Ni Chang Episode 23 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Ni Chang and Chengtian returned to Fang's home, much to the delight of her uncle, aunt, and Yuanxiang. Chengtian playfully spun Yuanxiang around. At dinner, after enjoying the aunt's cooking, Ni Chang shared her vision for the family's clothing shop. She proposed a transformation, shifting the primary focus to selling rouge and gouache, while still offering ready-made clothes.
Ni Chang explained that during her time in Western Zhou with Chengtian, she not only acquired rare fabrics but also learned ancient techniques for making medicated perfume powders. These unique products, incorporating pharmacology, could both enhance beauty and promote health, making their shop one-of-a-kind in the capital. Chengtian supported her, emphasizing the potential for immense popularity and a brighter future for their family. Her uncle and aunt enthusiastically backed her bold plan.
When concerns were raised about the Chamber of Commerce's previous ban on Fang's clothing shop, Ni Chang clarified that their new venture, to be named "Herb Hall," would be a completely new business, exempt from the old restrictions. That evening, Ni Chang recounted her adventures in Western Zhou to Yuanxiang and gifted her a tranquilizing sachet. Yuanxiang, however, was upset that Chengtian hadn't brought her anything.
Ni Chang teasingly mentioned that Chengtian had bought something special, refusing to show it, claiming it was for his "sweetheart." Meanwhile, Ni Chang's uncle directly pressed Chengtian about his feelings for Yuanxiang, who clearly adored him, but Chengtian remained evasive. The next day, a woman named Xiaoqin arrived at Fang's, delivering a batch of furniture, including a custom-made display cabinet, on Ouyang Ziyu's orders for the new shop.
Ni Chang's uncle, grateful, urged Chengtian to give Xiaoqin a thank-you bracelet from his aunt. Chengtian offered the gift to Xiaoqin, but she politely declined, explaining it was her duty to the Lord, who would disapprove of her accepting personal gifts. Yuanxiang, who had overheard Ni Chang's earlier comment about Chengtian's "sweetheart" and then witnessed him offering a gift to Xiaoqin, mistakenly concluded that Xiaoqin was his beloved, leaving her deeply heartbroken.
When Herb Hall opened, it was met with skepticism and gossip from the townsfolk, who accused Ni Chang of swindling and fleeing, and questioned her return. Ni Chang chose to ignore the whispers, but her uncle and aunt grew anxious as no customers dared to enter. Ni Chang reassured them, asserting that every product in her shop had been personally tested and was absolutely safe. A woman from the crowd, fearing disfigurement, challenged Ni Chang.
Ni Chang proposed a wager: if her makeup, using Herb Hall products, couldn't make the woman appear ten years younger and ten times more beautiful, Ni Chang would pay her ten taels of silver. The woman, enticed by the money, agreed. Ni Chang then publicly applied makeup and dressed the woman in new clothes from the shop. The transformation was astonishing, drawing gasps of admiration from the onlookers.
The woman, seeing her reflection, was overcome with emotion, laughing and crying, and profusely thanked Ni Chang, declaring her more divine than an immortal. Ni Chang then explained that her products, made with unique Western Zhou herbs, provided immediate and nourishing benefits, emphasizing the need for both external application and internal care for lasting results. Convinced, the now radiant woman eagerly purchased five bottles of each product, inspiring a surge of other customers to follow suit.
Across town, Yan Wenxiu's rouge and gouache shops were suffering a decline in business. She grew infuriated as customers openly praised Herb Hall's exquisite and magical products and Ni Chang's approachable demeanor, contrasting it with her own shop. She angrily dismissed them.
When Housekeeper Xiao asked the departing customers about Herb Hall, they revealed that it was owned by the "Ni Chang" of the former Fang's family, who had returned from Western Zhou with advanced "medicinal makeup" techniques, and whose business was flourishing. Yan Wenxiu, who overheard, was shocked, having believed Ni Chang to be dead, convinced that Su Gongming's hired assassins had succeeded.
Su Gongming, equally dismayed by the news, ordered Yan Wenxiu to personally investigate Herb Hall, stressing that Su Wenyu must not be made aware of Ni Chang's return. Yan Wenxiu updated Su Gongming on Su Wenyu's recent change, noting he had stopped drinking and was actively managing the northern shops, perhaps out of resentment that the southern shops were entrusted to her. Su Gongming, however, placed his full trust in Yan Wenxiu to shoulder the family's burdens.
Housekeeper Xiao voiced concerns about Su Wenyu gaining influence and the Yan family potentially harboring ulterior motives. Su Gongming dismissed these worries, confident that Su Wenyu's past involvement in a homicide, which he had covered up, would keep him in line, and that Yan Wenxiu, being a woman, relied entirely on the Su family and couldn't pose any real threat. Meanwhile, Yuanxiang remained distant and unresponsive to Chengtian, who was bewildered by her cold shoulder.
