The Shiny Group Recap, Plot, Synopsis
The Shiny Group Synopsis
It tells the story of teenage musicians' experiences and growth.
The Shiny Group Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Huan Xi hosts a music competition every five years, but it prohibits women from participating. Wan Yu, determined to learn music, disguises herself as a man. She refuses to accept the inferior status of women and aspires to become a leader, even meeting the LandLord. She signs up for the competition and finds a gathering of talented musicians. Liu Zeyan, known as a jack-of-all-trades, introduces Wan Yu to some top musicians. Among them is Mu Bai, a skilled player of the guqin, who is handsome but reserved. Another participant is Qi Shuo, a striking figure who catches Liu Zeyan's attention. Tu Qianzhou, carrying a sword, appears at the selection competition, and nobody recognizes him.
Shu Chen, standing above, announces the rules of the music competition. Someone with a hidden weapon intends to assassinate him, but Tu Qianzhou intervenes, exposing the would-be assassin. However, the culprit throws down a bag of money, falsely accusing Tu Qianzhou of being a thief. Everyone turns their gaze towards him, but to prevent the assassin from escaping, he goes after them. At that moment, Wan Yu stops Tu Qianzhou from leaving. Just as she's about to stumble, he accidentally touches her chest and discovers she's a woman. Wan Yu unintentionally reveals the insignia of a secret guard when she tugs on his collar. Once they come to their senses, Wan Yu promptly slaps him.
Spies from the Nanqi Kingdom infiltrate the music competition. At night, the leader of the spies is attacked, and to lure them out, Tu Qianzhou decides to participate in the competition as well. Princess Jia Yue personally attends the event, and Jin Xinxin stands out during the competition. Tu Qianzhou suggests to Shu Chen that he compete against Wan Yu, suspecting her to be a spy from the Nanqi Kingdom.
Episode 2 Recap
Tu Qianzhou suspects that Wan Yu might be a spy from the Nanqi Kingdom, so he intentionally gives her the same competition number as his. They compete against each other, with Princess Jia Yue being a devoted fan of Wan Yu, watching her with admiration. Tu Qianzhou insists that Wan Yu must keep his identity secret, or neither of them will be able to participate in the competition. They reach an agreement and collaborate on a performance that impresses the audience and allows them both to advance.
Jin Xinxin, a wealthy heir, takes a liking to Wan Yu and enthusiastically showers her with compliments, which irritates Tu Qianzhou. During the competition, Tu Qianzhou's secret about his height is exposed when his elevator shoes fall off.
As the advancing contestants prepare to change clothes and have their portraits taken, Wan Yu hesitates to change in front of others. Tu Qianzhou, with a disdainful expression, encourages her to leave the room to help her. Jin Xinxin invites Wan Yu to join him for a bath that evening, but she declines his offer.
The participants in the competition are assigned dormitories, and Wan Yu ends up living with nine men. She deliberately chooses a corner spot, while Tu Qianzhou selects a place next to her to protect her and conceal her true gender.
When the contestants take a break, Tu Qianzhou secretly meets with Shu Chen, who urges him to accelerate his music practice since their performance is approaching. In preparation for the competition, the participants engage in skincare routines, including face masks and even suggest a milk bath. Wan Yu starts to adapt to the bathing idea and suddenly realizes she can use Tu Qianzhou to assist her while pretending to save his music.
Episode 3 Recap
During the lunch break, Jin Xinxin's study partner secretly tells him that Tu Qianzhou and the others are doing skincare, and they can't afford to lose to them. Wan Yu has specially prepared a skincare mask and even plucked all the hair from Tu Qianzhou's body, realizing that participating in the competition is so troublesome. Since Wan Yu has been taking care of his skincare all day, she asks him for help, but Tu Qianzhou disagrees. So Wan Yu threatens him with his identity. Just as she shouts loudly, Tu Qianzhou covers her mouth to silence her. At that moment, both of them become embarrassed and blush.
