Ni Chang Episode 20 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
After seeing Da Niang off, who mistakenly thought Ni Chang and Ouyang Ziyu were a couple and wished them happiness, Ni Chang expressed her gratitude to Ouyang Ziyu. He humbly attributed her success to her own perseverance, noting that without her determination, she might not have survived. However, Ni Chang felt despondent about the dire situation facing Fang's clothing shop. Meanwhile, Yan Wenxiu confronted Su Wenyu, who had been neglecting his duties at the shop.
She reminded him of the authority he had painstakingly regained from his second uncle, urging him to resume work to avoid further displeasure from his uncle and concern from others. Su Wenyu's flirtatious advance was rebuffed by Yan Wenxiu, who then passionately declared her unwavering devotion to him and the Su family, accusing Ni Chang of having clouded his judgment. She insisted he abandon his self-destructive behavior.
In response, Su Wenyu offered to diligently manage the shop if they agreed to spare Ni Chang. Yan Wenxiu dismissed his plea, stating that Ni Chang’s fate was a matter for the guild and largely a consequence of Su Wenyu’s own past actions. She swore to keep his secret for the sake of the Su family, revealing her deep affection for him.
Su Wenyu, however, scornfully accused Yan Wenxiu of treating their marriage as a transaction for status and family alliance, devoid of genuine emotion, just like his second uncle. He emphatically rejected her feelings, asserting he could not accept them. Later, Ni Chang and Ouyang Ziyu discussed the relentless persecution from the Su family, wondering why they were so determined to destroy her, especially since it seemed to go beyond a simple feud with Yan Wenxiu.
Ni Chang, determined not to give up, decided to travel to Xizhou to procure fabric and experience the local culture. Ouyang Ziyu was concerned for her safety, offering to accompany her once his current affairs were settled. However, Ni Chang was in a hurry and chose to go with Cheng Tian instead, asking Ouyang Ziyu to simply await her safe return.
Su Wenyu then sought out Ni Chang, urging her to stop fighting his second uncle and warning her of the escalating dangers. He implored her to accept her fate and marry him, stating that traditionally, "a woman without talent is a virtue" and that her ambition only invited trouble. Ni Chang vehemently rejected his proposal, criticizing his idleness and contempt for women.
She declared that she looked down on him and no longer wished to be his friend, demanding he stop bothering her. As Cheng Tian prepared for the journey to Xizhou, Yuan Xiang helped him pack, fussing over his clothing and safety. Cheng Tian found her overprotective but reassured her that they would be fine and return within ten days, as the delivery deadline was fast approaching.
Yuan Xiang became emotional, expressing her desire to accompany them but acknowledging her duty to remain and protect Fang's shop and care for their aunt and uncle. Cheng Tian, though teasing her for crying, became serious and instructed her on how to handle any further harassment from the guild, emphasizing caution and concession if necessary, until their return.
Meanwhile, Xiao Lu reported to Ouyang Ziyu that the "head fees" of the royal market bureau were being illicitly diverted to Gao Xuan's private accounts. Ouyang Ziyu was resolved to expose this corruption, despite Xiao Lu's warnings about the powerful individuals he would offend, including Yuan Daocheng, who, unlike others who turned a blind eye, Ouyang Ziyu intended to hold accountable.
Ouyang Ziyu suspected a new imperial assignment to inspect ink in the south was a deliberate attempt by the royal market bureau to remove him from the capital. However, upon realizing it was the day Ni Chang was set to depart, he abandoned his original plan and rushed to Fang's. Yuan Xiang informed him that Ni Chang and Cheng Tian had already left for Xizhou.
Shortly after, Yan Wenxiu reported Ni Chang's journey to Su Gongming, who, fearing her potential success and continued investigation into the Shen Lan affair, decided she was a threat and ordered her assassination. Receiving a map Ni Chang had left with Yuan Xiang, Ouyang Ziyu immediately ordered Xiao Lu to reroute their carriage to Xizhou, disregarding Xiao Lu's protests about the detour.
