Rebirth For You Episode 33 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Gao Miaorong informed Li Changqing that she had uncovered the true perpetrator of the Li Village massacre years ago: Jiang Baoning's father, Jiang Zhenying. Li Changqing, however, dismissed her claims as slander, believing Gao Miaorong still harbored resentment towards Jiang Baoning. To prove her allegations, Gao Miaorong introduced Abbess Jing’an, a former attendant of Empress Dowager Cao who had been practicing in Fanhua Hall.
Abbess Jing’an confirmed the story, stating that after her testimony, she would leave the palace and did not care if they believed her. While Li Changqing still found it hard to believe, reasoning that Jiang Zhenying merely retrieved The Book of Supreme Weapons for Empress Dowager Cao, he did harbor doubts and thus arranged for a secret investigation.
Gao Miaorong further countered by highlighting the suspicious proximity of the book's presentation to the massacre date, urging Li Changqing to investigate these numerous coincidences. Later, Gao Miaorong engineered a chance encounter with Zhao Xiao and, after some preliminary conversation about the little prince, brought up his interest in The Book of Supreme Weapons. She then suggested that the powerful artifact might be connected to Jiang Baoning.
Armed with this information, Zhao Xiao sought out Empress Han, who confirmed the long-standing feud between Jiang Zhenying and the Li family. Empress Han suggested that if Li Changqing learned Jiang Baoning was the daughter of his enemy, he would force Li Qian to divorce her, creating a perfect opportunity for Zhao Xiao to win Baoning back and avenge his past humiliation by Li Qian.
Zhao Xiao decided to secretly travel to Bingzhou, and Empress Han offered him her loyal secret guard, Xie Jianfeng, a former member of Empress Dowager Cao's covert unit, to assist him. Zhao Xiao accepted the offer but immediately instructed his own subordinate to be wary of Xie Jianfeng, recognizing him as Empress Han's spy, and to seek an opportunity to shake him off.
He also speculated that if The Book of Supreme Weapons was not in the palace, it might indeed be with Jiang Baoning, seeing this as a heaven-sent opportunity. Meanwhile, Li Qian was grappling with disturbing news. Secret intel confirmed that Jiang Zhenying was indeed the man who had a violent argument with his mother in Li Village twenty years ago.
Overwhelmed by this revelation, Li Qian found himself unable to face Jiang Baoning and began to avoid her, confiding in a subordinate about his unbearable dilemma. Across town, Zhao Xiao arrived in Bingzhou, instructing his attendant to wait while he proceeded to a secret meeting with Jin Haitao at Changle Inn.
During their conversation, Zhao Xiao subtly played on Jin Haitao's long-standing grievances, reminding him of his unrewarded military service compared to Li Changqing's rapid promotion after the new emperor's ascension, hinting that Li Qian's marriage to the princess was the cause. Zhao Xiao then openly proposed an alliance against Li Qian, allowing Jin Haitao time to consider.
Following this, Zhao Xiao cleverly neutralized Xie Jianfeng, his "spy," by tasking him with a detailed and time-consuming investigation into a rumored powerful weapon in Bingzhou, effectively keeping him occupied and out of Zhao Xiao's way. At the Li Mansion, Qingke, after much hesitation, finally shared whispers she heard from the maids: Li Qian had been frequenting Qinfang Pavilion, drinking with courtesans. Enraged, Jiang Baoning stormed out, forbidding Qingke from following.
At Qinfang Pavilion, Jin Xiao, who had been transferred back to Bingzhou and was feeling the immense pressure from his father to enter a politically advantageous marriage, was drinking with Li Qian. Li Qian, deeply troubled, confided in Jin Xiao about his emotional torment. He described Jiang Baoning as a "priceless treasure" that he had painstakingly acquired, only to discover she was tied to his mother's killer.
He expressed his profound conflict, admitting he couldn't bring himself to destroy her, couldn't let go of the deep-seated hatred, and yet, paradoxically, couldn't live without her. Baoning arrived at Qinfang Pavilion to a heartbreaking sight: a heavily intoxicated Li Qian, mistaking a courtesan for her, was seeking her advice while embracing the woman.
Seeing this, Baoning's anger flared, and she turned to leave, her disappointment deepening when Li Qian, caught in his drunken stupor and inner turmoil, made no move to follow. On the street, a distraught Baoning encountered Zhao Xiao. After exchanging polite greetings, Zhao Xiao probed her, ostensibly for information about a powerful "magic weapon" to combat river bandits, and asked her to deliver any news to Changle Inn.
Unaware of his true intentions and perhaps still reeling from her encounter with Li Qian, Baoning feigned ignorance of such a weapon and, citing a sudden illness, quickly excused herself. Upon returning home, Baoning confronted a still-intoxicated Li Qian about his prolonged avoidance and his activities at Qinfang Pavilion. Their heated discussion was abruptly interrupted by Li Changqing's return, who immediately summoned them to his study.
There, Li Changqing vehemently accused Jiang Zhenying of orchestrating the massacre of the Li family and the death of Li Qian's mother, declaring that the Li household could no longer tolerate Baoning. Baoning, heartbroken and aghast, struggled to defend her father, demanding concrete evidence. Li Changqing presented the testimony of Abbess Jing’an and the incriminating timing of Jiang Zhenying's presence in Li Village while searching for The Book of Supreme Weapons.
