Resumo do episódio 10 de Faithful
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Seven years later, Feng Da was working as an escort leader for Huashi Escort Agency. However, his careless actions and personal consumption of eight of the Kunshan crabs he was hired to transport, which were already suffering significant losses, led to a substantial financial setback for Mr. Hu and incurred the Manager's fury.
The Manager threatened to fire Feng Da, declaring that he had offended all their clients, and ordered him to return to his former life as a bandit at Heifeng Camp without his pay. Just as the Manager was about to dismiss him, a client arrived, specifically requesting Feng Da for an escort. This client was Meng Wan, though Feng Da initially didn't recognize her.
Meng Wan identified him as Feng Da, the former second in command of Heifeng Camp, recalling how his bandit group was disbanded after robbing a government convoy years ago, angering the court and leading to its suppression. Feng Da tried to brush off the past, asking if she needed to escort goods or people. Meng Wan specified "people," adding that he would need to "grab" them.
She then reminded him of a promise he had made to a young girl seven years prior, which finally sparked recognition in Feng Da. Following Meng Wan's instructions, Feng Da orchestrated a staged rescue. Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang of Huainan East Circuit, on an incognito visit with his wife to admonish officials and secretly investigate collusion between officials and merchants, encountered what appeared to be robbers in a forest near Huaizhou.
Mrs. Lou, sensing an ambush aimed at her husband, urged him to be cautious. Lou Mingzhang calmly prepared for death, having already arranged his affairs. When the "robbers" demanded their valuables, Lou Mingzhang noted their unusual demeanor, realizing they were merely after money. Suddenly, Feng Da dramatically intervened, identifying himself as "Double Hammer Feng from Huashi Escort Agency," and drove off the "bandits" who clearly knew him and gave him "face."
Feng Da then offered to escort Lou Mingzhang and his wife to the capital. However, Lou Mingzhang, seeing through the act, immediately realized Feng Da and the "robbers" were in cahoots and demanded to know who instructed him. Annoyed that "those women's ideas" for the staged rescue were not as straightforward as his usual methods (which would involve his hammer), Feng Da apologized before knocking both Lou Mingzhang and his wife unconscious to proceed with the plan.
Upon waking, Lou Mingzhang found Feng Da watching over him. Feng Da, with some humorous mispronunciations, revealed he knew Lou Mingzhang's true identity as the Judicial Commissioner of Huainan East Circuit and his mission to investigate corruption. When asked who instructed him, Feng Da claimed it was the "civilians of Huaizhou Prefecture," explaining that a "vicious dog" (referring to Wu Lian) was dominating the area, and Lou Mingzhang was the one to beat the dog.
Lou Mingzhang, realizing he was being manipulated into investigating in Huaizhou, questioned Feng Da's motives, to which Feng Da implicitly challenged his integrity by asking if he was a corrupt official. Lou Mingzhang denied it. They then proceeded to the Huaizhou Prefecture Yamen, where Lou Mingzhang interrogated Prefect Chen Zhiyuan about a recent cargo ship robbery, which he suspected involved smuggling.
Prefect Chen was evasive, attempting to downplay the incident, and tried to divert Lou Mingzhang with an offer of a welcome party at Zuixian Restaurant. Lou Mingzhang, unswayed and with Feng Da interjecting to stop the Prefect's "tricks," reprimanded the Prefect for his dishonesty and ordered him to hand over his official seal, suspending him for investigation.
He then directed Feng Da to take him to the pier, intending to personally oversee the arrival of the two individuals from the ship. Back at Ning Mansion, Mrs. Ning paced anxiously, awaiting news from the pier, where Wu Lian's ship remained stationary. Meng Wan, whom Mrs. Ning now regarded as a trusted advisor, appeared composed, calmly drinking her tea.
Mrs. Ning expressed her helplessness, and Meng Wan observed that Wu Lian's ship was in the middle of the river, "easy to defend and hard to attack," suggesting that only an even larger vessel could enable Yamen soldiers to rescue him. This only deepened Mrs. Ning's distress.
The situation escalated when a messenger from the Yamen reported that Prefect Chen Zhiyuan had been suspended by a high-ranking official, Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang of Huainan East Circuit, who had already gone to the pier. The ship had since docked, implying Wu Lian was now facing trial. Mrs. Ning, recognizing Lou Mingzhang's reputation as an impartial and highly trusted official, was perplexed as to why he had stopped in Huaizhou, as he was due to return to the capital.