Tu Qianzhou waits outside while Wan Yu goes into the bathhouse to take a bath alone. Since entering the competition, Wan Yu hasn't had a chance to bathe properly, so she takes this opportunity to clean herself thoroughly. At this moment, Jin Xinxin also comes to the bathhouse and insists on entering but is stopped by Tu Qianzhou. Jin Xinxin's strength is no match for Tu Qianzhou, so he has no choice but to give up. He mutters about Tu Qianzhou's jealousy and returns to his room in frustration.
Cao Xia deliberately hands the competition lyrics to Jin Xinxin, who wonders how Cao Xia managed to obtain them, even though he has money. Cao Xia says he has his own connections. Jin Xinxin takes the lyrics book without hesitation and teams up with Cao Xia for the competition. To successfully advance in the competition, Jin Xinxin needs to memorize the lyrics in advance. When he opens the book, he realizes he can't read the characters.
After taking a bath, Wan Yu comes out with wet hair, which makes Tu Qianzhou's heart flutter with desire.
Episode 4 Recap
Before the competition, they had a day off, and Wan Yu suggested going to practice. However, the others were tempted by the street-side roast chicken and stinky tofu. Another student knew of a secret wall exit. Wan Yu had a weight loss plan and didn't want to go out, so the others rushed off to the food stalls. Before leaving, Tu Qianzhou warned Wan Yu to lock the doors and windows because the courtyard had experienced ghostly incidents before.
After the failed assassination attempt on the Grand Musician, he had become more cautious. To complete the assassination mission, the Nanqi Kingdom sent Old Cao to infiltrate this group of students and ordered him to eliminate the Grand Musician, Shu Chen, at all costs. When Old Cao received the instructions, he noticed a group of people slipping away secretly, and Wan Yu followed them, crawling through a doghole to reach Zui Xian Ju. Tu Qianzhou made a special effort to prepare food for Wan Yu and showed great concern for her. News of Wan Yu's presence at Zui Xian Ju was spotted by her fans, and upon seeing this, Tu Qianzhou immediately picked up an umbrella and left the building with her by jumping out of a window.
Tu Qianzhou held Wan Yu's hand as they ran through the streets. Their hands were tightly clasped, and at times, they awkwardly pushed each other away. Wan Yu thought the night was exceptionally beautiful, and the candied hawthorns up ahead caught her attention. Tu Qianzhou immediately bought a string and gave it to her as a gift. She took a bite and found it delicious, inviting him to try some. Tu Qianzhou took a bite, leaving only a mouthful, which he finished. They both blushed and looked at each other shyly.
Episode 5 Recap
The news of everyone going to Zui Xian Ju in the evening was discovered by the Grand Musician because they had gone out without permission. Some had even concealed their marital history. Those who concealed their marital history were disqualified, while the others were punished and had to copy the rules of the academy. While they were sitting down for their punishment, during the sit-ups, Grand Musician Shu Chen took advantage of Wan Yu's improper posture and asked Tu Qianzhou to help her with her leg stretches. Being so close during the sit-ups made them both blush again. Later, when everyone discussed finding the informer, they turned to see that Wan Yu and Tu Qianzhou had flushed faces, which seemed a bit strange.
This time, Jin Xinxin secretly gloated in the background, while the other students were punished. Whenever Shu Chen thought about what had happened during the day, he couldn't help but smile foolishly. He hadn't expected Tu Qianzhou to blush.
Everyone was awakened by the sound of drums, only to see Wan Yu teaching Tu Qianzhou dance. As they looked at their meals, they missed the food from Zui Xian Ju and felt like they were turning into rabbits eating vegetables every day. Wan Yu's sachet had gone missing, and no one had seen it. She had a vague sense that she had been losing things inexplicably recently.
This time, Shu Chen had the students learn a new song, and Jin Xinxin excelled in this learning opportunity because he had obtained the lines beforehand. He quietly thanked Cao Xia and secretly felt proud, thinking that he was exceptionally talented and could become the Grand Musician in the future. When the dance choreography began, only Wan Yu practiced it perfectly, while Tu Qianzhou seemed stiff, as if he were practicing martial arts. Wan Yu took advantage of mealtime to practice her dance diligently. She refused to accept the idea that music had gender distinctions and was determined to stand up for women.
