Oh! My Sweet Liar! (偷心画师) is not on my watch list but the trailer looks interesting and the drama seems to have a light-hearted feel. So, I decide to dive in especially after I found out that it has only 29 episodes. I’m watching this after General’s Lady which is kind of sweet and light as well but I’m also hoping this will have more depth to its plot. Oh! My Sweet Liar! review will follow once I’m done. Hence, you can check out the review and a summary of the ending there if you are interested to know more before investing your time on this.
Contents Table
Episode 1
Xiong Xi Ruo is a painter who goes by the pseudonym Happy Fairy. Her artwork is gaining popularity but many imitators and fakes begin to emerge. She is painting a charming man who is willing to pay a large sum of money for her work. He takes her painting but didn’t pay her the money as he is chased by people from the Li Manor. From her painting, the man is able to establish that she is indeed Happy Fairy.
Li Hong Bin has just returned from the battlefield. He is a general and wants to be at the frontlines. But his father, Duke Lean, is not agreeable until he catches Happy Fairy who has created anecdotes of the Li family which paints them in an unfavorable light. The Li family is a wealthy and powerful family. At the same time, someone is after Hong Bin and the assassins who are sent have a petaled lotus tattoo on their body.
A Shuang is instructed by a man to copy the “4 Arhats” painting in Li Manor. Assassins try to kill Hong Bin again during an event to trick Happy Fairy to come forward. Xi Ruo turns up disguised as a man but manages to escape during the commotion. She drops her Happy Fairy stamp which is picked up by Hong Bin.
A Shuang and Xi Ruo are acquaintances. She hires her to draw the painting and sends her to Li Manor as a manservant with the instruction to establish contact with a spy within. Xi Ruo ends up as Hong Bin’s servant and sent to the bathhouse. She screams when he emerges from the hot spring.
Episode 2
Hong Bin couldn’t recognize Xi Ruo although she seems to look familiar to him. Xi Ruo knocks him out with some powder and then draws his naked body as she assumes that is what A Shuang wants. Once she finishes, Hong Bin starts to stir. She wants to use more of the powder on him but his sudden movement knocks her bottle and renders both of them unconscious. The next morning, he finds her trying to escape from his room and is sent to be flogged as punishment.
A month later, Xi Ruo is still unable to establish contact with A Shuang’s agent in Li Manor. She wants to escape but is caught with her drawing. To escape being flogged to death, Xi Ruo reveals herself as a woman and claims that she is now pregnant with Hong Bin’s child after sleeping with him. He has a vague recollection of her being in his bed that night. A doctor is summoned to check on Xi Ruo’s claim. But the doctor happens to be her childhood friend and tells Hong Bin that she is indeed pregnant.
Hong Bin locks her up as he is still suspicious of her identity. He is also investigating the servants as he suspects there are traitors among them. The man tells A Shuang that assassination attempts on Hong Bin has to stop for now due to the latter’s suspicions. Hong Bin feels uneasy about confining Xi Ruo. He makes her his personal servant instead with A Mao reminding her not to reveal her identity and pregnancy as well as to stay within the courtyard. Xi Ruo is then sent to serve Hong Bin tea and he is affected by her close proximity.
Episode 3
Hong Bin orders Xi Ruo to maintain her manners when she assumes she should serve him like a lady. Xi Ruo tries to escape from the manor but is caught. Hong Bin threatens to lock her up if she tries to flee again.
Li Hong Yu is actually a famous painter and Hong Bin’s younger brother. But he neither has interest in family matters nor inheriting their father’s title. Hong Bin forces him to go home and grounds him. Xi Ruo recognizes him as the person who owes her money for her painting while trying to flee again. She helps him to escape with her without knowing his real identity. While she manages to get out, Hong Yu fails to do so.
However, Xi Ruo is forced to complete her task when A Shuang threatens her with her mother’s life. She is told to contact Servant Li in the Li Manor. But when she returns, Servant Li has been caught for spying and kills himself. The Song family is planning a visit with their daughter, Song Qin. Madame Li is not fond of Song Qin being her daughter-in-law and prefers Ru’er. But the Song family controls the transportation which the city needs to develop its Yun iron industry.
Xi Ruo spills some tea on a map that Hong Bin is studying. She re-draws it for him by relying on her photogenic memory. She also asks him about Hong Yu who lives in a different courtyard. Xi Ruo then discovers that the man who owes her money is Hong Yu. She asks him to accept her as his disciple and give her a nude portrait of himself as a gift.
Hong Bin begins to recognize Xi Ruo as the person who escaped during the event to capture Happy Fairy.
Episode 4
Xi Ruo drops Hong Yu’s nude painting under Hong Bin’s scrutiny. Hong Yu admits that he painted it. Hong Bin is angry with Xi Ruo for indulging in such drawings. Ru’er is a distant cousin and has arrived at Li Manor. She has feelings for Hong Bin. Madame Li tries to matchmake them but Hong Bin doesn’t seem interested. The Song family is requesting a union between the 2 families. Hong Bin is against it because he knows the Song family is scheming to get control of the Yun iron.
The Song delegation arrives. Song Qin masquerades as a maid. Xi Ruo is peeking at the banquet and bumps into Song Qin. She thinks Song Qin is a maid and tells her that Hong Yu is a better choice as a husband than Hong Bin. Hong Bin is challenged to a duel by the Song delegation. He appears gallant and even saves Xi Ruo when a broken lantern flies in her direction during the fight. Song Qin decides to marry him.
Hong Bin knows Xi Ruo is Happy Fairy. He is suspicious of her despite seeing no tattoo on her shoulder. Madame Li suggests to Hong Bin to marry Ru’er to preempt a marriage with Song Qin. But he balks at the idea.
Xi Ruo is cleaning Hong Bin’s study. She wrecks the place while chasing his parrot which flies out of the room. Xi Ruo is told to get it back. She climbs to reach it. Hong Bin tests her out by throwing a pebble to make her fall. But she has no martial art skills and Hong Bin quickly catches her before she reaches the ground.
