The Sword and The Brocade Episode 30 Recap
> The Sword and The Brocade Recap
The next morning, Shiyi awoke to find all the farm work completed. Lin Shixian arrived, expressing his dismay at seeing her enduring such hardships. Shiyi admitted her regret for having misunderstood and harmed Xu Lingyi, acknowledging that the evidence she found had been deliberately misleading. Understanding the deep-seated animosity between the Ou and Xu families, she pleaded with Lin Shixian not to interfere in her affairs again, urging him to leave due to the many watchful eyes.
After Shiyi departed, Amber offered to tend to Lin Shixian’s injured hand. She then discreetly warned him that his presence posed a risk, as with Xu Lingyi's whereabouts unknown, the Xu family would surely blame him for the Marquis's presumed death if their connection was discovered. Lin Shixian, however, remained resolute, stating he could not leave Shiyi to suffer alone.
Amber described Shiyi’s profound dedication to embroidery, sacrificing her sleep and even using her own hair to complete a Bodhisattva portrait for Xu Lingyi’s safety, noting that because of this, she finally smiled. Lin Shixian emphasized the importance of protecting Shiyi’s hands, as her passion and talent for embroidery were irreplaceable. Later, as Shiyi worked in the fields, the assailant from before attacked her again.
The Chief Steward intervened, ordering his men to apprehend the attacker, who was revealed to be Assistant Steward Wang Jinzhong. Upon hearing about the attack, Lin Shixian rushed to Shiyi, urging her to leave for her safety. Shiyi explained that previous incidents, such as her belongings being searched and her being pushed into a well, indicated the perpetrator was not after money.
She believed Wang Jinzhong was acting under someone else's direction, likely seeking the embroidery cloth she possessed, which she suspected was a clue to her mother's murder. Now that a new lead had emerged, she refused to abandon her investigation. Shiyi then confronted Wang Jinzhong, pressing him to reveal his mastermind. However, before he could speak, an arrow struck and killed him. A group of black-clad assassins immediately swarmed the area, intent on killing Shiyi.
Lin Shixian bravely fought them off, instructing Shiyi to flee. Despite his efforts, the assassins relentlessly pursued Shiyi. At the critical moment, Xu Lingyi, though visibly wounded, appeared and saved her. Shiyi was overwhelmed with emotion, relieved to see him alive but pained by his injuries. Xu Lingyi explained that his supposed death in the Shandong fire was a strategic ruse to draw out the Ou family.
Believing him dead, they had acted without scruple and even tried to frame him for their embezzlement. He downplayed the danger he faced, mentioning he rushed to the farm after Wan Daxian informed him of Shiyi's difficult situation. Shiyi, recalling that the coroner who made her suspect Xu Lingyi was found by Lin Shixian, theorized that Lin Shixian had been unknowingly used by the Ou family, suggesting they were the true culprits behind her mother’s death.
Lin Shixian then arrived, apologizing for his role in finding the misleading coroner, but Xu Lingyi dismissed him, asserting that their marital affairs were not for outsiders to meddle with. Lin Shixian expressed his regret for Shiyi’s suffering before leaving. News of Xu Lingyi’s safety reached the Xu mansion, bringing immense joy. Xu Lingkuan ordered a celebration with plenty of wine. That night, a heavily inebriated Xu Lingkuan was escorted to his room by maids.
Upon learning that Danyang was already asleep, he went to the East Chamber instead. The next morning, Xu Lingkuan woke up horrified to find Xiaolan, one of the maids, beside him, realizing his grave mistake. Danyang, though deeply distressed, handled the situation with remarkable composure. Despite Xu Lingkuan’s tearful apologies, she chose to accept the unfortunate turn of events, promoting Xiaolan to a concubine.
Danyang explained her decision stemmed from a desire to protect her unborn child and to avoid escalating the matter, which could lead to her father’s displeasure and damage her own reputation for jealousy, especially after the previous scandal involving Jie. Nanny Shi remarked on Danyang’s newfound maturity. Xu Lingyi returned to the mansion with Shiyi. Great Madam, displeased, initially forbade Shiyi from entering, accusing her of attempting to harm Xu Lingyi.
However, Xu Lingyi took full responsibility, explaining that his injury was a deliberate deception to lure out the Ou family and that Shiyi had merely cooperated with his plan, enduring much hardship. Seeing Xu Lingyi's heartfelt defense, Great Madam relented, declaring the matter closed. Later, discussing the matter with Yizhen, Great Madam worried that Xu Lingyi’s profound affection for Shiyi might lead to him being hurt, while Yizhen assured her of Shiyi’s character.
Once in the Western Lateral Court, Shiyi showed Xu Lingyi an embroidery cloth she had obtained from Yu. She revealed that her mother had held a similar piece when she died, suspecting it was torn from the killer's clothing. The identical pattern on a handkerchief found on Yu led her to believe there was an Ou family spy within the Xu mansion. Just then, Concubine Wen arrived to plead for forgiveness.
She confessed to revealing Xu Lingyi’s "injury" to Great Madam, which resulted in Shiyi being sent to the farm, claiming she was forced to do so under severe physical punishment. Influenced by Shiyi’s plea on her behalf, Xu Lingyi leniently ordered Concubine Wen to copy the family rules one hundred times. As Concubine Wen left, she mused that the light punishment was a favor to Shiyi and a subtle warning to her.
After Concubine Wen departed, Shiyi and Xu Lingyi resumed their discussion. Shiyi reasoned that Concubine Wen was an unlikely spy, as her son Yu was her lifeline, and she would never risk placing such crucial evidence on him. Xu Lingyi agreed, noting that the hidden spy would now be even more cautious. He concluded that an invisible agent was a double-edged sword: capable of harming the Xu family, but also potentially harming the Ou family, turning a dangerous situation into an opportunity.
