The ongoing thriller C-drama The Double, starring Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingyue in the lead roles, released episode 25 on June 13, 2024. In episode 24, viewers saw Princess Wanning accusing Fang Fei (Wu Jinyan) of being an imposter. Episode 25 focuses on Shuran and Wanning plotting against Fang Fei.
In this episode, Fang Fei hosts a celebratory dinner for her close companions. Just when she is about to eat, she receives a summon from Xiao Heng (Wang Xingyue). Fang Fei finds it amusing how Duke Su is jealous because he didn’t receive an invitation to the dinner. She assures him that he is the person to whom she is most grateful. Be it rescuing her father’s ex-subordinates or helping her forget her past trauma, he is the only person who has stood beside her through thick and thin.
Fang Fei next asks Xiao Heng about Miss Situ, the poison expert. Xiao Heng gets irritated as he feels Fang Fei always has an ulterior motive behind meeting him. Fang Fei calms him down and reveals that she needs Situ’s help to treat Xue Huaiyuan. She once again praises him for his sensibility and kindness. Xiao Heng gets shy when Fang Fei calls him handsome.
Upon her return, Fang Fei visits her ailing father. Her heart breaks thinking about how such an honest and upright person as her father had to endure so much pain. She promises him to serve justice. Meanwhile, Ye Shijie pays her a visit as he is worried that Duke Su oppresses her using his power. It is quite evident that he is jealous of Fang Fei’s closeness with Xiao Heng.
Meanwhile, Jiang Li’s stepmother, Shuran, is anxious, thinking about Jiang Li’s growing popularity. Within such a short time, she has become one of the most beloved noble ladies of the capital.
Then the episode shows Shuran visiting Princess Wanning’s residence after receiving a secret invitation. Wanning is still hung up on proving that Jiang Li is an imposter.
The Double episode 25 focuses on Wu Jinyan’s stepmother teaming up with the princess against her
Wanning asks Shuran if she can recognize her daughter. Shuran refuses to answer, saying that she has not been with Jiang Li since she was a child. She pretends to be sensible and apologizes on her daughter’s behalf. Wanning tells a bizarre story of the time a concubine of the palace was possessed by an evil spirit. She suggests keeping an eye on Jiang Li and convinces Shuran to seek the help of the imperial diviner to check if Jiang Li is under the influence of something sinister.
Episode 25 further shows a strange incident occurring in the capital where a few people catch fire and burn to death. Passersby testified that there was no source of fire nearby, and the fire started on its own. Duke Su is put in charge of the investigation.
On the princess’s order, Shuran meets up with the imperial diviner, who turns out to be her ex-lover, Liu Wencai. Shuran fell in love with Wencai when she was young. But she was ambitious and couldn’t afford to fall for a mere painter. She burned him in cold blood so she could marry someone influential. He is finally at peace, seeing Shuran at his mercy.
Sensing the upcoming danger, Shuran forces Ruoyao to marry into the Qi family as soon as possible. But she is still in love with her ex-fiancé, Zhou Yanbang. The lovebirds continue to meet in private, and it stirs up problems in Yanbang’s married life.
Meanwhile, Xiao Heng investigates the cause behind the ghost lights. His logical mind comes to the conclusion that it must be phosphorous created from human or horse blood that illuminated them. He senses impending danger and thinks the ghost light is just the beginning of something more ominous.
The Double is available to stream on Youku throughout the week.