Li Qian, when pressed by Baoning, reluctantly explained how the jade pendant she gave him brought back a childhood memory of a man, likely Jiang Zhenying, arguing fiercely with his mother just before the devastating massacre. Baoning was incredulous that such a grave accusation rested on mere words from a nun and a single jade pendant, pleading with Li Qian to believe her father's innocence.
However, Li Qian, torn between his love and his family's bitter history, could not offer unwavering trust. Li Changqing, infuriated by Li Qian's hesitation, berated him for prioritizing love over his mother's revenge. Deeply hurt and feeling betrayed, Baoning declared that Li Qian had broken his promises and began to pack her belongings, intending to return to the capital. Li Changqing, seizing the moment, ordered Li Qian to write a letter of divorce.
Yet, Li Qian, despite his inner conflict, refused to divorce Baoning, arguing that the evidence was not conclusive enough to condemn Jiang Zhenying as the murderer. His defiance earned him a furious denunciation of being an unfilial son from Li Changqing. Defiantly, Jiang Baoning continued packing her bags, determined to return to the capital, despite Li Qian's pleas for her to stay.
She challenged him, asking if he truly hated her as the daughter of his mother's killer, and insisted he release her if that was the case. When Li Qian refused to let her go, clutching onto her, he ultimately ordered his guards to seal her room, ensuring she could not leave without his explicit permission. Later, Dongzhi, having learned of the growing tensions, rushed back to the mansion.
She courageously confronted Li Changqing, arguing that it was unjust to accuse Baoning's father based solely on a nun's testimony, especially since Li Qian cherished his wife. Her defense only fueled Li Changqing's rage, leading him to accuse both his children of being unfilial.
Elsewhere, Jin Haitao admonished his son, Jin Xiao, to distance himself from Li Qian and, for the sake of his career, to seek marriage with a noblewoman, citing Li Qian's successful climb through his marriage to the princess as an example. Jin Xiao, however, scorned his father's pragmatic view, asserting that Li Qian's achievements stemmed from his own merits and that genuine affection, which his father failed to understand, was paramount in marriage.
His arguments only exasperated Jin Haitao, who labeled him a "jinx." To drown his sorrows, Jin Xiao went drinking alone and unexpectedly encountered Dong Shanhu, whom he had not seen in five years. Playfully, he chided her for not visiting him in the capital, unaware that she had tried to find him. As he continued to tease her, Shanhu, to his surprise, openly confessed her feelings for him.
Caught off guard, Jin Xiao, flustered and unable to process her sincerity, clumsily dismissed her confession, claiming to view her only as a "brother." Hurt and dejected, Shanhu abruptly left. Confined to her room, Baoning refused to eat, sparking concern from her maids. Li Qian eventually brought her food and tried to persuade her to eat, but Baoning pressed him, demanding to know if he truly believed in her and her family.
Li Qian struggled to respond, minimizing the gravity of the jade pendant and the nun's testimony, which only deepened Baoning's anger. She accused him and his father of being set on believing her father was the killer, and keeping her confined to "slowly torture" the "murderer's daughter," declaring her hatred for him. Li Qian, consumed by his own pain, told her to hate him if it offered her any relief.
Later, a remorseful Li Qian apologized to Baoning, informing her that he had sent men to find the nun for a further confrontation, convinced that the truth would eventually emerge, and acknowledging the suffering he had caused her. The following day, still prevented from leaving, Baoning cleverly requested the housekeeper to bring singing girls to entertain her.
Using this opportunity, she disguised herself as one of the performers and, along with Liu Xiaoman and Qingke, made a daring escape from the mansion in a carriage. The housekeeper quickly discovered her absence and frantically sent word to Li Qian, who was attending a banquet hosted by Hu Yiliang. Alarmed, Li Qian immediately ordered a city-wide lockdown, with strict checks on all individuals attempting to leave.
Meanwhile, Jin Xiao's forced blind date with Miss Xu proved to be a disaster. Miss Xu, mistaking his name and exhibiting an incredibly arrogant demeanor, detailed her numerous more eligible suitors and laid out condescending terms for their potential marriage, including naming their first child after her family and expecting him to become a first-rank official within three years. Jin Xiao was thoroughly disgusted.
At the same time, Dong Shanhu was engaged in a much more pleasant blind date with the cultured Mr. Zhou, who was impressing her with his literary talents. Unable to tolerate Miss Xu's insolence any longer, Jin Xiao dramatically interrupted Shanhu's date. Despite Shanhu's attempts to feign ignorance, Jin Xiao publicly declared that she had previously confessed her love for him and was, in fact, his fiancée, plunging both dates into chaos.
Seizing the opportunity amid the ensuing uproar, Jin Xiao dragged Shanhu away. Furious, Shanhu berated him for using her as a shield and ruining her promising date with Mr. Zhou, whom she considered a suitable and intelligent match, despite his humble background. Jin Xiao, despite clearly harboring strong feelings for Shanhu, fumbled his explanation, resorting to clumsy insults about Mr. Zhou's perceived weakness and ulterior motives, rather than articulating his true emotions. Deeply disappointed by his inability to express himself and his destruction of her chances, Shanhu angrily left him, leaving Jin Xiao to regret his "clumsy speech."
