Debit Queen Episode 6 Recap
> Debit Queen Recap
Ping'er, despite not fully understanding the texts she was copying, felt they were remarkable and expressed admiration, questioning if Ling Se was truly just a maid. Ling Se affirmed she was, playfully asking if Ping'er looked down on maids, stating that they could also be cultured. Ping'er clarified she didn't look down on maids but simply thought Ling Se's writing was better than Wang Zixuan's and would surely earn praise from the teacher.
Realizing she had lost track of time, Ling Se suggested getting something to eat before it was too late. Later, Fuding reported to Xu Zilu that although Xu Zilu had instructed them not to search, Fuding had inquired and found that Ling Se had indeed been helping at Fulai Inn but left in the afternoon. Her maid, Ping'er, was also missing, leading Fuding to suspect they might have run away before the next day's Imperial Merchants Conference.
Xu Zilu recalled Ling Se's earlier warning that if she left, she would not return and he would regret it. Fuding worried aloud about where they could find a Young Madam in time for the conference and asked if they should search in case something had happened to her. Xu Zilu stated there was no need to search. Meanwhile, Ling Se and a merchant from the Western Regions were held captive by bandits.
When the bandits complained of hunger and having no one to cook, Ling Se volunteered, claiming she was a good cook. After preparing a meal that the bandits enjoyed, she proposed playing a game called "Ascension" to buy time. She spent the entire night playing cards with them, hoping that Tao Meili would quickly send help to rescue her.
The following morning, Xu Zilu and Fuding were surprised when Ping'er returned to the mansion, realizing that neither she nor Ling Se had run away as suspected. Ping'er explained she had stayed late at the academy the previous night and had been worried about whether there was breakfast at home.
She learned Ling Se had not returned all night and defended Ling Se, stating that her lady was very loyal and would not leave at such a crucial time, especially given the Old Madam's consideration. Realizing Ling Se might be in trouble, Xu Zilu immediately ordered Fuding to send people to search for her.
At that moment, Tao Meili arrived, urgently telling Xu Zilu ("Zilu Brother") to go rescue Ling Se quickly, warning that it might be too late if he delayed further. She explained they had been kidnapped by a bearded man the previous night, she had escaped and left markers along the way, asking if Xu Zilu would go. She then reminded him that leaving now would mean forfeiting the Imperial Merchants Conference.
Still held captive as dawn broke, Ling Se realized it was the day of the Imperial Merchants Conference and concluded that Xu Zilu likely would not come to rescue her now. She decided she would have to try and save herself. At the Imperial Merchants Conference, attendees were growing impatient waiting for the Xu family, with Tao Natural suggesting that their delay constituted a forfeiture.
However, Xu Mother arrived, explaining that Xu Zilu had important matters to attend to and she would represent the Xu family. When challenged, she asserted her right to represent the family. The competition for the Imperial Merchant nomination then came down to the Tao family and the Xu family. Tao Natural proposed a three-month period to compare the two families' profits, with the winner receiving the nomination. Xu Mother agreed to the proposal.
Meanwhile, Ling Se led the Western merchant in an attempt to escape while the bandits were distracted, but they were recaptured. Just as the bandits were about to kill them, Xu Zilu arrived with his men and engaged the bandits. Ling Se warned Xu Zilu during the fight. Xu Zilu's forces quickly subdued the bandits, rescuing Ling Se and the merchant.
Afterward, the Governor thanked Xu Zilu, Tao Meili, and Ling Se, praising them for their bravery and stating he would commend them in his report, mentioning the possibility of a court commendation for Linchun. Ling Se jokingly asked if the commendation included money, prompting Tao Meili to call her stingy. After the Governor left, Ling Se thanked Tao Meili, who admitted she had considered leaving Ling Se behind but decided against it.
Ling Se noted Tao Meili's stubbornness but acknowledged she wasn't a bad person. Ling Se then complained about Xu Zilu yelling at her despite her ordeal. Upon returning home, Ling Se was greeted by a worried Ping'er and Xiao He. Ling Se complained they hadn't looked for her sooner, but Ping'er explained she was following Ling Se's instructions to stay and watch Master. Ling Se accepted her explanation. Ling Se had injured her leg during the escape.
