Episode Summary
Lu Qingqing confronts Shen Jiangli after being manipulated by Dan Lingsu, accusing her of bringing evil into the Lu household. A fake Daoist priest tries to expose Jiangli, but she outsmarts him with a clever trick involving vinegar. Lu Jingming intervenes and later asks Jiangli to investigate Su Ruian, who turns out to be a fraud. Jiangli exposes both Su Ruian and the truth behind Qingqing’s injury, revealing it was orchestrated by the main Lu family to frame her.
Spoiler Alert
Here's a recap and spoilers for Episode 4 of My Destined Consort, written in a natural, engaging American English style, tailored for an audience familiar with drama recaps.
My Destined Consort – Episode 4 Recap & Spoilers
Things are heating up fast in Episode 4 of My Destined Consort, and the claws are officially out. If you thought palace politics were messy, wait till you see what goes down in the Lu family estate this week.
Lu Qingqing vs. Shen Jiangli: Round Two
After years of resentment and a scarred face to prove it, Lu Qingqing is still convinced that Shen Jiangli is the one responsible for her disfigurement. And guess who's fueling that fire? The ever-petty Dan Ling, who shows up just to stir the pot. She drops a bomb on Qingqing: not only has Shen Jiangli returned from the ancestral tomb, but she’s also allegedly using seductive fox demon magic and bringing "unclean energy" into the Lu household. Subtle.
Fuming, Qingqing storms in with a self-proclaimed exorcist in tow. Shen Jiangli, ever the calm one, tries to explain that she wasn’t the one who hurt Qingqing back then. But Dan Ling’s manipulation has clearly done its job — Qingqing’s not hearing any of it.
The Great Exorcism... Gone Wrong
The Taoist “exorcist” struts around like he’s the real deal — calling himself a celestial envoy with an indestructible body. He’s all set to perform some dramatic ritual on Shen Jiangli when Lu Jingming steps in just in time to shut it all down.
Still, the Taoist won’t back off and challenges them to test his invincibility. He dips his hand into a boiling pot of oil and miraculously pulls it out unharmed. Gasps all around.
But Shen Jiangli isn’t impressed. She walks right up, sticks her hand in the same pot — and comes out unscathed. Everyone’s shook, and Shen Jiangli casually explains the trick: the pot’s layered with vinegar underneath and oil floating on top. Vinegar boils at a lower temperature, so it looks like it's boiling hot, but it’s a total fake-out. Even one of the servants tries it and comes out fine. Busted. The so-called Taoist? Runs off with his tail between his legs.
The Truth About the Scars — and Su Ruian’s Dirty Secrets
After the crowd clears, Lu Jingming warns Shen Jiangli to keep an eye on Su Ruian, the "talented" distant cousin of the First Madam. Jingming doesn’t buy his act for a second and suspects ulterior motives.
Meanwhile, Shen Jiangli is determined to uncover the real story behind Lu Qingqing’s scars. Turns out, the old maidservant knows the truth — and with some clever maneuvering, Shen Jiangli captures Atai, the guy who actually carried out the attack. Under pressure from Shen Jiangli and Lu Jingming, Atai confesses: it was all orchestrated by the First Madam, who wanted to take down Lu Jingming. When her plan failed, she pinned the blame on Shen Jiangli to cover her tracks — and Lu Qingqing fell for it.
Shen Jiangli doesn’t stop there. She digs deeper into Su Ruian’s background and uncovers a goldmine of dirt. Far from a literary genius, Su Ruian is a fraud — cheating on exams, paying his way through competitions, and basically faking his entire persona.
A Public Showdown
Shen Jiangli decides to expose Su Ruian the best way possible — in public. She challenges him to a game of chess, knowing full well he can’t play without cheating. As expected, Su Ruian tries to rely on his “friends” for help, but plot twist: they’ve already been bribed by Shen Jiangli. With no help coming, he flounders, and his true colors show — right as Lu Qingqing arrives to witness the whole mess.
She listens in as Su Ruian arrogantly boasts about his fake image, completely contradicting the charming, talented persona she thought he was. The mask falls, and so does Su Ruian’s credibility.
Final Thoughts
Episode 4 delivers on all fronts: deception, reveals, and a satisfying dose of comeuppance. Shen Jiangli is proving herself to be way more than just a misunderstood outsider — she’s cunning, brave, and slowly peeling back the layers of lies in the Lu household.
And with Lu Qingqing starting to see the truth, could reconciliation be on the horizon? Or is the damage already done?
