Marvelous Women Episode 21 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
Ding Rong got Zhang Biao drunk, leading to Zhang Biao's arrest by the prefect's yamen runners, who seized him after goods were loaded onto a boat. Simultaneously, Li Zhao's warehouse of privately stored raw silk was discovered. Cao Wenbin, the prefect, saw the raw silk and coveted it, planning to seize it after Li Zhao's downfall. He instructed his Master Liu to personally interrogate Zhang Biao to secure a confession and solid evidence, preventing Li Zhao's comeback.
At night, Ding Rong, masked, infiltrated Li Zhao's study and stole his account books detailing raw silk reselling. This was part of a pre-arranged plan with Shen Cuixi; Shen Cuixi, determined to bring down Li Zhao, had asked Ding Rong for help, promising to take sole responsibility for any fallout. Ding Rong, in turn, had asked Shen Cuixi to take in his two daughters. With both the account books and the raw silk warehouse, Li Zhao would be caught "red-handed."
The next day, Li Zhao discovered the account books missing and his long-time doorkeeper gone, realizing he had been framed. Suspecting Cao Wenbin was behind the account book theft, Li Zhao immediately ordered Master Liu to move the raw silk from Mudutown to prevent Cao Wenbin from getting leverage, ensuring that even with the books, without the raw silk, there would be no direct evidence. Shu Fang was preparing for marriage, which made Shen Cuixi very happy and relieved.
Shu Fang noticed Shen Cuixi's sense of relief. Shen Cuixi revealed to Shu Fang that Zhang Biao had been caught and Li Zhao's privately stored raw silk found, and they were awaiting Cao Wenbin's interrogation and report to the court. However, she emphasized that the most urgent matter was the wedding, telling Shu Fang to await good news. Master Liu went to the raw silk warehouse but found it sealed by the prefect.
The Nanyang pirate, Zhang Biao, had also been arrested. Realizing he was now truly caught "red-handed," Li Zhao decided to confront Cao Wenbin and offer money for his life. However, upon arriving at the prefect's office, Cao Wenbin refused to see him. As Li Zhao was leaving, he witnessed Cao Wenbin's officials welcoming Shen Cuixi's carriage, confirming that Cao Wenbin was intentionally avoiding him.
Cao Wenbin had summoned Shen Cuixi, proposing to split the raw silk: half was enough to convict Li Zhao, and he and Shen Cuixi would take the rest. Shen Cuixi was in a difficult position. Cao Wenbin claimed he had already written the impeachment memorial against Li Zhao and threatened to submit it only after Shen Cuixi agreed to move the raw silk. Shen Cuixi left angrily, feeling she had driven away one danger only to encounter another.
Although Shen Cuixi had decided to cooperate with Cao Wenbin in her determination to bring down Li Zhao, the raw silk was burned before she could act on that decision and meet him again. Determined to make the "stolen goods" vanish and thwart Cao Wenbin, Li Zhao formulated a plan and ordered Master Liu to burn all the raw silk in the warehouse. Meanwhile, Shen Cuixi visited Zeng Baoqin, revealing her true reason for coming: Li Zhao's return.
Shen Cuixi had intended to deal with Li Zhao herself, which led her to have Cao Wenbin investigate Li Zhao's warehouse, but Cao Wenbin had proven too greedy in the process. Zeng Baoqin warned Shen Cuixi that privatizing stolen goods was a serious crime, a capital offense if discovered. Before discussing Cao Wenbin's proposal, they talked about Ru Yi and Shu Yan.
Shu Yan wanted to see Ru Yi but dared not knock, so Shen Cuixi helped him, believing they loved each other and Zeng Baoqin would facilitate them. However, Zeng Baoqin believed lovers didn't necessarily need to marry, explaining that Ru Yi, having grown up in a courtesan's quarter, lacked proper etiquette. While Shu Yan liked Ru Yi's innocent nature, he feared inquiries into her background and used family opposition as an excuse to hesitate.
Zeng Baoqin intentionally didn't teach Ru Yi etiquette so she wouldn't humbly beg for pity. Shen Cuixi felt that since she and Zeng Baoqin had both lost loved ones, others should be helped to marry if possible, but as Ru Yi was Zeng Baoqin's person, Shen Cuixi didn't want to interfere too much. That night, Master Liu's men set fire to the raw silk warehouse. Cao Wenbin was heartbroken watching the silk turn to ash, surprised by Li Zhao's ruthlessness.
With so much raw silk burned, Zeng Baoqin worried Li Zhao would frame the Ren family and warned Shen Cuixi to guard against Cao Wenbin becoming desperate and blaming the Ren family. Cao Wenbin, left with no raw silk, had to interrogate Zhang Biao, hoping for useful information. Li Zhao then found Cao Wenbin and threatened to end his official career. Cao Wenbin's attitude immediately changed to flattery, and he begged Li Zhao for help.
Li Zhao, knowing Cao Wenbin had made a lot of money collaborating with the Ren family, suggested he undertake one more significant task to secure his retirement safely. This "big job" involved the Ren family's three-generation ancestral business. Li Zhao reminded Cao Wenbin that Zhang Biao, who had previously done business with Ren Rufeng, was still in custody. Thus, it would be easy to claim the esteemed Suzhou Ren family colluded with pirates and seize their family business.
Furthermore, Li Zhao, dissatisfied with Shen Cuixi constantly opposing him by relying on her weaving skills, instructed Cao Wenbin to force Shen Cuixi to hand over the double-sided Kesi technique and provided methods to achieve this. Cao Wenbin interrogated Zhang Biao, using Zhang Biao's parents' lives as a threat (which Li Zhao had secretly revealed as Zhang Biao's weakness) to make him confess and implicate Ren Rufeng. Shen Cuixi had an ominous premonition about the quiet aftermath of the burning.
Zeng Baoqin comforted her, saying they would face challenges as they come, having overcome many storms together. The most important thing now was to prepare for Ren Rufeng and Shu Fang's wedding to expand the Ren family line, and ideally, for Ren Xiushan to have a younger sibling.