In the evening, Wan Yu was still in the dance studio practicing when a strange man approached her with ill intentions.
Episode 6 Recap
In the evening, Wan Yu was practicing dancing alone in the dance studio when a stranger with ill intentions approached her. Fortunately, Tu Qianzhou arrived in time to rescue her. The assailant was subdued, and they found Wan Yu's lost sachet and folding fan from a few days ago on him. It turned out that this person was a fan of Wan Yu, deeply infatuated with her. Tu Qianzhou later stated that if Wan Yu continued to practice dance so late in the future, she must call him for help.
Princess Jia Yue deliberately found a position that allowed her to see Wan Yu from various angles. It was the day for the contestants to compete again, and she arrived early to secure a good spot. When Wan Yu took the stage, Princess Jia Yue cheered, making Shu Chen, who was sitting in the front row, jealous. After all, seeing his fiancée infatuated with another man was somewhat difficult for him to bear. He remembered how Princess Jia Yue had initially made snacks for him with the purpose of gathering information about Wan Yu. A few words couldn't describe the concern he had for Wan Yu.
The students began to perform the dance they had been rehearsing for a long time. Tu Qianzhou was a bit nervous, more so than he had ever been in battle, while Wan Yu seemed to effortlessly blend with the dance, mesmerizing the women in the audience. The Grand Musician announced the end of the performance, and the audience below started throwing eggs to vote for the contestants, with the one receiving the most eggs winning. Before revealing the results, Shu Chen announced that there were students who had violated the rules, making Wan Yu nervous, fearing that her secret of disguising herself as a man might be exposed.
Episode 7 Recap
Before Shu Chen announced the results of the advancement round, he declared that someone had violated the rules, causing Wan Yu to panic, fearing that her disguise as a man might be exposed. People looked at each other in astonishment, only to discover that Di Zhao Da'an had bribed the artist to change his portrait into that of a handsome man and had Song Xiao Yu lip-syncing. Both of them were disqualified. Shu Chen then instructed everyone to check the results, and it was no surprise that Wan Yu came in first. At this moment, Jia Yue took the opportunity to ask Wan Yu for an autograph, and in her excitement, she hugged Wan Yu, noticing her well-developed chest muscles, which aroused envy among the others.
The third test changed the rules, this time focusing on archery. The winner would receive a private room and bathroom, prompting Wan Yu to eagerly sign up for the prize. However, she struggled to draw the bowstring and couldn't hit the target. Tu Qianzhou then demonstrated for her, leaving Wan Yu deeply impressed and eager to learn from him. Tu Qianzhou personally taught her how to draw the bow and shoot arrows. As Wan Yu watched him, her attention was divided.
Tu Qianzhou noticed her weak arm and decided to exercise it, making her pick up beans to practice concentration. After a long and tiring day, Wan Yu dozed off, and Tu Qianzhou offered his shoulder for her to lean on as she slept.
The next day, Wan Yu practiced archery alone, finally managing to draw the bow and hit the bullseye. Tu Qianzhou happened to notice her swollen arm and went to find medicine for her. Shu Chen mocked Tu Qianzhou for treating the investigation like a game this time, and he had never seen him so dedicated in catching spies. At that moment, the spy was eavesdropping outside the window. Just as he was about to break in, Tu Qianzhou appeared behind him, and they began to fight. Seizing the opportunity, the spy managed to escape just as Shu Chen walked out of the room.
Episode 8 Recap
Tu Qianzhou had a hard time luring out the spy but unfortunately, the spy managed to escape. Shu Chen decided to change the competition to archery, using it as an opportunity to expose the spy. The other participants applied a soothing ointment to Wan Yu's back, admiring his smooth and delicate skin. They wanted to stay and take care of him. At that moment, Princess Jia Yue arrived with the royal physician to treat his injuries. She insisted that the physician examine him personally and noticed some issues. Later, she discreetly informed the princess, who instructed the physician not to let anyone else know about it.
