Resumo do episódio 6 de Marvelous Women
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In a weaving competition, judges Cao Wenbin and Li Zhao evaluate the works from various workshops. Cao Wenbin initially praises Shen Cuixi's work. However, Li Zhao, emphasizing that the competition requires creations made entirely of "kèsī" (kesi silk tapestry), points out that many entries, including one featuring a "Prosperous Golden Pheasant Diagram" praised by Cao Wenbin, incorporated embroidery.
At this point, Zeng Baoqin presents her "Apricot Blossom Diagram," which Li Zhao verifies is made purely with "kèsī" using a unique and rare "qiangse" (resist dyeing) method. Li Zhao, already favoring Zeng Baoqin, commends her work for fully meeting the competition requirements and declares Zeng Baoqin's Qingyue Workshop the new Lead Weaver of Suzhou, granting it the authority to buy silk and hire artisans.
Shen Cuixi is surprised by Zeng Baoqin's mastery of pure "kèsī", recalling that when she and Ren Xuetang had previously inquired with the Old Madam about using only "kèsī", the Old Madam had claimed no such technique existed. As the newly appointed Lead Weaver, Zeng Baoqin summons Shen Cuixi for a meeting by the river. Despite the advice from Shu Fang and Qiao'er against it, Shen Cuixi, as a weaver, understands she has no grounds to refuse.
At the riverside, Zeng Baoqin holds a letter Ren Xuetang left for her, deeply reminiscing about their past. She recalls how Ren Xuetang, even after she became a courtesan, showed her kindness and brought her back to Suzhou. She remembers initially feeling unworthy, no longer a lady but a "lowly courtesan," but Ren Xuetang stopped her, affirming they grew up together as soulmates and she was the wife he had always wanted to marry.
Moved, Zeng Baoqin agreed to return with him. During their meeting, Zeng Baoqin directly tells Shen Cuixi that while the Old Madam admired Shen Cuixi, she ultimately knew Shen Cuixi was not Ren Xuetang's true love and feared she might harm the Ren family. Therefore, the Old Madam had withheld the "qiangse" method from Shen Cuixi, teaching it to Ren Xuetang before her death, who then passed it on to Zeng Baoqin.
Zeng Baoqin mocks Shen Cuixi, claiming that despite being the First Madam of the Ren family, her life is harder, and advises Shen Cuixi to give up on Ren Xuetang. She further provokes Shen Cuixi by deliberately reading aloud from Ren Xuetang's farewell letter, reminding Shen Cuixi that she received no such letter.
Zeng Baoqin dismisses Shen Cuixi's control over the Ren family business, stating it means nothing if Ren Xuetang doesn't love her, and gloats that the Suzhou Lead Weaver title, held by the Ren family for three generations, has now been lost under Shen Cuixi's watch. She challenges Shen Cuixi to explain this to the family elders and demands that Shen Cuixi personally return Ren Xiushan to her. The confrontation enrages Shen Cuixi to the point of hallucination, blurring her vision.
Concurrently, the Ren family elders convene, demanding Shen Cuixi relinquish her position as head of the family to Ren Rufeng and move to a small courtyard to account for the loss of the Lead Weaver title. Shen Cuixi requests a few days from Seventh Uncle to arrange her affairs and people, promising to provide a full explanation. Soon after, she hands the family head token to Ren Rufeng, instructing Shu Fang to remain with him.
She also prepares to move into the small courtyard, giving her "Wan Nian Ru Yi Diagram" to Qiao'er as a dowry for her upcoming marriage to Ding Rong, lamenting that she can no longer give Qiao'er the grand wedding she had envisioned. A long-serving servant, Aunt Fu, insists that Shen Cuixi take her daughter, Xiao Lan, to the courtyard to care for her; Shen Cuixi initially resists but eventually agrees.
Shen Cuixi is then confined to the small courtyard, with only a small opening for meals. Meanwhile, fearing Li Zhao, Ren Rufeng complies with the Weaving Bureau's demand that all weaving households surrender their looms, nearly emptying the Ren family's Qingyue Workshop. Seventh Uncle scolds Ren Rufeng for mismanaging the family, but Ren Rufeng ignores him. On the day Qingyue Workshop officially opens, Qiao'er marries into the Ding family, but few guests attend her wedding.
Mrs. Ding, Qiao'er's future mother-in-law, would undoubtedly have opposed the marriage if she knew Shen Cuixi had offended Li Zhao. Confined to the small courtyard, Shen Cuixi tirelessly weaves "kèsī" day and night, often neglecting to eat or drink until persuaded by her attendant, Xiao Lan. The meals delivered to her become increasingly simple and meager, often lacking meat.
However, Shen Cuixi remains indifferent to her own hardship, caring only that Ren Xiushan receives sufficient and nourishing food, as he is still growing. One day, Li Zhao and Zeng Baoqin arrive at the Ren family residence, intending to take Ren Xiushan as an apprentice. Shu Fang intervenes, pulling Ren Rufeng aside.
She reminds him of his familial affection for his brother and sister-in-law, advising him not to allow Ren Xiushan to be taken and providing him with a strategy to handle Li Zhao and Zeng Baoqin. Following her advice, Ren Rufeng tells Li Zhao and Zeng Baoqin that Shen Cuixi treasures Ren Xiushan so much that she would not even bring the child out. Zeng Baoqin questions his meaning.
