The Sword and The Brocade Episode 23 Recap
> The Sword and The Brocade Recap
At Xianling Pavilion, Master Jian praised the embroidery girls' skill and noted Shiyi's much healthier complexion, concluding that her life in the Xu Mansion had improved. Shiyi confirmed this, stating that the Grand Madam was now kinder to her and her relationship with Xu Lingyi had become much more harmonious. She believed that kindness would eventually be reciprocated.
Shiyi then shared a new discovery regarding her mother's case: she had seen a pattern on Young Madam Ou's cuff that was strikingly similar to the one on the fabric clue. Determined to follow this lead, Shiyi planned to infiltrate the Ou mansion. Knowing Master Jian had been invited there to discuss new embroidery patterns, Shiyi arranged to go with her. Just then, a servant from the Ou mansion arrived to fetch Master Jian.
Disguised as a maid, Shiyi accompanied Master Jian to the Marquis of Jingyuan's Mansion. Upon arrival, Shiyi feigned having left an embroidery sample in the carriage, using the excuse to slip away and search Ou Lixing's room. She had timed her search for a day when Marquis Jingyuan and Ou Lixing would be absent. As Shiyi searched, she was discovered by a man who urged her to leave quickly.
This man was Lin Shixian, who revealed his true identity as Ou Yanxing, the illegitimate son of Marquis Jingyuan. He explained that he used "Lin"—his mother's surname—as an alias while doing business to avoid relying on his family's power, and that he had left home after a dispute with his father over his mother's death. Ou Yanxing pressed Shiyi for an explanation.
Fearing his interference could expose Master Jian, Shiyi revealed the truth about her mother's murder and the embroidered fabric clue. Ou Yanxing felt a pang of guilt, admitting he had been at Ci'an Temple that day to meet her but had left early, and apologized, wondering if things might have been different. Shiyi reassured him it wasn't his fault. Ou Yanxing then clarified that the embroidery pattern, originating from Japan, was common among pirates and often appeared as war trophies.
He suggested the Xu family, having long fought against pirates, would have the most contact with such items. Wary of his family ties, Shiyi thanked him but requested he keep her intrusion secret. Afterward, Ou Yanxing ordered his subordinate to investigate if any other Ou family members were at Ci'an Temple on the day of the murder.
As he returned, he was met by his elder brother, Ou Lixing, who coldly remarked on his absence before sending him to their father. Ou Yanxing confronted his father, Marquis Jingyuan, who tried to downplay their estrangement. Ou Yanxing angrily recounted how his father had broken his promise to marry his mother, instead taking another as his legal wife for the sake of power, which led to his mother's death from depression.
The Marquis defended his actions as a necessity, but Ou Yanxing retorted that no one had forced him. The Marquis claimed a clear conscience, but his son argued that nothing could compensate for his mother's suffering. The Marquis insisted all his actions were for the Ou family and warned Ou Yanxing to remember his identity, subtly threatening him by mentioning his involvement with Fengping Grains' recent low-price rice sales.
Meanwhile, Erniang prepared to send her maid, Baizhi, away to protect her from Wang Yu. Heartbroken, she gave Baizhi her indenture and fifty taels of silver for her dowry, advising her to keep the money for herself as men were unreliable. Erniang planned to tell Wang Yu that Baizhi had fallen ill and gone to a farm to recuperate, confident he would eventually forget her. Baizhi tearfully thanked Erniang and departed.
Shiyi revisited Ci'an Temple to verify if anyone besides the Xu family had been present on the day of her mother's death. There, she met Qingming, the young monk from before, who had returned from his travels. He shared a crucial detail he had previously forgotten: before the tragedy, he had not only seen a woman but also faintly heard a man conversing with her.
Though he couldn't see the man or hear their words, their tone suggested they were very familiar. Just then, Xu Lingkuan arrived with information from a servant that Qiao Lianfang had left the main group for about half an hour that day, leading Shiyi to wonder if she was the woman the monk had seen. Noticing Shiyi's preoccupation, Xu Lingyi inquired about her troubles. She explained that her mother's death anniversary was approaching, stirring up painful memories.
She shared stories of her mother's resilience and strength. Moved, Xu Lingyi suggested commemorating her mother with Yuhang customs and granted Shiyi permission to hold a memorial service for Concubine Lv at home. During the preparations, Shiyi instructed Dongqing to loudly recount a ghost story within earshot of Qiao Lianfang. The tale, about two murderers who suffered horrifying symptoms after their victim's family held a similar service, visibly unnerved Qiao Lianfang.
Shiyi pointedly remarked that any summoned spirits would seek out those who had wronged them, causing a distressed Qiao Lianfang to excuse herself. Soon after, Qiao Lianfang began experiencing hair loss and an uncontrollable itch, fearing the curse was real. Panicked, she rushed to Ci'an Temple, where she drew a highly ominous fortune.
The fortune teller, following Shiyi's prior instructions, attributed her suffering to past misdeeds and advised her to repent by reciting scriptures over the deceased's belongings for forty-nine days. To Shiyi's surprise, Qiao Lianfang did not retrieve anything belonging to Concubine Lv. Instead, she had her maid fetch jewelry that belonged to the late First Madam, Yuanniang. This led Shiyi to a shocking realization: while Qiao Lianfang was likely innocent of her mother's death, she was almost certainly involved in Yuanniang's.
Recalling Yuanniang's dying words about her suspicious illness, Shiyi resolved to find proof. Shiyi summoned Nanny Tao to inquire about Yuanniang's illness. Nanny Tao recounted that Yuanniang, who had trouble conceiving, had taken medicine from He's Clinic which helped her have Zhun. However, a later miscarriage ruined her health, leading to her death. While Yuanniang had suspected foul play in the miscarriage, no proof was ever found.
Nanny Tao insisted the medicine was effective and not poisoned, as she had tasted it herself, blaming fate and Qiao Lianfang's scheming. Shiyi then warned a frightened Nanny Tao to cease any secret communications with the Luo family. Later that night, Xu Lingyi found Concubine Lv's spirit tablet in their room. Far from being displeased, he told Shiyi it could remain in the Xu mansion permanently.
As Shiyi was moved by his gesture, Zhun ran in, crying from a nightmare that his parents had abandoned him. Xu Lingyi gently comforted the boy, assuring him it was only a dream, and invited him to sleep with them. With Zhun sleeping between them, Xu Lingyi lay down beside Shiyi and embraced her as she fell asleep.
