Overlord Episode 17 Recap
> Overlord Recap
Long Aoyi and a disguised Li Zhao confronted Hu Laosan about the scandalous stories he was spreading. Hu Laosan, cowering, explained that people would only buy him drinks if he told "something new," leading him to fabricate tales. He promised never to speak of the brothel incident again, but Long Aoyi, rather than silencing him entirely, dictated a new narrative: he was to proclaim Li Qingliu's utter panic and her own unwavering bravery.
She threatened to cut out his tongue if he dared to deviate from this approved version. Li Zhao then offered Hu Laosan money to ensure he stuck to the revised story, prompting Hu Laosan to loudly declare Long Aoyi's heroism and Li Qingliu's cowardice to the public. Xiaoqin met Yan Bin, who was engrossed in a book. Xiaoqin teased him about the Longzhu Gang becoming scholars, noting that Long Aoyi seemed particularly irritated since the Double Seventh Festival.
Xiaoqin, deeply understanding her mistress, explained that Long Aoyi only truly gets angry about things that touch her heart, and she has been repeatedly angered since encountering Li Qingliu. She relayed how Li Qingliu, though initially dismissing rumors of their mutual affection due to their disparate backgrounds, later contradicted himself using Xiaoqin and Yan Bin's potential relationship as an example that love can overcome social gaps.
Xiaoqin concluded that Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi secretly love each other but are too stubborn to admit it. When Yan Bin, hopeful, asked about their own relationship, Xiaoqin playfully dismissed him as a "drinking buddy," much to his disappointment, though he still bought her crispy cakes. Later, a tipsy Xiaoqin returned to Wuyun Pavilion with the cakes. Long Aoyi, noticing her maid's affection for Yan Bin, subtly probed for information about Li Qingliu.
Despite feigning indifference, Long Aoyi approved of Xiaoqin and Yan Bin's connection, albeit with a slight worry about whether "Mr. Li" would permit his steward to date a lower-class girl. Simultaneously, Li Qingliu, detecting the scent of rouge on Yan Bin, deduced he had been with Xiaoqin.
He encouraged Yan Bin to maintain the relationship, even providing luxurious agilawood as a gift, clarifying that it was to avoid future entanglements like being forced to marry Liu Chunhua, who now weighed 175 kilograms. Li Qingliu then pressed Yan Bin for details about Long Aoyi, learning that she was still fuming over the rumors and had mandated that her entire gang study books.
Li Qingliu also reminded Yan Bin that while he didn't oppose his relationship, he should remember the strategic principle of "killing two birds with one stone," with Long Aoyi being the target, and to maintain good relations with her. Yan Bin soon reported Du Changfeng's imminent return to Silver City. Long Aoyi, observing the elaborate welcome orchestrated by the county magistrate, remarked on Du Changfeng's increasing unscrupulousness.
Meanwhile, Second Master Lyu, under the guise of collecting a new sword sheath, secretly met with an agent. The agent conveyed an urgent message from "up top," demanding that Lyu swiftly provide a rubbing of a birthmark for verification. Du Changfeng, having been promoted to one of the Six Ministers and slated for an assignment in Chang’an, decided to distance himself from Li Qingliu, stating that those who are "not of our kind must be abandoned."
He instructed his daughter, Du Xiaoxian, to withdraw all her shares from Xinsilu and prepare to relocate with him, citing potential political repercussions in the capital for an official with a daughter involved in commerce. Du Xiaoxian, sensing something amiss with her father's abrupt decision, questioned him, but he offered carefully crafted explanations.
At a grand banquet celebrating Du Changfeng's promotion, he announced a new imperial task: the creation of a "Nyuertu" (Daughter Painting) as a national gift for the Queen of Dongnyu State, to be included in her princess's dowry. He presented this as a glorious opportunity for Jiannan Dao. Despite the inherently intimate and often vulgar nature of Nyuertu, Du Changfeng stressed that the gift must simultaneously embody the sophisticated standards of the Tang Dynasty and avoid any hint of impropriety.
He then declared that this complex assignment would fall to Xinsilu and Li Qingliu. Li Qingliu attempted to politely decline, arguing that Xinsilu specialized in garments, not intricate art pieces. Though Li Zhao volunteered to take on the task, Du Changfeng produced an imperial decree, leaving Li Qingliu no choice but to accept the order under threat of losing Xinsilu's weaving license.
Back at Xinsilu, Du Xiaoxian worried about the implications of the Nyuertu order, acknowledging its "indecent" nature and Xinsilu's lack of expertise. She even offered to speak with her father, but Li Qingliu firmly asserted that they must see the task through. He considered seeking Long Aoyi's help, but paused, mindful of the lingering rumors of their "water chamber" incident and her current anger following the Double Seventh Festival. He also heard she was spending much time with Prince Zhao.