Wan Yu played the flute, and Princess Jia Yue gazed at him affectionately, dismissing her maids. She looked at Wan Yu's injured arm with concern, and he felt that his current status made it inappropriate for him to have physical contact with the princess. The princess had only seen their glamorous side before and had never imagined the hardships they endured. She admired Wan Yu's determination and said that even women deserved respect. She encouraged Wan Yu to work even harder to pursue her dreams. The princess held Wan Yu's hand, expressing her desire to support her and women's dreams. Wan Yu covered the princess's hand, expressing her happiness at having a friend like her.
To test Wan Yu's archery skills, Tu Qianzhou stood by the target to supervise. When the news of Wan Yu hitting the bullseye reached Jin Xinxin's ears, he came to taunt her, making fun of her before leaving. Tu Qianzhou, seeing the heartbroken Wan Yu, wiped away the tears on her hand. In the evening, Shu Chen looked at the letter the princess had written to him, recalling their first meeting, and his heart fluttered once again.
Episode 9 Recap
In this competition, the format was changed to archery. In the first round, Tu Qianzhou competed against Old Cao and won decisively, defeating Old Cao. In the second round, Wan Yu competed against Jin Xinxin. She was already not well-liked by Jin Xinxin, and during this match, it was a close contest. They were separated by only five points, and Princess Jia Yue prayed that Wan Yu would regain some points in the final few arrows. However, when Jin Xinxin was about to release his arrow with full concentration, Old Cao used a concealed weapon to hit his arm, causing the arrow to veer towards Shu Chen. Luckily, Shu Chen was bending down to pick something up, or he would have been hit.
Jin Xinxin was startled by the incident, and Tu Qianzhou noticed that Old Cao was behind this sabotage. When the situation was exposed, Old Cao took the opportunity to escape, and a fierce battle ensued between him and Tu Qianzhou. Old Cao was eventually defeated. However, Wan Yu was taken hostage by Old Cao, who used her as leverage to threaten Tu Qianzhou. Wan Yu communicated with Tu Qianzhou through eye contact and used her skills to bend over swiftly. Taking advantage of the moment, Tu Qianzhou thrust his knife into Old Cao's neck, instantly ending his life.
In the next competition, the participants formed teams of five. Jin Xinxin directly recruited five members and aimed to reach the finals. Tu Qianzhou also composed a team list, carefully considering his choices and reluctantly including a few names. The spy from Nanqi Kingdom had completed his mission and was planning to leave the band, feeling deeply attached to Wan Yu. Wan Yu sensed that he had something on his mind and came to comfort him.
Episode 10 Recap
After completing his mission, Tu Qianzhou had to return to his team, and he felt reluctant to leave Wan Yu. Wan Yu didn't understand why he had come out alone. Tu Qianzhou told her that there was a possibility he couldn't stay with her until the end; he had to return to his team. He wanted to give her a single room before leaving, but Wan Yu thought their feelings were fake and sadly left, turning her back on him as they said their goodbyes.
The other students admired Tu Qianzhou's archery skills greatly, as he effortlessly achieved a perfect score. Team members criticized him for leaving just as they were forming a team, leaving them in a difficult position for the upcoming group stage. Tu Qianzhou had no choice but to leave, carrying his luggage. Jin Xinxin, feeling disgusted with Cao Xia for almost injuring Shu Chen, had briefly considered using Cao Xia to eliminate the Grand Musician. However, he ultimately decided against it, considering Cao Xia's indirect lesson to Tu Qianzhou, feeling somewhat satisfied. Cao Xia instructed Xiao Gui Zi not to engage in any treasonous activities.
In recognition of Tu Qianzhou's successful mission completion, the Grand Musician granted him leave for rest and congratulated him for finally escaping the days of dancing and singing. Tu Qianzhou was relieved that Cao Xia seemed to have been dealt with smoothly, but he still had concerns about Shu Chen's safety, especially during the initial auditions when the mysterious figures failed to locate him. Shu Chen assured him not to worry about anything else and to enjoy his vacation. Shu Chen could see that Tu Qianzhou was intentionally finding various reasons to stay, allowing him to continue his undercover mission at the academy to uncover the mastermind. The next day, Wan Yu woke up to find herself sleeping in the same bed as Tu Qianzhou, vaguely recalling the embarrassing scene from the previous night.
