Resumen, trama, sinopsis de Faithful

Sinopsis de Faithful

The girl Lin Rulan, ignoring the opposition of her close friend Meng Wan, staked her own reputation and accused the owner of the Embroidery Pavilion, Wu Lian.

However, her attempts to report to various authorities were in vain, and she found herself isolated and without support. In the end, she took her own life to prove her innocence.

Meng Wan, after seven years of hardship, gathered a group of "Nine Righteous Men," including Liu Xin, who had numerous connections to the Lin Rulan case. They formed a "revenge team" with the goal of overturning the case.

The struggles and battles of the young girl buried in the sands of time gradually emerged during this process.

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Seven years ago, young girls gathered at the Yanyu Tower, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Wu Lian, the talented and handsome owner of the embroidery house. Wu Lian would traditionally invite a painter to create portraits of the girls, and he himself would also participate in the painting, a customary annual event. Meng Wan and her close friend, Lin Rulan, both skilled embroideresses, found themselves somewhat isolated by the others.

One day, Gao Chengcheng intentionally bumped into Meng Wan, causing her needle to damage an almost finished embroidery. Lin Rulan stood up for Meng Wan, confronting Gao Chengcheng, who eventually apologized. Wu Lian finally arrived, his handsome appearance and gentle demeanor captivating the girls. Nanny Chen gathered the girls for the annual portrait, but Ding Ru was missing. As one of the girls went to look for her, a terrible scream echoed through the tower.

The girls discovered a face in the well and recognized Ding Ru's shoe nearby. Lin Rulan suddenly recalled hearing Ding Ru crying the night before and seeing a dark figure heading towards the backyard. She had intended to investigate but was blocked by a black cat, causing her to dismiss it at the time. Now, filled with regret, she wanted to inform the Yamen, but Meng Wan stopped her, advising caution.

Lin Rulan secretly went to Ding Ru's room and found a prescription for an abortifacient. Given that embroideresses lived and ate together and only had one day off a month, she wondered how Ding Ru could have gotten pregnant. News of the death reached Chen Zhiyuan, the Prefect of Huaizhou Prefecture. He instructed Registrar Gao Changqing to inform Madam Ning, who had revitalized the Ning family by using Yanyu Embroidery to please the Empress Dowager.

Wu Lian was a distinguished guest of the Ning family, so Chen Zhiyuan wanted to gauge Madam Ning's reaction before proceeding with the case, to protect his position. Madam Ning was unconcerned about the death of an embroideress, remarking that as long as Wu Lian's Yanyu Embroidery remained the Empress Dowager's favorite, nothing else mattered. The Yamen quickly closed the case as an accident.

Ding Ru's parents arrived and left in haste, but her mother grabbed Lin Rulan's hand, claiming that Ding Ru had been forced to death. Lin Rulan felt something was amiss and returned to Ding Ru's room to investigate, discovering that her bedsheets were silk. Later, Wu Lian visited the embroidery room, gently reminding Meng Wan to practice more at night. This encouraging remark, however, made Meng Wan's heart tighten.

That evening, Meng Wan was indeed practicing in the embroidery room when Wu Lian suddenly entered and approached her. Meng Wan warned him to stay away from Lin Rulan, but Wu Lian, dismissing her warning, embraced her. At that moment, Lin Rulan suddenly appeared and witnessed the scene. Distraught, Lin Rulan fled in a panic and bumped into a passing embroideress, knocking Gao Chengcheng's silk bedsheets to the ground.

Nanny Chen passed by and scolded the embroideress for delivering silk bedsheets to Gao Chengcheng, telling her to bring linen sheets instead, implying it was the proper instruction. Lin Rulan, as if realizing something, rushed back to her room and found that her silk bedsheets had, at some unknown point, been replaced with linen ones. She couldn't help but recall that night of intimacy with Wu Lian and wondered if the sheets had been switched after that.

Lin Rulan later discussed Wu Lian with Meng Wan. Meng Wan told Lin Rulan not to heed people's praise of Wu Lian, stating he was merely their embroidery teacher and that once their studies were complete, they would have no further connection with him. She reminded Lin Rulan not to be gullible, because the world wasn't always as it seemed or as one wished.

Lin Rulan then pointed out that all the girls initially had white silk bedsheets when they first started, but now some had linen sheets and some still had silk. Meng Wan dismissed her concerns, saying it was just a bedsheet and not a big deal.

Seven years have passed since the tragic events involving Lin Rulan. Meng Wan, now concubine to Xu Zhiyang, wakes from a haunting nightmare of Rulan in a red wedding dress plunging into a well. Moments later, her maids burst in with grave news: Gu Manshu, the principal wife of the Xu household, has succumbed to charcoal poisoning.

Servants immediately begin to whisper, led by a maid named Xiaoyue, speculating that Meng Wan, who had been in Manshu's room the previous night, tampered with the charcoal to seize Manshu's position. Meng Wan silences Xiaoyue with a sharp slap and a chilling challenge to air her accusations openly. Inside Manshu’s room, Xu Zhiyang, visibly distraught, asks Meng Wan what Manshu said to her. Meng Wan admits she was the only one with Manshu.

A flashback reveals Manshu, frail and bedridden, urging Meng Wan to find closure regarding "Miss Lin" and declaring that she had paved the way for Meng Wan and would no longer hold her back. Manshu then sincerely thanked Meng Wan for her care over the years. Meng Wan later recounts to Xu Zhiyang that Manshu only asked her to look after him.

Xu Zhiyang then reveals Manshu's will, which cleared Meng Wan of any blame and insisted she be formally elevated. To prevent scandal, Xu Zhiyang suggests Meng Wan change her name and assume the identity of Manshu’s younger sister, becoming the new "fill-in wife" in the household. Meng Wan readily agrees to Manshu's final wishes. Disregarding the ongoing funeral arrangements for Manshu, Meng Wan immediately orders a carriage.

She travels to a secluded tomb bearing the name "Lin Rulan," where she declares that although seven years have passed, Rulan's unresolved matters persist. Now, as the new Madame Xu, she finally possesses the standing to execute her long-awaited plan, confident that everything will fall into place. She softly asks Rulan to wait a little longer.

Soon after, Meng Wan attends a gathering at the Ning Mansion, where she is immediately accosted by Madame Wu, Chen Sujun, who spitefully mocks Meng Wan for swiftly replacing the deceased Madame Xu. Meng Wan calmly explains that the Xu family must uphold proper etiquette with Mrs. Ning.

When Madame Wu further insults Xu Zhiyang's standing and calls Meng Wan a "fill-in wife" and a harbinger of bad luck, Meng Wan, despite her maid’s indignation, advises against engaging in futile arguments. Inside the mansion, the wives of Huaizhou officials discuss the upcoming Empress Dowager's 70th birthday and the single gift allowed from each prefecture.

Zhou Yuqin, the legitimate daughter of Su'an Marquis, makes a grand entrance, proudly presenting an ancient painting and challenging Mrs. Ning to identify it, mentioning a "Mr. Xu from the previous reign." When Mrs. Ning hesitates, Meng Wan confidently interjects, identifying the painting as "Heavenly Longevity," a component of the revered "Twelve Constellations." Meng Wan introduces herself as Xu Zhiyang's wife and apologizes for any previous lack of etiquette.

Impressed by Meng Wan's insight, Mrs. Ning invites her to sit closer. Zhou Yuqin, still confident, boasts about the painting's significance to the Empress Dowager and her arduous efforts to acquire and bless this missing piece. Following the gathering, Meng Wan instructs her maid, Lancui, to investigate the origins of Zhou Yuqin’s painting.

She then acquires a copy of the "Heavenly Longevity" and has her husband, Xu Zhiyang, a skilled painter, create an even more authentic-looking duplicate, hinting at its potential to aid his career. Meng Wan presents this expertly crafted copy to Zhou Yuqin, feigning embarrassment.

She spins a fabricated tale about her husband's distant lineage to the "Mr. Xu" from the previous reign and a family heirloom that was forbidden to be sold, subtly suggesting their ancestor may have been swindled and implying Zhou Yuqin’s "original" might be the fake. Zhou Yuqin is unsettled by the uncanny resemblance and the copy's apparent age. Meng Wan clarifies it is a century-old copy and prepares to depart.

An anxious Zhou Yuqin requests to borrow the copy, but Meng Wan politely declines, emphasizing its status as a cherished family heirloom. Fueled by Meng Wan’s insinuations, Zhou Yuqin confronts the old man who sold her the painting. He tearfully confesses it's a fake and returns the one "guan" coin Zhou Yuqin paid for what he had initially priced at 100 "guan".

Infuriated, Zhou Yuqin then seeks out Meng Wan, expressing admiration for her copy and offering to purchase it for a significant sum. Meng Wan initially feigns reluctance, citing her husband's deep attachment to the piece, but then graciously offers the painting as a gift, dismissively calling it a mere "fabrication" and suggesting their newfound friendship is more valuable than money. Zhou Yuqin accepts the gift gleefully.

Later, Mrs. Ning, having heard of Meng Wan’s meeting with Zhou Yuqin, summons Meng Wan. Meng Wan confirms she gifted the painting to Zhou Yuqin, adding cryptically that its true nature would be revealed once the Ministry of Rites received it. Shortly after, a disheveled old man appears at Meng Wan's residence, attempting to thank her for retrieving his family heirloom, but Meng Wan instructs Lancui to deny any acquaintance.

Subsequently, an emergency report from the Ministry of Rites arrives for Zhou Yuqin, sternly admonishing her for presenting a forgery to the Empress Dowager and placing her under house arrest at Su'an Marquis for a year and a half. Simultaneously, Minister Han urges Mrs. Ning to expedite her own "Yanyu Embroidery" preparations. These events confirm Meng Wan's earlier hints, and Mrs. Ning fully comprehends Meng Wan's intricate plan.

At a subsequent gathering, Mrs. Ning publicly elevates Meng Wan's status, seating her in a place of honor ahead of Madame Wu. Mrs. Ning praises Meng Wan's homemade chestnut cakes and, after dismissing the other guests, invites Meng Wan to share some newly acquired tea leaves. Mrs. Ning expresses gratitude that Zhou Yuqin’s impatience inadvertently bought them time to prepare a superior gift, acknowledging that Meng Wan was the crucial element in this success.

Mrs. Ning questions Meng Wan's earlier reticence. Meng Wan explains her disciplined approach of speaking only when she held a high degree of certainty about her plans. Seeing through Meng Wan's calm demeanor, Mrs. Ning probes her true motives. Meng Wan straightforwardly requests Mrs. Ning's patronage for her husband, Xu Zhiyang, who, despite his talents, has remained idle due to his poor social skills. Impressed by Meng Wan's candor, Mrs. Ning inquires about her past.

Meng Wan credits her "elder sister" (Manshu) for her current standing, explaining that becoming Madame Xu was a calculated step to gain access to the Ning Mansion and serve Mrs. Ning. She then shares a poignant story of personal despair after a family tragedy, where she contemplated suicide.

It was Lin Rulan, a dear friend "like a sister," who, with a silent smile and a box of chestnut cakes, gave Meng Wan a reason to live, making her reluctant to abandon the world. As Meng Wan prepares to leave, Mrs. Ning's maid announces the arrival of Mr. Wu (Wu Lian), who is there to discuss the birthday gift. Meng Wan and Wu Lian briefly cross paths.

Wu Lian senses a faint familiarity with Meng Wan but cannot place her. Meng Wan, observing him, privately reflects that a villain who has harmed countless individuals would inevitably fail to recognize the vengeful spirits of his victims. Wu Lian later asks Mrs. Ning about Meng Wan, but Mrs. Ning provides a deceptive origin story for Meng Wan, claiming she is Manshu's sister from a distant province.

Meanwhile, a defiant Zhou Yuqin, having escaped her house arrest, appears at Meng Wan's residence, demanding an explanation for her ruined reputation. Meng Wan calmly points out Zhou Yuqin’s own culpability, reminding her of the warning about the painting's authenticity and the one "guan" she paid for a painting valued at 100 "guan".

Meng Wan then proposes a deal: Zhou Yuqin can move freely during her house arrest by adopting a sister's identity, provided she ceases her rivalry with Mrs. Ning. Meng Wan guarantees that Mrs. Ning will no longer trouble her if she agrees. Confronted by Meng Wan's irrefutable logic and the imminent threat of discovery by her searching servants, Zhou Yuqin reluctantly accepts, asking Meng Wan to first smooth things over with Mrs. Ning.

Meng Wan agrees to the "deal" and has her maid escort Zhou Yuqin out. With the Ning Mansion now securely within her influence, Meng Wan reflects that the time has come for the next phase of her grand scheme. Her attention shifts to Liu Xin, a former captain of the Huaizhou Prefecture Yamen, who has just been released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence for embezzlement. Liu Xin, now a commoner, is seen buying a humble pancake, a stark contrast to his past authority, as bystanders comment on how the "tide has turned."

Seven years ago, Liu Xin, then a constable in Huaizhou Prefecture, was investigating the death of Ding Ru. Liu Xin was known for being smooth yet upright, always disliking injustice. Wu Lian attempted to dismiss Liu Xin by invoking the name of the Duchess, but Liu Xin subtly mocked him in response. He began by searching Ding Ru's room, taking an item he deemed suspicious despite being told it belonged to a new embroideress.

He then proceeded to Wu Lian’s room, stating that a divination suggested Ding Ru's death was not accidental but rather the result of some injustice, indicating her life should not have ended. Wu Lian attempted to change the subject, mentioning an embroidery for Prefect Chen's wife, but Liu Xin pressed on, warning Wu Lian about the numerous beautiful girls at Yanyu Tower and the potential for scandals.

A maid then discreetly offered Liu Xin money, which he accepted, subsequently dismissing Ding Ru's death as an accidental fall due to a dark, slippery path. Before leaving, Liu Xin gave Wu Lian a veiled warning about his health, implying a physical ailment related to "renal water congealing and obstruction." Soon after, a storm broke, and Lin Rulan, heartbroken and distraught, ran into the heavy rain. Meng Wan pursued her, trying to comfort her.

Lin Rulan, however, accused Meng Wan of colluding with Wu Lian due to her apparent closeness with him. Meng Wan then revealed the truth, confessing that Wu Lian had forced her, and her entanglement with him was never her choice. She shared that on the night Ding Ru died, she saw a man's jade pendant by the well in the backyard, a place only Wu Lian had access to among the men in Yanyu Tower.

She concluded that Ding Ru's death was not an accident but a suicide. Meng Wan also explained that new embroideresses initially received silk bed sheets, but these were replaced with coarse linen ones after Wu Lian defiled them, as if they were no longer deemed worthy of silk. Lin Rulan, verifying this by checking other embroideresses' rooms, found it to be true.

Meng Wan expressed deep regret for her cowardice and for not revealing the truth sooner, acknowledging that she had been afraid of losing Lin Rulan's respect and friendship. She later added that knowing Wu Lian had also harmed Lin Rulan made her regret not having protected her, wishing she had chosen to be hated if it meant Lin Rulan would not suffer. Enraged, Lin Rulan stormed into Wu Lian's room and confronted him about the bed sheets.

Wu Lian casually dismissed them as insignificant, mockingly asking what kind of evidence they could be. He then openly admitted his actions, implying that not only Meng Wan, Gao Chengcheng, and Ding Ru, but many other women had also been defiled by him. When Lin Rulan accused him of causing Ding Ru's death, he simply reiterated the official ruling of suicide.

Wu Lian then scoffed at Lin Rulan, suggesting that her desire for him to marry her was unbecoming for a lady, and reminded her that she had initially sought his guidance. Furious, Lin Rulan splashed him with tea and called him shameless before storming out. As she exited, she encountered Zhang Rong'er, Wu Lian's wife, who calmly entered the room to clean up the tea for her husband. Overwhelmed, Lin Rulan reflected on her past with Wu Lian.

She remembered how, in her early days at Yanyu Tower, she admired him. Wu Lian would often criticize her embroidery skills, leading her to practice tirelessly. He would then offer personal lessons, even taking her to a pear blossom forest to teach her how to observe nature and apply her needles to capture the essence of a pear flower. He also played the "Phoenix Belt" on his flute, a melody that brought her peace.

She gradually fell for him, practicing day and night to meet his expectations. One night, as she worked, Wu Lian embraced her from behind, telling her that her lack of experience in love was why her mandarin duck embroidery lacked depth. With flattering words, he seduced her, convincing her that their intimacy would enhance her art. Lost in thought, Lin Rulan found herself on the street, witnessing Ding Ru's funeral procession.

She overheard passersby discussing how Ding Ru had lost her purity and was pregnant with an illegitimate child. Angrily, Lin Rulan interjected, asserting that Ding Ru's misfortune was not fate but the result of someone else's evil deeds. In her daze, Song Chuliu, a douhua vendor, accidentally bumped into her, spilling douhua onto Lin Rulan. As Song Chuliu apologized and tried to clean Lin Rulan's clothes, a man harassed the vendor.

Just then, Liu Xin appeared and forcefully intervened, punishing the man and defending Song Chuliu. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Rulan approached Liu Xin, asking him to expedite her complaint. She offered him her precious pearl hairpin as a token, and Liu Xin accepted it after hinting at it, instructing her to write her petition promptly. Returning home, Lin Rulan, overcome by fever, collapsed at the doorway and was found by her brother, Lin Lang.

When she awoke, Meng Wan was by her side. Although Lin Rulan initially told Meng Wan to leave, Meng Wan stayed, tending to her. They finally reconciled, sharing their similar experiences with Wu Lian's manipulative tactics: first criticizing a girl's skill, then offering personal guidance, only to force himself upon them, making them willing playthings.

Meng Wan confessed that she had been too cowardly to expose Wu Lian earlier, fearing it would only ruin their reputations and strain their friendship, which she valued deeply. She believed it was better for Lin Rulan to eventually forget about Wu Lian and move on. However, Lin Rulan was resolute. Despite Meng Wan's warnings about her reputation and the difficulty of challenging a powerful figure like Wu Lian, Lin Rulan declared that seeking justice was worth any cost.

Her brother, Lin Lang, reassured her of his unconditional support. The next day, Lin Rulan delivered her formal complaint to Liu Xin, who promised to submit it to Prefect Chen. Later, Meng Wan found Liu Xin and demanded Lin Rulan's hairpin back, accusing him of accepting bribes from Wu Lian and having no intention of helping Lin Rulan. Liu Xin dismissed her accusations, challenging her to report him to the Yamen if she truly believed he was corrupt.

Meanwhile, Prefect Chen received Lin Rulan's petition and, remembering his long-standing suspicions about Wu Lian, considered a deeper investigation. Wu Lian, however, was already informed by his steward, Wu An, that Lin Rulan had filed a complaint against him.

Seven years later, Liu Xin, now known as Cripple Liu, completed his prison sentence. He was reluctant to leave a gambling table but was urged by others that Prefect Chen was waiting for him. Prefect Chen met Liu Xin outside, expressing his hope that Liu Xin wouldn't hold a grudge against him for the past. He claimed he couldn't protect Liu Xin seven years ago because Liu Xin had offended someone formidable.

Liu Xin, holding a pearl hairpin he had taken from the table, assured Prefect Chen that he bore no resentment for the events of seven years prior. Prefect Chen then revealed that he had arranged for Counselor Yang to clear Liu Xin's household registration and provide him with a new name, along with a comparable position at the Yamen in Xunzhou, suggesting they leave Huaizhou that very night.

Liu Xin politely declined, stating he had "unfinished business" in Huaizhou and wanted to "meet old friends and catch up." Prefect Chen warned him against seeking revenge, asserting that Liu Xin and his associates could not win against their powerful adversary. Liu Xin brushed off the warning, claiming he had lost contact with his old friends from prison. He departed, promising to share a drink with Prefect Chen another time, who urged him to get his leg treated.

Liu Xin began his meticulous preparations. He confirmed that Officer Tu's family was hosting a feast that night, to which Wu Lian had been invited. He learned Wu Lian would depart at approximately 6 p. m. by sedan, taking Wuyang Road. Ensuring his weapons—swords, spears, sabers, and halberds—were ready, he instructed his men to gather around 4 p. m. His explicit order was not to kill Wu Lian but to aim for his left leg.

That evening, Liu Xin intercepted Wu Lian's sedan on Wuyang Road. His men, recognizing the danger, urged him to flee. Prefect Chen appeared, attempting to dissuade Liu Xin, claiming the sedan was empty and Wu Lian had taken an alternate route, offering Liu Xin a chance to walk away. Liu Xin, however, accused Prefect Chen of tipping off Wu Lian and reiterated his unwavering resolve to avenge his broken leg and imprisonment.

Unexpectedly, Wu Lian emerged from the sedan, chastising Prefect Chen for the poor security in Huaizhou Prefecture and insisting that the "culprit" should not be let go. Despite Prefect Chen's reminder of their prior agreement to allow Liu Xin a way out, Wu Lian rejected it. Liu Xin lunged at Wu Lian, targeting his left leg, but was blocked by Wu Lian's skilled bodyguard.

Just as Liu Xin was in peril, a mysterious figure launched stones from a distance, hitting Wu Lian's guards and enabling Liu Xin to escape. As he fled, an arrow with a note "South City Post" landed nearby, guiding him to the designated location. Upon arriving at the South City Post, Liu Xin was astonished to see the person waiting for him.

Meanwhile, Wu Lian questioned Prefect Chen, insinuating that Liu Xin's escape was deliberate and demanding an investigation into the mysterious archer. Prefect Chen denied complicity, emphasizing Liu Xin's long imprisonment and lack of connections in the yamen, and stated that Wu Lian could report the matter to Mrs. Ning himself if he wished. Days later, Mrs. Ning suffered from a persistent headache that no medicine could cure.

Her maid suggested it might be a malevolent spirit, given the Lv family's recent exorcism next door. That night, Mrs. Ning was startled by a shadow outside her room and, terrified, decided to visit a temple the next morning. At the temple, Liu Xin, disguised as the fortune teller Hu, approached her, claiming to see "severely bad luck" on her face and noting her restless sleep.

He introduced himself as a fortune teller and warned her to "be careful of sharp objects today," charging one tael of silver per question. Mrs. Ning, finding him inauspicious, had him dismissed. Later that day, back in her mansion, she was reviewing an embroidery pattern from Yanyu Tower for the Empress Dowager's birthday when she accidentally pricked her finger with a hidden needle. Remembering the fortune teller's ominous warning, she immediately sent for him.

Liu Xin, after accepting payment of one tael of silver per question, inquired about her persistent headache, the strange shadows she saw at night, and a withered plant in her bedroom's southwest corner. Mrs. Ning confirmed all these details, amazed by his apparent insight. Liu Xin then instructed her to remove the withered plant, claiming it would alleviate her headache, and charged her for this advice.

To completely resolve her headache, he insisted he needed to survey her entire mansion, to which Mrs. Ning readily agreed. During his "inspection," Liu Xin gave several peculiar instructions: moving a chamber pot from a restroom to the kitchen and preserving its contents for 49 days, replacing all her ornamental flowers with "Shidoulan orchids" (known for their unpleasant scent resembling a dead mouse), and advising her to eat "pickled mandarin fish and moldy amaranth stalks" instead of pastries.

Mrs. Ning, bewildered by these demands, asked for an explanation. Liu Xin gravely revealed that he had calculated her birth chart and discovered an "evil spirit" lurking around her. He explained that this individual had brought her ten years of good fortune, but that period was now ending, ushering in a decade of misfortunes, starting with minor ailments and escalating to life-threatening dangers.

When Mrs. Ning pressed for the identity of this "evil spirit," Liu Xin initially hesitated, citing fears of karmic retribution. However, after Mrs. Ning offered more money, he agreed to provide a birth chart (year of ren-xu, month of ren-zi, day of ding-mao, hour of ji-wei) which she could use to identify the "traitor" among her close associates. Later, Meng Wan tried to reason with Mrs. Ning, cautioning her against believing the fortune teller's "alien" advice and trusting a stranger.

Mrs. Ning, however, confidently asserted her unerring judgment of people. Soon after, Wu Lian arrived, seeking an audience to apologize for the embroidery needle incident. Mrs. Ning, already suspicious, pressed him for his complete birth chart. As Wu Lian confirmed the year of ren-xu, month of ren-zi, day of ding-mao, and hour of ji-wei, Mrs. Ning's expression changed, recalling the fortune teller's dire predictions about a period of misfortune following ten years of luck.

She abruptly dismissed Wu Lian, telling him not to return for a few days. Confused, Wu Lian left and encountered Steward Su of Ning Mansion, who was carrying a list of birth dates. Steward Su explained that Mrs. Ning, convinced by a fortune teller of an "evil spirit" in the mansion, was collecting everyone's birth information to find this entity.

When Wu Lian asked about the fortune teller, Steward Su described him as having a limp leg, a detail that immediately made Wu Lian realize it was Liu Xin. Back with Mrs. Ning, Meng Wan subtly fanned the flames of doubt by mentioning widespread rumors that the Ning Mansion's standing in the capital was solely dependent on Wu Lian's Yanyu Embroidery.

Enraged by this suggestion, Mrs. Ning passionately defended her own accomplishments, highlighting how she, as the widowed Mrs. Ning, had maintained her family's influence for eleven years by leveraging Wu Lian's skill to gain favor with the Empress Dowager. She claimed it was her own "ability to recognize talent and value" that truly mattered. Meng Wan further flattered her, suggesting Mrs. Ning could easily find other talented individuals.

Though Mrs. Ning acknowledged Meng Wan's well-intentioned advice, she stated she needed time to deliberate. The following night, Meng Wan met Liu Xin at a teahouse. She reported that the "seed" of doubt had been planted in Mrs. Ning’s mind, but it would require time to mature. Liu Xin suggested pressing the advantage and immediately eliminating Wu Lian's powerful backing. Meng Wan, however, cautioned against impulsiveness, reminding him of her earlier intervention.

