Ni Chang Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> Ni Chang Recap
Following a fierce confrontation, Liu Zixuan rescued Princess Xinyue, while Ouyang Ziyu fought against Yuan Daocheng, who had threatened Xie Xiaoni. Ouyang Ziyu eventually killed Yuan Daocheng. Although the princess, Liu Zixuan, Ouyang Ziyu, and Xie Xiaoni were no longer in mortal peril, they all sustained serious injuries. Xiao Lu arrived with soldiers, lamenting, "Prince, are you ok? I'm late." Ouyang Ziyu replied, "You know you're late. It's all over," as Xiao Lu organized the cleanup of the aftermath.
A month later, Yan Wenxiu's sentence was announced. She confessed to all her crimes, including kidnapping the princess, poisoning envoys, and bribery, and was condemned to execution after autumn along with other criminals. Yuan Xiang, who had learned with Yan Wenxiu at Yunjinzhuang since childhood, expressed sorrow, "Now I see her like this, I can't bear it." Cheng Tian countered, "You don't have to. She's the one who did all the bad things.
Starting from Yunjinzhuang, how many troubles did she make for Ni Chang?" When Xie Xiaoni, Yuan Xiang, and Cheng Tian visited her in prison, Yan Wenxiu appeared to be in a state of delusion, whispering, "Master is teaching me embroidery." She then turned her fury on Xie Xiaoni, exclaiming, "It's all because of you! I hate you! You and me, only one can live in this world!"
When confronted by Cheng Tian about his mother, Yan Wenxiu admitted, "Master is dead. It's me, I killed master." Cheng Tian, heartbroken, was relieved that his "Master, she, finally, she can rest in peace." Xie Xiaoni reflected, "Now the truth has come out. All the villains were brought to justice. We all have our own destiny. Master's spirit in heaven, she will be happy." With justice served, Ouyang Ziyu told Xiao Lu, "Now it's over. The princess is healed.
Mission of Lan Zhao, we have to explain this to them. Let's go, Xiaolu," and they departed to manage the diplomatic situation. Xie Xiaoni, Yuan Xiang, and Cheng Tian also left, with Xie Xiaoni saying, "Let's go." Later that night, Ouyang Ziyu played the flute left by Xie Xiaoni's father. Although he found its tone dull, he confessed to Xie Xiaoni that when she played it, it sounded "just like the music in heaven."
He then questioned, "Your father, why did he especially give this to you?" Xie Xiaoni admitted she also found it strange why her father valued it so much. Suspecting something hidden, Xie Xiaoni took a stone and smashed the flute, revealing the secret recipe for the Magic Fabric. Ouyang Ziyu exclaimed, "What? This is the secret way to produce magic fabric! With this secret introduction, your Xie family's magic fabric, it can be produced again.
The design of the Xie family, it can be famous someday." The Imperial Court issued an order, resuming the bidding conference, with Ningxiangge joining the spice group. Ouyang Ziyu announced, "Boss Ni, it's your turn." Xie Xiaoni presented a dress made from the Magic Fabric. The princess, initially mistaking it for a handkerchief due to its small size when folded, was amazed when Xie Xiaoni unfolded it into a lightweight dress.
Xie Xiaoni explained that the Magic Fabric, originally a secret dyeing recipe for thick cloths, had been improved by her to work with silk, making it light. After trying it on, the princess praised Xie Xiaoni as an "extraordinary person" and declared, "The Magic Fabric of Herb Hall is the best. The rest of the three are also chosen; all of them are listed in Lan Zhao's order." Xie Xiaoni thanked the princess.
The Herb Hall became a tribute merchant to Lan Zhao, a joyous occasion for everyone. The uncle remarked that with this achievement, "In the future, there will be plenty of money, we don't have to worry." Yuan Xiang playfully told Xie Xiaoni, who had studied alongside her, that she wouldn't believe it if anyone else had such a significant achievement. Xie Xiaoni modestly replied, "Everyone has his own strength."
