The ongoing costume C-drama The Double, starring Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingyue in the lead roles, released episode 12 on June 6, 2024. In episode 11, viewers saw Fang Fei (Wu Jinyan) and her team successfully win the bet against the Li brothers. Meanwhile, in the recent episode 12, viewers get to see Fang Fei attending a banquet arranged by the Majesty.
In this episode, Jiang Li’s uncle and aunt visit her residence. Mr. and Mrs. Lu express their gratitude to Fang Fei for training their son. Under her tutelage, Jiang Jingrui has improved his skills and successfully cleared the entry examination.
Jingrui mentions that he is hearing rumors about Zhou Yanbang wanting to change the engagement. Fang Fei asks him not to bother, as she has already rejected him. Jingrui has also heard that the Marquis of Ningyuan has kept him in confinement, and his family has been suffering because of that. He thinks it’s fair and karmic justice, as Aunt Shuran immediately replaced Jiang Li with Ruoyao after she went to the Zhennyu Hall.
Jiang Yuanbai, Jiang Li’s father, comes to visit Fang Fei to congratulate her. He also apologizes to her for not checking up on her often while she was in the school of integrity. When he brings up the topic of her engagement with Yanbang and how, without even asking her, they replaced her with her half-sister, Fang Fei urges him not to worry. She assures him that she has no interest in him.
Meanwhile, Ji Shuran expresses her worry to concubine Li about Jiang Li winning everyone’s hearts and making a name for herself in the capital in such a short time. Li finds it strange that a girl who grew up in the mountains is so intelligent. She is skeptical that some other person is using Jiang Li’s name as a disguise.
The Double episode 12: Wu Jinyan turns down the emperor’s expensive presents
Furthermore, Shuran ensures that she looks into everything about Jiang Li. Thus, she sent her people to speak to the mistress of the Zhennyu Hall. The mistress hates Jiang Li to the core, as because of her, she is spending her days behind bars.
Shuran tried to bribe her with an offer to bail her out of prison; in return, she will have to testify that someone else has been using Jiang Li’s name as a disguise. When shown a portrait of Fang Fei, the mistress confirms that it is, in fact, Jiang Li.
But Concubine Li is still not satisfied. She recalls that Shen Yu Rong’s wife, Xue Fang Fei, was caught practicing adultery and fled to the mountains. And in the end, she died. She reminds Shuran that a woman’s biggest fear is losing her virginity. Li wants to use the opportunity of Fang Fei’s visit to the palace to lure her into a scandal and tarnish her reputation.
On the day of the banquet, Fang Fei, along with her teammates, arrive at the palace. Fang Fei recalls how she accompanied her husband, Shen Yu Rong, the first time he visited the palace. Meanwhile, all the top students from the entry examination are invited by the emperor for a special meal.
After Fang Fei and her teammates greet the emperor, he praises Fang Fei for her etiquette and mannerisms despite living in the Zhennyu hall for many years. The emperor honors them with valuable jewels and jades, but to everyone’s surprise, Fang Fei refuses to accept them.
Her reaction annoys the emperor. Fang Fei gets on her knees and asks for the majesty’s permission to exchange the gift for something else, as worldly pleasures don’t amuse her. She asks the emperor to let Shen Yu Rong, whose literary genius she admires dearly, guide her in the future. This episode of The Double ends here.
The Double is available to stream throughout the week on Youku.