Episode 11 Recap
Wan Yu woke up suddenly and found herself lying on the same bed as Tu Qianzhou. Vaguely, she remembered the intimate moments with Tu Qianzhou after getting drunk last night. To avoid being discovered by others, she took the opportunity to escape early in the morning. However, she was caught by Shu Chen just as she reached the door. She lied, claiming that she was also there to see Tu Qianzhou.
As Tu Qianzhou walked out of the room, Wan Yu realized that he had pretended to be asleep just now. Shu Chen asked Wan Yu and Tu Qianzhou for help in planning his wedding with Princess Jia Yue. They were to get married after the music competition, but before that, a proposal ceremony needed to be arranged. At the same time, Tu Qianzhou was to learn from the process.
Wan Yu believed that the proposal must be romantic and involve fireworks. She decided to help with the preparations along with other students. When they went out to buy fireworks, they learned that someone monopolized the fireworks, and they were only available during festivals or weddings. The city-wide shortage of fireworks raised Tu Qianzhou's suspicions.
Princess Jia Yue was led to the backyard, where she found candles and flowers all around. Shu Chen expressed his love to her passionately and specially presented a ring, placing it on her finger. Delighted, the princess remarked that if she had known, she would have worn her most beautiful clothes. They kissed, and this scene made the students hiding behind the mountains envious. Tu Qianzhou and Wan Yu looked at each other with understanding.
In the evening, Wan Yu moved into a single room. Scenes of what happened between her and Tu Qianzhou played in her mind, making her even more excited. A smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
Episode 12 Recap
Tu Qianzhou dreamt of a scene where he was marrying Wan Yu. The sky was filled with fireworks, a romantic gesture that Wan Yu liked. He passionately kissed Wan Yu, but upon opening his eyes, he found that it was actually Jin Xinxin. Startled, he sat up, realizing it was just a dream. Unable to sleep, he walked out of the room, and at the same time, Wan Yu, who was also unable to sleep, walked out, and the two unexpectedly bumped into each other. Tu Qianzhou thanked her for the joyful time he had studying with her and finally mustered the courage to confess his feelings. Wan Yu agreed to walk with him to the end.
Mu Bai absentmindedly organized his things, and Wan Yu noticed his recent unusual behavior. She urged him, as a team member, to have a sense of unity and cooperation. The competition was approaching, and Mu Bai's negative attitude made Wan Yu feel down. Tu Qianzhou purposely bought cotton candy to cheer her up and took her to Mu Bai's residence. The person who opened the door didn't believe they were Mu Bai's classmates, but when Wan Yu removed her veil, it turned out to be his fans. They had come specially to learn about Mu Bai's childhood life, and in his room, they discovered a variety of lifelike handmade items.
Wan Yu realized that Mu Bai's lack of enthusiasm for music was due to his true passion for handicrafts. She placed each item in a blind box, intending to give value to Mu Bai's craftsmanship with these items and get his parents to support his hobby. Wan Yu and Tu Qianzhou brought the blind boxes to the market together.
Episode 13 Recap
Wan Yu put Mu Bai's handicrafts into blind boxes and had friends sell them at the market. Through a captivating presentation, the boxes not only contained surprises but also cards featuring Wan Yu's splendid images. In an instant, Mu Bai's handicrafts were sold out. Wan Yu handed the proceeds, in silver coins, to Mu Bai's parents. As they looked at the gold and silver before them, it seemed they overlooked Mu Bai's feelings and his true worth. Mu Bai guessed that Wan Yu's visit was not just about the handicrafts. Wan Yu mentioned that Mu Bai hadn't been in good spirits recently, and only today did she learn the reason. Mu Bai's father also reflected on his recent attitude and wrote a letter to Mu Bai.
