Ni Chang Episode 28 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Yuan Xiang and Chengtian were bickering while working at Herb Hall, mixing up herbs. Their auntie, concerned, mentioned that she heard Ni Chang had quarreled with King Luo. Just then, Ouyang Ziyu, King Luo, arrived. Ni Chang, still upset, ignored him. Ouyang Ziyu, pretending to be a customer, asked to purchase four-color balsams, lipsticks, and rouges. He challenged Ni Chang to guess his preference.
Ni Chang, seizing the opportunity, applied balsams on his face, calling them "Make groundless accusations," "Chop logic," and "To blame somebody for no reason." Ouyang Ziyu promptly apologized, clarifying he had come to seek reconciliation. Ni Chang, however, feigned rejection. At that moment, Liu Zixuan, the Young Marquis, entered, remarking on Ouyang Ziyu's unique taste in cosmetics. He offered to introduce Herb Hall's products, claiming great familiarity with them. Ouyang Ziyu, irritated, pulled Ni Chang away.
Misinterpreting Ouyang Ziyu's actions, Liu Zixuan confronted him, calling him a rascal. Ni Chang quickly intervened, revealing Ouyang Ziyu's true identity as King Luo, much to Liu Zixuan's chagrin. After Ouyang Ziyu left with Ni Chang, Liu Zixuan remained furious, but Yuan Xiang and Chengtian assured him that King Luo and Ni Chang were "very, very good friends." Ouyang Ziyu took Ni Chang aside, acknowledging that Liu Zixuan was not a formidable rival.
Ni Chang, however, was still upset about being wronged. Ouyang Ziyu confessed that he had deliberately angered her because she was reluctant to publicly acknowledge their relationship, and he had indeed been ill on that day. They reconciled, with Ni Chang promising never to leave him, provided he would never keep secrets from her again. Ouyang Ziyu readily agreed, sealing their promise with a kiss on her forehead.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Ziyu continued his investigation into Yuan Daocheng's corruption with Xiao Lu. Xiao Lu reported that probing the palace market bureau's accounts was challenging, as only Yuan Daocheng and Gao Xuan handled financial matters. Ouyang Ziyu instructed him to focus on Gao Xuan, believing that someone from his household could provide crucial information. He stressed the need for urgency as the bidding conference for Princess Lan Zhao was fast approaching, and he was determined to expose the deep-seated corruption.
Ni Chang was also busy preparing for the future. She proudly displayed a new outfit and asked Yuan Xiang for a hairpin. She revealed her plan to attend Mr. Lin's 70th birthday celebration, having secured an invitation. She intended to use the occasion to promote Herb Hall's products, distributing samples of rouge and balms to the esteemed guests, a strategy she had successfully employed in the past with Su Wenyu.
The next day, at Mr. Lin's birthday banquet, Ni Chang and Chengtian were busy promoting Herb Hall's cosmetics. Su Wenyu arrived with Yan Wenxiu. Su Wenyu was clearly displeased by the compliments showered upon Yan Wenxiu by other guests. Spotting Ni Chang, Yan Wenxiu made a series of sarcastic remarks about her "selling" products and "showing her face for money" because King Luo apparently did not provide for her. She dragged a reluctant Su Wenyu to greet Ni Chang.
Chengtian stepped in to defend Ni Chang, prompting Yan Wenxiu to accuse him of being blindly loyal due to Ni Chang's supposed seduction, and even forgetting his mother's murder. Ni Chang calmly asked Yan Wenxiu if she was truly happy. Enraged, Yan Wenxiu lunged at Ni Chang, but Su Wenyu restrained her, stating that Ni Chang was an "irrelevant woman" whom he had long forgotten, and Yan Wenxiu should not waste her anger on her.
Soon after, Liu Zixuan approached Ni Chang and Chengtian. Learning they were distributing samples, he eagerly grabbed some balsams and gouache and began enthusiastically handing them out to the guests. Meanwhile, as Su Wenyu and Yan Wenxiu left, he immediately released her arm. Yan Wenxiu thanked him for saving her face, though she recognized his actions were purely for his own pride. Su Wenyu coldly stated she would not have another chance to thank him.