A Shuang’s and the mysterious man’s master wants Hong Bin killed to prevent the union between the Li and Song families.
Episode 5
Hong Bin asks Xi Ruo to draw a beautiful lady and send it to Song Qin as Hong Yu’s gift. But Xi Ruo bumps into Hong Yu and he changes the portrait into a pockmarked lady. It is revenge against his brother for trying to push Song Qin to him. Hong Yu also tells Xi Rou to meet him at night and he will help her to escape. Ru’er’s maid could see through Xi Rou’s disguise as a man.
Song Qin wants Hong Bin to show up personally to apologize for the ugly painting. Hong Yu is flogged as punishment for his mischief. When Hong Bin merely sends a note and some gifts, Hong Yu asks Song Qin for a meet-up in his brother’s name to force them to meet.
Song Qin arrives dressed as a maid. Hong Bin denies that he has asked for an appointment. When a jade pendant is offered to him as a gift, he slashes it into half. Song Qin assumes he is interested in her as that signifies love in her hometown.
Xi Ruo is waiting for Hong Yu. But he didn’t turn up due to the flogging he had received. She bumps into Hong Bin instead. Assassins also show up and Hong Bin is hurt while trying to protect Xi Ruo. She tries to help Hong Bin until A Mao arrives. Xi Ruo takes care of him and he apologizes for suspecting her previously.
Hong Bin changes his attitude towards Xi Ruo after the incident. Ru’er insists on seeing Hong Bin who orders A Mao and Xi Ruo to get her to leave. Ru’er asks her servant to slap Xi Ruo for rudeness. Hong Bin appears to stop her. She then tells him that she wants to talk to him about Xi Ruo.
Episode 6
Ru’er and her servant inform Hong Bin that they have seen Xi Ruo being close to Hong Yu. Hong Bin is unhappy and looks for Xi Ruo who is visiting Hong Yu to check on him after his flogging. Hong Yu helps her to put on make-up which reminds him of Ke’er who is Ru’er’s sister. Ke’er was sickly then. He loves her but she loved Hong Bin instead.
Hong Bin reprimands Xi Ruo for flirting with his brother. Xi Ruo is aghast and explains that she merely has a deal with Hong Yu who has promised to help her escape. Hong Bin is happy after hearing her clarification. He then drops a bombshell that he only wants to marry Xi Ruo and that she is pregnant with his child to preempt the marriage with Song Qin.
Duke Lean pretends to fall sick to avoid discussing further about the marriage with the angry Song delegation. Song Qin writes to complain to her father about the embarrassment. Madame Li tries to comfort Ru’er but explains that they have to let Xi Ruo stay because of her pregnancy. Ru’er is secretly dissatisfied. She thinks it is all because of the baby.
Hong Bin signs a deal with Xi Ruo to avoid the marriage with Song Qin. She will gain her freedom once she has helped him to achieve his aims. He teaches her manners befitting a lady to gain his parents’ acceptance. They also come up with a story about how they met. But Xi Ruo abandons the made-up story when it is obvious that it sounds fake. Her honesty amuses Duke Lean and his wife instead and the latter also gives her a bracelet.
Hong Yu guesses that Hong Bin is actually developing feelings for Xi Ruo and tells him so.
Episode 7
Xi Ruo returns to Hong Bin his mother’s bracelet. She can’t accept it when their relationship is fake. Xi Ruo claims that she doesn’t know how to play mahjong when asked to do so by Hong Bin’s parents and uncle. But she goes on to win all their money. Hong Bin’s third uncle, Jing You, turns up. Xi Ruo also defeats him when challenged.
Jing You accuses Xi Rou of lying about her nobility as upper class girls don’t play the game. He tests her out by asking her to play a lyre. Ru’er seconds the suggestion. Hong Bin tries to intervene and take Xi Rou away. But Jing You is adamant that Xi Rou should do painting next if music is not her forte.
Xi Rou draws a Li family reunion to prove her worth. She also mentions that what matters is not one’s origin but character. Duke Lean and his wife are impressed with Xi Rou and agrees to the marriage. They are also looking forward to their first grandchild which makes Xi Rou uneasy. Ru’er tries to break Hong Bin and Xi Rou up by instigating Song Qin to confront Duke Lean. Song Qin impulsively throws a bowl of hot soup at Xi Rou during the confrontation. Hong Bin shields her and gets scalded in his back.
Xi Rou tends to Hong Bin’s wounds. He feels embarrassed. Song Qin regrets her impulsiveness and asks Ru’er for advice. Ru’er washes her hands off the incident and tells Song Qin that she can forget about marrying Hong Bin now. Duke Lean announces to his brothers that he has agreed to Hong Bin and Xi Rou’s marriage despite Jing You’s objection. They will now try to matchmake Hong Yu with Song Qin instead.
Wedding preparations are underway.
Episode 8
Xi Rou is feeling uncomfortable with the impending marriage. She meets Hong Yu while taking a walk. They start chatting and he tells her that the girl he likes loved someone else instead of him. She has also passed away. He mumbles that history seems to be repeating itself as he also has a secret fondness for Xi Ruo. As for her wedding gift, all Xi Rou wants is her mother’s fish head soup from Yunzhao Art Pavilion. Hong Yu promises to get it for her. Ru’er sees them together again and plans to tell Hong Bin about it.
Hong Bin prepares Xi Ruo’s favorite dishes. Hong Yu returns with the fish head soup but sees Xi Ruo and his brother are already eating together. He quietly leaves and consoles himself that it is a good thing if they are happy. Xi Ruo feels guilty that Hong Bin is nice to her. She questions him what if she is not pregnant. He replies that perhaps he would still marry her. Hong Bin also gives her a bracelet and asks her to wear it.
Ru’er informs Hong Bin about Xi Ruo’s date with Hong Yu. When Hong Bin looks for her, all he finds is a letter. She informs him that she is not pregnant and doesn’t deserve to be his wife. Xi Ruo returns to her mother. Both of them miss each other. Song Qin raises a ruckus with Hong Bin for choosing Xi Ruo over her. Jing You arrives and starts arguing with Song Qin that she doesn’t understand what love is.
