Ni Chang Episode 31 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Yan Wenxiu approached Ni Chang, who was engrossed in her embroidery. Yan Wenxiu admired Ni Chang's exquisite work and asked for it as a gift, offering a jade pendant she had worn since childhood in exchange. She explained that she had always intended to exchange it with her future husband but felt her current husband, Su Wenyu, was unworthy. She expressed her sincere desire to be friends with Ni Chang and offered the precious jade to solidify their bond.
Ni Chang politely declined the valuable jade, suggesting Yan Wenxiu simply take the embroidery if she liked it. Yan Wenxiu, however, insisted, claiming that Ni Chang's refusal meant she wouldn't accept her friendship. She tearfully spoke of her lifelong pride and current humiliation, which softened Ni Chang's heart, leading her to reluctantly accept the jade for safekeeping. Yan Wenxiu continued to compliment Ni Chang's embroidery, prompting Ni Chang to note that she had never admired her work before.
Yan Wenxiu dismissed it as youthful ignorance and reiterated her genuine repentance, stating that since Su Wenyu disliked her, she wouldn't force their relationship. She even offered to step aside if Ni Chang and Su Wenyu found happiness together. Ni Chang found this ridiculous, reminding Yan Wenxiu that she was married to Su Wenyu and there was nothing between herself and him.
Yan Wenxiu then speculated that Ni Chang no longer cared for Su Wenyu, perhaps having set her sights on Ouyang Ziyu. Angered by this insinuation, Ni Chang sharply questioned Yan Wenxiu's words. Yan Wenxiu quickly apologized for her slip of the tongue and left, urging Ni Chang to keep the jade safe. Watching this interaction, Yu Qing approached Bai Rou'er, insinuating that Ni Chang would only befriend other prominent merchants like Yan Wenxiu.
She belittled Bai Rou'er's small workshop, claiming Ni Chang would never consider her a sister. Bai Rou'er defended Ni Chang, but Yu Qing persisted, suggesting that Ni Chang's frequent inquiries about embroidery techniques were merely an attempt to steal her ideas, reminding Bai Rou'er that as fellow weavers, they were competitors. This seed of doubt began to unsettle Bai Rou'er. Meanwhile, Su Wenyu was inaugurated as the new head of the guild.
Merchants gathered to congratulate him, then immediately raised concerns about the Royal Market Bureau. They explained that yearly fees were typically collected quarterly, but Yuan Daocheng was now demanding a full year's payment upfront, which was a significant hardship, especially with business being slow. They feared losing their merchant qualifications if they couldn't comply and pleaded with Su Wenyu to intercede with the Bureau. Su Wenyu, though unsure how to proceed, reluctantly agreed to help.
Later, when Ni Chang approached Bai Rou'er to discuss embroidery designs, Bai Rou'er, still troubled by Yu Qing's words, curtly dismissed her, claiming to be unwell. Princess Lan Zhao, having meticulously prepared, again found her invitation to Ouyang Ziyu rejected, with his staff claiming he was out hunting. Frustrated, she considered asking Xie Feng to accompany her, only to learn he had left early that morning without her permission.
Determined, the princess decided to dress in Central Plains attire and wait for Ouyang Ziyu at his residence. Ouyang Ziyu, suspicious that a key individual was being held within Gao's residence, sent Xiao Lu to investigate. Disguised as a firewood deliveryman, Xiao Lu successfully infiltrated the estate. While working, he overheard a worker discussing the master, the deputy commander of the Royal Market Bureau. Xiao Lu then encountered Fu San'er, who was locked up and hungry.
Fu San'er complained that Madam Gao had imprisoned him, implying that they had stolen his silver and were preventing him from revealing their illicit dealings. Xiao Lu quickly gathered this information and reported back to Ouyang Ziyu. Ouyang Ziyu decided against immediate action, preferring to let Fu San'er remain in Gao's residence, believing he would be a useful asset later without needing to "beat the grass and scare the snake."
Upon Ouyang Ziyu's return to his residence, Princess Lan Zhao was waiting. She playfully chastised him for evading her. Ouyang Ziyu, covering his tracks, claimed he had just returned from hunting, but the princess pointed out his lack of prey and insisted he accompany her to Shu Yuan.
Despite Ouyang Ziyu's attempts to refuse, citing the customs of Daning regarding gender separation, the princess was adamant, declaring that she was hosting a martial arts competition between Lan Zhao and Daning and demanded his presence. Ouyang Ziyu, unable to refuse, was led away by the princess, while Xiao Lu assured him everything at the residence would be handled. Meanwhile, Xie Feng visited the dilapidated Xie family residence, a somber scene that brought back painful memories of its former glory.
He was soon located by the princess's attendants and summoned back. At Shu Yuan, the martial arts competition commenced. Liu Zixuan impressively defeated several Lan Zhao warriors, drawing cheers from the crowd. Ouyang Ziyu declined to participate, feigning lack of martial skill. Unwilling to let Liu Zixuan monopolize the spotlight, Princess Lan Zhao took the stage herself to challenge him. The two engaged in a spirited match, with the princess eventually getting the upper hand, leaving Liu Zixuan disheveled.
