Ni Chang Episode 36 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Ouyang Ziyu urged Nichang to remain calm as they drew closer to the truth, emphasizing the importance of not alarming their adversaries. He revealed his findings: Yuan Daocheng and Deacon Zhao had conspired, replacing high-quality goods with inferior ones and tampering with the accounts sent to Qingliu Pavilion. Nichang deduced that if Su Gongming had tampered with goods in the warehouse, Deacon Zhao would have falsified the records.
If they could obtain these altered records and compare them with the actual warehouse inventory, they could prove Su Gongming's guilt. Ouyang Ziyu advised Nichang to focus on preparing for the next round of the spice competition, promising to discuss how to acquire Deacon Zhao's records afterward, reiterating the need for caution. Nichang assured him she would not be reckless. Yuan Xiang saw Nichang off to Ruiyuan for the second spice test.
Locals gathered, congratulating Nichang on her excellent performance in the previous round. Su Wenyu, observing the crowd, mistakenly thought Nichang was flaunting her success. He then boasted about fully taking over the Su family's business, including Yan Wenxiu's Yuzhizhai and an entire street in the eastern city, and mocked Nichang's past choices, asserting that as a woman, she could never truly achieve prominence. Nichang calmly dismissed him, stating that they were on different paths and had nothing further to discuss.
Su Wenyu left in anger. Su Gongming, hearing widespread rumors about Yan Wenxiu and Yuan Daocheng, confronted Su Wenyu, blaming him for the scandal. Su Wenyu, no longer tolerating his uncle's abuse, retorted that Yan Wenxiu's choices were her own and that Su Gongming was largely responsible for the Su family's current predicament. He then declared his intention to write a letter of divorce for Yan Wenxiu after the bidding conference, sending her back to the Yan family.
Su Gongming was left seething. Nichang, frustrated, sought out Ouyang Ziyu, admitting her strong desire to prevent the Su family from winning the tribute merchant title. She confessed her long-standing suspicion that Yan Wenxiu was involved in her Master's death, recalling being deliberately locked in the woodshed during a fire. Ouyang Ziyu, though acknowledging Yan Wenxiu's unpleasant nature, pointed out that Nichang was not typically vindictive and questioned her intense animosity.
He advised her not to let personal feelings jeopardize their larger plan to clear her family's name, especially as she was almost guaranteed a spot in the final spice test. Nichang agreed that she had acted impulsively. Ouyang Ziyu then affirmed his role as her protector, stating she could not succeed without him. Meanwhile, A'mo confirmed to Yuan Daocheng that Nichang was indeed Xie Xiaoni, the missing daughter of the Xie family mentioned on a tombstone in Yunjinzhuang.
Yuan Daocheng recognized this as a serious crime of deceiving the emperor. Yan Wenxiu, upon hearing this, was astonished that Nichang was a fugitive. Yuan Daocheng saw this as an opportunity to undermine Nichang but decided against immediate action as the tombstone was insufficient evidence for a formal accusation. He ordered further investigation into the Xie family's past and Nichang's true identity, viewing this as a chance to also gain leverage against Prince Luo, who had long opposed him.
Later, while Nichang was preparing her balms, Yan Wenxiu approached her, making snide remarks about Nichang's past arrival at Yunjinzhuang, implying she looked like a fugitive and questioned her lack of family. Nichang, momentarily surprised, maintained her composure and told Yan Wenxiu to leave, asserting she had nothing to discuss with her. Yan Wenxiu, however, continued to hint at Nichang's suspicious past, warning her to ensure her affairs were clean to avoid future embarrassment.
During the spice trial, Mrs. Zhou presented her balm, "Qing He," a blend of lotus, citron, and sandalwood. Princess Lan Zhao found its fragrance strong but somewhat complex, with a weak aftertaste. Yuan Daocheng, however, praised its aroma. Nichang then showcased her balm, "Songlan," made from Gansong, green tea, and gardenia, which she presented using a male model. The audience was surprised by a man testing a balm.
Princess Lan Zhao found "Songlan" fresh, elegant, and long-lasting, leaving a lingering, evocative scent, which she found far more appealing than a strong initial fragrance. Despite Yuan Daocheng's attempt to dismiss it, suggesting that even good long-lasting scents could become tiresome, the female officials and deacons voted overwhelmingly for Nichang, giving her twelve votes to Mrs. Zhou's four. Princess Lan Zhao declared Nichang the winner, granting Herb Hall a direct entry into the final round.