Hong Bin goes to look for Xi Rou at Yunzhao Art Pavilion. Hong Yu leaves when he sees his brother is there before him. Xi Rou is out and bumps into A Shuang.
Episode 9
A Shuang threatens to kill Xi Ruo if she refuses to finish her paintings. Hong Bin intervenes and saves her. He fights with A Shuang and injures her as she falls into the river. He thinks she wouldn’t live. Xi Ruo didn’t tell Hong Bin why A Shuang is after her. He assumes she must have got entangled because of her street life.
Hong Bin wants Xi Ruo to go ahead with their marriage. But Xi Ruo is not keen as she doesn’t want to live a lie. Hong Bin tells her that she can’t possibly get off so easily when she started the lie in the first place. He threatens to expose her identity as Happy Fairy to the authorities if she doesn’t comply. Xi Ruo is forced to agree. But they will have to think of a way to deal with her fake pregnancy. Hong Bin suggests making it real but she is not agreeable to sleeping with him.
The wedding ceremony goes ahead as planned. Song Qin is throwing a tantrum. She agrees to be Jing You’s ally to expose Xi Rou’s lies. Xi Ruo has got herself drunk in the bridal chamber and kisses Hong Bin. The next morning she is lying in bed with him. She accuses him of taking advantage of her and assumes that they have slept together. When Xi Ruo starts being unhappy over it, Hong Bin admits that nothing happened between them as she was drunk and vomited.
A Shuang is saved but in a coma. The mysterious man wants her cured as only she knows the contact who has been sent to Li Manor. Jing You discusses with Song Qin on using the Happy Fairy’s scandalous anecdotes about the Li family as inspiration to oppose Xi Ruo.
Episode 10
Jing You and Song Qin create a story about Xi Ruo’s love affairs and distribute the books under the name Happy Fairy. The servants start to gossip about Xi Ruo’s scandal. Xi Rou wants to find out who wrote the books. Together with her maid, Mei Xiang, they go around collecting the books from the servants. She falls and scrapes her knee. Hong Bin fusses over her but she refuses to let him touch her. She insists that she is not a loose woman although she is not a noble.
Song Qin and Jing You are happy about their success and plan to write more. Ru’er is also happy to help things along by spreading the rumors. Hong Bin finds out about the books and questions Xi Ruo. She tells him that she has nothing to do with it. A Mao tells Hong Bin that Xi Ruo is affected by the rumors. So, Hong Bin brings her out to the mountains to relax. She is grateful to him.
Hong Bin also arranges for the family’s autobiographer to write their story to counter the rumors. But Jing You exposes her lie of being a magistrate’s daughter. Hong Bin pleads with his uncle to stop embarrassing Xi Ruo as he loves her. She assumes that he is lying to his uncle to get him off their backs. He also denies having feelings for her.
Madame Li arranges for a tea-brewing event to let other ladies observe Xi Ruo to counter the rumors. Xi Ruo couldn’t stand properly after kneeling for too long. She pretends to faint to save herself from embarrassment. Hong Bin carries her out. Song Qin witnesses the incident. Dr. Ye is summoned. Once everyone has left, Hong Bin tells Xi Ruo to stop pretending.
Episode 11
Dr. Ye fearfully claims misdiagnosis when Hong Bin asks him about the baby. Xi Ruo tells her friend that he can quit pretending as Hong Bin already knows the truth. Xi Ruo wants to find out the author of the book. Hong Bin tells her that he has no time to help her but has quietly asked A Mao to investigate.
Through the latest writings, Xi Ruo knows Song Qin is the culprit. She demands Song Qin to explain to everyone. Song Qin refuses and slaps Xi Ruo. A fight ensues. Ru’er is passing by and tries to stop the fight. Xi Ruo then trips and falls into the water. Ru’er is secretly hoping that she will drown. Song Qin jumps in to save Xi Ruo.
Hong Bin and Jing You arrive to save them. Hong Bin resuscitates Xi Ruo and takes care of her throughout the night. He plans to declare that the baby is gone until Jing You admits that he is equally guilty as Song Qin. Both of them are sorry and Hong Bin ends up stating that the baby is fine. Ru’er is suspicious that there is no miscarriage.
As more books have surfaced, Xi Ruo decides to create her own version to sell to counter those fake stories since she is the real Happy Fairy. She disguises herself as a man to meet the buyer who turns out to be Duke Lean. She quickly runs out before he recognizes her.
A book detailing an affair between Xi Ruo and Dr. Ye is released. Hong Bin and Xi Ruo quarrel over it as they misunderstand each other. Hong Bin kisses her all of a sudden and dares her to publish that. Dr. Ye confronts Xi Ruo about the book which features their affair.
Episode 12
Dr. Ye is afraid he wouldn’t be able to marry Ning Xin due to the book. He wants Xi Ruo to clarify with Ning Xin but Yunzhao Art Pavilion is gone and everyone is missing. Xi Ruo accuses Hong Bin of hiding her mother. Hong Bin wants her to withdraw her Happy Fairy books before revealing her mother’s whereabouts. Xi Ruo refuses and sneaks out. She discovers that her mother has shifted to a bigger place and the customer who had helped her must be Hong Bin.
Xi Ruo drops hints to Ning Xin to accept Dr. Ye. Outside Li Manor’s entrance, Dr. Ye pulls Xi Ruo aside to talk about Ning Xin. Ru’er’s maid sees them together. Xi Rou soaks herself in the bathtub to hide that she has snuck out in her disguise when Hong Bin suddenly turns up at her room. She stands up when he doesn’t seem to believe she is bathing. He immediately turns away. Xi Ruo tells him that she has misunderstood him and it makes him happy.
A Shuang has lost her memory. The mysterious man is now seeking out Happy Fairy. Ru’er tries to instigate Song Qin again but Jing You tells her to stay away from Ru’er.
