The Magic Pen Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

The Magic Pen Synopsis

The hand-painter Tong Zifu accidentally enters her own comic work and meets the top artist in the capital, Wen Jingzhan.

Wen Jingzhan, who has always wanted to join the military, mistakenly believes that Tong Zifu is a spy sent by her father.

As they spend time together, they witness each other's growth and eventually, their wishes come true as they end up together.

The Magic Pen Recap

Episode 1 Recap

Tong Zifu was informed by her superiors to take on an additional project, but she already had many projects on her hands. Due to excessive fatigue, she fainted while standing. Wen Jingzhan went to the temple to pray for blessings, but was told that praying couldn't be taken lightly because the lord's spies were constantly watching him. He sincerely prayed and hoped to pass the assessment. After finishing his prayers, he accidentally threw a silver coin that hit Tong Zifu, who had traveled through time.

Tong Zifu saw the handsome man in front of her, the character from her painting. She guessed that she had crossed over to the country of Beiyue and was driven out by the Daoist. If she angered the artist, she would never become an artist again and would have no future. She murmured quietly to herself that she was an artist but didn't see any prospects. The Daoist exposed her lie, saying that artists in Beiyue had high status. Wen Jingzhan mistakenly thought that Tong Zifu was his father's spy and that his father wanted him to give up joining the military and instead become an artist to serve the people.

Tong Zifu arrived at the Yuelu Painting Garden, where everyone came to admire the master's masterpiece before he came out of seclusion. When he revealed a painting with two fish that didn't look like fish and a dragon that didn't look like a dragon, the crowd ignorantly applauded and praised his masterpiece. Tong Zifu stood at the back, watching the painting burn and sneered. Wen Jingzhan asked her for her opinion on the painting, and at this moment, Tong Zifu covered her face with a vase, hoping not to be recognized. Wen Jingzhan approached her directly and discovered that this woman was the spy he had seen at the temple.

Episode 2 Recap

Wen Jingzhan asked the other senior disciples to leave and inquired if Tong Zifu had really come to learn painting. Tong Zifu praised him as the top disciple of the academy, stating that only a painter with a pure heart could freely roam in the realm of ink and wash like his "Dragon Embarking on the Sea" painting. She showered him with all sorts of flattering words about his artwork. However, as she continued speaking, Tong Zifu felt increasingly uncomfortable, and Wen Jingzhan also sensed the insincerity in her words. Ming Yang went to close the door, and Tong Zifu was left alone to have a conversation.

The other senior disciples were calculating how much silver Wen Jingzhan could earn from the praises he received that day. When the master arrived and was asked about Wen Jingzhan's whereabouts, the other disciples said he was in seclusion, practicing his painting. Tong Zifu thought that Wen Jingzhan wanted to talk to her privately to plot against her, so she considered using the vase to strike him. But just then, Wen Jingzhan turned around, so Tong Zifu had to lie, claiming that she was feeling tired and just resting her head against the vase.

Tong Zifu insisted that she had come to learn painting, but she felt that Wen Jingzhan didn't believe her. Wen Jingzhan believed she was there to supervise him, and he feared that their agreement for him to join the military might be canceled. So he decided to keep her there and find a way to handle the situation after successfully becoming a painter. Tong Zifu wanted to demonstrate her painting skills, but she didn't want to stand out too much to avoid jealousy. Therefore, she casually painted a few strokes, but Wen Jingzhan saw through her actions and demanded that she stay in the painting garden for three months. Tong Zifu was intimidated by Wen Jingzhan's skills and obediently agreed to stay. However, the expensive tuition fee troubled her, so she resolved to earn money by painting.

Episode 3 Recap

Tong Zifu arrived at the main street, and Wen Jingzhan secretly followed her to see who she was meeting. Tong Zifu asked a painting vendor if they buy paintings because she had many of them. From a distance, Wen Jingzhan mistakenly thought she was trying to mislead him into believing that the vendor was her contact.

Tong Zifu didn't have money to buy painting paper, so she had to lie to the vendor, claiming that her painting paper was expensive and that she wanted to try it first. If it worked well, she would buy it at a higher price. However, the vendor exposed her trick on the spot.

Tong Zifu said that if she earned money in a fifty-fifty split, the old her who was driven out said that even one cent was hard to come by. She happened to find a penny on the ground, but a beggar snatched it before she could. Tong Zifu searched everywhere for money, with Wen Jingzhan following closely behind, and people thought they were searching for some treasure, so they joined in.

Tong Zifu arrived at the Painting Immortal Palace, but the money from the incense burner had already been taken to the merit box by the caretaker. She was figuring out how to find another penny. Wen Jingzhan mistakenly thought they were meeting here.

Tong Zifu noticed some clothes drying in the courtyard and decided to change into them to take the money from the merit box. During the change, Wen Jingzhan mistakenly thought she was secretly meeting his father inside. He quietly entered the room but was noticed by Tong Zifu, who grabbed a broom and swung it at the intruder. To her surprise, it was Wen Jingzhan. In the process, she lost her balance and ended up falling into Wen Jingzhan's arms, and he hurriedly caught her.

Episode 4 Recap

Tong Zifu questioned why Wen Jingzhan appeared in the Painting Immortal Palace. Was he a voyeur here while painting? Wen Jingzhan told her to watch her mouth and pointed out that she was the one sneaking into the room suspiciously. Now she was falsely accusing him. He asked her what she was doing here. Tong Zifu stammered and said she was here to find inspiration. No one would believe such a reason. Wen Jingzhan, as a spy for his father, would never lie. Since she refused to tell the truth, he threatened to take her to the government office.

