Resumen del episodio 5 de Faithful
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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."
