Ni Chang Episode 4 Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Ouyang Ziyu expressed his desire for a more exquisite method to produce the national gift, as it should be distinct from ordinary commercial fabrics to truly convey its value. Xie Feng, representing the Xie family, acknowledged the importance and promised to dedicate more effort to the craft, assuring Ouyang Ziyu and Yuan Daocheng that he would not fail them. Ouyang Ziyu, in turn, offered the Xie family support if they encountered any difficulties.
After Xie Feng departed, Ouyang Ziyu experienced a fleeting sense of familiarity. Mr. Gao then suggested to Ouyang Ziyu that the Su family should also be involved in the project, asserting that the Xie family, being of humble origins, produced mostly cheap and rough cloth. Yuan Daocheng supported Mr. Gao, emphasizing the national gift's significance and urging Ouyang Ziyu not to rely solely on the Xie family.
However, Ouyang Ziyu dismissed their concerns, defending the Xie family's proven capabilities and stating they would not disappoint. As Ouyang Ziyu left with his attendant Lu, Mr. Gao, fuming, cursed Ouyang Ziyu behind his back. Ouyang Ziyu confided in Lu that Xie Feng seemed familiar, triggering a recurring headache, but he refused Lu's suggestion to consult a palace physician. Later, Xie Feng pondered how to elevate the Huan Cai Luo, whose current production methods were already at their peak.
Xie Xiaoni proposed a solution: replacing the current shell powder with pearl powder. She explained that pearl powder, with its richer and more lustrous sheen, would make the Huan Cai Luo subtly more opulent, a change discernible upon closer inspection, thus showcasing their dedication. Despite Xie Linfu's concerns about the high cost, Xie Xiaoni reminded him of Prince Luo's offer of assistance and suggested seeking funds from the palace. Xie Linfu and Xie Feng enthusiastically agreed with her idea.
Unbeknownst to them, Mr. Gao informed Yuan Daocheng about the imperial grant of top-grade pearl powder to the Xie family for the Huan Cai Luo. Yuan Daocheng noted how this change, though seemingly minor, greatly enhanced the fabric's beauty. Mr. Gao, however, saw an opportunity for mischief, expressing his disdain for the Xie family's newfound luck. He then approached Su Gongming to propose replacing the imperial pearl powder with common, cheaper powder.
Su Gongming, initially terrified of committing a capital offense punishable by death, was swayed by Mr. Gao's assurances of Yuan Daocheng's protection and thinly veiled threats about the Su family's future business prospects with the Imperial Textile Bureau if they didn't cooperate. Mr. Gao also reminded Su Gongming that the Xie family had usurped the Su family's imperial supplier title, effectively inciting him to agree.
Su Gongming decided to use even lower-quality pearls, grinding them into powder and bleaching them with sulfur to obscure their true nature, a decision his subordinate questioned due to potential risks and costs. Soon after, Ouyang Ziyu's attendant, Lu, reported that the Western Zhou envoy was unwell. Medical officers confirmed the envoy had developed severe rashes and festering wounds, diagnosing it as a reaction to the fabric of the imperial garments. The envoys demanded an explanation.
Mr. Gao suggested summoning the imperial supplier for questioning, but Yuan Daocheng overruled him, opting to report the incident directly to the emperor. Imperial guards then raided the Xie family residence. When Xie Xiaoni demanded to know their crime, an officer accused them of using poisonous pearl powder in the envoy's clothes, declaring it a capital offense. Xie Linfu, though distressed, urged his family to comply, trusting that their integrity would be recognized.
The officers then "discovered" a sealed box, claiming it was the imperial pearl powder Xie Linfu had embezzled. Xie Xiaoni vehemently protested, asserting they had been framed. Nevertheless, the entire Xie family was arrested and taken to Dali Temple. Upon learning of the arrest, Ouyang Ziyu confronted Yuan Daocheng, expressing his disbelief that Xie Linfu, whom he considered an upright man, would commit such a crime, suggesting a misunderstanding and requesting further evidence.
Yuan Daocheng countered that Xie Linfu had audaciously swapped the imperial pearl powder for inferior material, causing the envoy's illness, and that irrefutable "human testimony and material evidence" existed. Mr. Gao further disparaged the Xie family as "thieves." Ouyang Ziyu remained unconvinced and insisted on attending the trial to uncover the truth.
After Ouyang Ziyu departed, Yuan Daocheng angrily chastised Mr. Gao, revealing that Su Gongming had used toxic, low-quality pearl powder instead of just common ones, endangering their lives and threatening diplomatic relations. Mr. Gao assured Yuan Daocheng that the Xie family's conviction was sealed and Su Gongming was under their control. The next day, at Dali Temple, Xie Linfu, his wife Liu, Xie Feng, and Xie Xiaoni appeared disheveled and bearing signs of torture.