Tong Zifu had no choice but to confess that she had too many debts and wanted to earn money by selling paintings. However, she couldn't even afford a piece of paper, so she decided to dress as a caretaker and take money from the merit box.

Wen Jingzhan didn't believe her and wanted to search her. Tong Zifu, thinking that if she was caught, she would rather fight back and expose him as a thief. They argued inside the room, while the master was outside looking for his clothes. A person who had prayed for blessings informed him that a girl claimed to be a newcomer and was asking about offering money. She had headed towards his cloth shop. Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu heard that someone was coming to catch them, so they escaped through the window.

Wen Jingzhan went to a shop to buy painting paper for her, and as soon as the shop owner saw her, he immediately changed his attitude and flattered her. Wen Jingzhan bought a lot of paper and stationery for her and specifically instructed Ming Yang to deliver it to her room. Ming Yang looked at all the stationery and wondered why they were purchased when no one wanted them even for five taels of silver. Wen Jingzhan then realized he had been tricked out of a whole ingot of silver by the shop owner. There was a gang of bandits targeting artists, and the imperial court had posted a reward for anyone providing clues.

Episode 5 Recap

Tong Zifu was focused on painting in her room when suddenly her brush broke. Wen Jingzhan knew that a gang of bandits was causing trouble and suspected that the kidnapped master might be the famous artist Zhao, who had just arrived in the capital and was supposed to give a lecture at the painting garden. So, Wen Jingzhan decided to find the bandits and asked Ming Yang to supervise Tong Zifu. He warned that although she spent all day painting in her room, she should not let her guard down. If his father found out that his painting skills were not good, he would be angry and disapprove of him joining the military.

Tong Zifu went to Wen Jingzhan's room to steal a brush. Wen Jingzhan had just changed into his night clothes and was about to leave when he noticed Tong Zifu sneaking into his room. He quickly hid in the painting studio, pretending to be painting, to avoid being discovered in his night clothes. Tong Zifu went inside and found Wen Jingzhan painting behind a folding screen. She got scared and hid under the table. Both of them were hiding something from each other, waiting for the other to leave or fall asleep.

Two hours passed, and Tong Zifu's legs felt numb, so she left. Wen Jingzhan no longer needed to pretend to paint and just went out. When Tong Zifu encountered a night patrol, she got scared and returned to Wen Jingzhan's room. There, she encountered a masked figure and screamed loudly. Wen Jingzhan questioned her and learned that she wasn't there to supervise his painting. Due to her scream, her true identity was exposed. Meanwhile, the night patrol outside the room overheard the conversation. Tong Zifu was pushed out of the room and accidentally knocked down two senior disciples. From inside the room, they heard Wen Jingzhan saying that he wasn't interested in romantic relationships between men and women.

Episode 6 Recap

Tong Zifu dreamt that her artwork sold well, and she woke up with joy. However, upon waking up, she realized it was just a dream and felt a bit disappointed. She overheard her fellow disciples outside the room discussing how they learned about the intricacies of painting and the importance of marketing from a master's lecture. Tong Zifu also wanted to attend the lecture, but Wen Jingzhan, who happened to pass by, stopped her, not allowing her to go. She was planning to repay Wen Jingzhan with the money from selling her paintings. Wen Jingzhan secretly told her that the master's lecture was boring and even involved some scolding, but Tong Zifu didn't care and believed that the master's unique personality was to be expected.

Wen Jingzhan secretly went outside the room and followed the bandits in the distance. The bandits had been squatting in the corner of the wall, waiting for Master Zhao to come out. One of the bandits said that this was his usual route, and they would definitely catch him. At that moment, the third bandit fell into a drowsy sleep, and the leader asked him to stay alert; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to explain it to the boss. Wen Jingzhan accidentally broke a tree branch, drawing the bandits' attention. The third bandit went to investigate and got knocked out by Wen Jingzhan.

Meanwhile, Master Zhao was giving a lecture at the academy, completely ignoring male scholars but showing particular favor to female scholars. When the lecture was over, Master Zhao noticed Tong Zifu, who had arrived late, and left the lecture hall with her. Wen Jingzhan changed into the bandit's clothes, but the other two bandits didn't notice that the third one was a fake. When the bandits saw Master Zhao, they immediately put a sack over his head and were about to knock out Tong Zifu when Wen Jingzhan intervened. He held Tong Zifu while the other two bandits carried Master Zhao away. In the forest, Wen Jingzhan left marks along the way, and when Tong Zifu woke up, she picked up a nearby stone and threw it at him.

Episode 7 Recap

Tong Zifu's attempt to attack the bandits failed, and she was caught by Wen Jingzhan again and tied up with Master Zhao. She was determined to take revenge on them. Wen Jingzhan asked when the boss would arrive, as waiting around wasn't a solution. At this point, the second bandit agreed with the third's suggestion, but the leader insisted on following the rules of the underworld. Master Zhao asked who they were. The leader said they wanted him to paint and warned him to be obedient, threatening to cut out his tongue. Master Zhao replied that he had faced much bigger threats and couldn't be frightened by mere words. Then the bandits took out a knife, and Master Zhao pretended to faint.

