Legend of the Magnate Episode 27 Recap
> Legend of the Magnate Recap
Gu Pingyuan visited Bai Shi'an's tomb, assuring the late Mr. Bai that Yimei, who had left the Gu household after recovering, would be fine. Afterward, his mother gently urged him to consider marriage, subtly suggesting that his younger brother, Gu Pingwen, was eager to marry Miss Liao but couldn't before his elder brother, adhering to the principle of proper hierarchy where the older brother marries first.
Gu Pingyuan understood his mother's hints and decided to discuss his intention to propose to Chang Yu'er, a Ms. Chang from Shanxi. His mother listened intently as he recounted their shared hardships and adventures. She agreed to the match and, producing a pair of jade hairpins, gave one to Gu Pingyuan as a betrothal gift for Chang Yu'er, intending the other for Gu Pingwen.
She explained these were keepsakes from her own marriage to his father, something she treasured even during their poorest times, viewing them as a symbol of his father's enduring presence. Gu Pingyuan expressed remorse for his failure to locate his father's remains during his previous trips to the capital. His mother consoled him, advising him to focus on his upcoming marriage and continue the search later, acknowledging the difficulty given how many of his father's contemporaries were no longer around.
She added that once both brothers were married, she would have fulfilled her duty and could face his father with peace. Gu Pingyuan, assuring her that he would eventually find their father, promised to heed his mother's words regarding Chang Yu'er's past suffering and accept any complaints she might have. Li Qin had taken over the Jiangnan salt administration, prompting Su Zixuan to congratulate him while expressing her suspicions about his father, Li Wantang.
She claimed to have won their bet, implying her own strategic foresight. Su Zixuan directly questioned why Li Wantang, despite having the upper hand, repeatedly allowed Gu Pingyuan a path to survival.
She challenged Li Qin's assertion that his father merely sought to provide him with a rival, citing instances where Li Wantang seemed to aid Gu Pingyuan: withdrawing from Shanxi and allowing him to establish himself, Gu Pingyuan's unexpected victory at the "Top Tea Under Heaven" competition, and Li Wantang's explicit instruction that Gu Pingyuan must not die on his way to Ningguta.
She suggested that these actions clearly favored Gu Pingyuan, leading her to believe there was more to his father's motives. Li Qin dismissed her comments as "nonsense" and wondered if she was sent by his father to create discord between them. Su Zixuan, in turn, called him "blissfully ignorant" and offered her help with the salt administration in exchange for his assistance in her own endeavors, warning him against involving her in rebellious activities.
She advised him to ponder his father's deeper strategies, admitting even she hadn't fully unraveled them. Later, a troubled Li Qin confronted his father, recounting Su Zixuan's unsettling observations. Li Wantang explained that Gu Pingyuan was not a "worthy opponent" for him to exert full effort against, emphasizing that he would not jeopardize his "grand plans" over a minor provincial tea matter.
He clarified that for a greater victory, such as securing the Jiangnan salt trade—a venture he had staked all his connections and assets on for Li Qin's future—one might need to make strategic concessions, or even appear to "admit defeat" or "kneel." Back in Anhui, Gu Pingwen was in good spirits, looking forward to his own marriage with Miss Liao once his elder brother, Gu Pingyuan, had married, adhering to the tradition of proper hierarchy.
He expressed happiness for Gu Pingyuan's recent successes, which had elevated their family's standing. Gu Pingwen then related how Gu Pingyuan's narrow escape from death seemed to be fulfilling the saying, "survive a great disaster, and great fortune will follow." During their meal, Wu Caishen, a good friend of Gu Pingyuan, arrived from Hangzhou.
He introduced himself modestly as "God of Debt" rather than "God of Wealth," despite his impressive appearance, explaining he had traveled to oversee the renovation of Gu Pingyuan's wedding house, wanting to ensure it was perfect for the bride. Gu Pingyuan's mother warmly welcomed him to dine with them.
Wu Caishen then brought in a team of skilled artisans from Hangzhou, instructing them to thoroughly clean, inspect, and renovate the Gu family home, ensuring it looked brand new and met the highest standards, particularly highlighting the use of special "white mud" from Zhejiang to prevent termites and ensure durability for centuries. Upon Gu Pingyuan's arrival in Pingyao, Shanxi, Heizi answered the door.
Recognizing Gu Pingyuan and his intention to propose, Heizi, who harbored feelings for Chang Yu'er, attempted to deter him, even offering to "kowtow seventeen or twenty-eight times" if he would leave, and referring to him dismissively as a "beggar." However, Chang Si, hearing the commotion, rushed out and enthusiastically welcomed Gu Pingyuan, instructing Heizi to order a lavish banquet from Tianfu Restaurant and excitedly announcing Gu Pingyuan's arrival to Yu'er.