Yan Wenxiu's fury mounted as she continued to hear widespread praise for Ni Chang's services. Ni Chang, leaving Herb Hall, encountered Yan Wenxiu, and a heated exchange ensued. Yan Wenxiu accused Ni Chang of being a fugitive and an orphan who only survived due to Ouyang Ziyu's protection, mockingly commending her "courage" to return and face public scorn. Ni Chang retorted that she was framed, a fact Yan Wenxiu knew well, and accused her of hypocrisy.
Yan Wenxiu challenged Ni Chang to a competition, which Ni Chang readily accepted. Later, Housekeeper Xiao frantically reported to Su Gongming that the female assassin, hired to eliminate Ni Chang in Western Zhou, had vanished from her dwelling, presumably having absconded with their money. Su Gongming was enraged, regretting his impulsive actions.
Yan Wenxiu warned him that Ni Chang, now backed by Ouyang Ziyu, would likely seek revenge, especially since Ni Chang seemed to have suspected Su Gongming's involvement in the Western Zhou attack during their confrontation. Su Gongming, however, insisted that Ni Chang lacked concrete evidence. He viewed Ni Chang's opening of a rival rouge shop so soon after Yan Wenxiu's as a direct challenge to the Su family.
He instructed Yan Wenxiu to report all future actions to him, emphasizing the need to avoid creating any exploitable evidence. Yan Wenxiu agreed. Ouyang Ziyu arrived at Herb Hall under the pretense of buying rouge. Ni Chang's uncle, aunt, Chengtian, and Yuanxiang discreetly left, giving the couple privacy. Ouyang Ziyu playfully asked Ni Chang if she missed him, to which she replied she was too busy to think of him, prompting a mild pout from him before he kissed her.
He then shifted to serious matters, revealing that while he hadn't yet uncovered Su Gongming's motive for the Western Zhou attack, he had found evidence of frequent interactions between Su Gongming and Yuan Daocheng, the head of the Imperial Market Bureau, with Su Gongming acting as a middleman for bribes.
Ni Chang, however, believed Su Wenyu's nature was not malicious and that he was not involved, arguing that if he intended harm, he would have exposed her true identity long ago. Ni Chang shared her own theory: the pearl powder incident that led to her family's downfall was a setup, and clues could be found within the Imperial Market Bureau.
She pointed out the suspicious speed with which the case was closed after the discovery of unopened high-grade pearl powder at her home, suggesting a deliberate frame-up. She acknowledged that Herb Hall, with its current reputation, would find it difficult to enter the Imperial Market, especially with all the current merchant spots filled. Ouyang Ziyu, however, had a plan. He intended to report to the Emperor about the "poorly-managed" businesses within the Imperial Market, proposing a clear-out to create vacancies.
Ni Chang was emboldened by this, but Ouyang Ziyu cautioned her that the entrenched power of the existing merchants, particularly the Su family, would make Herb Hall a target if it gained prominence. Undeterred, Ni Chang declared her fearlessness, vowing to do whatever it took to uncover the truth and clear her family's name, allowing her deceased parents and brothers to rest in peace. Ouyang Ziyu promised to stand by her side through it all.
Yuan Daocheng was enraged by Ouyang Ziyu's memorial to the Emperor, which exposed the "poorly-managed" merchants in the Imperial Market and suggested a cleanup. He viewed it as a direct challenge to his authority, asserting that as long as he was the commander, the Imperial Market Bureau "belonged to Yuan."
He instructed Mr. Gao to quietly dismiss the least experienced merchants as a superficial response and then report to Ouyang Ziyu that the orders had been carried out, eager to see Ouyang Ziyu's next move. Mr. Gao presented the roster of seven dismissed merchants to Ouyang Ziyu, attempting to placate him. However, Ouyang Ziyu was unimpressed. He stated that his own investigation revealed far more than seven unqualified merchants, noting issues like mixed quality goods, selling fakes, and price gouging.
He declared that since Yuan Daocheng was too busy, he would personally oversee the cleanup, thoroughly inspecting every merchant and preparing a new list for Yuan Daocheng's review. Ouyang Ziyu, acknowledging Yuan Daocheng's deliberate obstruction, decided he had no choice but to take decisive action, resolving to personally audit the Imperial Market Bureau's accounts. Yuan Daocheng was furious upon learning of Ouyang Ziyu's unsanctioned audit, perceiving it as an open declaration of war.
Mr. Gao fretted that a thorough audit would expose rampant illicit practices, including fake goods reaching the palace. Amidst this chaos, Su Gongming arrived, desperate to see Yuan Daocheng. Initially, Yuan Daocheng refused, but Mr. Gao, believing Su Gongming's visit was related to the merchant clear-out and offered valuable outside information, convinced him otherwise. Su Gongming, panicked by the royal inspection, tried to downplay any illicit activities in his accounts, but then subtly attempted to leverage the situation.
He requested that his newly opened rouge and gouache shops be granted entry into the Imperial Market to fill the impending vacancies created by the cleanup, hinting at an opportunity for Yuan Daocheng and Mr. Gao to profit.