Ouyang Ziyu arrived with gifts for the Herb Hall celebrations, then subtly led Xie Xiaoni away, promising to take her to retrieve her "special" gift. He took her on a boat ride to enjoy the evening scenery, which Xie Xiaoni found beautiful. Ouyang Ziyu asked if she was satisfied with this "present." Xie Xiaoni reminisced about her childhood dreams of exploring the world but felt she could not return to those days.
Ouyang Ziyu reassured her, "Believe me, you can definitely go back." He reminded her of their past, "Do you still remember, sister Ni'er, when you had fun with Baozi? It's like there's no pain in the world." Then, Ouyang Ziyu confessed, "Ni Chang, in fact, after meeting you in Huaizhou, I fell in love with you in secret." Xie Xiaoni, surprised, asked, "Is it? Why can't I see that?" and then kissed him.
After some playful banter, Ouyang Ziyu pulled her closer for a deeper kiss. A banquet was held at the Herb Hall, with Ouyang Ziyu, Xie Xiaoni, Cheng Tian, and Yuan Xiang in attendance, joined by Princess Xinyue and Liu Zixuan. The princess announced their departure for Lan Zhao the day after tomorrow, explaining their visit was to congratulate and bid farewell.
She declared that she had approached Liu Zixuan's father, General Liu, about their marriage, to which Liu Zixuan quickly clarified that it was his father who had first proposed to the King of Lan Zhao. Xie Xiaoni intervened, suggesting they "Don't argue about this on such a happy day" and toasted to their "hundred years of harmony, and the early birth of a noble son."
Liu Zixuan reminded Xie Xiaoni of the clothes she promised, and she assured him they would be "beautiful and graceful" for their departure. Princess Xinyue, expressing her reluctance to leave, insisted, "No one of you is allowed to see me off in the future. I don't want to be that sad. Let's say goodbye happily today. Get drunk." Everyone then toasted. Xie Xiaoni, true to her word, presented the princess and Liu Zixuan with special attire.
She explained that she had combined the embroidery techniques learned in Yunjinzhuang, further enhanced by Miss Etta in Western Zhou, with the Magic Fabric. This technique, which made silk threads naturally raised to create vivid patterns, had been too complex and costly to use before, but now found its perfect application.
Wearing these unique clothes, Princess Xinyue and Liu Zixuan were ceremoniously seen off by Daning officials, who wished them "safe throughout the journey," "an alliance for generations," and "peaceful development forever" as they happily returned to Lan Zhao. Xie's Silk Shop officially reopened. Xie Xiaoni welcomed the crowd, stating, "Today, Xie's silk cloth shop is reopened. Thank you for coming. The Xie family always adheres to the principle of benefiting the people, honesty is the foundation.
The old and the young shall not be deceived. We sell only genuine goods. Please pay more attention in the future." An announcer proclaimed that the Xie family had "Restored to be a tribute merchant" and that the "emperor sent Prince Luo, to bring the signboard." Inside, Xie Xiaoni was overjoyed to see her former loyal servants, Steward Liu and Hongrui, who had found them after seeing the official notice. " Miss, you are really back!" Hongrui exclaimed.
Steward Liu added, "The Xie family is finally innocent." Xie Xiaoni, however, gently redirected them from their sorrow, reminding them, "Today is the day when the Xie family reopens the shop, let's not talk about the sad events." Both offered to help, with Hongrui asking, "Is there a shortage of staff in the shop? Steward Liu and I, we can help you." Xie Xiaoni enthusiastically accepted their help.
She showed them her plans for the shop, including a new area for customer consultations, pattern drafting, and a fitting room. She even revealed her negotiation for the adjacent property, aiming to triple the shop's size. When Hongrui offered tea, Xie Xiaoni told her, "Hongrui, the task of pouring tea, you don't have to do it."
Hongrui, worried, asked if Xie Xiaoni no longer wanted her, but Steward Liu quickly explained that Xie Xiaoni wanted her to "help her in the store, also you can learn skills, so you can be a shopkeeper one day." Hongrui tearfully accepted, promising to do well. Meanwhile, Cheng Tian, Yuan Xiang, and the aunt and uncle were busy at the Herb Hall, where customers could try on clothes, exchange items, and even pay in installments.