Seeing the situation, Tong Zifu also pretended to pass out. The leader suggested abandoning Tong Zifu since they only needed Master Zhao. Wen Jingzhan thought that if he fought them, he wouldn't be able to protect Tong Zifu. So, he lied, saying that the girl was just pretending and playing tricks. He offered to take her to the mountains alone and kill her there. To save herself, Tong Zifu falsely claimed to be Master Zhao's disciple, saying she knew all his painting techniques, and begged them not to kill her.

Ming Yang led the constables and followed Wen Jingzhan's marks to rescue Master Zhao. Tong Zifu used the pretext of drawing for them to turn around and escape. On their way, they encountered the constables, and Tong Zifu pointed in the direction where the bandits were. The constables went to apprehend the bandits. Meanwhile, the bandits still had their backs turned, thinking that Tong Zifu was drawing for them. Little did they know that she had already escaped, and they were surrounded by the constables.

Episode 8 Recap

The constables surrounded the three bandits, and the leader finally realized that they had been fooled by Tong Zifu. They blamed each other for the failure. At this moment, Wen Jingzhan, disguised as the third bandit, suggested they inform their boss and not fall into a trap. The leader instructed the other two to stall the constables while he went to the "Dafu Inn." To find the mastermind behind the operation, Wen Jingzhan knocked them unconscious and headed to the inn alone. The constables then arrested the two remaining bandits.

Wen Jingzhan returned with serious injuries. He didn't expect the bandit leader to have some martial arts skills. He gave the reward money to Ming Yang, instructing everyone to keep it a secret. Wen Jingzhan had been wounded in the chest by a knife. When Tong Zifu knocked on the door, he mistook her for Ming Yang coming with water and opened the door, revealing his wound. To his surprise, he saw Tong Zifu standing there. Seeing his injury and the jade pendant, Tong Zifu mistakenly thought he was the spy for the bandits and got scared, running back to her room. She had wanted to grab her bag and escape but was worried about Master Zhao's safety, so she decided to paint Wen Jingzhan's portrait instead.

The constables reported the successful capture of the bandits to Wen Lao Ye, praising Wen Jingzhan's intelligence and wit for catching the bandits. As he was injured, they gifted him medicinal herbs as a token of appreciation. Upon learning that his son, Wen Jingzhan, had deceived him and embarked on a dangerous adventure, Wen Lao Ye ordered him to return home. Wen Jingzhan, while burning his paintings, reminisced about the moments he had with Tong Zifu, and a smile appeared on his face. Tong Zifu went to the Painting Immortal Palace and learned from the master that the Wen family was a local wealthy family, providing her a way to earn money.

Episode 9 Recap

Lady Wen looked at the paintings sent from various places and expressed that they were not top-notch. She didn't accept just any paintings and turned to Tong Zifu, asking if she had any paintings. Tong Zifu took out her painting and handed it to Lady Wen, who immediately showed delight upon seeing it. Tong Zifu took this opportunity to raise the stakes and claimed that she obtained this painting from a master. Since she believed it was destined to be with Lady Wen, any price would be acceptable.

Wen Master scolded Wen Jingzhan for hiding from home and not attending classes, instead going to catch bandits. Wen Jingzhan defended himself, stating that as long as he could become a painter, it didn't matter whether he attended classes or not. He hoped his father would keep his promise and agree to let him join the military.

Wen Master had taken a second wife, hoping for peace in the household, while Wen Jingzhan's aspiration was to seek justice and help those in need. Tong Zifu's painting was appreciated by the second wife, who rewarded her with fifty taels as painting fees. Wen Jingzhan witnessed this scene and confirmed that she was a spy for Wen Master. He decided to drive her away, but he knew there would be other spies even if she left. So, he resolved to persuade Tong Zifu to change sides.

Wen Jingzhan specially bought various brushes and inkstones for Tong Zifu, trying to be attentive without any specific reason. Tong Zifu questioned his actions, and Wen Jingzhan defended her in front of other fellow students, saying that new students deserved special care. Later, he went to her room, slowly approached her, and pinned her against the wall, gently assuring her that he would always treat her well.

Episode 10 Recap

Wen Jingzhan directly pinned Tong Zifu against the wall, telling her that he would always treat her well as long as she didn't reveal certain things. Tong Zifu thought that what he didn't want her to talk about was related to the bandits, but Wen Jingzhan mistakenly believed that she was moved by his actions. Taking advantage of the situation, he tried to win her over.

After a short moment, Wen Jingzhan went to his room and took out his beloved calligraphy tools to give them to Tong Zifu as a gift. He wanted to strengthen their relationship and asked her to call him "Brother Wen" to make it less formal. Tong Zifu couldn't help but burst into laughter and sprayed him with a mouthful of drink, feeling apologetic, she toasted him as a gesture of apology.

Master Zhao arrived at the house, and Mr. Wen specially asked Lady Wen to select the finest gifts to present to him, hoping that he would take good care of Wen Jingzhan. Lady Wen brought out the painting "Golden Rooster" that Tong Zifu had just presented. Mr. Wen showed his fondness for the painting, and Lady Wen gifted it to him, which he accepted and left.

As Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu drank more, Tong Zifu suggested playing "Truth or Dare" to make the drinking more enjoyable. In the first round, Tong Zifu won and proposed going to the rooftop of the "Painting Immortal Pavilion" to continue drinking. Wen Jingzhan tried to resist going, but Tong Zifu dragged him along. Once on the rooftop, Wen Jingzhan unexpectedly carried Tong Zifu in his arms and flew up there.

