Resumo do episódio 24 de A Splendid Match
> Resumos de A Splendid Match
Following Chen Yanyun’s release from the Bureau of Justice dungeon, the Chen mansion was abuzz with preparations for his return. The Second Lady, Qin Xianlan, meticulously oversaw the arrangements, ordering osmanthus branches to be gathered for fragrance and wine to be warmed. However, the family soon learned that Yanyun had detoured to Baoxiang Temple to pray and cleanse himself of the perceived misfortune of his imprisonment before coming home.
Reflecting on the grain scandal, Yanyun felt a profound sense of disillusionment regarding his teacher, the Grand Secretary Lord Fu. He realized that to topple his rival Fan Chuan, Lord Fu had callously replaced 200,000 dan of relief grain with wheat bran, treating disaster victims as mere pawns. Yanyun concluded that a man of great talent becomes exponentially more dangerous when consumed by the pursuit of power.
He decided he could no longer walk the same political path as his teacher, despite the isolation this would likely bring in the imperial court. Yanyun met with Gu Jinzhao and presented her with an unconventional gift: a divorce letter he had drafted while in prison. He explained that because she cherished her freedom and his own future was fraught with political danger, he wanted her to have a guaranteed exit.
The letter was signed and sealed but left undated, allowing Jinzhao to leave him at any moment she felt threatened or simply wished to move on. Touched by his selfless consideration for her autonomy, Jinzhao accepted his unique proposal with a kiss. Meanwhile, the Gu family was embroiled in a bitter dispute. The Second Branch demanded 100,000 taels in compensation from Gu Dezhao’s family, blaming his negligence for the household's recent legal troubles.
Dezhao protested, noting he had been demoted to a lowly seventh-rank official and was financially ruined. The tension boiled over when Gu Lian tried to seize Gu Lan’s belongings, resulting in the destruction of a jade necklace left by Gu Lan’s late mother. Gu Jinzhao intervened, silencing the Second Branch by pointing out that they were essentially questioning the Emperor’s final verdict.
She noted that the Second Uncle’s failed promotion was actually due to his own relative, Yao Ping, competing for the same post. To settle the matter, Jinzhao offered to compensate each branch for their documented business losses. She also rewarded Gu Lan for her loyalty—specifically for using her own funds to look after their brother Rong-er in prison—by offering her a share in the renovated Linxia Restaurant.
Later, Ye Xian met with Yanyun to discuss his findings from the imperial archives. He discovered that while records for other officials remained intact, Lord Fu’s files had been systematically destroyed. Yanyun cautioned Ye Xian against moving against Lord Fu yet. With Fan Chuan gone, Lord Fu’s power was absolute, and any premature attack would result in certain defeat.
In a separate meeting, Yao Wenxiu told Gu Lan that he intended to break off his engagement to Gu Lian because he only had eyes for her. Gu Lan, however, saw through his flattery. She realized the Yao family was actually withdrawing because her uncle’s recent imprisonment had ruined his political prospects.
Disgusted by Wenxiu’s duplicity and his attempt to seduce her while her family was vulnerable, she decided to keep the news of the broken engagement secret to ensure Gu Lian would eventually face maximum humiliation. At the Chen mansion, Yanyun’s mother expressed her disapproval of his plan to marry Jinzhao, citing the Gu family's poor reputation and Jinzhao’s headstrong nature. Yanyun explained his strategic reasoning: marrying a woman without political ties was his best defense.
If he married a candidate favored by Lord Fu, like Xue Qinglan, he would be forced into a dangerous factional alliance. Marrying Jinzhao allowed him to maintain a neutral stance, protecting the Chen family if Lord Fu’s faction eventually fell. His mother ultimately relented and gave her blessing. Xue Qinglan made a bold appearance at the Bureau of Justice to declare her feelings for Ye Xian, but he remained cold.
He revealed that he had suffered from a chronic heart condition since childhood, caused by being poisoned under the guise of medical treatment. He warned her that his days were numbered and that pestering him would only lead to her becoming a widow. When she accused him of being in love with Gu Jinzhao, Ye Xian lost his patience and ordered her to leave.
