Resumo do episódio 12 de Faithful
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Seven years after the tragic Rulan case, Huangji Embroidery House has flourished under the management of Huang Jiao-jiao, achieving self-sufficiency in silk production, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery, no longer relying on Yanyu Tower's business. One day, Ms. Chen from Yanyu Tower came, seeking to purchase purple silk thread for Wu Lian's "white crane" embroidery. Huang Jiao-jiao, while appearing apologetic, explained that their stock of the necessary plant roots for the purple dye, "miao cigen," had been depleted.
She offered to personally gather the roots from the mountains, which would take "three to five days, at most half a month." Ms. Chen, understanding this polite refusal as a clear sign of Huang Jiao-jiao's reluctance to cooperate, retorted that Huang Jiao-jiao's business had grown too big, and she dared not accept such a great kindness, promptly leaving.
Huang Jiao-jiao then lamented to her assistant, Nan, about Ms. Chen’s constant slandering of Huangji and predicted that Yanyu Tower would now make it harder for them to survive. Nan showed her the numerous petitions for Rulan’s unjust case that were now posted everywhere, but Huang Jiao-jiao decided they should focus on their own business and not get involved in old affairs. She then went to a hidden room within her embroidery house to check on a large, mysterious order.
There, she addressed several embroideresses, urging them to remain cautious and hidden due to the unrest outside, and reassuring them about the unusual order's anonymous buyer. She also promised to secure their official household registration once her connections with the authorities were solidified, ensuring they would no longer live in fear. To gain favor with Mrs. Lou, Mrs. Ning had Wu Lian create a new Yanyu Embroidery.
Wu Lian explained to Mrs. Ning that due to time constraints, he substituted purple thread with gold thread for the "white crane" embroidery, which ultimately enhanced its elegance. Mrs. Ning, aware that Mrs. Lou had previously sought Yanyu Embroidery, instructed Wu Lian on how to present the piece, highlighting its uniqueness as a "white crane" pattern by the renowned artist Qin Qizhi.
She then issued a stern warning to Wu Lian, stating that with Lou Mingzhang now residing in the yamen specifically to investigate him, this was his "last chance," and any further misstep would leave him without protection. Wu Lian acknowledged her concern. Later, Mrs. Ning presented the exquisite "white crane" Yanyu Embroidery to Mrs. Lou. Mrs. Lou, though delighted, initially hesitated to accept such a valuable gift, citing the principle of "no merit, no reward."
Meng Wan subtly intervened, eloquently emphasizing the value of the gift as a token of appreciation for Mr. Lou and Mrs. Lou's public service and selflessness, making it difficult for Mrs. Lou to refuse. Mrs. Ning, impressed by Meng Wan's tact, praised her eloquence and tea-making skills, inviting her to share tea someday. Mrs. Lou finally accepted the gift, and Mrs. Ning invited them for a casual gathering at Zuixian Restaurant.
Back home, Mrs. Lou gleefully showed off the unique Yanyu Embroidery to her husband, Lou Mingzhang. However, upon learning it was a gift from Mrs. Ning, Lou Mingzhang's demeanor changed, and he insisted she return it to avoid future entanglements. Mrs. Lou, unwilling to part with her cherished new garment, vehemently refused, even suggesting he write a divorce letter and send her back to her parents' home if he was so determined. Seeing her persistence, Lou Mingzhang relented.
He then used the opportunity to discuss the Rulan case, noting the lack of progress due to missing lawyers and Rulan's parents being unheard of. Realizing the connection to Yanyu Tower's collusion with Ning Mansion, he agreed to accompany his wife to the banquet at Zuixian Restaurant, viewing it as a prime chance to further his investigation. At the banquet, Lou Mingzhang respectfully greeted Mrs. Ning before they all sat down.
Mrs. Ning praised Mrs. Lou’s new Yanyu Embroidery and then steered the conversation towards the recent unrest in Huaizhou, expressing her unease about public grievances due to Wu Lian’s troubles, especially since she was his regular customer. Lou Mingzhang then inquired about the Rulan case from seven years ago.
