Everyone Believes their own lies

1) Gu Ting Ye is PISSED. He rushes to his older brothers room and calls him out, accusing him of taking words he said in the privacy of the home and reporting it to the emperor. He accuses him of framing him. Dad points out that even if his brother said something, he had to have something to say (remember when Rulan fights with her dad and her dad says well you had to commit a mistake for Molan to set you up it is the same issue of favoritism creating disharmony). It is hard to confront the central issue that the brother tattled and harmed Gu TIng He’s future when his father has decided that he alone is in the wrong. Now with Momo, drunk, Gu Ting Ye wonders what he will tell his concubine and children since the future he had planned no longer exists. He is so defeated and says ‘it’s no use everyone in that manor believes their own uses’

2)overhearing the private talk, his concubine Minniang learns that he is unfavored and has an unstable future. She must make another bet.(on one hand, I can’t really blame her Gu Ting Ye is basically unemployed with no prospects or support. ) Gu Ting Ye suggests they leave the city and farm in the provinces. Momo is supportive...his concubine has bigger ambitions.

3)Minaing uses the cover of finding her kids to sneak out (a big no no ). She deliberately unlocked the back door, knowing her daughter would sneak out looking for candy, to slip out. I mean I don’t think a concubine Lin would even do something that risky she at least loves her kids. Mini ant goes to the Marquis house intending to cause a scene, and Stepmom Gu sees an opportunity. Gu Ting Ye returns and discovers they are missing. He immediately goes to look for his daughter and concubine. He immediately thinks the worse, that she has been kidnapped. Elsewhere, his mistress is begging the Marquis for ‘means to live’ WOW I kind of admire her shamelessness.

4)Gu Ting Ye appears and another argument occurs between father and son. He confronts his father, says he won’t put up with being best anymore, and accuses his father of forcing his mother to die and deceiving her, Gu Ting Ye says he will never believe his father again. But there is some confirmation as the Marquis reflects on who could have told him, elsewhere, the eldest son grimly says that if he shared the same mother as Gu he would readily be at ease handing the family to him but his mother (Gu’s mother) killed his own mother by forcing her to die.

5)now, back at the palace, Master Sheng is heading home only to be stopped by an official who pulls him aside and states that the emperor wishes to have a private meeting, he is taken to a side room holding some random books and locked in. Cannot even leave to go potty which is sad because he briefly considers using an antique pot but changes his mind. Big Madame begins to question where he is. Rulan tells her mother not to worry spring is coming and with it polo matches hosted by Countess Wu. Her mother chastises her for her immaturity and still worries. It doesn’t feel right she says.

6)The next morning the house is in chaos, Master Sheng is missing. Not good. Chang reaches out to Gu hoping he could help but Gu admits he has only gone to the palace ten times, he admits his older brother is a distant relative of the empress sad,lay he would never help. He suggests instead Princess Pingning she grew up in the palace, and he knows youMy lord well.

7) Changbai reports back that Master Sheng is locked up, they don’t know the reason, the old Madame reminds her that the emperor is quite kind. She reminds Big Madame to take charge and keep the family together, no chaos she says.

8) in typical fashion, Big Madame misses the point and takes this as Old Madame not caring. She decides to use this as an opportunity to get rid of concubine Lin. Although her personal servant is (rightfully) wary she goes long. When Ming Lan admits to old Madame that young lord secretly sent someone to tell her of the news, her grandmother says that if he can’t find this out then it really isn’t a big deal (the palace isn’t trying to conceal this).

9) Elsewhere, Madame Lin sits with her sleeping daughter. We learn she has been secretly selling land and shops. This is sort of. No no because she is secretly doing it. I think in her own way Madame Li is using her skills to provide a back up in the event she has no one to rely on (planning ahead). Big Madames spies follow and catch them only she accuses her of a heinous crime: adultery. China is pretty Draconian. You don’t want to get caught cheating today, imagine back then (FYI please don’t cheat). Madame Lin and the landlord are tied up by Big Madame’s spies....

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