Resumen del episodio 31 de A Splendid Match
> Resúmenes de A Splendid Match
Ye Xian, leading the Xuanfeng Guard, launched a series of swift arrests on the streets of the capital, targeting censors who had previously impeached the Marquis of Changxing. Though his subordinates urged him to rest due to his weak constitution, Ye Xian refused, determined to carry out his duties without pause. Meanwhile, Madam Wang hosted a tea gathering for the noble ladies of the capital, serving them luxurious red bird's nest soup.
The conversation soon turned to Ye Xian, with some ladies speculating that his sudden ferocity in handling cases stemmed from his heartbreak over losing his beloved, Gu Jinzhao. Madam Wang took the opportunity to needle Gu Jinzhao, questioning how the scholarly but modest Gu family had managed to capture the hearts of both Chen Yanyun and Ye Xian, even noting that Chen Yanyun had rejected Madam Fu's matchmaking attempt for her sake. Gu Jinzhao responded with calm grace.
She pointed out that since Madam Fu and Grand Secretary Fu had ultimately presided over their wedding, any past matchmaking discussions had clearly been laid to rest. She added that continuing to bring up the matter might make others think Madam Wang was trying to undermine Madam Fu's dignity. Madam Fu quickly defused the tension, dismissing it as a trivial matter she had long forgotten. Gu Jinzhao soon noticed something unusual about the red bird's nest being served.
Recognizing its exquisite appearance, she noted it looked exactly like the South Seas tribute she had seen before. When Madam Wang tried to claim it was merely loose bird's nest bought from a local shop, Gu Jinzhao revealed that traders had once tried to consign identical high-grade tribute surplus to her own shops, which she had refused out of caution.
Madam Fu immediately realized Madam Wang had pocketed tribute goods and sternly rebuked her, questioning if the imperial court had shortchanged the Wang family's salary. She ordered the ladies to keep the matter quiet to avoid further trouble. When Chen Yanyun arrived to take Gu Jinzhao home, she recounted the incident to him. She explained she had not intended to expose Madam Wang, but the woman had repeatedly targeted her.
Chen Yanyun was pleased by this development, noting that despite all his precautions, Wang Xuanfan had finally slipped up and handed them a perfect weakness. In the Wang residence, Wang Xuanfan was furious with his wife, calling her a fool for serving tribute red bird's nest to her guests.
When his wife argued that she did not expect anyone to recognize the cooked dish, Wang Xuanfan pointed out that Gu Jinzhao came from a wealthy merchant family and was well-versed in luxury goods. He ordered his wife to immediately cover their tracks and retrieve any remaining consigned tributes, while he prepared to visit the Fu residence to apologize.
Gu Jinzhao later discussed the tea gatherings with Chen Yanyun, explaining how surprised she was to find that the noble ladies spent their time discussing imperial court politics rather than domestic affairs. She jokingly referred to them as a Wives' Cabinet. Amused but cautious, Chen Yanyun warned her to be careful, as such rumors could easily provoke the censors. He admitted he was surprised that the cabinet officials had been using their wives to exchange intelligence for so many years.
Their conversation was interrupted when Chen Xuanqing arrived to speak with Chen Yanyun. He attempted to plead for the scholars who had blocked Yanyun's carriage, claiming they had acted out of righteous indignation. Yanyun dismissed his plea, arguing that the highly coordinated protest could not have been a spontaneous act. He advised Xuanqing to stop jumping to conclusions and instead focus on his upcoming marriage to Yu Wanxue, which her family had been pressing to finalize before the year's end.
Once Xuanqing left, Mr. Jiang arrived to deliver concrete evidence of Wang Xuanfan embezzling regional tributes. Yanyun decided to play a patient game, opting for a mild impeachment rather than a relentless pursuit to slowly erode Wang Xuanfan's standing. Wang Xuanfan was indeed severely rebuked by Grand Secretary Fu. Feeling humiliated, he complained to his subordinate, Ziliang, about how much money he had contributed to cover the deficits for land equalization, all for Fu's sake.
He realized that Chen Yanyun had been systematically targeting him ever since the relief grain scandal. Recalling that Gu Deyuan, Gu Jinzhao's second uncle, had previously been implicated in a corruption case, Wang Xuanfan suspected that with Yanyun now acting as his powerful backing, the man would surely take bribes again. He ordered Ziliang to keep a close watch on Gu Deyuan to uncover any dirt they could use.
Gu Lan visited Gu Jinzhao to express her desire to move back to Sili Alley. With her father posted away in Pingyang Prefecture and her brother Jinrong studying at the academy, she felt isolated in the ancestral home. Though Jinzhao warned her that an unmarried young lady living independently would invite gossip, Gu Lan insisted she valued her freedom above all else.
Jinzhao agreed to the move and offered to sell her own share of the Sili Alley property to Gu Lan as an investment. Jinzhao then brought up Young Lord Mu, noting that he was a decent man from a family of good values, and suggested a meeting. Gu Lan agreed, and Jinzhao promised to make the arrangements.
Meanwhile, after drinking heavily, Ye Xian suffered a severe relapse of his heart condition, prompting Xue Qinglan to bring Physician Zhou to treat him. The physician privately revealed that Ye Xian's condition was terminal, leaving him with at most three years to live. Upon waking, Ye Xian urged Xue Qinglan to keep his prognosis a secret, insisting on traveling to Zhending Prefecture for official business despite his frail state.
Xue Qinglan demanded to accompany him, threatening to reveal his secret if he refused to let her join him. Chen Yanyun returned home late after a long discussion regarding river works with his master. Sharing a quiet moment with Gu Jinzhao, he admitted that he had finally told his mother the truth about Fourth Brother, which was why she had fallen ill without calling for a doctor.
The grand matriarch had long suspected Fourth Brother was responsible for Xiaowu's death but had refused to believe it. Learning that he had also orchestrated Gu Jinzhao's kidnapping finally forced her to accept the reality. Yanyun comforted Jinzhao, assuring her that his mother's strong temperament would soon allow her to recover and resume her role. A few days later, Gu Jinzhao and Yu Wanxue attended Gu Lan's housewarming party at Sili Alley.
Jinzhao brought a gift on behalf of Yanying, who was recovering from a stomachache after eating too many cold treats. Soon, Mu Zhidi and Chen Xuanqing also arrived. To give Gu Lan and Mu Zhidi an opportunity to speak privately, Jinzhao, Wanxue, and Xuanqing went to explore the courtyard. Left alone with Mu Zhidi, Gu Lan candidly explained that she had only agreed to the meeting out of respect for her sister and had resolved to remain unmarried.
She shared her difficult family circumstances, including her father's demotion and her concubine mother's confinement, and explained her plan to focus on business so she could eventually rescue and care for her mother. Deeply moved, Mu Zhidi admitted he was not good with words but wanted to support her. He revealed he had brought craftsmen to build a koi pond in her courtyard, having learned from Jinrong that she had always envied the pond at Gu Jinzhao's residence.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Gu Lan gladly invited the craftsmen inside. As they walked through the gardens, Yu Wanxue confided in Gu Jinzhao about her anxieties regarding her upcoming marriage to Chen Xuanqing. She admitted she was deeply unsettled by his coldness, sharing that since his return to the capital, he had only visited her home once to speak with her father, barely uttering two words to her before departing.
