Rewriting Destiny Episode 19 Recap
> Rewriting Destiny Recap
Rainy Terrace has been placed under strict lockdown due to a malaria outbreak, with armed guards threatening to execute anyone who attempts to leave. Inside, Xia Yubing and Xu Ziyan are treating malaria patients, while other residents despair over their confinement and the suspension of their businesses, with some protesting that malaria is not contagious. Xia Liuqing, who is among those confined, suddenly falls ill.
Although Xu Ziyan initially diagnoses it as symptoms of a cold, Xia Yubing, aware of the prevalent disease, fears it might be malaria, causing a ripple of panic among the residents. Xu Ziyan quickly reassures everyone, reiterating that malaria is not contagious and promising that they will all be fine.
Learning that Xia Liuqing and Xia Yubing are trapped in Rainy Terrace and that Xia Liuqing is ill, Ye Wenzhao immediately rushes to the Office of Administration, beating the drum to demand action. He confronts Xue Mu, who is surprised to hear Xia Yubing is among those confined. Xue Mu initially dismisses Xia Liuqing's symptoms as a simple cold, but then offers Xia Yubing a chance to leave with him.
Xia Yubing, however, firmly declines, stating her unwavering commitment to stay and care for Xia Liuqing while assisting Xu Ziyan. She explicitly tells Xue Mu that wherever Xu Ziyan is, she will be. Her defiance infuriates Xue Mu, who departs in a huff. Driven by his resentment, Xue Mu retaliates by ordering all malaria patients from Nancheng Town to be forcibly transferred to Rainy Terrace, effectively dooming everyone inside by creating an overwhelming environment with no escape.
Meanwhile, Xia Lan expresses delight at Xia Yubing and Xu Ziyan's predicament, gleefully hoping they will "wait for death there." She asks Xue Mu to help locate her brother, Xia Yaozu. Xue Mu pretends to agree but Xia Lan later overhears him instructing his subordinate to falsely report that Xia Yaozu could not be found, citing a shortage of manpower.
Realizing Xue Mu's deception, Xia Lan takes matters into her own hands and dispatches her personal servants to search for her brother. Back in Rainy Terrace, the influx of new patients exacerbates the already dire conditions. Xia Yubing, furious at the overcrowding and severe lack of herbs, confronts a guard. Xu Ziyan intervenes, urging the guard to quickly settle the patients and leave, tacitly acknowledging the hopelessness of their situation.
Later, Xia Yubing challenges Xu Ziyan, questioning how he expects to save everyone. He simply responds that he will try, as the alternative is certain death outside. When she criticizes Xue Mu's actions, Xu Ziyan brings up her past engagement to Xue Mu, which Xia Yubing quickly dismisses as an invalid parental arrangement with no true meaning between them. Amidst their conversation, a panicked patient cries out that Xia Liuqing is dying.
Xu Ziyan rushes to her side, performing acupuncture that stabilizes her condition. The strain of his continuous efforts leaves Xu Ziyan visibly exhausted, pale, and unsteady. Xia Yubing offers him food, noting his two days of sleepless research and the appearance of gray hairs. He reassures her with a promise that he will not let her die.
As the days pass, frustrated patients, seeing no improvement from the basic herb tea, attempt to break out, but the armed guards block their path. Xia Yubing calms them, explaining that Xu Ziyan is tirelessly working to find an effective cure. Xu Ziyan then steps forward and promises to deliver a definitive cure within three days. Throughout this harrowing period, Xia Yubing dedicates herself to nursing the sick, while Ye Wenzhao secretly delivers medical supplies to Xu Ziyan.
Eventually, Xu Ziyan triumphantly announces that he has found the cure for malaria. He lists a precise combination of seemingly simple herbs, including Roughhaired Holly, Lophatherum Gracile, Citri Sarcodactμlis Fructus, Radix Helicteris, Microcos Paniculata, Cherokee Rose Root, and Senmen Oroxyli, explaining their synergistic efficacy when mixed. Xu Ziyan's discovery, however, requires funds to purchase the necessary herbs.
Ye Wenzhao, after a heated argument with his father, who complains about the rising costs and fears financial ruin, manages to secure the money. Despite his father's grumbling about Ye Wenzhao's "secret engagement" to Xia Liuqing, he eventually provides the funds, swayed by the numerous lives that could be saved. Ye Wenzhao promptly acquires the herbs and delivers them to Xu Ziyan. With the new herbal tea, Xia Liuqing's condition rapidly improves.
Days later, she makes a full recovery, sharing a tender moment with Xia Yubing, who had nursed her tirelessly. However, Xu Ziyan is utterly drained from his continuous efforts. Xia Yubing urges him to drink the preventive herbs he developed, but he insists on doing it later and then collapses. She offers her own portion of the herb tea, and they share it. Miraculously, all the patients confined in Rainy Terrace eventually make a full recovery.
Xu Ziyan entrusts the malaria prescription to Ye Wenzhao, instructing him to take it to the Office of Administration for mass production and distribution throughout the town. At the office, Xue Mu's designated doctor dismisses the prescription as unreliable, citing "unknown side effects." Ye Wenzhao vehemently accuses Xue Mu of attempting to steal credit from Xu Ziyan and of recklessly endangering lives, calling him a "bastard." Enraged, Xue Mu orders Ye Wenzhao's immediate arrest and imprisonment for obstructing official duties.
Undeterred, Ye Wenzhao takes matters into his own hands and begins distributing the medicine himself throughout the town. Xue Mu initially allows this, mockingly remarking that Ye Wenzhao can "waste his money." However, upon receiving urgent news that Governor Li is arriving for an inspection, Xue Mu changes his strategy, realizing he must "intervene" to present a facade of order and effective governance in Yanxia Town.
During Governor Li's inspection, Xue Mu proudly showcases a carefully staged scene of normalcy, with bustling streets and stalls generously distributing free herb packets and steamed bread. Governor Li is deeply impressed by Yanxia Town's orderly response compared to other affected areas, unaware that the relief efforts are co-opted and not genuinely spontaneous. He praises Xue Mu for his "great contributions" and for prioritizing people's lives over money.
When Governor Li expresses a desire to meet the doctor who developed the life-saving prescription, Xue Mu deflects, claiming it was an elusive "old doctor living in the mountain" and offering various excuses for his unavailability. Governor Li then requests a copy of the prescription and the town's regulations to implement in other towns, which Xue Mu readily provides, having prepared them in advance. Having fully recovered, Xia Liuqing learns of Ye Wenzhao's unjust imprisonment. Distraught and confident in her regained health, she declares her intention to rescue him, despite Xia Yubing's warnings about the heavy guard presence.
