Rebirth For You Episode 28 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Dong Shanhu visited Jiang Baoning to personally invite her to the grand opening of Villa Mingyue, a new establishment run by Dong’s Trading House. Jiang Baoning, who had been exhausted from working day and night with weapon designers to develop new armaments, agreed to attend the ceremony in three days. Meanwhile, Gao Miaorong’s maid lamented how people had abandoned Gao Miaorong after the Zhuang family’s downfall, despite their previous fawning.
Gao Miaorong, however, dismissed these fair-weather friends as "clowns" and human nature, claiming she did not care for their opinions. Upon hearing about the Villa Mingyue opening and Jiang Baoning's invitation, Gao Miaorong decided she would attend the "interesting place" and secretly tasked her maid, Guanju, with a mission. Gao Miaorong then went to He Cuihua, who was displeased that Dong Shanhu had extended an invitation directly to Jiang Baoning, seemingly disrespecting her as Li Qian’s mother.
Gao Miaorong subtly fanned He Cuihua’s resentment, suggesting that He Cuihua’s absence might fuel rumors of discord between her and Jiang Baoning. To seal her persuasion, Gao Miaorong mentioned that the renowned Yongfu Troupe and its leader, Cheng Xiaoyun, whom He Cuihua greatly admired, would be performing at the opening. This convinced He Cuihua to go. Three days later, at the opening ceremony, Jiang Baoning struggled to stay awake. Li Qian, noticing her exhaustion, suggested she return home.
However, Jiang Baoning worried about gossip if she left early. Li Qian then arranged with Dong Shanhu for Jiang Baoning to rest in Room 1, the best guest room in the villa. Jiang Baoning sent her maid, Qingke, to enjoy the opera, assuring her that the two maids assigned to the room would keep watch. Shortly after, the maids guarding Jiang Baoning heard that the Yongfu Troupe's head was distributing money for good luck.
Believing Jiang Baoning would not wake for a while, they abandoned their posts to join the crowd. Zhao Xiao arrived at Villa Mingyue and was disappointed not to find Jiang Baoning. He then spotted Cai Shuang, whom he recognized as a crippled man, and followed him into a tearoom. Inside, he found only Gao Miaorong, who denied anyone else had entered, warning Zhao Xiao not to ruin an "unmarried girl's reputation" with his "momentary mistake." Zhao Xiao, unconvinced, left.
Later, Li Qian approached Zhao Xiao to apologize for their previous street altercation. Zhao Xiao, in turn, asked Li Qian if Gao Miaorong and Cai Shuang had any private dealings, recounting his suspicious encounter in the tearoom. Realizing something was amiss, Li Qian quickly left to check on Jiang Baoning. Jiang Baoning awoke to Cai Shuang entering her room. She soon realized the incense in the room was a tranquilizing drug, rendering her immobile.
Cai Shuang, seething with anger, blamed Jiang Baoning and Li Qian for his capture, the one hundred floggings that broke his leg, and the ruin of his career. He vowed to inflict "ten times, even a hundred times" the suffering upon them. Jiang Baoning, remembering Li Qian’s martial arts training, focused her remaining strength and managed to kick Cai Shuang away. Just then, Li Qian burst in, knocking Cai Shuang unconscious.
Jiang Baoning, still dazed, proudly believed she had defeated Cai Shuang herself. Outside the room, Gao Miaorong tried to lead He Cuihua into Jiang Baoning’s room, ostensibly to check on her, but likely hoping to expose Jiang Baoning’s compromised situation. However, Jin Xiao and Dong Shanhu intervened.
Jin Xiao claimed Jiang Baoning was merely "not feeling well," and Dong Shanhu urged He Cuihua to return to the banquet, reassuring her that everything was fine and that Li Qian was with Jiang Baoning. He Cuihua left, still worried. Jin Xiao then privately confronted Dong Shanhu, explaining Cai Shuang’s infiltration and attempted assault on Jiang Baoning, and warned her to investigate thoroughly and offer Li Qian a proper explanation to avoid severe consequences for the Dong family.
