The Sword and The Brocade Episode 17 Recap
> The Sword and The Brocade Recap
As night fell, Dongqing asked Shiyi if they should prepare Xu Lingyi’s bath. When Shiyi hesitated, Xu Lingyi, taking it as a dismissal, rose to leave. Shiyi immediately offered to see him out, prompting Xu Lingyi to remark on her apparent happiness at his departure. Shiyi clarified that she was merely considering his busy schedule. Still displeased, Xu Lingyi returned to his study and angrily chastised Zhaoying for putting away his documents, insisting he had to finish them that night.
Zhaoying explained he had assumed Xu Lingyi would be staying at the Western Lateral Court. Meanwhile, upon learning that Xu Lingyi had not stayed with Shiyi, Concubine Wen gloated. She believed that despite managing the household, Shiyi had not won Xu Lingyi's favor and, being an illegitimate daughter once thrilled by 20 taels of silver, would be easy to manipulate. The following day, Shiyi began her duties as the new mistress of the household.
She meticulously examined the accounts, establishing her authority by dispensing rewards and punishments. She commended Mrs. Li for her clear records of the maids and servants, rewarding her with two taels of silver. However, she sternly confronted Mrs. Wang, the head of kitchen purchasing, for buying expensive ingredients at inflated prices. She then accused Mrs. Zhou, who managed the family's fabrics, of taking kickbacks.
Though the two women denied her accusations and argued their indispensability, Shiyi, drawing on her experience with poverty, declared that she was not a pampered lady ignorant of finances. Stating she would not punish them for past deceptions but would not tolerate it going forward, she announced their positions would be immediately filled by new managers she had already arranged. She dared them to take their complaints to the Great Madam, at which point they reluctantly conceded.
Shiyi's true intention in taking over household management was to find clues about her mother's death in the account books. She sought records of anyone who had received a specific type of embroidery fabric. She noted that after Concubine Qiao took charge, she had changed the main silk supplier, a move that would have significantly impacted the Wen family's business.
Shiyi then discovered that Princess Danyang, Concubine Wen, and Concubine Qiao had all received the same plain fabric before the Dragon Boat Festival the previous year. Realizing this fabric was best suited for inner garments or perfume satchels, which women often made for their loved ones during the festival, Shiyi planned to investigate the gifts they had given to Xu Lingyi and the Fifth Master to trace the culprit. Xu Lingyi remained in a foul mood.
Zhaoying struggled to serve him, even spilling ink while grinding it, prompting Xu Lingyi to dismiss him for being clumsy. When General Fu arrived, Zhaoying advised him not to disturb the Marquis, explaining that he had been angry since returning from the Western Lateral Court, implying a conflict with Shiyi. Later, while Dongqing waited for Amber to return from the kitchen, she encountered General Fu in the dark. Mistaking each other for intruders, they stumbled, leading to a playful quarrel.
Dongqing teased that he was afraid of her, which he denied, claiming his shouts were a martial arts breathing exercise. Before leaving, General Fu warned Dongqing not to speak of their encounter. Concubine Qiao visited Xu Lingyi with pastries and soup. Finding him reading disaster relief documents, she callously suggested that moving the refugees out of the city, even with potential casualties, was a small price to pay to protect his career from the Emperor's anger.
Displeased by her words, Xu Lingyi announced he was going to visit the Great Madam. Concubine Qiao seized the opportunity, claiming she had made a pair of knee pads for the Great Madam and accompanied him. At the Great Madam’s residence, she was effusively praised for being broad-minded, and the Great Madam instructed Xu Lingyi to favor her more to ensure the Xu family would produce more descendants.
Learning that Xu Lingyi and Concubine Qiao were with the Great Madam, Shiyi assumed they would dine there. Seeing an opportunity, she went to Xu Lingyi’s residence, using the excuse that she needed a sample of his clothing to make him a new garment. However, Xu Lingyi returned early to attend to urgent disaster reports and found Shiyi searching through his clothes. When she explained her purpose, he dismissed the idea of letting an embroiderer handle it.
Instead, he instructed her to measure him directly, commenting on her refined handwriting as she took notes. As Shiyi measured him, she inquired about the refugees. Xu Lingyi confessed his dilemma: he had a plan to recruit the men into the army or have them learn skills from military artisans, but he couldn't devise a suitable arrangement for the women.
Shiyi suggested recruiting the female refugees to embroidery workshops, explaining that Master Jian of Xianling Pavilion had a high demand for their products but a shortage of staff. This would provide the women with a valuable skill. Xu Lingyi lauded her idea as "good" and "feasible," praising her abilities and stating that if she were a man, she would "surely accomplish great things." Shiyi retorted, asking if a woman could not also achieve great things.
Later, Concubine Wen visited Shiyi with a gift from her sister-in-law, who wished to partner with Shiyi in a lucrative business venture selling medicine for flood prevention. Shiyi politely declined, insisting that any business between the Luo and Wen families should involve her elder brother. She then pointedly brought up the moldy rice incident, subtly acknowledging that she knew Concubine Wen had tipped her off, likely in retaliation after Concubine Qiao replaced the Wen family's silk supplier.
Shiyi then firmly stated that the Xu family's purchasing policy would prioritize quality and affordability, and anyone who created trouble would not be spared. When Xu Lingyi learned of this, he was surprised that Shiyi, unlike Yuanniang, was unmoved by the significant profit and instructed his staff to ensure the Wen family could not use the Xu family’s name in their business dealings. Concubine Wen lamented to her maid about Shiyi's shrewdness, realizing she was far more formidable than Yuanniang.
Learning that Shiyi had sold her dowry lands to help with disaster relief, Xu Lingyi arranged for them to be bought back. He also instructed Steward Bai to give Shiyi a substantial sum of money for her daily expenses, stating that as the matriarch, she needed ample funds for social interactions. She initially declined, but eventually accepted after Xu Lingyi's firm insistence.
He then revealed that he had not only redeemed her original land deeds but had also purchased surrounding farmlands, consolidating her scattered plots into a larger, more productive estate. Touched by his gesture, Shiyi felt he had gone to great lengths for her, but Xu Lingyi dismissed her concerns, saying there was no need for such formality between husband and wife. That evening, Xu Lingyi chose to dine at Shiyi's court.
Although he typically disliked sweet dishes, he tried the sweet and sour Yuhang cuisine prepared for her. Shiyi explained that its unique deliciousness came from the careful preparation of ordinary ingredients, philosophizing that true beauty often lies in simple things. Finding her insights profound, Xu Lingyi acknowledged the dish was delicious. After dismissing the maids, he inquired about the new clothes Shiyi was making for him. Flustered, Shiyi admitted they were still in progress.
The next day, when the same sweet and sour fish was served at Xu Lingyi's own court, he found the taste wasn't right and ordered it removed. Zhaoying surmised that his master's enjoyment of the dish had less to do with the food and more to do with his dining companion. Just then, Zhaoying rushed in with urgent news.
