan is trapped, rushes into the flames to save her. When Le Shan appears unharmed, Yang Xian is overcome with relief and embraces her tightly.
It's revealed that Chen Xiaogu, as Jiang Chaozong's aunt, has been manipulated into plotting against the family for their wealth. Her son, Yang Yi, is not a legitimate member of the family, a secret known only to Jiang Chaozong. Jiang Chaozong's plan was to use Yang Yi's death to eliminate Yang Xian. Chen Xiaogu, though initially hesitant, is ultimately blinded by greed and allows Jiang Chaozong to proceed.
Le Shan, however, had already sensed something was amiss. She faked being unconscious to escape the fire. Yang Xian and Le Shan's coordinated performance exposes the arsonist, Liu Gui, and reveals Jiang Chaozong's conspiracy. Jiang Chaozong's plot is foiled, and Yang Demao orders his arrest.
Family Secrets and Exile
Luo shi, believing that such a treacherous person must be purged from the family, tells Yang Shusheng to search Jiang Chaozong's room for any hidden wealth. Yang Shusheng protects a box and refuses to hand it over until Yang Wan'er intervenes and tells him to give the box to Yang Xian. From this, Yang Xian learns that his eldest sister had secretly given birth to a child out of wedlock, but the child died young. Jiang Chaozong had been using this secret to control her. Yang Xian returns the box to Yang Wan'er, and out of respect for his sister, he helps her keep the secret.
Just when things seem to be settling, news arrives from the palace: the Empress is involved in a scandal, and Yang Jieyu (Consort Yang,Yang Xian's aunt, a concubine) is implicated. Yang Jieyu is punished and sent to a Taoist temple for purification. The Yang family is thrown into chaos, stripped of their property, and left homeless. Fortunately, Lady Li, out of consideration for their familial ties, invites the Yang family to live in a small courtyard next to hers.
