Rewriting Destiny Episode 10 Recap
> Rewriting Destiny Recap
At her father’s mourning hall, Xia Lan, consumed by grief, vehemently accused Xu Ziyan and Xia Yubing of conspiring to murder her father, Xia Deshui, out of envy. Her heated accusations led to a confrontation with Xia Liuqing, who attempted to strike Xia Lan but hit Xia Yaozu instead when he intervened. Later, Xia Lan confided in Xue Mu, reiterating her conviction that Xu Ziyan was the killer and vowing to make him pay.
Xue Mu, while feigning sympathy, noted the lack of concrete evidence but confirmed that servants heard Xu Ziyan arguing with Xia Deshui. He then subtly urged Xia Lan to prioritize her health for future vengeance. After everyone departed, Xue Mu approached Xia Deshui’s tomb, hinting at his hidden involvement in Xia Deshui's death. Meanwhile, Xia Yubing questioned Xu Ziyan about his argument with her father. Xu Ziyan admitted he had gone to retrieve the store’s assets.
Xia Yubing warned him that the Xia family would suspect him given Xia Deshui's sudden death after their encounter. Xu Ziyan attempted to explain Xia Deshui's heart disease, but when pressed, he confessed he was "not sure" of the true cause, keeping the full details of what he witnessed from Xia Yubing to spare her worry. The city’s Administrator, Chen Liao, was grappling with tax deficits and an impending audit by the Censorate.
Xue Mu seized this opportunity, informing Chen Liao that Xia Deshui had kept two sets of account books to evade taxes and proposed seizing the Xia family's assets to cover the shortfall, assuring Chen Liao he would be absolved of any wrongdoing. Subsequently, officers raided the Xia Manor, uncovered the fraudulent account books, and ordered the closure of all Xia family stores. A distraught Xia Lan turned to Xue Mu for assistance, who again feigned concern.
To pay the overwhelming taxes, Xia Lan, still holding her father's spirit tablet, was forced to sell the Xia family's land deeds at a significantly reduced price to Xu Guangling, with Xue Mu subtly facilitating the transaction. Later, while dining with Xue Mu, Administrator Chen Liao expressed his gratitude and promised to recommend Xue Mu as his successor, making him the next Head Administrator of Yanxia City.
However, their celebration was abruptly interrupted by Censorate officers who arrested Chen Liao, citing a prior report of his collusion and bribery with Xia Deshui. Xue Mu then dramatically revealed his betrayal, declaring that his actions were an act of revenge: Chen Liao and Xia Deshui had framed his parents fifteen years ago. As Chen Liao was dragged away, he angrily dismissed Xue Mu as a "sparrow" incapable of becoming a "phoenix."
Xue Mu defiantly retorted that even a sparrow could bring down powerful figures. Xue Mu then assumed the prestigious role of Administrator, prominently displaying a plaque engraved with "Serving the Public with Honesty" in his new office. Following the family's financial ruin, Xia Yaozu quickly asserted himself as the new head of the Xia family. He initiated a division of assets, liquidating many belongings and dismissing servants, claiming the family could no longer afford to support idle hands.
He specifically targeted Xia Liuqing, accusing her of siding with Xia Yubing against the family. Fed up with the chaos, Xia Liuqing announced her departure, having already packed her belongings. She moved into a small, dilapidated storage room. Xia Yubing and Ye Wenzhao visited her, and Xia Yubing, concerned by her sister’s living conditions, offered her a private room at Yanyan Building or a guest room at Xu Manor.
However, Xia Liuqing firmly declined, expressing a preference for simplicity and asserting her capability to manage on her own. Later, still visibly distressed, Xia Liuqing made a solitary visit to her father’s tomb. There, she bid him a final farewell, acknowledging their distant relationship but cherishing their familial bond, and declared that she was now severing all ties with the Xia family. Upon returning to her humble room, Xia Liuqing discovered that Ye Wenzhao had thoughtfully and tastefully decorated it.
Xia Yubing arrived and praised Ye Wenzhao’s efforts, though she lightheartedly remarked that he might not fully understand Xia Liuqing's more practical preferences. Ye Wenzhao modestly offered to make any further adjustments, while Xia Yubing playfully teased her sister about her newfound appreciation for flowers. Meanwhile, Xia Shi, Xia Yubing’s father, was found by Xu Ziyan being chased by creditors for unpaid debts, having been expelled from the Xia family by Xia Yaozu.
Recognizing him as Xia Yubing's father, Xu Ziyan paid his debts and brought him to live at Xu Manor to prevent further trouble. Upon his arrival, Xia Yubing immediately laid down three strict conditions for his stay: maintaining cleanliness, refraining from bullying servants, and practicing self-reliance. Xia Shi vehemently protested, feeling these rules undermined his authority, which sparked a heated argument with Xia Yubing. Xu Guangling, Xu Ziyan’s father, intervened to calm the situation.
During dinner, Xia Shi ate ravenously, but his behavior quickly deteriorated when he criticized Xu Ziyan for serving Xia Yubing and asserted that women should not be allowed at the dining table. Offended, Xia Yubing angrily left the table, followed closely by Xu Ziyan. In their room, Xia Yubing, still fuming, repeatedly wrote the characters for "Don't be mad." Xu Ziyan entered, gently took the paper from her, and reassured her not to let her father’s outdated views affect her.
He lovingly promised that she no longer needed to adapt to others, as he would adapt to her. Later, Xia Shi, feeling disrespected and powerless at Xu Manor, tried to lecture Xu Ziyan about traditional etiquette, emphasizing that women should be obedient to their fathers and then husbands, and that Xu Ziyan needed to "keep Xia Yubing in control." Xu Ziyan, however, firmly asserted that he and Xia Yubing were equals and neither should be obedient to the other.
Xia Shi’s frustration deepened when he received an invitation to dinner from Xue Mu. During their meal, Xia Shi vented his grievances about Xia Yubing's disrespect and Xu Ziyan’s perceived weakness. Seizing the opportunity, Xue Mu revealed a fabricated "secret": Xia Yubing and Xu Ziyan's marriage was merely a contract, forcibly arranged by Xu Ziyan for the snack shop, and they were not truly in love. He cunningly suggested that Xia Yubing could easily seek a divorce from the authorities.
Xia Shi, initially contemplating a match with Ye Wenzhao for his daughter, was subtly guided by Xue Mu, who implied that after a divorce, Xia Yubing would be free to marry anyone. Xue Mu then opportunistically reminded Xia Shi of his own long-standing engagement with Xia Yubing from their youth, expressing his unwavering "sincerity" and how he dedicated himself to his career only after her marriage to Xu Ziyan.
This manipulation led Xia Shi to believe that Xue Mu, now a powerful Administrator, would be a more suitable husband for his daughter than Xu Ziyan. The following day, Xia Shi, with ulterior motives, attempted to cook steamed eggs, Xia Yubing’s childhood favorite, for her. Xia Yubing, suspicious of his sudden kindness, questioned his intentions.
Xia Shi then broached the subject of her childhood engagement to Xue Mu, extolling Xue Mu’s rapid rise to Administrator and his promising future, while disparaging Xu Ziyan as someone who "knows no rules" and has "no future." He urged Xia Yubing to foster a closer relationship with Xue Mu, subtly implying mutual benefit. Xia Yubing, appalled by his blatant attempt to marry her off, pushed her plate away and firmly declared her unwavering commitment to Xu Ziyan.
She warned her father that if he continued to meddle in her marriage and attempt to arrange such an inappropriate match, she would sever all ties with him, and then abruptly left.
