Marvelous Women Episode 23 Recap
> Marvelous Women Recap
Shen Cuixi is brought to court. Zeng Baoqin, waiting early outside the prefect's office, knows Shen Cuixi is steadfast, a determination she recognized when Shen Cuixi escaped from a boat. Zeng Baoqin advises Shen Cuixi that while death is a momentary thought, living is difficult, yet offers the only chance to overturn the case.
Cao Furen, hearing of Shen Cuixi's trial and recalling a past incident involving a "vixen" in her household, immediately orders a sedan chair to buy a coffin. She still holds some old feelings and wishes to preserve Shen Cuixi's innocence, not wanting her body to be carelessly discarded. In court, Cao Wenbin interrogates Zhang Biao. Zhang Biao claims he killed Ren Xuetang, then feared Shen Cuixi's revenge, leading him to confront Ren Rufeng.
There, he allegedly discovered a "secret": Ren Rufeng killed Ren Xuetang due to an "uncle-niece-in-law affair." Ren Rufeng, enraged by the slander, attempts to strangle Zhang Biao and is subsequently removed by officers. Shen Cuixi, questioned by Cao Wenbin, asserts the principle of "catching a thief with the loot, catching adulterers in pairs."
Zhang Biao then claims to have personally witnessed Shen Cuixi and Ren Rufeng meeting secretly on a boat, specifying that Shen Cuixi has a red mole on her right elbow. Cao Wenbin orders Shen Cuixi's sleeve removed, and despite her resistance, a red mole is indeed revealed on her arm. This act, described as ruining Shen Cuixi's innocence and an abuse rather than a trial, is followed by Shen Cuixi being beaten with ten planks outside the yamen.
Cao Wenbin is determined to beat her until she confesses, clearly aiming for a forced confession. During this, Cao Furen arrives with the coffin, intending it for Shen Cuixi's "final journey" or to advise her to die to preserve her innocence, believing a woman who loses her reputation should not live. Ru Yi expresses confusion over Cao Furen's actions, to which Zeng Baoqin remarks that if everything were clear, there wouldn't be so much suffering in the world.
Ding Rong, wanting to save Shen Cuixi and fearing the loss of the double-sided Kesi technique if she dies, reports the situation to Li Zhao. Li Zhao instructs Ding Rong to continue monitoring the yamen, emphasizing the importance of securing the double-sided Kesi. Shen Cuixi, however, is defiant. While acknowledging the societal belief that a woman without reputation is better off dead, she questions why people are forced to die and asserts the importance of living.
She politely declines Cao Furen's coffin, stating her intention to live well, find Ren Xuetang's killer, and see her accusers disgraced and ruined. Following the trial, three Ren family clan elders attempt to seize all Ren family property as clan assets, intending to drive out Chen Xiaohong and Shu Fang. They dismiss Shu Fang's objections, pointing out her lack of formal marriage or consummation with Ren Rufeng, and advise her to remarry.
At this critical moment, Zeng Baoqin arrives at the Ren residence with people, playing festive music. She declares her intention to marry into the Ren family (specifically Ren Xuetang, as a means to become the principal mistress and protect the family's century-old foundation), thereby preventing the elders from annexing the family estate. Her arguments are persuasive, and the uncles reluctantly accept her status.
However, soon after, Cao Wenbin's assistant, Shao Shiye, arrives with officials, ostensibly to search for evidence of Shen Cuixi and Ren Rufeng's plot to murder Ren Xuetang. Zeng Baoqin, recalling a past experience where her own father's home was raided, realizes Cao Wenbin's true intention is to seize the Ren family's assets. She immediately mobilizes her people to defend the family's treasure pavilion and storeroom, despite knowing it might be a futile effort.
She leverages the authority of the Weaving Bureau to delay Shao Shiye for half an hour. When Shao Shiye persists, demanding access to the warehouse, Zeng Baoqin threatens to commit suicide with a hairpin, warning him that while Cao Wenbin might escape consequences, Shao Shiye would not. Shao Shiye doubts her resolve, but just as she is about to stab herself, Li Zhao arrives, saves her, and drives Shao Shiye away.
After saving Zeng Baoqin, Li Zhao reminds Cao Wenbin that Zeng Baoqin is his junior sister, implying she should not be harmed. Cao Wenbin then approaches Li Zhao with a deal: Cao Wenbin will hand over the Ren family's double-sided Kesi technique to Li Zhao, provided Li Zhao confiscates the Ren family's property (specifically the storeroom) for Cao Wenbin. Cao Wenbin frames this as a fair and reasonable exchange. Li Zhao agrees.
The following day, Liu Shiye, acting on Li Zhao's orders, proceeds to raid and confiscate the Ren family's storeroom and other property. Zeng Baoqin's prolonged efforts to protect the family's assets are ultimately in vain. Outside the Ren residence, Li Zhao calls out to Zeng Baoqin. She turns, walks up to him, and, without a word, slaps him across the face in a fit of rage. Meanwhile, in the prison, Cao Wenbin visits Shen Cuixi.
He speaks hypocritical platitudes, but Shen Cuixi demands he be direct. Cao Wenbin asks her to hand over the Ren family's double-sided Kesi technique, promising in return to release the Ren family elders and children. While he says this, Ren Rufeng is heard screaming from beatings in an adjacent cell, his cries echoing throughout the prison. Cao Wenbin, despite his outwardly hypocritical demeanor, is clearly aiming for a forced confession.
Shen Cuixi does not immediately comply, instead requesting to see her family. Cao Wenbin refuses to grant this easily but provides her with paper and a pen. Shen Cuixi spends the entire night in her cell writing a "suicide letter" for the Ren family, finishing it as dawn breaks outside the prison.
