Ni Chang Episode 16 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Xiao Lu expressed concern for Ouyang Ziyu, sensing his lovesickness over a particular girl. Ouyang Ziyu, feigning indifference, stated he wasn't trying to invite anyone, but then instructed Xiao Lu to order several dishes from Zuixian Restaurant to be delivered to Fang's as a gesture of congratulations for their recent success. Meanwhile, Ni Chang attended a gathering at the Su family residence, where Su Gongming chastised her for hiring Tianxiang Theater dancers for her fashion show.
He accused her of promoting indecency and polluting the capital's moral fabric. Ni Chang logically countered, explaining that the Tianxiang Theater's annual dancing contest, which is publicly attended and taxed by the government, is never deemed immoral, so her event should not be either. Despite her arguments, Su Gongming insisted on punishing Fang's with a three-month business suspension, forbidding them from reopening without guild approval.
Suddenly, Su Wenyu burst in, declaring that he and Ni Chang were secretly engaged and that she was to be the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Su family. This infuriated Su Gongming. Ni Chang, equally angered, confronted Su Wenyu, emphasizing that a woman's reputation should not be casually joked about, and she had never agreed to marry him. Su Wenyu, desperate, pleaded with her to accept him, fearing how he would face others after his public declaration.
Just then, Ouyang Ziyu appeared, scolding Su Wenyu for his inappropriate behavior in public. He then feigned concern for his custom-made winter clothes, offering to accompany Ni Chang to pick them up, effectively ending the confrontation. Ni Chang thanked Ouyang Ziyu for his intervention, but he subtly mocked her for attracting Su Wenyu in his absence.
Ni Chang, annoyed, dismissed his offer of further help, stating her private matters were hers to handle and promising his winter coat would be ready soon. After she left, Ouyang Ziyu ordered Xiao Lu to investigate what exactly happened at the Su residence. Later, Yuan Xiang informed Ni Chang that the entire capital now believed her to be engaged to Su Wenyu. Ni Chang, however, was unwilling to discuss the matter further.
Su Gongming, meanwhile, was furious, interpreting Su Wenyu's announcement as an attempt to merge the Su and Fang families and usurp his power. Su Wenyu drowned his sorrows in alcohol at a tavern. Housekeeper Xiao eventually found him and attempted to take him home. On the way, as Su Wenyu drunkenly lamented Ni Chang's rejection, Shen Lan appeared, startling housekeeper Xiao, who quickly hoisted Su Wenyu onto his back and rushed home.
Ouyang Ziyu, learning of the situation, expressed concern to Xiao Lu that Su Wenyu's impulsive actions would only make Ni Chang's life more challenging. He instructed Xiao Lu to continue monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, Shen Lan visited the Su family shop, demanding to see Su Gongming. Housekeeper Xiao informed him that Su Gongming was not present and, visibly anxious, handed Shen Lan several bags of silver, explaining that if Shen Lan had any difficulties, he could speak to him.
Su Wenyu, who had been observing, questioned housekeeper Xiao about Shen Lan's identity. Housekeeper Xiao nervously claimed Shen Lan was a distant relative who had bumped his eye. Suspicious, Su Wenyu secretly followed Shen Lan, confronting him and threatening to take him to the authorities for blackmail. Shen Lan reacted by grabbing Su Wenyu's throat, threatening to expose the Su family's involvement in a murder years ago if Su Wenyu didn't back down.
Shen Lan claimed his brother died in the incident and demanded the hush money as his right. Xiao Lu later reported to Ouyang Ziyu that the guild was coordinating price reductions and blocking supply channels to deliberately suppress Fang's business, forcing them to cancel many orders and incur significant losses. He noted that the Market Bureau was not intervening, considering it a private industry matter.
Ouyang Ziyu initially wanted to use the Market Bureau's authority to intervene, but Xiao Lu advised against it, reminding him that his continued involvement already made Mr. Yuan uncomfortable and urging him to "protect ourselves" instead. Ouyang Ziyu, acknowledging Xiao Lu's advice, decided not to involve the Market Bureau but affirmed his commitment to helping Fang's. Xiao Lu jokingly suggested Ouyang Ziyu should simply persuade Ni Chang to marry him and live a life of ease in his palace.
Disturbed by Shen Lan's revelations, Su Wenyu confronted his uncle, Su Gongming, about the alleged murder. Su Gongming, visibly flustered, confessed that the Su family was indeed involved and tried to shift the blame onto Su Wenyu's father, claiming he was forced to hire men to kill the Xie family to protect the Su family's welfare. Devastated and in disbelief, Su Wenyu then went to confront his father, who was ill in his room, with Yan Wenxiu present.
After Yan Wenxiu was asked to leave and secretly eavesdropped, Su Wenyu asked his father if he had indeed ordered the killing of the Xie family. His father confessed, taking full responsibility and acknowledging that the Su family "does owe the Xie family a few lives" and that they "should not do this outrageous thing."
Heartbroken by his father's admission, Su Wenyu rushed out of the room, urging Yan Wenxiu to immediately return to Huaizhou, declaring that "The whole family here, there is no good man." Before Su Wenyu could fully process the truth, a maid announced that his father was dying. Su Wenyu and Yan Wenxiu rushed back to his father's side, joined by Su Gongming and housekeeper Xiao.
On his deathbed, Su Wenyu's father entrusted the Su family's future to him as the "only heir," urging him to "Work hard" and "Be a good man" to "Make sure that the Su family can develop." Su Gongming, despite his earlier machinations, assured his dying brother he would support Su Wenyu. The father also expressed his final wish for Su Wenyu to marry Yan Wenxiu, praising her as a "good girl," and asked Yan Wenxiu to faithfully assist Su Wenyu.
With his final words spoken, Su Wenyu's father passed away, leaving both Su Wenyu and Yan Wenxiu in profound grief. Meanwhile, business at Fang's continued to decline, making Ni Chang's aunt extremely anxious. Ouyang Ziyu arrived at Fang's, receiving a warm welcome from Yuan Xiang. Cheng Tian, annoyed by Yuan Xiang's excessive enthusiasm, deliberately addressed Ouyang Ziyu as "My Lord," revealing his true identity to Ni Chang's aunt and uncle. Shocked, they immediately knelt and apologized for their previous casualness.
Ouyang Ziyu humbly dismissed his title, preferring to be called "Mr. Ouyang." He then formally invited everyone to his birthday celebration at his villa the following day, which they enthusiastically accepted. Yuan Xiang, unable to contain her excitement, told Ouyang Ziyu that Ni Chang was making his winter clothes. Ouyang Ziyu went inside to see her, inspecting the unfinished garment. Ni Chang nervously explained her choice of a simple design, fearing he wouldn't like it.
Ouyang Ziyu reassured her, saying he "fell in love with it" at first sight and appreciated her thoughtfulness. He then playfully told her to take her time finishing it, openly admitting that if it were done too soon, he would lose his "reason to see you."
Ouyang Ziyu invited Ni Chang to his birthday celebration, explaining that having been away from the capital for many years, he now only had a few close friends, including her and the Fang family, whom he wished to celebrate with. Ni Chang graciously accepted his invitation. Cheng Tian, however, was clearly displeased, telling Yuan Xiang not to "always encourage the Lord to get together with Ni Chang," leading to a small argument between them.