Ni Chang and Cheng Tian proceeded on their journey to Xizhou, using the map Ouyang Ziyu had given them. Cheng Tian noted Ouyang Ziyu's thoughtfulness, remarking that he was far more reliable than Su Wenyu. Unbeknownst to them, Ni Chang dropped her handkerchief. A masked assailant, dispatched by Su Gongming, picked up the handkerchief and launched an ambush. Ni Chang sustained a cut to her face, and Cheng Tian was severely wounded defending her.
Ni Chang also suffered serious injuries during the attack. The assassin returned to Su Gongming, presenting Ni Chang’s handkerchief as proof and falsely claiming to have killed both Ni Chang and Cheng Tian. Su Wenyu overheard this confession and was horrified. Su Gongming tried to justify his actions, stating he had done it to protect Su Wenyu and the family, especially regarding the Shen Lan incident, as Ni Chang's persistence threatened to expose them.
He chillingly declared that if Ni Chang had lived, Su Wenyu would have died. Yan Wenxiu, deeming Ni Chang's death fitting, then knocked a distraught Su Wenyu unconscious. Su Wenyu later regained consciousness and, after tricking his attendant Di'er and knocking her out, escaped. He rushed to Fang's shop, desperately searching for Ni Chang. Ni Chang's aunt, uncle, and Yuan Xiang were hostile, refusing him entry and informing him that Ni Chang and Cheng Tian had left for Xizhou.
Su Wenyu, in tears, confirmed the assassination, which sent the family into shock. Yuan Xiang fainted upon hearing the news, while the aunt and uncle accused Su Wenyu and his family of the murder. Su Wenyu frantically denied it, insisting he had warned Ni Chang against confronting them, but she had refused to listen to him, trusting others over him.
Unbeknownst to her family, Ni Chang and Cheng Tian had survived and were rescued by Ouyang Ziyu, who brought them to Huaiyuan town. A doctor confirmed Ni Chang was stable despite severe blood loss, but warned her deep facial wound could leave a permanent scar due to the lack of specialized medicine in the small town.
Meanwhile, Yuan Xiang regained consciousness, still worried, but was comforted by her aunt and uncle, who were confident that Ouyang Ziyu would protect Ni Chang and Cheng Tian, referencing his past help in saving their property and covering their debts. They resolved to guard Fang's until their return. Ouyang Ziyu, refusing to rest, diligently watched over Ni Chang.
When she woke, she asked about Cheng Tian's condition and her location, then was horrified to discover her facial injury in a mirror, turning away from Ouyang Ziyu and asking to be left alone. Ouyang Ziyu attempted to feed Ni Chang porridge, but she, distressed, refused and shattered the bowl. She expressed her urgent desire to go to Xizhou to fulfill Fang's commitments. Ouyang Ziyu reassured her that he had already resolved the issues at Fang's.
He revealed that the female assassin was sent by the Su family, a fact confirmed by Xiao Lu who had followed her back to their mansion. He further explained that Su Gongming had incited customers to create chaos at Fang's, leading to legal accusations of embezzlement and fleeing against Ni Chang. Ouyang Ziyu had intervened, sending money to Yuan Xiang to double compensate the customers and resolve the legal matters.
Overwhelmed by the revelations, Ni Chang asked Ouyang Ziyu to leave, then broke down in tears, lamenting her misfortune and asking aloud what she should do. Yan Wenxiu, observing that the Fang family remained at their shop despite Ni Chang's supposed demise, worried they might still attempt a comeback, especially if Yuan Xiang were to emulate Ni Chang's methods. Though Su Gongming initially dismissed her concerns, Yan Wenxiu insisted on handling the situation herself.
Elsewhere, Yuan Xiang was seen diligently sewing clothes for Cheng Tian, prompting her aunt to tease her about her affections, admiring the care she put into her stitches, but then expressing sorrow at the thought that Cheng Tian might never wear them.
Lastly, Yan Wenxiu received a letter from her father, expressing profound disappointment and shame over her recent actions in the capital, disowning her as his eldest daughter, and instructing her to remain in the capital to await marriage, as she was no longer welcome in Huaizhou.
