In Episode 3, Princess Taohua's wedding turns into a battlefield of schemes as a murder rocks the estate and hidden secrets begin to surface — along with her quiet defiance.
💍 1. A Wedding Built on Tension
Episode 3 opens right where we left off — the long-delayed nuptial rites between Princess Taohua and Chancellor Shen Zaiye. Yet, nothing about the ceremony is conventional. Zaiye refuses to appear, forcing Taohua to request a court ritualist to proceed in his place.
This bold move underscores her intelligence and pride. She refuses to be humiliated, even if the groom is absent. The use of pork — a bold wedding symbol from Beiyuan — is both cultural and strategic, especially since Zaiye dislikes it. It’s a power move cloaked in tradition.
🧪 2. Wine, Lies, and Truth-Serum Gu
Zaiye eventually arrives and agrees to drink the nuptial wine, which Taohua has cleverly spiked with a Gu from Nanyue — a truth-inducing elixir. She uses it not to harm him, but to test his words and verify his motives.
The exchange that follows is vulnerable and dangerous. When asked why she married him, Taohua answers with honesty:
“If I must live, I’d rather live by your side.”
Zaiye, in turn, warns her:
“Even if you were to die tomorrow… I’d still be Chancellor.”
It’s a chilling reminder that while feelings may exist, power always comes first.
🔪 3. A Murder in the Night
The palace is soon shaken by a dark turn: Xue Ran, a mysterious guest who hinted at holding the key to the legendary painting, is found murdered and dumped in a mass grave.
Taohua becomes a suspect after she is lured into Zaiye’s study — the supposed hiding place of the painting “Sunlight over a Thousand Peaks.” But she plays her hand brilliantly, using logic, observation, and even gait analysis to identify the real traitor: a disguised servant who brought her in.
It’s a dazzling moment — detective drama meets court politics.
🖼️ 4. A Hidden Compartment and Hidden Agendas
Inside the study, Taohua finds rows of paintings bearing Xue Ran’s name, each subtly different. One has been hidden behind a secret panel, hinting at something valuable — or dangerous.
But her quiet investigation doesn’t go unnoticed. Zaiye realizes she’s seen the compartment. His reaction? Cold but calm. He doesn't punish her, but he lets the suspicion fester. It’s a psychological game now, and both are seasoned players.
Meanwhile, it becomes clear that everyone in the household is playing their own game:
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Madam Meng is smuggling something out — possibly the real painting.
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Lady Qin is suspiciously quiet but watches everything.
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Taohua’s presence is not just tolerated — it’s becoming central to the storm.
⚖️ 5. Power, Paranoia, and Performance
The Chancellor seals the residence, interrogates servants, and executes a mole. But instead of gaining trust, he sows more fear. His authority is unchallenged, but his paranoia is growing.
Taohua, meanwhile, plays her own game of survival and visibility. She gives just enough honesty, just enough obedience, and just enough mystery to never appear innocent — nor fully guilty.
When confronted, she responds:
“Perhaps I did go to the study. But I did so only because I was excited by your summons.”
She’s either flirting with danger or building a shield of charm around her.
🕵️ 6. “The One Who Sets the Trap Might Also Be Caught”
Zaiye may think he’s in control, but he’s also being watched — by Taohua, by his wives, and by enemies beyond the walls.
Taohua realizes this and begins to pivot. She no longer just reacts — she plans. She probes for the real location of the painting, tests loyalties, and plots how to survive — and maybe even gain leverage — in this deadly palace.
Her line to her maid sums it up:
“Since someone wants me to be the scapegoat… let me be the shield instead.”
💬 Overall Impressions
Episode 3 is a turning point. The romance simmers in the background, but what takes center stage is strategy, mistrust, and hidden motivations. Every interaction is loaded with dual meanings, and the camera lingers just long enough to make us second-guess each character’s smile.
The murder mystery is a great twist, grounding the larger painting plotline with immediate danger. Taohua’s agency continues to rise, and Shen Zaiye is more complex than ever — cold, calculating, yet undeniably intrigued by his new bride.