A Dream of Splendor Episode 18 Recap
> A Dream of Splendor Recap
Sun Daqiang and Ge Zhaodi, wanting to survive, vied with each other to tell the truth, but their testimonies differed, leading to an internal conflict. It turned out that Sun Daqiang deliberately concealed his gambling debts, fabricating a story about his sister losing the use of her legs to gain Ge Zhaodi's sympathy. Now, Ge Zhaodi realized she had been deceived and immediately confessed that Matou Baye instructed them to come to Half-Covered Face to cause trouble.
Not only that, Ge Zhaodi also revealed other clues, confirming that Baye was acting on the orders of a wet nurse from a wealthy family. Zhao Pan'er suddenly understood, realizing this matter was related to the Gao family. Just as Zhao Pan'er expected, Gao Hui's wet nurse, hearing that Ouyang Xu had been engaged to someone, decided to teach that person a lesson.
Zhao Pan'er decided not to pursue the matter further, so she had Ge Zhaodi write a statement on the spot and leave before the officials arrived, and gave her some money to treat her injured hand. Gu Qianfan came upon hearing the news and hinted that the mastermind behind the scene was the wet nurse Jiang Shi.
He originally wanted to solve the trouble for her, but Zhao Pan'er was still bothered by what had just happened and couldn't help but question Gu Qianfan about whether he was just putting on a show, especially due to Xiao Wei's appearance. Just as Gu Qianfan was about to explain the reason, Chen Lian suddenly came to inform him to go to the manor to meet Xiao Qinyan, so he had to leave first.
Because Gao Gu had recently been looking for paintings by Xu Xi, Zhao Pan'er played to his interests and went to his residence with a painting of a crane and bamboo to seek an audience, meeting with Gao Gu alone. Unexpectedly, Gao Gu turned out to be a lecherous person, coveting Zhao Pan'er's beauty. Even knowing her relationship with Ouyang Xu, he still wanted to take her into his mansion and keep her as a mistress.
Zhao Pan'er merely hoped that Gao Gu could restrain his servants and give her a way to live. If Gao Gu went too far, she would have no choice but to cause a scandal throughout the city. However, Gao Gu's lecherous intentions did not change, and just as he was about to make a move on Zhao Pan'er, Gu Qianfan appeared to protect his "humble wife". He introduced Zhao Pan'er's identity without hesitation, which made Gao Gu momentarily stunned.
He then reprimanded Zhao Pan'er for having just broken off her relationship with Ouyang Xu, only to turn around and attach herself to another man. However, when Gao Gu learned that the person before him was the Living Yama, Gu Qianfan, he immediately lost his arrogance. Watching Gu Qianfan take Zhao Pan'er's hand, he could only leave disheartened. Gu Qianfan finally understood the original reason for Zhao Pan'er's anger.
He explained the history of animosity between himself and Lei Jing and also emphasized that he intended to marry Zhao Pan'er as his wife, absolutely not take her as a concubine. At first, Zhao Pan'er was half-doubting, half-believing. But Gu Qianfan's words struck her inner inferiority complex, and at the same time, he handed her a brocade pouch containing three land deeds and four keys to prove his sincerity.
Zhao Pan'er looked at Gu Qianfan's retreating figure, then hurriedly chased after him, pretending to fall to attract his attention. As expected, Gu Qianfan turned back and reached out to help Zhao Pan'er up. When faced with her questions, he reaffirmed his feelings, completely reassuring her. Zhao Pan'er also no longer hesitated and chose to believe Gu Qianfan. Although she knew nothing about this person, Gu Qianfan promised to tell her everything gradually in the future.
After the two reconciled, Gu Qianfan briefly told Zhao Pan'er about his entry into the Capital Security Office. In fact, he also wanted to be promoted to the fifth rank as quickly as possible, because only by reaching the fifth rank could his mother be posthumously granted a title, allowing her to receive official sacrifices. Zhao Pan'er felt pained for Gu Qianfan and decided to visit his mother's grave another day, considering it an expression of her own feelings.
Just as Gu Qianfan and Zhao Pan'er were in a moment of sweet affection, Chen Lian came to inform him of the Emperor's decree, summoning Gu Qianfan to the palace. After confirming Gu Qianfan's attitude, Zhao Pan'er was in a very good mood, smiling like a flower all the way back.
She told Sun Sanniang that the engagement between the Gao family and Ouyang Xu was hopeless, but Sun Sanniang sensed that the reason Zhao Pan'er was so happy was definitely because of Gu Qianfan. At this time, Ge Zhaodi came to the Half-Covered Face tea house. Since she knew Zhao Pan'er was kind-hearted, she decided to stay and work at the tea house. She was willing to forgo any wages, only seeking to have three meals a day.
However, Sun Sanniang and Song Yinzhang did not completely trust Ge Zhaodi, after all, she had previously publicly slandered Half-Covered Face for poisoning the tea, and this matter still left the two of them with lingering fears. Ge Zhaodi frankly stated that she was an orphan with no parents and usually transported goods at the docks. She hoped to be taken in by Zhao Pan'er.
Zhao Pan'er observed that Ge Zhaodi's hands were rough with old injuries adding to new ones, which was sufficient proof that her words were not false. So she agreed to let Ge Zhaodi stay. Ge Zhaodi immediately rushed into the back kitchen and skillfully tidied up the cups and utensils. After Gao Gu returned to his residence, he ordered his subordinates to severely punish Jiang Shi, leaving her covered in wounds and extremely weak.
Gao Hui rushed over upon hearing the news and desperately tried to stop Gao Gu, even threatening her own life. In the end, Gao Gu had no choice but to ask his household servants to invite a doctor to treat Jiang Shi and stopped pursuing the matter. Although Jiang Shi claimed that she had stolen money from the mansion, leading to her master's punishment, Gao Hui did not believe it at all.
She then inquired about the situation from Jiang Shi's daughter and learned that Jiang Shi had arbitrarily sent people to cause trouble because Ouyang Xu had an engagement before coming to the capital, and the woman was none other than Zhao Pan'er, the owner of Half-Covered Face.
