Prince of Lan Ling and Yang Xue Wu come to stay at his manor house. There's a flibbertigibbet maid named Xiao Cui that I have a feeling will become a part of the story. Xue Wu still insists she won't be here for long so they shouldn't make such a fuss over her.
Chang Gong tries to forget his troubles with Xue Wu by talking with An De about his troubles with the jealous Crown Prince. Chang Gong knows they'll try something against him. He's more worried that Xue Wu will be caught in the crossfire.
Zu Ting, Empress Hu and Gao Wei (Team Crown Prince) meet to further their plans. Like King Yung, Empress Hu conspires to plant a spy within Chang Gong's household. Her choice is one of her loyal maids, Zheng Er (played by Mao Lin Lin). Hmm, Gao Wei seems to be giving Zheng Er the "I'm in love!" look. To further Gao Wei's pain, Zheng Er seems pretty excited at the thought of becoming Chang Gong's wife.
Han Xiao Dong is out on the town when he's approached by a strange old lady. It's Xue Wu's grandmother, who gives Xiao Dong a letter to pass on to her granddaughter.
Xue Wu is sitting in her room when a strange old maid comes to serve her. The woman is rather disappointed that Xue Wu is not a great beauty. Grandma Fu, as she's called, keeps giving backhanded compliments as she tells Xue Wu how five candidates for Chang Gong have now moved into his manor house. Who is this old woman?
Chang Gong must hold an awkward dinner party for his new guests. As a man more used to the battlefield, Chang Gong is totally lost when it comes to making small talk with beautiful women. Xue Wu and Grandma Fu watch from the shadows. Xue Wu laments how all the women are lovely and come from powerful families. Grandma Fu gives the girl a whack on the butt, causing Xue Wu to fall to the floor in front of everyone.
Chang Gong introduces her to everyone, making a point to Xue Wu that no one here is named Zheng. Until now, because here comes Zheng Er. While the other mean girls look down their noses at Xue Wu, Zheng Er wisely acts friendly towards the divine sorceress. Don't trust her, Xue Wu! Oh, who am I kidding? You trust everybody.
Joining the party is Prince of An De. He says he's on an errand for the Queen Dowager, Chang Gong's grandmother. And now I think I know who Grandma Fu is. But first, An De relays an order from the Queen Dowager. As a test, all the bride candidates must make a dish for her. They must do the preparing and cooking on their own. If they don't, then they must leave Lan Ling Manor. Zheng Er, who has grown up as a maid in the empress' household, thinks she's got this one in the bag.
Xue Wu goes back to her room to moan and groan over her lack of cooking skills. Grandma Fu advises the young girl that there are other ways of pleasing the Queen Dowager besides cooking. Like a kind word or caring act towards the elderly.
The dishes have been prepared and the candidates are ready to be judged. All, that is, except Xue Wu who is still messing around in the kitchen. Zheng Er's dish is geared towards old people (i.e. soft and mushy) and has gold flakes in it. Chang Gong notices she has a cut on her finger from preparing the mush and gives her some cream to heal the wound. Zheng Er's heart is all fluttery at this small gift.
Just then Xue Er rushes in with her offering. Three different little bowls of soup, also geared towards the elderly. Eww, there's even a banana soup. Google tells me there is such a thing although this is the first I've ever heard of banana soup. Don't plan on trying it.
Xue Wu tells the prince she got the idea from Grandma Fu. Chang Gong and An De react to this name. Grandma Fu was Chang Gong's wet nurse, but she died a few years ago. Xue Wu and Chang Gong go back to her room to look for the old woman, who of course is nowhere to be found. Chang Gong tells Xue Wu he's more than willing to disobey the emperor and send all these women packing. Xue Wu reminds him of her grandmother's prophecy. Zheng Er is destined to become the prince's wife. Chang Gong insists that she'll be the last person he would pick. An eavesdropping Zheng Er is devastated to hear this.
Chang Gong storms out in a huff. Xue Wu thinks she hears him come back only to turn around and find it's Xiao Dong. He's finally getting around to delivering that letter. It's a short missive simply telling Xue Wu it's time to come home. Xiao Dong says he's scheduled to meet with Granny again tomorrow. Xue Wu figures since the foretold Zheng is now here, there's no reason for her to stay with Chang Gong anymore.
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