She recalled a past incident where she prevented Wu Lian from selling Yanyu Embroidery to Lou Mingzhang's wife, worrying it might be held against them. She lamented being deceived by a "lame fortune teller" and her own maid, acknowledging Meng Wan's earlier warnings. Meng Wan, in turn, advised Mrs. Ning to focus on the current predicament, subtly suggesting that "now is the best time for you to let go" of her attachment to Wu Lian.
At the Huaizhou Prefecture Yamen, Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang presided over the hearing of Wu Lian and Zhao Yin. Zhao Yin immediately erupted in anger, calling Wu Lian a "bastard" and attempting to attack him, claiming Wu Lian had framed him. Lou Mingzhang calmed the court. Wu Lian, surprised by Lou Mingzhang's presence, denied any crime. Zhao Yin then vehemently accused Wu Lian of violating the women in Yanyu Tower, stating that "almost all" of them had been victimized.
Wu Lian interrupted, dismissing these as "old false accusations" from seven years ago, claiming they had been withdrawn. Lou Mingzhang stopped Wu Lian's interruption, allowing Zhao Yin to continue his accusations. Lou Mingzhang then presented boxes of Yanyu Embroidery from the ship, which Wu Lian acknowledged were made by him and his embroideresses. When questioned about the illegal production of royal tributes and smuggling for massive profits, Wu Lian denied it.
He claimed his relationship with Zhao Yin was purely a business transaction, and what Zhao Yin did with the embroideries afterward was not his concern. He challenged Lou Mingzhang to prove they were royal tributes, then meticulously explained that the "auspicious beast" embroidered was, in fact, a Qilin, not a dragon, with specific features like a short body, long tail, four whiskers, and a single mane, and notably, its eyes were not dotted.
He asserted that these details ensured the embroidery lacked the specific characteristics required for royal tributes, thus adhering to all regulations and never overstepping any ritualistic boundaries. He proudly stated Yanyu Embroidery had never erred in royal commissions, asserting he was merely "careful and prudent" as a craftsman.
Lou Mingzhang noted Wu Lian's foresight in preparing a meticulous defense strategy to "retreat completely" even before facing court, but Wu Lian maintained his innocence, stating he had "never been stained, so how can there be any talk of clearing my name?" Seeing Wu Lian's successful self-exoneration, Zhao Yin, enraged, called him a "bastard" again, accusing him of being "unfaithful and unrighteous" for twisting black and white.
Lou Mingzhang, appearing to accept Wu Lian's defense, implied Zhao Yin was solely guilty of abusing power, engaging in illegal trade, and large-scale smuggling as the Maritime Trade Commissioner, suggesting immediate punishment. Desperate, Zhao Yin burst out, claiming Wu Lian initiated the smuggling by contacting him first, and had "violated the embroideresses" seven years ago, seeking Zhao Yin's help to bribe Huaizhou officials and clear his name by offering a lucrative smuggling deal for royal embroideries to Arab countries.
However, when asked for physical evidence or witnesses, Zhao Yin could provide none. Lou Mingzhang ended the court session, deeming the case unfinished and stating he would report it in detail in the capital after his scheduled report. He arranged a private meeting for that night and had Zhao Yin taken away, while Wu Lian, seemingly cleared, left to prepare for the Empress Dowager's birthday, agreeing to cooperate if needed.
After the court session, Mrs. Ning, fearing broader implications for herself, decided to feign illness and refuse any visitors, especially Wu Lian. Wu Lian, seemingly unfazed, returned to Yanyu Tower and instructed his aide to investigate Meng Wan's background, as her family had vanished seven years prior and were now untraceable. He also inquired about the new embroideress who had recently joined, confirming she was in the fifth room of the East Wing.
Meanwhile, Lou Mingzhang, having reviewed the situation, acknowledged that the current accusations against Wu Lian for smuggling and violation lacked any substantial evidence for investigation. His wife, Mrs. Lou, also pointed to the seven-year-old official case files related to an embroideress accusing Wu Lian, stating they indicated no injustice and merely a "small trick" by a girl who wanted to marry him.
