In a Class of Her Own Episode 25 Recap
> In a Class of Her Own Recap
Xue Wenxi blamed herself for the trouble, but Feng Chengjun comforted her, stating that no one could have predicted such an incident. He added that Master Wang's wisdom had given them a chance to clear their names, despite the challenging two-day deadline. Believing the incident was orchestrated by Han Shengzhi's group, Lei Zexin expressed his anger and, along with Yu Lexuan, decided to confront them.
Han Shengzhi, who had learned that if Wen Bin (Xue Wenxi in her male disguise) couldn't prove her innocence, she and Feng Chengjun, along with Lei Zexin and Yu Lexuan, would face severe punishment, was quite pleased. When Lei Zexin arrived to confront Lin Bingshen and Han Shengzhi, he accused them of conspiracy. Lin Bingshen mocked him, suggesting he had spent too much time with Wen Bin and learned to be imaginative.
Han Shengzhi, unafraid, asked Lei Zexin if he truly wished to be expelled. Lei Zexin was ready to fight, but Yu Lexuan intervened, reminding him that they still needed to uncover the truth and pulling him away from the confrontation. Lin Bingshen wore a smug expression as they left. The next day, Xue Wenxi and Feng Chengjun began their investigation.
While Lei Zexin and Yu Lexuan initially bickered about appropriate attire for undercover work, Yu Lexuan, proving his resourcefulness, shared that he had successfully purchased a jar of lingzhi powder from a black market alley at the end of South Street. Lei Zexin confirmed that all official medical halls and pharmacies in the area had yielded no results, leading them to believe the thief hadn't yet sold the stolen goods widely.
The group realized they still didn't know the exact quantity of lingzhi powder stolen from the academy. Meanwhile, Han Shengzhi was also looking into the lingzhi powder's whereabouts, hoping that Xue Wenxi would fail to find the stolen items, thus solidifying her guilt. However, in a conversation with Han Shengzhi, Lin Bingshen inadvertently revealed that there had originally been seven packs of lingzhi powder in the academy's Fu Ze Hall.
He confessed to taking one of the packs himself and deliberately leaving Xue Wenxi's student badge at the scene to frame her. Enraged by Lin Bingshen's blunders, Han Shengzhi, now having no other option, resigned himself to continuing with the fabricated narrative. Deciding to seek official assistance, Xue Wenxi and Feng Chengjun approached the Yunzhou Southern County Government's Office.
As temporary Investigating Censors, they presented their findings to the county magistrate, explaining that they had evidence of multiple stalls selling stolen goods in a South Street alley and requested his help in a mass apprehension to prevent the culprits from alerting each other. The magistrate initially dismissed them, claiming they were too inexperienced to dictate how he should conduct his duties, and suggested they follow formal procedures like beating the drum to file a case.
However, Feng Chengjun firmly reminded the magistrate of their duties as Yun officials, citing the State Code of Yun and warning that he would report any dereliction of duty. Seemingly annoyed, the magistrate excused himself to attend to an urgent matter, leaving them waiting. It was soon revealed that Han Shengzhi had arrived to inquire about the stolen herbs, secretly instructing the magistrate to feign cooperation and then cause chaos by indiscriminately smashing innocent vendors' stalls.
During the raid, the magistrate's officers not only arrested stall owners but also indiscriminately smashed their goods. Xue Wenxi protested, calling it no different from banditry, but Feng Chengjun pulled her away, acknowledging their misjudgment. The magistrate, feigning impartiality, declared his actions were "enforcing the law in an impartial way" and challenged them to report him if they dared.
The events unfolded in a way that taught the young and inexperienced students a harsh but valuable lesson, which Master Wang hoped they would never forget. Realizing her own naivety after the chaotic raid, Xue Wenxi expressed regret. Lei Zexin then revealed he had observed a suspicious individual who seemed to anticipate the officers' actions and hid just before the raid. He quickly drew a portrait of the man.
The Four Gentlemen of Yun Shang diligently searched and eventually found the man, named Amu, being confronted by his younger siblings. Amu confessed to stealing the academy's herbs, explaining that his mother had been ill for a year, enduring great suffering due to the exorbitant cost of medicine and doctor's visits. Now that his mother had passed away, he couldn't even afford a coffin and had no other choice but to steal to secure money for her burial.
