Resumen del episodio 11 de Faithful
> Resúmenes de Faithful
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.