Xie Xiaoni cried out "Baozi" upon seeing Ouyang Ziyu, but he appeared not to hear her. Ouyang Ziyu questioned Lord He about the pre-trial torture, but Lord He arrogantly stated it was standard practice for a "noisy" prisoner and advised Ouyang Ziyu to appeal to the emperor if he had objections. Lord He then accused Xie Linfu of stealing imperial pearl powder and causing the envoy's illness.
Xie Linfu maintained his innocence, claiming he used the powder provided by Mr. Gao. However, Mr. Gao presented the sealed box of imperial pearl powder, asserting it was what he had given Xie Linfu, proving his embezzlement. Xie Linfu, stunned, admitted it was imperial powder but insisted he had used it all during production.
Yuan Daocheng then used this as "conclusive evidence" to declare Xie Linfu guilty of pilfering imperial goods, causing the envoy's illness, and nearly inciting an international crisis. Despite the Xie family's desperate pleas of wrongful accusation, Lord He delivered the verdict: Xie Linfu, his wife, son, and daughter were sentenced to permanent exile beyond the Great Wall, and all their property was confiscated.
As they were dragged away, Xie Xiaoni’s heartbroken cries of "Baozi" went unanswered as Ouyang Ziyu, seemingly unaffected, turned and left. Ouyang Ziyu, plagued by another headache, felt he had lost something important and found the young girl (Xie Xiaoni) familiar. His attendant, Lu, tried to dismiss it as a symptom of his memory loss.
Ouyang Ziyu mused that he never expected the seemingly "honest and kind" Xie family to commit such an act, to which Lu cynically replied that businessmen prioritize profit and appearances can be deceiving. Meanwhile, a formal proclamation announced the confiscation of all Xie family assets and their exile. On the arduous journey, loyal servants, bribing the guards, bid a tearful farewell to the Xie family, offering them warm clothes and food. Xie Linfu expressed profound shame for failing them.
Xie Xiaoni secretly told her maid, Hong Rui, that she had buried jewelry for her dowry beneath a willow tree by the south wall, urging her to retrieve and sell it. Su Wenyu rushed to their aid but could only watch helplessly as the Xie family was led away. He later implored his uncle, Su Gongming, to save them, believing in their innocence.
Su Gongming, however, refused, citing the emperor's wrath and advising Su Wenyu that the family would likely return once the affair had settled. Su Gongming later met Mr. Gao, who informed him that Yuan Daocheng was satisfied with the Western Zhou envoy's recovery and would not punish him. Mr. Gao, however, scolded Su Gongming for his extreme greed in using inferior pearl powder, which nearly jeopardized their entire scheme.
He then praised Su Gongming for ingeniously framing the Xie family with the "planted" imperial pearl powder. A flashback revealed that Su Gongming had coerced Zhao Wu, a former Xie family servant who had been fired for stealing, into swapping the real imperial pearl powder for the inferior kind during a delivery to the Xie family workshop. Su Gongming presented Mr. Gao with a significant sum of money.
Mr. Gao accepted it but cautioned Su Gongming that the exiled Xie family still posed a threat and could potentially return. He warned Su Gongming to eliminate this "trouble" and reminded him that if the plot were ever exposed, Su Gongming alone would bear the full responsibility. Su Gongming assured Mr. Gao that Zhao Wu had been sent to his remote country estate, where his fear of officials would guarantee his silence.
After Su Gongming left, Yuan Daocheng complained to Mr. Gao about Su Gongming's recklessness and how they had gained nothing from the valuable imperial pearl powder. Mr. Gao simply told him to be patient. On the long and arduous journey to exile, Xie Linfu and his wife Liu grew increasingly weak. The officers halted at a remote spot where a man was selling wine.
Despite Xie Feng's suspicions about a wine seller in such a desolate area, the officers were enticed and bought the wine. Soon, they all collapsed, having been poisoned. The wine seller revealed himself to be an assassin and attacked the Xie family. Xie Linfu and Liu bravely sacrificed their lives to protect Xie Feng and Xie Xiaoni. Xie Feng dragged Xie Xiaoni away, fleeing until they reached a towering cliff.
Realizing their desperate situation, Xie Feng handed Xie Xiaoni a pottery flute, a treasured family heirloom, and urged her to live on. With a final desperate act, he pushed her back from the edge and plunged down the cliff with the pursuing assassin. Xie Xiaoni watched in horror as her brother fell, screaming his name in despair. Amidst her overwhelming grief, she firmly resolved to survive, honoring her family's sacrifice. Xie Xiaoni eventually collapsed and lost consciousness in the mountains.
She awoke to find herself in a stranger's home. Zhao Tongshen and his wife introduced themselves, explaining they had found her unconscious and brought her back. Zhao Tongshen then introduced Yun Niang, the owner of Yunjinzhuang, as the kind woman who had offered her shelter, despite Yun Niang’s feigned reluctance. Xie Xiaoni quickly rose and humbly expressed her profound gratitude to all three for saving her life, vowing to repay their kindness in the future. Zhao Tongshen's wife, noticing Xie Xiaoni's refined demeanor, gently asked how a seemingly well-educated young woman came to be in such a desperate state.
