Ni Chang Episode 29 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Late at night, Liu Zixuan was secretly feeding squirrels at the Royal Market Bureau when Princess Lanzhao discovered him. She questioned what he was feeding them, and he revealed it was jujube cakes laced with vertigo powder. He explained that the powder would make the squirrels wobble as if drunk, a sight he found amusing. Princess Lanzhao, however, was outraged, accusing him of cruelty and poisoning the squirrels.
Liu Zixuan defended himself, claiming the cakes were made by the cook to deal with mice, not squirrels, and provocatively asked why rats and squirrels should have different fates. Princess Lanzhao threatened to give him fifty blows, but Liu Zixuan, seemingly unfazed, found her interesting and said he would visit her again, then departed. Meanwhile, Xie Xiaoni was playing her clay flute, the only keepsake from her parents and brother, feeling its unique timbre reminded her of them.
She confided in Yuan Xiang that she missed Ouyang Ziyu but refrained from disturbing him, knowing he was busy with state affairs. She longed for her family, wishing they were still alive. Yuan Xiang comforted her, urging her to get some rest. The next day, Liu Zixuan visited Princess Lanzhao, assigned by the imperial family to show her around Qingliu Pavilion.
Princess Lanzhao, expecting Ouyang Ziyu, was displeased to see Liu Zixuan, whom she remembered from the previous night's squirrel incident. She openly expressed her disdain for his "leisure and elegant" habit of poisoning squirrels, to which Liu Zixuan promised to explain his actions later. He then proceeded to describe Qingliu Pavilion, mentioning that merchants for the upcoming bidding conference would move into Ruiyuan, making it lively.
Princess Lanzhao, however, dismissed his tour and announced her intention to visit the market the following day to experience local life, explicitly stating her dislike for the Royal Market Bureau officials and requesting Prince Luo's company instead. When a messenger from Princess Lanzhao invited Ouyang Ziyu to the market, he immediately instructed his attendant to decline, claiming ill health. His attendant, Xiao Lu, realizing Ouyang Ziyu was intentionally avoiding the princess, urged him to seize the opportunity.
Xiao Lu pointed out that Princess Lanzhao favored Ouyang Ziyu over other Royal Market Bureau officials and suggested using this to "irritate those people." He also voiced concerns about the ongoing investigation into Gao Xuan's residence, where a key figure was hiding, preventing them from obtaining crucial account books. Ouyang Ziyu, though hesitant, eventually agreed to see the princess, citing matters of etiquette, but promptly retired to his room to feign a severe illness, much to Xiao Lu's amusement.
Princess Lanzhao, upon hearing of Ouyang Ziyu's illness, decided to visit him at the Luo Family residence, bypassing the Royal Market Bureau despite her attendant's warnings about protocol. Along the way, she admired the capital's prosperity, noting that Lan Zhao should learn from Daning's peaceful commercial ways instead of constant warfare. At the residence, Ouyang Ziyu, feigning extreme weakness, tried to dismiss her quickly, claiming a mere cold and fearing contagion.
Princess Lanzhao expressed her hope that he would recover in time to preside over the bidding conference. Ouyang Ziyu politely declined, emphasizing his role as only an assistant and suggesting that the Royal Market Bureau would handle the main duties. When Princess Lanzhao insisted he dress to join her for tea in the garden, Xiao Lu dramatically intervened, citing the doctor's orders for Ouyang Ziyu to rest and sweat out his illness to ensure full recovery.
Convinced, Princess Lanzhao left, with Ouyang Ziyu secretly relieved. Once Princess Lanzhao departed, Ouyang Ziyu immediately rose and prepared to visit Xie Xiaoni, instructing Xiao Lu to prepare a horse at the back door to avoid being seen. At Herb Hall, Xie Xiaoni was anxious about the upcoming bidding conference, worrying how to best display their numerous clothes and balms with only two people allowed to enter. Yuan Xiang suggested focusing on spices, highlighting Xie Xiaoni's unique skills from Xizhou.
Xie Xiaoni, however, felt a responsibility to uphold the weaving techniques taught by their master at Yunjinzhuang. She was frustrated, playing her flute and wishing Ouyang Ziyu were there to offer advice, even attempting to return his keepsake to him in her pique. Ouyang Ziyu appeared, playfully chiding her for her treatment of the keepsake.
He offered her advice for the competition, stressing that honesty was the foundation of business, recounting how her sincere use of pear flower stamens in a sachet—in memory of her beloved master, Yun Niang—had impressed him and would surely move others. He assured her that Herb Hall's selection was inevitable and then revealed a lead in her family's unjust case.
He explained that Qingliu Pavilion, besides hosting dignitaries, was also used to house former members of the Royal Market Bureau, who had presided over her family's trial. He cautioned her to be careful, as the pavilion was heavily guarded. Xie Xiaoni promised to act prudently, and Ouyang Ziyu reminded her again not to mistreat his keepsake. Meanwhile, Su Gongming was in distress as over a dozen merchants returned Yuehua brocade, claiming it was fake.