A flashback revealed the surprise at South City Post: Meng Wan had personally shot the arrows that aided Liu Xin's escape and had hired individuals from the Cao Gang to further assist him. When Liu Xin asked how she knew he would be in trouble, Meng Wan explained that, given his resolute character, she anticipated he would not easily abandon his quest for revenge after seven years of imprisonment and his broken leg.

Liu Xin then recalled her previous animosity towards him. Meng Wan clarified her current trust in him stemmed from his continued possession of Lin Rulan's pearl hairpin, a symbol of their shared, unresolved past. She stated that while she would not have trusted "Captain Liu" seven years ago, she was willing to trust "Cripple Liu" now, as his continued wearing of the hairpin indicated a "common enemy."

Back in the present, Liu Xin challenged Meng Wan about her "different goals," arguing that her arrows should have targeted Wu Lian directly. Meng Wan distinguished their motivations: Liu Xin sought revenge for his broken leg, while her ultimate aim was to secure "true justice for Rulan," who had died without it. She warned Liu Xin about the formidable influence of the Ning Mansion backing Wu Lian, stressing the need for long-term strategic planning rather than reckless action.

Impressed by Meng Wan’s foresight, Liu Xin agreed to join her, provided he would personally deal with Wu Lian's left leg. With their alliance sealed, Meng Wan, citing her restricted mobility as a "deeply cloistered woman," tasked Liu Xin with their next critical mission: to seek out Liu Sanniang. Meng Wan described Liu Sanniang as a top courtesan renowned for her talent and beauty, residing in the Peacock Garden in Xunzhou, and believed she could be a valuable ally.

Upon arriving in Xunzhou, Liu Xin gathered information about Liu Sanniang from locals at a teahouse. He learned that Sanniang, originally from Huaizhou, was a former embroiderer who had studied under Wu Lian at Yanyu Tower and still possessed exceptional embroidery skills, but had become a treasured courtesan to noble young masters seven years prior, and later a prominent courtesan. Ignoring their condescending remarks about his attire, Liu Xin learned the Peacock Garden was located southeast of the teahouse.

He proceeded to scale the garden wall and, upon falling, literally collided with Liu Sanniang. Without preamble, he asked her if she remembered a woman named Rulan from Huaizhou Prefecture, who had lived seven years ago.

Seven years ago, Liu Sanniang, renowned for her beauty and exquisite dancing, resided in Yuan Mei's mansion. Her captivating performances drew the admiration and unwanted attention of many men, who brazenly suggested Yuan Mei lend her out or even exchange her for his own servants. Yuan Mei firmly rejected these advances, stating that the women in his household were not objects to be borrowed. He subtly warned Liu Sanniang to be cautious of the lascivious men.

Later, during a gathering, Chen Zhiyuan learned that a friend's daughter intended to study embroidery at Yanyu Tower. Chen Zhiyuan quickly intervened, advising against it and hinting at a scandalous complaint of rape against Wu Lian, although he swiftly retracted the statement, claiming he misremembered. However, Liu Sanniang, observing the exchange, caught a flicker of unease and anger on her face.

Meanwhile, Lin Rulan, determined to seek justice, approached Liu Xin about her case, but he informed her that without witnesses or evidence, the Yamen could not proceed. Undeterred, Lin Rulan vowed to find the necessary proof. She then visited Ding Ru's parents, expressing her belief that Ding Ru was driven to her death and revealing that she herself had endured a similar ordeal.

Lin Rulan had already submitted a complaint against Wu Lian and urged Ding Ru's parents to testify, hoping to expose Wu Lian and achieve justice. However, Ding Ru's father vehemently refused, fearing that a public trial would further tarnish his deceased daughter's reputation and bring irreversible shame upon their entire family.

He recounted how his niece, Yuan, had already suffered a broken engagement because of the scandal, and worried that other female relatives might be forced to shave their heads and become nuns. He believed that merely clarifying the truth would not change public perception and desperately wished for the matter to be buried.

Ding Ru's mother, though heartbroken and longing to clear her daughter's name, felt powerless, lamenting that if Ding Ru had truly wished to expose the truth, she would not have taken her own life. The father then asked Lin Rulan to leave, seeking only a peaceful life. Lin Rulan, though devastated, privately resolved not to accept such injustice and to forge her own path.

After being rebuffed by Ding Ru's parents, Lin Rulan received an unexpected invitation from Liu Sanniang, who had learned of the young woman's courageous accusation against Wu Lian from Chen Zhiyuan. Liu Sanniang expressed surprise that a girl so young would dare to challenge the esteemed Wu Lian. She then recounted Wu Lian's insidious pattern of manipulation: first, he would subtly undermine a girl's embroidery skills, fostering self-doubt.

Then, under the guise of offering private, specialized instruction, he would gain her trust and gratitude, eventually making unwelcome advances. Liu Sanniang revealed that she, too, had fallen victim to these tactics during her time at Yanyu Tower. However, unlike other girls, she saw through his facade, and when he attempted to assault her, she bravely defended herself by striking him with a candlestick before fleeing.

She deeply regretted not having killed him then, believing it would have spared many other girls from his predation. Liu Sanniang, who had been a courtesan in Yuan Mei's mansion and had since bought her freedom, explained that her upbringing in a geisha house had made her more perceptive to such deceptions. She affirmed that the fault lay entirely with Wu Lian, not Lin Rulan.

She warned Lin Rulan of the immense difficulties ahead, as Wu Lian was a powerful figure supported by Ningguo Gong's wife, and Yanyu Tower contributed significantly to Huaizhou's prestige. Despite the daunting odds, Lin Rulan remained steadfast, declaring her refusal to believe that justice was unattainable. Moved by Lin Rulan's unwavering resolve, Liu Sanniang pledged to testify on her behalf. The next morning, Liu Sanniang prepared to depart from Yuan Mei's mansion.

Yuan Mei, with genuine concern, provided her with a bag containing her cherished belongings and a vital travel permit. He gently advised her that women, like "duckweed," often needed to find a reliable man and a place to settle in this world. However, Liu Sanniang, with new resolve, firmly declared that from then on, she would live only for herself.

With tears in her eyes, she bid him farewell and embarked on her journey, eventually arriving at the Shihua House in Xunzhou. Meanwhile, buoyed by the prospect of a witness, Lin Rulan once again approached Liu Xin at the Yamen gates, eager for her case to proceed. Liu Xin, initially sympathetic, advised her to abandon the pursuit and return home to a peaceful life.

When she defiantly stated that she could only live peacefully after obtaining justice, Liu Xin's patience wore thin. He harshly reprimanded her, accusing her of being "dissolute" and "unfaithful," implying she was responsible for her own predicament. Stung by his unjust words, Lin Rulan's anger ignited. She walked directly to the Yamen entrance and struck the drum of injustice, compelling Prefect Chen to convene court. Though reluctant, Prefect Chen agreed, confident that a lone woman could not cause significant disruption.

During the trial, Lin Rulan bravely reiterated her accusation of rape against Wu Lian. The shocked onlookers, who revered Wu Lian as a refined and upstanding scholar, openly expressed their disbelief and outrage. Wu Lian, having been informed by his subordinate Wu An, arrived at court with a calculated calmness. He acknowledged that a "fault" had indeed occurred but artfully twisted the narrative.

He claimed that Lin Rulan, a talented but overly zealous student, had persistently sought his private guidance, particularly for "mandarin duck embroidery," which he emphasized was a symbol of love. He asserted that one evening, after a banquet, she had stopped him outside his study and "asked him to teach her about love" within her room. He feigned regret, blaming his actions on having consumed too many drinks and being unable to refuse her.

The public, swayed by his eloquent deception, swiftly turned on Lin Rulan, accusing her of seduction to illicitly acquire his secret Yanyu Embroidery techniques. Wu Lian then, in a performative display of generosity, offered to take Lin Rulan as his concubine to resolve the matter. Enraged, Lin Rulan vehemently rejected his offer, declaring she would rather die than become his concubine.

She passionately testified, exposing Wu Lian's cunning manipulation: how he had first gained her trust under the guise of mentorship, then assaulted her, and later feigned love, only for her to realize his words were all lies intended to conceal his "beastly behavior." At this critical juncture, Liu Sanniang stepped forward, identifying herself as Lin Rulan's witness.

She boldly confronted Wu Lian, reminding him of their past encounter, vividly recalling how she "cracked his head open with a candlestick" when he had attempted to force himself upon her, leaving a lasting scar. She denounced him as a predator, declaring that the esteemed embroiderers of Yanyu Tower were merely his "prey."

However, when asked to state her identity, Liu Sanniang revealed her true name, Liu Sannü, and her former status as a "courtesan" who had since bought her freedom. The prejudiced crowd immediately dismissed her testimony as unreliable, labeling her a "harlot" and further denouncing Lin Rulan for associating with such a person.

Pressed for more evidence, Lin Rulan courageously asserted that there were "other victims" within the Yanyu Tower, but she could not name them, further fueling the crowd's derision for her perceived lack of proof and for allegedly damaging Wu Lian's reputation. After the inconclusive trial, a disheartened Lin Rulan found solace in Liu Sanniang's embrace. Lin Rulan expressed profound sorrow for having implicated Liu Sanniang and her bitter disillusionment with a world where justice seemed unattainable.

Liu Sanniang comforted her, reminding her that public opinion did not define their worth. Liu Sanniang then tearfully announced her departure, explaining that her continued presence would not benefit Lin Rulan's case and might further implicate the Yuan family. She reaffirmed her unwavering resolve to live authentically for herself.

The two women, bound by shared trauma and a thirst for justice, promised to stay in touch, with Liu Sanniang pledging to write once settled, and Lin Rulan vowing to share news when she ultimately achieved justice. The dramatic court case, though unresolved, became the most talked-about event in Huaizhou Prefecture. Liu Xin, seizing an opportunity to impress Song Chuliu, a woman he was fond of, shamelessly fabricated a story.

He boasted that he, seeing Lin Rulan's plight, had secretly encouraged her to strike the drum of injustice, thereby enabling the case to be heard and offering her his covert assistance. He even arranged a clandestine meeting with Song Chuliu later that night. However, Liu Xin's bold fabrication swiftly brought about dire consequences. Wu Lian, enraged by the public challenge to his reputation, orchestrated a brutal retaliation.

That night, as Liu Xin arrived at the appointed meeting spot, he was ambushed and arrested by guards. They accused him of corruption, claiming to have found "stolen goods" in his home, which Liu Xin vehemently denied ever possessing. Despite his pleas to see Prefect Chen, he was informed that the Prefect was unavailable due to official duties. The guards then brutally assaulted him, breaking his leg, before throwing him into jail.

Later, Wu Lian, enjoying a drink with his loyal subordinate Wu An, confirmed that the scheme against Liu Xin had been successfully executed. Wu An reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to Wu Lian and his commitment to protecting the Yanyu Tower. Wu Lian, dismissing Liu Xin as "just a cripple," coldly ordered that he be left to "die in jail."

Seven years have passed since Liu Sanniang was forced to leave Huaizhou. She is now the most celebrated top courtesan in Xunzhou Prefecture, her beauty and talent captivating powerful officials and esteemed gentlemen alike. At her Peacock Garden, a patron, Young Master Sun, complains about her tardiness and criticizes her for "using her attractiveness."

Liu Sanniang, however, retorts sharply, asserting that just as men leverage their strength for glory on the battlefield, women are entitled to use their inherent beauty, and neither path is inherently superior or inferior. As the commotion subsides, Liu Xin appears unexpectedly, falling from a high wall. Sanniang initially orders her attendants to report him, but she halts when Liu Xin mentions "Rulan." Recognizing a connection to Meng Wan, Rulan's close friend, Sanniang invites him in.

Liu Xin reveals his mission: a scion of a noble family from the capital, Zhao Yin, notorious for frequenting brothels, has arrived in Xunzhou. He believes winning Zhao Yin's favor could be instrumental in bringing down Wu Lian. However, Sanniang vehemently rejects this, arguing that revisiting the past would only further tarnish Rulan's memory. Undeterred, Liu Xin urges her to return to Huaizhou, hinting at a discovery she might find compelling.

Meanwhile, in Ning Mansion, Wu Lian presents a street fortune-teller, Hu, who confesses that a limping man purchased his divination tools. This seemingly discredits Liu Xin's previous use of a "half-immortal" witness. Mrs. Ning, though suspicious of Wu Lian's pervasive knowledge, dismisses him, stating she needs more time to decide on the Empress Dowager's birthday gift. Meng Wan then showcases various embroidery samples from Huaizhou workshops, but Mrs. Ning deems them all inferior to Wu Lian's Yanyu Embroidery.

Ultimately, she concedes and decides to visit Yanyu Tower herself, bringing Madame Xu (Meng Wan) along. Upon entering the familiar premises, Meng Wan experiences a brief, joyful flashback of playing with Rulan as children, but her smile quickly fades as Wu Lian appears. During their visit, Meng Wan praises Wu Lian's unparalleled and renowned craftsmanship. Mrs. Ning, mindful of the Empress Dowager's 70th birthday approaching in three months, presses Wu Lian to expedite his work.

After Mrs. Ning and Meng Wan depart, Wu Lian secretly studies an old painting from that year, recognizing Meng Wan's face. However, with Meng Wan having changed her name, he is unsure if Madame Xu is indeed the former embroideress Meng Wan. Sensing a potential threat, he orders a subordinate to investigate Meng Wan's current whereabouts, despite recalling little about her Huaizhou background. Back in Huaizhou, Liu Sanniang meets Meng Wan, initially intending to dissuade her from her dangerous path.

Sanniang recounts seeing Meng Wan distraught after Rulan's trial seven years ago, noting their shared experience of having others suffer for them. She suggests that releasing the past brings peace and that clinging to things that bring dishonor is ultimately fruitless. Meng Wan, in turn, shares a local tragedy: seven years prior, a distinguished Huaizhou noble’s house courtesan provoked a powerful figure and fled. Consequently, the noble lost his wealth and sanity, becoming a homeless wanderer who rejected all assistance.

Meng Wan concludes that Sanniang is the only one who might be able to help him. Just then, the distraught cries of the noble—Yuan Mei—are heard from the street. Sanniang rushes out, embracing her former "Master" in tears, repeatedly murmuring "I'm sorry." In a moment of rare lucidity, Yuan Mei offers Sanniang the bun he had just acquired, inquiring why she is weeping and apologizing to her.

Witnessing this profound interaction, Meng Wan asks Sanniang if she will now join her in seeking justice for the wrongs they have endured. Sanniang turns to Meng Wan, her eyes reflecting unwavering resolve. Returning to her Peacock Garden, Liu Sanniang reflects on her past to Liu Xin. She recalls fleeing Huaizhou and seeing a peacock trapped and tormented in a cage at Shihua House, a mirror of her own predicament.

She vowed then to disregard societal judgment, accumulate wealth, and become Xunzhou's top courtesan, a goal she achieved, even buying the peacock and establishing her garden. However, seeing Yuan Mei's tragic state shattered her illusion of having escaped the past, making her realize her earlier advice to Meng Wan was hypocritical. She admits that Rulan's case irrevocably altered many lives, including her own and Meng Wan's, pushing them down a "road of no return."

She then informs Liu Xin that she has located Zhao Yin in Xunzhou. Confirming her commitment, Sanniang agrees to assist them "this once," though she swiftly rebukes Liu Xin's cynical comment about courtesans' loyalty. Zhao Yin, meanwhile, is reveling in frivolous pursuits at Shihua House. Liu Sanniang, making a dramatic entrance, captivates him with her mesmerizing zither performance and sword dance. Infatuated, Zhao Yin immediately requests a private meeting.

Madam Wang, the madam, explains Sanniang's high status and the exclusivity of her Peacock Garden, suggesting Zhao Yin attend Sanniang's annual banquet that evening, known as "Courtesan Night." There, Sanniang would play the zither and invite guests to join; if their music harmonized, he might win her favor. Liu Xin, observing from a distance, is satisfied. Later, alone with Zhao Yin, Sanniang gracefully deflects his physical advances, making him believe his monetary offer was insufficient.

She then fabricates a story about her ailing brother, whose life depends on an expensive daily prescription of rare herbs and a century-old wild ginseng. She promises to become Zhao Yin's concubine if he can sustain her brother's treatment. Eager to impress, Zhao Yin boasts of his immense wealth and his influential position as the Minzhou Maritime Commissioner, controlling all overseas trade and official shipping warrants.

Listening intently, Liu Xin pieces together the full scope of Zhao Yin and Wu Lian's illicit scheme: using forged official warrants to smuggle vast quantities of Yanyu Embroidery, falsifying merchandise lists, and evading taxes for immense profits. Sanniang, feigning skepticism, challenges Zhao Yin to prove his influence by procuring a piece of Wu Lian's Yanyu Embroidery.

Desperate to win her over, Zhao Yin readily agrees, declaring he will travel by waterway to Huaizhou the next day to meet Wu Lian, promising to acquire ten such pieces for her. Sanniang subtly probes about his business in Huaizhou, discreetly informing Liu Xin that Zhao Yin is almost certainly going to meet Wu Lian for a smuggling operation. She expresses concern about informing Meng Wan in time, but Liu Xin suggests catching them in the act at the dock.

They agree that Liu Xin will pose as Sanniang's ailing brother during the day-long boat journey to deter Zhao Yin's advances. The following day, Zhao Yin, Liu Sanniang, and Liu Xin, disguised as Sanniang's sickly brother, embark on the ship to Huaizhou. On board, Zhao Yin openly admires Sanniang, while Liu Xin, playing his role, fakes a sudden illness to deter further flirtation.

Zhao Yin informs Sanniang that they will reach Huaizhou by midnight and he plans to host Wu Lian on the ship, indicating they will not disembark to load goods. Sanniang covertly tells Liu Xin that this implies they intend to load goods and depart immediately. They strategize: both will infiltrate the cargo hold to identify the smuggled goods. Sanniang plans to then distract Wu Lian and Zhao Yin, while Liu Xin alerts Meng Wan.

Liu Xin also suggests Sanniang avoid direct confrontation with Wu Lian. Later that night, Wu Lian boards Zhao Yin's ship at the Huaizhou dock. They exchange pleasantries and toast, discussing their operations and the handling of key figures in the capital. Zhao Yin assures Wu Lian of his control over official warrants and shipping. Wu Lian, however, cautions him about leaving traces.

Zhao Yin boasts about his "less clean" methods compared to Yanyu Tower's women and then eagerly introduces Sanniang as the "gorgeous woman" on his ship, describing her as Xunzhou's top courtesan. Wu Lian expresses surprise, initially dismissing "top courtesans" as common prostitutes. His demeanor shifts noticeably when Zhao Yin mentions Sanniang's "lame older brother" is making his advances difficult.

Wu Lian, already suspicious from Zhao Yin's description of Sanniang and her 'lame older brother', has his suspicions confirmed when a subordinate reports Sanniang and Liu Xin's presence in the cargo hold, leading him to order their arrest. Confronted, Sanniang feigns ignorance, denying any resemblance to a "Liu Sannv" that Wu Lian mentions. Wu Lian then directly addresses Liu Xin, referring to him as "Officer Liu" and mocking his limp.

Liu Xin retorts, while Sanniang pretends to be confused by Wu Lian's animosity toward lame individuals. As Wu Lian's men move to capture them, Sanniang appeals to Zhao Yin, reminding him of her trust. Zhao Yin hesitates, but Wu Lian insists on the arrest. Suddenly, a group of masked figures intervenes. Their leader unmasks himself, revealing Shen Mu. He boldly identifies Zhao Yin as the Minzhou Maritime Commissioner and Wu Lian from Yanyu Tower, accusing them of smuggling royal tribute. He declares them caught red-handed and orders their immediate transfer to the capital for investigation.

Seven years ago, a young Shen Mu, new to Huaizhou, witnessed a constable extorting money from a Liang family farmer. Filled with righteous indignation, Shen Mu confronted the constable, demanding he return the illicit funds. The constable, mocking his youth, warned Shen Mu that Huaizhou had its own rules and that he shouldn't cause trouble, threatening him with violence from his men. Undeterred, Shen Mu declared his intention to report the constable to Prefect Chen.

The constable scoffed, noting that Prefect Chen was already overwhelmed by the "Peach Blossom Case" involving Rulan and Yanyu Tower and would likely be looking for someone to vent his anger on, advising Shen Mu to go get himself a beating. Rulan's family faced immense difficulties due to her lawsuit. The pharmacy teacher refused to take Lin Lang as an apprentice, and her parents' pharmacy was forced to close.

Rulan felt deeply remorseful, while her mother regretted ever sending her to the Yanyu Tower, which had brought such misfortune upon them. Lin Lang, enraged, wanted to confront Wu Lian but was restrained by his father. Despite their hardships, the family remained supportive and loving towards one another, assuring Rulan that they were there for her. The Wu family, however, was not backing down.

Mrs. Wu sent Matchmaker Wang to the Lin family's home with elaborate betrothal gifts, publicly announcing Wu Lian’s intention to take Rulan as a concubine. Matchmaker Wang boasted about her matchmaking prowess and praised the Wu family's high-standard gifts, implying Mrs. Wu's kindness for preserving Rulan's reputation. She openly declared that Rulan was lucky to be chosen, as even a virtuous maiden would struggle to marry into the Wu family, let alone Rulan.

Rulan's parents vehemently rejected the proposal, refusing to let the matchmaker enter and insisting she take the gifts back, stating Rulan would not marry Wu Lian. Matchmaker Wang, undeterred, tried to force her way in, with onlookers siding with her, calling Rulan ungrateful. Just then, Lin Lang emerged, brandishing a stick, forbidding anyone from entering and driving away the matchmaker and the gossiping crowd.

After they left, Rulan's father lovingly reassured her that they would support her for her entire life, no matter what. Meanwhile, Meng Wan returned home to the sound of her alcoholic father verbally abusing and physically assaulting her mother, demanding a bracelet. Meng Wan rushed in to protect her mother, who was being called a "loser" and a "jinx" by her father.

From her mother, Meng Wan learned that classes at Yanyu Tower were temporarily suspended due to recent incidents, and that Wu Lian had proposed to Rulan, but the Lin family had turned down the matchmaker. Meng Wan's mother expressed frustration, criticizing Rulan for "playing hard to get" and wishing Meng Wan was as capable. Feeling a sense of unease, Meng Wan quickly left for Rulan's house.

Upon arriving, Meng Wan found Gao Chengcheng pounding on Rulan’s door, loudly accusing Rulan of slandering Wu Lian to force him into marriage, claiming her rejection of the proposal was merely a tactic to "play hard to get." Meng Wan stepped forward, attempting to defend Rulan, arguing that Wu Lian's proposal was merely a cover-up for his misdeeds and that the Lin family had indeed sent the matchmaker away. Gao Chengcheng, refusing to listen, intensified her insults, calling Rulan "filthy."

Rulan then opened the door, slapped Gao Chengcheng, and forcefully told her to leave. Gao Chengcheng retreated, vowing to witness Rulan's downfall. Inside, Meng Wan asked Rulan if the betrothal rumors were true, expressing disbelief at Wu Lian’s audacity, to which Rulan responded with visible distress. Later, Gao Chengcheng confronted Wu Lian at Yanyu Tower, asking if he was truly marrying Rulan, but he dismissed her, advising her to focus on her embroidery.

Days later, Yamen officers, led by Captain Qian and including Mr. Zhou, arrived at Rulan's home to bring her to the Yamen for further investigation into her accusation of assault against Wu Lian. Rulan attempted to seek help from Liu Xin, but was informed by the officers that he had been imprisoned. Lin Lang tried to accompany his sister, but the officers prevented him.

As Rulan was roughly pushed and shoved by the constables, she nearly fell, but Shen Mu quickly stepped in to protect her. On the way to the Yamen, several constables made lewd and explicit comments about Rulan, comparing her skin to that of popular courtesans from Yanchun House and Xiaoxiang House, much to Shen Mu's visible displeasure. At the Yamen, Rulan demanded to see Prefect Chen, but was told he was too busy with official duties.

The constables then instructed her to recount the details of Wu Lian's assault, demanding explicit descriptions. Mr. Zhou and others physically reenacted parts of the assault, grabbing Rulan's hands and simulating undressing her, pushing her for louder and clearer details. Shen Mu intervened, reminding them that their duty was to question, not to brutalize. Mr. Zhou, accusing Shen Mu of "pitying women," ordered him to fetch water, forcing Shen Mu to leave as Rulan watched him with a desperate gaze.

Soon after, a matron arrived and ordered the constables to take Rulan for a physical inspection. The matron commanded Rulan to undress for the examination, explaining it was necessary to verify her claims. Rulan pleaded for the men to leave or for a more private setting, but the matron harshly refused, calling her "pretentious" as she was "no longer a virgin." The matron then offered Rulan an out: withdraw the lawsuit, and she would be spared the inspection.

Rulan, however, adamantly refused to drop the charges. Infuriated, the matron ordered the constables to forcibly undress her. Just as they were about to, Shen Mu burst back in, drawing his sword to fend off the constables and force them out of the room. After the examination, the matron confirmed that Rulan was no longer a virgin but noted an absence of any tearing, leading her to conclude that Rulan either willingly engaged with Wu Lian or actively seduced him.

She then scornfully accused Rulan of being a "shameless girl" who would resort to any means to "climb the social ladder." Meanwhile, Prefect Chen was informed that Rulan was proving to be resilient and that Shen Mu had complicated matters, reiterating that Rulan must not be allowed to tarnish Mr. Wu's reputation, as per Lady Ning's instructions. Seeing Rulan's outer garment ruined, Shen Mu offered her his uniform and escorted her to a clothing shop.

He had expected her to be discouraged, but was surprised by her unwavering resolve to seek justice, even if it meant taking her case to the capital. Moved by her determination, he suggested she find a litigator. At the clothing shop, realizing neither had money, Shen Mu used his Yamen officer's token and uniform as collateral for Rulan's new clothes.

Rulan then questioned why Shen Mu would help her, given that public opinion portrayed her as a "filthy" and "shameless girl" attempting to marry into the powerful Wu family, especially when he had to defy his own colleagues.