He bitterly questioned if the poor were undeserving of human dignity. Witnessing Amu's plight, Xue Wenxi was deeply moved. Despite Feng Chengjun's arguments against sacrificing her future and Yu Lexuan's insistence that the law should be impartial, Xue Wenxi declared her intention to confess to Master Wang the next day, stating she would take the blame for stealing the lingzhi powder herself rather than let Amu suffer.
Lei Zexin, torn, offered to confess in her stead, but Xue Wenxi firmly refused, asserting that she could not, as a future official, harm an innocent family for her own career. She later confided in Mr. Ding that her emotional nature made it difficult for her to be an official, as she couldn't bring herself to harm Amu's family to prove her innocence, wondering if her friends were disappointed in her. Three days quickly passed.
In the Interrogation Hall, Master Wang inquired about the missing Feng Chengjun, to which Han Shengzhi smugly suggested Feng Chengjun was hiding, implying no thief had been found. However, Xue Wenxi then stepped forward, shockingly confessing that she herself was the thief. Han Shengzhi immediately called for her severe punishment, but Yu Lexuan defended her, stating she must have had a reason.
Lei Zexin, as the oldest of their group, offered to take the punishment in Xue Wenxi's place, an offer Yu Lexuan quickly echoed. Xue Wenxi, however, insisted on bearing the consequences herself, upholding the law. Just as Han Shengzhi urged Master Wang to expel Xue Wenxi and punish the others, Feng Chengjun arrived, bringing Amu with him.
Amu, the true thief, confessed, explaining that he had been living in fear since the theft but was moved to surrender because Xue Wenxi and her friends had treated him with dignity and given him hope, making him want to live an honest life for his younger siblings. Master Wang praised Amu's courage and formally cleared Xue Wenxi's name.
Despite Han Shengzhi's continued insistence that Xue Wenxi be punished for deceiving her teachers, Feng Chengjun eloquently argued that all Yun Shang scholars were guilty of being ignorant of the common people's suffering and the country's issues. Master Wang agreed, emphasizing that scholars should not only seek knowledge but also care for the people and the nation.
As a punishment for Xue Wenxi's deception and to further their learning, Master Wang ordered Xue Wenxi, Feng Chengjun, Lei Zexin, and Yu Lexuan to find the remaining lingzhi powder within three days. He then rebuked Han Shengzhi, stating that as the head of Yun Shang Academy and an Investigating Censor, he should judge objectively and impartially, not based on personal interest, and punished him by deducting twenty noble points for nearly wrongly accusing Xue Wenxi.
Han Shengzhi, furious, questioned why they still needed to find the lingzhi powder, calling them childish, but Master Wang asserted that adversity was the best grindstone, leading to greater expectations. Later, the Four Gentlemen of Yun Shang reconciled, and after a group dinner where Feng Chengjun playfully taught them a lesson about teamwork, they began to strategize.
Ah Mu had revealed he sold the lingzhi powder to a man named Miao Xiang Dong, who, according to Feng Chengjun's intelligence, operated a warehouse in the mountains behind Hemiao Village, where he hoarded goods to inflate prices. Feng Chengjun and Yu Lexuan set off to seek assistance from the Imperial Brigade, while Lei Zexin and Xue Wenxi headed to stake out the warehouse.
At the warehouse, Miao Xiang Dong was seen discussing the rare lingzhi powder with his uncle, expressing concern that the Yun Shang Academy's investigation might expose their illicit trade, despite his assurance of protection from influential officials. However, his uncle, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, revealed that Feng Chengjun, the governor's son, was leading the investigation. Lei Zexin and Xue Wenxi confronted Miao Xiang Dong, identifying themselves as Investigating Censors.
A scuffle ensued, during which Miao Xiang Dong attempted to flee, and Xue Wenxi accidentally fell into the river. Lei Zexin quickly jumped in and rescued her, but Xue Wenxi was unconscious, prompting Lei Zexin to begin resuscitation efforts. While the Imperial Brigade successfully apprehended Miao Xiang Dong and others, the lingzhi powder was no longer at the warehouse.
The team, including Feng Chengjun and Yu Lexuan who arrived with the Imperial Brigade, began to inventory the other goods, urging Miao Xiang Dong to reveal the source of his stock.