Episode 11 Recap

Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu were drinking on the rooftop. The breeze made him sober up a bit. In the second round, Wen Jingzhan won and asked Tong Zifu what he needed to do for her not to reveal his secret. Tong Zifu thought it was about the kidnapping of Master Zhao, but even if she kept it a secret, others would eventually find out. To find out who this "others" were, Wen Jingzhan continued playing. In the third round, Tong Zifu won and stood up to think about the next game. However, due to her unsteady balance, she almost fell off the roof, and Wen Jingzhan immediately caught her. Seeing the beautiful Tong Zifu, Wen Jingzhan affectionately called her "Zifu." The dizziness from the spinning and the alcohol made Tong Zifu vomit all over Wen Jingzhan.

Later that night, Tong Zifu had to wash Wen Jingzhan's clothes, which were worth thirty taels of silver. If she didn't wash them, she would have to compensate him. Tong Zifu reluctantly washed the clothes and asked him to take them off. Hearing this, some fellow disciples outside became curious. Wen Jingzhan threw the clothes directly onto Tong Zifu, and she stood up, questioning why he would press them onto her when he could have simply taken them off. This statement stunned the fellow disciples who were eavesdropping.

The next day, Mingyang discovered Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu on the same bed. They tried to explain themselves, but after a day of confusion, Wen Jingzhan sent Tong Zifu away. On their way, they overheard two fellow disciples plotting against them. Tong Zifu wanted to confront them, but Wen Jingzhan pulled her away. Hidden in a corner, she watched Wen Jingzhan, feeling close to him, and grabbed the corner of his clothes as they left together.

Episode 12 Recap

Wen Jingzhan accompanied Tong Zifu back to her room and found his portrait on the table. He mistakenly thought it was given to her by his father, so she recognized him the moment she arrived at the Yuelu Art Academy. Taking advantage of Tong Zifu's distraction, Wen Jingzhan took his portrait back. The academy's dean asked the students to submit their own works, but they were unaware of any assignments, and it seemed they wouldn't be able to get any scores. At this moment, Wen Jingzhan remembered his portrait and handed it to the dean. He admitted that he didn't paint it and suggested the dean use it to deceive Master Zhao.

Wen Jingzhan tried to explain that he didn't paint the portrait, but the fellow disciples thought he was being modest and reluctant to admit it. Tong Zifu, who was still sleeping, heard about submitting her work and quickly got up to the classroom. She saw the fellow disciples crowding around a painting, and when she took a look, she blurted out that it was her work. The fellow disciples said that this work clearly understood Wen Jingzhan and their interactions of over ten years, and how could a newcomer like her paint it.

Wen Jingzhan stated that the painting wasn't hers but was painted by his father. Tong Zifu felt strange and told him not to change his story and claim it was his father's work wherever he went. Behind her back, Wen Jingzhan commented that she finally admitted she was a spy sent by his father. He returned the painting to her and prepared to offer her more benefits, as he didn't believe he couldn't persuade her. Tong Zifu kept muttering about how Wen Jingzhan kidnapped and stole paintings, never expecting him to change for the better.

Episode 13 Recap

During the meal, Tong Zifu and Wen Jingzhan were taken care of in various ways, and his attentiveness made her suspicious of other motives. Wen Jingzhan expressed his determination to study painting diligently and asked her which master she had in mind, as he had already prepared the invitation cards. However, Tong Zifu misunderstood that he was planning to kidnap the master, and she cautiously asked if he had already investigated these masters thoroughly. She believed that before showing sincerity in becoming a disciple, one should visit and understand the master beforehand, so she was reluctant to go.

Wen Jingzhan took this opportunity to build a closer relationship with her and said that he would visit Master Zhao, and she could just watch from the side. Master Zhao received a famous painting, depicting a splendid rooster and two pairs of butterflies. He believed it would fetch a good price at the auction since it was undoubtedly from the master's own hand. To avoid revealing his identity, Wen Jingzhan covered his mouth when he was about to mention Tong Zifu's name during the visit.

Master Zhao recognized Tong Zifu in front of him as the one who was kidnapped and accompanied him at that time. Master Zhao invited Wen Jingzhan to talk through the night by candlelight, a request he was delighted to fulfill. When looking at Master Zhang on the other side, he praised his interest in figure paintings and expressed a desire to visit their residence the next day. Tong Zifu couldn't sleep all night, suspecting that Wen Jingzhan's statement during the day, "If one person goes, others will only be a burden," meant he intended to kidnap Master Zhang and Master Zhao. At that moment, Wen Jingzhan and Ming Yang deliberately spoke loudly outside her door to win Tong Zifu's favor. Worried that he might go and do something like kidnapping, she followed him to the tavern.

Episode 14 Recap

Tong Zifu followed Wen Jingzhan to the tavern, mistakenly believing that he intended to kidnap Master Zhao. She pushed the door open and reproached him for his actions, but Wen Jingzhan had no idea what was happening. At that moment, Master Zhao, in a drunken state, returned to the room with a woman and spread rumors. He warned that anyone who dared to leak this matter would never become a painter in their lifetime and would not earn any money from painting. Both Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu hid inside the wardrobe, not wanting to end up unable to become painters and unable to sell paintings.

Inside the wardrobe, Tong Zifu urged Wen Jingzhan to hold on and make sure the faulty wardrobe door was well-supported. However, due to Master Zhao's old age, he couldn't keep holding it for long. Wen Jingzhan asked Tong Zifu to help him pull back the clothes, but accidentally, her hair touched Master Zhao's nose, almost making him sneeze. They spent the whole night inside the wardrobe, with Tong Zifu falling asleep in Wen Jingzhan's arms.

