Ni Chang Episode 24 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Su Gongming sought to secure a spot in the Royal Market Bureau for his newly opened rouge and gouache shop. Mr. Gao informed him that he would need to process the paperwork and pay the entry fee by the next day, according to regulations. Su Gongming, though dismayed by the demand, had no choice but to comply, secretly cursing the officials for being greedy beasts and wishing lightning would strike them down.
Meanwhile, Prince Luo hosted a banquet for Ni Chang, Chengtian, Yuanxiang, and Ni Chang's aunt and uncle. Xiaolu and Xiaoqin bustled about, preparing for the guests. Xiaolu commented on how lively the palace had become, a welcome change from its usual quiet. Xiaoqin retorted that Xiaolu alone was noisy enough for ten people. When Ni Chang's relatives arrived, Xiaoqin explained that Prince Luo had not yet changed, not expecting everyone so soon.
Xiaolu casually remarked that the Prince didn't need to be so formal with such familiar guests, drawing a sharp reprimand from Xiaoqin about showing proper respect in the Prince's residence. As Prince Luo entered, Yuanxiang, still upset with Chengtian, muttered about him. Prince Luo announced that the feast was a celebration for Xiangcaotang and encouraged everyone to feel at home.
Ni Chang thanked him on behalf of everyone, to which Xiaolu teasingly remarked that Ni Chang was Prince Luo's "nemesis" and always brought out his happiest smiles. As they took their seats, Yuanxiang deliberately told Chengtian to sit elsewhere, away from her. Chengtian secretly told her he had a special gift for her after dinner if they slipped away, but Yuanxiang, thinking it was something someone else didn't want, rejected it.
Chengtian, annoyed, declared he wouldn't give her the gift at all, further frustrating Yuanxiang. Ni Chang's aunt then presented Xiaoqin with a bracelet, which Yuanxiang recognized as a gift Chengtian had previously tried to give Xiaoqin, who refused it. Realizing her misunderstanding, Yuanxiang had a moment of regret. Prince Luo then assured everyone that after the market clearing, Xiangcaotang, with its excellent reputation, would certainly have a place in the Royal Market.
Beneath the table, Prince Luo subtly held Ni Chang's hand, teasing her until she eventually pulled away. Su Gongming, facing financial strain on the Su family due to the Royal Market Bureau's demands and the overall slow market, began making arrangements for Su Wenyu's marriage to Yan Wenxiu.
Despite Su Wenyu still being in a mourning period, which was culturally inappropriate for a wedding, Su Gongming decided to write a letter to Yan Wenxiu's father to expedite the union, declaring that Su Wenyu had no say in the matter. Later, Prince Luo accompanied Ni Chang on a stroll through the garden. He playfully mimicked her drunken antics from a previous occasion, leading to a sweet moment where their eyes met.
Prince Luo then presented her with a bouquet of flowers, asking her to promise to confide in him with any troubles, rather than bottling them up or crying alone. Ni Chang denied crying secretly, but Prince Luo reminded her of her tears when she was drunk, calling her even more beautiful than flowers in that moment. As petals drifted around them, Ni Chang was delighted, and Prince Luo tenderly kissed her.
Chengtian led Yuanxiang to a secluded spot and presented her with a hairpin he had bought specially for her in Xizhou, gently placing it in her hair. Yuanxiang was still conflicted, unsure if his gesture was truly thoughtful or merely an afterthought. When Chengtian exclaimed, "It's so beautiful!" Yuanxiang closed her eyes, expecting a compliment for herself, only for Chengtian to clarify that he meant the hairpin he chose was beautiful. Annoyed, Yuanxiang playfully chased him with the hairpin.
Regarding Xiangcaotang's entry into the Royal Market, Prince Luo felt it was inappropriate for him to directly intervene. He instructed Ni Chang to approach Mr. Gao, the deputy commander of the Royal Market Bureau, who oversaw such matters. Prince Luo suggested that if Mr. Gao demanded money, it would create leverage for Prince Luo to then step in. Ni Chang expressed concern that her involvement might complicate things for Prince Luo, given his strained relationship with some officials.
However, Prince Luo asserted his duty as the superintendent appointed by the Emperor, vowing to rectify the corrupt practices within the bureau. Yan Wenxiu informed Su Gongming that her rouge and gouache supplies were ready for the market. Su Gongming reassured her to proceed confidently. He then revealed that Su Wenyu had recently dismissed many of Su Gongming's long-time employees.
To avoid direct confrontation with Su Wenyu for now, Su Gongming rehired these older employees and placed them in Yan Wenxiu's shop. housekeeper Xiao praised Su Gongming's strategic move. Su Gongming, however, sought to acquire Yan Wenxiu's unique craftsmanship. housekeeper Xiao suggested using Di'er, Yan Wenxiu's personal maid, to secretly learn her skills, a plan Su Gongming approved and tasked housekeeper Xiao to execute.