Shen Mu responded that he simply felt their actions were wrong and that he believed her, stating that he didn't think any woman would fabricate such a serious accusation about her chastity, and emphasizing that he did not find her "dirty," but rather, the true "filth" belonged to those who committed "beastly acts."

Later, back at the Yamen, Shen Mu faced hostility from his colleagues, including Mr. Zhou, who attacked him for his "heroic" actions and for associating with the now-imprisoned Liu Xin. Shen Mu fought back but was outnumbered and beaten. Rulan, determined, pawned her bracelet and began searching for a litigator. Many rejected her outright or tried to exploit her vulnerability. Finally, she stumbled upon an elderly litigator being harassed in the street and intervened to help him.

She then cautiously asked him to take her case. The old litigator recognized her from when she "filed the lawsuit" at the Yamen and asked if her testimony that day was entirely truthful, without any hidden details. Rulan swore on her life that she had concealed nothing. Convinced by her sincerity, the old litigator agreed to take her case, arranging to meet her at a teahouse to discuss the full story.

Rulan later encountered Shen Mu and informed him that she had successfully found a litigator, expressing her gratitude for his earlier advice and encouragement. Shen Mu, acknowledging her resolve, warned her that the path ahead would be arduous and advised her to take care. Rulan promised to treat him to wine once she won her case. As they parted ways, onlookers continued to hurl insults, calling them an "adulterous couple."

Seven years later, Shen Mu, now a formidable officer from the Imperial Guard Bureau in the capital, leads a covert operation. He and his vice-head, Kong Xin, await the full loading of smuggled goods onto a cargo ship before launching their attack. Wu Lian, the Supervisor of the Yanyu Tower, and Zhao Yin, the Supervisor of the Minzhou Foreign Trade Bureau, are caught red-handed smuggling royal tribute.

Wu Lian, initially unaware of Shen Mu's identity, demands to know who dares to rob his ship. Shen Mu announces the charges and that both are to be sent to the capital for investigation, then reveals himself when challenged. Confused and surprised by this unexpected ambush, Wu Lian and Zhao Yin attempt to flee.

As Wu Lian tries to escape, Shen Mu corners him with a blade at his throat, ordering him to return to the capital and confess his crimes. At this moment, Liu Xin appears and recognizes Shen Mu from their past. He tries to persuade Shen Mu to spare Wu Lian's life, but Shen Mu, misunderstanding Liu Xin's intentions, believes he has become an accomplice of Wu Lian and turns the blade on him.

Liu Xin insists he is not Wu Lian's "lackey" and harbors a deep hatred for him. Wu Lian, in a desperate attempt to create a diversion, offers Liu Sanniang to their captors. Liu Xin, once more urging Shen Mu not to harm Wu Lian, jumps into the water, advising him not to act rashly. Shen Mu then knocks Wu Lian unconscious. Meanwhile, Zhao Yin is also apprehended by Shen Mu's men.

After some time, Liu Xin returns to the ship, struggling with his last bit of strength, bringing Meng Wan. She boards and directly confronts Shen Mu, reminding him of his past vow to abandon politics for the military, noting his current position in officialdom. Meng Wan acknowledges her role as an "intercessor" for Wu Lian, clarifying that Liu Xin was acting under her instructions to ensure Wu Lian’s safety, despite Shen Mu's initial misunderstanding.

She impresses Shen Mu by deducing his affiliation with the Imperial Guard Bureau through subtle clues, specifically the characteristics of his sword and his history with the Tiger Head Army. Meng Wan reveals her own investigation into Wu Lian's illicit activities, having learned from maritime merchants about royal tribute appearing on overseas markets. She concludes that Wu Lian has sustained his extravagant lifestyle through smuggling and profiteering, detailing his conspiracy with Zhao Yin.

Meng Wan questions Shen Mu's true motivation for pursuing Wu Lian so relentlessly for seven years, asking if it's merely for disloyalty to the state or also for justice for Rulan and other women Wu Lian had wronged. Shen Mu confirms his strong dedication to seeking justice for them.

With their shared goal established—to see Wu Lian punished not just for smuggling, but for the women he harmed—Meng Wan asks Shen Mu to anchor the ship for three days, promising that if her plan fails, Wu Lian will be his to deal with as he pleases. When Shen Mu raises concerns about neglecting his duty, Meng Wan assures him that since he boarded secretly and hasn't revealed his identity, no one else knows.

She then suggests that if he has time, he could "chat" with Zhao Yin. Meanwhile, Zhao Yin, in a state of panic, attempts to bribe Shen Mu, offering him an official position and proposing they form a partnership to make vast fortunes together. Wu Lian calmly advises Zhao Yin to prioritize their lives over pride and to find a way to escape.

Wu Lian then instructs Zhao Yin to bite through his ropes with his teeth and then untie Wu Lian. As they succeed in freeing themselves, Shen Mu catches them. He sternly warns Wu Lian that any further escape attempts will result in his fingers being cut off, preventing him from ever holding an embroidery needle again. Shen Mu then confronts Zhao Yin, hinting at "disgraceful secrets" beyond smuggling.

He falsely informs Zhao Yin that Wu Lian has confessed everything, claiming he merely sold embroidery to Zhao Yin without knowing its illicit destination, thus pinning all blame on Zhao Yin. Zhao Yin is outraged, recalling Wu Lian's earlier declarations of innocence, and vehemently denies Wu Lian's supposed accusation that he "defiled many young women" from the Yanyu Tower. Shen Mu, observing the discord he has sown, tells Zhao Yin they can clarify the truth in the capital.

News of Wu Lian's capture quickly reaches Prefect Chen Zhien. A servant reports that Wu Lian was ambushed by villains at the wharf and is now trapped on a cargo ship with Zhao Yin, a high-ranking official's son from the capital. Chen Zhien immediately informs Mrs. Ning, who is furious that Wu Lian dared to engage in smuggling under her watch. She orders Chen Zhien to keep the matter quiet and prioritize rescuing them.

The next day, Chen Zhien leads his men to the wharf, attempting to intimidate the unidentified "bandits" on the ship with threats of capital punishment, offering leniency if they surrender. When his words are met with silence, his subordinate suggests negotiations, which also prove fruitless. They then consider using bamboo poles to reach the ship, but realize it would take too long. Chen Zhien, frustrated and facing continuous pressure from Mrs. Ning, decides on a theatrical "ruse of self-injury."

He orders his archers to fire, knowing the distance is too great for the arrows to reach the ship, a spectacle Shen Mu and Kong Xin observe with amusement, likening it to "exercising." With arrows running out, Chen Zhien dramatically stabs himself with an arrow, claiming he was shot by the "bandits," and quickly retreats to the Yamen, instructing his men to report to Mrs. Ning that he is gravely injured.

At Ning Mansion, Mrs. Ning is restless, anxious about the situation. She is informed that her maid, Wenyue, who was supposedly visiting family, has not returned, and her home is found empty. Mrs. Ning also tries to summon Meng Wan for advice, but she is also unavailable, having left her residence earlier. Later, while complaining about a headache and ordering a maid to stop lighting incense, Mrs. Ning's suspicion is aroused.

She discovers the peculiar incense in Wenyue's room, linking it to her recent feelings of confusion, and begins to suspect Wenyue of being behind her troubles. Meanwhile, Meng Wan is seen hanging lanterns. She explains that the lanterns, soft on the outside but strong on the inside, symbolize women, and it is observed that she is, in fact, "weaving a net" for Wu Lian.

Soon, news of Wu Lian's arrest by capital officers spreads through the city, though the local Yamen remains silent. Meng Wan reflects that solving a case requires courage, wisdom, and power, qualities previously lacking but now "arriving today." She watches an approaching carriage and identifies the passenger as the person she alluded to – an "old acquaintance" who has come to return a favor, referring to Shen Mu.

The proposal from the Wu family caused a stir, and many busybodies, whether they had a prior engagement or not, jumped in to create more trouble. A man named Wang Liulang loudly demanded to annul his engagement with Rulan, accusing her of being unfaithful. He claimed she had seduced Yang Sanlang, the son of the county magistrate, in Chen County and then tried to frame him for harassment, later doing the same to Mr. Wu.

Rulan's father came out to defend his daughter, stating that the previous engagement had already been annulled and the betrothal gifts returned. However, Wang Liulang produced Rulan's betrothal letter as proof, convincing the onlookers that Rulan was promiscuous and indecent. The kind Lin family, unable to counter Wang Liulang's thuggish accusations, eventually retreated inside.

Overwhelmed by the constant slander and unable to continue running their pharmacy, Rulan's mother decided to take Rulan to Fuyuan Temple to get rid of the bad luck. After praying and burning incense, Rulan still felt restless and went for a walk on the back mountain. There, she stumbled upon a group of ruthless men searching for an injured man. As Rulan decided to leave, a soft groan caught her attention.

She saw a large, blood-soaked man lying on the ground, barely alive. Despite her initial reluctance to get involved, Rulan couldn't abandon him. She gathered herbs from the mountain and provided him with basic first aid, temporarily stopping the bleeding. Rulan then took the injured man to the temple's woodshed to rest. Suddenly, several women burst in, immediately accusing Rulan of having a secret rendezvous with the man.

Furious, the man grabbed a knife and pointed it at the women, condemning their false accusations. Rulan, fearing for their safety, tried to calm the man. However, the women became even more aggressive, insulting Rulan and mocking her for seducing a "cook" and then a "bandit." Rulan realized that people often prioritize what they want to believe over the actual truth. Just then, Meng Wan and the abbot arrived, bringing an end to the chaotic scene.

The abbot, a reasonable man, recognized Feng Da. He explained that Feng Da, the Second Master of Heifeng Camp, had stolen medicine from the Changfeng Escort Agency for his ailing elder brother and was subsequently pursued to the temple. The abbot instructed Feng Da to leave after his wounds were bandaged, emphasizing the temple's neutrality in worldly affairs. Feng Da attempted to learn Rulan's name, but Rulan's mother intervened, preventing him from doing so.

The abbot then handed Rulan the fortune stick she had drawn, advising her not to be overly persistent. However, Rulan firmly believed in human endeavor and was determined to continue her fight, even if she had to do it alone. Rulan suspected that Wu Lian was orchestrating Wang Liulang's actions, and later, Wu Lian confirmed her suspicions by instructing his subordinate to bring more witnesses from Chen County to further tarnish Rulan's reputation.

The next day, Wang Liulang returned to the Lin family's pharmacy, bringing what he claimed were witnesses, including Yang Sanlang's servant, Rulan's former maid, and a wet nurse who allegedly caught Rulan with Yang Sanlang. Before they could speak, Feng Da, who had come to repay Rulan's kindness, intervened, kicking Wang Liulang and then surprisingly proposing marriage to Rulan, offering all his belongings as betrothal gifts.

Rulan's brother, angered by the continuous disturbance, brandished a stick, but Rulan quickly diffused the situation and persuaded Feng Da to leave to prevent further trouble. Meanwhile, Meng Wan discovered she was pregnant. She visited Gao Chengcheng at the rouge shop and revealed Wu Lian's true manipulative nature. Meng Wan explained how Wu Lian routinely replaced silk bedsheets with linen ones for the women he had affairs with, implying that Gao Chengcheng was just another conquest.

She further revealed that Wu Lian viewed women from noble families as "boring" and mere "hunting targets." Gao Chengcheng, enraged by Wu Lian's deceit and betrayal, agreed to testify in Rulan's defense in court. Later, Wu Lian's wife visited the Lin family, urging them to drop the lawsuit. She promised Rulan a respectable position as a concubine within the Wu household, assuring her a life of ease without demanding typical wifely duties.

She argued that given Rulan's predicament, marriage was a woman's only viable path, as her parents and brother couldn't support her indefinitely. Rulan's parents were swayed by the offer, but Rulan adamantly refused, declaring she would rather become a nun than accept such a fate. Adding to Rulan's difficulties, the litigator she had initially hired returned her payment, withdrawing from the case.

He cited the widespread rumors from Chen County and the recent temple incident, claiming that Rulan's credibility was compromised and her case was unwinnable due to the prevailing "no smoke without fire" sentiment. Meng Wan's mother tried to arrange a meeting between Meng Wan and her cousin, Zhao Yucheng, a renowned litigator visiting Huaizhou. Upon learning of his profession, Meng Wan immediately sought his help for Rulan's case.

Zhao Yucheng initially hesitated, explaining he was in Huaizhou for personal matters and lacked the time for a thorough investigation. Meng Wan reminded him of his original motivation for studying law: to seek justice for the wronged. Rulan then passionately declared her unwavering commitment to pursue justice, even if it meant taking her case to the capital or petitioning the emperor. She confirmed that she had witnesses.

Impressed by Rulan's fierce determination, Zhao Yucheng agreed to represent her, promising to forgo payment until her innocence was proven. He decided to prepare for the case while Rulan and Meng Wan waited for the trial. Shortly after, Rulan encountered Feng Da, his head bowed. He informed her that his elder brother had passed away and Heifeng Camp had been completely dismantled by the Changfeng Escort Agency. With his men dispersed, he saw no reason to remain.

Feng Da expressed his gratitude for her past help and his readiness to assist her if she ever needed him. Rulan, recognizing his martial prowess and reputation, suggested that instead of continuing a life of banditry, he should consider becoming a legitimate escort.

Seven years later, Feng Da was working as an escort leader for Huashi Escort Agency. However, his careless actions and personal consumption of eight of the Kunshan crabs he was hired to transport, which were already suffering significant losses, led to a substantial financial setback for Mr. Hu and incurred the Manager's fury.

The Manager threatened to fire Feng Da, declaring that he had offended all their clients, and ordered him to return to his former life as a bandit at Heifeng Camp without his pay. Just as the Manager was about to dismiss him, a client arrived, specifically requesting Feng Da for an escort. This client was Meng Wan, though Feng Da initially didn't recognize her.

Meng Wan identified him as Feng Da, the former second in command of Heifeng Camp, recalling how his bandit group was disbanded after robbing a government convoy years ago, angering the court and leading to its suppression. Feng Da tried to brush off the past, asking if she needed to escort goods or people. Meng Wan specified "people," adding that he would need to "grab" them.

She then reminded him of a promise he had made to a young girl seven years prior, which finally sparked recognition in Feng Da. Following Meng Wan's instructions, Feng Da orchestrated a staged rescue. Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang of Huainan East Circuit, on an incognito visit with his wife to admonish officials and secretly investigate collusion between officials and merchants, encountered what appeared to be robbers in a forest near Huaizhou.

Mrs. Lou, sensing an ambush aimed at her husband, urged him to be cautious. Lou Mingzhang calmly prepared for death, having already arranged his affairs. When the "robbers" demanded their valuables, Lou Mingzhang noted their unusual demeanor, realizing they were merely after money. Suddenly, Feng Da dramatically intervened, identifying himself as "Double Hammer Feng from Huashi Escort Agency," and drove off the "bandits" who clearly knew him and gave him "face."

Feng Da then offered to escort Lou Mingzhang and his wife to the capital. However, Lou Mingzhang, seeing through the act, immediately realized Feng Da and the "robbers" were in cahoots and demanded to know who instructed him. Annoyed that "those women's ideas" for the staged rescue were not as straightforward as his usual methods (which would involve his hammer), Feng Da apologized before knocking both Lou Mingzhang and his wife unconscious to proceed with the plan.

Upon waking, Lou Mingzhang found Feng Da watching over him. Feng Da, with some humorous mispronunciations, revealed he knew Lou Mingzhang's true identity as the Judicial Commissioner of Huainan East Circuit and his mission to investigate corruption. When asked who instructed him, Feng Da claimed it was the "civilians of Huaizhou Prefecture," explaining that a "vicious dog" (referring to Wu Lian) was dominating the area, and Lou Mingzhang was the one to beat the dog.

Lou Mingzhang, realizing he was being manipulated into investigating in Huaizhou, questioned Feng Da's motives, to which Feng Da implicitly challenged his integrity by asking if he was a corrupt official. Lou Mingzhang denied it. They then proceeded to the Huaizhou Prefecture Yamen, where Lou Mingzhang interrogated Prefect Chen Zhiyuan about a recent cargo ship robbery, which he suspected involved smuggling.

Prefect Chen was evasive, attempting to downplay the incident, and tried to divert Lou Mingzhang with an offer of a welcome party at Zuixian Restaurant. Lou Mingzhang, unswayed and with Feng Da interjecting to stop the Prefect's "tricks," reprimanded the Prefect for his dishonesty and ordered him to hand over his official seal, suspending him for investigation.

He then directed Feng Da to take him to the pier, intending to personally oversee the arrival of the two individuals from the ship. Back at Ning Mansion, Mrs. Ning paced anxiously, awaiting news from the pier, where Wu Lian's ship remained stationary. Meng Wan, whom Mrs. Ning now regarded as a trusted advisor, appeared composed, calmly drinking her tea.

Mrs. Ning expressed her helplessness, and Meng Wan observed that Wu Lian's ship was in the middle of the river, "easy to defend and hard to attack," suggesting that only an even larger vessel could enable Yamen soldiers to rescue him. This only deepened Mrs. Ning's distress.

The situation escalated when a messenger from the Yamen reported that Prefect Chen Zhiyuan had been suspended by a high-ranking official, Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang of Huainan East Circuit, who had already gone to the pier. The ship had since docked, implying Wu Lian was now facing trial. Mrs. Ning, recognizing Lou Mingzhang's reputation as an impartial and highly trusted official, was perplexed as to why he had stopped in Huaizhou, as he was due to return to the capital.

She recalled a past incident where she prevented Wu Lian from selling Yanyu Embroidery to Lou Mingzhang's wife, worrying it might be held against them. She lamented being deceived by a "lame fortune teller" and her own maid, acknowledging Meng Wan's earlier warnings. Meng Wan, in turn, advised Mrs. Ning to focus on the current predicament, subtly suggesting that "now is the best time for you to let go" of her attachment to Wu Lian.

At the Huaizhou Prefecture Yamen, Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang presided over the hearing of Wu Lian and Zhao Yin. Zhao Yin immediately erupted in anger, calling Wu Lian a "bastard" and attempting to attack him, claiming Wu Lian had framed him. Lou Mingzhang calmed the court. Wu Lian, surprised by Lou Mingzhang's presence, denied any crime. Zhao Yin then vehemently accused Wu Lian of violating the women in Yanyu Tower, stating that "almost all" of them had been victimized.

Wu Lian interrupted, dismissing these as "old false accusations" from seven years ago, claiming they had been withdrawn. Lou Mingzhang stopped Wu Lian's interruption, allowing Zhao Yin to continue his accusations. Lou Mingzhang then presented boxes of Yanyu Embroidery from the ship, which Wu Lian acknowledged were made by him and his embroideresses. When questioned about the illegal production of royal tributes and smuggling for massive profits, Wu Lian denied it.

He claimed his relationship with Zhao Yin was purely a business transaction, and what Zhao Yin did with the embroideries afterward was not his concern. He challenged Lou Mingzhang to prove they were royal tributes, then meticulously explained that the "auspicious beast" embroidered was, in fact, a Qilin, not a dragon, with specific features like a short body, long tail, four whiskers, and a single mane, and notably, its eyes were not dotted.

He asserted that these details ensured the embroidery lacked the specific characteristics required for royal tributes, thus adhering to all regulations and never overstepping any ritualistic boundaries. He proudly stated Yanyu Embroidery had never erred in royal commissions, asserting he was merely "careful and prudent" as a craftsman.

Lou Mingzhang noted Wu Lian's foresight in preparing a meticulous defense strategy to "retreat completely" even before facing court, but Wu Lian maintained his innocence, stating he had "never been stained, so how can there be any talk of clearing my name?" Seeing Wu Lian's successful self-exoneration, Zhao Yin, enraged, called him a "bastard" again, accusing him of being "unfaithful and unrighteous" for twisting black and white.

Lou Mingzhang, appearing to accept Wu Lian's defense, implied Zhao Yin was solely guilty of abusing power, engaging in illegal trade, and large-scale smuggling as the Maritime Trade Commissioner, suggesting immediate punishment. Desperate, Zhao Yin burst out, claiming Wu Lian initiated the smuggling by contacting him first, and had "violated the embroideresses" seven years ago, seeking Zhao Yin's help to bribe Huaizhou officials and clear his name by offering a lucrative smuggling deal for royal embroideries to Arab countries.

However, when asked for physical evidence or witnesses, Zhao Yin could provide none. Lou Mingzhang ended the court session, deeming the case unfinished and stating he would report it in detail in the capital after his scheduled report. He arranged a private meeting for that night and had Zhao Yin taken away, while Wu Lian, seemingly cleared, left to prepare for the Empress Dowager's birthday, agreeing to cooperate if needed.

After the court session, Mrs. Ning, fearing broader implications for herself, decided to feign illness and refuse any visitors, especially Wu Lian. Wu Lian, seemingly unfazed, returned to Yanyu Tower and instructed his aide to investigate Meng Wan's background, as her family had vanished seven years prior and were now untraceable. He also inquired about the new embroideress who had recently joined, confirming she was in the fifth room of the East Wing.

Meanwhile, Lou Mingzhang, having reviewed the situation, acknowledged that the current accusations against Wu Lian for smuggling and violation lacked any substantial evidence for investigation. His wife, Mrs. Lou, also pointed to the seven-year-old official case files related to an embroideress accusing Wu Lian, stating they indicated no injustice and merely a "small trick" by a girl who wanted to marry him.

She then urgently pressed Lou Mingzhang to prioritize his safety and return to the capital to report his existing findings, suggesting they defer further investigation into the complex Huaizhou case, especially given his critical official duties. Concurring that they should return to the capital, Lou Mingzhang decided to depart the next day, taking Zhao Yin to the capital, and to deliberate on other matters later.

Feng Da, overhearing, tried to stop him, reminding him the "vicious dog" (Wu Lian) hadn't been caught. At a gathering that night, Meng Wan, Liu Sanniang, Liu Xin, Shen Mu, and Feng Da discussed the day's events. Liu Xin expressed relief that Wu Lian hadn't been taken to the capital, fearing he would easily escape and then retaliate with a false accusation. Feng Da, frustrated by the lack of resolution, impulsively suggested raiding Yanyu Tower that very night.

Liu Xin, despite his earlier bickering with Feng Da, readily agreed. Liu Sanniang, observing their shared eagerness, dismissed them as "rotten snails meeting hungry old crows, stinking together," criticizing their eagerness to act as "brutes" driven by "personal revenge." This led to a heated exchange where Feng Da retorted that she was no different, being motivated by revenge for her "crazy young master."

Shen Mu, emphasizing his duty in the Imperial City Guard, warned against harming Wu Lian for personal vendettas, threatening to arrest them if they engaged in murder and plunder. Feng Da clarified he only wanted "his leg," not his life, playfully calling Shen Mu "nagging like a woman." Meng Wan intervened, bringing calm to the bickering group. She acknowledged that Wu Lian's meticulousness had indeed prevented Zhao Yin from presenting concrete evidence.

She explained that to truly bring Wu Lian down, they needed to "chop off his two legs." The first was Mrs. Ning, the Duchess, who connected him to imperial relatives, elevating Yanyu Embroidery's fame to a divine status and earning him immense prestige. The second was Zhao Yin, who facilitated his illegal wealth through the Maritime Trade Bureau by smuggling forged royal tributes.

Meng Wan confirmed that Zhao Yin's "leg" was now completely broken, but Mrs. Ning's connection to Wu Lian remained, like "a lotus root whose fibers, though broken, still connect." Therefore, their next crucial step was to "keep Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang in Huaizhou Prefecture." She emphasized that Lou Mingzhang was the ideal person due to his "people-oriented mindset," and possessing all the necessary "official position, duty, power, and good temperament," requiring a significant case to hold his attention.

She rallied them, quoting, "If a thousand people share the same mind, they have the strength of a thousand. If ten thousand people have different minds, it's useless even if there are ten thousand," stressing the need for unity to succeed. True to her word, Meng Wan set her plan in motion.

She mobilized her allies: many scholars diligently wrote countless complaints detailing various injustices, while others took to the streets under the cover of night, posting them on every wall and doorway across Huaizhou Prefecture, including the gates of Ning Mansion. By morning, the city was abuzz with widespread public outcry. Crowds gathered, discussing a particularly tragic case of a 15-year-old girl, Lin Rulan, who was brutally violated and died, with public opinion split between suicide and murder.

The commotion reached Lou Mingzhang and Feng Da. Feng Da observed the prominent display of three plaques—"Ning Duchess's Mansion," "Huaizhou Yamen," and "Yanyu Tower"—arranged symbolically, asking Lou Mingzhang if it suggested that Ning Mansion and the Yamen acted as the "left and right guardians" of Yanyu Tower.

This visual confirmation, combined with the public outcry, solidified Lou Mingzhang's belief that Wu Lian had a powerful backer, convincing him that the matter was far from simple and he could not leave Huaizhou. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ning, informed of the widespread complaints, recognized the truth in the accusations against Wu Lian. She was aware that Lou Mingzhang was initially preparing to leave Huaizhou, an opportunity she would have seized to distance herself from Wu Lian.

However, with Lou Mingzhang now committed to a thorough investigation and vowing to find the truth, Mrs. Ning felt compelled to protect Wu Lian, declaring that even if he were to die, he must die "innocently." Meng Wan, inquiring about Mrs. Ning's reaction, concluded that they had underestimated the Duchess and that Mrs. Ning still needed "a good push." Meng Wan then revealed that a new act in their unfolding "good show" was about to begin, indicating her next plan.

Seven years ago, Huang Jiaojiao, who owned the Huangji Embroidery House, primarily ran a silk business, providing threads to Wu Lian's Yanyu Tower. At the time, Wu Lian was troubled by the lack of a suitable purple silk thread for an important project. Hearing of his predicament, Huang Jiaojiao experimented privately and successfully dyed purple silk threads with various fine shades.

After subtly bribing Ms. Chen, the steward of Yanyu Tower, Huang Jiaojiao secured the silk supply contract, meaning all future silk thread business for Yanyu Tower would go to Huangji. She eagerly returned to her shop and instructed her manager, Yunniang, to complete the large order within ten days, offering higher wages and more staff, emphasizing that no expense should be spared.

