The Sword and The Brocade Episode 41 Recap
> The Sword and The Brocade Recap
Xu Lingkuan sought out Great Madam regarding Xu Lingyi taking a concubine, but was severely admonished by her for attempting to dissuade her. Xu Lingkuan recounted his realization after Xiaolan's incident that rules cannot control emotions, and true affection allows no third party. He emphasized that Shiyi was clearly special to Xu Lingyi and advised him to carefully consider the impact on their marital bond.
Xu Lingyi affirmed his absolute refusal to take Dongqing as a concubine, stating there was no room for negotiation, despite acknowledging his mother's resolute determination. While recognizing Great Madam's intentions were for the Xu family's good, Xu Lingyi maintained that he would not compromise if she persisted, vowing not to cause his mother distress or upset Shiyi, confident that a solution would be found. Shiyi, having barely eaten for two days, requested to see Dongqing.
Upon their meeting, Dongqing expressed profound regret, apologizing to Shiyi. Shiyi reassured her, dismissing the need for apologies and urging her to rise. Dongqing then revealed a secret she had harbored: since entering the Xu mansion, she had developed inappropriate feelings for Xu Lingyi, admitting her love for him. Shiyi was stunned. Dongqing confessed her affection for Xu Lingyi but lamented that he only had eyes for Shiyi, never noticing her.
She admitted to secretly keeping his belt as a keepsake and pleaded with Shiyi to fulfill her desire to become Xu Lingyi's concubine, promising unwavering obedience and no contention. Shiyi, deeply shocked and visibly distraught, struggled to comprehend Dongqing's confession, as she had always believed she understood her maid. Amber, witnessing Shiyi's despair, tried to console her. Shiyi expressed her dilemma, torn between the fact that Dongqing coveted Xu Lingyi and her reluctance to see Dongqing sold off.
She feared that if Dongqing became a concubine, their bond would be forever fractured by shared love for the same man, inevitably leading to future conflicts of interest. Amber, sensing Shiyi's deep unhappiness, remarked on how she missed Shiyi's former carefree and vibrant self from Xianling Pavilion, contrasting it with her current subdued and mournful state.
She urged Shiyi not to yield, reminding her of her past courage in controlling her destiny, even to the extent of escaping marriage, and lamenting how Shiyi had seemingly lost her spirit since marrying into the Xu family. Amber then sought out Ou Yanxing, informing him of Xu Lingyi's imminent decision to take Dongqing as a concubine. She described Shiyi's immense distress and Xu Lingyi's inability to prevent it, despite his comforting words.
Amber implored Ou Yanxing to help Shiyi, who she believed had known no peace since her marriage. Ou Yanxing admitted he could not interfere in the Xu family's internal affairs, but Amber countered that his assistance would be possible if Shiyi were to leave the family, revealing Shiyi possessed a divorce agreement personally signed by Xu Lingyi. Shiyi met with Ou Yanxing, who apologized for inadvertently causing her trouble.
Shiyi, however, insisted he bore no blame, stating that her predicament was inevitable. She confided that she had known what awaited her upon marrying into the Xu family, and despite her naive hope of changing her circumstances, she found herself trapped. Ou Yanxing pressed her about her intentions, questioning if she would truly compromise with Great Madam Xu. Shiyi admitted her reluctance but saw it as the only way to protect Dongqing.
Ou Yanxing asserted that Shiyi possessed greater ambitions than to be confined to household affairs, arguing that such a compromise would waste her talents and unfulfilled wishes. He offered to help her leave the Xu mansion, assuring her of his purely altruistic motives: to help her escape to a life of freedom, like a fish in the vast sea or a bird soaring in the sky.
Amber strongly supported Ou Yanxing's proposition, emphasizing that Shiyi would never find peace remaining in the Xu mansion. Shiyi, deeply conflicted, requested more time to deliberate. Meanwhile, Concubine Qin learned of Shiyi and Ou Yanxing's meeting, smirking as she anticipated an unfolding drama. When Xu Lingyi inquired about Shiyi's whereabouts, a servant informed him that Shiyi had gone out with Amber. Xu Lingyi later confronted Shiyi after finding a note from Ou Yanxing.
Shiyi openly admitted to meeting him, claiming it was for an urgent matter. Xu Lingyi chastised her for defying family wishes and neglecting her status as Marquis Yongping's wife. Shiyi, no longer restraining herself, retorted that they only wanted her as a tool for procreation, household management, and obedience, declaring she was willing to give up the title.
She accused them of constantly forcing choices upon her without regard for her feelings and instructed Amber to pack their belongings, intending to leave Xu mansion and him. Xu Lingyi reminded her that she could not leave as she pleased and that he had previously given her a divorce agreement. He ordered Zhaoying to retrieve it, but it could not be found.
