Ni Chang Episode 18 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Ouyang Ziyu questioned Xie Xiaoni about her reckless attempt to follow Shen Lan, an outlaw, remarking that she should have sought help. Xie Xiaoni explained that she only intended to locate his residence and apologized for making him worry. Concerned for her safety late at night, Ouyang Ziyu insisted on escorting her home, assuring her he wouldn't press her for details she wasn't ready to share. During their journey, Xie Xiaoni expressed surprise at Ouyang Ziyu's unexpected martial arts skills.
He humorously countered her apparent low opinion of him, explaining that he practices to avoid being a burden and to assist friends. Xie Xiaoni, however, politely distanced herself, saying she dared not claim his friendship. Upon returning home, Xie Xiaoni realized that Shen Lan had recognized her, and she wondered if tracking him further might lead her to the mastermind behind her family's misfortune.
Meanwhile, Su Wenyu burst into the Su family mansion, frantically confessing to Su Guming that he had killed Shen Lan. Yan Wenxiu, standing outside the room, overheard this shocking revelation. Su Wenyu, in a state of terror, pleaded with Su Guming to save him, fearing the collapse of their family if he were discovered.
Su Guming, after confirming no one had witnessed the act, instructed Su Wenyu to remain silent about the incident, promising to handle it since Su Wenyu acted to protect the Su family. Su Guming then noticed the blood-stained scissors in Su Wenyu's hand, recognizing them as belonging to Fang's workshop. He quickly took them, instructing Su Wenyu to burn his bloodied clothes and act as if nothing had happened.
Su Guming emphasized their shared fate within the Su family, declaring their past grievances over and urging unity against external threats. Ouyang Ziyu later visited the Royal Market Bureau, subtly probing Yuan Daocheng about rumors of counterfeit goods and an alleged "capitation fee" for market entry, which Yuan Daocheng vehemently denied. Shortly after, Mr. Gao informed them that a murder had occurred in Huiying Lane, adjacent to the bureau, where a ruffian had been killed. Ouyang Ziyu, concerned, immediately departed.
Back at Fang's, Yuan Xiang excitedly told Cheng Tian about the gruesome murder in Huiying Lane, cautioning him about the dangers of the world. Ouyang Ziyu arrived, finding Xie Xiaoni, and asked if she had heard about the death in the alley. After confirming she had, he questioned if she had returned to the lane after he had escorted her home. Xie Xiaoni denied any involvement, asserting she would not act until she uncovered the full truth.
An argument then broke out between Cheng Tian and Yuan Xiang, with their aunt revealing Yuan Xiang's affection for Cheng Tian, causing Yuan Xiang to flee in embarrassment. After Ouyang Ziyu left, Xie Xiaoni lamented the death of Shen Lan, realizing that her only lead to the mastermind had now vanished, leaving her in despair about when she could finally avenge her family. Throughout the night, Su Wenyu was plagued by nightmares.
Yan Wenxiu entered his room with ginseng chicken soup, urging him to drink it. Su Wenyu, agitated, tried to send her away, but Yan Wenxiu calmly revealed she had overheard his confession to Su Guming. She reassured him, stating she understood he acted for the Su family's good and promised to keep his secret, stressing that only she and Su Guming knew.
She then coaxed him to drink the soup, reaffirming her commitment to stand by him as a member of the Su family. Later, as Cheng Tian tried to resolve his argument with Yuan Xiang about how he could be less annoying, government officials suddenly stormed into Fang's. They announced they were there to arrest Xie Xiaoni as a murder suspect, much to the shock of Cheng Tian and Yuan Xiang.
At the Su mansion, a servant relayed the news of Xie Xiaoni's arrest to Yan Wenxiu, prompting a terrified Su Wenyu to rush out towards the government office. Yan Wenxiu immediately dispatched a servant to inform Su Guming and then pursued Su Wenyu. At the public trial, Xie Xiaoni declared her innocence. The judge presented a pair of scissors marked with Fang's emblem, claiming it was her usual tool found with the victim's blood.
Su Wenyu, witnessing this, recognized the scissors and attempted to confess, but Yan Wenxiu quickly intervened, pulling him away and reminding him that sacrificing himself would doom the entire Su family. Xie Xiaoni challenged the evidence, demanding a coroner's verification, which indeed confirmed the victim had 32 stab wounds consistent with the scissors.
