A Dream of Splendor Episode 30 Recap
> A Dream of Splendor Recap
Zhao Pan'er was convinced that Gu Qianfan had betrayed her. So, resolved to go through with it, she held the hairpin and went to Wangyue Tower, threatening the boss to return the three hundred guan. As expected, the boss immediately backed down. Zhao Pan'er got the money back and then thought about selling other calligraphy and paintings to raise enough money to redeem the teahouse land deed, so the three of them could restart the business of Half-Covered Face.
In order to ensure ample funds, Zhao Pan'er decided to sell her jewelry, including the fire coral hairpin. Sun Sanniang knew Zhao Pan'er was sad, so she took Ge Zhaodi to the pawn shop. Unexpectedly, Du Changfeng followed them. Hearing their conversation, he went over and asked them to leave the coral hairpin for now, then took out his family heirloom to help them fill the gap.
While Ge Zhaodi went into the pawn shop to exchange money, Du Changfeng asked Sun Sanniang about Zhao Pan'er seeking out Chi Yanei. Just then, a carriage passed by, and Song Yinzhang saw this scene through the window, thinking Zhao Pan'er was in trouble.
Song Yinzhang originally wanted to get off the carriage to ask for clarification, but Shen Ruzuo told her to go with him to the Lin residence for the feast first, and that someone would naturally keep an eye on Zhao Pan'er. Although Song Yinzhang was unwilling to lower herself to please Lin Sansi, under Shen Ruzuo's persuasion, she still personally played the pipa for him.
Lin Sansi drooled over Song Yinzhang's beauty, using the excuse of appreciating the pipa to inappropriately touch her. In contrast, Shen Ruzuo seemed to turn a blind eye, not stepping forward to stop him at all. After the song ended, Song Yinzhang endured the discomfort and walked to the pond, repeatedly washing her hands. Seeing this, Shen Ruzuo continued to coax Song Yinzhang to join the table and entertain guests.
When Song Yinzhang went to the side room to change clothes, she happened to meet Zhang Haohao and learned that she was about to get married and would leave the Music Bureau in the future to accompany Master Ru away from Tokyo. During this time, Zhang Haohao had finally come to understand many things. The so-called status of a top courtesan, or a smile worth a thousand taels, were not as comfortable as living freely.
Instead, out of consideration for their past friendship, Zhang Haohao advised Song Yinzhang to be wary of Shen Ruzuo and not to easily trust him. Song Yinzhang immediately refuted Zhang Haohao, stating that Shen Ruzuo had promised to marry her honorably with an eight-bearer sedan chair and proper ceremonies. At the banquet, Shen Ruzuo kept urging Song Yinzhang to drink. Song Yinzhang, unaware, drank it down in front of everyone.
Zhang Haohao, sitting opposite, seemed to show a strange look, trying her best to restrain the urge to stop her. Immediately after, the hall resumed its lively atmosphere. Lin Sansi stared lecherously at Song Yinzhang, and Shen Ruzuo exchanged a glance with him. As expected, Song Yinzhang gradually felt dizzy and was helped back to the guest room by the servants.
Shen Ruzuo came over to check if she was conscious and was about to light the aphrodisiac incense when Song Yinzhang suddenly ambushed him from behind. It turned out that earlier, Song Yinzhang had learned about Shen Ruzuo's character from Zhang Haohao. In the past, Shen Ruzuo had deceived many women from the Music Bureau one after another. Every time he succeeded, he would abandon them and then offer them to Lin Sansi to further his own career.
Zhang Haohao's words made Song Yinzhang wary. At first, she was half-believing, half-doubting, but when she realized there was something wrong with the wine, she finally saw Shen Ruzuo's true face. Song Yinzhang tied Shen Ruzuo up securely, wildly smashing a porcelain bottle at him, and made him sign a written agreement to avoid him causing her trouble again. A storm swept in that night. Song Yinzhang, before Lin Sansi appeared, grabbed her pipa and rushed out the door.
It was this very storm that caused enormous losses to the teahouse. All the things they had prepared were gone. Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang looked at the mess on the ground, filled with grief. They held each other and cried loudly, seeing no hope for the future. When the rain stopped the next day, Sun Sanniang understood Zhao Pan'er's thoughts.
She suggested dividing the three hundred guan among the sisters and leaving Tokyo from then on, perhaps starting a small business back in Qiantang. As Zhao Pan'er and the others passed by the dock, they saw Ren Jiang, the Inspector of the Kaifeng Prefecture, deliberately humiliating Chi Yanei. Not only did he make him kneel in public, but he also ordered him to lick the mud off his shoes.
Originally, Zhao Pan'er didn't want to get involved, thinking Chi Yanei was suffering the consequences of his own actions. But when she heard Ren Jiang belittling merchants, she couldn't help but step forward and speak up for justice. Zhao Pan'er's composure deeply impressed everyone present. She stated that Ren Jiang had no right to arbitrarily kill innocent people without trial, and moreover, cleaning the river was his duty, and he should not involve the common people in it.
Chi Yanei applauded repeatedly upon hearing this, and the onlookers also agreed with Zhao Pan'er's point of view. Instead, Zhao Pan'er continued to argue based on reason, countering Ren Jiang according to the laws of the Song dynasty and reclaiming respect for merchants. Ren Jiang knew he was in the wrong and, due to Zhao Pan'er's eloquence, was completely at a loss for how to respond.
