Debit Queen Episode 19 Recap
> Debit Queen Recap
Xu Zilu went to visit Prince Xian. Prince Xian, who resides in Furong City and is fond of incense, praised Xu Zilu as young and capable, fitting to be the Imperial Merchant. He informed Xu Zilu that from then on, all incense used in his residence would be supplied by the Xu family. This decision was made because a eunuch in his residence had previously mishandled the matter of the Jiuchongtian incense, causing the Xu family to be wronged.
Prince Xian cautioned Xu Zilu that Furong City gathers the country's best merchants and shops, and while the Xu family's goods are good, they would need to work diligently to maintain the title of Imperial Merchant. Xu Zilu assured him the Xu family would give their utmost effort. Ling Se and Ling Shuo attended the Qianqiu Festival. They discovered an arena competition where the grand prize was a unique Hetian jade pendant engraved with the character "æ—º" (prosperity).
Ling Se immediately liked the pendant, thinking it would be perfect for her brother-in-law, and paid the five-coin entry fee for herself and Ling Shuo. The first round of the competition was craftsmanship, judged on the vivid essence of the work. Ling Se created a cat that stretched, but the judge dismissed it as childish and lacking essence.
Ling Se clarified it was also an incense burner that emitted smoke, and Ling Shuo explained it represented the atmosphere of lingering fragrance, but the judge was unmoved. Just then, a woman intervened, quoting poetry to argue that the incense burner held profound meaning and should advance. The judge agreed, and Ling Se was promoted to the finals.
The woman, who said her hometown was famous for making incense, expressed her liking for the incense burner and asked if she could have it. As they talked, they discovered they were both from Linchun, and Ling Shuo and the woman even studied under the same teacher at Wansong Academy. Feeling a strong sense of fate, Ling Se gave the woman the incense burner.
The woman told Ling Se not to expect her to go easy in the finals, and Ling Se agreed that winning or losing should be based on true skill. After the finals, Ling Se was frustrated about not winning the jade pendant for her brother-in-law and feeling she had wasted the entry money. Meanwhile, Ping'er felt trapped staying at the Xu Mansion, unable to go out or join the lively festival.
Wang Zhujue arrived and presented her with a fox mask he had specifically gone out to find. He lamented that he couldn't take her out to enjoy the festivities because she was ill. Ping'er insisted she felt much better and wanted to go out. After some hesitation, Wang agreed. Ping'er put on the mask, expressing her desire to be an unrecognizable little fox for the day. As they strolled, Wang bought her things she liked.
Ping'er insisted on buying him a mask in return, choosing a Sun Wukong mask. She explained that Wang was like Sun Wukong to her, always appearing instantly when she needed him most, especially with delicious food. Wang tried on the mask, and Ping'er thought it suited him well.
Later, Wang Zhujue asked Ping'er if she was hiding from a former master, if she wasn't truly sick but afraid of being recognized, and if that's why she needed the mask to go out. Ping'er confirmed his observation. Wang reassured her not to be afraid, offering to go with her to her former master to state she had a new master and did not wish to return, so she wouldn't have to hide anymore.
He also offered to help redeem any bondservant contract she might have, so she could be free to do whatever she wished, promising his support. Ping'er then asked him if he would search for her if she were to leave one day. Wang asked if she disliked staying at the Xu family, but Ping'er clarified she meant "if" she had to return to where she was before. Wang promised he would absolutely come looking for her.
Ping'er questioned how he would find her in the vast Furong City. Wang confidently replied that he could, because he was her Sun Wukong. Ping'er affectionately called him like a monkey. Wang affirmed that whether a monkey or Sun Wukong, he would find her and be with her no matter the distance if she called him, promising to bring her delicious food and saying she would always recognize him. They tearfully promised to always be together.
Shortly after, Ping'er mentioned her throat felt uncomfortable from eating too many salty and spicy things. Wang went to buy her some pear soup or syrup. While he was gone, Prince Xian appeared and called out to Ping'er. Ling Se and Ling Shuo were eating at the Golden Panda restaurant when they unexpectedly ran into the woman from the competition again. The woman invited them to join her table and offered them some local tea.
They chatted, and both Ling Se and the woman mentioned they were waiting for their husbands. The woman asked Ling Se why she liked the jade pendant so much. Ling Se explained she wanted it for her husband, a businessman, because she felt the "æ—º" character was very suitable for him, and the design was unique.
The woman then revealed that she, too, had wanted the pendant for her husband, who worked in the government and was diligently seeking promotion, noting the coincidence of their shared thought despite their different reasons. The woman offered the pendant to Ling Se, but Ling Se politely refused, stating that she had lost fair and square and wouldn't take something the woman wanted for her own husband.
