Resumen del episodio 9 de Faithful
> Resúmenes de Faithful
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.
