Meh....

*Sigh* This episode does three things: 1)It brings together Miss D, Master L, Yin Xue and Ge'er after having just been seperated 2)It creates an opportunity for Niang (a.k.a. Second Madame) to be returned to the palace and 3)It shows the leads interacting together as a team in a very husband/wife cutesy way

Needless to say, it is boring.  Hence I gave it a 5 because it was just really 'meh' and not very memorable.

While it showcases a scene or two with Feng'er expressing obvious interest in our female lead, we already knew this.  It introduces nothing new to the plot. It really is just a filler episode that builds a degree of tension.  Should you watch it? Well, it does mention a couple of details, including one of the most heavy handed lines I have heard, but I wonder if the directors were going for the classic 'let's bore the viewers so our big reveal/intense episode has much more of an impact'.   Since we already know intense stuff is coming, they can't really surprise us, but they can try to make it have more impact.

NOW if you are a person who enjoys hardcore fluff, this is for you.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Just isn't my cup of tea.

Summary:

Yin Xue and Ge'er stop at a noodle stand where Yin Xue uses his ice powers to drive away an annoying pair of men who are admiring Ge'er's beauty. He also gets their soup as a result.  They learn from the noodle shopkeeper that Ping An Town is too expensive to buy things because a pugilis is illegally collecting taxes (Ping An Town has traditionally been a free town).

Ge'er decides to make this their next stop.  Yin Xue states how very odd it is that she would reject the responsibility of accepting her father's seal but has no problem meddling in the affairs of others. She also does not have a plan, saying they will figure it out--so this tells us she has a good heart but is impulsive and probably does not consider the consequences.  Luckily she has Yin Xue.

Yin Xue uses his considerable beauty to get free food for them, and eventually decides to purchase a bread stall.  Ge'er learns how to make flat bread and together the two are a pair.

MW, at Azure Dragon Hall (where we see Si Ming Star Lord from Eternal Love!) tracks her movements and reports it back to Feng'er.  At the same time, Officer Hueng finishes up her meeting with Flame Lord who confirms that Yin Xue is a trusted friend, and she relays this back to Prince Yu.

Then, back at Ping An Town, Yin Xue repeats sage advice about beauty and uses it as an opportunity to wrap his arm around her. In fact he often does outrageous things like this --really he is constantly trying to touch her.  She finally asks him why he always stares at her and he honestly tells her that she is beautiful...

Housekeeper of Flame Hall meets with Master Xie and we meet Xiao Feng, his grandson (Master Xie is the Uncle from earlier/the little boy played young Ye Hua in EternalLove). The little boy is tasked with becoming Ge'er's friend in order to spy and report on her movements back to Feng'er.  Meanwhile, the locals are very tight lipped and do not want to talk about who is forcing them to pay this money.

Elsewhere, Prince Yu continues to marvel over his ability to hear. But then he coughs up blood. Niang is arrested, and she maintains her innocence.  Medical Deity cannot make heads or tales of what is ailing him.....

MW Ge'er and Yin Xue open shop, give bread away for free as a promotion, and in general seem to make a good couple.  She seems happy and not focused on Feng'er.  They discuss who could be the culprit, and she says it could be Thunderbreak Manor (where Master Xie/Xiao Feng are from) or Top Blade City.  Yin Xue changes the subject to thanking their supporters and we get a cheesy scene where they give out lanterns, earning more trust of the locals.  In addition, Ge'er continues to show that she cares about Yin Xue's well being, which he basks in flirtatiously, causing her to reel it in or play it down.

Master L returns, eats up the bread and decides to help out and Miss D is grounded by her brother.  

In one of the many 'interlude' scenes that this episode is peppered with (i.e. scenes where Ge'er and Yin Xue are alone together) she talks about her lack of skill in spite of being her father's daughter.  Yin Xue confirms that this is probably related to her having a poor foundation, to which Ge'er replies 'remind me to never seek consolation from you' (that made me laugh out loud; these two are really in sync).  Ge'er then says 'It's almost as if something is blocking my power' (IF THAT ISN'T ONE OF THE MOST HEAVY HANDED PLOT LINES I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS).

MW....
Feng'er learns what Ge'er is up to and is so mad he crumples the letter.  The episode ends with Miss D trashing the stall and Ge'er not convinced that she does not have a reason.  

That's our female lead--always believing in the people close to her!  (How long will that last?)

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