Episode Summary
Luo Lingyu runs into her fiancé, Fan Qingchen, who tries to force her back to Shuozhou. Lu Yun intervenes, and Lingyu explains her reasons for running away. Lu Yun sends her gifts, confusing her. Qingchen shows up at the Lu residence, claiming Lingyu as his wife, but Lingyu had used disappearing ink on the marriage certificate. Liu Tang reveals she is Princess Ningping, protecting Lingyu.
Spoiler Alert
The drama intensifies as Luo Lingyu has a surprise encounter on the street with her arranged fiancé, Fan Qingchen. Clearly caught off guard, Lingyu tries to play it cool. She states she's looking for a husband willing to take her family name, a bold move that signals her desire to maintain control of her family's fortune and legacy. Fan Qingchen, ever the smooth talker, assures her he'll treat her well, but reminds her that the Fan family is prominent in Shuozhou, and him joining her family would cause quite the scandal. Lingyu, unwilling to be forced into marriage, lays it all on the table, but Qingchen is persistent, grabbing her wrist and reminding her that they've already had the wedding ceremony, making her a Fan family bride. He tries to drag her away, but Lingxi, Lingyu's loyal companion, intervenes, pulling Lingyu away and allowing them to escape.
Meanwhile, Lu Yun and Jin Chuan are observing the scene from a discreet distance. They realize that Lingyu and Qingchen aren't working together, confirming that she's genuinely a runaway bride. Lu Yun steps in to help when Qingchen catches up to the fleeing women. He confronts Qingchen, reminding him that he's not in Shuozhou anymore and shouldn't force Lingyu into anything. Lu Yun then departs with Lingyu and Lingxi.
In the carriage, Lu Yun, still somewhat suspicious, questions why Lingyu would reject the wealthy Fan family. Grateful for his intervention, Lingyu opens up about her reasons for fleeing the marriage, clearing up Lu Yun's doubts. He had been wary of her background, but knowing she's simply escaping an unwanted marriage makes her situation more understandable.
Back at her quarters, Lingxi shows Lingyu a gift from Jin Chuan: a box filled with exquisite fabrics and jewelry. It's a stark contrast to Lingyu's earlier frustration when she couldn't afford the fabrics she wanted. She's puzzled by Lu Yun's mixed signals – he was sarcastic and mocking in the carriage, yet now he's sending gifts.
Jin Chuan excitedly tells Lu Yun that he delivered the fabrics and jewelry (originally intended for Lu Yun's aunt!) to Lingyu's courtyard. Lu Yun is surprised by Jin Chuan's actions, but Jin Chuan believes Lu Yun is just being stubborn and refusing to admit his feelings for Lingyu.
Lingyu, examining the luxurious gifts, realizes that Fan Qingchen is more cunning than she thought. While Lu Yun helped her today, she knows Qingchen won't give up easily. Her fears are confirmed the next morning when a servant frantically announces that a man claiming to be Lingyu's husband is at the gate, demanding to take her back to Shuozhou.
Fan Qingchen, playing the devoted husband, puts on a dramatic show at the Lu family's entrance, proclaiming his love for Lingyu and gaining sympathy from onlookers. Lingyu knows she has to outsmart him.
The Lu family matriarch steps in to mediate. Qingchen presents the marriage certificate, but Lingyu had a trick up her sleeve. She had Lingxi use cuttlefish ink, which fades over time, rendering the document blank and Qingchen's "evidence" useless.
To further protect Lingyu, Liu Tang reveals her true identity: Princess Ningping of Nanyue Prefecture. With the princess's support, the matriarch sides with Lingyu, forcing Fan Qingchen to retreat.
After Qingchen leaves, those who were eager to see Lingyu's downfall are surprised by Liu Tang's revelation. With a relentless "fiancé" from Shuozhou on her tail, everyone is now watching to see what happens next. The episode sets the stage for further conflict and intrigue, with Lingyu caught between a persistent suitor and her growing connection with Lu Yun, all while navigating the complexities of her newfound refuge and the powerful figures surrounding her.
