Listening Snow Tower Episode 13 Recap, Plot

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Shu Jingrong, posing as a courtesan named Lady Xiao Qing who claimed to have escaped from a brothel, received assistance from Lei Chuyun. He was mesmerized by her every expression. She expressed her gratitude, offering to cover her expenses once Gao Mengfei returned, but Lei Chuyun insisted it was a minor matter and encouraged her to rest at the Lei residence.

Upon their arrival, Lei Zhentian, Lei Chuyun's father, angrily confronted his son about his dissolute lifestyle, accusing him of frequenting music parlors, getting drunk, fighting for courtesans, and being "bewitched by this fox" whom he had now brought home. Lei Zhentian struck Lei Chuyun and ordered Lei Chuyu, his younger son, to escort Lady Xiao Qing out.

Lei Chuyun fiercely defended Lady Xiao Qing, stating he had intervened due to the "rascals" who had harmed her, and threatened to leave the family if she was forced out. Lei Chuyu quickly mediated, suggesting that Lady Xiao Qing, being skilled in zither, could teach Lei Chuyun, who had always wanted to learn. Lady Xiao Qing then explained her plight, claiming to be an orphan whose only skill was playing the zither, which she was "forced into" to survive.

She offered to teach Lei Chuyun the zither to repay his kindness. Lei Chuyun promised his father he would abandon his wayward habits and dedicate himself to learning business in the account room if he could learn zither from Lady Xiao Qing. Lei Zhentian reluctantly agreed but sternly prohibited Lei Chuyun from taking any money from the account room.

Lei Chuyun then escorted Lady Xiao Qing to her room, apologizing for his father's harshness and encouraging her to feel at home. Meanwhile, Hua Lian, the leader of the Moon Sect, expressed concern that a failure to secure an agreement with Thunderbolt Hall would lead to a perpetual shortage of gunpowder. Ming He, the Young Mistress, then volunteered to personally lead an expedition to mine for fresh niter and ensure its safe delivery to the Lei family.

Despite Hua Lian's initial doubts, Ming He asserted that her unique knowledge of "formation and voodoo," second only to Hua Lian's, made her essential during the sect's troubles. Convinced, Hua Lian tasked Ming He and the Left Guardian with overseeing the niter delivery and instructed Qing Hui to notify the Lei family to send their own men for assistance. Lei Chuyun treated Lady Xiao Qing with attentive care.

One day, as she taught him the zither, he inquired if she was still preoccupied with Gao Mengfei. Lady Xiao Qing then showed him a broken jade ball, revealing it was a "most treasured possession" given to her by Gao Mengfei, an "object of remembrance." Citing the crowded city, she asked Lei Chuyun to take it to a repair shop.

Lei Chuyun, with a hint of jealousy, agreed but advised her to "let the past be gone with the wind" and cherish the present, insisting she teach him zither plucking immediately. As Lady Xiao Qing played, Xiao Yiqing observed from a distance, recalling a past memory of asking a blind Shu Jingrong if it was "time for medicine again."

Later, Lei Chuyun, after seeing Gao Mengfei's carriage, instructed a servant to tell Gao Mengfei that Lady Xiao Qing was out of town with him for several days should he come looking for her. He then tried to convince Lei Chuyu to give him money from the account room, but Lei Chuyu refused, reminding him of their father's strict order.

Lei Chuyu then pulled Lei Chuyun to the account room, emphasizing their father was waiting and it was important to secure Lady Xiao Qing's continued stay. Inside the secret account room, Lei Zhentian instructed his sons on ledger keeping. Lei Chuyun, distracted, questioned the need for such diligent work given the family's vast wealth. While Lei Zhentian and Lei Chuyu were engrossed, Lei Chuyun subtly took a banknote.

Shortly after, Lei Zhentian inquired about the niter shipment, and Lei Chuyu reluctantly confessed that it "was robbed," much to his father's shock. Lei Chuyu assured him that a letter had been sent to request another batch. It was revealed that Xiao Yiqing had orchestrated the niter robbery through Jiang Qianmei. Jiang Qianmei, now a part of Snow Tower, was actively collaborating with the Tower Master on his strategies.

Xiao Yiqing noted that Mister Xie's supervision of the gunpowder matter, driven by his emphasis on reputation, significantly pressured the Lei family. With Lady Jing (Shu Jingrong) having delivered the message, Thunderbolt Hall would now press the Moon Sect for the niter delivery. Xiao Yiqing instructed Huang Quan to prepare for the Moon Sect, who were expected to deploy stronger forces for the next shipment.

Jiang Qianmei remarked on Mister Xie's influence as a royal veteran supervising the Emperor's gunpowder orders, suggesting Xiao Yiqing arrange a meeting with him. Xiao Yiqing affirmed that Snow Tower's involvement was contingent on actions taken by Lady Jing and Jiang Qianmei, emphasizing that the "vengeance of Sand Valley shall depend on the two of you," and foreseeing a conflict between "gunpowder traders," Gao Mengfei and Lei Zhentian.