Xi Ruo gives Dr. Ye some jewelry and teaches him what to say to woo Ning Xing. But Dr. Ye ends up annoying Ning Xin instead when he fails to confess his feelings. Xi Ruo has to sneak out again to help Dr. Ye. She is caught climbing the ladder and falls down. Ru’er witnesses it and gets suspicious when Xi Ruo insists that she is fine. Hong Bin carries her back and reprimands her. When Xi Ruo accuses him of torturing her, he looks sad. She then guesses his feelings.
Episode 13
Xi Ruo teases Hong Bin when she realizes that he likes her. His blushes give him away. Xi Ruo has period pain with red stains visible. Mei Xiang blames herself for the “miscarriage”. Xi Ruo has to tell her the truth. Mei Xiang agrees to keep it a secret.
Song Zhi sends a note to Hong Bin’s eldest uncle that he will be visiting. Hong Yu still misses Xi Ruo. He sees her on the street and follows her. Xi Ruo is visiting Ning Xin to get her to join the dance competition. Hong Yu overhears their conversation and finds out that Xi Ruo’s pregnancy and marriage is fake. Xi Ruo begs him to keep mum.
Xi Ruo convinces Ning Xin to join the competition with Hong Yu’s help. She agrees to play the drum for her and has to sneak out everyday to practice. Ru’er insists on seeing Xi Ruo as Mei Xiang tries to stop her. Hong Bin questions her insistence and coldly asks her to leave.
Hong Bin waits for Xi Ruo in her room. But Xi Ruo quickly gets into bed to sleep when she returns to escape punishment. Dr. Ye is jealous of Hong Yu. He complains to Xi Ruo who informs him that Hong Yu is just Ning Xin’s instructor. Hong Bin is jealous seeing Dr. Ye with Xi Ruo. He tails them and discovers that Xi Ruo is practicing for the dance competition.
Ru’er is informed that Xi Ruo is playing the drum and dancing. Her servant has also quietly changed Xi Ruo’s medicine to investigate if she is really pregnant. Xi Ruo is sneaking out again on competition day. She knocks Hong Bin out with her sleeping powder. Before he falls unconscious, he offers to go with her to the dance competition.
Episode 14
A Mao finds an unconscious Hong Bin and wakes him up. Dr. Ye finally confesses his feelings to Ning Xin before the competition starts. Xi Ruo rushes to the venue. She bumps into a man who finds the competition interesting and proceeds to watch it. The man recognizes Hong Bin when he shows up at the competition. He is looking for the Yun iron around Yunyao.
Ning Xin wins the competition. Then, Xi Ruo and Dr. Ye heard that Hong Bin has paid for Ning Xin to be his concubine. They see him leaving with Ning Xin. Xi Ruo goes back to confront Hong Bin. But in actual fact, Ning Xin is still at Yunzhao Art Pavilion and reunites with Dr. Ye. Xi Ruo is clueless. Hong Bin tells her to be obedient if she wants to know where he has kept Ning Xin. Dr. Ye proposes to Ning Xin and she accepts.
Xi Ruo begins to experience stomachache. But she still serves Hong Bin to get him to release Ning Xin. She summons Dr. Ye over to treat her ailment. Dr. Ye still pretends that Ning Xin is with Hong Bin and asks her to continue to be obedient for Ning Xin’s sake. He also finds Xi Ruo to be seriously ill and informs Hong Bin. They discover that Xi Ruo has been fed abortion medicine. Ning Xin and Dr. Ye also promise Hong Bin to keep their reunion a secret as he had helped them to be together.
A Mao catches Ru’er’s servant changing Xi Ruo’s medicine. Hong Bin orders the servant to be flogged and banished from Li Manor when she takes the blame for the crime. He also warns Ru’er to stay away from Xi Ruo or he won’t be merciful the next time.
Episode 15
Ru’er’s servant is flogged and then sent away. Before she leaves, she tells Ru’er to marry Hong Bin to get out of their place in the countryside. She also reports that Xi Ruo is from Yunzhao Art Pavilion.
Xi Ruo feeds Hong Bin alcohol to make him reveal Ning Xin’s location. He tells her other things while drunk including the location of valuables and that he loves her.
The man after the Yun iron is Song Zhi. Xi Ruo finds the valuables and Ning Xin’s location from Hong Bin’s drunken ramblings. She confronts him about Ning Xin. When he demands what else he had mentioned while drunk, she tells him that he confessed to her. Hong Bin then asks for a real marriage and kisses her.
Ru’er brings Xi Ruo’s mother to Li Manor on the pretext of a reunion. Duke Lean invites Xi Ruo’s mother to stay with them. Xi Ruo and her mother have to keep up the pretenses with Hong Bin’s help. They have to rely on their wits as Ru’er and Jing You try to expose their lies. Xi Ruo’s mother is happy with Hong Bin as her son-in-law.
Song Zhi will find the painting and kill Hong Bin himself. He is dissatisfied with the mysterious man’s failure. Xi Ruo has to share Hong Bin’s room as her mother has taken hers. Hong Bin insists on sharing a bed together. He tells her that he is serious about his feelings for her.
Xi Ruo’s mother wants to play mahjong. They are playing together when Jing You shows up.
Episode 16
Jing You tries to expose the lies but Xi Ruo quickly creates an excuse to send her mother away. Xi Ruo keeps reminding her mother to avoid trouble due to their lies about their noble background. Her mother also advises her to hold on to Hong Bin as others are also eyeing him.
Ru’er gives Xi Ruo’s mother jewelry to try to expose her greed and low status. Xi Ruo’s mother takes it but also reminds Ru’er that she has no status in the family. Xi Ruo tells her mother about her fake pregnancy story. Her mother is alarmed but has a plan in store. Xi Ruo informs Hong Bin to be prepared for her mother’s weird behavior. Hong Bin is still asking Xi Ruo to give him a chance although she insists that he can’t force her to love him back. But when he hugs her, she feels something for him.