As they were late for class, Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu were assigned to collaborate on a painting together. To conceal his painting skills, Wen Jingzhan claimed that he could finish it alone, but Tong Zifu objected. He lied, saying that his hand was sore and couldn't hold the brush, so Tong Zifu reluctantly painted with him hand in hand. While observing Tong Zifu's closeness, Wen Jingzhan's mind wandered, but Tong Zifu realized this and wanted to leave. Wen Jingzhan, however, immediately held her hand back. This scene was witnessed by a spy sent by Wen's father.

Episode 15 Recap

The spy sent by Master Wen reported back. Wen Jingzhan's painting skills are truly remarkable, enough to be called a master painter. Master Wen was surprised and asked how he knew about his paintings being burned. The spy explained that at that time, Wen Jingzhan was personally teaching a female disciple how to paint, and the paintings were not burned as a result of their encounter. Master Wen was pleased with this information and rewarded the spy.

Last night, Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu spent the night together in the wardrobe. Tong Zifu advised Wen Jingzhan not to go out again. Master Wen came specifically to find Wen Jingzhan and, in front of Tong Zifu, commented on Wen Jingzhan's bad temper, asking him to be more considerate during the painting process.

Master Wen came to apologize to Wen Jingzhan for his previous hasty judgment and was now glad to see him focusing on painting. Tong Zifu didn't want Wen Jingzhan to visit Master Zhang, so she lied about not feeling well. She, as a friend, advised him not to become a bandit. With his background from a family of artists and calligraphers, why would he become a bandit? Wen Jingzhan was puzzled about when he became a bandit. Tong Zifu insisted that he had kidnapped Master Zhao and her in the past.

Wen Jingzhan explained that it was a disguise to catch the real bandits. Now, he wanted to visit the master to show Tong Zifu his dedication to learning painting and report back to his father. Only then did Tong Zifu realize that she was misunderstood as a spy, and she received money from Madam Wen because she had sold a painting of a brocade rooster. With the misunderstanding cleared, Wen Jingzhan returned his portrait to her, and she teased him about his father painting it. In the midst of their playful banter, they accidentally bumped into each other, and Tong Zifu took the initiative to kiss him.

Episode 16 Recap

The next day, Tong Zifu woke up with a splitting headache. Wen Jingzhan had given his first kiss to Tong Zifu and happily wrote a marriage letter to her. He went to Tong Zifu's room, but she was not there. He asked if she had drunk fake wine, why her headache was so severe, and why she couldn't remember what happened last night. Wen Jingzhan thought that since she didn't remember the marriage letter, he would set it aside for now and reconsider later.

Tong Zifu snatched the marriage letter from his hand and looked at the so-called calligraphy, mocking that the characters were too ugly.

Meanwhile, Master Wen, while looking at the account book, discovered that the family property had been used by Madam Wen to buy paintings and calligraphy. Madam Wen was angry and blamed Master Wen for not cherishing her. Inspector Zhang came to Master Wen to confirm that the brocade rooster painting was fake and not made by the artist Songzi from the previous dynasty. The painting had been circulating within the Wen household. Master Wen knew that it was the one he had given to Master Zhao and not sold to him. He asked the inspector to investigate it thoroughly.

In order to help Wen Jingzhan focus on calligraphy practice, Tong Zifu sent him a love poem. The controversy over the forged brocade rooster painting attracted attention. Master Zhao was accused, as the painting was acquired from Madam Wen. Both Master Zhao and Madam Wen were surprised by this revelation. Wen Jingzhan knew that Tong Zifu was the one who painted it, and now Master Zhao was privately affixing his seal to it. The only solution was to retrieve the painting from the auction house and destroy it to eliminate evidence. Tong Zifu said the current auction price reached eight hundred taels, but she had only sold it for fifty taels initially, making it seem unworthy even if she had to sell herself. Wen Jingzhan suggested that they could get a reward of over a thousand taels for solving the case. Suddenly, they received an urgent letter about a case related to a name seal. They found Inspector Zhang and worked together to find the person responsible for the forged name seal.

Episode 17 Recap

Wen Jingzhan prepared food and drinks at the restaurant, and suddenly Tong Zifu arrived, veiled in a scarf. Wen Jingzhan was captivated by her beauty, and for a moment, he became absent-minded. To cover up his embarrassment, he quickly drank a cup of wine. In order to investigate the origin of Master Zhao's name seal, they could only search for clues from the singing girl. Tong Zifu warned him not to fall for her trap and to act proactively. Suddenly, he remembered what his senior brother had said: "Be cunning with your words, and if you can act, don't talk."

Tong Zifu visited the same room again, and following his senior brother's advice, Wen Jingzhan pulled her into his arms and expressed how he had been waiting for her. As she was late, he punished her with a drink and they toasted together. Tong Zifu felt that he was being too forward and was taken aback.

Then, a seductive woman came in, deliberately pulling her clothes lower and pretending her legs were numb, asking Wen Jingzhan to help her. Remembering Tong Zifu's instructions, Wen Jingzhan kept his distance and had to bring a stool for the woman. As he sat down, the woman took the initiative to sit on his lap, which startled him, causing him to quickly stand up and ask her what Master Zhao had said to her last night. Seeing this clueless act, Tong Zifu emerged from the wardrobe and demanded to go to the authorities under the pretext of catching her husband. She also accused Wen Jingzhan of deceiving her and questioned how the woman could know about the name seal. Tong Zifu insisted on taking them to the authorities, and the woman revealed that Master Zhao had purchased the name seal at an antique shop in the north of the city.