After a long day of work, Xie Xiaoni finally closed the shop. Ouyang Ziyu, who had been waiting, greeted her, "It's closed. How's that? Are you tired?" Xie Xiaoni inquired about his well-being. Ouyang Ziyu feigned misery, saying, "I was going to come and beg for food from you, I didn't expect that you were so busy that you ignored me. I'm so pathetic." Xie Xiaoni jokingly asked if his palace didn't provide food.
Ouyang Ziyu then recounted his efforts over the past half month, meticulously following her requests: he had used his private property to open charity porridge stalls on snowy days for the hungry, sought out aspiring poor individuals and gifted them fifty Liang of silver, and established schools for impoverished children to secure their future. He concluded by asking, "What you asked me to do, I've done them all.
I am not sure, Boss Xie, will you have time to have a meal with Ziyu?" Xie Xiaoni playfully questioned if he had any silver left for the meal, to which he retorted, "You don't need silver to eat. You need your mouth. Let's go for a meal." Later, while Ouyang Ziyu and Xie Xiaoni shared a meal, enjoying sesame candy he knew she liked, Yuan Xiang announced that a peanut was stuck in her tooth.
Cheng Tian, helping her, seized the moment to kiss her. He then confessed, "Yuanxiang, all these years, I haven't figured it out all the time. You must feel sad." He then proposed, asking, "Yuanxiang, will you marry me?" Just as they were about to kiss again, the aunt and uncle interrupted, telling them, "You go on."
The aunt and uncle then discussed Cheng Tian and Yuan Xiang's wedding plans with Cheng Tian, who eagerly agreed to follow all their advice, stating he would do "anything" to marry Yuan Xiang. The uncle insisted on adhering to tradition, "If you want to marry Yuanxiang, this etiquette, and the ceremony to welcome and see off the bride, we must have them all." The aunt, however, pointed out a logistical problem since Cheng Tian and Yuan Xiang lived with them.
Ouyang Ziyu, joining them, reassured them, "Don't worry, uncle. I've had it arranged. The ceremony will be successful." He enthusiastically took charge, promising, "Yuanxiang will have a big wedding, and Chengtian will marry happily." When the aunt expressed concern about Ouyang Ziyu handling everything, he dismissed it, saying, "We are all friends, don't be too polite. And it's the first time for me to do this, regarding it a drill in advance."
The aunt then mischievously suggested that Ouyang Ziyu and Xie Xiaoni should also get married simultaneously, making it "one marriage turns out to be two." Xie Xiaoni, embarrassed, protested, "Don't talk nonsense, madam. He is a Prince, how can he get married on the same day with common people?" But Ouyang Ziyu, looking at Xie Xiaoni, immediately declared, "Don't worry. Of course I would. What about you, would you like to?"
Before Xie Xiaoni could answer, Xiao Lu and Xiao Qin rushed in. Xiao Lu, speaking for both, said, "I do. We are all willing to." He explained that they too wished to get married together, which Ouyang Ziyu declared would be a "double happy event." Xie Xiaoni offered to prepare Xiao Qin's dowry. With Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian, and Xiao Lu and Xiao Qin now engaged, Ouyang Ziyu turned to Xie Xiaoni, "Now it's just the two of us."
Xie Xiaoni, flustered, shyly ran off, prompting the uncle to urge Ouyang Ziyu to pursue her. Ouyang Ziyu found Xie Xiaoni in her room, asking what she thought of the aunt's earlier suggestion. Xie Xiaoni feigned ignorance, asking if he was referring to "the marriage between Xiaolu and Xiaoqin, Yuanxiang and Chengtian? I think it's very good. Four happy events." Ouyang Ziyu, frustrated by her deliberate obtuseness, told her, "Don't play dumb for me."
He asked, "You don't want to marry me?" Xie Xiaoni retorted, "You didn't say you wanted to marry me." Ouyang Ziyu quickly seized the opportunity, "Then I'll say it now, I want to marry you. Is it too late?" Xie Xiaoni, still hesitant, replied, "Then, you have to let me think about it for a few days." When Ouyang Ziyu pressed her on why, she simply insisted, "I just want to think about it again. . .