She then urgently pressed Lou Mingzhang to prioritize his safety and return to the capital to report his existing findings, suggesting they defer further investigation into the complex Huaizhou case, especially given his critical official duties. Concurring that they should return to the capital, Lou Mingzhang decided to depart the next day, taking Zhao Yin to the capital, and to deliberate on other matters later.
Feng Da, overhearing, tried to stop him, reminding him the "vicious dog" (Wu Lian) hadn't been caught. At a gathering that night, Meng Wan, Liu Sanniang, Liu Xin, Shen Mu, and Feng Da discussed the day's events. Liu Xin expressed relief that Wu Lian hadn't been taken to the capital, fearing he would easily escape and then retaliate with a false accusation. Feng Da, frustrated by the lack of resolution, impulsively suggested raiding Yanyu Tower that very night.
Liu Xin, despite his earlier bickering with Feng Da, readily agreed. Liu Sanniang, observing their shared eagerness, dismissed them as "rotten snails meeting hungry old crows, stinking together," criticizing their eagerness to act as "brutes" driven by "personal revenge." This led to a heated exchange where Feng Da retorted that she was no different, being motivated by revenge for her "crazy young master."
Shen Mu, emphasizing his duty in the Imperial City Guard, warned against harming Wu Lian for personal vendettas, threatening to arrest them if they engaged in murder and plunder. Feng Da clarified he only wanted "his leg," not his life, playfully calling Shen Mu "nagging like a woman." Meng Wan intervened, bringing calm to the bickering group. She acknowledged that Wu Lian's meticulousness had indeed prevented Zhao Yin from presenting concrete evidence.
She explained that to truly bring Wu Lian down, they needed to "chop off his two legs." The first was Mrs. Ning, the Duchess, who connected him to imperial relatives, elevating Yanyu Embroidery's fame to a divine status and earning him immense prestige. The second was Zhao Yin, who facilitated his illegal wealth through the Maritime Trade Bureau by smuggling forged royal tributes.
Meng Wan confirmed that Zhao Yin's "leg" was now completely broken, but Mrs. Ning's connection to Wu Lian remained, like "a lotus root whose fibers, though broken, still connect." Therefore, their next crucial step was to "keep Judicial Commissioner Lou Mingzhang in Huaizhou Prefecture." She emphasized that Lou Mingzhang was the ideal person due to his "people-oriented mindset," and possessing all the necessary "official position, duty, power, and good temperament," requiring a significant case to hold his attention.
She rallied them, quoting, "If a thousand people share the same mind, they have the strength of a thousand. If ten thousand people have different minds, it's useless even if there are ten thousand," stressing the need for unity to succeed. True to her word, Meng Wan set her plan in motion.
She mobilized her allies: many scholars diligently wrote countless complaints detailing various injustices, while others took to the streets under the cover of night, posting them on every wall and doorway across Huaizhou Prefecture, including the gates of Ning Mansion. By morning, the city was abuzz with widespread public outcry. Crowds gathered, discussing a particularly tragic case of a 15-year-old girl, Lin Rulan, who was brutally violated and died, with public opinion split between suicide and murder.
The commotion reached Lou Mingzhang and Feng Da. Feng Da observed the prominent display of three plaques—"Ning Duchess's Mansion," "Huaizhou Yamen," and "Yanyu Tower"—arranged symbolically, asking Lou Mingzhang if it suggested that Ning Mansion and the Yamen acted as the "left and right guardians" of Yanyu Tower.
This visual confirmation, combined with the public outcry, solidified Lou Mingzhang's belief that Wu Lian had a powerful backer, convincing him that the matter was far from simple and he could not leave Huaizhou. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ning, informed of the widespread complaints, recognized the truth in the accusations against Wu Lian. She was aware that Lou Mingzhang was initially preparing to leave Huaizhou, an opportunity she would have seized to distance herself from Wu Lian.
However, with Lou Mingzhang now committed to a thorough investigation and vowing to find the truth, Mrs. Ning felt compelled to protect Wu Lian, declaring that even if he were to die, he must die "innocently." Meng Wan, inquiring about Mrs. Ning's reaction, concluded that they had underestimated the Duchess and that Mrs. Ning still needed "a good push." Meng Wan then revealed that a new act in their unfolding "good show" was about to begin, indicating her next plan.