Episode 18 Recap

Wen Jingzhan analyzed the complex terrain of the northern part of the city and drew a map to show Tong Zifu later. However, Tong Zifu felt annoyed and asked him to shut up. Wen Jingzhan didn't understand why she was angry. Tong Zifu claimed not to be angry, saying it wasn't about physical intimacy. He had been following her arrangements, so why did he still manage to make her upset? Confused, Wen Jingzhan left after being shut outside the door.

He told Mingyang about Tong Zifu's unhappiness, and Mingyang wondered if it was because Tong Zifu was jealous of him acting with the actress. Mingyang reminded Wen Jingzhan that everyone could see Tong Zifu's admiration for him. Although he was pleased by it, he insisted on maintaining the appearance of a sibling relationship. When Wen Jingzhan looked at the love poem Tong Zifu had given him, he once again felt that Tong Zifu was a good woman.

Wen Jingzhan caught his senior brother eavesdropping outside the door and took them both to meet the dean. Impressed by their performance, the dean decided to give them a chance to redeem themselves by asking how they could make a woman happy and seizing the opportunity to get their "Love Manual." Following the instructions from the "Love Manual," Wen Jingzhan came to Tong Zifu with wine. He explained that he felt uncomfortable acting and that his feelings were genuine. He took the chance to hold Tong Zifu's hand, making her heart race. Tong Zifu noticed someone eavesdropping outside, but Wen Jingzhan tried his best to stop her from investigating. Seeing Wen Jingzhan being so attentive, Tong Zifu playfully pushed him onto the bed and teased him.

Episode 19 Recap

Tong Zifu playfully teased Wen Jingzhan, as she lay on top of him, saying that she felt there was a lack of excitement. So, she intentionally tried to loosen her clothing in front of him. Wen Jingzhan hurriedly stopped her, saying that the long night was still ahead and there was no need to be in such a rush. Tong Zifu grabbed his hand and remarked on the difference in their words, that while the long night was indeed vast, the dawn of spring was hard to come by. With this, she intentionally leaned towards him, frightening Wen Jingzhan, who fled in a panic.

Tong Zifu jokingly brought up the events of the previous night to Wen Jingzhan. He was getting impatient at this point, and if she continued like this, he wouldn't help her with her lawsuit. He handed her the wanted notice for her, and Mr. Zhang, upon hearing that he was going to handle a case, provided him with his portrait. Tong Zifu and Wen Jingzhan posed as a couple and came to the northern part of the city. There was only one stall on the entire street. Wen Jingzhan intentionally asked the stall owner about any "hard dishes," and the owner, suspicious, tried to shoo them away. Wen Jingzhan had no choice but to use a provocation tactic, saying that the northern part of the city was nothing special.

The two revealed their identities as fugitives, claiming that they wanted to buy some things and engage in some small business in the future. The stall owner led them to the hideout, explaining that they had been captured earlier and were now seeking a way to make a living. The leader of the gang proposed a cooperation, but Wen Jingzhan refused, wanting to leave and fearing that reporting to the authorities might trap them. Wen Jingzhan pointed out that they were already fugitives, so reporting to the authorities would be like walking into a trap. The gang leader ordered his men to attack, but they were no match for Wen Jingzhan's skills. With his abilities and Tong Zifu's artistic talents, they had a promising future. Upon realizing this, the gang leader had Tong Zifu demonstrate her artistic skills on the spot. He agreed to let them leave but didn't sell them the name seal just yet.

Episode 20 Recap

The gang leader ordered his men to follow Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu to confirm that they were staying at the "Painting Garden" residence. The gang leader believed that their identities were confirmed, and coincidentally, their recent artworks were of average quality, so they could use Tong Zifu's artistic skills to enhance the paintings and raise their value. The gang leader suggested that the woman stay behind while the man is taken care of.

Tong Zifu wrote a secret letter in her room, inviting Wen Jingzhan to meet in Knife Alley. She hurriedly went to deliver the letter to Wen Jingzhan but unexpectedly found him in a disheveled state. Tong Zifu had accidentally entered Wen Jingzhan's room while he was not properly dressed. Using the excuse of delivering the letter, she had forgotten to knock and sneakily looked at Wen Jingzhan's abdomen muscles. Wen Jingzhan quickly put on his clothes.

Wen Jingzhan accompanied Tong Zifu to the alley. She was scared, and he took the initiative to hold her hand. There was no one on the street. Suddenly, they were blindfolded, and just as Wen Jingzhan was about to resist, a dagger was held against his neck. He had no choice but to leave his jade pendant at the scene. Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu were kidnapped to the gang leader's hideout. The gang leader claimed to have acquired some masterpieces and needed his "wife," Tong Zifu, to help refine them. Wen Jingzhan agreed to let Tong Zifu help but demanded that they be unbound in return.

Mingyang discovered letters in Wen Jingzhan's room and also found the jade pendant on the ground, suspecting that something had happened to Wen Jingzhan. Wen Jingzhan and Tong Zifu were held captive at the gang leader's hideout, and to prove their "married" status, they had no choice but to share a bed.