Ling Se invited her to visit her tea shop in Linchun if she ever returned. The woman mentioned she might not be able to return to Linchun due to a past event. Ling Se respected her privacy. As Ling Se and Ling Shuo were preparing to leave, Xu Zilu arrived, looking for Ling Se. He was surprised to see the woman and greeted her, calling her Wanrong.
Wanrong greeted him back, acknowledging it had been a long time and commenting on how much he had changed. She apologized for being impulsive in the past, causing him embarrassment. Xu Zilu dismissed it as something in the past. Ling Se overheard their conversation and, recognizing the woman as "Mrs. Lyu" (implying she was married to a "Lord Lyu"), commented to Xu Zilu that he had mentioned her before.
She praised Mrs. Lyu's talents and appearance, telling Xu Zilu he was fortunate to have such a clever wife. Mrs. Lyu noted that her husband, Lord Lyu, had helped Xu Zilu at a posthouse a few days prior and expressed happiness for Xu Zilu having such a good wife (referring to Ling Se). Seeing them engrossed in conversation, Ling Se felt she was intruding and said she would leave, as they had much to talk about as old acquaintances.
As she walked away, Ling Shuo told Xu Zilu he should go after her, mentioning how much she had done for him all day. Xu Zilu followed Ling Se. Ling Se, upset, questioned why he was following her instead of staying with his former fiancée. Xu Zilu clarified that Wanrong was married. Ling Se retorted that their relationship was merely a contractual one that could be terminated if he paid enough, and he was free to pursue his true love.
When Xu Zilu asked if she was jealous, she denied it and playfully hit him. Despite her denials, he insisted she was jealous and stopped her from leaving. He led her to a quiet street, explaining it was a place his mother used to bring him when he was young. She would leave him there while she conducted business, and he would spend the whole day watching the shops and people, never feeling bored.
He shared that he had made a promise to himself long ago that he would only return to this street with someone he believed he could spend his life with. He admitted he thought he would never find such a person until she appeared. He confessed that he didn't know exactly when he fell for her, citing moments like when she hugged him in the plum forest or her actions at the Imperial Merchants Conference.
He told her he never expected someone like her, carefree and quirky, to enter his life, making him laugh and cry, but that he had grown used to her presence and found her silly side endearing. He expressed his desire to know her better, help her, and take care of her, even mentioning how he, who used to resist physical contact, had secretly kissed her that night.
He confessed that by the time he realized his feelings, it was too late. Acknowledging her past hardships and fear of expressing emotions, he declared he would take the step for her and asked if she was willing to be his true wife. Ling Se was visibly moved. They smiled at each other, embracing happily.
Xu Zilu and Ling Se returned to the Xu Mansion hand in hand, where Ling Shuo started to question Ling Se about her earlier comment about a contractual marriage. Their conversation was interrupted by a frantic Wang Zhujue, who reported that Ping'er was missing. He explained he had stepped away briefly to buy pear soup and when he returned, she was gone. He had searched everywhere in the crowded streets but couldn't find her.
Butler Chen confirmed she hadn't returned to the mansion. They decided to split up and search. Ling Shuo went with Fuding, while Wang Zhujue searched Chaoyang Street and Xilin Street and even waited until dawn at the spot where she disappeared, but they found no trace of her. Just as they were contemplating reporting her missing to the officials, someone announced, "The Princess is here." To their surprise, it was Ping'er.
A guard instructed everyone to kneel before the Princess, but Ping'er told them to rise. She apologized to Ling Se and the others for not telling them and causing them worry, admitting she had been scared. Her aunt was also present and chastised Ping'er for her outrageous behavior, saying a princess running away from marriage would disgrace the royal family and put her grandfather in a difficult position.
She reminded Ping'er of her parents, stating her father died for the country and her mother died of grief. Ping'er apologized, acknowledging her thoughtlessness, but reiterated that she did not want to marry someone she disliked. When asked what kind of person she wanted, she described someone who truly invests in feelings, is honest and sincere, can share tears and laughter with her, and doesn't care whether she is from a noble family or a humble maid.
Her aunt then asked if she had someone in mind, and Ping'er hesitated. Wang Zhujue was present throughout this, visibly upset when the guard scolded him for touching the Princess's hand. Ping'er reassured Wang that she was fine. Back at the Xu Mansion, Ling Se asked Ping'er how she was a Princess. Ping'er revealed her true identity as Wei Qingping, granddaughter of Marquis Wei of the Bureau of Astrology.
She explained that she had met a former acquaintance while shopping with Wang the previous day, and that person had taken her back to the Marquis Mansion. She apologized again for worrying them, explaining her grandfather had talked to her for a long time, delaying her return. Before she could explain why she had run away, a servant announced that Prince Xian had arrived to pick up Princess Ping'er.
