The Double Episode 33 Recap
> The Double Recap
Princess Wanning led Xue Fangfei into a private prison, intending for her to meet an old acquaintance. As Xue Fangfei drew closer, she discovered that the man in front of her, bound and tortured, was Xue Zhao, who was currently unconscious. Xue Fangfei's heart twisted with pain upon seeing Xue Zhao covered in wounds; she hadn’t expected him to still be alive.
Princess Wanning deliberately withheld this information to prevent Xue Fangfei from seeking revenge against her and asked if she wanted to save Xue Zhao. Xue Zhao did not acknowledge Xue Fangfei, and Princess Wanning stabbed him fiercely with a dagger, provoking Xue Fangfei to change her testimony. Princess Wanning then sent Xue Fangfei out of the residence. Jiang Yuanbai, concerned about her, inquired if she had been mistreated by Princess Wanning.
That night, Xue Fangfei woke up from a nightmare in which she saw Xue Zhao being whipped. She quickly wrote a letter for Zhao Ke to deliver to Situ Jiuyue. Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng instructed Wen Ji to increase surveillance on Princess Wanning. Jiang Yuanbai took Xue Fangfei to the Minister of Justice, demanding severe punishment for Shen Yurong, as he could not tolerate the damage to Xue Fangfei’s reputation.
Minister Zhou had already questioned those present at the scene and confirmed that Shen Yurong had improper intentions towards Xue Fangfei. He sought further confirmation from Xue Fangfei. Trembling, Xue Fangfei couldn’t sign the statement, recalling the condition Princess Wanning had proposed—she had to admit that she had seduced Shen Yurong. Jiang Yuanbai found this unbelievable and reminded Xue Fangfei to act prudently.
Despite this, Xue Fangfei changed her testimony, resulting in Minister Zhou imprisoning her for slandering a court official. Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t understand this, believing Xue Fangfei had been threatened by Princess Wanning, but Xue Fangfei insisted on taking the blame. Upon learning that Xue Fangfei had been imprisoned for changing her testimony, Xiao Heng rushed to the Minister of Justice to find her. Xue Fangfei, upon entering the prison, encountered Shen Yurong being released.
Facing him directly, she accused him of being hypocritical, stating she would expose their misdeeds publicly. Shen Yurong, feeling desolate, justified his actions by his inability to abandon his mother and Shen Ruyun, thinking Xue Fangfei shouldn’t view him so harshly. Feeling nauseated at the sight of him, Xue Fangfei turned away just as Xiao Heng arrived, passing Shen Yurong. Xue Fangfei asked Xiao Heng to ensure Xue Zhao’s safety and rescue him from the princess’s residence.
Xiao Heng went to fetch Xue Zhao, but Princess Wanning had already tortured him and sent him to the Duke’s residence, intending for Xue Fangfei to witness Xue Zhao’s inability to walk. Back at the Shen residence, Shen Yurong, incensed by Xiao Heng’s provocation, prepared for retaliation. He apologized to Princess Wanning and proposed that the Emperor arrange a marriage between him and Xue Fangfei, aiming to keep her in the Shen family to torment her.
Although initially skeptical, Princess Wanning was swayed by Shen Yurong’s gift of a hairpin. Despite her concerns that the Emperor might not agree, Shen Yurong urged her to seek Lady Li’s assistance. Jiang Yuanbai repeatedly sought an audience with Emperor Hong Xiaodi concerning Xue Fangfei, but the Emperor avoided him. Meanwhile, Princess Wanning feigned concern for Lady Li, who was displeased with her, believing she had ruined Ji Shuran’s life.
Princess Wanning asked for help with the marriage proposal, and Lady Li, unwilling to be manipulated, was threatened by Princess Wanning, who had evidence of Lady Li using witchcraft to kill the virtuous consort. Princess Wanning located a maid involved in the incident years ago. Lady Li invited the Emperor for a walk in the Imperial Garden, deliberately asking him to approve the marriage between Shen Yurong and Xue Fangfei and arranged for Shen Yurong to meet the Emperor.
Shen Yurong pleaded for leniency towards Xue Fangfei, and Emperor Hong Xiaodi, understanding the situation, ordered the Minister of Justice to release Xue Fangfei. Xue Fangfei was released, and when Shen Yurong came to fetch her, claiming the marriage was to protect her, she no longer believed him. She walked directly towards Xiao Heng, who held her hand tightly as they got into the carriage together.
Xue Fangfei suspected foul play when she heard Lady Li was involved and Xiao Heng awaited news from his spies. Xiao Heng brought Xue Fangfei to see Xue Zhao, and they reunited, having much to discuss. Xue Zhao recounted how he had been imprisoned by Princess Wanning’s plot, and Xue Fangfei revealed her current identity as Jiang Li. Returning to the Jiang family, Jiang Yuanbai did not blame her for damaging his reputation.
Xue Fangfei hoped Jiang Yuanbai would arrange a meeting between Ji Shuran and Lady Li, as she didn’t want the Jiang family to be affected. Xiao Heng discovered that Princess Wanning had leverage over Lady Li and instructed Wen Ji to inform Xue Fangfei immediately.
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