Translate into English for the content that I will provide to you. Use the Translation glossary below. The translation glossary may have different from what you think, don't hesitate to use what I give. Translation glossary:[文景湛:Wen Jingzhan,童子芙:Tong Zifu], The Character gender in the content as below: [文景湛:male,童子芙:female] Use the correct he or she when translating. When translating using pinyin, please be careful to use the correct pinyin. Don't forget to use the translation glossary.文景湛为了不暴露他与童子芙的夫妻关系,与她同枕而眠,童子芙看到他的慌张,问他是否喜欢她?文景湛说自己要先考上画师才能有资格告白。童子芙心想难道考不上就不提了吗,她又不是趋炎附势之人。文景湛之所以要从军,是因为母亲是个有名的画师,被劫匪抢画时被刺死,他一直忘不了母亲死在他眼前的情形。文景湛和父亲的矛盾也是从母亲死后开始,他一心要惩奸除恶,而父亲却让他成为画师,因为他家时代是画师,不能断送在他手里。文景湛说只要考上画师父亲就同意他去从军。明洋看着玉佩,他决定按兵不动,因为和文景湛有过约定,出事玉佩破损,完好就说明在掌握之中。次日匪首来找童子芙,文景湛藏在门后挟持了他,他只好交代,他上面有个大掌柜,命童子芙独自前往,要不然就放弃合作。童子芙决意独自前行,她有画技在身想必不会有危险。文景湛在匪首老窝与二掌柜等着童子芙,如果童子芙有意外,他当场杀了二掌柜。童子芙与绑匪来到一片树林,她远远看着一个妇人背影甚是熟悉,妇人转身之际,童子芙认出她,竟是文景湛的姨娘。 ChatGPT

To avoid exposing his marital relationship with Tong Zifu, Wen Jingzhan shared a bed with her, leading her to notice his unease. She asked him if he liked her, and he replied that he needed to become a certified artist before he could confess his feelings. Tong Zifu thought to herself that just because he might not pass the exam, does that mean he won't confess? She was not someone who would seek favor with others. The reason Wen Jingzhan wanted to join the military was that his mother, a renowned artist, was killed by bandits while they were stealing paintings. He couldn't forget the sight of his mother dying in front of him.

The conflict between Wen Jingzhan and his father began after his mother's death. He was determined to fight against evil, while his father wanted him to become an artist, as their family lineage was tied to art, and he couldn't let it end with him. Wen Jingzhan said that his father would agree to him joining the military if he passed the artist's exam. Mingyang looked at the jade pendant and decided to wait and see, as he had an agreement with Wen Jingzhan. If something happened, the jade pendant would be damaged. If it remained intact, it would mean everything was under control.

The next day, the gang leader came to find Tong Zifu, but Wen Jingzhan hid behind the door and held him hostage. The gang leader had no choice but to reveal that there was a higher authority involved, the head shopkeeper, and he ordered Tong Zifu to go alone. Otherwise, they would abandon the cooperation. Determined, Tong Zifu set out alone. With her artistic skills, she believed there would be no danger. Wen Jingzhan waited with the second-in-command at the gang leader's hideout for Tong Zifu. If something happened to her, he would kill the second-in-command on the spot. Tong Zifu arrived at a forest with the kidnappers, where she saw a woman's back that seemed familiar from a distance. When the woman turned around, Tong Zifu recognized her; she was Wen Jingzhan's aunt.

Translate into English for the content that I will provide to you. Use the Translation glossary below. The translation glossary may have different from what you think, don't hesitate to use what I give. Translation glossary:[文景湛:Wen Jingzhan,童子芙:Tong Zifu], The Character gender in the content as below: [文景湛:male,童子芙:female] Use the correct he or she when translating. When translating using pinyin, please be careful to use the correct pinyin. Don't forget to use the translation glossary.童子芙认出绑匪的大掌柜是文景湛的二姨娘,她急忙戴上面纱。文二夫人问她为何蒙着面纱见人?童子芙谎称被通缉,怕路上遇到官兵所以才有意避开官兵。文二夫人见她是警惕之人,让她当众作画。文景湛见童子芙迟迟不归,甚是担心,于是打晕了二掌柜出来寻找童子芙。文景湛根据童子芙留的暗记来到一片树林。童子芙将老虎的画润色完毕,文二夫人看着如此栩栩如生的画再盖上名章,定能大赚一笔。此时风把童子芙的面纱吹了起来被文二夫人认出,她走到童子芙面前要求她把面纱摘掉。就在被逼之时,官府的人找上来,文二夫人趁机逃走,留下一下人把童子芙杀掉。明洋找到童子芙,只见她一动不动的趴在地上,文景湛跪在地上哭泣,想起之前以前的种种及对她的爱意,还未向她表白呢,她怎么可以离开他,他还要带着她去见娘亲呢。童子芙身着下人的衣服在背后敲打他,他回头发现童子芙竟没有死。 ChatGPT

Tong Zifu recognized the head shopkeeper among the kidnappers as Wen Jingzhan's second aunt. She quickly put on a veil. Madame Wen asked why she was covering her face. Tong Zifu lied, claiming she was wanted by the authorities and was avoiding them intentionally on her journey. Seeing that Tong Zifu was cautious, Madame Wen asked her to paint in front of everyone. Wen Jingzhan became increasingly worried when Tong Zifu didn't return, so he knocked out the second-in-command and went out to search for her.

