Marvelous Women Episode 12 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
With firecrackers signaling their reopening, various weaving households, including Qingyue Workshop, resumed business. Wei Lianggong and Zeng Baoqin discussed Shen Cuixi, with Zeng Baoqin noting Wei Lianggong's visible concern for Shen Cuixi. Although merchants had secured guarantees, this development intensified Li Zhao's hatred for Shen Cuixi. Zeng Baoqin recalled Shen Cuixi mentioning that Ren Xuetang's incident might be connected to Li Zhao. Shen Cuixi herself had been investigating Li Zhao and the fluctuations in raw silk prices over the years.
She discovered that in the years immediately following Li Zhao's arrival in Suzhou, raw silk prices rose annually, even soaring to a 50% increase in the year Ren Xuetang had his incident. She suspected a connection between Li Zhao and these skyrocketing prices. It was also noted that when the four major Suzhou weaving families established the general account house a few years prior, raw silk prices had risen by less than 10%.
With Shen Cuixi now managing the general account house and keeping raw silk price increases to less than 10% this year, Li Zhao's deep-seated hatred for her was understandable, as this suppression of prices could potentially lead to his financial ruin if he was indeed tied to the previous dramatic increases. Zeng Baoqin herself had been investigating but had unfortunately not found concrete evidence, which she would otherwise take to the capital to report.
Meanwhile, the head shopkeepers brought up Shu Fang's marriage. That evening, Shen Cuixi discussed the matter with Shu Fang again, encouraging her to seriously consider Ren Rufeng, whom Shu Fang initially hadn't thought about. Chen Xiaohong expressed her anxieties to Shu Fang, fearing that Shen Cuixi, as the leader opposing Li Zhao, would be taken to the yamen and publicly beaten, which would ruin her reputation as a woman. Ren Rufeng overheard Chen Xiaohong's concerns.
Unbeknownst to anyone, he secretly resolved to help Shen Cuixi navigate this crisis by taking the beating in her place. The next day, he entrusted all his savings to Chen Xiaohong, like making final arrangements. Ren Rufeng then went to the prefectural office to see Cao Wenbin.
He presented the Ren family head's token, declaring himself the true head of the Ren family and claiming responsibility for instigating the Suzhou weaving families to close their businesses, emphasizing that craftsmanship was the foundation of artisans' livelihoods. Cao Wenbin reminded him that the leader, according to law, would receive forty large boards. Ren Rufeng, unafraid, confirmed his awareness and willingness to accept the punishment to protect Shen Cuixi.
Shen Cuixi, discovering her token missing, realized something had gone terribly wrong. Outside the prefectural office, Cao Wenbin ordered Ren Rufeng to be beaten. The beating was brutal, his trousers gradually soaking with red blood, and his skin was torn. Shu Fang rushed to the scene but was held back, forced to watch Ren Rufeng being beaten.
Even amidst the pain, Ren Rufeng urgently instructed Shu Fang to send people to guard the weaving office, fearing Li Zhao might still harm Shen Cuixi. Cao Wenbin later informed Shen Cuixi that Li Zhao had intended a "death trap" for her: either surrender the weaving techniques or incite the Suzhou weaving families to a desperate fight.
If they lost, the techniques would still be surrendered; if they won, she would be branded a leader inciting trouble, ruining her reputation as a woman and forcing her to hang herself. Cao Wenbin revealed that if Ren Rufeng had not brought the Ren family head's token, Shen Cuixi would have been the one stripped and publicly beaten in court.
Shen Cuixi herself had prepared for this fate, having already laid out white silk for suicide if she were forced to suffer such humiliation, but she had never expected Ren Rufeng to endure it for her. A severely injured Ren Rufeng was brought back to the Ren family, still delirious and calling out Shu Fang's name. Shu Fang volunteered to stay and care for him. Shen Cuixi later asked Shu Fang if she was willing to marry Ren Rufeng.
Shu Fang, having spent time caring for him, admitted that she had begun to like him. Shen Cuixi, not wanting to force Shu Fang into a marriage like her own, was pleased Shu Fang had genuinely developed feelings for him. Chen Xiaohong, seeing a marriage approaching, became excited and began checking the calendar for auspicious dates. Meanwhile, Shen Cuixi's people, whom she had stationed outside Li Zhao's residence for self-preservation, reported seeing Wei Lianggong enter the premises.
Wei Lianggong, putting aside his pride, sought an audience with Li Zhao to plead for Shen Cuixi's release, arguing that forcing artisans to surrender their livelihood was excessive. He stated his actions were for the sake of justice and a clear conscience. Li Zhao's demeanor immediately changed, but Wei Lianggong refused to back down, threatening Li Zhao with the influence of the Jiangnan literati and the power of his pen.
Recognizing Wei Lianggong's talent and also out of respect for his mentor, Xiushan, Li Zhao initially agreed to spare Shen Cuixi this time, reasoning that Ren Rufeng's beating had preserved the court's dignity and rules. Li Zhao's aide, Liu Shiye, was puzzled by Li Zhao abandoning his carefully laid trap. However, Li Zhao quickly devised another scheme.
Knowing that Wei Lianggong was staying at the Ren family as a tutor, eating and living under the same roof as Shen Cuixi, he decided to spread rumors about the widow and the single man, hoping that widespread gossip would shame Shen Cuixi into committing suicide. Upon Wei Lianggong's return, Shen Cuixi, having learned of his meeting with Li Zhao, questioned their relationship, wondering if Wei Lianggong was trustworthy.
Wei Lianggong openly explained that while they were from the same school, their temperaments and views were incompatible. He confirmed that Li Zhao had spared her this time due to his intervention. To thank Wei Lianggong for his significant help to the Ren family, Shen Cuixi decided to embroider a pouch for him. Separately, Shu Yan approached Ru Yi, expressing his sincere intentions.
He told her that Shen Cuixi had agreed to let him work as a clerk at Qingyue Workshop. He promised to work diligently to become a head shopkeeper within three years, after which he would establish his own business and formally propose marriage, much to Ru Yi's initial sadness about the wait. Zeng Baoqin, aware that Wei Lianggong had visited Li Zhao, advised him to leave the Ren family and return to Shangtang Street for Shen Cuixi's well-being. She feared that Li Zhao, given the ongoing "death match" between him and Shen Cuixi, would next resort to slandering Wei Lianggong and Shen Cuixi.