Yan Wenxiu explained to her "second uncle" that there were two types of Yuehua brocade from Huai Zhou, one blended with fine hemp and one not. Su Gongming, however, revealed that her father had explicitly claimed it was genuine and charged accordingly, leaving him in a difficult position. Yan Wenxiu apologized on her father's behalf, acknowledging his impropriety, but confessed her own powerlessness within the Yan family.
Since her arrival in the capital, her father had adopted her uncle's son, and her previous marital scandal had diminished her standing. Su Gongming, sympathetic, vowed to continue supporting her. Yan Wenxiu, determined to win the bidding conference on her own merits, refused Su Gongming's help, stating her confidence in her weaving skills cultivated since childhood. She declared Xie Xiaoni her enemy and promised to remove this "thorn in his heart."
The next day, at the bidding conference, Princess Lanzhao arrived with Xie Feng, whom she introduced as "Wuyi," her weaving appraiser, explaining his reclusive nature but exceptional skill. Ouyang Ziyu, assisting in the conference, was subtly observant of Wuyi. During the initial selection, Wuyi offered terse but astute critiques of various exhibits, dismissing a flamboyant spice display as "all style and no substance" but approving a refined textile.
When they reached Herb Hall's booth, Xie Xiaoni and Yuan Xiang's distinctive presentation caught Princess Lanzhao's eye. Xie Xiaoni presented her pear blossom balm, rouge, and sachets, explaining they were infused with pear stamens in loving memory of her late master, Yun Niang, of Yunjinzhuang. Princess Lanzhao found the scent unique and tinged with sadness, expressing her admiration for Xie Xiaoni's filial piety.
She asked Wuyi for his opinion, but he seemed momentarily lost in thought, only nodding in approval after she repeated his name. Herb Hall was selected. Yan Wenxiu's weaving and spices also made it through the preliminary round, much to Su Gongming's satisfaction. However, Su Wenyu publicly criticized Yan Wenxiu for excessive spending on packaging and neglecting product quality, even exposing her use of moldy old spices.
He asserted that in terms of true strength, Jade Fat Studio couldn't compare to Herb Hall. Su Gongming, swayed by Su Wenyu's practical assessment, decided that for the subsequent rounds, only their weaving, their strongest suit, would compete, withdrawing the spices to ensure success. Yan Wenxiu was furious but couldn't openly defy him. Back in her room, she unleashed her anger, cursing Xie Xiaoni and reaffirming her vow to drive Xie Xiaoni out of Ruiyuan.
To celebrate Herb Hall's success in the preliminary round, Xie Xiaoni's aunt and uncle prepared a feast. Yuan Xiang reminded Xie Xiaoni that for the second round, only one person per merchant household could participate, meaning Xie Xiaoni would go alone. Xie Xiaoni reassured her, saying she could still sneak out to see them as long as they were in the capital. Ouyang Ziyu then arrived to congratulate them.
Cheng Tian brought up their desire to visit Yunjinzhuang to pay respects to Yun Niang, prompting Xie Xiaoni to propose a plan: after the bidding conference, they could use Yunjinzhuang as a base to expand Herb Hall into Huai Zhou, spreading their skills and ultimately revitalizing Yunjinzhuang. Cheng Tian and Yuan Xiang enthusiastically supported the idea, seeing it as a way to fulfill Yun Niang's dream and reunite with their scattered former sisters from Yunjinzhuang.
Ouyang Ziyu offered to escort them, affirming his connection to Yun Niang and his duty to Xie Xiaoni. The second round of the competition commenced at Ruiyuan, a forty-nine-day event with strict rules requiring entry and exit tokens. Xie Xiaoni was assigned to a room with Bai Rou'er, a participant from Bainiao cloth shop, who was delighted to be roommates with Xie Xiaoni, a representative of the famous Herb Hall. The two quickly bonded over embroidery.
Later, Xie Xiaoni encountered Liu Zixuan, who was equally pleased to see her. He explained his new role as an appointed Royal Market Bureau official tasked with assisting the merchants in Ruiyuan. Xie Xiaoni, mindful of the rules regarding interaction between men and women, tried to keep her distance, urging him to do the same to avoid causing trouble for her, though Liu Zixuan confidently declared he would protect her.
Yan Wenxiu observed Xie Xiaoni and Bai Rou'er's growing camaraderie and realized that a direct attack on Xie Xiaoni would be disadvantageous. She changed her approach, adopting a false friendliness. She overheard two other merchants complaining about being assigned strenuous chores while "distinguished" merchants like Xie Xiaoni did not have to work. Capitalizing on their resentment, Yan Wenxiu pretended to defend Xie Xiaoni, further fueling their anger.
She then approached Xie Xiaoni, feigning regret and requesting a private conversation on the bridge to apologize for her past behavior. On the bridge, Yan Wenxiu played the victim, lamenting Xie Xiaoni's hostility and emphasizing their shared history as classmates, suggesting they should be closer than anyone else in Ruiyuan. Xie Xiaoni, however, remained guarded, coolly reminding Yan Wenxiu of her status as the "Su young madam." Yan Wenxiu then hinted at her unhappy marriage to Su Wenyu, admitting their relationship was merely superficial.
