Episode Summary
Prince Hengyang survives an assassination attempt, suspecting Lu Yun's involvement. Luo Lingyu's apology to Lu Yun backfires, leading to further humiliation and a shift in her marriage strategy. Prince Changyi searches for the missing Zhou Yangling, who, disguised as a man, unknowingly passes by her own wanted poster. Zhou Yangling gets hired as a tutor at the Fan residence, encountering both Luo Lingyu and a disapproving Lu Yun. Lu Xian urges Lu Yun to pursue the imperial exams. Fan Qingchen arrives in Yue Prefecture and has a chance encounter with Luo Lingyu.
Spoiler Alert
The drama intensifies in episode 6 of "Les Belles." Prince Hengyang, fresh off a victory, finds himself in a deadly ambush during a nighttime journey. The assassins are relentless, clearly aiming to kill. Though his guards manage to eliminate the threat, Prince Hengyang is left shaken and suspicious. The attackers were meticulously prepared, carrying no identification and even equipped with suicide poison. He can't shake the feeling that Lu Yun, the only person he confided in about his travel plans, might have leaked the information.
Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu, in a bid to make amends, attempts a clumsy apology to Lu Yun. She hopes he'll overlook her previous transgression, but Lu Yun is in the middle of a conversation with the King, whom he quickly hides upon her arrival. He mocks Luo Lingyu's sudden change of heart, pointing to the mark on his face as a reminder of her earlier aggression. Luo Lingyu, believing an apology would smooth things over, is humiliated by his rejection.
During their exchange, Luo Lingyu notices a hidden figure in a nearby pavilion. Lu Yun's evasiveness confirms her suspicion that he's hiding something. Sensing an opportunity, she offers to help guard his secret, but this only makes Lu Yun more guarded.
Humiliated, Luo Lingyu storms off, only to stumble into a muddy patch, getting her foot stuck. Lu Yun watches impassively as she struggles, eventually freeing her foot and leaving her shoe behind. She continues barefoot on the rough path and encounters the kind-hearted Liu Tang, who offers his companionship without mockery.
The incident prompts Luo Lingyu to reassess her strategy. She's desperate to reclaim her family's fortune through marriage, but her recent encounters have been disastrous. Realizing that forcing matters won't work, she decides to shift her focus.
Lu Yun, meanwhile, is dealing with Prince Changyi's request. The Prince asks Lu Yun to help find Zhou Yangling, a woman he was supposed to meet but who has mysteriously disappeared. Lu Yun disapproves of the King's intention to use marriage to connect with a noble family and advises him to reconsider.
Despite Lu Yun's counsel, Prince Changyi remains determined to find Zhou Yangling. He posts portraits of her around town. Ironically, Zhou Yangling, disguised as a man, passes by the posters unnoticed, even by the Prince himself. Seeing a job posting for a teaching assistant at the Fan residence, Zhou Yangling decides to apply, hoping to find a temporary place to stay.
At the Fan residence, Zhou Yangling runs into Luo Lingyu, who is there to see Lu Xian. Luo Lingyu, having been helped by Zhou Yangling in the past, is delighted by the reunion and offers to guide her.
Their meeting, however, takes an awkward turn when they encounter Lu Yun. Seeing Luo Lingyu with another handsome man, Lu Yun assumes she's up to her old tricks, trying to plant an accomplice within the Fan household. His dislike for her intensifies. Lu Xian, however, is impressed by Zhou Yangling's reputation for scholarly excellence and immediately hires her.
While Lu Xian shows Zhou Yangling around, Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun engage in another verbal sparring match. Lu Yun views her as cunning and manipulative, while Luo Lingyu finds him arrogant and insufferable.
After they leave, Lu Xian lectures Lu Yun about his lack of ambition, urging him to pursue a respectable career through the imperial exams. Lu Xian, physically frail and unable to pursue a military career, hopes his brother will enter officialdom. Lu Yun, feigning disinterest in the exams, dismisses his youthful vows as immature and quickly escapes.
The episode concludes with Fan Qingchen's arrival in Yue Prefecture. Though he has official business to attend to, he's preoccupied with Luo Lingyu. He immediately has his servants locate her, and they have a chance encounter on the street while she's shopping for fabric with her maid, Lingxi.
