Rebirth For You Episode 15 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Baoning confronted Nanny Tian about her theft, who remained speechless. Baoning then called in Jiaoxing, Nanny Tian's foster daughter. Jiaoxing revealed Nanny Tian had adopted her and treated her kindly only to exploit her. Nanny Tian, addicted to gambling and deeply in debt, first forced Jiaoxing to sell Li Dongzhi's valuables. When that wasn't enough, she coerced Jiaoxing into stealing official documents from Li Changqing's study for money, threatening to marry her to her "retarded son" if she refused.
When Baoning attempted to press Nanny Tian for further confessions, Gao Miaorong, fearing exposure, subtly prompted He Cuihua. He Cuihua then feigned extreme anger, denouncing Nanny Tian as an "unconscionable woman" and swiftly ordering her removal, effectively silencing her before she could reveal anything more. Baoning could only acquiesce.
Following this, Li Changqing, disappointed with Gao Miaorong's poor management, revoked her authority over household affairs and entrusted it to Baoning, emphasizing the need to rectify the Li family's conduct and restore order. Gao Miaorong, resentful of losing her authority, confronted Baoning, sarcastically complimenting her "impressive" tactics in seizing control and asking if Baoning would eventually expel her, just like Nanny Tian.
Baoning warned Gao Miaorong to stop crossing the line, telling her that her future in the household depended on her own actions and earned respect. Li Qian, who overheard the exchange, was furious at Gao Miaorong's disrespectful demeanor towards his wife.
Despite Gao Miaorong's attempts to explain, claiming Baoning was constantly targeting her, Li Qian accused her of venting her frustration after her attempts to instigate trouble failed, expressing his profound disappointment in her true nature, which he admitted he had never seen clearly before. A tearful Gao Miaorong then questioned if she was now "unbearable" in his eyes.
When Li Lin tried to comfort her, she pushed him away, lamenting that Li Qian now had a woman he wanted to protect and was "bewitched" by Baoning, but vowed he would eventually realize she was the most important woman in his life. Li Qian discussed his sister, Li Dongzhi, with Baoning, noting her stubborn nature and the need for her to understand right from wrong to avoid being taken advantage of. Li Qian then had Li Dongzhi brought in.
Li Dongzhi tearfully apologized to Baoning for her past rudeness. Baoning graciously forgave her, calling her a "heroine" who had simply been misled, and even expressing understanding for her preference for men's clothing. Li Dongzhi was overjoyed, feeling she had found a true confidante. The two women quickly bonded, playfully "badmouthing" Li Qian, with Li Dongzhi describing him as headstrong and possessive, always getting what he wanted. Baoning even jokingly agreed that she had been "abducted."
Li Qian, overhearing their lighthearted conversation, feigned anger and playfully chased Li Dongzhi out of the room, before returning to share a fond laugh with Baoning. To better manage the Li mansion, Baoning, with Shanhu's assistance, brought in a new group of carefully selected servants. Baoning established new, strict family rules, forbidding theft, fighting, private drinking, and gambling, while promoting accountability.
She also introduced incentives: double wages for five years of service and freedom from servitude for ten years of diligent and loyal service. Li Changqing was highly impressed with Baoning's effective management. Meanwhile, Gao Miaorong, having lost her administrative power and illicit income (which she and He Cuihua had previously gained from affairs like Nanny Tian's theft), secretly gave He Cuihua an increased "revenue from usury," explaining it included her personal offering.
He Cuihua complained that Baoning’s control of the household finances had cut off their illegal earnings, and that Li Changqing now praised Baoning's intelligence while calling He Cuihua foolish. Gao Miaorong assured He Cuihua that she had other, more significant ways to make money for the family. Later, Gao Miaorong’s uncle confronted her about colluding with servants in private usury, urging her to stop before Li Changqing discovered it and expelled her.
Gao Miaorong, however, defended her actions, claiming they were "for the Li family's good," and vehemently denied being jealous of Baoning, asserting that Li Qian's talents were too vast for Bingzhou and promising to prove her value.
Subsequently, Gao Miaorong approached Li Lin, subtly manipulating him by highlighting his position as the eldest son, yet being relegated to managing chores, and provoked him to consider making a plan for his own future, implicitly suggesting the illegal money house as a means to achieve wealth. He Cuihua furiously scolded Li Dongzhi for flying a kite on the roof, threatening her until Li Dongzhi fled the mansion.
Meanwhile, Li Lin met with his friend Cai Shuang, whom he had previously helped. Li Lin proposed a "lucrative business": investing military pay into an illegal money house to "make money from money." He asked Cai Shuang, who managed military finances, to facilitate this, promising Cai Shuang "uncountable silver" and a bright future. Although Cai Shuang was initially hesitant about using military funds, he ultimately agreed.
Soon after, Gao Miaorong delivered 20,000 taels to the madam running the illegal money house. The madam was surprised by the large sum, as her business typically handled smaller amounts for ladies. Gao Miaorong promised more money would follow and, when the madam expressed hesitation, threatened to take her business to the Dong family, securing the madam's acceptance. Later, Li Dongzhi, while wandering the streets, encountered Shanhu, who was on her way to inspect the Qinfang Pavilion, a well-known brothel.