Yunniang also inquired about hiring her cousin, whose husband had recently died from tuberculosis, and who was now homeless. Huang Jiaojiao initially dismissed the idea, stating her shop was not a charity. Meanwhile, the Wu family sent more betrothal gifts to the Lin family, and this time, Rulan's parents seemed swayed, believing it was the best outcome for their daughter. Even her typically supportive brother, Lin Lang, hesitated.

Rulan, furious, threw a box of jewelry to the ground and ran out. Meng Wan quickly followed, comforting her and assuring her that with a litigator, new witnesses, and evidence, they could definitely prevent her parents from marrying her into the Wu family. That night, Ding Ru's mother visited Rulan, offering a handkerchief. It contained Ding Ru's writings detailing Wu Lian's actions against her while she was at Yanyu Tower.

Ding Ru's mother, knowing the shame it would bring upon her family if presented in court, stated she could not bear to see Rulan become another Ding Ru. Armed with this new evidence, Rulan returned to the Yamen to request a second court hearing. Prefect Chen, initially reluctant, agreed when Rulan threatened to beat the lawsuit drum again, but warned that if she presented no conclusive evidence this time, the case would be dismissed.

Word of the reopened case reached Mrs. Ning, who, despite acknowledging Rulan's unexpected persistence, remained calm. She had already made arrangements in the capital to ensure Yanyu Embroidery's inclusion in the national tribute list, so she wouldn't allow Wu Lian to face any trouble. However, she decided not to interfere directly, wanting Wu Lian to experience a setback and realize the Ning family's crucial support in Huaizhou.

On the day of the hearing, Meng Wan's mother offered her a "tonic," which Meng Wan hastily drank before leaving. Her mother then delayed her further by insisting she change her clothes. Shortly after, Meng Wan experienced excruciating abdominal pain, realizing her mother had given her an abortifacient. She collapsed, bleeding profusely and losing consciousness. At the Yamen, Zhao Yucheng, Meng Wan's cousin, presented himself as Rulan's litigator.

Prefect Chen questioned the need for a litigator, but Zhao Yucheng explained that Rulan, as a gentry woman, was unfamiliar with the law and needed him to present the true facts. Prefect Chen brought up Wu Lian's previous testimony, where Wu Lian claimed Rulan had sought private instruction for embroidery and actively seduced him out of affection. Rulan indignantly refuted this, accusing Wu Lian of lying and Prefect Chen of being biased for only believing Wu Lian's side.

Zhao Yucheng defended Rulan, then presented Ding Ru's handkerchief as evidence, recounting Ding Ru's tragic story of defilement by Wu Lian, subsequent pregnancy, and forced suicide due to Wu Lian's threats. The crowd in the court began to murmur, questioning Yanyu Tower's long-standing reputation. Prefect Chen, sensing the public's growing doubt, summoned the embroideresses and Ms. Chen from Yanyu Tower.

They, in turn, testified that Ding Ru had a secret affair with a servant named Sun Cai, frequently meeting him in the outer courtyard's utility room. Sun Cai was then brought forward. Under pressure, he confessed that Ding Ru had seduced him and that the pregnancy was an accident, denying any responsibility.

Prefect Chen then meticulously examined the handkerchief, concluding that the ink was fresh, no more than twelve hours old, and accused Rulan of fabricating evidence, as Ding Ru had been dead for over two weeks. Passing by the Yamen, Huang Jiaojiao recognized Zhao Yucheng, remembering he had visited Yanyu Tower before the hearing. She quickly understood the orchestrated deception and left the scene in dismay.

Rulan, realizing the handkerchief had been swapped and that Zhao Yucheng was complicit with Wu Lian, was further devastated when Gao Chengcheng, along with other embroideresses, falsely testified that Rulan had actively pursued and seduced Wu Lian. Rulan's parents, witnessing the dire turn of events, knelt before Prefect Chen, begging for mercy and offering to retract the complaint. Prefect Chen offered to drop the case if Rulan withdrew her accusation, but she steadfastly refused.

Gao Chengcheng then approached Rulan, advising her to give up, explaining that even if she won, it would ruin the reputations of all embroideresses associated with Yanyu Tower. She argued that there was no real winner in this situation, as everyone was merely protecting their own interests, albeit in different ways. The court was then dismissed. Sometime later, Meng Wan regained consciousness.

Despite her weakened state, she forced herself to go to the Yamen, only to find it deserted and empty. Later, Zhao Yucheng met with Wu Lian at Yanyu Tower. It was revealed that Wu Lian had orchestrated Zhao Yucheng's involvement in the case, having him brought to Huaizhou after investigating Meng Wan's family connections.

Zhao Yucheng initially expressed hesitation about betraying his cousin's friend but was ultimately swayed by Wu Lian's offer: not just a double fee, but a promise to help Zhao Yucheng establish and expand his business in Huaizhou Prefecture, leveraging the Ning family's influence. Wu Lian congratulated Zhao Yucheng on his performance, and Zhao Yucheng praised Wu Lian's "clever stratagem," affirming that no one would believe Rulan's words anymore.

Back at Huangji Embroidery House, Yunniang asked Huang Jiaojiao about the Yanyu Tower case. Huang Jiaojiao, now relieved that Yanyu Tower was "unscathed" and that the accusations against Wu Lian were deemed false, affirmed that the matter was settled. She then told Yunniang to bring her cousin to work at Huangji. Huang Jiaojiao explained her plan to expand Huangji Embroidery House into an embroidery business, independent of Yanyu Tower, within five years, to avoid being reliant on them.

Seven years after the tragic Rulan case, Huangji Embroidery House has flourished under the management of Huang Jiao-jiao, achieving self-sufficiency in silk production, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery, no longer relying on Yanyu Tower's business. One day, Ms. Chen from Yanyu Tower came, seeking to purchase purple silk thread for Wu Lian's "white crane" embroidery. Huang Jiao-jiao, while appearing apologetic, explained that their stock of the necessary plant roots for the purple dye, "miao cigen," had been depleted.

She offered to personally gather the roots from the mountains, which would take "three to five days, at most half a month." Ms. Chen, understanding this polite refusal as a clear sign of Huang Jiao-jiao's reluctance to cooperate, retorted that Huang Jiao-jiao's business had grown too big, and she dared not accept such a great kindness, promptly leaving.

Huang Jiao-jiao then lamented to her assistant, Nan, about Ms. Chen’s constant slandering of Huangji and predicted that Yanyu Tower would now make it harder for them to survive. Nan showed her the numerous petitions for Rulan’s unjust case that were now posted everywhere, but Huang Jiao-jiao decided they should focus on their own business and not get involved in old affairs. She then went to a hidden room within her embroidery house to check on a large, mysterious order.

There, she addressed several embroideresses, urging them to remain cautious and hidden due to the unrest outside, and reassuring them about the unusual order's anonymous buyer. She also promised to secure their official household registration once her connections with the authorities were solidified, ensuring they would no longer live in fear. To gain favor with Mrs. Lou, Mrs. Ning had Wu Lian create a new Yanyu Embroidery.

Wu Lian explained to Mrs. Ning that due to time constraints, he substituted purple thread with gold thread for the "white crane" embroidery, which ultimately enhanced its elegance. Mrs. Ning, aware that Mrs. Lou had previously sought Yanyu Embroidery, instructed Wu Lian on how to present the piece, highlighting its uniqueness as a "white crane" pattern by the renowned artist Qin Qizhi.

She then issued a stern warning to Wu Lian, stating that with Lou Mingzhang now residing in the yamen specifically to investigate him, this was his "last chance," and any further misstep would leave him without protection. Wu Lian acknowledged her concern. Later, Mrs. Ning presented the exquisite "white crane" Yanyu Embroidery to Mrs. Lou. Mrs. Lou, though delighted, initially hesitated to accept such a valuable gift, citing the principle of "no merit, no reward."

Meng Wan subtly intervened, eloquently emphasizing the value of the gift as a token of appreciation for Mr. Lou and Mrs. Lou's public service and selflessness, making it difficult for Mrs. Lou to refuse. Mrs. Ning, impressed by Meng Wan's tact, praised her eloquence and tea-making skills, inviting her to share tea someday. Mrs. Lou finally accepted the gift, and Mrs. Ning invited them for a casual gathering at Zuixian Restaurant.

Back home, Mrs. Lou gleefully showed off the unique Yanyu Embroidery to her husband, Lou Mingzhang. However, upon learning it was a gift from Mrs. Ning, Lou Mingzhang's demeanor changed, and he insisted she return it to avoid future entanglements. Mrs. Lou, unwilling to part with her cherished new garment, vehemently refused, even suggesting he write a divorce letter and send her back to her parents' home if he was so determined. Seeing her persistence, Lou Mingzhang relented.

He then used the opportunity to discuss the Rulan case, noting the lack of progress due to missing lawyers and Rulan's parents being unheard of. Realizing the connection to Yanyu Tower's collusion with Ning Mansion, he agreed to accompany his wife to the banquet at Zuixian Restaurant, viewing it as a prime chance to further his investigation. At the banquet, Lou Mingzhang respectfully greeted Mrs. Ning before they all sat down.

Mrs. Ning praised Mrs. Lou’s new Yanyu Embroidery and then steered the conversation towards the recent unrest in Huaizhou, expressing her unease about public grievances due to Wu Lian’s troubles, especially since she was his regular customer. Lou Mingzhang then inquired about the Rulan case from seven years ago.

Mrs. Ning vaguely recalled the incident, discrediting Rulan by spreading rumors about her having a "bad reputation," being engaged, and having an "unclear relationship" with a bandit, admitting she had no evidence but heard it from "the streets." Suddenly, several women dressed in red cloaks burst into the room. A bewildered Mrs. Ning questioned Meng Wan if this was her doing, but Meng Wan denied it.

As the women performed a short dance, they dramatically shed their cloaks, revealing identical, loosely-fitted dresses adorned with the very same "white crane" Yanyu Embroidery pattern that Mrs. Lou was wearing. This audacious display, planned by Meng Wan who had secretly commissioned the city's best painters to replicate the pattern overnight, shocked Mrs. Ning and Mrs. Lou, while enraging Lou Mingzhang.

Just as the chaos peaked, Liu Sanniang rushed in, feigning surprise and claiming the dancers had mistakenly entered "Ru Yue Tai" instead of "Xing Yue Ge" where their performance was scheduled. She quickly ushered the embarrassed dancers out, along with a mortified Mrs. Lou, who tried to hide her face. After the disastrous banquet, a confident Wu Lian, expecting praise, waited outside in his carriage.

However, he was met with a harsh dismissal from Mrs. Ning, who, through her coachman, declared that she "didn't want to see him anymore." Wu Lian, bewildered, tried to press for answers, but Mrs. Ning's carriage quickly departed, leaving him to ponder his abrupt downfall. With Her Majesty's birthday less than two months away, Mrs. Ning was constantly hounded by letters from the Ministry of Rites.

Following the disastrous banquet and her decisive break with Wu Lian, she was desperate for a new tribute gift. She turned to Meng Wan for ideas, who confidently proposed a suitable candidate. The next day, Meng Wan initiated a search for embroidery samples across Huaizhou.

Huang Jiao-jiao, who had personally witnessed Wu Lian's public disgrace at Zuixian Restaurant the previous night (having been subtly led there by a maid), and having now heard about Mrs. Ning's search for new samples, decided to present her finest samples to the Xu Mansion. At the Xu Mansion, a throng of embroidery house owners had gathered, hoping for an audience. Meng Wan's maid, Lancui, announced that Meng Wan was not seeing guests, sending most of the hopeful merchants away.

However, Huang Jiao-jiao, who had evidently pre-arranged her visit, approached Lancui discreetly, tipping her with a hairpin for clearing the way. Lancui then escorted Huang Jiao-jiao to Meng Wan. Huang Jiao-jiao introduced herself as "Silk Thread Huang," a renowned supplier to even Wu Lian, hinting at her unique expertise. Meng Wan, however, bypassed the embroidery samples.

Instead, she expressed a direct interest in visiting Huangji Embroidery House, stating, "If you are here for the Ning Mansion, why not take me directly to your embroidery house?" Huang Jiao-jiao, though initially perplexed and concerned, agreed to take Meng Wan to Huangji Embroidery House. As they walked through the workshop, Huang Jiao-jiao proudly explained her transition from a silk thread business to a renowned embroidery house and introduced her signature "Huaijin Embroidery."

She described it as a fusion of a unique "gold embroidery" technique and local Huaizhou artistry, resulting in a complex yet elegant style that stood out from the prevalent plain and elegant designs. She explained her philosophy of "I have what you don't," arguing against imitating Yanyu Tower and lamenting the challenges faced by her all-female establishment under Yanyu Tower's dominance.

She even offered a co-ownership deal to Meng Wan, claiming her business was on the verge of collapse despite its reputation. Meng Wan, however, gently steered the conversation away from business partnerships, expressing her keen interest in "her unseen friends." She revealed her observation of old clothes with non-Huaizhou styles drying in the courtyard, surmising that Huang Jiao-jiao had acquired a rare needlework technique from an external source.

Recognizing Meng Wan’s sharp intellect, Huang Jiao-jiao led her to a secret room where several women were diligently working. She then confessed that three years prior, while collecting silkworms, she rescued several refugee women. She sheltered them and discovered their mastery of "gold embroidery," which, combined with her savings, gave birth to Huangji Embroidery House and its unique Huaijin Embroidery.

Meng Wan, confirming her intuition about Huang Jiao-jiao's character, then presented her daring proposition: with Her Majesty's birthday looming in just over a month, and Mrs. Ning desperately seeking a replacement for the now-abandoned Yanyu Embroidery, Huangji Embroidery House had an unparalleled opportunity. She emphasized that success would mean securing all future orders from the Ning Mansion and potentially attracting clients from the capital.

Although taking on such a task would make Huang Jiao-jiao an "eyesore to Wu Lian," Huang Jiao-jiao, embracing the spirit of "fortune favors the bold," declared her willingness to accept. When Huang Jiao-jiao worried about the tight deadline for a new design, Meng Wan, to Huang Jiao-jiao's surprise, revealed that she had already secretly placed a large "birthday" order with Huangji three months ago, specifically for this purpose. With the plan set, Meng Wan announced that Mrs. Ning was "waiting."

Huang Jiao-jiao, still somewhat confused but eagerly anticipating new opportunities, accompanied Meng Wan to the Ning Mansion. Before their meeting, Huang Jiao-jiao playfully questioned Meng Wan about her intricate schemes, realizing Meng Wan had orchestrated her involvement by placing a large order three months prior and using her assistant Yunniang to lure her to the Zuixian Restaurant. Meng Wan simply accepted the compliment about her cleverness.

Inside, Meng Wan presented Huaijin Embroidery samples to Mrs. Ning, who immediately recognized the unique style and, with a cold expression, directly addressed Meng Wan by her true name, "Meng Wan," revealing that Wu Lian had exposed her identity. Meng Wan, now unmasked, dropped her pretense. Mrs. Ning, feeling betrayed, accused Meng Wan of "fooling her for months" despite considering her a friend. Meng Wan countered, stating that their friendship became impossible the day Rulan died seven years ago.

She boldly warned Mrs. Ning that her priority should be self-preservation, not protecting Wu Lian, and revealed that she was behind Lou Mingzhang's timely arrival in Huaizhou to investigate Wu Lian's smuggling case. She recounted the many women whose lives Wu Lian had ruined or taken in Yanyu Tower, implying Mrs. Ning's complicity through her protection of him.

An enraged Mrs. Ning, attempting to physically harm Meng Wan by throwing an object that cut her face, ordered her and Huang Jiao-jiao out of the mansion, forbidding them from ever returning. Meng Wan, unfazed, declared that she was not acting alone and reiterated that Mrs. Ning had to choose whose side to be on—hers or Wu Lian's.

Outside the mansion, Huang Jiao-jiao, seeing Meng Wan’s facial injury, expressed her deep regret for not speaking up seven years ago when she witnessed Rulan's lawyer entering Wu Lian's study before the trial. She confessed her lasting guilt and her understanding of the challenges women faced, assuring Meng Wan that despite the deception, she was now firmly on her side.

That night, Mrs. Ning pondered her difficult position, reflecting on the coldness of Huaizhou compared to the capital and her uncertain future, wondering if she would ever return. Meanwhile, Liu Xin questioned Meng Wan if their efforts had failed, fearing they had chosen the wrong path. Meng Wan, however, instructed him to await further instructions.

Later that night, an overjoyed Huang Jiao-jiao rushed to Meng Wan's residence, bearing incredible news: the Ning Mansion had sent messengers with a substantial sum of money, confirming Mrs. Ning's decision to commission Huaijin Embroidery for Her Majesty's birthday. Meng Wan, elated that her calculated gamble had succeeded, immediately instructed Liu Xin to find their next crucial ally.

Seven years ago, Liu Xin, then a captain, lay in a prison cell when a copper coin hit him. He desperately wanted to buy medicine for his wounds, but the single coin was insufficient. Li Chunfeng, a pickpocket whom Liu Xin had previously helped, admitted he had spent all his money on pig head meat, leaving only one coin.

Despite Liu Xin's anger, Li Chunfeng persisted in asking about the Yanyu Tower, mentioning a friend who was worried about Lin Rulan's case. Liu Xin warned him that Lin Rulan would not win and advised him not to get involved, reiterating that she was destined to lose, no matter how much she struggled. Indeed, Lin Rulan's efforts proved futile, and she suffered a devastating, inexplicable defeat. Confined to her room at Lin's Pharmacy, she refused to eat.

Her brother brought her food and accused her of being impulsive. He suggested she might have developed feelings for Wu Lian and acted recklessly, then fabricated a story to avoid their parents' wrath. He believed that if she had told the truth earlier, he and their parents would have compelled Wu Lian to take responsibility, resolving the matter quietly without ruining her reputation. Lin Rulan, exhausted, asked him to leave, but he reaffirmed his concern for her before departing.

Meanwhile, Wu Lian confidently presented a new, exquisite summer gauze garment from Yanyu Tower to the Grand Duke's wife, who was delighted. She informed him that Yanyu Embroidery had been chosen for the Empress Dowager's tribute list and sternly warned him against any errors, as it concerned the court's reputation and her own recommendation. Wu Lian assured her that Yanyu Tower had never disappointed her.

Meng Wan, weakened and despairing, sent her mother away under the pretense of needing candied fruit to sweeten her bitter medicine. She then dragged herself to Zhao Yucheng's door, confronting him angrily and accusing him of betrayal. She recalled his past declarations about litigators seeking justice, now finding them deeply ironic.

Zhao Yucheng, however, callously dismissed her accusations, stating that a man pursuing great achievements must disregard minor details and that his dealings with Wu Lian were merely a matter of mutual benefit. He then cruelly suggested that her mother had always wanted her to marry him, and despite her association with Yanyu Tower, he might consider taking her as a concubine in exchange for her unintentional "help."

Meng Wan cursed him, vowing he would face retribution, but Zhao Yucheng remained unconcerned, asserting that in this world, only winners mattered. Meng Wan then sought out Lin Rulan, wanting to explain her absence from court. Before she could speak, Gao Chengcheng burst in, furiously accusing Meng Wan of betraying their agreement to testify together, calling her a coward who pushed others forward while hiding herself.

Meng Wan retorted, asking why Gao Chengcheng, who also understood Wu Lian's true nature, dared not speak up herself. Enraged, Gao Chengcheng slapped Meng Wan. Lin Rulan immediately stepped forward to protect Meng Wan, ordering Gao Chengcheng to leave. As Gao Chengcheng departed, she sneered that Lin Rulan deserved her devastating loss. Meng Wan, tearful from the pain and guilt, apologized to Lin Rulan.

Lin Rulan, however, comforted her, expressing relief that Meng Wan had not appeared in court, thereby sparing her from further humiliation. Overwhelmed by Lin Rulan's suffering, Meng Wan tightly grasped her hand and passionately proposed they leave Huaizhou Prefecture together. She envisioned them finding a peaceful place, supporting themselves through embroidery, and relying on each other, regardless of marriage. Lin Rulan initially hesitated, acknowledging that not all injustices were rectified nor all villains punished.

Meng Wan then pressed her, asking if she intended to stay and marry Wu Lian. Lin Rulan vehemently rejected the idea, stating she would rather die. Meng Wan argued that women should not be the sole bearers of blame and affirmed that wandering the world together was the life she truly desired. Moved by Meng Wan's conviction, Lin Rulan agreed, offering Meng Wan jewelry she had originally sold to hire a litigator, now to be used for their escape.

Later that night, Meng Wan's mother entered her room, relieved that Meng Wan's father was still drinking at the tavern, unaware of the medicine's scent or any "trouble" that would undoubtedly provoke his anger. Meng Wan, reflecting on her mother's plight, asked if she had ever considered divorce. Her mother became upset, explaining that for a woman, divorce meant losing all standing, abandoned by both her husband's and her own family, with nowhere to go.

She asked if Meng Wan wished such a tragic fate upon her. Meng Wan countered, suggesting they could support themselves, and that a difficult but independent life was better than living in constant fear. She then accused her mother of being weak and unable to leave her father.

Meng Wan's mother, deeply hurt, called her ungrateful and muddle-headed, recounting how she had secretly saved money to send Meng Wan to Yanyu Tower for a good marriage, only for Meng Wan to embrace such "absurd" ideas. Her mother then tearfully left the room. In the dead of night, Meng Wan and her mother lay awake in their separate rooms, lost in their thoughts. Meng Wan's father, heavily intoxicated and belligerent, stumbled back home.

Meng Wan heard the commotion and approached her door, but hesitated, then silently bolted it, leaving her mother to endure his abuse alone. Her mother, through the thin paper window, saw Meng Wan's retreating figure. She seemed to want to speak but couldn't, ultimately closing her own door. The following day, Lin Rulan shared a meal with her brother.

She encouraged him to eat more and discussed his talent for medicine, urging him to revisit Dr. Lin with their father once "her matters" settled, so her issues wouldn't impede his future. She also expressed concern for their mother's worsening cough and their father's tendency to skip meals, her words carrying a tone of farewell. Her brother, worried, questioned her, but Lin Rulan simply explained she would soon be marrying and wanted to ensure their parents were cared for.

She promised to be alright. Later, Meng Wan prepared her luggage for their planned escape. Her mother began coughing violently, her ailment seemingly worsening from her father's drunken ruckus the previous night. Meng Wan, concerned, put down her bags and rushed out to get medicine for her mother. Unbeknownst to Meng Wan, this was a ruse. Her mother had intentionally feigned her illness to send Meng Wan away, then hurried to meet Lin Rulan.

She found Lin Rulan happily waiting at the city gate to meet Meng Wan, assuming their escape was still on. Meng Wan's mother immediately knelt before Lin Rulan, desperately pleading with her to convince Meng Wan to stay. She explained that outside Huaizhou Prefecture, they would be penniless refugees, forever nameless and rootless.

She tearfully confessed the full extent of Meng Wan's suffering: that Meng Wan had been pregnant with Wu Lian's child and, to save her daughter's reputation, she had given Meng Wan abortion medicine. This had tragically rendered Meng Wan likely unable to conceive again. Meng Wan's mother revealed she had arranged a marriage for her daughter with a maternal relative, where, even without children, Meng Wan could adopt and find a stable life.

She implored Lin Rulan to release Meng Wan from their promise, emphasizing that Meng Wan, in her loyalty, was not thinking of her own future. Lin Rulan, deeply moved by this revelation of Meng Wan's immense sacrifice and hardship, made a resolute decision. Looking towards Huaizhou City, she declared that she had "never been here today," effectively withdrawing from their escape plan.

When Meng Wan returned to the city gate with her mother's medicine, Lin Rulan was nowhere to be found. Meng Wan waited at their agreed meeting place through a torrential downpour, long into the night, but Lin Rulan never appeared. Driven by a profound sense of despair and the knowledge of Meng Wan's sacrifice, Lin Rulan stormed into Yanyu Tower, confronting Wu Lian. He was unrepentant, even shamelessly mocking her masculine attire.

Lin Rulan accused him of destroying countless lives, naming Zhao Mingcheng and Wang Liulang as his victims, and demanding to know how he could continue to roam free. Wu Lian dismissively referred to his victims as "ants" who foolishly tried to challenge him, finding their demise "interesting." He asserted that if Lin Rulan had simply been obedient from the start, she would not be facing her current predicament, and he enjoyed watching those who hated him prove powerless.

Lin Rulan, consumed by rage, lunged at him, but he easily restrained her, enjoying her futile struggles. She vowed that even in death, she would not let him go, to which he chillingly replied that he would not kill her; instead, she would soon learn obedience as his wife, and her rare embroidery talent would find no further use. After this harrowing encounter, Lin Rulan felt utterly desolate, as if plunged into a vortex from which she could not escape.

Back home, her spirit seemed to have been completely extinguished, leaving only an empty shell. She instructed her mother to buy bright red fabric, stating she wished to personally embroider her own wedding dress. Her mother, hesitant about the color, was told by Lin Rulan that she knew only a rightful wife could wear such a hue, but she simply wished to fulfill a personal desire.

Her mother agreed, and Lin Rulan, complaining of a headache, asked to be left alone. The next day, Meng Wan visited Lin Rulan, who was now quietly embroidering her red wedding dress. Meng Wan, still hopeful, questioned if her parents had discovered their escape plans and asked if they should find another way. Lin Rulan, however, denied ever intending to leave.

She dismissed their dream of wandering the world as a naive fantasy, questioning how two weak women could survive by embroidery alone, or protect themselves from dangers. She declared she no longer wished to take risks and resigned herself to the belief that marrying Wu Lian, who had seemingly lost interest in her, was the best course. She reasoned that Wu Lian's wife, a well-bred lady, would likely not mistreat a concubine, allowing her a peaceful, albeit constrained, life.

Lin Rulan asked Meng Wan if she did not wish for her to live a stable life. Meng Wan, heartbroken, accepted Lin Rulan's decision, saying her only wish was for Lin Rulan's happiness.