Ping'er, afraid of blood, was unable to help, so Xu Zilu arrived to apply medicine. While he treated her leg, Ling Se tried to talk, but Xu Zilu told her to be quiet. She asked if the conference had been delayed because of her, but he brushed it off as none of her concern. Seizing the opportunity, she mentioned her hand was also injured and asked if she could be excused from copying books.
Xu Zilu agreed and presented her with the contractual marriage agreement she had requested earlier. He explained that the reason he hadn't given it to her before was the high stakes of the Imperial Merchants Conference; if their contractual marriage were revealed, it could be considered treason and lead to their families' execution. Now that the conference situation was settled, the risk was manageable. He warned her of the severity and said it wasn't too late to back out.
Ling Se considered the risk but decided the business venture was worth it, promising to keep their arrangement a secret. She even joked that being kidnapped by Tao Meili had proven her trustworthiness. She then pointed out that everyone else had been thanked, but not Xu Zilu, who had saved her. He questioned why he should be thanked, but when she pressed the point, he agreed and offered to treat her to "World's Best Noodles".
Meanwhile, in Prince Xian's Mansion, a subordinate informed Prince Xian that Eunuch Zhou had arrived in Linchun and delivered the instructions. The subordinate expressed concern that Eunuch Zhou's greed might jeopardize Prince Xian's plans, but Prince Xian was confident Eunuch Zhou wouldn't dare play tricks on him.
News reached Tao Natural that Prince Xian's eunuch had visited the Xu family and that the Xu family was arranging for a shipment of pepper via waterway from the south, which would resolve their supply issues. Realizing this made it much harder to surpass the Xu family in the three-month competition, Tao Natural decided they needed to prevent the Xu family from getting the shipment and planned to visit Eunuch Zhou.
Later, Xu Zilu met with Eunuch Zhou, who stated he was simply passing through Linchun on business for the prince in the south and had stopped by to check on the Prince's Mansion order for Jiuzhongtian incense. He stressed the importance of timely delivery as the incense was for sacrificial use. Xu Zilu assured him the delivery would be on time and offered a gift, which the Eunuch accepted.
Afterward, Xu Zilu and his butler discussed the visit, speculating that the Eunuch's visit was likely motivated by a need for money, a problem Xu Zilu felt could be easily solved. Ling Se and Ping'er discussed the negative information they had gathered about Xu Zilu (such as him being weak and unable to lift heavy things), admitting they planned to spread it but thought such details were insignificant and wouldn't attract much attention, perhaps wasting money.
However, rumors about Xu Zilu's weakness and his difficulties in "bedroom matters" were spreading throughout the city, and people were reciting a satirical poem about him being strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Xu Mother heard the poem and was visibly shocked. Later, Xu Zilu confronted Ling Se, holding her responsible for the rumors about his impotence spreading everywhere.
Ling Se denied directly spreading "that specific" rumor but admitted to gathering the information and intending to spread "other" negative things about him because he had tricked her, threatened to sell her belongings, and forced her to copy books and stay home. She claimed she hadn't anticipated the rumors escalating to this level and argued that they both shared responsibility. She insisted she was handling the situation and the rumors would be gone by tomorrow.
Just then, Xu Mother arrived, having heard the rumors, and called three renowned doctors (Doctor Wang, Doctor Liu, and Doctor Tian) to diagnose Xu Zilu's supposed condition. Xu Zilu protested that he was not sick, but Xu Mother insisted, saying she had paid the doctors to keep quiet and that his "illness" was critical to the family's future. The doctors proposed various examination methods, further irritating Xu Zilu.
A helper even chimed in, claiming to have a similar condition and offering advice on dietary supplements, which Xu Zilu quickly shut down. Annoyed, Xu Zilu left despite his mother's pleas. He found Ling Se and warned her that since the issue started because of her, if she didn't stop the rumors, neither of them would have peace. He pushed past her. Fuding arrived, asking if Xu Zilu had confirmed Ling Se was responsible for the rumors.