Enraged, Xu Lingyi then confined Shiyi to her room in the Western Lateral Court, forbidding her from leaving without his explicit permission. The Great Madam, upon hearing of Shiyi's confinement, commented that Shiyi had brought constant trouble to the family and that her temper needed to be curbed. At the Ou Family mansion, Ou Lixing spoke with his wife, confident that their plans were nearing completion, having successfully "hooked the fish."
He instructed his men to maintain surveillance on the Xu family. His wife expressed her joy for his impending success but clarified that for her, his safety was paramount, not the position of family master. She assured him of her unwavering presence by his side. Meanwhile, Amber, desperate after Shiyi's confinement, worried how Shiyi could meet Ou Yanxing.
She sought Concubine Qin's help, revealing that Xu Lingyi had written a divorce agreement but then prevented Shiyi from leaving, which Amber viewed as intentional cruelty. Amber pleaded with Concubine Qin, stressing that Shiyi would not find happiness if she remained in the Xu family. Concubine Qin hesitated but then agreed to help Shiyi escape, warning that once Shiyi left, she could never return. Amber affirmed Shiyi's resolve not to look back.
A fire was then set in Shiyi's courtyard, creating a diversion that drew the guards away. Shiyi, seizing the opportunity, retrieved and signed the divorce agreement, then fled the mansion with Amber. Outside, a carriage awaited them, driven by Ou Yanxing. Xu Lingyi, alerted to Shiyi's departure, furiously rode after them and quickly intercepted their carriage. Shiyi faced him, stating she had signed the divorce agreement and their ties were severed.
Xu Lingyi insisted she could not leave without his permission. Ou Yanxing intervened, reminding Xu Lingyi that Shiyi was now a free woman and urging him to respect her. Xu Lingyi, warning Ou Yanxing that he would not be so lenient this time, prepared to attack him, prompting Shiyi to try and stop him. As Xu Lingyi moved to strike, Ou Lixing suddenly appeared with a large contingent of armed men.
He taunted Xu Lingyi, revealing his long-held plot, and expressed mock surprise that Xu Lingyi would even attack his own brother, Ou Yanxing. Ou Lixing, declaring that a true leader disregards minor details, disowned Ou Yanxing as unworthy of the Ou family, stating he was merely eliminating a "black sheep." Ou Yanxing, shocked by his brother's cold bloodedness, reminded Ou Lixing of their familial bond.
Ou Lixing retorted that if Ou Yanxing had remained outside in business, he would have been left alone, but his return and opposition sealed his fate. Xu Lingyi confronted Ou Lixing, warning that killing imperial officials would bring severe retribution upon the Ou family from the Emperor.
Ou Lixing scoffed, revealing his meticulously crafted cover story: that Ou Yanxing and Shiyi had eloped, Xu Lingyi had pursued them in a fit of rage, and all three had perished in a tragic love triangle, a tale that would soon spread throughout the capital.
Shiyi, horrified, pieced together Ou Lixing's full scheme: to eliminate her and prevent the investigation into Concubine Lv's death, remove Xu Lingyi, a formidable enemy of the Ou family, and finally, get rid of his own brother, Ou Yanxing, a rival for the heir apparent title—a truly "three birds with one stone" plot. Shiyi then directly accused Ou Lixing of killing her mother, Concubine Lv.
Ou Lixing, with chilling arrogance, admitted that Concubine Lv had indeed seen something she should not have, confirming he had silenced her. Just as Ou Lixing ordered his men to attack, Duke Wei, Ren Kun, arrived with his forces, turning the tide. Xu Lingyi then revealed Ou Lixing's grave error in trying to use Xu Lingyi's own maid in his conspiracy. In a flashback, the intricate trap orchestrated by Xu Lingyi and Shiyi was revealed.
Following Dongqing's tearful confession to Shiyi, in which Dongqing also revealed that Amber had prompted her to make this false confession, Shiyi, who still trusted Dongqing, and Xu Lingyi decided to play along and observe the situation without immediate action. Later, Ou Yanxing grew suspicious of Amber's persistent attempts to solicit his help and confided in Xu Lingyi, affirming his belief that Xu Lingyi would never hurt Shiyi by taking Dongqing as a concubine.
Both Ou Yanxing and Xu Lingyi thus realized Amber had been manipulated by the true mastermind, leading them to set a trap for Ou Lixing, working together to capture him. Back in the present, Ou Lixing, seeing his plan unravel, confronted Ou Yanxing, baselessly accusing him of colluding with the Xu family to frame Ou Lixing.