Seven years have passed, and Li Chunfeng remains a poor scholar, infamous for his "borrowing" habits, which others widely regard as outright theft. He meticulously records every item he "borrows," promising to repay tenfold upon becoming the top scholar. However, no one takes him seriously, with one vendor deriding him as a "little thief." His persistent thievery has even driven a bookshop owner out of business. Liu Xin catches Li Chunfeng in the act.

Li Chunfeng recognizes Liu Xin and thanks him for a copper coin Liu Xin gave him seven years ago, which he used to buy medicine to save his leg while he was in jail. Yet, Li Chunfeng quickly turns the situation around, accusing Liu Xin of being the thief and sparking a public commotion. Liu Xin, enraged, chases him down, throwing a sharp blade that flies past Li Chunfeng's face and embeds itself in the main door.

After catching up, Liu Xin enters Li Chunfeng's humble home, chastising him for his continued poverty and his "nonsense" about studying. Liu Xin cuts to the chase, asking if Li Chunfeng knows about the Yanyu Tower in Huaizhou Prefecture. Li Chunfeng, admitting everyone in Huaizhou knows of it, is then tasked by Liu Xin to go to the Yanyu Tower to find a specific woman.

Meng Wan, now known as Madame Xu, instructs the manager of Huangji Embroidery House to intentionally delay the completion of a magnificent Huaikin embroidery, which she had ordered three months prior, until the very last day. She views this tactic as both a "risky move" and a "backup plan." News of Huangji Embroidery House securing a major order from the Ning Mansion swiftly reaches Wu Lian, who immediately makes his way there.

After being made to wait, Mrs. Ning finally appears and reflects on her late husband's passing eleven years ago, describing the Mansion as a desolate tomb she has single-handedly preserved. She candidly informs Wu Lian that while she will not delve into his past wrongdoings, she will not jeopardize her own hard-won future as a solitary woman for his sake.

She symbolically severs all ties with him by offering him tea, declaring their future relationship to be purely transactional, with each responsible for their own fortunes. Before departing, Wu Lian subtly challenges her, echoing her own past words about "too clever people" becoming stepping stones. Back at the Yanyu Tower, a furious Wu Lian violently destroys an embroidery sample. Meanwhile, Liu Xin reluctantly brings Li Chunfeng to meet Meng Wan.

Meng Wan explains her plan to reopen Lin Rulan's rape case, revealing that Wu Lian's powerful patrons have collapsed, leaving him vulnerable. She offers to serve as the new plaintiff and witness, even after seven years.

Lou Mingzhang, an inquisitor from the Eastern District of Huainan, whom Meng Wan had met through a mutual friend, commends her courage but highlights the challenges: her close friendship with the deceased Rulan would diminish the credibility of her testimony, and all existing official records unfairly favor Wu Lian. He concludes that they desperately need fresh, credible witnesses or tangible evidence to restart the case. Lou Mingzhang suggests Wu Lian's wife, Zhang Rong'er, as a potential breakthrough.

He notes Zhang Rong'er's reclusive lifestyle but frequent visits to Fuyuan Temple. A monk there recounted a cryptic statement from Zhang Rong'er: "The evidence is right in front of us, but everyone turns a blind eye." Meng Wan ponders this, confirming Zhang Rong'er's recent withdrawal from public life and the uncertainty of whether she still resides within the Yanyu Tower.

Meng Wan then tasks Li Chunfeng with sneaking into Yanyu Tower that night to find Zhang Rong'er and inquire about the "unseen evidence," or to search for it himself. Before entering, Li Chunfeng, ever-focused on payment, attempts to negotiate more money from Liu Xin, citing his outstanding debts.

Liu Xin, calling him "stupid," instead suggests he steal one of Wu Lian's famously valuable Yanyu Embroideries, specifically the largest and most expensive-looking one, assuring him it would cover three years of living expenses. Li Chunfeng climbs onto the roof, then creates a diversion by setting a small fire in the kitchen, confident it will draw Wu Lian away. A servant informs Wu Lian, who then orders another to inform Zhang Rong'er.

Zhang Rong'er, however, simply acknowledges the fire with annoyance and closes her door. Li Chunfeng then covertly enters the ancestral hall, where he finds Zhang Rong'er. He informs her that he was sent to seek an answer and asks if she remembers Lin Rulan. He presses her about her enigmatic statement, pleading for her to reveal the truth about the evidence.

Zhang Rong'er, visibly conflicted as she clutches her prayer beads, feigns ignorance and vehemently orders him to leave, threatening to call for help. Disappointed but undeterred, Li Chunfeng exits the ancestral hall. Still pondering Zhang Rong'er's cryptic words about the "unseen evidence," Li Chunfeng overhears Wu Lian instructing his servants to move valuable items from his study if the kitchen fire escalates. Seizing this opportunity, Li Chunfeng sneaks into the study and locks the door.

However, his thorough search yields nothing. As he prepares to leave, he recalls Liu Xin's earlier advice to steal a valuable Yanyu Embroidery. He turns back to a prominent plum blossom embroidery on the wall and begins meticulously cutting it out with his knife. Just as he is halfway through, Wu Lian arrives and attempts to force open the locked door.

Quickening his pace, Li Chunfeng finishes cutting and makes a daring escape out the window with the embroidery, just as Wu Lian breaks in. Wu Lian, enraged at the sight of the empty frame, immediately suspects Meng Wan and vows to destroy her. Back at Meng Wan's residence, Li Chunfeng attempts to claim that his mission was fruitless.

However, Liu Xin, familiar with his cunning, does not believe him and demands to see what he has taken, jokingly arguing over how to split the spoils. As they tussle, the plum blossom embroidery accidentally reveals a hidden secret. Meng Wan carefully unstitches the delicate plum blossoms, discovering that each flower conceals the name of a woman Wu Lian had abused.

The revealed names include the deceased Lin Rulan, Meng Wan herself (identified as Madame Xu), and Tian Xiaoling, who has since become a nun. Meng Wan declares this to be the "evidence" Zhang Rong'er had alluded to—Wu Lian's "trophies" and a chilling list of his victims. Recognizing that each name represents a potential witness, Meng Wan decides they must act immediately, seeking to persuade as many victims as possible to testify.

Before they disperse, she distributes red fireworks, which, when lit, emit a distinctive buzzing sound and shoot high into the sky, serving as an urgent distress signal for anyone who finds themselves in danger, prompting the others to rush to their aid.

Seven years ago, Tian Xiaoling visited Fuyuan Temple, praying for her beloved to pass the provincial examination that autumn. Upon returning to Yanyu Tower, she overheard embroideresses gossiping about Lin Rulan's impending marriage to Wu Lian, with some suggesting Rulan was shameless and should have committed suicide. Tian Xiaoling intervened, quoting Mencius about the harm of gossiping about others' affairs, but the other embroideresses scoffed at her, calling her self-righteous.

Ignoring their taunts, Tian Xiaoling retreated to her room, where she found a note from Li Chunfeng, filling her with joy. Meanwhile, Meng Wan's mother was determined to marry her into the Zhao family, despite Meng Wan's protests and her mother's own knowledge of Zhao Yucheng's villainous character. Meng Wan refused, reminding her mother that she had likely made a similar mistake marrying her father, and threatened to disrupt the Zhao household if forced.

Her mother, infuriated, accused Meng Wan of being ungrateful and thinking she could wander the world alone. She then pointed out that even Lin Rulan had secured a "good home" with the Wu family. Meng Wan, realizing her mother had deliberately feigned illness the previous day to facilitate Rulan's decision, confronted her mother, who unapologetically admitted it.

Meng Wan then rushed to the Lin family home to speak with Rulan, but Rulan's mother blocked her, stating Rulan wished to be alone and would be married in a few days anyway, rendering any further discussion futile. Undeterred, Meng Wan intercepted Rulan's brother, urging him not to let Rulan marry into the Wu family. She reminded him of Rulan's character and questioned if he truly believed Rulan's accusations against Wu Lian were false.

Rulan's brother admitted his parents believed this marriage was the best option given Rulan's tarnished reputation, but Meng Wan argued that a mismatched marriage would bring a lifetime of despair. She proposed that if he returned the betrothal gifts, the Wu family would not be able to force the marriage. Rulan's brother expressed doubt he could convince his father, but Meng Wan encouraged him, assuring him she would find other solutions.

Meng Wan then confronted Wu Lian in Yanyu Tower, revealing her knowledge of Ding Ru's death and the jade pendant she saw by the well. Wu Lian insisted Ding Ru had committed suicide, but Meng Wan countered that while Ding Ru might have been suicidal, the circumstances of her death were suspicious, especially with Wu Lian's jade pendant found nearby.

She threatened to expose him to Prefect Chen, claiming to have witnessed him deliberately pushing Ding Ru into the well during an argument. Enraged, Wu Lian choked Meng Wan before releasing her. He then agreed to cancel the engagement, but on the cruel condition that Rulan "return" her embroidery skills by crippling her fingers. Without hesitation, Meng Wan grabbed a water cup from his desk and smashed it against her own hand, declaring she had paid Rulan's debt.

She warned Wu Lian to uphold his promise, or she would ensure a mutually destructive outcome. Wu Lian, calling her "mad," simply told Meng Wan to instruct Rulan to "be smart" and promised the betrothal gifts would be returned soon. Meanwhile, Mrs. Wu, reflecting on Wu Lian's broken promise of never taking a concubine, discussed with a servant her perplexity at Rulan's initial refusal to marry Wu Lian and the tragic fate of embroideresses like Ding Ru.

Later, Rulan, with her mother's reluctant permission and accompanied by her brother, returned to Yanyu Tower to retrieve her personal belongings. She explained that after marriage, as a concubine, her movements would be restricted. A guard initially blocked her, but Mrs. Wu intervened, allowing Rulan to enter while asking her brother to wait outside.

Mrs. Wu congratulated Rulan on "understanding things," to which Rulan provocatively asked if Mrs. Wu ever had nightmares, specifically mentioning Ding Ru and implying Mrs. Wu had offered similar empty platitudes to her. Inside, Rulan walked through her old room, recalling her initial hopes and dreams upon entering the tower, now shattered. She picked up a cherished hairpin, a gift from Wu Lian, noting the unfinished embroidery and plain bedsheets as symbols of her broken aspirations.

Taking some of Ding Ru's belongings, Rulan went to the well to mourn, burning the items as an offering. There, she encountered Tian Xiaoling, who had moved into Ding Ru's old room. Rulan warned Tian Xiaoling about the dangers within Yanyu Tower, comparing her fate and Ding Ru's, urging her to leave while she still had a chance.

However, Tian Xiaoling, undeterred, declared Yanyu Tower unique and irreplaceable, stating her sole purpose was to learn embroidery, with no concern for other matters. Rulan, realizing her words were in vain, simply bid her to take care. Back at the Lin residence, Rulan's brother again attempted to persuade his mother to return the betrothal gifts, worried about Wu Lian's potential resentment. His mother, however, reiterated that Rulan's reputation in Huaizhou was ruined, leaving her with no other suitable marriage prospects.

She believed Mrs. Wu was a reasonable woman who wouldn't make Rulan's life too difficult. At that moment, Rulan entered, announcing her willingness to marry. She claimed her initial resistance was due to feeling deceived by Wu Lian, but she still admired his unparalleled embroidery skills and believed marrying him would allow her to pursue her passion, becoming the greatest embroideress. Her mother, relieved, embraced her. Meng Wan finally met with Rulan, who immediately noticed Meng Wan's injured hand.

Meng Wan explained it was a result of protecting her mother from her drunk father. Meng Wan confessed she knew Rulan's absence that day was due to her mother's manipulations, and pleaded with Rulan to leave with her, asserting it wasn't too late. Rulan, however, calmly explained her decision was not solely due to her mother, but also a calculated choice to pursue her ambition within Yanyu Tower under Wu Lian's guidance.

Meng Wan countered that Wu Lian had already agreed to cancel the marriage and Rulan could find other embroidery schools, but Rulan insisted that no other school or teacher could compare to Yanyu Tower and Wu Lian. Meng Wan, disheartened, could only accept Rulan's firm resolve. Rulan then carefully dressed Meng Wan's injured hand, and Meng Wan urged her to stay safe.

Meanwhile, Wu Lian dismissed his wife's suggestion to prepare the Wutong Yard for Rulan, instructing her to assign an abandoned room in the backyard instead, showing his disdain. He also casually picked up a fish that had fallen from his pond. On the night of the Qiqiao Festival, Rulan's brother allowed her to stroll alone, agreeing to wait for her at a teahouse, as Rulan wished to savor her freedom before marrying.

In the bustling streets, Tian Xiaoling, admiring a rabbit lantern, passed Rulan without acknowledging her. Li Chunfeng, walking alongside Tian Xiaoling, remarked on Rulan's pitiful situation, expressing concern about her future in the Wu family. Tian Xiaoling, however, declared herself different, vowing that nothing similar would befall her, and grimly concluded Rulan had "no future." Li Chunfeng also gave Tian Xiaoling a rare collection of ancient poems she admired, which she had copied from her father's.

Later, he won a rabbit lantern for her, but she asked him to keep it due to strict rules at Yanyu Tower, and he promised to return it when she left. Rulan then encountered Shen Mu, who asked if she was truly marrying into the Wu family. Rulan, smiling, assured him she had made up her mind and he needn't worry.

She then playfully asked him to promise to help her if she ever needed his assistance in the future, to which he gently nodded. Meng Wan, witnessing this exchange, smiled, feeling a sense of relief. Rulan then joined Meng Wan by the river to release lanterns. Meng Wan's lantern carried a wish for Rulan's peace and joy, but Rulan released a blank one, her smile momentarily freezing Meng Wan's expression.

As they watched their lanterns drift away, they reminisced about their shared dreams, from Rulan's ambition to be the greatest embroideress and have a loving family, to Meng Wan's dream of an embroidery shop, a home for her mother, and a shared pact for their future children. Before parting ways to meet her brother, Rulan entrusted Meng Wan with a letter, asking her to deliver it to Shen Mu on the ninth day between 7 p. m. and 9 p. m. , as a token of gratitude for his past help.

Seven years had passed, and Meng Wan carefully cut apart each plum blossom from the embroidery, her heart a mix of emotions. Meanwhile, Li Chunfeng discovered a familiar name on the same embroidery: Tian Xiaoling. Seeing his distressed expression, Meng Wan inquired if he knew the woman. Li Chunfeng did not answer but crumpled the embroidery, intending to leave. Just then, Feng Da and Liu Xin arrived and stopped him. With no other choice, Li Chunfeng revealed the truth.

He recounted that on the Qiqiao Festival seven years prior, he had won a rabbit lantern for Tian Xiaoling, who asked him to keep it for her. He then walked her back to Yanyu Tower and watched her enter. That period was chaotic, with many girls leaving the Yanyu Tower due to the uproar over Rulan’s case. After that night, Tian Xiaoling vanished without a trace.

Li Chunfeng searched for her for seven years, holding onto that rabbit lantern, but found no news until he saw her name on the plum blossom embroidery. He realized something terrible must have happened to her after she entered the Yanyu Tower, which explained her sudden, silent departure. Meng Wan acknowledged that she also knew Ling, remembering her as a talented and reserved girl whose father was a teacher.

She assured Li Chunfeng that with seven of them working together, finding Tian Xiaoling would not be difficult, and expressed hope that Ling could be their last chance for a witness. The group began to investigate. Huang Jiaojiao approached Ms. Xing, an experienced broker, offering her silk cloth in exchange for information on the Tian family. Ms. Xing recalled the Tian family – the father was a children's teacher, and the mother ran a teahouse.

She revealed that the family had left overnight, dismissing all their servants, and Ms. Xing herself had helped find new positions for some of them. While she didn't directly have contact, she then recalled a specific nanny from the Tian family, also named Ms. Xing. Through further investigation, Liu Sannü cleverly distracted a Mr. Zhao to find Ms. Xing (the nanny), who confirmed that the Tian family had moved to the capital overnight due to some unknown trouble.

Liu Xin and Shen Mu then traveled to the capital. They found the Tian family, now running a teahouse, but Tian Xiaoling's mother, Madame Tian, denied having a daughter. Liu Xin, pretending Shen Mu was a high-ranking official, tried to intimidate her, but Madame Tian was not fooled and chased them out. Later that night, Tian Xiaoling's father, Mr. Tian, secretly visited Liu Xin and Shen Mu, apologizing for his wife's earlier behavior.

He confessed that his wife was unwilling to revisit old wounds, but he himself had always harbored doubts. Mr. Tian shared that seven years ago, when Rulan's lawsuit against Wu Lian caused a stir, he wanted to bring Xiaoling home from Yanyu Tower, but she refused. Not long after, Ms. Chen from the Yanyu Tower contacted them, insisting they take Xiaoling back, accusing her of "moral impropriety" and being entangled with a "rough man" outside the tower.

When Mr. Tian retrieved her, Xiaoling was delirious and constantly contemplated suicide. To protect her reputation, the family moved to the capital, hoping to earn enough money from a new teahouse to find a cure for Xiaoling. Mr. Tian firmly stated he never believed Ms. Chen's accusations, knowing his daughter's character. He pleaded with Liu Xin and Shen Mu to investigate and clear his daughter's name.

He then revealed that Xiaoling was not in the capital but had remained in Huaizhou Prefecture all these years, at the Qingshui Nunnery. He explained that as they left the city, Xiaoling, in her deranged state, suddenly refused to leave the nunnery where they had stopped to pray, eventually becoming a nun with the dharma name Jueming. Men were forbidden at the nunnery, so he could only visit her secretly and remotely. Meng Wan decided to visit Qingshui Nunnery herself.

The head nun, Huichen, informed her that Jueming (Tian Xiaoling) had not met any outsiders since her arrival. Meng Wan met with Jueming, and, though Jueming remained mostly silent, Meng Wan spoke of her own journey, her seven years of planning for revenge against Wu Lian, and her mission to restore Rulan's defiled innocence.

She revealed her allies – Liu Xin, who was falsely imprisoned and injured; Liu Sannü, forced into courtesan life and had a loved one persecuted; Shen Mu, a capital official seeking justice; Feng Da, an escort agency leader; Huang Jiaojiao, a shop owner; and Li Chunfeng, Jueming's old acquaintance.

Meng Wan passionately argued that they should unite to bring down Yanyu Tower and make Wu Lian pay for his crimes, emphasizing that he had lost the backing of the Duke's mansion and his powerful financial connections. She confessed that while her actions were partly for justice, they were also deeply personal. Jueming, however, only responded, "There is no Tian Xiaoling, only Jueming. You've mistaken me for someone else. Please leave." As Meng Wan left, Abbess Huichen intercepted her.

Huichen acknowledged Meng Wan’s perseverance but questioned the appropriateness of her relentless pursuit. She asked Meng Wan to consider if her actions were truly for justice or primarily for personal revenge, and whether she was truly considering the feelings of the victims, who might not wish to relive their past traumas. Huichen revealed that Jueming, upon entering the nunnery, had frequently suffered from nightmares and eventually wrote a letter detailing her past, which Huichen read and then burned.

Huichen advised that pursuing justice at the cost of harming others defeats the purpose of justice. Before leaving, Meng Wan requested the abbess's understanding if a man were to visit the nunnery that night. Huichen replied that if one's worldly attachments remained, no walls or years of seclusion could truly block out such thoughts. That night, Li Chunfeng indeed snuck into Qingshui Nunnery, carrying the old but still glowing rabbit lantern, singing a familiar song outside Tian Xiaoling's room.

He called out to her, reminding her of his seven years of waiting and searching, and how he never moved, fearing she wouldn't find him. He spoke of the precious memories they shared, and the riddle's answer, "butterfly," which once symbolized their hopeful future but now seemed to reflect their tragic separation. He promised to wait for her outside the nunnery and never leave her if she would just step out.

Tian Xiaoling remained hidden, eventually weeping in her room after he left, leaving the lantern at her door. Later that night, Wu Lian paid a visit to Madame Xu's (Meng Wan's) residence, bringing new Yanyu Embroidery samples. Meng Wan, composed, thanked him. Wu Lian, however, stated it was merely a return gift, implying her earlier "gifts" to Yanyu Tower (likely referring to her strategic moves).

He then presented an embroidery piece; Meng Wan immediately recognized it as her own unfinished work from seven years ago, though she quickly regained her composure. Wu Lian, attempting to provoke a reaction, revealed that Madame Xu's real name was Meng Wan and that she had once studied embroidery at Yanyu Tower. However, Xu Zhiyang calmly declared that he was well aware of Meng Wan’s past and identity.

He even explained that he had instructed her to falsely claim kinship with the Gu family to protect her reputation, as she was transitioning from a concubine to the main wife. Meng Wan seized the opportunity to express her profound happiness and gratitude for Xu Zhiyang's kind heart and understanding. Frustrated by their unwavering bond, Wu Lian departed.

Outside the residence, Wu Lian confronted Meng Wan, mocking her transformation from a humble student to a formidable woman who had turned Huaizhou Prefecture upside down. He accused her of sending people to cut the plum blossom embroidery. He then delivered a chilling piece of news: Madame Zheng, a former Yanyu Tower embroideress whom Meng Wan's allies had attempted to persuade, had poisoned herself and was gravely ill, directly blaming Meng Wan's interference.

Meng Wan, unflustered, counter-accused Wu Lian of seducing innocent embroideresses, colluding with the Minzhou Foreign Trade Bureau in smuggling and tax evasion, and bribing lawyers to frame innocent people, reminding him of Wang Liulang. She asserted that they would not kill him but would ensure he paid a heavy price for his evil deeds, and that his day of reckoning was approaching.

Wu Lian defiantly declared that within three days, he would rise to even greater heights, and Yanyu Tower would flourish. Just then, Liu Xin, Feng Da, and Huang Jiaojiao emerged from the shadows, having come to check on Meng Wan after seeing Wu Lian's visit. Meng Wan thanked them but admitted her worry for Madame Zheng.

Lancui, one of Meng Wan's maids, offered a thoughtful analogy about her mother's guilt over a doctor who died while trying to save her father, musing that sometimes even doing what seems right can lead to unintended harm. The group retired for the night, pondering the complex moral dilemmas of their quest for justice.

Seven years ago, Lin Rulan's mother meticulously combed her daughter's hair, performing the traditional wedding rituals and wishing her a happy life. However, Lin Rulan interrupted her, saying it was enough. Her mother worried about the vibrant red wedding dress Lin Rulan wore, fearing it was against custom for a concubine and might cause trouble with Wu Lian's main wife.

Lin Rulan confessed that she had dreamed of wearing a self-embroidered wedding dress since childhood, and if she didn't wear it today, she might never have another chance. Lin Rulan's mother was heartbroken, weeping with sorrow and helplessness. When the Wu family's sedan arrived, Lin Rulan's brother carried her out from the back of the courtyard. Maintaining a smile despite her inner turmoil, Lin Rulan expressed her gratitude for her brother's lifelong affection, knowing he had always doted on her.

She then bid farewell to her heartbroken parents, consoling them not to worry. Her parents urged her to take good care of herself, not to worry about them, and to always send a message if she encountered difficulties, rather than facing them alone, regretting that they couldn't protect her. Lin Rulan apologized for disappointing them and, still smiling, said she wished to be their daughter in her next life.

Her mother, trying to lighten the somber mood on what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, admonished her for speaking such inauspicious words. Meng Wan watched from a distance as Lin Rulan's sedan disappeared, feeling helpless and heartbroken. Inside the sedan, Lin Rulan's smile faded, replaced by a steely determination. The sedan brought Lin Rulan to the Wu family mansion, where she was assigned to an abandoned room.

Wu Lian’s main wife instructed a servant to bring wedding candles and a screen for Lin Rulan’s room, acknowledging that Wu Lian clearly held no regard for his new concubine. The servant questioned the need for such kindness, but the main wife dismissed it, saying it was merely basic necessities that cost little. As evening fell, a sudden downpour began.

Lin Rulan asked a servant about Wu Lian’s return, but the servant disdainfully told her that concubines should wait and that the master was busy. Growing hungry, Lin Rulan went to the kitchen to prepare some supper for Wu Lian. The kitchen staff refused to light the fire for her, stating it was against the rules. An older maid, however, took pity on her and offered some leftover sweet fermented rice soup.

She advised Lin Rulan to humbly apologize to Wu Lian and behave herself, assuring her that he would eventually accept her. Lin Rulan gratefully accepted the food. Lin Rulan then took the sweet fermented rice soup to Wu Lian’s study. Wu Lian greeted her coldly, asking her purpose. As she presented the food, he mocked her past defiance in court, asking if she had finally given up her stubbornness and ceased her suicidal threats.

Lin Rulan, feigning submission, replied that she had been unreasonable before, and her parents had since scolded her. She stated that as a weak woman now belonging to the Wu family, she wished only to live a quiet life under his care. Wu Lian smugly remarked that he had predicted she would eventually "learn to behave," implying her earlier resistance was foolish. Lin Rulan meekly agreed. Wu Lian then dismissed her, and she left, her mission seemingly unfulfilled.

Later, Lin Rulan invited Wu Lian to ascend the Yanyu Embroidery Building, reminiscing about her childhood dream of standing with him at its highest point on their wedding night, overlooking the illuminated Huaizhou City. She softly asked if he would fulfill this small wish. Amused by what he perceived as her newfound compliance and sincerity, Wu Lian agreed to accompany her to the tower. Meanwhile, Meng Wan delivered a letter from Lin Rulan to Shen Mu.

The letter contained an urgent message, indicating Lin Rulan's life was in danger. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Shen Mu immediately gathered Zhao Gang, another constable, and rushed to the Yanyu Embroidery Building. At the top of the tower, Lin Rulan revealed her true intentions, telling Wu Lian that she was no longer the naive girl who had been infatuated with him.

She spoke of her disillusionment, realizing that her initial affection was self-deception, and his sweet words were merely a ploy to manipulate her. She declared that he was nothing but a despicable coward who preyed on weak women, predicting that his hypocrisy would be exposed, and he would end his days ridiculed, isolated in a prison cell with vermin, and ultimately die alone. Enraged, Wu Lian grabbed her throat.

