Ni Chang Episode 17 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Yuan Xiang told Cheng Tian that Xie Xiaoni's choice was her own and none of their business. Cheng Tian clarified his intentions, stating that he held no romantic feelings for Xie Xiaoni but simply wished to protect her from deceitful men, a sentiment he would extend to Yuan Xiang as well. When Yuan Xiang pressed further, comparing herself to Xie Xiaoni, Cheng Tian playfully pointed out her habits, like eating more, being heavier, and snoring louder, much to her annoyance.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Ziyu assisted Xie Xiaoni with her sewing. Xie Xiaoni remarked that a Prince handling a needle and thread might draw mockery, but Ouyang Ziyu dismissed the notion, citing a royal acquaintance who personally combed his wife's hair. He then encouraged Xie Xiaoni to address him informally as Ziyu, rather than "Prince," to foster a closer friendship. In another part of the city, Su Wenyu was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, blaming himself for his father’s death.
His servants tried to intervene, but Yan Wenxiu dismissed them, stating she would drink with him. She confessed her own profound sorrow and her steadfast determination to remain in the Su household, driven by her pride and dignity. She reminded him that she had accepted the late paternal uncle's wish for her to become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Su family and would not let his promise be broken while his body was still warm.
Despite Su Wenyu's pleas for her to return to Huaizhou, insisting that the Su family was not worth her devotion and that he would never marry her, Yan Wenxiu remained resolute. She declared her intent to assist Su Gongming in dismantling the Fang family, asserting that one day Su Wenyu would understand her actions were solely for the benefit of the Su family.
On Ouyang Ziyu's birthday, preparations for a grand banquet were in full swing, overseen by Xiao Lu and Xiao Qin. The Fang family, along with Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian, arrived bearing gifts, including two live chickens from Yuan Xiang. After instructing Xiao Lu to escort the guests around, Ouyang Ziyu waited anxiously at the entrance. Xie Xiaoni soon appeared, apologizing for her delay, which was due to fetching something she had forgotten.
Ouyang Ziyu reassured her that her presence was all that mattered and graciously accepted the winter coat she had painstakingly made for him, promising to wear it promptly. Inside, Xie Xiaoni was delighted to discover a camellia tree, which Ouyang Ziyu explained he had specially arranged, knowing her fondness for embroidering the flowers. He reiterated his desire for them to abandon formalities, emphasizing their bond of friendship.
At the banquet, Ouyang Ziyu frequently leaned in to exchange quiet words with Xie Xiaoni. Fang Heng suggested that Xiao Lu and Xiao Qin, who were assisting, should also join the feast. Ouyang Ziyu readily agreed, and the two happily took their seats. Everyone raised their glasses to Ouyang Ziyu, wishing him a long and healthy life.
Ouyang Ziyu encouraged everyone to revel freely, informing them that guest rooms had been prepared for their overnight stay, a proposal that greatly pleased Yuan Xiang, though Cheng Tian still harbored suspicions about Ouyang Ziyu's intentions toward Xie Xiaoni. Meanwhile, Su Wenyu sought out Su Gongming, expressing his desire to take over the family business following his father’s passing.
Su Gongming, however, assigned him to the seemingly mundane role of purchasing supervisor at the shop at Er Hekou, claiming it was to spare him from excessive strain given his recent grief. Su Wenyu, bewildered, questioned why he was being kept from managing the more central city businesses. Su Gongming brushed off his concerns, asserting that the seasoned staff could handle the city shops and that he, himself, was still capable of overseeing affairs for several more years.
Yan Wenxiu, upon learning of Su Wenyu’s new assignment, inferred that Su Gongming was intentionally sidelining him to maintain control, despite Su Wenyu being the rightful heir. Later that evening, after the banquet concluded and guests began to depart, only Ouyang Ziyu and Xie Xiaoni remained. Tipsy from the festivities, Xie Xiaoni insisted on helping Ouyang Ziyu try on the winter coat she had made.