Xi Ruo panics when told that Duke Lean has summoned her mother. It turns out Duke Lean just wants her help in selecting some dancers. Xi Ruo’s mother then boils some soup for Hong Bin but Xi Ruo drinks it instead. The soup turns out to be aphrodisiac and she becomes amorous at night. Hong Bin has to fight her off. The next morning, she is embarrassed. Hong Bin kisses her and asks her to be his real wife again but she still resists.
Xi Ruo’s mother’s identity is exposed by Ru’er. She apologizes to Duke Lean and his wife. She insists that the blame lies with her for failing to teach her adopted daughter well. Hong Bin accuses Xi Ruo’s mother of deceit as well and proposes that they should die.
Episode 17
Hong Bin wants to paddle Xi Ruo’s mother to death for deceiving them. Duke Lean realizes that Hong Bin is just pretending as he knows the family wouldn’t allow for such cruelty. Hong Bin then admits that he is equally guilty as he has known all along about Xi Ruo’s background. Ru’er insists that Xi Ruo and her mother should be banished or reported to the authorities. Madame Li is angry that Ru’er could suggest punishments that would shame the Li family.
In the end, Madame Li orders for mother and daughter to break ties to protect the Li family’s reputation. Hong Bin stops Xi Ruo from sending off her mother. Xi Ruo stubbornly refuses to disavow her past and is ordered to be confined at the damp Hantie Hall. Hong Bin asks her to give him some time and to trust him to make things right.
Madame Li is actually soft-hearted but can’t lose face either. Duke Lean suggests that they elevate Xi Ruo’s mother’s status to a benevolent citizen and role model who takes in orphans. Hence, their reputation would remain intact. Furthermore, Duke Lean thinks Xi Ruo is good for not abandoning her mother for wealth.
Song Qin now has eyes on Hong Yu who has returned to Li Manor. Jing You is not happy when she asks him about marrying Hong Yu. Hong Yu visits Xi Ruo at Hantie Hall and offers words of advice. He also tells Hong Bin to treat Xi Ruo well and loving her means giving her happiness rather than forcing her to be with him.
Ru’er visits Xi Ruo and tells her that Hong Bin had wanted to hit her mother to death just to keep her as his wife. Hence, Xi Ruo should choose between Hong Bin and her mother.
Episode 18
Duke Lean is already hastening the memorial construction for Xi Ruo’s mother. Song Zhi will be visiting Li Manor to discuss Song Qin’s marriage. Jing You proposes a pitch-pot game so that he can impress Song Qin with his skill. Duke Lean asks Hong Bin to organize the welcome banquet and get Xi Ruo to attend.
Xi Ruo is angry with Hong Bin after what Ru’er had told her. She refuses to attend the banquet but changes her mind at the last minute. Song Zhi accuses Hong Bin of simply marrying a lowly commoner to avoid a union with his sister and Xi Ruo’s absence is the proof. Xi Ruo turns up then in an angry mood. She is frank about her background and rebuffs Song Zhi for prying into her private life. Song Qin appears and throws a fit that her brother isn’t discussing about her plan to marry Hong Yu. Song Zhi is embarrassed by his sister’s behavior.
Xi Ruo questions Hong Bin who admits that he did think of killing her mother but she refuses to listen to further explanation. She decides to tell Duke Lean that she is not pregnant so that she can end her relationship with the Li family.
Xi Ruo Saves Duke Lean
A Mao reports to Hong Bin that Song Zhi is Duke Song’s second son and is competing with his elder brother to inherit their father’s title. Ru’er tries to get back into Hong Bin’s good books but he could guess that she is the one who had told Xi Ruo about killing her mother. Song Zhi notices Hong Bin’s animosity towards Ru’er.
Hong Bin is angry with Hong Yu for always taking an interest in Xi Ruo and his marriage. Xi Ruo arrives during the pitch-pot event and plans to tell Duke Lean about her fake pregnancy later. But she sees an assassin approaching Duke Lean and blocks his knife attack with her body. She is bleeding and everyone assumes that she has got stabbed in the stomach. Hong Bin quickly carries her to her room. But it is only her hand which is injured.
Xi Ruo insists that she wants to tell Duke Lean that she has lost the baby. Hong Bin doesn’t agree while Hong Yu tells him to let her go. Duke Lean and Madame Li arrive. Duke Lean is sorry for what they have done to her and her mother. He also tells her that they are building a kindness memorial for her mother and they will not throw her out simply because she has lost the baby. Duke Lean is sad and unwell. Xi Ruo then declares that she still has the baby.
Episode 19
Duke Lean and Madame Li are relieved that the baby is fine. Ru’er couldn’t believe the news and is frustrated. Duke Lean is recovering and orders Hong Bin to investigate the assassination attempt. Hong Bin also informs him that Song Qin now wants to marry Hong Yu who then goes missing.
Song Qin’s desire to marry Hong Yu frustrates Jing You. Song Zhi instigates Ru’er that it is unfair for Hong Bin to choose Xi Ruo over her. Hong Bin’s eldest uncle is colluding with Song Zhi. Uncle Li wants to snatch back the duke title from Hong Bin’s father but is angry over Song Zhi’s unilateral assassination attempt. Song Zhi warns him to get the painting if he wants to keep his family safe.
Xi Ruo is helping Duke Lean to recover. But she is still rejecting Hong Bin until she finds her mother’s letter with an accompanying jade pendant. Her mother mentions that the pendant was found on her when she was picked up as a baby and that Hong Bin had tried to save them. Xi Ruo then confronts Ru’er for lying to her and warns her to stay away from Hong Bin. Song Zhi witnesses the altercation.
Xi Ruo then apologizes to Hong Bin for misunderstanding him. He hugs her tightly. Song Qin tails Xi Ruo to find out Hong Yu’s hiding place. She demands for an explanation. Jing You arrives to get Hong Yu and Xi Ruo away before they attract attention. Song Qin begins to cry that she is not wanted. Jing You offers to marry her but she teases him instead.
Hong Yu plans to get away to escape the marriage with Song Qin. He invites Xi Ruo to join him but she tells him that she is falling for Hong Bin.