Mrs. Ning vaguely recalled the incident, discrediting Rulan by spreading rumors about her having a "bad reputation," being engaged, and having an "unclear relationship" with a bandit, admitting she had no evidence but heard it from "the streets." Suddenly, several women dressed in red cloaks burst into the room. A bewildered Mrs. Ning questioned Meng Wan if this was her doing, but Meng Wan denied it.
As the women performed a short dance, they dramatically shed their cloaks, revealing identical, loosely-fitted dresses adorned with the very same "white crane" Yanyu Embroidery pattern that Mrs. Lou was wearing. This audacious display, planned by Meng Wan who had secretly commissioned the city's best painters to replicate the pattern overnight, shocked Mrs. Ning and Mrs. Lou, while enraging Lou Mingzhang.
Just as the chaos peaked, Liu Sanniang rushed in, feigning surprise and claiming the dancers had mistakenly entered "Ru Yue Tai" instead of "Xing Yue Ge" where their performance was scheduled. She quickly ushered the embarrassed dancers out, along with a mortified Mrs. Lou, who tried to hide her face. After the disastrous banquet, a confident Wu Lian, expecting praise, waited outside in his carriage.
However, he was met with a harsh dismissal from Mrs. Ning, who, through her coachman, declared that she "didn't want to see him anymore." Wu Lian, bewildered, tried to press for answers, but Mrs. Ning's carriage quickly departed, leaving him to ponder his abrupt downfall. With Her Majesty's birthday less than two months away, Mrs. Ning was constantly hounded by letters from the Ministry of Rites.
Following the disastrous banquet and her decisive break with Wu Lian, she was desperate for a new tribute gift. She turned to Meng Wan for ideas, who confidently proposed a suitable candidate. The next day, Meng Wan initiated a search for embroidery samples across Huaizhou.
Huang Jiao-jiao, who had personally witnessed Wu Lian's public disgrace at Zuixian Restaurant the previous night (having been subtly led there by a maid), and having now heard about Mrs. Ning's search for new samples, decided to present her finest samples to the Xu Mansion. At the Xu Mansion, a throng of embroidery house owners had gathered, hoping for an audience. Meng Wan's maid, Lancui, announced that Meng Wan was not seeing guests, sending most of the hopeful merchants away.
However, Huang Jiao-jiao, who had evidently pre-arranged her visit, approached Lancui discreetly, tipping her with a hairpin for clearing the way. Lancui then escorted Huang Jiao-jiao to Meng Wan. Huang Jiao-jiao introduced herself as "Silk Thread Huang," a renowned supplier to even Wu Lian, hinting at her unique expertise. Meng Wan, however, bypassed the embroidery samples.
Instead, she expressed a direct interest in visiting Huangji Embroidery House, stating, "If you are here for the Ning Mansion, why not take me directly to your embroidery house?" Huang Jiao-jiao, though initially perplexed and concerned, agreed to take Meng Wan to Huangji Embroidery House. As they walked through the workshop, Huang Jiao-jiao proudly explained her transition from a silk thread business to a renowned embroidery house and introduced her signature "Huaijin Embroidery."
She described it as a fusion of a unique "gold embroidery" technique and local Huaizhou artistry, resulting in a complex yet elegant style that stood out from the prevalent plain and elegant designs. She explained her philosophy of "I have what you don't," arguing against imitating Yanyu Tower and lamenting the challenges faced by her all-female establishment under Yanyu Tower's dominance.
She even offered a co-ownership deal to Meng Wan, claiming her business was on the verge of collapse despite its reputation. Meng Wan, however, gently steered the conversation away from business partnerships, expressing her keen interest in "her unseen friends." She revealed her observation of old clothes with non-Huaizhou styles drying in the courtyard, surmising that Huang Jiao-jiao had acquired a rare needlework technique from an external source.