Yan Wenxiu inwardly swore that she and Su Wenyu would never be a true couple, and her primary goal was to completely crush Ni Chang. Later that evening, Liu Zixuan offered to drive Ni Chang and Chengtian home in his carriage. As Ni Chang dismounted, she twisted her ankle. Liu Zixuan, concerned, knelt to offer her a piggyback ride. Before he could, Ouyang Ziyu appeared, kicked Liu Zixuan aside, and scooped Ni Chang into his arms, carrying her away.
Liu Zixuan watched, still confused about their exact relationship. Yuan Xiang was surprised to see Ouyang Ziyu carrying Ni Chang back. Chengtian, seeing Yuan Xiang's reaction, teasingly offered to carry her as well but then declared she was too heavy, making Yuan Xiang furious. Ouyang Ziyu carried Ni Chang to her room and gently applied medicine to her sprained ankle. He playfully scolded her to be more careful and, more importantly, never to ride in another man's carriage again.
Ni Chang, despite finding him "annoying" for his fussing, found the attention sweet. In the Su household, Su Gongming reminded Yan Wenxiu of the upcoming bidding conference for Princess Lan Zhao, emphasizing its critical importance for the family's dwindling influence. Yan Wenxiu confidently assured him of victory and, emboldened, demanded the "Jade Rouge Hall" and ten surrounding shops as her personal reward.
Su Gongming, though wary of her ambition, agreed to her terms, instructing her to lead the weaving entry, with Di'er overseeing the cosmetics business. Yan Wenxiu gratefully accepted, promising eternal filial piety. Back at Herb Hall, Ni Chang, Yuan Xiang, and Chengtian tirelessly prepared for the conference. Ni Chang stressed that this was their sole opportunity for success, even skipping meals in her dedication.
She devised a unique display strategy: instead of a conventional setup, she, Yuan Xiang, and Chengtian would wear their own expertly crafted garments and apply their signature balms, showcasing both their weaving and fragrant products simultaneously to Princess Lan Zhao. Elsewhere, Princess Xinyue of Lan Zhao was enjoying a bustling market outside the capital, buying various items. She became interested in a roll of "Yuehua brocade," which the vendor claimed was rare and expensive.
A masked man, who was in fact Xie Feng using the alias Wuyi, intervened, revealing that the fabric was fake. He demonstrated that genuine Yuehua brocade, made solely of fine silk, would leave black globular ash when burned, unlike the powdery gray ash left by this fabric, which contained fine hemp. The shocked vendor and his assistant, Yu, realized they had been deceived by the Su family.
Impressed by Wuyi's discerning eye, Princess Xinyue offered him a position as her weaving appraiser to accompany her delegation to the capital, which Wuyi accepted. Meanwhile, Su Wenyu summoned Di'er to discuss her new role managing the cosmetics. Di'er, eager to please, divulged Yan Wenxiu's recurring nightmare.
She recounted hearing Yan Wenxiu confessing in her sleep that she had only intended to trap Ni Chang in the storage room as a punishment, but an accidental fire had tragically killed Ni Chang's master, Yunniang. Su Wenyu was secretly delighted to finally have powerful leverage over Yan Wenxiu. As Princess Xinyue arrived at the Palace Market Bureau in the capital, Ouyang Ziyu, Yuan Daocheng, and Gao Xuan were there to greet her.
Princess Xinyue immediately recognized Ouyang Ziyu, recalling his visit to Lan Zhao five years prior, though he did not remember her. Disregarding Yuan Daocheng, she requested Ouyang Ziyu to escort her, even casually linking her arm with his. Ouyang Ziyu politely but firmly maintained a professional distance, redirecting the conversation to trade matters. Princess Xinyue playfully suggested they drop formalities and call each other by their given names, reminding him of his "unrestrained" nature during their last encounter.
Ouyang Ziyu, respectfully declining the familiarity, reiterated the need for propriety. She then asked if he disliked her, before playfully announcing she had a gift for him and leading him to it.