Episode 20
Hong Yu pretends to be happy for Xi Ruo. Ru’er wants to meet Hong Bin before she leaves Li Manor. Hong Bin suspects there is still a spy in Li Manor when the assassins’ leader is missing from his hideout.
Hong Bin agrees to meet Ru’er. She brings up Ke’er who loved Hong Bin and wants to fulfill her late sister’s wish to take care of him. Hong Bin rejects her advances and request to be his concubine. When Xi Ruo appears, Ru’er thinks they have set her up. Ru’er threatens to expose Xi Ruo’s fake pregnancy if Hong Bin refuses to marry her. He dares her to do so since she had also poisoned Xi Ruo with abortion medicine.
Ru’er is miserable that fails to marry Hong Bin. Song Zhi tries to exploit her dissatisfaction. Xi Ruo beautifies herself and waits for Hong Bin. But she has fallen asleep by the time Hong Bin gathers the courage to enter her room. They are awakened by a huge fire. Hong Bin carries Xi Ruo to safety.
Ru’er’s hairpin is found at the fire scene. Ru’er is also about to expose Xi Ruo’s fake pregnancy. Hong Bin appears then and accuses Ru’er of starting the fire. She insists that she is being framed and Xi Ruo’s pregnancy is fake. Hong Bin then exposes all her other crimes that no one believes her anymore. Madame Li banishes Ru’er from Li Manor.
Song Qin insists that she wants to marry Hong Yu. Song Zhi brings up the marriage subject again with the Li family. He challenges Xi Ruo to a bet and if she wins, he will not tell his father about Song Qin’s humiliation. Song Zhi wins the bet by being sneaky and demands to have Xi Ruo as the prize.
Episode 21
Song Zhi wants Xi Ruo to bring him sightseeing around town for winning the bet. Xi Ruo agrees to prevent him from making a fuss. Hong Bin reluctantly gives in but will tail them. Xi Ruo brings Song Zhi to the casino and then a game stall. She challenges him and wins the game and a prize. Xi Ruo drops her jade pendant as they leave the stall. Song Zhi seems to recognize it and pockets it. He then spirits Xi Ruo away to the forest in a passing carriage.
Hong Bin lost sight of them. Song Zhi wants Xi Ruo to stay with him in the forest for the night to discredit her reputation. She knocks him out with her sleeping powder to escape. Xi Ruo walks through the forest but cries halfway through as it turns dark and rainy. Hong Bin recognizes the carriage when he sees it again and questions the owner. He finds Xi Ruo in the forest and she is glad to see him.
Xi Ruo gives Hong Bin the prize that she has won. She confesses that she really likes him. Hong Bin kisses her and this time, she responds to him. Song Qin asks Jing You how she can attract Hong Yu. Jing You is jealous and picks a quarrel with her. A Shuang has recovered. Uncle Li instructs her to quickly get the painting and then kill Hong Bin. She tells him Xi Ruo is Happy Fairy.
A Shuang demands Xi Ruo to copy the painting within 3 days or her family would be killed. She doesn’t want the nude pictures of the 4 men in Li Manor but one that is located in the Li family’s Treasury. The key is with Duke Lean. Xi Ruo proceeds to steal it.
Episode 22
Xi Ruo has stolen the key and is unsure how to face Hong Bin. Her husband is feeling confused over her hot and cold attitude. Jing You is throwing a tantrum over his acrimonious relationship with Song Qin. Xi Ruo tries to comfort him but is shooed out. She drops the Treasury key in his residence.
Hong Bin wants to make Xi Ruo happy and asks A Mao for suggestions. Xi Ruo has to return to look for the key at Jing You’s place. She pretends she is there to offer him advice on how to forget Song Qin. Xi Ruo is unable to find it and has to return a few times to continue looking. When Song Qin turns up, Jing You listens to Xi Ruo to shoo her away. On her subsequent visit, she finds him happily playing mahjong with Xi Ruo. She is unhappy and sits outside until she falls asleep. Jing You carries her back.
Hong Bin asks Xi Ruo for a date on the same night as the deadline for her to hand over the painting to A Shuang. Song Zhi comes by to return Xi Ruo’s jade pendant. He purposely provokes Hong Bin into hitting him. Hong Bin also surprises Xi Ruo with her favorite but broken hairpin which he has fixed. She is touched. Song Zhi sends a letter to Yu Xiao Cong with a drawing of Xi Ruo’s jade pendant.
Song Zhi complains to Duke Lean about the Li family’s poor treatment and demands an apology from Hong Bin. Duke Lean orders for him to be confined until he writes a repentance letter. Hong Bin misses his date with Xi Ruo. A Shuang appears and forces Xi Ruo to get the painting or her mother will be killed.
Episode 23
A Mao reports to Hong Bin that he couldn’t find Xi Ruo. A Shuang distracts the guards at the Treasury to enable Xi Ruo to get in. But Xi Ruo couldn’t find the painting inside the Treasury and is trapped inside the vault. As Xi Ruo bangs on the door, she also drops her bracelet which is a gift from Hong Bin.
Hong Bin decides to write the repentance letter as he wants to get out to find Xi Ruo. Hong Yu shows up then. Jing You approaches Song Zhi to apologize on Hong Bin’s behalf to secure his release. Song Zhi humiliates him instead as Jing You has to drink until he is drunk. Song Qin feels bad for Jing You and takes care of him. A drunken Jing You confesses that he likes her and finds her cute.
Hong Yu also meets Song Zhi. He apologizes on Hong Bin’s behalf and gives Song Zhi a painting with petaled lotus on it. Song Zhi accepts the apology. Hong Bin is released. Song Zhi’s reaction now confirms that he is behind the petaled lotus assassins.
Rescuing Xi Ruo
Hong Bin rescues Xi Ruo from the Treasury. Guards have reported seeing someone suspicious there. Xi Ruo insists on finding her bracelet before they go which touches Hong Bin. Uncle Li wants Xi Ruo killed once they have obtained the painting in case she tells Hong Bin.