Meanwhile, Mister Xie sternly confronted Lei Zhentian about the gunpowder delay, citing an urgent border emergency. Lei Zhentian pleaded for an extension due to material shortages, but Mister Xie sarcastically asked if the Lei family could convince the enemy to delay their attack. Lei Zhentian stressed the necessity of high-quality niter for effective gunpowder. Mister Xie criticized him for not finding a solution sooner, revealing that other "gunpowder traders," including Gao Mengfei, had already sent him collaborative proposals.

When Lei Chuyun attempted to disparage Gao Mengfei's gunpowder, Lei Zhentian quickly apologized for his son's impudence. Mister Xie then issued a grave warning: if the Lei family failed to deliver gunpowder on time and caused trouble for the royal family, "all of you in the Lei Residence" would face severe repercussions. Lei Zhentian promised to send more men to escort the niter and ensure timely delivery.

Mister Xie then suggested Lei Zhentian seek assistance from Snow Tower, noting their rising prominence and the Tower Master's current passage through Jiangnan. Lei Zhentian hesitated, but Mister Xie emphasized the decision was Lei Zhentian's, hinting at dire consequences if he risked the family's reputation. Lei Chuyu expressed concern to his father about the well-known animosity between Snow Tower and the Moon Sect.

Lei Zhentian, however, decided they had no choice but to "take this risk," believing that Snow Tower would not discover the niter's source if both parties remained discreet. He then instructed Lei Chuyu to gather intelligence on Snow Tower. Consequently, Lei Zhentian met with Xiao Yiqing to discuss the niter's protection.

Xiao Yiqing, the Snow Tower Master, informed Lei Zhentian that while Thunderbolt Hall might seek their assistance, their engagement would depend on Lei Zhentian being able to "provide us the price we want." When Lei Zhentian asked him to speak plainly, Xiao Yiqing demanded Lei Zhentian's "secret recipe in gunpowder making," cautioning him to deliberate carefully, as Snow Tower always commanded a high payment. Noticing Lady Xiao Qing's lingering worries about her extended stay, Lei Chuyun dismissed her concerns.

He then informed her that the old jade ball was "severely damaged" and beyond repair. To her surprise, he presented her with a new, expensive jade ball, which he proudly admitted he bought with money "secretly took from my father," claiming he "beat Gao Mengfei to it." He confirmed Gao Mengfei's return but implicitly suggested Gao Mengfei had not come to see her.

As Lei Chuyun spoke, Xiao Yiqing, watching from afar, hoped Lady Xiao Qing would "let go of that old jade ball" and "leave those unhappy memories behind." Later, while Lady Xiao Qing and Lei Chuyun were together, Blood Demon's enemies attacked. Xiao Yiqing swiftly intervened, dispatching the assailants with incredible speed, stunning Lei Chuyun. Lady Xiao Qing, acknowledging his rescue, asked for his name, to which he replied, "Xiao Yiqing from Snow Tower."

Lei Chuyun later recounted the incident to his father and brother, praising Xiao Yiqing's unparalleled martial arts. Lei Zhentian, however, was suspicious, questioning why the Snow Tower Master would appear coincidentally to save a courtesan. Lei Chuyun explained that Gao Mengfei, aware of Lady Xiao Qing's danger, had hired Snow Tower, offering "5 carts of gunpowder" for her rescue. Lei Zhentian concluded that "everything is exposed now," suggesting their scheme or connections were revealed.

Shu Jingrong met with Xiao Yiqing by the river to thank him for saving her, acknowledging that her identity would have been exposed otherwise. Xiao Yiqing asked if she recognized the assassin, noting that hatred, once planted, "never banishes from the heart" and that "only death can stop it from growing."

Shu Jingrong reflected on hatred, comparing it to broken zither strings that cannot be mended, stating it's like a "sharp blade" that "cuts off the past and changes one's fate." She then mentioned that had it not been for her "eye disease due to poisoning back then," she might not have let the assassin get away. Xiao Yiqing inquired about her eyes, and she assured him they were now "good."

Xiao Yiqing confirmed that Lei Chuyun had indeed "stolen banknotes" and purchased the most expensive jade ball to please her, as planned. He explained that acquiring Lei's private overseas banknotes through Lei Chuyun would serve as "proof of their betrayal to the nation," a discovery spurred by anomalies in the gunpowder ash from the Yongzhou battle. Shu Jingrong agreed to continue her investigation at the Lei Residence and send updates.

As they spoke, Shu Jingrong detected a faint but stronger-than-usual medicine smell on Xiao Yiqing, which he attributed to having "just had a bowl of medicine." She remarked that it "smells exactly like the medicine in the infirmary," stirring her suspicions about him being the mute doctor who cured her blindness.

Xiao Yiqing attempted to change the subject by asking about shadow puppetry, but Shu Jingrong, stating she didn't watch it, ultimately dismissed her thought, concluding, "I was wrong after all. Judging by his temper, there's no way he was the doctor. Perhaps all medicine smell the same."

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