Despite this, Xie Xiaoni maintained her innocence, arguing that a woman like her couldn't inflict such wounds and questioned why the person who found the scissors wasn't a suspect. The judge then called a witness, a gambling house attendant, who testified that Xie Xiaoni had inquired about Shen Lan's whereabouts the day before, linking her to the victim.
As Xie Xiaoni reiterated her denial, Night Rong dramatically appeared, falsely testifying that she had personally witnessed Xie Xiaoni stab Shen Lan in the alley. Outraged, Xie Xiaoni accused Night Rong of lying. With both "material and human evidence" in hand, the judge ordered Xie Xiaoni to be tortured. Despite severe beatings, Xie Xiaoni steadfastly refused to confess.
With the crowd protesting against forced confession, the judge, unable to coerce a signature, ordered Xie Xiaoni to be imprisoned, with her trial to be resumed at a later date. Back at the Su mansion, Su Wenyu furiously confronted Su Guming, accusing him of framing Xie Xiaoni with her own scissors. Su Guming, however, coldly rationalized his actions, stating that a scapegoat was necessary to protect the Su family from being implicated, and Xie Xiaoni was merely unlucky.
He harshly reminded Su Wenyu that sacrificing himself would ruin the family's legacy and ordered him confined to the mansion until the matter was resolved. Yan Wenxiu then comforted a distraught Su Wenyu, urging him to prioritize the Su family's collective fate over Xie Xiaoni's, emphasizing that such choices were inevitable in life. She reaffirmed her unwavering support and presence by his side. Meanwhile, Cheng Tian rushed to Ouyang Ziyu, who promised to exhaust all means to save Xie Xiaoni.
However, shortly after, a public notice was posted announcing Xie Xiaoni's conviction for murder and her imminent execution. Ouyang Ziyu was alarmed by the speed of the verdict, believing someone was actively seeking Xie Xiaoni's death. He dispatched Xiao Lu to find evidence before the execution. Xiao Lu soon reported an unusual detail: Night Rong, the witness, was suddenly preparing to buy her freedom. Ouyang Ziyu found this suspicious, wondering why she would only now choose to redeem herself.
In jail, Xie Xiaoni found herself cellmates with an elderly woman, also falsely accused, who bitterly spoke of the poor's powerlessness against injustice, urging Xie Xiaoni to accept her fate. Despite his confinement, Su Wenyu yearned to see Xie Xiaoni. Yan Wenxiu visited him, attempting to cheer him up with flowers and fish soup, but Su Wenyu only wanted to be released. She then revealed the grim news: Xie Xiaoni's case was closed, and she was awaiting execution.
Heartbroken, Su Wenyu vowed he couldn't let Xie Xiaoni die for him, but was torn, knowing he couldn't sacrifice his family either. Yan Wenxiu, after ensuring Su Wenyu's guard, went to the prison. In a chilling display of superiority, she confronted Xie Xiaoni in her cell. Yan Wenxiu then ordered the jailers to subject Xie Xiaoni to private torture, inflicting agonizing pain upon her.
That same night, Night Rong, who was expecting to finally leave Tianxiang Teahouse after paying her redemption money, was summoned by Cui Hong to entertain a "distinguished guest." Reluctantly, Night Rong, recognizing the proprietress's greed, complied. She found Ouyang Ziyu waiting. He immediately confronted her, questioning why she had framed Xie Xiaoni, an act of ingratitude, especially since Xie Xiaoni had been with him on the night of the murder.
When Night Rong feigned ignorance, he pressed her, pointing out that if she had seen Xie Xiaoni, she should have seen him too. Ouyang Ziyu then revealed his knowledge of the 600 taels she paid for her redemption, far exceeding her earnings as a dance instructor. Under Ouyang Ziyu's intense questioning and threat of exposing her to the authorities, Night Rong tearfully confessed.
She admitted that someone had approached her after she won the dance contest wearing Xie Xiaoni's dress, offering the large sum of money to frame Xie Xiaoni, which she accepted out of a desperate desire to leave the teahouse and open her own dance studio. Ouyang Ziyu then offered her protection in exchange for the names of those who orchestrated the scheme, threatening to turn her over to the authorities if she refused. Faced with this ultimatum, Night Rong agreed to confess.