Mrs. Zhou gracefully conceded, acknowledging Nichang's superior craftsmanship. In the weaving competition, Su's shop in the eastern city secured the top spot, earning Yan Wenxiu a place in the final round. The four finalists for the tribute merchant title were announced: Herb Hall in the western outskirts, Su's shop in the eastern city, Xu's shop in Changnan Town, and Xia's shop from north of the Great Wall. Princess Lan Zhao set the final challenge: to create something "new and extraordinary."
Yan Wenxiu confronted Nichang, implying that Nichang's past successes were merely due to luck and vowing to claim the tribute merchant title for herself this time. Nichang retorted, saying only cowards attributed success to luck and reiterated her own superior skill, which she claimed Yan Wenxiu inadvertently proved with her fear. Upon returning to the Su mansion, Yan Wenxiu was surprised to hear the servants address her as "Miss Yan," rather than "Young Mistress."
Di'er explained that Su Wenyu had given the order. Yan Wenxiu, though outwardly dismissive of the title "Young Mistress," was inwardly furious, especially when Su Gongming forbade any celebration of her weaving victory, making her feel like a criminal despite bringing honor to the Su family. She confronted Su Gongming, demanding the ten shops in the eastern city that he had promised her.
Su Gongming refused, stating that since she was no longer considered part of the Su family due to her perceived disgrace, he was under no obligation to fulfill his promise. He implied he was being lenient by not sending her back to Huai Zhou in disgrace. Infuriated, Yan Wenxiu vowed she would not rest until she reclaimed the ten shops.
Su Wenyu attempted to persuade her to leave the capital and return to Huai Zhou, but Yan Wenxiu, consumed by a desire for revenge and empowerment, refused, declaring she would stay in the capital, take what was hers, and prove herself superior to them all. Su Gongming ordered Su Wenyu to let her go. Yan Wenxiu then went to Yuan Daocheng, tearfully recounting her humiliation by Su Gongming and requesting his help to reclaim the ten shops.
Yuan Daocheng saw her complete break from the Su family as an advantage for his own plans, but stated that the shops must ultimately serve his interests. Though hesitant to fully give up control, Yan Wenxiu agreed to give him half of the shops' profits as a gesture of gratitude, emphasizing that these ten shops were her only means of establishing herself in the capital. Yuan Daocheng eventually agreed to help her secure all ten shops.
Soon after, the Palace City Bureau, in cooperation with the local authorities, raided Su's shops, accusing them of selling inferior goods and evading taxes. The incident caused a huge scandal in the capital. Su Wenyu initially refused to close the shops or seek help from Yan Wenxiu, arguing that Su Gongming should resolve the mess he created. Su Gongming, left with no alternative, offered three shops to Yan Wenxiu and reluctantly dispatched Su Wenyu to negotiate.
At Yuan Daocheng's residence, Yan Wenxiu rejected the offer of three shops, demanding all ten, along with the official divorce letter. Su Wenyu, recognizing the Su family's desperate situation, had no choice but to comply. With the ten shops now in her possession, Yan Wenxiu triumphantly opened her own "Yan's Cloth Manor," publicly promoting it with a pledge of "high quality and low price." Nichang was preparing to return to Ruiyuan for the final test.
Ouyang Ziyu, concerned about the dangers of her plan to retrieve Deacon Zhao's records, offered to undertake the task himself to prevent her from making more powerful enemies. However, Nichang insisted on handling it personally, believing her access to Ruiyuan would make it easier to reach the records. Ouyang Ziyu then asked about her aspirations after clearing her family's name, suggesting they could leave the capital and live a carefree life.
Recognizing her deep attachment to her roots and her unfulfilled family mission, he then pledged to help her restore the Xie family's former glory. Back at Ruiyuan, Nichang noticed that Yan Wenxiu had brought in a significant amount of personal furniture and several maids, which was against Ruiyuan's strict rules. A servant informed Nichang that Yan Wenxiu was no longer "Su's Young Mistress," having been divorced by the Su family, and was now known as "Boss Yan."
Meanwhile, Boss Jiang, Boss Liu, and Boss Yue visited Su Wenyu, confirming that Palace City Bureau officials had been regularly eating at their restaurant without paying. Fearing further financial ruin, the three demanded their investments back, forcing a deeply troubled Su Wenyu to comply. Later, Nichang observed Linglong preparing to deliver a midnight snack to Deacon Zhao.
Seizing the opportunity, Nichang offered to deliver the snack herself, using the excuse that she wanted Linglong and the other maids to test some new lipsticks she had made. Linglong gladly accepted the lipsticks, unknowingly facilitating Nichang's access to Deacon Zhao.