As he donned it, she was overcome with a rush of childhood memories, affectionately calling him "Bun," his childhood nickname, which confused Ouyang Ziyu. Just then, a servant brought in a basket of freshly steamed buns. Xie Xiaoni playfully took one and, just as she had done in their youth, fed it to Ouyang Ziyu, then took a bite from the one in his mouth.
A moment of sadness washed over her as she realized Ouyang Ziyu didn't remember their shared past, but she quickly consoled herself, thinking it was perhaps better for him not to recall the painful memories, as long as she herself remembered. Pointing to the moon, which she called a "big bun," she wished to fly up and eat it.
Ouyang Ziyu, gently placing a cloak around her, whisked her up to the rooftop, hoping to bring her closer to the moon. With tears in her eyes, Xie Xiaoni confided that her parents and brother resided on the moon, and she yearned to be nearer to them. Ouyang Ziyu tenderly wiped her tears, encouraging her to articulate her hidden sorrows, assuring her he was listening and that her loved ones would not wish to see her cry.
She described her loneliness as a solitary journey through an endless desert, without end or respite. Ouyang Ziyu embraced her as she drifted off to sleep, vowing to protect her for the rest of his life. The next morning, Xie Xiaoni woke up to find her hand still clasped in Ouyang Ziyu's, who had fallen asleep beside her bed.
A flush spread across her cheeks as Ouyang Ziyu, now awake, offered to have a hangover soup prepared for her before checking on the other guests. Later, Ouyang Ziyu, Xiao Lu, and Xiao Qin saw off the departing guests from the Prince's residence. Xie Xiaoni lingered, visibly reluctant to bid farewell. Six months passed. The Fang family's business faced severe challenges as the Guild drove down prices, causing their loyal clientele to abandon them for cheaper alternatives.
Xie Xiaoni and Yuan Xiang found themselves in a difficult predicament: maintaining their prices meant losing customers, while lowering them would lead to financial losses. They decided to split up, with Xie Xiaoni visiting Mr. Zhao and Yuan Xiang heading to Mr. Chen's mansion, hoping to secure new orders. Meanwhile, Su Wenyu chanced upon Shen Lan at a gambling house.
Xie Xiaoni, recognizing Shen Lan from afar, was overcome with fear as memories of him forcing her sister off a cliff resurfaced. Su Wenyu noticed Xie Xiaoni's intense gaze towards Shen Lan and quickly sought to conceal himself. Filled with a mix of dread and resolve, Xie Xiaoni realized she had found the perpetrator and now had an opportunity to seek justice for her family. Driven by his gambling losses, Shen Lan decided to demand money from Su Gongming.
Xie Xiaoni discreetly followed him. In a secluded alley, Su Wenyu confronted Shen Lan, urging him to cease harassing his family. He offered Shen Lan travel and resettlement funds if he agreed to leave the capital permanently. Shen Lan, however, scoffed at the offer, insulted Su Wenyu, physically assaulted him, and then snatched all his money before swaggering away, clearly enjoying his petty victory. Later that night, Xie Xiaoni finally tracked down a heavily intoxicated Shen Lan.
When he noticed her, she quickly produced a pair of scissors, pressing him for the truth about who orchestrated the murder of the Xie Linfu family years ago. Recognizing her as Xie Xiaoni, Shen Lan swiftly overpowered her, expressing a sinister regret that he hadn't "finished the job" back then. As Su Wenyu, passing by, attempted to intervene, a mysterious black-clad figure suddenly appeared, whisking Xie Xiaoni away to safety.
Enraged and mistaking Su Wenyu for having struck him, Shen Lan grabbed Su Wenyu by the throat. In a desperate act of self-defense, Su Wenyu seized the scissors and fatally stabbed Shen Lan. The masked rescuer, after bringing Xie Xiaoni to a safe location, removed his hood, revealing himself to be Ouyang Ziyu. Xie Xiaoni was stunned by his appearance, while Ouyang Ziyu questioned her reckless actions.