Yan Wenxiu spotted Ni Chang and eagerly pulled her to watch. During the ongoing fight, Liu Zixuan's attention was diverted by Ni Chang's presence, causing him to momentarily abandon the fight and approach her. Infuriated, Princess Lan Zhao swiftly kicked Liu Zixuan off the stage. Liu Zixuan, recovering, complained to Ni Chang that the princess had cheated. Seeing Liu Zixuan's familiar interactions with Ni Chang, Ouyang Ziyu, provoked, stepped forward and challenged Princess Lan Zhao to a match.
The entire crowd's attention shifted to Ouyang Ziyu. He fought with controlled precision, merely demonstrating his skill, while the princess aggressively tried to engage him physically. Ni Chang watched, a hint of jealousy in her eyes. On the sidelines, Yan Wenxiu tried to engage Liu Zixuan in conversation, but he was completely fixated on the match, openly complaining that Ouyang Ziyu wasn't fighting seriously enough. During their bout, the princess nearly fell into a nearby lake.
Eventually, she conceded, gracefully admitting defeat and praising Ouyang Ziyu's martial prowess. With a triumphant grin, she took his arm and insisted he treat her to a celebratory meal, which he reluctantly agreed to. As Ouyang Ziyu passed Ni Chang, he cast a deep, meaningful glance her way. Still seething with frustration, Ni Chang ignored both Yan Wenxiu and Liu Zixuan and stormed off. Liu Zixuan, observing the scene, remarked on the fickle nature of men.
Yan Wenxiu, misunderstanding, tried to console him, but Liu Zixuan clarified his true sentiments. Ni Chang, refusing to engage further, stated she had other matters to attend to and departed. That night, Xie Feng observed Ni Chang, who was visibly upset, listening to the zither music from the neighboring Qing Liu Ge, where Princess Lan Zhao was hosting a banquet.
Bai Rou'er then approached Ni Chang, stating that from now on, their conversations should be limited to casual pleasantries, and certain topics should be avoided. Ni Chang, already gloomy from the day's events, grew even more dispirited by the distant zither music. Xie Feng, seeing her distress, smiled faintly before leaving. In his courtyard, Ouyang Ziyu continued to play the zither. Princess Lan Zhao listened, drinking wine, and decided it was time to confess her feelings.
She approached him, offering a drink. Ouyang Ziyu declined, citing his previous consumption and the late hour, attempting to leave. The princess stopped him, revealing that she had fallen in love with him at fifteen when they first met in Lan Zhao. She confessed that her current diplomatic mission to Daning was a personal request to her father, made solely to see him again.
Ouyang Ziyu gently but firmly pushed her hand away, explaining that true affection cannot be forced and that his heart already belonged to one woman, and only her, for this lifetime. Despite her attendants trying to guide her away, the princess vehemently refused to believe him, crying that he was lying and vowing never to give up on him.
The next day, Deacon Zhao announced that a valuable jade ornament had gone missing from the Purchasing Office, a tribute destined for the Forbidden City, and that every room would be searched, warning of severe consequences if it wasn't found. Yan Wenxiu eagerly watched, expecting Ni Chang to be implicated, but the search of Ni Chang's room yielded nothing. However, Ni Chang then confronted Yan Wenxiu, producing the very jade pendant Yan Wenxiu had given her.
She revealed that this was the lost tribute item and that she had never truly believed Yan Wenxiu's pretense of friendship. Ni Chang expressed shock that Yan Wenxiu would resort to stealing a tribute item to frame her. Yan Wenxiu, her facade broken, admitted to the scheme, claiming she was instructed by someone higher up. Ni Chang calmly challenged her, suggesting they bring the matter before the Royal Market Bureau officials to determine who was telling the truth.
Yan Wenxiu taunted Ni Chang, confident that without direct evidence, her word would hold more weight. Ni Chang, undeterred, simply told Yan Wenxiu to return the jade to the Purchasing Office herself to avoid further trouble. Later, Princess Lan Zhao, still in a foul mood from Ouyang Ziyu's rejection, encountered Liu Zixuan on the street. They playfully argued over a sugar figurine, which Liu Zixuan eventually gave to the princess to cheer her up.
He then advised her to eat something sweet to lift her spirits, suggesting she imagine all her troubles as a pig and "eat them all." The princess, amused, lightened up. The following morning, Xiaoqin once again came to persuade Ni Chang to see Ouyang Ziyu, expressing fear of being scolded by the prince if she failed.
Ni Chang, still nursing her anger, refused, stating she was too busy and had no time to see him, and reminded Xiaoqin that Ouyang Ziyu's attention should be on Princess Lan Zhao. Xiaoqin teased Ni Chang, suggesting she was jealous. Ni Chang denied it, but then conceded that since Ouyang Ziyu seemed to be trying to provoke her, she would play along by ignoring him for a few days. Ni Chang then urged Xiaoqin to leave, reminding her that she didn't belong in Ruiyuan and shouldn't risk being discovered.