That night, Li Qian brought Gao Miaorong before Li Changqing and He Cuihua, directly questioning her involvement in Jiang Baoning’s attack. Gao Miaorong feigned ignorance, claiming she and Guanju had been with He Cuihua all day, save for a brief fifteen-minute period when she made tea. He Cuihua corroborated this, believing the time too short for any wrongdoing.
Li Qian then revealed Zhao Xiao’s testimony about seeing Cai Shuang disappear into the tearoom where Gao Miaorong was, and her subsequent lie. Gao Miaorong attempted to discredit Zhao Xiao, but Li Qian silenced her. Li Qian then presented a witness from the Yongfu Troupe, brought by Dong’s Trading House.
The witness confessed that Gao Miaorong had paid him five hundred taels of silver to help Cai Shuang sneak into Villa Mingyue with the troupe and place incense containing a tranquilizing drug in Room 1. With the banknotes presented as evidence, Gao Miaorong’s facade shattered. She lashed out at He Cuihua, calling her "short-sighted" and "vulgar," and condemned Li Changqing for cruelly sending her uncle, Gao Fuyu, into prison despite his loyalty.
She bitterly declared that everyone in the Li family was a "villain in disguise" and accused Jiang Baoning of "stealing the man who was supposed to be mine" and taking "everything from me." As Li Qian began to angrily rebuke her, Gao Miaorong seized his sword, asking if he hated her and wanted to avenge Jiang Baoning, then shockingly cut off one of her own fingers, leaving everyone stunned.
Later, Li Qian comforted a recovering Jiang Baoning, who asked if he was saddened by Gao Miaorong’s fate, acknowledging her as his childhood sweetheart. Li Qian replied that his sorrow stemmed from failing to protect Jiang Baoning once again. He informed her that his father, out of respect for her uncle, spared Gao Miaorong's life, but she was not permitted to remain in the Li mansion.
Gao Miaorong, who had cut off a finger, had already packed up and left that night. Disheartened, Gao Miaorong wandered the streets. Cai Shuang, who had escaped Villa Mingyue, found her. He blamed her for his downfall, the loss of his government position, and his broken legs, and proceeded to assault her, claiming she "must make up for me." Li Lin arrived and rescued Gao Miaorong.
He comforted her, promising to "avenge you" and never let anyone hurt her again, and proposed they "forget the past" and "have a new start." Gao Miaorong, feeling unworthy, told him she did not deserve his care. Meanwhile, Qing Tai, the ruler of Yongqing State, rallied his refreshed army to challenge Zhao Yi, the emperor of the Mu'an State. The Old Witch presented Qing An to Qing Tai.
At Yunlin Pass, where Zhao Xiao had been previously dispatched to guard, an officer, Dongzhi, observed a caravan attempting to enter the city. The gate guards, recognizing the goods as belonging to "Master An" and destined for Dong’s Trading House, allowed the caravan to pass without thorough inspection. This caravan was, in fact, Qing An and his men, sent by Qing Tai to infiltrate Yunlin Pass.
Qing Tai’s plan was to divide his forces, using two groups to distract the enemy and, with the assistance of Qing An's men inside the pass, break through the defenses and invade the capital. Back in the capital, Jiang Baoning confided in Li Qian that she felt "unsettled, like something bad is going to happen." Li Qian soon learned of Yongqing State’s sudden and full-scale invasion.
He immediately requested to lead the Xuanjia Battalion into battle and ordered the evacuation of city residents, ensuring his own family's safety as well. Dongzhi was organizing city defenses when a group of armed men appeared, led by Qing An. Qing An, appearing not to recognize Dongzhi, struck her down and was then ordered by his men to open the city gates. As the Yongqing army reached the city walls, Li Qian and his forces valiantly struggled to defend the gates, while the wounded Dongzhi was rushed away for treatment.