Following the hidden clues left by Tong Zifu, Wen Jingzhan arrived at a forest. Tong Zifu had finished refining the painting of a tiger, and Madame Wen believed that adding her seal to such a lifelike painting would surely bring in a large profit. Just then, the wind blew away Tong Zifu's veil, and Madame Wen recognized her. She approached Tong Zifu and demanded that she remove the veil. At that very moment, officials arrived, causing Madame Wen to seize the opportunity to escape, leaving a subordinate behind to kill Tong Zifu.

Mingyang found Tong Zifu and saw her lying motionless on the ground. Wen Jingzhan knelt beside her, crying and recalling their past and his feelings for her. He hadn't even confessed his love to her yet. How could she leave him? He had plans to take her to meet his mother. Wearing the attire of a servant, Tong Zifu tapped him from behind. He turned around and was shocked to find that Tong Zifu was still alive.

Translate into English for the content that I will provide to you. Use the Translation glossary below. The translation glossary may have different from what you think, don't hesitate to use what I give. Translation glossary:[文景湛:Wen Jingzhan,童子芙:Tong Zifu], The Character gender in the content as below: [文景湛:male,童子芙:female] Use the correct he or she when translating. When translating using pinyin, please be careful to use the correct pinyin. Don't forget to use the translation glossary.文景湛以为童子芙死了,痛哭流涕,却发现童子芙身着绑匪服装站在他后面。童子芙说当时绑匪要杀她的时候,她只好拿着画威胁绑匪,绑匪不小心跌到正好撞在石头上晕了过去。童子芙知道文二夫人是他姨娘的,为了不让文景湛伤心,她决定自己去会会文二夫人。文景湛看出童子芙故意隐瞒他,他暗中跟踪童子芙便于保护她。童子芙悄悄的来到文府,她爬进文府,文二夫人收拾好了所有的画,这时文老爷走进来,问她干什么去?文二夫人谎称与其他夫人约好赏画。她着急外出不小心画掉落出来,被文老爷看出画是假的而且上面有官府通报的印章,文二夫人嫌他啰嗦直接打伤了他。童子芙劝文二夫人收手,好好做文府夫人不是很好嘛,可文二夫人并不满足。童子芙说文景湛已经失去娘亲视她这个姨娘为亲人。文二夫人从丫头精心算计才到这个位置,谁也阻止不了她,再说文家大夫人就是她雇人杀死的,她此时拿出匕首要杀死面前与文景湛一伙的童子芙。文景湛出面救了童子芙。他劝姨娘收手,可她不思悔改,直接被官府的人抓走。文老爷自责多年与凶手同床共枕,向儿子道歉。 ChatGPT

Wen Jingzhan thought that Tong Zifu had died, and he cried bitterly. However, he soon realized that Tong Zifu was standing behind him, dressed in the kidnapper's attire. Tong Zifu explained that when the kidnapper was about to kill her, she threatened him with a painting, causing him to accidentally fall and hit his head on a rock, rendering him unconscious. Tong Zifu knew that Madame Wen was his aunt, and in order not to upset Wen Jingzhan, she decided to meet Madame Wen.

Wen Jingzhan sensed that Tong Zifu was deliberately hiding something from him, so he secretly followed her to ensure her safety. Tong Zifu discreetly entered the Wen residence and saw Madame Wen packing up all the paintings. At that moment, Master Wen entered and asked her what she was doing. Madame Wen lied, claiming she had made plans with other ladies to appreciate the paintings. In her haste to leave, a painting fell and Master Wen noticed it was fake and had an official notice stamp on it. Madame Wen, irritated by his nagging, struck him.

Tong Zifu tried to advise Madame Wen to stop and be content with her position as the lady of the Wen household. However, Madame Wen remained unsatisfied. Tong Zifu mentioned that Wen Jingzhan had lost his mother and considered her, his aunt, as family. Madame Wen had strategically plotted her way to her current position with the help of maids, and nobody could stop her. Furthermore, she revealed that she was the one who had arranged for the assassination of the Wen family's main lady. She pulled out a dagger and attempted to kill Tong Zifu, who was associated with Wen Jingzhan. Wen Jingzhan intervened and saved Tong Zifu. He tried to convince his aunt to stop, but she refused to repent and was apprehended by the officials. Master Wen blamed himself for sharing a bed with the murderer for so many years and apologized to his son.

Episode 21 Recap

Episode 22 Recap

Episode 23 Recap

Episode 24 (Ending) Recap

All the artists presented their own works for the painting examination. Tong Zifu mentioned that anyone could become an artist except for the two senior brothers who enjoyed eavesdropping. The dean informed everyone that those competing for technical painting would enter the examination room on the left, while those competing for academic painting would submit their self-prepared works to the examiners.

Wen Jingzhan submitted his work, while Tong Zifu painted her masterpiece on the other side. Wen Jingzhan's work received praise from the masters, and after much research, the two masters imitated his work. They advised Wen Jingzhan to observe carefully later. At a glance, Wen Jingzhan recognized the works imitated by the masters. He was publicly recognized as an academic painter.

At night, Wen Jingzhan returned to Tong Zifu's room, holding her hand with reluctance, urging her to rest early. As they parted, he kissed her forehead.

Wen Jingzhan returned to his room and immediately wrote a marriage proposal to Tong Zifu. Tong Zifu reminisced about their past with joy, making it hard for her to sleep that night. She fell asleep unconsciously. When she woke up again, she found herself back in the 21st century. She looked at her own home, walked to the computer, and saw her paintings. Remembering the past events with Wen Jingzhan, she yearned for him and shed tears. While satisfied with her work, she knew she would never see her beloved again.

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