As people outside pounded on the door, demanding entry, Lin Rulan, with a defiant gaze, pulled a hairpin from her hair, as if to strike him. Wu Lian seized her wrist, but in a shocking move, Lin Rulan plunged the hairpin into her own neck, simultaneously grasping Wu Lian's hand. With her last breath, she declared, "I won't admit defeat," before throwing herself from the tower. Shen Mu and Zhao Gang witnessed Lin Rulan's fall.

She lay on the ground below, a tragic figure in her red wedding dress, now stained with crimson. Shen Mu, horrified, ordered Zhao Gang to arrest Wu Lian. Meng Wan arrived moments later, deeply grieved to see Lin Rulan's lifeless body, her red wedding dress now a stark scarlet. Wu Lian was swiftly arrested and taken to the Yamen.

However, by the next morning, he was released, and the case was closed, officially declared as Lin Rulan's attempt to frame him. Prefect Chen angrily confronted Shen Mu, rebuking him for unauthorized arrests and calling him "foolish" for apprehending someone as influential as Wu Lian. He argued that it was "just a concubine" and any excuse would suffice to close the case, fearing the repercussions from Mrs. Ning.

Shen Mu vehemently countered that Lin Rulan was a legally recognized concubine, not a maid, and Wu Lian had no right to kill her, demanding justice according to the law. Prefect Chen, calling Shen Mu "stubborn," dismissed him and announced his transfer to Sheyang County. Unwilling to back down, Shen Mu beat the drum of injustice, demanding a retrial for Wu Lian, asserting that a case must be heard when the drum is struck.

Prefect Chen reluctantly opened a private court session, stating that there was no law requiring public trials. Shen Mu presented his account, detailing how he and Zhao Gang witnessed Lin Rulan falling and how Wu Lian discarded the hairpin. He also mentioned Lin Rulan's letter, fearing for her life, refuting the claim that her wedding day was a joyous occasion.

However, when Zhao Gang was called to testify, he betrayed Shen Mu, claiming he "didn't see clearly" from a distance due to the height of the tower, and thus could not confirm Wu Lian's guilt. Zhao Gang later confessed to Shen Mu that he feared his scholarly elder brother's future in the capital would be jeopardized if he angered powerful figures like Mrs. Ning and the Empress Dowager.

He urged Shen Mu to apologize to Prefect Chen and let the matter go. Prefect Chen, seizing on Zhao Gang's inconclusive testimony, closed the case, declaring no evidence of Wu Lian's guilt, and warned Shen Mu against further protests, threatening severe punishment for disturbing the court. Wu Lian emerged from the Yamen, free. He mockingly acknowledged Shen Mu's disappointment, maintaining his innocence and dismissing Lin Rulan's actions as a "foolish" scheme to frame him with her death.

Shen Mu, disillusioned by the corruption and injustice, retorted that Lin Rulan was "kind," which led her to believe in justice, but everyone had failed her. Feeling that justice had been entirely abandoned, Shen Mu resigned from his position. Meanwhile, at the Wu family mansion, Lin Rulan's distraught parents sought to reclaim their daughter's body.

A servant, however, cruelly informed them that since Lin Rulan had married into the Wu family, she belonged to them, "alive or dead," and refused their plea, citing Wu Lian's potential wrath. Unexpectedly, Wu Lian's main wife intervened, chastising the servant for allowing the "imprudent" parents inside, but then, surprisingly, permitted them to take Lin Rulan's body, promising to handle Wu Lian's reaction.

It was also noted by another servant that many families were withdrawing their daughters from the Yanyu Embroidery Building, unsettled by the "ominous" deaths of two girls within a few months. Meng Wan, after collapsing from grief and exposure to the rain, lay unconscious for two days. Upon waking, her mother anxiously explained she had been feverish and deeply heartbroken, fearing Meng Wan would worry her to death.

Rulan's family delivered a letter addressed to Meng Wan, which they had found on Lin Rulan's dressing table. In the letter, Lin Rulan apologized for deceiving Meng Wan, stating she could not live a life of compromise beside a "cold beast" and would never forgive herself if she did. She asked for Meng Wan to allow her this one final act of willfulness.

Lin Rulan bequeathed a painting to Meng Wan, a depiction of a kite, recalling a cherished memory of them flying it together, a moment when Meng Wan had smiled purely and cut the string, letting the kite soar freely. Lin Rulan concluded her letter by urging Meng Wan not to repeat the "foolish things" she once contemplated and to live well, carrying both their shares of life.

The letter transported Meng Wan back in time, to when she had been sexually assaulted by Wu Lian. Disgusted and traumatized, she tried to drop out of the Yanyu Embroidery Building, but her mother, who had sacrificed her last valuable possession (a bangle) to send Meng Wan to school, brutally forced her to return, telling her to "die in the Yanyu Embroidery Building" if necessary. Overwhelmed and despairing, Meng Wan had attempted to hang herself.

But at that critical moment, a young Lin Rulan, a new student, had knocked on her door. Lin Rulan, with a bright smile, introduced herself, complimented Meng Wan's embroidery, and offered her a homemade chestnut cake, which she had saved especially for her. Meng Wan, hesitant at first, tasted the cake, and for the first time, spoke her name, "Meng Wan," to Lin Rulan. This simple act of kindness had pulled Meng Wan back from the brink, rekindling her spirit. With renewed resolve after reading Lin Rulan's final message, Meng Wan was determined to live well and seek justice.

Seven years later, Meng Wan stood at Rulan's tombstone, reflecting on the words spoken by the Qingshui Nunnery's abbot. She pondered whether reopening the old case was the right choice. She feared that if innocent people lost their lives due to this pursuit, it would be her fault. Yet, she felt unwilling to abandon everything she had gained over the years simply because of past mistakes. Meng Wan gazed into the distance, deep in thought.

The recent incident involving Mrs. Zheng further distressed Meng Wan. She learned that Mrs. Zheng had swallowed many oleanders from her courtyard the previous day and was only saved by her husband's timely intervention and force-feeding of licorice water. This made Meng Wan increasingly anxious about continuing her entanglement with Wu Lian, as she worried more people would get hurt, which was not her intention.

She feared that if she, like Rulan, were to push forward alone, she might repeat Rulan's tragic fate. She was not afraid of death, but of dying without meaning, and of inadvertently pushing a victim like Tian Xiaoling, who had finally moved past her past and found a new life, back into despair. The others, the "seven righteous ones," were gathered, frustrated and awaiting news.

When news confirmed Mrs. Zheng was alive but unconscious, Ms. Huang inquired who had visited Mrs. Zheng, which drew criticism from the group. Amidst the clamor, Liu Sanniang insisted that great endeavors always require sacrifice, and Tian Xiaoling, or Master Jueming, whose testimony would easily gain public trust and create a stir, was their greatest asset and only hope. Sanniang declared that she would go to Qingshui Nunnery herself, no matter what, to bring Master Jueming down the mountain.

However, Li Chunfeng vehemently disagreed, slamming his teacup down. He denounced Sanniang's suggestion, insulting her as a "cheap woman." He stated he wouldn't allow Tian Xiaoling to suffer any further harm.

He threatened to fight anyone who dared to endanger her, proclaiming he would rather pour molten copper into his own ears to shut out the world or clang the morning bell at Qingshui Nunnery daily if Tian Xiaoling wished to live as a nun for life, than let her be harmed. He warned that any further attempts to involve Tian Xiaoling would force him to fight them with his life.

Meng Wan tried to calm them, suggesting she would first send the Falling Blossom Embroidery, a key piece of evidence, to the Yamen and seek Mr. Lou's advice. If seeking victims' testimonies proved fruitless, they would find another way. The group remained divided, with some, like Feng Da and Shen Mu, suggesting direct violent retribution against Wu Lian, each vying to be the one to kill him.

Later that day, Sanniang received an anonymous letter inviting her to the Tianshui Teahouse. Puzzled as to who knew her whereabouts, Sanniang deduced from the faint, putrefying smell on the letter that it could only be Wu Lian. She went alone to the teahouse, where Wu Lian indeed awaited her. Wu Lian revealed he knew the identities of all seven of them: Meng Wan, Liu Xin, Huang Jiaojiao, Shen Mu, Feng Da, Li Chunfeng, and Liu Sanniang herself.

He claimed to know every word they spoke and every action they took in their courtyard. Wu Lian suggested that someone among them already believed Meng Wan would fail and had pledged allegiance to him. He tried to convince Sanniang to abandon Meng Wan, recounting their morning's quarrel, including Meng Wan's indecision, Sanniang's desire to visit Qingshui Nunnery, and Li Chunfeng's angry outburst. He presented these details as proof of an inside informant.

Upon Sanniang's return to the courtyard, she faced immediate suspicion, particularly from Li Chunfeng, who had seen her meeting Wu Lian. Meng Wan informed Sanniang that the Falling Blossom Embroidery, which she intended to give to Mr. Lou, had disappeared. Sanniang coldly explained her encounter with Wu Lian, revealing his claim that one of them was a spy who had divulged all their secrets.

This revelation sparked mutual distrust, with accusations flying between Ms. Huang (suspected of prioritizing her embroidery business) and Feng Da (suspected of taking a job from Yanyu Tower). Sanniang, exasperated, called them a "rabble of disorderly people," deeming their leader indecisive and the others fools. She declared she would no longer be involved and left, deciding to return to Xunzhou City.

The group disbanded in discord, with Feng Da vowing to claim Wu Lian's life himself, while Ms. Huang worried about the consequences of having made Wu Lian an enemy. Meng Wan tried to dissuade Sanniang from leaving, but Sanniang reiterated that their endeavor was exceedingly difficult, and her departure was not unexpected. She asserted she would resolve her personal grievances with Wu Lian herself. Observing Sanniang's resolve, Meng Wan did not press further.

As Sanniang's carriage prepared to depart, Liu Xin, hidden nearby, questioned Meng Wan's inaction. Meng Wan, however, remained calm, instructing Liu Xin to secretly stake out the courtyard and identify any suspicious persons. Sanniang, after leaving, stopped her carriage and returned to the bamboo grove near the courtyard to investigate the spy herself. She unexpectedly encountered Liu Xin, who initially accused her of being the informant.

Sanniang quickly clarified her intentions, explaining she believed someone was eavesdropping and came to find them, and they agreed to work together, Sanniang watching the west and Liu Xin the east. Soon, Sanniang spotted a young woman acting furtively. Following her, Sanniang overheard a conversation in a nearby hut, confirming the woman was indeed a spy who hated Meng Wan and wished to use Wu Lian to eliminate her.

Sanniang also learned of Wu Lian's upcoming trip to the capital for a banquet the next day, hoping to secure "300,000" backing, which he believed would mark the end for Meng Wan and her allies and secure greater prosperity for the Yanyu Tower. Sanniang relayed this crucial information to Meng Wan, who had come looking for her after Liu Xin reported Sanniang's return. Despite the new intelligence, Sanniang maintained her decision to leave.

Before her final departure, she handed Meng Wan a small parcel, containing a pair of new shoes, asking her to give them to Liu Xin. Returning to Xunzhou City, Sanniang found comfort in the familiar Peacock Garden and her devoted master, Yuan Mei. While discussing the capital, Sanniang realized that Wu Lian's "300,000" likely referred to the Imperial Guard, which was rumored to number 800,000 but actually had around 300,000 soldiers.

Troubled, she asked Yuan Mei if she should go to the capital, acknowledging she might not return. Yuan Mei encouraged her to follow her heart, promising that if she didn't come back, he would ride his peacock to the heavens to find her. Sanniang then closed the Peacock Garden, sent everyone away, paid her respects to Yuan Mei, and set off for the capital, stating she must go not only for him, but for herself.

Meanwhile, Wu Lian arrived in the capital and immediately proceeded to the Dali Court to meet Junior Minister Wang. In the capital, Sanniang sought out her old friend Luo Qiong, a pipa player from the Shihua House, who was rumored to have connections in the military. Sanniang, with a sense of urgency, explained that many lives depended on her entering the Imperial Guard camp that night.

Luo Qiong, despite her initial protests of not knowing anyone in the Imperial Guard, agreed to help, leveraging her familiarity with courtesans who regularly entertained at military banquets. With Luo Qiong's assistance, Sanniang infiltrated the Imperial Guard camp disguised as a pipa player. She learned that Commander Xie was hosting a banquet for Director Yan of the Embroidery Office. Shortly after, Wu Lian arrived. Sanniang, pretending to play the pipa, subtly slipped away and eavesdropped from outside.

She overheard Wu Lian blackmailing Director Yan and Commander Xie. He reminded them of their shared involvement in the smuggling trade, which had led to Zhao Yin's imprisonment. Wu Lian demanded that Director Yan resign from the Embroidery Office the next morning and recommend him as his successor. He also wanted to manage the upcoming Embroidery Convention, promising in return to silence Zhao Yin and guarantee their future without worries.

Wu Lian revealed he had already secured official status through hereditary appointment and gained support from various parties, only needing a title and a strong qualification. He emphasized that the Embroidery Office, though seemingly lacking real power, was the highest aspiration for embroiderers like him.

When Commander Xie tried to assert his authority, Wu Lian threatened to expose their complicity by sending a book of accounts to the Censorate if he didn't walk out of the camp alive, ensuring they would "accompany him to death." A soldier discovered Sanniang eavesdropping, forcing her to flee. She quickly wrote down the critical information and entrusted the letter to Luo Qiong, instructing her to escape by water to Huaizhou and deliver it to Meng Wan immediately.

Sanniang, declaring her life was not in immediate danger, then drew a sword and created a diversion to allow Luo Qiong to get away. Sanniang was soon surrounded and captured by Wu Lian and Commander Xie. Wu Lian, recalling their earlier encounter in Huaizhou, mockingly offered to take her back to the Yanyu Tower to teach her more needle techniques.

Sanniang retorted that she would rather take him to the underworld, then lunged at him with her sword, but she was quickly subdued by the guards. Luo Qiong, escaping, coincidentally ran into Liu Xin, who recognized her from Huaizhou. She delivered the letter to him as instructed, recounting Sanniang's capture. Liu Xin hurried back to Meng Wan, who reread the letter multiple times, deep in thought.

Liu Xin, anxious about Sanniang's fate, urged action, but Meng Wan insisted they must rescue Sanniang strategically, as confronting 300,000 Imperial Guard soldiers directly was impossible. She reiterated the need to understand Wu Lian's true intentions, pondering why he would relentlessly pursue the seemingly minor position of Director of the Embroidery Office.

Liu Xin then informed her of his observations in the capital: he had followed Wu Lian to the Dali Court, where he met Junior Minister Wang, who was in charge of the Right Court. Meng Wan, piecing together the information—Wu Lian's relentless pursuit of the seemingly minor position of Director of the Embroidery Office and his connection to the Dali Court's Right Court, which specialized in criminal cases involving capital officials—realized Wu Lian's true objective with a cunning plan.

Wu Lian, contemplating a recovered plum blossom embroidery at Yanyu Tower, found his thoughts drifting to a profoundly impactful period of his childhood. He often spent time with his concubine mother, Chen Yingxue, who loved embroidery and singing, spending the long days in the inner courtyard with her. Chen Yingxue explained to him that before her marriage, she worked in an embroidery shop and embroidery was her only notable skill.

She viewed it as a vital way to pass the long and otherwise stagnant days in the inner courtyard, fearing her life would be without purpose if she had nothing to occupy her. Young Wu Lian frequently sought refuge with Chen Yingxue to escape his parents' constant and bitter arguments, often feeling caught in the middle, unable to escape. His father would chastise him for still reading "Er Ya" at the age of ten, deeming him "wooden-headed" and unlike himself.

His mother would swiftly retort, accusing his father of constantly demeaning her merchant background and implying that her "ignorance" disgraced the Wu family. She reminded him that he had only married her due to his family's financial struggles, seeking the continuous stream of money from her family. His father, in turn, criticized her "vulgar" acquisitions of gold and silver, contrasting them with his own expensive antique paintings, one costing "500,000 copper coins" and another "1,000,000 copper coins."

His mother scoffed, pointing out that his family had not produced an imperial scholar in three generations and accusing him of hypocrisy. One evening, after a particularly heated exchange between his parents, Wu Lian expressed a desire to stay with Chen Yingxue. She gently urged him to return home, explaining that his father disliked him lingering in her courtyard, but promised to make his favorite glutinous rice balls in wine the following day.

Chen Yingxue presented Wu Lian with two sachets, exquisitely embroidered with plum blossoms, which she had prepared for his upcoming birthday. He declared that plum blossoms would thereafter be his favorite. Inspired, Wu Lian asked her to teach him embroidery, and she patiently guided him on how to properly hold the needle. One day, while accompanying his mother to a dye shop, Wu Lian was left in the care of the nanny.

However, the nanny excused herself to the privy, leaving Wu Lian unattended. During his wanderings, he inadvertently witnessed a clandestine event. Upon returning home, his father interrogated him about what he had seen. Wu Lian lied, claiming he had slept in the carriage and seen nothing. His father, dismissing him as "useless," initially ordered a servant to secretly follow his wife if she left the house again, but then reconsidered and revoked the instruction.

Wu Lian went directly to Chen Yingxue's room and began embroidering. When she returned, he proudly displayed his work, which she praised. He reiterated his earnest wish to learn. Chen Yingxue, concerned, tried to dissuade him, asserting that embroidery was an unsuitable pursuit for a boy and that he should dedicate himself to studying for a promising future.

Wu Lian countered by noting his father's lifelong studies had yielded little, while the act of stitching brought him an "inexplicable tranquility," allowing him to finally understand her profound love for embroidery. He vowed to learn even if she refused. Witnessing his unwavering determination, Chen Yingxue reluctantly agreed to teach him, but only on the condition that he kept it an absolute secret from his father, emphasizing that it was because he was a boy.

Wu Lian readily gave his word. Wu Lian's embroidery skills quickly flourished. He presented Chen Yingxue with a plum blossom piece he had completed in half a month. She marveled at its realism, admitting his skills now surpassed her own. Observing his injured index finger, she tenderly applied medicine, stressing that an embroiderer's index finger was their "most vital asset." He promised to protect his hands and keep them dry for several days.

Soon after, some boys from the family burst into Wu Lian's room, scattering his embroidery materials and ridiculing him for engaging in "feminine things," noting his hands were "whiter and tenderer than a woman's." Wu Lian's father learned of this. He stormed into Chen Yingxue's room, discovered the plum blossom embroidery, and furiously tore it to pieces. He raged that she was corrupting his son with "disgraceful things" and trying to ruin him.

He struck her, severely beat and scolded her, and declared she would be confined to her courtyard, to be sent to the country estate the next day. Wu Lian was then forced to kneel in the courtyard, enduring a severe beating while his father ordered all his embroidery to be burned before his eyes. That night, Wu Lian secretly entered Chen Yingxue's sealed courtyard through a hidden hole.

Seeing the slap marks on her face, he expressed deep remorse for causing her trouble. Chen Yingxue gently comforted him, stating that although she was childless, "Bodhisattva had mercy on me and sent you to me," and that his daily visits had sustained her through "the last few years." She then softly informed him that she was being sent to the country estate the next day and that future meetings would be difficult.

Wu Lian offered to plead with his father, but she stopped him, cautioning against provoking his father while he was still angry. She tried to frame the move positively, saying the estate would be peaceful and preferable to the small courtyard. Heartbroken, Wu Lian asked if she was abandoning him.

She explained that as he would soon come of age, it would be inappropriate for him to visit the backyard, and that her only wish was to know he was well. He promised to visit her at the estate, and she agreed to await his visits. The following morning, desperate to secure funds for Chen Yingxue, Wu Lian rushed to a pawnshop, pawning a "top-quality Lantian jade" pendant for 50 taels, although he believed its true value was higher.

He hurried back, only to find Chen Yingxue had tragically hanged herself. Distraught, he sat in her room from dawn until night, lost in the overwhelming memories of their shared embroidery moments. At first light, Wu Lian, carrying his belongings, left his home, ignoring his mother's emotional pleas. His mother cried out, asking if he was abandoning her for his concubine mother.

He responded with chilling finality, declaring his "real mother" had died yesterday, and vowed never to set foot in the Wu family home again. Years later, Wu Lian's burgeoning Yanyu Tower began to flourish after Mrs. Zhao, a prominent figure in Huaizhou City, was captivated by his unique Yanyu Embroidery.

He explained that this technique revealed "different images in the misty rain," illustrating with a pear blossom design that appeared as budding up close but fully bloomed from a distance, creating a "dreamlike feeling." He offered her the sample, promising she would witness its magic on a rainy day. Impressed, Mrs. Zhao pledged her house's future embroidery commissions to him if his claims proved true. Her endorsement significantly boosted his reputation and the Yanyu Tower's success.

A matchmaker, Mrs. Wang, soon approached Wu Lian with a marriage proposal from the prestigious Zhang family of Huaizhou Prefecture, which had produced a prime minister in the last three generations. Mrs. Wang highlighted the Yanyu Tower's fame and Wu Lian's good character, assuring him that the Zhang family valued a suitable life partner for their legitimate daughter, Zhang Rong'er, over mere status or wealth. Wu Lian readily accepted, considering it a great honor to marry into the Zhang family.

Following their marriage, Wu Lian and Zhang Rong'er paid a customary visit to her parents. Zhang Rong'er's mother expressed her relief at Wu Lian's kind treatment of her daughter, noting that despite his merchant status, his fame in Huaizhou made this marriage "the best result" given Zhang Rong'er's "current situation." Zhang Rong'er affirmed her contentment. Later, Wu Lian informed Zhang Rong'er of his plan to establish an embroidery school at Yanyu Tower to take in disciples.

He instructed her to leverage her social connections among Huaizhou's female gentry to promote the school, without delving into further questions. Zhang Rong'er diligently followed his instructions, gathering many young women. During one such gathering, a woman arrived late, explaining she had been facilitating a marriage proposal between Sun Erlang and Miss Cao.

The other women were astonished, questioning why the esteemed Sun family, whose Elder Master Sun was a retired tutor to the Crown Prince, would marry into the modest Cao family. Zhang Rong'er clarified that Miss Cao had been studying at Yanyu Tower and had gifted Mrs. Sun a longevity-themed embroidery for her recent birthday. Mrs. Sun, who valued needlework and virtue and particularly admired Yanyu Embroidery, was greatly impressed by Miss Cao, which led to the approved match.

This story sparked widespread interest, with other women eagerly expressing their desire to send their own daughters, including one's youngest daughter and another's six-year-old daughter, to Yanyu Tower for embroidery lessons. Wu Lian then instructed Nanny Chen to prepare the largest possible embroidery frame. He announced his intention to embroider "Fallen Plum Blossoms," explaining that plum blossoms on branches were "too vulgar," while those "fallen in the snow are the most beautiful."

Observing a ruined plum blossom embroidery he had worked on for years, Wu Lian remarked that he found it increasingly "tacky" and felt no regret over its state. He declared his ambition to harness the collective talent of the entire Yanyu Tower to create an even "grander" and "more impressive" Yanyu Embroidery that would be universally celebrated.

The quinquennial Embroidery Convention, a significant gathering for embroidery masters to exchange skills and showcase their works, was announced to be held in Huaizhou this year, with Yanyu Tower serving as the host. This choice ignited public speculation that Wu Lian had leveraged his connections with the capital's Embroidery Office. The event also promised captivating performances by a top courtesan, leading people to wonder about her identity.

Wu Lian had selected Liu Sanniang, whom he had forcibly brought from the capital, to be the performing courtesan. Found bruised and defiant in her room, Liu Sanniang adamantly refused to perform, declaring she would rather die in the tower than dance for him. She accurately deduced that Wu Lian intended to use her as bait to lure Meng Wan and her allies, confident that Meng Wan would see through his scheme.

Wu Lian, however, remained unfazed, asserting that her defiance only confirmed his conviction that they would indeed come. He ordered his servants to feed Liu Sanniang, treat her injuries, and prepare her, noting her superior intelligence and the irony of her fate as a courtesan despite her efforts to protect her chastity. Meng Wan, upon learning about the invited courtesan, immediately suspected it was Liu Sanniang.

She returned to her courtyard, which had recently been repaired, and lit a distinctive red firework flare, her established "call to arms." This unique signal, designed to make a buzzing sound and ascend like a dragon, was a solemn pact among her allies to rush to anyone's rescue if they were in danger. From her confinement, a desperate Liu Sanniang glimpsed the brilliant fireworks through a crack in her roof, and hope instantly surged in her heart.

Although her dispersed friends initially seemed distracted by their own activities, they eventually responded to the signal and converged at the courtyard. Before her allies fully arrived, Meng Wan's husband, Xu Zhiyang, appeared with his servants. Fuelled by rumors of Meng Wan's infidelity circulating among his household and a maid's report of strange men residing in the courtyard, he confronted her.

Meng Wan honestly admitted that two male friends were indeed staying in the courtyard, which only intensified Xu Zhiyang's anger and disbelief. He accused her of being "ruthless and unfaithful" and ordered a search, further encouraged by the maid who insisted there were more than two men. Just as the search was about to begin, Shen Mu arrived, identifying himself as being from the Imperial Guard Bureau and immediately declaring his support for Meng Wan.

Li Chunfeng then appeared, mockingly challenging Xu Zhiyang's behavior and jokingly presenting himself as Meng Wan's disreputable paramour to discredit the accusations. Liu Xin also introduced himself as a former constable who had found shelter in the courtyard thanks to Meng Wan's kindness. Meng Wan earnestly pleaded with Xu Zhiyang to leave for the night, promising a full explanation after her urgent matters with her friends were resolved and accepting any punishment he deemed fit.

Despite the maid's renewed attempts to provoke him, Xu Zhiyang ultimately relented, asking Meng Wan to return early. Meng Wan then expressed her deep gratitude to her arriving friends, including a belated Feng Da, who, arriving with a hammer in hand, was ready for a fight, thus reuniting all seven righteous individuals. Shen Mu revealed Wu Lian's true objective: to become a capital official, specifically the director of the Embroidery Office, through a successful convention.