Gu Pingyuan, deferring to custom, politely interrupted, stating he had come on his mother's orders and wished to speak inside. Once seated, Gu Pingyuan formally presented himself as "your junior, Gu Pingyuan," and stated his purpose: "By my mother's order, I came to propose marriage. Mr. Chang, I beg your blessing. I wish to marry your daughter, Chang Yu'er, as my wife, to unite our families forever."
He then presented the betrothal letter, his birth date card, and his late father's jade hairpin as a betrothal gift, explaining his mother's inability to travel. Chang Si was deeply moved, tearfully exclaiming that he had long awaited this day and chiding Gu Pingyuan for taking so long to come for his daughter. Gu Pingyuan explained his delay, citing his past as a convict and unresolved matters at home.
Chang Si, still overwhelmed, insisted that Gu Pingyuan cease calling him "Mr. Chang," acknowledging that old habits die hard but emphasizing their new relationship. He spoke of Yu'er's unwavering devotion to him, which had made him feel uneasy, even wishing he could die on a long journey rather than witness her daily sadness. Chang Si, experiencing a mix of emotions, then urged Gu Pingyuan to speak with Yu'er immediately.
Meanwhile, Chang Si had arranged for a fortune teller to read Gu Pingyuan and Chang Yu'er's horoscopes. Chang Si eagerly awaited the results, while Gu Pingyuan, determined to marry Yu'er, declared he would face any challenges. The fortune teller revealed that Gu Pingyuan's fate was one of lifelong toil, suggesting he would rarely find peace at home, referencing the proverb "why doesn't the scholar return home early."
Chang Yu'er's fate was described as "strange," marked by deep longing and a life of drifting, with "the first half of life drifting in storms and the second half in solitary longing." Gu Pingyuan immediately questioned the "solitary longing" aspect, as he was now present.
However, when their horoscopes were combined, the fortune teller joyfully announced they were a match made in heaven: "Once they meet, no matter where or when, they find their true selves in each other," prophesying they would "stay together until the end of their days." Overjoyed, Chang Si happily paid the fortune teller and had Heizi take him to eat. Gu Pingyuan then reminisced about his "door-plank meals" during his impoverished days, a stark contrast to his current situation.
After the fortune teller's positive reading, Chang Si and Gu Pingyuan proceeded to formally conclude the "Three Letters and Six Rites" for their engagement. This included the betrothal letter, the gift list, and the understanding that the wedding letter would be used on the wedding day.
For the six rites, they covered the proposal (Gu Pingyuan acted as his own matchmaker), birthdate matching (already done by the fortune teller), divination for a wedding date (to be set in Huizhou), presenting the betrothal gifts (the jade hairpin for Yu'er), setting the wedding date (both agreed), and finally, the welcoming of the bride (which Gu Pingyuan would personally undertake). However, Gu Pingyuan realized they had not yet secured Chang Yu'er's explicit consent.
Chang Si, attributing Yu'er's absence from the celebratory meal to shyness, urged Gu Pingyuan to take the betrothal letter and gifts directly to her room across the way, assuring him it would be a simple matter. Gu Pingyuan approached Yu'er's door, calling her name and stating he had something for her. He gently reminded her of his promise at Shanhai Pass to return for her as soon as he had a moment of respite.
Despite his earnest words and the reading of the eloquent betrothal letter, Chang Yu'er remained inside, eventually turning off her lamp and firmly telling him to leave. Feeling rebuffed, Gu Pingyuan returned to drink with Chang Si, and they continued until Chang Si became heavily intoxicated. Not long after, Chang Yu'er emerged, scolding Gu Pingyuan for allowing her father to drink excessively, especially given his age. Gu Pingyuan, apologetic, tried to understand why she was so annoyed.
Chang Yu'er expressed her frustration, calling men "hypocritical" and lamenting that her father would deem her "ungrateful" and "foolish" if she dared to refuse the proposal. She dismissed any notion of a "debt of gratitude" between their fathers, declaring that her own feelings were her business and he should not dwell on them.
Gu Pingyuan, in turn, confessed his profound longing for her, stating he had thought of her "day and night" and that even if she were reborn, he would recognize her eyes, brows, and teeth among thousands. Chang Yu'er then admitted her fear that the day felt "like a dream" and that his true feelings might not align with hers. She confessed that she hadn't understood the formal language of the betrothal letter and yearned to hear his sincere words.
Gazing deeply into her eyes, Gu Pingyuan declared his true feelings, calling her his "unforgettable person" and their shared experiences "unforgettable." He condensed his heartfelt emotions into four words: she was "etched in his heart." Chang Yu'er tearfully reciprocated his feelings. Overcome by the tender moment, Chang Si, who had been feigning drunkenness, quietly slipped away, unable to watch any longer.