Upon reading the letter, Mu Bai was moved to tears. He thanked Wan Yu and Tu Qianzhou for their help, as his hobby gained the support of everyone. Jin Xinxin came to provoke them. Wan Yu felt that not only did Jin Xinxin appear dispirited every day, but he also seemed arrogant, making her suspicious. Several days ago, Jin Xinxin was secretly aided by a mysterious figure in black. Introducing himself as a magician skilled in using fireworks, he sensed Jin Xinxin's concerns about the competition. Promising to create a magnificent stage for him, he vowed to outshine other teams. However, Jin Xinxin needed to purchase enough fireworks to enhance the stage effects. Without much thought, he assured the magician that he had plenty of money and would buy all the fireworks in the capital. After the man in black left, it was noticed that he walked with a bit of a limp.
Episode 14 Recap
Wan Yu suggested changing the program, and team members felt uneasy about it since they had practiced for a long time and time was running out. Wan Yu proposed changing the program because of Jin Xinxin's confident demeanor. After reflecting, she felt that there was no certainty of winning in this program. In the quiet of the night, the mysterious figure found Jin Xinxin again. Due to the large quantity of fireworks temporarily stored in his warehouse, he was immersed in fantasies of stage decoration and danced with the mysterious figure. However, the mysterious figure left without revealing their intentions.
Wan Yu wondered how to achieve an unexpected victory. Tu Qianzhou suggested combining martial arts with dance, and she thought it was a great idea. She rediscovered her original passion for music. On this unusual day with few people around, only Wan Yu's team was rehearsing. It turned out that Princess Jia Yue from the Xihe Kingdom was visiting, making the occasion exceptionally grand. The Xihe Kingdom was looking for a man from the Happiness Kingdom to be a son-in-law, so all the talented men in the city went there. The men from Wan Yu's team knew their own worth and realized they were not worthy of the princess.
Taking advantage of her love for music, Xihe Princess Gu Ya seized the opportunity to meet Tu Qianzhou, the person she admired. Xihe Princess, having traveled a long distance, was even more infatuated upon seeing Tu Qianzhou in person. She directly expressed her love to him, but Tu Qianzhou made it clear that he already had someone in his heart. However, the Xihe Princess didn't care and directly requested the Landlord to arrange the marriage. When the two were seen together by students from a distance, rumors spread like wildfire, and eventually, it reached Wan Yu's ears as a false story of Xihe Princess and Tu Qianzhou eloping.
Episode 15 Recap
Xihe Princess expressed her deep affection for Tu Qianzhou, with every moment of his being recorded in her heart. However, Tu Qianzhou stated that he already had someone in his heart. Nevertheless, the Xihe Princess didn't care; she wanted the emperor to arrange a marriage for her. As long as she could be with Tu Qianzhou, she was determined to make it happen. Their interactions were witnessed by classmates, and from the initial proposal by the princess, rumors spread. Eventually, it turned into a story of Xihe Princess and Tu Qianzhou embracing each other and planning to return to Xihe for marriage. When this news reached Wan Yu, it became a tale of Tu Qianzhou being romantically involved with Gu Ya in the pavilion. Wan Yu felt heartbroken, wanting to intervene but was stopped by team members, urging him not to interfere in others' relationships.
Jin Xinxin learned that Tu Qianzhou requested Xihe Princess as a son-in-law candidate, making him a competitor. Becoming the chief musician of the Happiness Kingdom further advanced his position. In the evening, Tu Qianzhou apologized to the team for his late arrival, acknowledging that it affected their practice. He sought out Wan Yu to explain the situation. In the night, Wan Yu stood in the garden, feeling heartbroken upon hearing that Xihe Princess had confessed to Tu Qianzhou. Regardless of background, appearance, or family, she felt she couldn't compete with the princess. Tu Qianzhou quietly approached her, revealing that he already had someone in his heart—Wan Yu. He assured her that he would bring the princess to clarify things, making it clear to both women.
As the team competition resumed, during Jin Xinxin's performance, only two fireworks were set off in the end. This angered him instantly, and Shu Chen also noticed the limited fireworks, wondering about the reason behind it.