I just want to think about it." Unable to get a definitive answer, Ouyang Ziyu then playfully called her "Madam." Xie Xiaoni was indignant, "Who? Who is your wife? I haven't even said yes." Ouyang Ziyu suddenly clutched his chest, feigning pain. When Xie Xiaoni, worried, asked if he was alright, he pulled her into a tight embrace, telling her, "You deceived me. Don't worry. I will give you a unique wedding in the world."
The day arrived for the grand double wedding. Ouyang Ziyu oversaw the preparations at the Luo Family residence, remarking on how well it was arranged. Jinchan and Cuiyu arrived, offering their congratulations. With everyone gathered, an officiant declared, "Today is a big day. We all gather in Prince Luo's residence, let's witness it together, the two couples tie the knot, and get married."
He proudly announced Ouyang Ziyu's role, "Today we have his royal highness Prince Luo, as a witness for the wedding. The wedding ceremony begins now." The two couples—Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian, and Xiao Lu and Xiao Qin—performed the traditional "Worship heaven and earth firstly," "Worship the elder, secondly," and "Husband and wife worship each other" rituals before being led into their bridal chambers.
Later, Ouyang Ziyu led Xie Xiaoni to a garden he had filled with camellias, asking, "Do you like it?" He then looked at her and said, "Ni'er, I know you are self-made. Money is never important to you. Now you are the master of the Xie family. Ni'er, would you like to be my princess, being the hostess of the palace?"
Xie Xiaoni, reflecting on her childhood, recounted her father's dream of opening shops in southern China and expanding the Xie family business across the country. She remembered asking him, "Dad, can I learn to do business from my brother?" Her father had asked her why, and she, as a child, had declared, "Because in the Xie's silk cloth shop, we have goods of high quality and low price.
Ni'er is a descendant of the Xie family, of course, it's my duty to carry forward Xie's silk cloth shop. I want more people to use the fabric of the Xie family." Bringing herself back to the present, she told Ouyang Ziyu, "Well, if I become a princess, I won't feel so comfortable." Ouyang Ziyu understood, telling her, "I know your ambition. Okay, I'll help you. In the future, you can be a successful businesswoman.
And I, I'll be waiting for you." Xie Xiaoni thanked him, "Thank you, Ziyu." Two years passed. Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian were now proud parents of a child named Xi'er, and Yunjinzhuang had successfully reopened with numerous branch stores in Huaizhou. One day, they visited Xie's Silk Shop, where Xie Xiaoni was diligently working. Xie Xiaoni lovingly held Xi'er. Yuan Xiang and Cheng Tian urged Xie Xiaoni to consider her personal life.
Yuan Xiang asked, "This business, when will it end? You can earn all the money. I think your business is booming. You should have a rest. It's time to think about yourself." Xie Xiaoni responded, "Beside business, what else can I do?" Cheng Tian added, "Prince has been busy with his official tasks, monitoring the weaving industry for the emperor all year round. And you're focused on this business, when can you have a rest?
Are you not afraid that the Prince has changed his mind?" Just then, Ouyang Ziyu entered Xie's Silk Shop. An employee offered to help him, asking if he was buying clothes or cosmetics. Ouyang Ziyu replied, "I want to order a wedding dress." When the employee offered to take his measurements, Ouyang Ziyu insisted, "No. Let your boss come, measure me herself." Xie Xiaoni turned to see who the customer was, and their eyes met.
Ouyang Ziyu, looking at the now highly successful Xie Xiaoni, said, "Xie's now gains the favor of the people again. Boss Ni, no, should be called Manager Xie. You have successfully reorganized Xie's by yourself, and carried forward Xie's skills. I really admire you." He continued, "However, now that Manager Xie has achieved success, your life is still not perfect. It seems there's something missing." When Xie Xiaoni asked, "What?"
, Ouyang Ziyu replied, "You are in need of pleasure, a shelter from wind and rain, a loving partner to grow old with." He then asked, "Will you marry me, Ni'er?" Xie Xiaoni gently nodded in agreement.
