Love Like White Jade Episode 10 Recap
> Love Like White Jade Recap
Jiang Baiyu found Shui Wuxia, who seemed troubled. He affectionately called her "Brother Shui" and held her hand, reassuring her that they were good buddies, almost like family, and that he wouldn't be worthy of being the Young Master of the Jiang Family if he didn't know what she was going through. He encouraged her to think positively, believing whatever she was facing wasn't as bad as it seemed.
Shui Wuxia, touched by his concern, admitted that what happened was in the past and agreed that the most important thing now was to uncover the mastermind behind the recent events. At a charity auction hosted by Jiang Mansion, the Prefect announced that the North Bay Village had been ravaged by an unusual epidemic, leaving many villagers homeless. He proposed building a refugee shelter and sought generous merchants to fund it.
To incentivize participation and ensure the refugees' well-being, the Prefect offered a five-year labor covenant to anyone willing to house the displaced, selecting the bidder who offered the most favorable conditions for the refugees. Bidding began, with Jiang Patriarch offering 50,000 taels. Jiang Baiyu observed the bids and, suspecting ulterior motives from anyone bidding unusually high, advised his father to be prepared to outbid them to secure the refugees. The Thousand Horses Hall manager then bid 80,000 taels.
The Prefect praised Thousand Horses Hall's generosity. Jiang Patriarch, encouraged by Jiang Baiyu, raised his bid to 100,000 taels, and later 120,000 taels. However, the Thousand Horses Hall manager continued to outbid him, ultimately securing the labor covenant for 150,000 taels. Suspicious of Thousand Horses Hall's abnormally high bid, Jiang Baiyu and Shui Wuxia decided to follow the manager.
They overheard Ma Ru Long expressing surprise at the 150,000 taels spent but then confidently stating that he would "earn the 150,000 taels back from these people sooner or later." Later, Jiang Baiyu and Shui Wuxia reviewed their findings, having traced Third Brother's waist token to the banquet where the Thousand Horses Hall manager was the most suspicious, linking everything to the refugees.
They noted Thousand Horses Hall's unusual foray into charity and the exorbitant price, concluding it indicated a hidden agenda, possibly related to Third Brother's previous abduction activities in Lavish Lane. They questioned how Ma Ru Long intended to profit from the refugees if his intentions were benevolent. Meanwhile, Jiang Tianling visited the Never-lose Gambling Hall, curious to experience the place Shui Wuxia frequented.
Ba Xi showed him around, explaining that the thrill of gambling came from the unknown, much like life itself. She introduced him to a divination game using Pai Gow, where he drew a "marriage card," which he quickly dismissed as superstition. Wandering off, he witnessed Zhe Zhi in a high-stakes game with Young Master Zhao, where she offered her body as a bet.
Jiang Tianling intervened, declaring it a "disgrace" to use one's body as a wager and insisting the bet was void. Zhe Zhi, however, revealed she was willing and was about to open the dice cup. Jiang Tianling’s interference caused her to lose the round. He then pulled her out of the gambling hall, urging her to respect herself and abandon the idea of gambling with her life.
Zhe Zhi was annoyed, stating she had a plan to deal with Young Master Zhao and that Jiang Tianling had ruined it, causing her further trouble. She retorted that he was "such a nag for his age." Back at Jiang Mansion, Shui Wuxia told Jiang Baiyu that without concrete evidence, the authorities wouldn't act against Ma Ru Long, and waiting would only endanger the refugees further.
She decided to go to Thousand Horses Hall alone to gather proof, even if it was risky, because she understood the plight of the homeless, having experienced it herself before finding a home at Lang Ya Pavilion. Jiang Baiyu insisted on accompanying her, assuring her that he would protect her. Together, they tracked Third Brother and his men transporting unconscious refugees in a carriage. They intercepted the carriage on the road and successfully rescued the captives.
The following day, the Prefect, accompanied by Jiang Baiyu, Shui Wuxia, and soldiers, sealed off Ma Mansion. The rescued refugees testified that they had been abducted by Ma San, not only from Thousand Horses Hall the previous night but also previously lured and kidnapped from Lavish Lane. Ma Ru Long feigned ignorance, claiming Ma San managed all of Thousand Horses Hall's operations and that he was completely unaware of these illicit activities.
However, soldiers discovered account books detailing human trafficking and slave trading in Ma San’s residence. Ma Ru Long, to protect himself, quickly offered to assist in apprehending Ma San, then publicly confronted and led to the capture of Ma San, who was furious at the betrayal. Later, Shen Qingli visited Ma San in prison. He asked about the whereabouts of the Phoenix Pin's owner, offering to ensure Ma San's safety in exchange for the truth.
Ma San refused, asserting his loyalty to Ma Ru Long who had given him "a bite to eat." Ma San then revealed he recognized Shen Qingli, hinting at his true identity as Jiang Baiyu and connecting him to the seven-year-old murder of Jiang Jue, the medical sage and Jiang Family leader. Shen Qingli admitted his true identity as Jiang Baiyu but pleaded with Ma San not to involve Shui Wuxia, emphasizing her innocence.
Ma San, having already deduced Jiang Baiyu’s connection to the case from his reaction to Jiang Jue’s name, advised him to stop investigating and to live his own life, warning him that Ma Ru Long was too dangerous an adversary. Ma San pledged not to reveal Jiang Baiyu’s identity to anyone and urged him to leave before the guards changed shifts.
That night, Ma Ru Long ordered Ma San to be killed during his transport to the prefectural prison, believing it was the only opportunity. Shui Wuxia, having learned from Ba Xi that Ma San's prison wagon would depart West Gate at dawn for the prefectural prison, prepared to intercept it. Shen Qingli, also aware of Ma Ru Long’s plan, arrived in the forest and fought off black-clad assassins who were firing arrows at the prison wagon.
Shui Wuxia managed to get Ma San out of the wagon, but he had already been struck by an arrow. Before he died, Ma San gave Shui Wuxia a perfume sachet. Shui Wuxia confronted him, asking if he was the one who killed Xiao Kai Zhen seven years ago. His subsequent death, combined with the sachet, confirmed her suspicion. Shui Wuxia was stunned and heartbroken by the revelation.
Distraught, Shui Wuxia was later confronted by Shen Qingli in her room, who tried to explain previous misunderstandings. She struggled against him, accidentally slipping and falling, causing her hair to get entangled in his clothes. In a moment of panic, Shui Wuxia drew her sword and cut her own hair to free herself from him. Shortly after, Madam Jiang arrived to visit Jiang Baiyu and Shui Wuxia.
Fang Yuncheng attempted to deter her, but Madam Jiang insisted on seeing them, remarking that Shui Wuxia would not let them sleep so late. Shui Wuxia, noticing Madam Jiang's approach, quickly helped Shen Qingli hide. Madam Jiang, entering the room, commented on the disarray of the bed and noticed Shui Wuxia’s flustered state and sweat. Shui Wuxia quickly claimed Jiang Baiyu had gone out for a break from his studies. Madam Jiang offered her some Jiang Mansion’s special coptis pills. After Madam Jiang finally left, the hidden Shen Qingli was able to escape.