Wu Lian had secretly met with influential figures in the Dali Court's Right Court and the Imperial Guard to orchestrate this. If he succeeded, all his past crimes would be transferred to the Right Court for review, effectively placing him beyond the reach of Mr. Lou and their investigation. The public announcement of Liu Sanniang's performance was a deliberate trap, designed to lure Meng Wan and her allies into Yanyu Tower where they could be ensnared.

Despite recognizing the grave danger, the group unanimously agreed they had no choice but to attempt Liu Sanniang's rescue and prevent the convention from concluding successfully. Meng Wan then unveiled her counter-plan: they had two primary objectives for the night – to save Liu Sanniang and to burn down the Yanyu Tower, using petroleum she had prepared. Meanwhile, Wu Lian confidently presided over the convention. Director Yan praised the event, suggesting its grandeur surpassed even those held in the capital.

Commander Xie arrived with his soldiers, whom Wu Lian instructed to surround the Yanyu Tower's main building during the front yard's lion dance performance, ensuring no one could escape. Director Yan, reminding Wu Lian of the high political stakes, cautioned that if the convention failed to gain widespread acclaim, his ambition for the Embroidery Office director position would be unattainable. Wu Lian, however, remained assured, remarking that the "bait was in the water" and awaited those willing to take it.

The Huangji Embroidery House, which had previously severed ties with Yanyu Tower, also sent representatives to participate in the competition. Meng Wan entered the Yanyu Tower disguised, inquiring about the restroom. She quickly cornered an attendant who, under duress, revealed Liu Sanniang was locked on the highest floor and Wu Lian held the key. In the main hall, Wu Lian presented his masterpiece, the "Yaotai Plum Blossom Embroidery."

He elaborated on its intricate use of various stitching techniques, such as vertical, interlaced, flat, gradation, straight, bound stitches, and even Miao layering embroidery, articulating his philosophy that a true master, while skilled in many techniques, is ultimately devoted to perfecting one. He declared his preference for fallen plum blossoms, deeming blooming ones "too kitsch."

A foreign envoy expressed profound admiration for the piece and desired to purchase it for his queen, but Wu Lian politely declined, offering to showcase more of his works later. Then, Mr. Huang from the Huangji Embroidery House presented his "Plum Blossoms in Huaizhou," crafted with a unique Huai Embroidery skill, directly challenging Wu Lian's philosophy by referencing a lady who found blooming plum blossoms more beautiful.

Wu Lian dismissed it as "utterly vulgar," but the envoy was captivated by its originality and superior artistry, expressing a strong desire to acquire it. This unexpected interest in Mr. Huang's work created a crucial diversion, drawing Wu Lian away to address the envoy's inquiries. Seizing this opportunity, Meng Wan's group ascended to the top floor where they found Liu Sanniang bound by a thick iron chain.

Liu Sanniang immediately warned them of an ambush, revealing that Wu Lian's key was fake and that soldiers from the capital were strategically positioned downstairs. Despite knowing it was a trap, Meng Wan affirmed that they could not abandon her. Li Chunfeng confirmed that the key he had stolen from Wu Lian was indeed ineffective, and Feng Da's attempts to smash the chain with his hammer proved futile.

Realizing their desperate predicament, Liu Sanniang urged them to leave, arguing that their collective sacrifice would be senseless and would only lead to Wu Lian's ultimate victory. To ensure their escape and the mission's success, Liu Sanniang bravely picked up the petroleum they had brought, scattered it around herself, and deliberately set it ablaze. As flames engulfed her, she reiterated her belief that "great things couldn't be achieved without sacrifice," having now proven it with her own life.

She made Meng Wan promise to burn the entire Yanyu Tower to ashes, destroying the "foul place" and utterly ruining the embroidery event to prevent Wu Lian from achieving his ambitions. She also implored Liu Xin to escape, bring Wu Lian to justice, and avenge her, expressing that the shoes he'd once given her fit, which she would consider his payment.

With her final words, Liu Sanniang declared her sacrifice "worth it" for the destruction of the tower and the invaluable friendship with her comrades. The remaining group quickly spread the rest of the petroleum throughout the tower and escaped as the inferno consumed the building. The Yanyu Tower was soon engulfed in a massive blaze, its roof beams collapsing under the intense heat.

Wu Lian watched in horror, desperately demanding that the fire be extinguished and lamenting the destruction of his precious embroideries, including his "Night Feast Embroidery." Director Yan, recognizing the catastrophic failure, advised Commander Xie to seek immediate shelter, acknowledging the severe repercussions the night's events would have.

Meng Wan, Liu Xin, Feng Da, Li Chunfeng, and Huang Jiaojiao gathered in the suburbs at a memorial tablet for Liu Sanniang. Meng Wan reflected on Liu Sanniang's life, noting her rebellious spirit and disregard for worldly customs, which allowed her to live freely and happily. However, Meng Wan realized this freedom was a detachment achieved after countless injuries. She mused that Sanniang, who frequented the pleasure quarters, might have also yearned for a stable life.

Liu Xin, lamenting that he, as one of her few friends, couldn't protect her, joined the others in raising a final toast. They all vowed to avenge Sanniang and win their ongoing battle against Wu Lian. At Sanniang’s grave, Meng Wan credited Sanniang’s timely message for their victory in a seemingly unwinnable battle, acknowledging it came at the cost of Sanniang's life and expressing deep sorrow and unpayable debt.

Li Chunfeng pledged to avenge Sanniang, adding her death to the list of grievances alongside Tian Xiaoling's. Feng Da, in a fit of rage, suggested killing Wu Lian immediately upon returning to the city to offer his blood as a sacrifice. Liu Xin intervened, reminding Feng Da that they had promised Sanniang to bring Wu Lian to justice through legal means, not chaotic violence, believing he should die for his own crimes to truly uphold justice.

Meng Wan addressed the group, accepting responsibility for involving them and for the pain they suffered. She warned that the path ahead would be even more perilous, offering an opportunity for anyone who wished to withdraw to do so then. She emphasized that after that day, any irrationality or mutual suspicion would be met with her disapproval.

She then offered a poignant farewell to Sanniang, wishing her peaceful rebirth as a creature or element of nature, free from the burdens of human life. Others also shared their wishes for Sanniang's next life, with one person hoping they might be brothers if they met again, living an ordinary, stable life. Meng Wan concluded by assuring Sanniang that they would emerge victorious in their fight.

After this, someone suggested that with Yanyu Tower destroyed, they should use the momentum to further pressure Wu Lian. The grand embroidery convention had been reduced to ashes by the fire, causing widespread distress among merchants who mourned the loss of their valuable embroidery works. Liu Xin, disguised as a storyteller, along with Li Chunfeng as his drummer, held a public gathering to expose Wu Lian.

They narrated how Wu Lian, despite his scholarly facade, was deeply connected to influential figures like the Duchess and the Minzhou Supervisor, received numerous imperial rewards, and amassed immense wealth through sea smuggling. Merchants were outraged by the revelation of Wu Lian's illicit activities. Capitalizing on their anger, Huang Jiaojiao, posing as a merchant, rallied the crowd, arguing that Wu Lian, as the organizer of the convention, was solely responsible for their losses.

She urged them to hold him accountable, leading the disgruntled merchants to flock towards Yanyu Tower. At the ruined Yanyu Tower, Wu Lian was in despair, realizing that the fire had destroyed nearly twenty years of his carefully cultivated reputation and prestige. He lamented the loss of his connections to the Duchess's mansion and the Embroidery Office, fearing for his very life.

Wu An suggested eliminating their adversaries directly, but Wu Lian, mindful of Investigator Lou Mingzhang's presence in Huaizhou Prefecture and the heightened scrutiny following the night's events, deemed rash action suicidal. As merchants stormed his premises demanding compensation, Wu Lian calmly asserted his own victimhood, pointing to his burnt tower as proof. He deflected blame, stating that the invitations to the convention were issued by the Embroidery Office in the capital, and he merely facilitated their distribution.

He suggested the merchants take their grievances to the capital. Huang Jiaojiao countered, arguing that the arsonist had clearly targeted Wu Lian due to his personal grudges, making him responsible for the damage, not the Embroidery Office. The merchants agreed, threatening to expose Wu Lian’s smuggling operations if he did not comply. Wu Lian attempted to isolate Huang Jiaojiao for a private discussion, but Shen Mu intervened.

Faced with an unyielding crowd and the threat of exposing his illicit dealings, Wu Lian reluctantly promised a satisfactory resolution within seven days, urging them to return to their inns. Later, Yan Yuanshi, the Director of the Embroidery Office, confronted Wu Lian, criticizing him for the disastrous convention, which had frightened foreign envoys and destroyed valuable embroideries.

Yan Yuanshi declared Wu Lian's ambition to take over the Embroidery Office was delusional, especially with the potential exposure of their shared smuggling secrets. Yan Yuanshi announced his immediate return to the capital to minimize his own punishment and reminded Wu Lian to swiftly eliminate Zhao Yin in prison to prevent further complications.

Wu Lian dismissed the Embroidery Office directorship as a minor position and instructed Yan Yuanshi to proceed with his resignation as previously planned, assuring him that he would handle the crisis and secure the position himself. Meanwhile, Meng Wan visited Lou Mingzhang. Lou Mingzhang revealed he had already deployed agents to monitor Yanyu Tower and deliberately alerted Wu Lian, rendering him hesitant to act rashly against her group.

Meng Wan, toasting him with tea, expressed gratitude for his assistance but then apologized, acknowledging that her pursuit of justice against Wu Lian had delayed his return to the capital, stalled the case's progress, and almost allowed Wu Lian to gain a promotion. Lou Mingzhang dismissed her apologies, remarking on the inherent difficulty of reopening a seven-year-old case.

He confessed that repeated summons from the capital meant he could not linger much longer, granting Meng Wan a maximum of ten days. Meng Wan confidently promised that within ten days, new witnesses would emerge, prompting a fresh trial. She planned to personally intercept Lou Mingzhang on his departure day to formally accuse Wu Lian, believing they still had a chance to succeed with collective support.

To gather more evidence, Meng Wan prepared four letters, each containing the name and address of an individual crucial to Rulan's case. She assigned her companions to form four groups to locate these people, hoping they would all testify in court within ten days. Li Chunfeng, learning that Tian Xiaoling was one of the individuals, refused to take Meng Wan's pre-written letter.

He revealed Sanniang's past advice: that a prostitute's testimony would be discredited, while a monk's would garner trust, and that great deeds often required sacrifice. He resolved to face his past and personally write to Tian Xiaoling, intending to persuade her to come down the mountain before the Qiqiao Festival, leaving the final decision to her. He vowed that if she chose to testify, she would not stand alone.

Before setting off, Meng Wan instructed Huang Jiaojiao and Shen Mu to Linzhou City, Feng Da to Hu'an County, while she and Liu Xin would deliver the last letter together. Before departing, Meng Wan returned home to speak with Xu Zhiyang, revealing the full extent of her seven-year deception and her true identity, seeking his understanding.

Xu Zhiyang, now aware of her and Rulan's tragic past, held her hand, imploring her to abandon her quest for vengeance and find peace within their home, promising to overlook her past actions. Meng Wan gently withdrew her hand, calling him "Zhiyang" for the first time in seven years, and explained that to abandon her cause now would betray not only Rulan but all who had suffered. Xu Zhiyang, anticipating her resolve, quietly accepted her decision.

He released Xiaoyue, the maid who had spied for Wu Lian, into Meng Wan's custody. Xiaoyue confessed she willingly worked for Wu Lian, not for gain, but purely out of a desire for Meng Wan's demise. Meng Wan, however, spared her life, instructing Liu Xin to take Xiaoyue to a remote countryside estate to be held until their mission was complete, promising to grant her freedom thereafter.

Meng Wan and Liu Xin journeyed to Ten Mile Lane to find Rulan's elder brother, Mr. Lin. Seven years had transformed him into an aged man, now a goods vendor with a wife and a daughter named Nianlan. Meng Wan introduced herself, and Mr. Lin recognized her, noting her current status as a squire's wife. Mr. Lin shared the sorrowful news of his parents' passing a few years prior, a consequence of their grief following Rulan's death.

He also mentioned receiving anonymous financial support for the past two years from a supposed "friend of Rulan." Meng Wan confessed she was the benefactor, explaining her deep bond with Rulan and her regret at not finding him sooner to assist his ailing parents. She then revealed the purpose of her visit: the Huaizhou Yamen would retry Rulan's case in seven days, and according to imperial law, as Rulan's closest direct relative, he must serve as the primary plaintiff.

After a subtle nod of encouragement from his wife, Mr. Lin readily agreed to testify, expressing his own lingering guilt over Rulan's fate. He declared his unwavering commitment to seeking justice, even if the chances of success were slim, affirming that a true friend like Meng Wan deserved no less. Meanwhile, Wu Lian confronted Zhang Rong'er, his estranged wife, in her secluded chamber.

He scornfully remarked on her fervent religious devotion, which he attributed to her newfound peace in the household. Zhang Rong'er pleaded with him to leave her sanctuary, but Wu Lian, in turn, sought her help. He reminded her of the Zhang family's influential connections in the capital, stemming from their esteemed prime minister ancestor. Zhang Rong'er, having renounced worldly affairs for a life of prayer, refused to get involved, stating she was prepared to face any karmic retribution.

Wu Lian warned her that his downfall would inevitably lead to hers. When Zhang Rong'er threatened to expose his illicit activities if he persisted, Wu Lian retorted that her involvement in those very misdeeds meant her destruction would also mean the ruin of the entire Zhang family's reputation. Wu Lian then brought Zhang Rong'er to her mother's mansion, where he tried to flatter Mrs. Zhang, Zhang Rong'er's mother, hoping to leverage her connections for the Embroidery Office directorship.

Mrs. Zhang, feigning disinterest and claiming the Zhang family's influence had waned, tried to dismiss him. Wu Lian, growing impatient, threatened to publicly expose Zhang Rong'er's pre-marital loss of chastity and divorce her, thereby destroying the Zhang family's centuries-old reputation and the prestige of all its women, including Mrs. Zhang herself. Mrs. Zhang, horrified, commanded him to silence.

Driven by Wu Lian's aggressive demands, Zhang Rong'er proposed a divorce. However, Wu Lian retorted that such a decision required his consent, and her mother would certainly oppose it given the potential damage to the Zhang family's reputation. He reminded Zhang's mother that Zhang Rong'er had lost her virginity before marriage, and if he had revealed it then, the Zhang family's reputation would have been ruined.

Wu Lian then threatened to publicly denounce Zhang Rong'er as an unfaithful wife, which would destroy the Zhang family's centuries-old reputation, the good name of all female relatives, and Zhang's mother's accumulated prestige. To prevent this, Zhang's mother reluctantly agreed to Wu Lian's terms: she would use her family's connections, specifically a distant relative serving in the Ministry of Personnel, to secure Wu Lian a position as the director of the Embroidery Office in the capital.

Wu Lian had already prepared funds and carriages for her journey, emphasizing that her cooperation would save both him and her daughter. Before Zhang's mother departed for the capital, Zhang Rong'er tearfully confessed the full extent of the atrocities committed at Yanyu Tower, admitting her complicity in harming many people. She revealed that while initially coerced, she later actively participated in Wu Lian's schemes in a desperate bid for acceptance and status within his household.

Overwhelmed with regret, Zhang's mother blamed herself for advising her daughter to endure an unhappy marriage, realizing Zhang Rong'er's immense suffering. Zhang Rong'er also admitted she had always believed her mother prioritized the family's reputation over her well-being, but now understood her mother's love. Zhang's mother vowed to embark on the journey immediately, stating that no personal humiliation was too great if it meant freeing her daughter from her predicament.

Wu Lian observed their farewell, anticipating his "good news" from Zhang's mother's efforts. Soon after, Zhang's mother sent word from the capital that the arrangement was successful. Zhang Rong'er immediately approached Wu Lian, demanding her divorce settlement. However, Wu Lian, showing his true colors, refused to grant it yet.

He stated that he first needed to receive his official letter of appointment, travel to the capital, claim his official seal, and fully secure his new position as director of the Embroidery Office. He mockingly suggested Zhang Rong'er could return to her family home in the meantime if she missed her mother. Disgusted by his treachery, Zhang Rong'er instructed her maid to pack only her dowry, refusing to take anything else from the Yanyu Tower.

She also extinguished the candles in the Wu family ancestral hall as a symbolic severance and told her maid not to address her as Mrs. Wu anymore as she departed for her family's residence. Meanwhile, news of Wu Lian's appointment as director of the Embroidery Office spread, surprising many. Huang Jiaojiao, a shopkeeper of Huangji Embroidery, expressed concern for her own business, fearing it was now in danger.

She noted the irony of Wu Lian, a merchant who failed the Embroidery Convention, suddenly securing a high-ranking position in the capital, speculating it was through bribery. Meng Wan confirmed their plan to appeal three days later, coinciding with Lou Mingzhang's departure for the capital. She also advised further delaying the delivery of the Empress's birthday gift, a risky strategy to be deployed only in a desperate situation.

Separately, Li Chunfeng remained at home, seemingly preoccupied with preparing a special gift for Tian Xiaoling, leaving others curious about his intentions. Witnessing Zhang Rong'er's departure from Yanyu Tower to her family home while Wu Lian prepared for the capital, Meng Wan and Liu Xin suspected a hidden agenda. Realizing Zhang Rong'er was taking a route south, not west to the capital, Liu Xin correctly deduced she was returning to her maiden home.

Meng Wan, suspecting foul play, decided to intercept her. Taking a shortcut, they stopped Zhang Rong'er's carriage. Despite Zhang Rong'er's feigned ignorance and reluctance, Meng Wan insisted on taking her to Qingshui Nunnery, where Liu Xin forcibly redirected her carriage. At the Nunnery, Meng Wan confronted Zhang Rong'er, reminding her of their shared past at Yanyu Tower and directly accusing her of helping Wu Lian bribe his way into an official position.

She also pressed Zhang Rong'er about the death of Lin Rulan seven years prior, suggesting Zhang Rong'er's subsequent retreat into a secluded courtyard indicated a troubled conscience. Meng Wan then revealed Tian Xiaoling, who had lived at the Nunnery for seven years, asking if Zhang Rong'er remembered her.

Though Zhang Rong'er denied knowing Tian Xiaoling and tried to leave, Meng Wan held her, questioning why she continued to protect and please Wu Lian despite his mistreatment, emphasizing that true peace of mind required atonement. Overcome with emotion, Zhang Rong'er broke down. She tearfully confessed that her life had been controlled by others since she was a child, having been deceived and forced by her cousin to lose her virginity.

She believed she had suffered enough to pay for her past sins and only wished for freedom and control over her own destiny, imploring Meng Wan to leave her alone. Meng Wan, however, firmly countered that simply moving away would not absolve her of the suffering inflicted upon the women of Yanyu Tower, and her sins would haunt her forever unless she faced them. Pressed further, Zhang Rong'er finally revealed the existence of a secret, small account book.

This ledger, she explained, meticulously documented all of Wu Lian's illicit dealings, from procuring doctors and abortion pills for pregnant embroideresses, to bribing family members of troubled women, influencing local officials, and even the recent bribery involved in securing his director position. This book, wrapped in yellow cloth, was hidden in the Buddha shrine within Yanyu Tower's secluded courtyard, its existence unknown to Wu Lian. Unbeknownst to Meng Wan, Wu An had secretly followed Zhang Rong'er to Qingshui Nunnery.

Overhearing her confession about the hidden account book detailing Wu Lian's illicit activities, Wu An immediately reported back to Wu Lian, confirming the book's location in the Buddha shrine. Wu An retrieved the book before Meng Wan could.

Wu Lian, cynically remarking on Zhang Rong'er's "kind-hearted" nature, ordered Wu An to return the book to its original hiding place in the Buddha shrine, anticipating that Meng Wan would soon come for it and setting a trap in his study to lure her or her allies. Meanwhile, Li Chunfeng, having been isolated at home, stumbled upon the news of Wu Lian's grand banquet celebrating his appointment as director of the Embroidery Office.

Sensing trouble, he went to Yanyu Tower, where he witnessed Wu An returning the yellow-wrapped account book to the Buddha shrine. Seizing the opportunity, Li Chunfeng stealthily retrieved the book. Meng Wan, having received an invitation from Wu Lian, decided to attend the banquet, her true objective being to locate the account book. Despite Liu Xin's concerns about her safety and visibility, she insisted on entering through the front while he would provide backup from the rear.

Wu Lian's trap was sprung, and Li Chunfeng, engrossed in the contents of the account book in the study, was ambushed by Wu An and his men. Wu Lian demanded the book. Li Chunfeng, severely beaten and bleeding, feigned surrender, offering the book from his robes. As Wu An moved to retrieve it, Li Chunfeng suddenly produced a small knife and lunged at Wu Lian, only to be stabbed by Wu An in the chest.

Just then, Meng Wan arrived, witnessing the brutal beating and ordering them to stop. Wu Lian, defiant, burned the account book to ashes right before her eyes, daring her to challenge him further. He taunted that Li Chunfeng could be dismissed as a mere thief and Meng Wan an interfering woman whose injuries would be "normal."

Before the situation could escalate further, Liu Xin appeared, holding a knife to Wu Lian's throat, forcing him to order his men to stand down. Liu Xin then quickly spirited Meng Wan and a mortally wounded Li Chunfeng away, escaping through the back door as Wu Lian directed his men to pursue them discreetly through the front, unwilling to disturb his banquet guests. Despite their escape, Li Chunfeng was gravely wounded.

Meng Wan and Liu Xin brought him back to his humble room. With his last breaths, Li Chunfeng urged Meng Wan, "Tian Xiaoling is waiting for you at Qingshui Nunnery." He directed her to his study, where she found a rabbit-shaped lantern, which he had made for Tian Xiaoling. Li Chunfeng confessed that he had sent a letter to Qingshui Nunnery, promising to meet her at his home on the upcoming Qiqiao Festival.

As his life ebbed, he asked Meng Wan and Liu Xin to go in his stead, entrusting them with a gift he had prepared on his bed and a letter on his desk for Tian Xiaoling. His final, poignant request was that if Tian Xiaoling was unwilling to leave the mountain, they must "never force her," threatening to haunt them if they did. Meng Wan solemnly promised to honor his wish.

Li Chunfeng passed away, holding the rabbit lantern, lamenting that he was "not meant to have this lantern." On the Qiqiao Festival, Meng Wan, Liu Xin, and their companions arrived at Qingshui Nunnery with a display of rabbit lanterns, fulfilling Li Chunfeng's dying wish. They presented Tian Xiaoling with the lantern and the letter. In his letter, Li Chunfeng expressed deep regret over their seven-year separation, imagining a simple, happy life they could have shared.

He stated his intention to meet her at his home at noon that day to propose marriage, promising not to blame her or bother her again if she did not come. He concluded by reflecting on their shared tendency to hide behind facades, realizing it was all "self-deception." Reading his words, Tian Xiaoling was overwhelmed with grief and immediately fled back to the Qingshui Nunnery, where she mourned his death throughout the night.

The friends of Li Chunfeng gathered at his home, mourning his death, settling his debts, and waiting in vain for Tian Xiaoling. As noon passed without her arrival, an official messenger invited them to the Zuixian Restaurant, where Lou Mingzhang awaited. There, Lou Mingzhang explained the dire situation: with Wu Lian now officially appointed as a capital official, his case would fall under the jurisdiction of the Dali Court in the capital, placing it beyond Lou Mingzhang's reach.

He lamented that the Dali Court was notoriously overburdened and understaffed, implying any further pursuit of justice there would be futile. Despite the group's pleas, Lou Mingzhang maintained that as an inquisitor, his duty was to all people, not just those in Huaizhou. He offered a solemn apology, promising to return if his assistance was ever again needed, before announcing his imminent departure for the capital the next day.

The meal concluded in a somber mood, though the group understood Lou Mingzhang's constrained position. The following day, as Lou Mingzhang and his wife prepared to leave Huaizhou by carriage, Meng Wan and her companions strategized. Meng Wan, acknowledging that there was "no way back," declared it was now her turn to act. When questioned about the impact on her husband Xu Ziyang's reputation, Meng Wan revealed she had already left her divorce settlement, signifying her complete commitment to justice. As she stepped forward to intercept Lou Mingzhang's carriage at the city gate, Tian Xiaoling suddenly emerged, kneeling dramatically before the carriage and loudly accusing Wu Lian of rape.

As Lou Mingzhang's carriage was preparing to leave the city, Tian Xiaoling suddenly appeared, blocking its path by kneeling and boldly accusing Wu Lian of rape. Meng Wan joined her, also kneeling, to formally accuse Wu Lian of rape at Yanyu Tower. She stated that seven years ago, Rulan had accused Wu Lian but was judged to have made a false accusation.

Now, both she and Tian Xiaoling (Master Jue Ming) could serve as witnesses to prove Wu Lian's guilt, urging Lou Mingzhang to reopen the case and clear Rulan's name. Faced with this public appeal, Lou Mingzhang had no choice but to announce his return to the Yamen to hold court the following day. Wu Lian, upon hearing the news, instructed his subordinates that Tian Xiaoling could not be allowed to live, as without her, Lou Mingzhang would be powerless.

However, later, he recognized that Meng Wan was the true key to their plans, and removing her would render the others insignificant. Aware that the news would soon spread and impact the Xu family, Meng Wan hurried back home. She found Xu Zhiyang staring at the abandonment letter she had left on the table. With tears in his eyes, he questioned if she had no lingering attachments to their seven years together.

Meng Wan, unable to meet his gaze, admitted that those seven years were the best of her life, but she was determined to bring an end to the past. Xu Zhiyang reluctantly offered to write a divorce settlement instead, but Meng Wan insisted on an abandonment letter, as only that would clearly separate her from the Xu family. She then brought him a brush and ink to sign the document.