Hong Bin assures Xi Ruo that he trusts her and will wait for her to confide in him on why she was at the Treasury. He takes the blame for breaking into the Treasury to protect Xi Ruo. Duke Lean orders him to be flogged as punishment. A Shuang sends a note to Xi Ruo to threaten her again.
Hong Bin is at Hong Yu’s residence to recuperate from the flogging. They talk about Ke’er. Hong Bin is sorry for what happened as he had left to give her and Hong Yu a chance. But she died of depression instead. Hong Yu wants to leave the past behind. He has also accepted that Xi Ruo is his sister-in-law now.
Episode 24
Song Qin is dreaming of Jing You but he is evading her. He thinks that Song Qin is simply kidding with him. Song Qin confides in Song Zhi that she is now fond of Jing You. Song Zhi wants to leave Li Manor already as it is unsafe for him. He locks up Song Qin. He tells Hong Yu and Xi Ruo that he is taking Song Qin home to report to their father. As they argue, Hong Bin arrives with Song Qin. She has sent him a help message. Song Qin contradicts her brother and insists that she now only wants to marry Jing You. She also doesn’t want to leave Li Manor. Song Zhi agrees to let her stay while he leaves the city.
A Shuang turns up again to threaten Xi Ruo who insists that the painting is not in the Treasury. Uncle Li is unsure if they should believe Xi Ruo but will give her another 3 days. A Mao has rescued Xi Ruo’s mother. Hong Bin has suspected all along that Xi Ruo is being threatened. They keep the rescue a secret to avoid alerting their enemies.
Song Qin is unhappy that Jing You is neglecting her while he is afraid of her fickle-mindedness. Xi Ruo tries to talk to both of them. She also asks Jing You about the 4 Arhats but he seems clueless. Xi Ruo then tells Song Qin that Jing You still likes her but she has to think how to confess her love. Song Qin shouts outside his door and asks him to come out or she would leave forever. Jing You is anxious but stays rooted.
Xi Ruo is clueless on what to paint. Then she notices an arhat sculpture decoration on a lamp.
Episode 25
Xi Ruo scouts around Li Manor and finds all the 4 Arhats sculpture on stone lamps. She draws them out but feels guilty for concealing it from Hong Bin. But when Hong Bin tells her that her mother has been rescued, she reveals everything to him.
Xi Ruo meets A Shuang who brings her to Uncle Li to verify the painting. Hong Bin is following them. Xi Ruo is tied up. She questions Uncle Li’s motive. Uncle Li thinks Duke Lean has snatched away the duke title from him. His late uncle had revealed to him that his father had written a letter that willed the title to him. Once he finds the 4 Arhats painting, he will be able to find the letter and get what he wants.
With the painting in hand, Uncle Li orders A Shuang to kill Xi Ruo. Hong Bin appears to save her. During the fight, Xi Ruo snatches back the painting and then blocks a weapon aiming at Hong Bin. His men appear but A Shuang and Uncle Li manage to escape. Xi Ruo recovers from her injury and promises Hong Bin that she will never hide anything from him again.
Hong Bin reports to his father about what happened. Duke Lean orders him to capture Uncle Li. He also claims ignorance about the letter. Jing You reconciles with Song Qin and asks Duke Lean’s permission to marry her. Xi Ruo and Hong Bin are supportive but Duke Lean is non-committal.
Madame Li is asking Xi Ruo about her small belly. Xi Ruo and Hong Bin know it is time to own up but postpone it when Duke Lean is already feeling down about Uncle Li’s case. Hong Bin has to leave to capture Uncle Li. The couple miss each other.
Episode 26
Ru’er and Song Zhi are now a couple. He also receives a note that Xi Ruo’s jade pendant is a princess’ keepsake. Xi Ruo has no appetite eating. They all assume that it is because she misses Hong Bin.
Song Zhi brings Ru’er back to Li Manor. He claims to be back to discuss the marriage between Jing You and Song Qin. Ru’er exposes Xi Ruo’s fake pregnancy. Xi Ruo should have been flogged to death but Duke Lean orders for her to be evicted from Li Manor. A Mao is keeping an eye on her. Hong Bin has a nightmare that Xi Ruo is in trouble.
Xi Ruo makes her way to the pavilion to see her mother but is attacked by assassins. Uncle Li asks A Shuang to leave as Hong Bin catches up with them. He will go back to Li Manor willingly. Hong Bin rushes back after receiving A Mao’s message. His mother is furious when he defends Xi Ruo and wants to be evicted with her. Madame Li orders for him to be confined to his courtyard. Hong Bin misses Xi Ruo terribly.
Mei Xiang informs Hong Bin that Ru’er and Song Zhi are back and they won’t let Xi Ruo off so easily. Hong Bin decides to leave to look for her. Hong Yu arrives and they leave together as the guards just them go. Duke Lean is informed. He consoles his wife. He tries to convince her that Xi Ruo is sincere towards them.
Hong Yu brings Hong Bin to meet Xi Ruo. He and A Mao had saved Xi Ruo from the assassins. Hong Bin thinks Xi Ruo should be suffering without him but she is enjoying herself with her mother and Jing You at Dr. Ye’s place which makes him angry.
Episode 27
Xi Ruo mollycoddles Hong Bin to soothe his childish anger. She also tells him that she is pregnant. Song Zhi is informed that Uncle Li would be brought back to Yunyao the following day.
Hong Bin opines that they will need to figure out the secret of the 4 Arhats painting and get the will before his uncle’s return. Xi Ruo tells them that Uncle Li had insisted that the painting is in the Treasury. Hong Bin and Xi Ruo obtain the manor’s construction papers and proceed to the Treasury with Hong Yu and Jing You. Xi Ruo figures out that the keys needed are the 4 sculptures on the stone lamps around Li Manor. They manage to open a secret compartment. There is no will but a map of Yunyao’s iron mineral vein.
The Will
Uncle Li arrives back in Li Manor. Duke Lean has no clue about the will which his brother insists he has hidden. Duke Lean is then taken hostage. Song Zhi also arrives. Xi Ruo finds the will lying on a table covered in dust. It was meant to be found. Hong Bin and Xi Ruo quickly bring it over and read it to Uncle Li who always thinks he has been forgotten by his family. His father’s will proved otherwise.