Recognizing Meng Wan’s sharp intellect, Huang Jiao-jiao led her to a secret room where several women were diligently working. She then confessed that three years prior, while collecting silkworms, she rescued several refugee women. She sheltered them and discovered their mastery of "gold embroidery," which, combined with her savings, gave birth to Huangji Embroidery House and its unique Huaijin Embroidery.
Meng Wan, confirming her intuition about Huang Jiao-jiao's character, then presented her daring proposition: with Her Majesty's birthday looming in just over a month, and Mrs. Ning desperately seeking a replacement for the now-abandoned Yanyu Embroidery, Huangji Embroidery House had an unparalleled opportunity. She emphasized that success would mean securing all future orders from the Ning Mansion and potentially attracting clients from the capital.
Although taking on such a task would make Huang Jiao-jiao an "eyesore to Wu Lian," Huang Jiao-jiao, embracing the spirit of "fortune favors the bold," declared her willingness to accept. When Huang Jiao-jiao worried about the tight deadline for a new design, Meng Wan, to Huang Jiao-jiao's surprise, revealed that she had already secretly placed a large "birthday" order with Huangji three months ago, specifically for this purpose. With the plan set, Meng Wan announced that Mrs. Ning was "waiting."
Huang Jiao-jiao, still somewhat confused but eagerly anticipating new opportunities, accompanied Meng Wan to the Ning Mansion. Before their meeting, Huang Jiao-jiao playfully questioned Meng Wan about her intricate schemes, realizing Meng Wan had orchestrated her involvement by placing a large order three months prior and using her assistant Yunniang to lure her to the Zuixian Restaurant. Meng Wan simply accepted the compliment about her cleverness.
Inside, Meng Wan presented Huaijin Embroidery samples to Mrs. Ning, who immediately recognized the unique style and, with a cold expression, directly addressed Meng Wan by her true name, "Meng Wan," revealing that Wu Lian had exposed her identity. Meng Wan, now unmasked, dropped her pretense. Mrs. Ning, feeling betrayed, accused Meng Wan of "fooling her for months" despite considering her a friend. Meng Wan countered, stating that their friendship became impossible the day Rulan died seven years ago.
She boldly warned Mrs. Ning that her priority should be self-preservation, not protecting Wu Lian, and revealed that she was behind Lou Mingzhang's timely arrival in Huaizhou to investigate Wu Lian's smuggling case. She recounted the many women whose lives Wu Lian had ruined or taken in Yanyu Tower, implying Mrs. Ning's complicity through her protection of him.
An enraged Mrs. Ning, attempting to physically harm Meng Wan by throwing an object that cut her face, ordered her and Huang Jiao-jiao out of the mansion, forbidding them from ever returning. Meng Wan, unfazed, declared that she was not acting alone and reiterated that Mrs. Ning had to choose whose side to be on—hers or Wu Lian's.
Outside the mansion, Huang Jiao-jiao, seeing Meng Wan’s facial injury, expressed her deep regret for not speaking up seven years ago when she witnessed Rulan's lawyer entering Wu Lian's study before the trial. She confessed her lasting guilt and her understanding of the challenges women faced, assuring Meng Wan that despite the deception, she was now firmly on her side.
That night, Mrs. Ning pondered her difficult position, reflecting on the coldness of Huaizhou compared to the capital and her uncertain future, wondering if she would ever return. Meanwhile, Liu Xin questioned Meng Wan if their efforts had failed, fearing they had chosen the wrong path. Meng Wan, however, instructed him to await further instructions.
Later that night, an overjoyed Huang Jiao-jiao rushed to Meng Wan's residence, bearing incredible news: the Ning Mansion had sent messengers with a substantial sum of money, confirming Mrs. Ning's decision to commission Huaijin Embroidery for Her Majesty's birthday. Meng Wan, elated that her calculated gamble had succeeded, immediately instructed Liu Xin to find their next crucial ally.