Xu Zhiyang handed her a box of valuables, asking about her future plans, but Meng Wan politely declined, stating she would temporarily stay at Huangji Embroidery House. As a carriage arrived outside, Xu Zhiyang offered to escort her, but Meng Wan declined, saying, "Even if one travels a thousand miles with a friend, there must be a farewell." At the door, she paused, turned, and performed a deep bow, thanking him for his care and urging him to take care.

Xu Zhiyang watched her leave, then quietly whispered "Take care." Meanwhile, Zhao Yucheng received an anonymous letter that revealed knowledge of his past grievances with Wu Lian and promised to help him re-establish himself in Huaizhou. This spurred Zhao Yucheng to return to the city.

He recalled how Wu Lian had once promised to connect him with Mrs. Ning to help him gain a foothold in Huaizhou, only to later renege and threaten him with Mrs. Ning's influence, forcing him to leave. Zhao Yucheng vowed to exact his revenge. Meng Wan, now settled at Huangji Embroidery House in Huang Jiaojiao's courtyard, knew that Wu Lian's true target would be her, not Tian Xiaoling, despite popular belief. She intentionally had Tian Xiaoling return to Qingshui Nunnery.

Shen Mu, initially guarding Qingshui Nunnery, found no suspicious activity there, leading him to realize it was a diversion. He quickly returned to the city. As anticipated, Wu An, sent by Wu Lian, infiltrated Meng Wan's room at Huangji Embroidery House. However, Meng Wan had anticipated this and had arranged with Lou Mingzhang for officers to be stationed inside and outside the courtyard.

Shen Mu arrived just in time, and the officers apprehended Wu An before he could harm Meng Wan beyond a minor scratch. Shen Mu confirmed Tian Xiaoling's safety and mentioned that Lou Mingzhang had indeed sent officers to guard the embroidery house based on Meng Wan's earlier foresight. Meng Wan cautioned everyone to be extremely careful, knowing the next day's trial would be a fierce battle.

The next morning, the news of the retrial drew large crowds to the Yamen, including Gao Chengcheng, a former embroideress from Yanyu Tower. Lou Mingzhang opened the court, summoning Wu Lian. Wu Lian dismissed the accusations, reminding the court that Rulan had retracted her statement seven years prior, and questioned the legal standing of Meng Wan and Tian Xiaoling to represent the deceased.

In response, Rulan's elder brother, Lin Lang, stepped forward to formally accuse Wu Lian and demand justice for his sister's reputation. Wu Lian demanded evidence. Lin Lang recounted Rulan's assertion that many others in Yanyu Tower had been victimized, but she remained silent to protect them. Meng Wan testified that she had experienced the same suffering as Rulan, but Wu Lian countered by highlighting her close friendship with Rulan, implying her testimony was motivated by revenge.

Tian Xiaoling then stepped forward to testify. She recounted her entry into Yanyu Tower seven years prior and how, after returning from celebrating the Qiqiao Festival, she went to the embroidery room to retrieve an unfinished piece. There, she encountered a seemingly drunken Wu Lian, who engaged her in a discussion about embroidery. When she expressed her preference for plum blossoms on branches over falling plum blossoms, Wu Lian, enraged by her perceived insolence, forced her onto an embroidery table.

He then used an embroidery needle to painstakingly tattoo a falling plum blossom onto her shoulder, vowing to mark her for life. Overwhelmed by despair, Tian Xiaoling had retreated to a nunnery, living like a "walking dead." Wu Lian attempted to discredit her by bringing up her connection to Li Chunfeng, claiming she was falsely accusing him out of revenge for Li Chunfeng's death, who Wu Lian alleged was a thief injured during a break-in at his home.

Meanwhile, Liu Xin visited Wu An in prison. He confronted Wu An, revealing his knowledge that Wu An's unwavering loyalty to Wu Lian stemmed from Wu Lian saving his sister's life. Liu Xin urged Wu An to confess in court, promising that Lou Mingzhang would show leniency, allowing him a chance to see his sister again before she started her own family, as opposed to facing exile and never seeing her again.

Wu An was swayed by the thought of his sister. Separately, Huang Jiaojiao, preparing for the trial, entrusted her steward with the title deeds to her embroidery house and shops, instructing her to sell them and take all the embroideresses away from Huaizhou if anything unforeseen happened to her during the trial. Shen Mu's men apprehended Zhao Yucheng and searched his residence. In court, Meng Wan publicly accused Zhao Yucheng of forging evidence in Rulan's original trial.

Huang Jiaojiao corroborated this, testifying that she had seen Wu Lian's servant escort Zhao Yucheng into the Yanyu Tower study before Rulan's second hearing. Wu Lian tried to dismiss Huang Jiaojiao's testimony, pointing out that her Huangji Embroidery House had flourished after Yanyu Tower's decline, suggesting she had ulterior motives.

Zhao Yucheng then confessed to his past collusion with Wu Lian, admitting that Wu Lian had promised to help him establish himself in Huaizhou if he ensured Rulan lost her case by secretly replacing Ding Ru's handkerchief. Wu Lian attempted to undermine this testimony by revealing Zhao Yucheng was Meng Wan's cousin, implying a conspiracy. However, Shen Mu produced the original handkerchief, which he had found at Zhao Yucheng's residence.

Zhao Yucheng's concubine was also brought to testify, confirming that she had embroidered a replica handkerchief on her master's orders. Wu Lian, however, still refused to admit he had ordered the deception. Meng Wan then requested Wu An be brought to the stand. To everyone's shock, Wu An dramatically turned on Meng Wan and Liu Xin.

He claimed Meng Wan was holding his beloved maid hostage to force him to falsely accuse Wu Lian, and that Liu Xin had threatened him in prison. He further asserted that his attack on Meng Wan the previous night was a personal matter stemming from his anger over her alleged mistreatment of his maid. As chaos erupted in the court, Tian Xiaoling removed her outer robe, revealing the distinctive plum blossom tattoo on her shoulder.

A handkerchief featuring Wu Lian's unique plum blossom embroidery was brought for comparison, confirming the identical design. Tian Xiaoling then recounted the full horrifying details of her assault, reiterating how Wu Lian, angered by her innocent comment, had forced her down and tattooed her with an embroidery needle.

Wu Lian, however, continued to deny the rape accusation, stating that the tattoo was merely a "punishment" for her insubordination, not an act of sexual assault, and that the method, while controversial, did not constitute rape. Facing this stalemate, Meng Wan turned to the assembled crowd, which included many former Yanyu Tower embroideresses. She appealed to them, asking how they had lived over the past seven years and reminding them that Rulan's silence had been to protect them.

She spoke of the many young women who had entered Yanyu Tower with hope only to leave scarred, and how Wu Lian, the perpetrator, continued to prosper. Meng Wan urged them to overcome their fear of gossip and social ruin, to stop hiding their scars, and to stand up, not just for others, but for themselves. Despite her impassioned plea, a somber silence fell over the court, and no one came forward. Gao Chengcheng, disheartened, quietly left.

Meng Wan then made a desperate request to Lou Mingzhang: to erect a white screen outside the Yamen where victims could anonymously write their names or testimonies, thus protecting their identities and their hard-won peaceful lives. However, Lou Mingzhang rejected this unprecedented request, declaring he could not agree to it. With no further evidence or witnesses willing to come forward, Lou Mingzhang regretfully dismissed the court, ordering the release of Wu Lian and Wu An.

As Wu Lian walked free, he mocked Meng Wan, calling her naive and asserting that no one would ever confess. Meng Wan watched him leave, heartbroken, lamenting that after seven years, nothing had changed, and perhaps nothing ever would.

After the court session, Tian Xiaoling expressed regret, feeling she had not been able to help secure justice. Meng Wan and others quickly reassured her, acknowledging Wu Lian's skill in distorting the truth. They pointed out that without her testimony, Lou Mingzhang might have already left Huaizhou Prefecture, denying them a chance for a retrial. They noted that Tian Xiaoling’s words had swayed at least half the public against Wu Lian, ruining his reputation in Huaizhou despite his release.

Liu Xin, however, was still enraged by Wu An's betrayal. Meng Wan deduced that Wu An’s sudden turn was not an impromptu decision; he likely planned to deceive Liu Xin from the start, feigning cooperation only to betray him in court. Meng Wan, however, maintained that despite Wu Lian having the upper hand for now, they still had a chance.

Zhang Rong'er reported to Mrs. Ning that the trial had ended, and just like seven years ago with the Rulan case, Wu Lian was not convicted. Mrs. Ning acknowledged that the case was escalating, with crowds gathering at the Yamen, but there was still no progress, implying Lou Mingzhang alone couldn't resolve it. Soon after, Mr. Wang, a eunuch from the palace, arrived to deliver an imperial decree from Her Majesty.

The decree stated that Mrs. Ning, despite being misled by Wu Lian, had promptly informed Her Majesty of the truth, thus her merits outweighed her faults, and she was exonerated. However, she was cautioned to be vigilant and not to repeat past mistakes. Mrs. Ning was startled, wondering how Her Majesty had learned of the matter. She then realized it must have been Meng Wan.

She recalled a previous encounter when Meng Wan, presenting a Huai Embroidery piece for Her Majesty's birthday, had urged her to preemptively expose Wu Lian's crimes to the officials for a chance at exoneration, warning that Wu Lian would drag her down to protect himself. At that time, Mrs. Ning had dismissed Meng Wan's suggestion, even calling her "not a smart person" for her belief in justice.

Now, with news from the capital that Her Majesty was pleased with the Huai Embroidery, Mrs. Ning understood that Meng Wan had skillfully used the embroidery to convey her message. Mrs. Ning concluded that Meng Wan’s audacious move, though unsolicited, ultimately benefited her and cleared the way for new embroidery houses to be established in Huaizhou. Following Her Majesty's decree to Mrs. Ning, an imperial edict from His Majesty himself was delivered, expressing his fury over the Wu Lian case.

He commanded Lou Mingzhang, the inquisitor, to remain in Huaizhou and conduct a strict investigation to bring clarity and justice to all. Lou Mingzhang humbly accepted the imperial order. Later that night, Meng Wan found Tian Xiaoling still awake, troubled by the unresolved case.

Meng Wan noticed the old wound on Tian Xiaoling’s shoulder and Tian Xiaoling confessed her years of self-deception, hiding behind the name Jueming to avoid her past, only to realize she lacked the courage to truly let go. She lamented that if she had understood things sooner, Li Chunfeng might not have died. Meng Wan gently refuted, stating there was no causal link between the two events and Tian Xiaoling shouldn't blame herself.

Meng Wan reminded her that Master Huichen had observed that Tian Xiaoling's "knots" were not just about Wu Lian, but about her self-blame. Meng Wan explained that Tian Xiaoling’s retreat to Qingshui Nunnery was not only an escape but also a form of self-punishment for the past. Tian Xiaoling then tearfully admitted that seven years ago, though she knew Rulan's accusation against Wu Lian was true, she pitied Rulan but did not sympathize.

Having been educated by her private tutor father, Tian Xiaoling had felt superior to other embroideresses and believed Rulan's fate was due to her naivety, thinking such a misfortune would never befall herself. Meng Wan then revealed that Li Chunfeng had uncovered a list of women, each of whom, like Tian Xiaoling, had been victimized by Wu Lian. Meng Wan emphasized that the women on the list were not to blame for their suffering; the perpetrator was Wu Lian.

Tian Xiaoling, reflecting on these words, finally began to grasp that she too was an innocent victim. Meng Wan, seeing her shift in understanding, offered Tian Xiaoling a comforting cup of tea and urged her to rest, assuring her that a new day would bring clarity. The next day, the Yamen was flooded with anonymous letters from women victimized by Wu Lian or their families, along with numerous petitions from Huaizhou citizens demanding a retrial.

Lou Mingzhang, now also armed with an imperial verbal order for a thorough investigation, quickly suspected Meng Wan’s orchestration. Meng Wan confirmed that ever since Wu Lian sought the position of director of the Imperial Embroidery Office through the Zhang family, she had prepared a two-pronged plan. One aspect involved ingeniously embedding an accusation letter within the Huai Embroidery piece sent to Her Majesty through Mrs. Ning, a risky gamble where the outcome was uncertain.

When her allies expressed concern about the potential backlash from Her Majesty, Meng Wan firmly declared that she would bear all consequences, asserting that she could not allow Wu Lian to escape justice again. She then requested Lou Mingzhang to accompany her to Yanyu Tower, where she promised more witnesses awaited. At Yanyu Tower, Wu Lian’s servants relayed the news of the anonymous letters and the inquisitor's arrival.

Wu Lian, seemingly unconcerned, dismissed the growing commotion, confident that the embroideresses' servitude contracts would ensure their silence. He believed they knew what to say and what not to say, and that a mere inquisitor was no match for him. However, when Lou Mingzhang sternly commanded the assembled maids and Ms. Chen to truthfully recount their experiences, threatening complicity for any hidden truths, Ms. Chen, who had served for over a decade, courageously stepped forward.

She exposed the long history of harm inflicted upon young women in the tower, calling it "awful." Other maids corroborated, describing Wu Lian’s nightly visits to embroideresses' rooms and the grim task of changing blood-stained bedsheets. One maid recounted witnessing an argument between Wu Lian and Ding Ru by the well before Ding Ru tragically jumped in.

When asked about Ling’er, the maids explained that Wu Lian had released her seven years ago, adding that Ling’er had been forced to falsely testify against Rulan, as a maidservant had no choice but to obey. With this overwhelming testimony, Lou Mingzhang ordered Wu Lian’s arrest.

As he was being led away, Ms. Chen and the other maids expressed their gratitude to Meng Wan, explaining that their servitude contracts had previously silenced them, and now they could finally speak the truth. Meng Wan revealed that Zhang Rong'er had entrusted her with their contracts, effectively freeing them. Meng Wan then offered those without a destination a place at Huangji Embroidery House.

As Wu Lian was being escorted from Yanyu Tower to the Yamen, a messenger abruptly arrived, specifically asking for him. The messenger presented Wu Lian with his official appointment letter and seal, intended for his new position as director of the Imperial Embroidery Office, before quickly departing for the capital.

Relieved and now arrogant, Wu Lian immediately turned to Lou Mingzhang, asserting that as an official appointed to a capital position, he was exempt from local jurisdiction and must be tried in the capital's Dali Court. He smugly declared that Lou Mingzhang would be unable to handle his case in Huaizhou Prefecture. However, Lou Mingzhang firmly retorted that the decision was not Wu Lian's to make and ordered his men to continue taking him to the Yamen.

In court, with overwhelming human and material evidence, Wu Lian was finally unable to escape justice. When Lou Mingzhang asked him if he pleaded guilty, Wu Lian defiantly maintained his innocence. However, Lou Mingzhang declared that the evidence was irrefutable. He then read the verdict: Wu Lian was found guilty of raping women, illicitly trading embroidered goods, bribing officials, and killing Li Chunfeng.

He was sentenced to thirty strokes of flogging, exiled three thousand miles to the northwest, and was never to be pardoned. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, hailing it as a just ruling. Wu Lian, furious, accused Lou Mingzhang of personal vendetta and vowed to report him. However, an imperial eunuch announced His Majesty's further decree, stating that due to the severe and unforgivable nature of the case, a heavier sentence was to be imposed.

Wu Lian was then dragged away. The narrator observed that this brought retribution and justice for the victimized women and their families, serving as a powerful warning that all evildoers, regardless of their status, would ultimately face the consequences of their actions. Later, Meng Wan visited Wu Lian in prison. She told him that she was there to see him off, not to gloat, though he still claimed he hadn't lost.

She asked if he felt pain, reminding him that the women he harmed had suffered far more. Meng Wan observed that Wu Lian, who often compared women to fallen plum blossoms, had now lost everything, including his most cherished hands, making him akin to a fallen plum blossom himself. She questioned if he had even a trace of remorse. Wu Lian remained silent, continuing to embroider a disordered plum blossom with his mutilated hands.

After Meng Wan departed, Wu Lian, in a hallucinatory state, saw his mother, who gently told him he had grown and urged him to stop embroidering plum blossoms and put down the needle. Shortly after Meng Wan left the prison, news came that Wu Lian had swallowed a needle and died by suicide. Later, at Rulan's tomb, Meng Wan silently acknowledged that she had finally repaid her long-standing debt to Rulan, allowing her to rest in peace.

Following Wu Lian’s judgment, the prefect of Huaizhou Prefecture, Chen Zhiyuan, was publicly demoted to the magistrate of Qingyuan County for his incompetence and dereliction of duty, ordered to depart immediately. Liu Xin expressed profound relief, finally having repaid Rulan for saving his life years ago, knowing his lameness was not in vain, and that he had brought justice to Rulan. With the primary goal achieved, people began to prepare for their separate paths.

Liu Xin recounted that Lou Mingzhang offered to reinstate him to his official position, but he declined, weary of such troubles. Shen Mu also prepared to return to the capital to face punishment from the Imperial Guard Bureau, seeking opportunities for atonement.

The owner of the Huangji Embroidery House anticipated a surge in demand for Huai Embroidery and planned to hire more workers, while Mrs. Ning ensured that the refugee embroideresses who had found shelter at Huangji Embroidery House would receive local identities. Meng Wan asked Tian Xiaoling about her plans, and Tian Xiaoling, having found peace and clarity, decided not to return to Qingshui Nunnery.

She recognized that she had been imprisoned by her own past for seven years and intended to live a fulfilling life, believing that was what Li Chunfeng would have wanted. Meng Wan was pleased to hear this.

When asked if she would return to the Xu family, Meng Wan expressed her wish for Xu Zhiyang to live a happy life with children, while she herself planned to honor her promise to Rulan: to explore the beautiful landscapes of the world and settle down in a serene place, building a home with a swing, and living an ordinary, peaceful life.

Her allies expressed concern about future meetings, but Meng Wan simply said, "If it's meant to be, we'll meet again." They then raised a toast, honoring the memories of Sanniang, Li Chunfeng, and Rulan. The story concluded with a reflection on the power of a single light, which, when nurtured and shared, can illuminate countless lives and dispel endless darkness.

In an alternate reality, the tragedy of the plum blossom embroidery never occurred, and the pure white fabric remained unstained by names or sins. In this envisioned past, Wu Lian’s family sat happily around the dinner table, no longer filled with accusations or arguments. His father, rather than chastising him, encouraged him to pursue an official career through imperial examinations, promising a smooth path with his support.

His mother, however, believed that learning business from her would be more practical, given their many shops. His little mother gently insisted that Wu Lian should follow his own desires and not be forced into anything. Wu Lian, observing the poorly made plum blossom pastries, declared he would rather become a pastry cook. He dedicated himself to his craft, spending half a month perfecting new recipes, proudly claiming his creations surpassed the best in the city.

His mother even offered to open a pastry shop for him. Years later, Wu Lian successfully managed four Wu's Pastry Shops. When his parents suggested expanding to Huaizhou Prefecture, Wu Lian, with greater ambition, expressed his desire to open a pastry shop in the capital instead. On his journey to the capital, he encountered a collapsed Wu An by the roadside and offered him water, earning Wu An's heartfelt gratitude.

In this same altered timeline, the "Nine Righteous People" did not need to form. Meng Wan, now of age, lived a life of greater autonomy. Her mother had long since divorced Meng Wan's troublesome father, who still occasionally returned to beg for money. Her mother, no longer meek, would brandish a broom to drive him away, grateful for the decision to divorce him years ago.

Meng Wan, her mind set on a different path, shared her aspirations with her mother: she wanted to travel overseas to Nanyang with Mr. Xu to learn about business, fascinated by his tales of distant lands and the lucrative opportunities there. Her mother, seeing her daughter's determination and knowing her character, eventually agreed, believing it would be good for Meng Wan to see more of the world.

They planned to depart on the night of the Lantern Festival, just seven days away. Liu Xin, though still somewhat disheveled, was a happy father of two, with his beloved douhua-selling wife. He lovingly purchased a beautiful hairpin for her, telling her a hairpin suited a beauty, and called her gorgeous as he fastened it into her hair. Having resigned from his public office, he preferred to be called simply Liu Xin.

While delivering douhua to the Hu family, he passed a courtyard where he heard the melancholic strains of a zither, played by Yuan Mei, with Liu Sanniang sitting nearby, listening intently. Liu Sanniang was deeply impressed by Yuan Mei's extraordinary music. She learned he was a musician from a theatre troupe, mistreated by his troupe leader, and frequently caught when attempting to escape. She found it a pity such a handsome and talented young man was in such a situation.

After his performance, Liu Sanniang stopped Yuan Mei, remarking on his exceptional skill but questioning his perpetually cold demeanor. Yuan Mei, believing she was merely mocking him, retorted that he was a performer, not there for entertainment, and found no joy in playing songs and hearing applause a million times, dismissing it all as cliché. Liu Sanniang clarified her appreciation for his talent, asserting it should not be wasted in such a place.

She offered to pay his ransom from the troupe, expressing her belief that he could achieve great things in the vast world. She explained it was out of appreciation for his talent, not a transaction, and gave him her name and address, inviting him to seek her out if he decided to leave the troupe. Later, as Liu Sanniang was preparing to leave in her carriage, her maid went back to retrieve a forgotten handkerchief.

In that moment, Shen Mu, a masked man pursued by the Imperial Guard, stealthily hid inside her carriage. When the guards questioned Liu Sanniang, she feigned ignorance, and they, after a brief search, rode off. Shen Mu thanked her for saving him, revealing he was a righteous bandit who robbed from the rich to help the poor and corrected injustice, though his actions were often deemed unacceptable by conventional society.

He explained he was headed to Mofeng Embroidery House to "borrow" smuggled embroideries to distribute to the disaster-stricken people in the west suburbs, so they could exchange them for money. Liu Sanniang wished him good luck, acknowledging his heroic deed. At Mofeng Embroidery House, Feng Da was personally instructing the embroideresses when a servant reported a thief in the back. Feng Da confronted Shen Mu, who accused him of smuggling royal tribute.

Feng Da, known for his upright character, was perplexed until he realized the "smuggled goods" were merely practice pieces made by the embroideresses. He confronted Ms. Chen, who, with embarrassment, confessed. She explained that Feng Da's singular passion for embroidery led him to neglect the workshop's finances, even refusing tuition from poor students. To prevent the embroidery house from going bankrupt, she had secretly sold these practice pieces overseas.

Shen Mu, realizing his mistake, apologized to both of them and advised them to find other, legitimate ways to sustain their business. Feng Da, seeing their dire financial situation, resolutely refused Ms. Chen's suggestion of one last smuggling venture. Instead, he made the difficult decision to sell his unique and self-developed "Leigong Stitch Method" to Huangji Embroidery House, hoping it would allow the technique to flourish and bring 100 guan to keep their workshop afloat.

Ms. Chen negotiated fiercely with Huang Jiaojiao, eventually securing the 100 guan. Soon after, Mrs. Ning arrived at Huangji Embroidery House to bid farewell, as she was returning to the capital the next day. She expressed her gratitude to Huang Jiaojiao, crediting the exquisite Huai Embroidery for pleasing the Empress Dowager and making her life in Huaizhou much smoother.

Mrs. Ning, admiring Huang Jiaojiao's talent, invited her to move Huangji Embroidery House to the capital, offering her assistance to ensure even greater success. However, Huang Jiaojiao politely declined. She explained that while the fame of Huai Embroidery was unexpected, her original intention in opening the workshop was to create beautiful and affordable clothing for ordinary people. She felt that if Huangji became exclusive to the wealthy and powerful, it would stray from her initial vision.

Therefore, she announced her plan to establish a new clothing store, run by a separate team of experienced tailors, dedicated to making affordable garments for common folk, while continuing to serve the gentry with Huai Embroidery. Meanwhile, Tian Xiaoling had been steadfastly waiting for Li Chunfeng, who had left for the capital three years prior to take the imperial examination, and from whom she had received no news.

Her parents, growing impatient, urged her to marry someone else, but Tian Xiaoling vehemently refused, threatening to become a nun if they continued to pressure her. As she stormed out of the house, she was stunned to find Li Chunfeng waiting outside. He, apologetic and feeling incompetent, confessed that he had failed the spring imperial examination three years ago and was too ashamed to return, resorting to petty theft to survive in the capital.

He then failed the autumn exam due to a stomach illness on the day of the test. Tian Xiaoling, touched by his story, expressed her unwavering love and suggested they could build an honest life together. As they ran through the streets, Tian Xiaoling stopped and slapped him, not out of anger, but for making her wait so long without a word and for his lack of trust. She then turned and asked if he would dare to marry her.

Overjoyed, Li Chunfeng readily agreed, declaring he had always dreamed of being her husband and that his pursuit of official titles was only out of fear of not being worthy of her. They then impromptu declared their vows in front of a wedding procession, promising to spend their lives together, never to part. When the wedding couple from the house invited them to have a drink, they cheerfully replied they had already shared their own.

In another part of the city, Rulan joyfully prepared for her own wedding. Her mother lovingly combed her hair, and Rulan beamed as she looked at her reflection, admiring the red wedding dress she had personally embroidered. She reassured her mother that she and her childhood sweetheart, Mr. Lin, were from well-acquainted families and lived only two streets apart. Her brother teasingly carried her to the sedan chair, noting her unexpected weight.

As her sedan chair moved through the busy streets, Rulan caught a glimpse of Meng Wan, and both young women felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if they had met before. Seven days later, Huaizhou City glowed under the enchanting light of the Lantern Festival. Couples, families, and friends strolled through the streets, admiring the vibrant lanterns and the brilliant fireworks display. Meng Wan and Mr. Xu walked hand-in-hand, he buying her a beautiful lantern.

Liu Xin and his wife happily sold douhua to the festive crowds. Liu Sanniang and Yuan Mei stood together, captivated by the dazzling fireworks. Shen Mu, ever the fugitive, continued to cleverly evade his pursuers amidst the throng. Feng Da and Ms. Chen enjoyed the lively street performances, while Huang Jiaojiao watched a magnificent dragon dance. Li Chunfeng and Tian Xiaoling, now happily united, won a charming rabbit lantern at a riddle game, which Tian Xiaoling adored. In this harmonious world, the characters found peace and happiness, a beautiful dream illuminating the endless night.