Marvelous Women Episode 2 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
Ren Xuetang discovered the gravity of the situation: the Emperor's strict ban on sea trade meant that harboring any person from the South Seas or East Seas was punishable by death. Ren Rufeng had caused immense trouble by being closely associated with Zhang Biao, who was identified as a water bandit. The Emperor had previously decreed that anyone connected to water bandits would face beheading. Ren Rufeng acknowledged his mistake, appearing dejected while preparing medicine for his mother.
Ren Xuetang scolded him for bringing such calamity upon the Ren family for meager gain, but ultimately did not impose further punishment. To protect the Ren family, Shen Cuixi proposed the only viable solution: inviting "Seventh Uncle" to formally remove Ren Rufeng's name from the family register, thereby disowning him to shield the rest of the household.
Upon hearing this, Ren Rufeng's mother, Chen Xiaohong, cried and knelt in protest before collapsing, seemingly suffering a stroke according to the doctor (Doctor Hu in one account). However, Shen Cuixi discerned that Chen Xiaohong was feigning illness and, when alone, confronted and roused her. Chen Xiaohong confessed that she and Ren Rufeng had been secretly accumulating private funds because she feared Zeng Baoqin's future entry into the family would disrupt their stability.
Shen Cuixi, feeling a pang of pity, did not blame her. Instead, she retrieved a box containing property and money originally bequeathed by Ren Xuetang's parents (the old master) to Chen Xiaohong and Ren Rufeng, assets Shen Cuixi had managed but which were rightfully theirs. She handed these over to Chen Xiaohong, ensuring their financial security.
Her sole condition was that neither Chen Xiaohong nor Ren Rufeng must ever offer any assistance to Zeng Baoqin once she joined the family; otherwise, Shen Cuixi would turn against them. Despite the escalating family crisis, Ru Yi, Zeng Baoqin's personal maid, arrived at the Ren residence, tearfully seeking Ren Xuetang.
After Shu Yan escorted Ru Yi to the study, Ren Xuetang learned from her that Shen Cuixi had cut off all expenses for Shantang Street, where Zeng Baoqin was residing. He immediately gave Ru Yi all his private money and prepared to leave with her to visit Zeng Baoqin. However, Shen Cuixi, having learned of his intentions, intercepted Ren Xuetang, forcefully keeping him at home.
She instructed Shu Fang and Qiao'er to retrieve Ren Xuetang's private funds from Ru Yi and then expelled Ru Yi from the household, forbidding her return without permission. Shen Cuixi then brought Ren Xuetang to the study and presented him with the shockingly large ledger of expenses for Shantang Street, emphasizing the extravagant costs for mere daily living.
She reminded him of the Zeng family's downfall, with Zeng Baoqin being the sole survivor, and cautioned that Zeng Baoqin might have drastically changed after her experiences, which included five years spent in prison and brothels. Shen Cuixi challenged Ren Xuetang to consider if Zeng Baoqin's affection for him was still genuine, questioning if she would truly stand by him in times of crisis. Influenced by Shen Cuixi's words, Ren Xuetang decided to test Zeng Baoqin.
He visited her at Shantang Street and falsely claimed the Ren family was facing ruin. That night, Ren Xuetang stayed with her. However, Zeng Baoqin, after some hesitation, attempted to flee with Ru Yi, packing valuables such as gold, silver, pearls, and jewelry, while Ren Xuetang was supposedly asleep. As they opened the courtyard gate amidst a downpour, they were shocked to find Shu Yan there. They hastily retreated, only to be confronted by a heartbroken and enraged Ren Xuetang.
Ren Xuetang was deeply saddened, realizing that to Zeng Baoqin, he was less important than material wealth. Zeng Baoqin knelt, tearfully begging for forgiveness, explaining the torture and suffering she endured in prison, specifically mentioning confinement in a "box bed" where she lost track of day and night, vowing never to relive such experiences. She then revealed she was pregnant, having missed her period, and a doctor had confirmed she was two months along.
She claimed her attempt to flee was for the sake of their child, stating she could endure any hardship herself but could not allow their child to suffer. While Ren Xuetang understood her past hardships and believed her affection for him was genuine, her actions still deeply hurt him. He questioned whether she would always abandon him with valuables whenever the Ren family faced difficulties.
He was heartbroken, accusing her of revealing the pregnancy at such a critical moment, making him doubt her true intentions. Before leaving Shantang Street, Ren Xuetang ordered Shu Yan to lock the courtyard gate, explicitly forbidding Zeng Baoqin from leaving the premises. Upon returning home, Ren Xuetang informed Shen Cuixi about the situation at Shantang Street, confirming he had assigned Shu Yan to watch over Zeng Baoqin.
Their relationship eased, as Shen Cuixi had also sent people to investigate Zhang Biao. The following day, Ren Xuetang met Li Zhao, an official, at the Weaving Bureau. Li Zhao brought up the continually rising prices of raw silk, which the Weaving Bureau had been investigating. While failing to find the direct cause, they discovered South Seas water bandits frequently violating the imperial sea ban to buy raw silk in Suzhou, disrupting market prices.
Li Zhao revealed that Zhang Biao, posing as a Guangzhou merchant, was closely associated with Ren Rufeng, and warned that any proximity to water bandits, even sharing a meal, was a grave crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the family. Ren Xuetang, though inwardly nervous, maintained a composed facade, feigning ignorance and asserting that Ren Rufeng was simple-minded and lacked the courage to engage in business with water bandits.
Li Zhao, seemingly lacking definitive evidence, let the subject drop, though his words indicated the situation was more complex than it appeared. Ren Xuetang relayed Li Zhao's probing questions to Shen Cuixi, who suspected the Ren family was the true target of the investigation. Fearing the authorities would implicate the Ren family through Zhang Biao's case, Shen Cuixi concluded they could not afford to wait and must apprehend Zhang Biao before the officials did.
Zeng Baoqin remained confined at Shantang Street, her pregnancy progressing. After approximately 182 days (over 100 days) without a visit, she schemed to see Ren Xuetang. Noticing Ru Yi's affection for Shu Yan, Zeng Baoqin leveraged this to her advantage, sending Ru Yi with magnolia flowers to Shu Yan, instructing him to deliver them to Ren Xuetang as a message.
As anticipated, Ren Xuetang, upon seeing the magnolia flowers, was overcome with longing for Zeng Baoqin and immediately arranged for a sedan chair to Shantang Street. Shen Cuixi observed Ren Xuetang's departure but did not intervene, understanding that his heart belonged to Zeng Baoqin and any attempt to stop him would be pointless. After such a long separation, Ren Xuetang's affection for Zeng Baoqin had not waned; in fact, it had intensified. The moment he saw her, he completely forgave her past actions and even joined her in looking at items for their unborn child.