Ou Yanxing sincerely stated he never wished to harm his brother or vie for power, hoping until the very last moment that Ou Lixing was not truly involved. He lamented that Ou Lixing had brought this desperate situation upon himself.
Ou Lixing dismissed his brother's words, questioning why he had abandoned his carefree life to return to the Ou family, repeatedly appeared before their father, and reminded their father of how he had wronged their mother, all to turn their father against him. Ou Yanxing insisted that Ou Lixing's own actions had alienated their father. Ou Lixing, enraged, swore to kill Ou Yanxing if he lived.
Ou Yanxing coldly replied that he would have no such chance, as human witnesses and material evidence now existed against him, ensuring he would face severe legal punishment. Ou Lixing, realizing his plan had crumbled, attempted to flee. However, Xu Lingyi's arrow struck his horse, causing Ou Lixing to fall violently. Knowing his end was near, Ou Lixing took an arrow and tragically ended his own life, muttering "my dear wife, I will break my promise."
Xu Lingyi's attendant, Linbo, confirmed Ou Lixing's death and inquired if Marquis Jingyuan might counter-charge, now that all direct witnesses were gone. Xu Lingyi believed he would not, to avoid facing accusations of rebellion. Xu Lingyi then apologized to Shiyi, explaining he had intended to subdue Ou Lixing and bring him to justice, not for him to die.
Shiyi understood, acknowledging that Ou Lixing had brought this fate upon himself, and reflected that he was a principled man, tragically born into the wrong family. Upon their return to the Xu mansion, Great Madam expressed outrage over Shiyi's perceived "indecent" behavior, regretting ever allowing her into the family. Xu Lingyi intervened, explaining that Shiyi's departure was part of their deliberate plan, revealing that Ou Lixing had just died, having brought about his own destruction.
Great Madam then asked Shiyi for her final decision regarding the concubine matter. Xu Lingyi immediately interjected, declaring that Dongqing, as his maid, was his responsibility, and he would not sacrifice her life for any compromise. When Great Madam asked his own stance, he affirmed his support for Shiyi's decision as her husband. Great Madam stressed the importance of ancestral ethical rules, but Xu Lingyi countered that rules must evolve with changing times.
He pointed out that his own father and second brother had defied tradition to lift the sea ban, questioning if Great Madam believed their actions, or his own, were wrong. While Great Madam initially dismissed Xianling Pavilion as incomparable to the lofty act of lifting the sea ban, Xu Lingyi eloquently argued that Shiyi's efforts at the pavilion—aiding refugees, teaching skills, and resolving imperial concerns—were indeed for the good of the state and its people.
He challenged Great Madam to consider why Shiyi, simply for being a woman, must be bound by rigid conventions, and if such strictness truly benefited the Xu family's prosperity, especially when Shiyi had never neglected her household duties. Great Madam, visibly affected, asked if he thought she was wrong. Xu Lingyi reiterated that forcing Shiyi with Dongqing's fate was an error, despite Great Madam's intentions for the family's welfare.
Xu Lingyi then solemnly vowed, before his mother, that he would never take another concubine in his lifetime. Unexpectedly, Xu Lingkuan entered and, following Xu Lingyi's lead, also vowed to never take a concubine and remain devoted solely to Danyang. He defended Xu Lingyi, arguing that after so many sacrifices for the family, Xu Lingyi deserved to make a choice for himself, and that Great Madam should, in all reason, listen to him.
Danyang then stepped forward, reminding Great Madam how Shiyi, despite being stripped of her household authority and becoming the capital's laughingstock, never complained. She recounted Shiyi's selfless act of selling her dowry to save the Xu family during the moldy rice crisis, her crucial role in Zhun's recovery, her uncovering of the former madam's death, and her charitable work at Xianling Pavilion, which brought honor to the family.
Danyang questioned if, after all these contributions, Shiyi could not be allowed to pursue the life she desired, suggesting Great Madam was being overly demanding. Danyang concluded by proposing that since Ou Yanxing had withdrawn from Xianling Pavilion, Shiyi should be permitted to continue her work there. Great Madam, after a moment of reflection, conceded that she might indeed have been mistaken.
She admitted that she had never truly opposed Shiyi's work at Xianling Pavilion, only fearing she would be exploited. Now, witnessing Shiyi and Xu Lingyi's unity and the Ou family's self-inflicted demise, she had no further concerns. Shiyi gratefully assured Great Madam that she considered the Xu family her home and would never act against its interests. Danyang further offered her assistance, vowing to help Shiyi manage the Xu mansion as a family member and seeking Great Madam's consent. Finally, Great Madam relented, allowing them to proceed as they wished.