Prince Luo's directive to expel fifty-three merchants from the Royal Market left Mr. Gao and Yuan Daocheng highly displeased, as it significantly reduced their illicit income. When merchants who previously sought entry demanded to see Yuan Daocheng, he shrewdly redirected them to cause a disturbance at Prince Luo's residence. Soon, numerous merchants, laden with gifts, thronged the gates of Prince Luo's palace, loudly demanding his assistance for market entry.
Prince Luo was perplexed by the commotion, and Xiaolu was distressed, reporting that rumors were already spreading across the capital about Prince Luo accepting bribes. Realizing this was a malicious instigation by the Royal Market Bureau, Prince Luo took the merchants directly to the bureau. There, he publicly declared that the matter of market entry was solely in the hands of Yuan Daocheng and Mr. Gao. He warned that any attempts at bribery would be met with severe punishment.
Yuan Daocheng and Mr. Gao, however, remained confident that the bribery accusations against Prince Luo would escalate, believing he would not be able to clear his name. They were determined to monitor his every move. Di'er implored Yan Wenxiu to teach her how to conduct business, vowing unwavering loyalty to the Su family.
Yan Wenxiu agreed to teach her, but made it clear that from then on, Di'er would be solely her subordinate, with her primary task being to help deal with Ni Chang. Later, Su Wenyu overheard Yan Wenxiu and Di'er discussing Ni Chang's return. When his questions yielded no answers, he stormed out to find Ni Chang himself. Su Wenyu arrived at Xiangcaotang and was confronted by Ni Chang, whose demeanor towards him was cold and distant.
Chengtian quickly intervened, accusing the Su family of nearly causing them to perish in a foreign land. Ni Chang, however, restrained Chengtian, urging him to remain silent as they lacked concrete evidence and must be patient until the investigation was complete. A crestfallen Su Wenyu returned home. Su Gongming, suspecting his visit to Xiangcaotang, asked what Ni Chang had said. Su Wenyu lied, claiming Ni Chang hadn't mentioned the Xizhou incident at all.
Yan Wenxiu corroborated this, assuring Su Gongming that Ni Chang showed no suspicion and that, as fellow craftswomen, she would never be outdone by Ni Chang. Alone, Su Wenyu was plagued by Chengtian's accusations. He realized Ni Chang now knew about Su Gongming's assassination plot and desperately wondered how he could atone for his family's actions. Prince Luo received the official list of market entrants from the Royal Market Bureau but noticed Xiangcaotang was conspicuously absent.
Chengtian also sought Prince Luo's presence at Xiangcaotang. Xiaolu advised Prince Luo to avoid involvement to prevent further accusations, but Prince Luo, confident in his innocence, brushed off the suggestion, stating he had done nothing wrong. Ni Chang explained that her uncle's and her own attempts to submit application forms were rejected by the Royal Market Bureau. Chengtian's inquiries revealed that the decision ultimately rested with Yuan Daocheng, with other officials feigning ignorance.
Prince Luo showed Ni Chang the list, pointing out that many lesser-known businesses were approved, confirming that the bureau was deliberately obstructing Xiangcaotang, likely due to interference from the Su family. Ni Chang worried aloud how she could pursue justice for the Xie family if Xiangcaotang couldn't enter the market. Prince Luo reassured her, saying he had other methods, though he playfully admitted he hadn't thought of them yet, distracting her with a pretend shoulder ache for a massage.
Meanwhile, Yan Wenxiu, still determined to overshadow Ni Chang, secretly tasked Di'er with a mission. Su Wenyu, noticing Di'er's secretive movements, questioned her. To evade his probing, Di'er concocted a story about Yan Wenxiu asking her to get Su Wenyu's fortune read for their marriage prospects. Infuriated, Su Wenyu told Di'er to inform Yan Wenxiu that he was destined to be a lonely star and that if she wanted to marry him, she should wait for her next life.
Overhearing this, Yan Wenxiu, despite Di'er's attempts to cover for her, was enraged by Su Wenyu's public humiliation and vowed to retaliate against his beloved Ni Chang. Yuanxiang fretted over Xiangcaotang's inability to enter the Royal Market, while Ni Chang remained outwardly calm, emphasizing the need for the new shop to establish itself first, seeing market entry as a matter of fate. A messenger arrived, insisting that her mistress urgently required Ni Chang's personal services for clothing and makeup.
Ni Chang initially suggested Yuanxiang go, but agreed to accompany the messenger after her aunt encouraged her to get some fresh air. The girl remained silent throughout the journey. Upon recognizing the Su family mansion, Ni Chang quickly tried to leave. However, Di'er, accompanied by several guards, appeared and stopped her, asserting that since Ni Chang had accepted money for the service, she was obligated to proceed.