His aides, Xiao Wu and Yan Bin, presented various Nyuertu drafts, some quite explicit, but none met Li Qingliu's stringent requirement of balancing elegance with the erotic subject matter. Xiao Wu suggested hiring private painters from the lower-class district, noting their strong ties to Long Aoyi, whose influence could easily secure their assistance. However, Li Qingliu, still hesitant to involve Long Aoyi directly, decided to offer exorbitant sums to these painters, convinced that money could solve any problem.
To his surprise, the painters, loyal to Master Long, refused Xinsilu's offers, even a staggering 500 taels of silver per picture, demanding Long Aoyi's personal consent. Even Li Qingliu's direct visit to the lower-class artists ended in him being turned away. During this frustrating search, Li Qingliu and Yan Bin briefly spotted Long Aoyi joyfully playing with a parrot, a gift from Li Zhao, prompting Li Qingliu to quickly depart to avoid a confrontation.
With nearly all options exhausted, they sought out Xu the Incredible, famed as Silver City's foremost Nyuertu painter, known for his eccentric personality. Xu the Incredible, aware of Li Qingliu's generous offers, agreed to consider the commission if Li Qingliu and Yan Bin would share a meal with him. However, the sight of a plate of fried insects on Xu's table sent both Li Qingliu and Yan Bin fleeing in utter disgust.
With no artists secured, Li Qingliu was forced to concede that Long Aoyi was his only remaining option. He dispatched an urgent invitation, requesting a meeting at Wanhua. Long Aoyi, receiving the summons, was visibly thrilled. Xiaoqin and Feng, convinced this was a romantic overture, enthusiastically set about transforming her, adorning her with elegant clothes and rich accessories.
Despite Long Aoyi's protests that it was merely a business meeting and her claims of disliking Li Qingliu, Feng insisted on dressing her well, reminding her that "clothes make the man" and especially so when meeting a silk merchant. Xiaoqin further fueled Long Aoyi's hopes, suggesting Li Qingliu intended to apologize or confess his feelings, given his long absence since the Double Seventh Festival. Long Aoyi, secretly cherishing these thoughts, endured the makeover, which included practicing ladylike poses and pouts.
Her striking transformation drew crowds of admirers on the street, who showered her with compliments and speculated about her "date with a millionaire." At Wanhua, Long Aoyi maintained her refined facade as Li Qingliu spoke in enigmatic terms, presenting two potential paths for their future: one mutually beneficial, the other leading to his sorrow. Long Aoyi, her mind racing with Xiaoqin's predictions, braced herself for an apology or a heartfelt confession.
Her hopes, however, were abruptly dashed when Li Qingliu finally revealed his true purpose: he desperately needed her help with the Nyuertu commission, explaining Xinsilu's designers lacked the expertise for "secular patterns" and asking her to secure Xu the Incredible. Though surprised, annoyed, and undeniably disappointed, Long Aoyi agreed. She immediately proposed a joint venture—a new firm to handle the Nyuertu—with a profit split of sixty percent for her and forty for him.
Justifying her larger share, she cleverly invoked Li Qingliu's own past words: "design is the soul," and challenged him, "Have you ever seen a cheap soul?" Li Qingliu readily accepted the terms. Long Aoyi then named their new enterprise "Qinglong Firm," a portmanteau of "Qing" from his name and "Long" from hers, emphasizing its simplicity, power, and the binding of their interests. Despite Li Qingliu's satisfaction, Long Aoyi returned to Wuyun Pavilion in a fit of rage.
Realizing the meeting had been purely transactional, she was furious at her own naive expectations, which had been fueled by Xiaoqin and Feng’s romantic predictions. In her frustration, she ordered all her newly acquired study books to be burned. Du Xiaoxian confronted her father, Du Changfeng, urging him to prevent Li Qingliu from collaborating with Long Aoyi, fearing Long Aoyi's negative influence.
Du Changfeng, however, dismissed her concerns, instructing her to stay out of the Nyuertu project and assuring her that he had his own strategies for Li Qingliu, subtly hinting that the Nyuertu itself was a trap. Later, in the lower-class district, the Longzhu Gang celebrated the official establishment of the Qinglong Firm. Li Qingliu raised a toast to Long Aoyi, marking their new partnership.
Still resentful, Long Aoyi accepted the toast, declaring that her actions were solely motivated by profit for her and her brothers, not any sense of righteousness. Li Qingliu then proposed another toast to their new "family." Amidst the celebrations, Du Xiaoxian, uninvited, suddenly appeared, questioning her exclusion.