Episode 16 Recap
The competition results were announced, and although Wan Yu's team didn't achieve good scores, each member made it to the finals. The next phase was the individual competition. They had to give their best to live up to their opponents. Tu Qianzhou asked Jin Xinxin where the fireworks came from, and Jin Xinxin was furious because despite buying so many fireworks, he only set off two. The person didn't keep their promise.
Jin Xinxin advanced in the individual competition while the rest of the team was eliminated. Tu Qianzhou sought the truth from Jin Xinxin about the mysterious person he mentioned. He told Jin Xinxin that perhaps he could help if he thought about the purpose of buying the fireworks beforehand. Jin Xinxin agreed to Tu Qianzhou's assistance and provided a description of the person and the inn's name. He was confident that Tu Qianzhou would recognize him if they met.
Wan Yu and the team bonded, reminiscing about the journey they had undertaken, filled with joy and sadness. Despite the ups and downs, their common goal was to win the championship. Tu Qianzhou emphasized the importance of cherishing every opportunity and being true to oneself.
Jin Xinxin went to the warehouse and found it empty. He remembered the blueprint he gave for the final, feeling uneasy. In a hurry, he looked for Tu Qianzhou and Shu Chen, but they were not around. He informed Wan Yu about the fireworks situation, but she thought it was a minor issue that could be reported to the authorities, and the loss could be recovered. However, Jin Xinxin was not concerned about the money; when he mentioned that the person had the blueprint for the final, Wan Yu guessed the person's intentions.
Episode 17 Recap
Upon hearing that the mysterious figure took away the stage blueprints, Wan Yu suspected that the intention behind the fireworks was not simple. She hurriedly grabbed Jin Xinxin and went to find Tu Qianzhou. Tu Qianzhou and Shu Chen arrived at the inn, asking the innkeeper for details about the guest. The innkeeper described the person's features, mentioning a problem with their right foot and the frequent late-night trips with a smell of gunpowder. Jin Xinxin found Tu Qianzhou and informed him about the mysterious person taking away the blueprints.
Tu Qianzhou realized that the person intended to sabotage the final competition but hadn't taken action yet. Knowing that the person had done business in the southern part of the city, suggesting the presence of a warehouse, Tu Qianzhou, Jin Xinxin, and Wan Yu went to an old mansion in the south. They discovered a foul smell and, at a glance, Tu Qianzhou identified it as gunpowder. Seeing empty boxes in the yard indicated that the materials had been moved. Their target was the LandLord. Jin Xinxin suggested suspending the competition and informing the LandLord as soon as possible.
As the three left the building, someone turned and left. Unfortunately, the LandLord was unwell that day, so Tu Qianzhou and Shu Chen couldn't meet him. However, a servant who went to report noticed that the person walked with a limp and resembled the mysterious figure. Shu Chen and Tu Qianzhou decided not to alert the person prematurely and took the opportunity to report to the LandLord in private.
Upon learning that the courtyard was exposed, and Cao Xia had died at the hands of Tu Qianzhou, the servant informed the guards, and Wan Yu was taken away. The official reason given was that she had disguised herself as a man to join the band.
Episode 18 Recap
Wan Yu, having infiltrated the band disguised as a woman, was thrown into the prison, and the incident reached the palace. Tu Qianzhou immediately suspected the eunuch, and Shu Chen suggested gathering evidence quickly. However, Tu Qianzhou was determined to rescue Wan Yu, considering the risk to the team. He decided to go alone.
Shu Chen proposed a three-pronged approach: one group would rally the people to seek public support, hoping Wan Yu's fans could help; Tu Qianzhou would approach the princess, aiming to convince her that the chief eunuch was the culprit and using this opportunity to rescue Wan Yu. Fearing that Wan Yu might face torture in prison, Tu Qianzhou insisted on leading the rescue mission and asked Shu Chen to feign ignorance and distance himself from the matter.
In the quiet of the night, the chief eunuch walked alone on the road, with Shu Chen and Jin Xinxin discreetly trailing behind him. Tu Qianzhou reached the prison and found the guards drugged, but Wan Yu was nowhere to be found. Mu Bai and the others went door-to-door seeking help, but with little success. They resorted to waking people up on the streets, drumming up support and collecting signatures.