Despite Shanhu's concerns about He Cuihua's reaction, Li Dongzhi, eager to experience the world, insisted on accompanying her. At the Qinfang Pavilion, Li Dongzhi, still dressed in male attire, immediately drew the attention of the courtesans, who surrounded her. Qing An, a young man observing her discomfort, stepped in to help her. He then playfully encouraged her to flirt with one of the courtesans, which inadvertently provoked a possessive patron.
Qing An and Li Dongzhi quickly fought off the patron's men and fled, eventually finding refuge in a bustling bathhouse. Inside, Qing An light-heartedly invited Li Dongzhi to join him for a bath. Startled and embarrassed, Li Dongzhi quickly made an excuse about an injury and fled, with Qing An following close behind. They later sat by a river, drinking and conversing.
Qing An introduced himself as a merchant who traveled between Yongqing and Mu'an, explaining his philosophy of avoiding marriage in turbulent times, viewing material wealth and even ancestral worship as fleeting. Li Dongzhi found herself agreeing wholeheartedly, confiding that her mother constantly pressured her to marry, but she felt too young and had important things to accomplish. She expressed fears that marriage would "tie her down."
Qing An reassured her, asserting that men should never be confined by marriage, echoing her sentiments. Later that evening, Li Qian took Baoning out for a rare stroll through a bustling night market, explaining the tradition of releasing river lanterns, which fishermen used to pray for safe passage. Touched by the custom, Baoning launched a lantern, wishing for peace and an end to all warfare in Mu’an State.
Li Qian then released his own lantern, making a heartfelt wish for "long-lasting happiness" with his "beloved" and to "never be separated." Baoning received an invitation to Dong Old Madam's birthday celebration. Although initially hesitant, she decided to attend out of gratitude for Shanhu's help.
He Cuihua, disliking social events, requested Baoning to take Li Dongzhi, hoping it would be an opportunity to find her a suitable husband, a suggestion Li Qian supported, light-heartedly remarking that Li Dongzhi could also protect Baoning. He Cuihua resorted to emotional blackmail, threatening to "die" if Li Dongzhi refused to attend and change into female attire. Li Dongzhi reluctantly agreed.
He Cuihua then lovingly dressed her daughter, using royal cosmetics and showering her with compliments, hoping to secure a good match. At the banquet, Zhuang Furong openly mocked Li Dongzhi's unladylike walk and suggested she was desperately seeking a husband. Li Dongzhi, however, retorted sharply, comparing Zhuang Furong unfavorably to the graceful courtesans of Qinfang Pavilion, praising their beauty and musical talent over Zhuang Furong's. Enraged, Zhuang Furong pushed Li Dongzhi into a pond.
Qing An, who was also attending the banquet, immediately rescued Li Dongzhi from the water, recognizing her and realizing she was, in fact, a woman. Baoning, upon seeing a drenched Li Dongzhi, instantly understood what had transpired and confronted Madam Zhuang, demanding an explanation and apology.
Madam Zhuang initially tried to downplay the incident as a "girls' bicker" with shared fault, but Baoning, standing firm, emphasized the Li family's reputation for integrity and subtly warned against rumors that could tarnish Zhuang Furong's name. When Madam Zhuang remained uncooperative, Baoning directly challenged Zhuang Furong, who defiantly denied any wrongdoing and showed disrespect to Baoning.
This prompted Madam Zhuang to slap her own daughter, forcing Zhuang Furong to kneel and offer a sincere apology to Baoning, and subsequently to Li Dongzhi. Later that evening, back home, Li Qian heard about the day's events. He embraced Baoning, praising her courageous defense of his sister. Late that night, Li Qian received urgent military intelligence: King Qing was critically ill, and Qing Tai had seized military power, amassing a large army to march south.
Li Qian immediately rushed back to the military camp. Emperor Zhao Yi, informed of the situation, defiantly declared his intention to fight and win against Yongqing State, disregarding his ministers' advice that it was "not a good time to come into the war." He ordered the Border Battalion to "hit the enemies hard."
General Jin then appointed Li Qian as the first vanguard to lead the Xuanjia Battalion to the front, and Zhao Xiao also requested to join, with his Huben Battalion granted permission. Zhao Xiao, however, made it clear that he intended to defeat Li Qian "in a fair manner" on the battlefield. Li Qian then presented his battle strategy: he anticipated Qing Tai's troops would reach Mount Dayanshan, a narrow and defensible pass, within three days.
His plan involved leading 500 cavalry in a night raid, then feigning a retreat to lure the enemy into the valley. There, Yun Lin's forces, positioned on the mountaintop, would use rocks and arrows to decimate the enemy's advance troops and deplete their provisions until General Jin's main army could arrive and encircle them. Zhao Xiao immediately dismissed Li Qian's strategy as "constrained," deeming him "over-optimistic" to challenge Yongqing's formidable cavalry with only 500 men.
Instead, Zhao Xiao proposed a direct confrontation using infantry, which he believed was superior in that terrain. He vowed to first secure the supply lines, then deploy heavy armor and the Xuanjia Battalion in a "specific formation."
Despite a subordinate's warning against engaging Yongqing in a "long haul" war at the outset, Zhao Xiao remained stubborn, asserting his authority by declaring his plan a "military order" and threatening "military penalty" for anyone who dared to disobey, thereby forcing Li Qian to comply.
