Marvelous Women Episode 15 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
Zeng Baoqin tearfully begged Shen Cuixi to go see Wei Lianggong, even offering to write a document stating she and Wei Lianggong were having a secret affair and Shen Cuixi was merely there to catch them. They were in front of a cold pool, a place where the Ren clan would drown adulterers, and Shen Cuixi revealed this was why she brought Zeng Baoqin there.
Shen Cuixi had already softened, having considered that this might be a trap set by Zeng Baoqin, her destiny. She resolved that even if her reputation was ruined or she was drowned in the cold pool, as long as she knew Wei Lianggong cared for her and wanted to see her, she would have no regrets and accept it. Shen Cuixi then went with Zeng Baoqin to Shantang Street to see Wei Lianggong.
Upon seeing her, Wei Lianggong was very moved and thought it was a dream. He knew his body might not survive the winter, but Shen Cuixi didn't care, wishing to share a dream with him for a lifetime, even if it was just a dream. After the meeting, before leaving Shantang Street, Shen Cuixi thanked Zeng Baoqin, who stated she acted for Wei Lianggong's sake. Shen Cuixi then spoke with Zeng Baoqin, wanting to understand Wei Lianggong's past.
Zeng Baoqin recounted Wei Lianggong's tragic past: he was a late-born child, born to his father and a maid. On the day of his hundred-day banquet, his father died of a stroke. His stepmother, Pan Shi, publicly declared Wei Lianggong an inauspicious child. From birth, Wei Lianggong and his birth mother were confined in a small courtyard for six years.
The Wei family had a rule that all children aged six must be sent to the ancestral school, a rule Pan Shi could not obstruct. So, at six, Wei Lianggong finally left the courtyard to attend school and see the light of day. However, when he returned that night, his birth mother was nowhere to be found.
He later learned that immediately after he left for school, Pan Shi had tied up his birth mother, thrown her onto a boat, and sold her to a brothel. Wei Lianggong was naturally intelligent, studying at six, writing at nine, and achieving scholarly success at sixteen. In that same year, he stumbled upon his birth mother in a brothel.
He later gave up imperial examinations to prevent Pan Shi from receiving a noble title, and he had drifted for years to avoid facing her. His birth mother, upon learning of Wei Lianggong's scholarly success, tragically hanged herself, unwilling to bring shame to her son. Shen Cuixi now understood that Wei Lianggong had agreed to come to the Ren mansion because seeing Ren Xiushan reminded him of his own past.
Shen Cuixi and Zeng Baoqin confided in each other, reminiscing about being best friends in their youth. Zeng Baoqin reflected that she never imagined Shen Cuixi, as the lady of the house, would connect with Wei Lianggong, whose life was ruined by his own stepmother, also a lady of the house. She mused on whether women trapped in compounds, fighting for favor, were inherently wicked, or if society itself was too cruel to them.
Both women wished for each other to live well and did not want to continue fighting and tormenting each other. That night, Ding Rong couldn't sleep, contemplating whether to tell Li Zhao about seeing Shen Cuixi enter Zeng Baoqin's house earlier that day and not leaving by nightfall. He debated this, knowing that if he told Li Zhao, the Ren family would be ruined, but if he didn't, and Li Zhao found out independently, his own family would face ruin.
When Qiao'er discovered him trying to sneak out, he revealed what he saw. He admitted he knew Shen Cuixi and Wei Lianggong were innocent, but the consequences if Li Zhao knew were severe. Qiao'er, seeing he hadn't told anyone yet, begged him not to inform Li Zhao, declaring that their family would live and die together. Unable to bear her tears, Ding Rong agreed not to tell. That night, Zeng Baoqin saw Shen Cuixi and Wei Lianggong off.
However, this scene of Shen Cuixi and others bringing Wei Lianggong back to the Ren mansion was clearly witnessed by Liu Shiye, who had been guarding the entrance of Shantang Street. Li Zhao soon learned of the matter. The next day, he summoned Ding Rong and brutally beat him with a stick. In agonizing pain, Ding Rong was forced to obey Li Zhao's orders again.
Liu Shiye, who had personally witnessed Shen Cuixi bring Wei Lianggong back to the Ren mansion, didn't understand why Li Zhao wasn't raiding the house. Li Zhao explained his plan: if officials raided, it would appear as if the government was forcing the death of the Ren family's lady; it was better to let the Ren clan clean their own house.
Upon returning to the Ren mansion, Wei Lianggong immediately went to see Ren Xiushan, who was very happy to see him. Wei Lianggong joyfully embraced Xiushan, feeling much lighter from the happiness. Ren Rufeng was initially wary of Wei Lianggong's return, fearing he was back to steal Shu Fang, but relaxed after Wei Lianggong wished him and Shu Fang happiness.
Shen Cuixi took Wei Lianggong to her boudoir and later to the embroidery workshop, where she listened to him speak calmly and methodically about famous paintings. She was delighted and proactively measured him for new clothes. Wei Lianggong kept addressing her as "Grand Madam," but Shen Cuixi wanted him to call her by her name. She was surprised that her seemingly simple countryside name held an historical allusion when interpreted by Wei Lianggong.
Qiao'er later discovered Liu Shiye giving money to Ding Rong. She recalled how Ding Rong had initially feigned agreement to her plea not to help Li Zhao harm Shen Cuixi. However, Ding Rong, resentful after being beaten, went to Ren's Seventh Uncle to complain about Shen Cuixi and Wei Lianggong.
He then paid a storyteller to narrate a tale, initially about an embroidered sachet, but deliberately changed a name to implicitly spread rumors and slanderous gossip about Shen Cuixi and Wei Lianggong's scandalous affair. Although the name in the story was changed, everyone present understood it referred to Shen Cuixi and Wei Lianggong. Qiao'er, upon hearing the story, immediately realized Ding Rong had deliberately orchestrated its spread. Meanwhile, Wei Lianggong was staying in a small courtyard, and Shen Cuixi told him to come with her.