Uncle Li was sent to the capital when he was a kid as a show of loyalty as demanded by the Emperor. The Song family had prevented his father from communicating with him. His mother died of depression. As his health deteriorated, he had to force Hong Bin’s father to inherit the title. But the will guarantees that the title will revert to him if he asks for it once he is back.
Uncle Li regrets his action that has harmed his family. He doesn’t want the title anymore. Song Zhi quietly leaves when he sees the outcome. Ru’er has also gone. Hong Bin suggests to Duke Lean to write a letter to Duke Song to complain about Song Zhi’s crimes so that they will think twice about stealing the Yun iron. Duke Lean wants Hong Bin to take over his position due to his poor health. Hong Bin agrees. They have also accepted Xi Ruo back into the family due to her contributions in finding the will. Hong Bin also informs his parents about Xi Ruo’s pregnancy.
Xi Ruo is happy to see Mei Xiang again. She spends the night with Hong Bin upon her return to their courtyard.
Episode 28
Ru’er sneaks back into Li Manor to find the iron mineral vein map. She overhears Hong Bin giving his father the map that they have found in the Treasury’s secret compartment. His father gives it back to him because only the duke will have access to it and Hong Bin will be inheriting the title from him anyway.
A Shuang reports to Song Zhi that their men are in place. They will put their plan in motion if Ru’er fails to get the map. Ru’er is caught while looking for the map in Hong Bin’s residence. She refuses to repent and brags that the Li family won’t dare to do anything to her because she is now Song Zhi’s concubine. Madame Li slaps her and orders for her to be evicted. Ru’er goes back to Song Zhi who abandons her as she has outlived her usefulness.
Hong Bin succeeds his father to be the new duke. Xi Ruo goes back to visit her mother. On the way home, she is kidnapped by A Shuang. Hong Bin and his men look for her everywhere. A note arrives demanding Hong Bin to bring the iron mineral vein map to save Xi Ruo. Hong Bin insists on going alone as demanded. Duke Lean reluctantly agrees. But Hong Yu and the rest quietly follow him.
Xi Ruo is tied up. Song Zhi tells her her background. Her jade pendant is proof that she is a princess. The Emperor lost her while out on a tour as the rebels rioted. Song Zhi just thinks it is a pity he didn’t meet her earlier so that he can claim credit for finding her. Xi Ruo doesn’t believe Song Zhi will let Hong Bin live once he has lured him over. She hopes that he wouldn’t come.
Episode 29
Hong Bin rushes to save Xi Ruo. The rest follow behind. Hong Bin gives Song Zhi the map but the latter orders his men to kill them as he leaves. Hong Bin fights off a big group of men as he protects Xi Ruo.
The map starts to smoke as Song Zhi rides away. A special powder has been applied to destroy it. He turns back. But Hong Yu and the rest have already helped Hong Bin to kill off all the enemies. A Mao and A Shuang also fought each other. A Shuang ran away with A Mao’s sword stuck to her chest. Song Zhi has walked into a trap and is captured.
They bring Song Zhi back to Li Manor. Duke Lean orders Song Zhi to be sent back to the capital with a list of his crimes. Song Zhi is unrepentant as he is dragged away despite Uncle Li’s advice. Duke Lean looks forward to doing business with his brother now that he has retired.
Xi Ruo passes the jade pendant to Dr. Ye and tells him its significance. It turns out that the pendant belongs to Ning Xin. She had given it to Xi Ruo when they were kids. Dr. Ye is dumbfounded that his wife is a princess.
Hong Bin promises Xi Ruo that he will remain in Yunyao and not re-join the army. He understands that he has responsibilities now as a husband, father, and official. Xi Ruo re-draws the map for Duke Lean by relying on her photogenic memory. Duke Lean finds her drawing style familiar. She then fearfully admits that she is Happy Fairy. Duke Lean is delighted instead. He thought Happy Fairy had gone to find another seller for her works when she had not shown up again.
5 Years Later
The workers are re-painting the 4 Arhats on the Treasury walls. Duke Lean and Uncle Li are playing chess and fighting like kids. His personal servant appears with a letter from Duke Lean’s late father which is found in a chamber. The letter states that he is also the late duke’s son and Duke Lean’s second brother. They are all shocked.
Jing You and Song Qin have been married for 2 years. They are still very much into each other. Ning Xin is pregnant. She and Dr. Ye already have 2 sets of twins. A boy sends a sword to A Mao. A note from A Shuang is attached. She is returning his sword and thanks him for not killing her. Hong Yu stops by a betting stall on the way home. It is run by Xiao Wu.
Xi Ruo and Hong Bin have a little daughter who is as tricky as her mother. Her painting works are now bestsellers. A seller is promoting a re-print of her book. It ends with peace in the Li family and happiness for the people of Yunyao. Happy Fairy also overcame all difficulties and leads a blissful life with the eldest son of the Li family.
Other Historical Dramas With A Sweet Couple
A supposedly cold and ruthless male lead and a sweet female lead will always make an interesting combination. The Sleepless Princess is one such production. Just like in Oh! My Sweet Liar!, the male lead in The Sleepless Princess is a general while the female lead also has something to hide. The general’s heart gradually softens for her as he couldn’t resist her charms.
If you want more fun in your dramas, then The Romance Of Tiger And Rose would be a good choice. The couple is cute here and aided by a humorous tone to the tale. At the very least, there is an interesting plot to keep me going all the way to the end. There are many fans for this production with strong requests for a Season 2 due partly to what they see as great chemistry between the leads.
The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion will give you 2 sweet couples instead of one. In fact, some people prefer the second couple rather than the main pairing. Anyway, if you have enjoyed Legend Of Yun Xi, you would most probably like this one as well since the main cast is the same. The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion is not all romance with palace infightings and corruption sharing the limelight. Thus, it is great for those who prefer more happenings in the plot than just a love affair.
Image Credit: Youku
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