The Sword and The Brocade Episode 8 Recap
> The Sword and The Brocade Recap
Qiao Lianfang came to pay her respects to Shiyi, and Great Madam encouraged the two to get along. Great Madam then called Zhun forward to meet his new mother. Zhun, however, refused to acknowledge Shiyi, stating that he knew she was an illegitimate daughter, unlike his biological mother who was a legitimate daughter. Shiyi calmly reasoned with Zhun, explaining that since she was his father's wife, he should call her Mother.
Convinced, Zhun addressed her as such, and Shiyi presented him with a scented sachet. Soon after, Qiao Lianfang appeared with Zhun's favorite rose crystal cake. While wiping Zhun’s hands, she pointedly took the sachet from him before sending him off to his morning class. Shiyi merely offered a faint smile in response. Later, Danyang, a County Mistress personally appointed by His Majesty, expressed her reluctance to meet Shiyi.
She complained to her husband, Xu Lingkuan, that she, a County Mistress, would now be in-laws with an illegitimate daughter. Xu Lingkuan persuaded her to give Xu Lingyi face, reminding her that he had officially married Shiyi. Despite her reservations, Danyang, who was newly pregnant, reluctantly agreed to meet Shiyi. When Shiyi presented a comfortable dress she had made for her, Danyang remarked that she prioritized comfort over design during pregnancy, dismissing the thoughtful gesture.
Xu Lingkuan, however, sincerely thanked Shiyi. Meanwhile, Xu Lingyi and Fan Weigang discussed the sea ban. They suspected the Ou family's involvement in the death of Official Hu, a governor executed for failing to defend the coast, and the subsequent resurgence of pirates he had suppressed. Xu Lingyi believed that the pirates and Official Hu’s death were connected to the Ou family, which also had a deep-seated feud with the Xu family.
Xu Lingyi had purposefully brought up the sea ban in court to "startle the snake in the grass," hoping to draw out his enemies. He noted that Duke Wei, Official Hu's close friend, remained uncharacteristically silent during the discussion, suggesting he was not at peace with Official Hu's demise. Xu Lingyi decided to leverage Official Hu’s death to approach Duke Wei, hoping to gain his influential support for lifting the sea ban.
Back in the mansion, Qiao Lianfang publicly offered to hand over the management of household affairs to Shiyi. Shiyi humbly declined, stating her unfamiliarity with the Xu family rules. Just then, a maid was caught stealing imperial Sichuan brocade. Great Madam, wanting to observe Shiyi’s judgment, asked for her opinion. The maid confessed she stole the brocade to buy expensive ginseng for her gravely ill mother.
Shiyi suggested that while the theft was wrong, the maid’s filial piety was commendable and recommended a punishment of twenty flogs as a lesson. Qiao Lianfang, however, insisted on strictly following the family rules and selling the maid. To establish Lianfang’s authority, Great Madam initially sided with her. Feeling pity, Second Madam intervened and proposed sending the maid to a country manor instead.
Great Madam conceded and then decreed that Qiao Lianfang would continue to manage the household for the time being. The recovered brocade was distributed, and Danyang lamented her inability to find exquisite fan designs to match her new clothes for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Shiyi, revealing her proficiency in needlework, offered to provide novel fan embroidery designs she had learned from Master Jian of the Xianling Pavilion. Danyang, her initial resentment towards Shiyi having softened, agreed to let her try.
Later, Xu Lingyi returned home and found Zhun playing instead of attending his morning class. He sternly rebuked Zhun and ordered him to perform a horse stance. When Zhun cried, Xu Lingyi reminded him that a true man must endure hardship. Great Madam scolded Xu Lingyi for being too harsh, recalling his own childhood mischief of constantly running to the restroom during practice. Xu Lingyi corrected her, clarifying that it was his younger brother, Lingkuan, who was so restless.
Lingkuan sheepishly confirmed this, and Great Madam affectionately took Zhun away for cake. Shiyi asked her maid Amber to gather information on the household. Amber reported that surprisingly, none of Xu Lingyi’s three concubines were favored. Concubine Wen’s family had provided crucial financial aid during a difficult campaign, leading to her marriage into the family. Concubine Qin, originally Great Madam’s maid, was given to Xu Lingyi after she nursed him back to health from a coma.
Shiyi was particularly surprised that even Qiao Lianfang, with her noble background and close ties to Great Madam, was also neglected. She briefly wondered if Xu Lingyi had a hidden illness but dismissed the thought, recalling his actions on their wedding night did not suggest he lacked desire. The three concubines came to pay their respects. On Amber's advice, Shiyi wore a striking red dress to project authority. Concubine Qin offered tea first.
Qiao Lianfang followed, warning Shiyi that the tea was hot. Meeting her gaze, Shiyi calmly replied, "One who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight," before accepting the tea. After the ceremony, Lianfang announced they had brought their finest embroidery pieces for Shiyi's review for the fan designs. Concubine Wen presented an exquisite "peacock among flowers" design, while Concubine Qin showcased a piece depicting a mother cow and her calf.
Shiyi understood Lianfang’s "one arrow, two birds" strategy: to intimidate her into backing down and to sow discord between her and the other concubines. She accepted the task because examining their embroidery was a crucial step in her private investigation into her sister's death. That night, Xu Lingyi arrived at Shiyi’s residence. He asked her to help him change, but she fumbled awkwardly with his belt, so he did it himself. He then asked her to test his bath water.
She declared the hot water "just right." Xu Lingyi wryly quoted the same "endure hardship" lecture he had given Zhun and suggested she bathe if the temperature was so suitable. Flustered, Shiyi quickly had cold water added. After his bath, she deliberately waited until she thought he was asleep before getting into bed.