On the way, Tu Qianzhou encountered Wan Yu, embraced her tightly, and reassured her that no one would harm her again. Princess Jia Yue, observing their intimate moment, reproached Tu Qianzhou for arriving late. Unbeknownst to them, the princess had visited the prison an hour earlier, delivering food to the guards and freeing Wan Yu. Meanwhile, the chief eunuch arrived at a courtyard and got lost. Tu Qianzhou joined him to search for the concealed fireworks in the stage.
Episode 19 Recap
Tang Quan and others arrived at the grand stage, where the Chief Eunuch had laid an ambush in advance. Wan Yu, who had no martial skills, was constantly protected by Tu Qianzhou. The Grand Commander in front of the emperor claimed that Huanxi Country was attacking their Southern Qi Country. They advocated for military action, but were forced to compensate in various ways. Originally, as the son of a prime minister, he lived a good life, but now he had to endure humiliation for many years, all for the purpose of seeking revenge and settling grievances.
Unexpectedly, the Dark Execution Bureau was involved, or else their plan would have succeeded long ago. In the final match, Tu Qianzhou found the Chief Eunuch, only to discover that his martial arts were extremely high. Taking advantage of Tu Qianzhou's inattention, he kidnapped Wan Yu. He demanded that they bury the former king of Southern Qi with her. Just as he was about to kill Wan Yu, Tu Qianzhou caught the knife bare-handed. His hands instantly bled as he fiercely stabbed the Chief Eunuch. In his dying moments, the Chief Eunuch threw a torch, attempting to ignite the gunpowder and perish with them.
Jin Xinxin skillfully caught the torch, averting a disaster. The Chief Eunuch was also captured, but Wan Yu fainted. Tu Qianzhou carried Wan Yu back to rest. The next day, Tu Qianzhou and Shu Chen pleaded with the LandLord for Wan Yu's case, and the princess also interceded on her behalf. Despite Wan Yu's contributions to saving the country, the LandLord insisted on clear rewards and punishments. At this moment, Jin Xinxin presented a list of ten thousand names, intending to exert pressure. Considering Wan Yu's situation, the LandLord ordered a balance between merits and demerits. Although Wan Yu was a woman, her dedication to music and bringing joy to everyone was sufficient to prove her qualification to stand on the stage. The LandLord allowed Wan Yu to perform as a musician, and Jin Xinxin, by virtue of his achievements, persuaded the emperor to grant him a commendation.
Episode 20 (Ending) Recap
Huanxi Country welcomes the fifth Ultimate Grand Competition, and the final competition begins. Wan Yu's team starts a splendid performance, each member showcasing their strengths and earning applause from the audience. This time, Wan Yu resumes wearing female attire, participating in the performance as a musician. Gracefully holding a pipa, she walks onto the stage, sparking various discussions among the audience. However, female spectators strongly support Wan Yu. Her yoga skills speak volumes, and her exceptional pipa playing earns admiration from the crowd.
Wan Yu apologizes to everyone, expressing that she has traveled far and wide, encountering many women who love music but suppress their interests due to societal expectations. She believes that women can also stand on stage and showcase a different kind of beauty. In the prison, the Chief Eunuch undergoes severe torture but refuses to reveal his accomplices. The torturer, realizing that there are other conspirators, immediately informs Shu Chen.
Jin Xinxin becomes the overall champion, emphasizing that the ranking is not important; what matters is the friendships forged during this time. The LandLord personally awards the trophy to the champion. However, during the trophy presentation, a eunuch places something under the trophy. Wan Yu notices this and snatches the trophy from the LandLord, tossing it to Tu Qianzhou. Tu Qianzhou kicks the trophy into the air, causing it to explode instantly. Wan Yu once again accomplishes a feat, and the LandLord allows her to request a reward. Wan Yu asks for women to be allowed to learn music. With the support of the princess and everyone present, the LandLord orders that women can indeed learn music. He grants Wan Yu's team the title of the Huanxi Heavenly Troupe.
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