The Sword and The Brocade Episode 22 Recap
> The Sword and The Brocade Recap
At a banquet, Qiao Lianfang subtly insulted Young Madam Ou while discussing rare red cymbidium, hinting that only certain people were qualified to appreciate nobility and implying the Ou family had recently faced many misfortunes. As the banquet commenced, Shiyi sat beside Erniang and noticed dark bruises on her sister's hand. Initially, Erniang was reluctant to explain, but when pressed, she confessed that Wang Yu had struck her.
Erniang then lashed out, accusing Shiyi of feigning concern and blaming her for her current predicament, claiming Shiyi had stolen her intended marriage. Shiyi clarified that she had planned to flee the marriage to the Xu family, which was why her mother was at Ci'an Temple on that fateful day. She explained that Erniang's scheme, which resulted in Shiyi being detained at home, had prevented her escape and consequently led to her mother's death.
Shiyi emphasized that she had never competed with Erniang, only wishing to live with dignity, and urged her sister to let go of the past and seize control of her own destiny. Later, Young Madam Ou showcased her unique cuff embroidery, boasting that the fabric was brought from the south. While offering some to Shiyi, she casually mentioned her boredom with the design and praised Master Jian of Xianling Pavilion, hinting at her preference for more refined craftsmanship.
Back at her own home, deeply affected by Shiyi’s words, Erniang attempted to reconcile with Wang Yu. She apologized for past deceptions and promised to serve him dutifully, hoping for a fresh start. However, Wang Yu cruelly demanded that she hand over Baizhi, a maid who was already engaged to be married the following month. Erniang refused, reminding him of previous punishment from his father for similar misconduct.
Enraged, Wang Yu dismissed her, questioning how she could expect a better life if she couldn't handle such a simple request. As her maid expressed fear, Erniang reassured her, resolving not to drag anyone else into her misery. Despairing, Erniang internally rejected Shiyi’s advice, believing that her fate was fixed and unchangeable. Meanwhile, Xu Lingyi returned to the Western Lateral Court, brought by Zhaoying, heavily intoxicated after drinking excessively with colleagues.
Zhaoying had decided to bring him there so Shiyi could look after him, much to the surprise of Shiyi’s maids, Dongqing and Amber. Xu Lingyi, still drunk, loudly demanded freshly brewed Longjing tea. Shiyi sent Dongqing to fetch it while trying to manage him. Despite his noisy antics, Shiyi found him surprisingly endearing in his drunken state. Concerned about Qiao Lianfang's feelings after Shiyi's public appearance at the banquet, Great Madam Xu went to visit her.
To her dismay, she overheard Qiao Lianfang disparaging Shiyi as a "low-status concubine's daughter" and lamenting that Shiyi had taken a privilege that should have been hers. Great Madam Xu sternly rebuked Qiao Lianfang, reminding her of the established hierarchy and that Shiyi was now the Marquis's wife. She expressed her disappointment, having always believed Qiao Lianfang to be sensible.
Though Qiao Lianfang quickly apologized, Great Madam Xu remained firm, emphasizing that her duty was to care for the Marquis, not harbor such thoughts. Reflecting later, Great Madam Xu realized that Qiao Lianfang was not as gentle as she had appeared and acknowledged her past misjudgment of Shiyi's true kindness and wisdom, concluding that one's inherent nature superseded their birth status.
Feeling Great Madam Xu's trust diminishing, Qiao Lianfang vowed not to passively accept her situation and resolved to find a way to replace Shiyi. While Xu Lingyi was asleep, he had a nightmare, shouting in distress. Shiyi, who was watching over him, immediately soothed him, observing a rare vulnerability in his usually stern demeanor. Later, when Xu Lingyi awoke, he found Shiyi had fallen asleep beside his bed. Moved, he gently picked her up and placed her on the bed.
He then tenderly kissed her before falling back asleep. The next morning, Shiyi woke up on the bed, surprised and without memory of how she got there. Xu Lingyi playfully teased her, asking if she planned to deny what had happened. When she worriedly asked if she had "offended" him, he assured her he was just joking.
Later, as they paid their respects to Great Madam Xu, she expressed her delight at seeing the couple getting along well and commended Shiyi's efficient management of household affairs. Shiyi modestly credited her duties as a daughter-in-law. Great Madam Xu also praised an exquisite embroidery handkerchief Shiyi had made for her and gladly accepted Shiyi’s offer to make her a new dress. Xu Lingyi concocted a plan to move into the Western Lateral Court.
He instructed Zhaoying to have a "broken" window in his Banyuepan residence repaired, declaring it would take at least ten days to fix. This provided him with the perfect excuse to move in with Shiyi, who saw through his thinly veiled trick but could do little to stop him. He offered to sleep in the warmth partition, insisting Shiyi take the bed, and admitted his previous negligence towards her, promising to ensure she would never be hurt again.
One night, unable to sleep, Shiyi was engrossed in "The Waterway Classic," expressing a desire to explore the world’s landscapes, an aspiration Xu Lingyi revealed he shared. Later that night, Xu Lingyi was again plagued by nightmares, and Shiyi, deeply concerned, remained by his side. The following day, Shiyi sought out Lin Bo to understand the root of the nightmares.
Lin Bo explained that Xu Lingyi remained haunted by a past tragedy: his father, the late Marquis, and his elder brother, the Heir Apparent, had perished on the battlefield due to a treacherous plot by the Ou family. Lin Bo also revealed that his own father died in the same battle, prompting him to become Xu Lingyi's vice-general.
He described how the Ou family’s relentless persecution almost destroyed the Xu family, forcing a young Xu Lingyi to join the army as a mere soldier. He fought selflessly to earn military honors, bring down the Ou family, and avenge his father and brother. Lin Bo emphasized that Xu Lingyi’s current cold demeanor was a hardened shell forged from immense suffering, a stark contrast to his once cheerful and carefree youth. Upon Xu Lingyi's return, Shiyi brought him some warming soup. Xu Lingyi, feigning a sore wrist from sword practice, asked Shiyi for assistance, but she quickly discerned his playful pretense.
