Serendipity Episode 21 Recap, Plot

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Lu Chang truthfully reported Jian Mingshu’s identity, speculating that the extermination of the Jian family might be related to Mister, and that Jian Mingshu was likely an important witness in the case—her identity must not be exposed prematurely. Prince Rui told Lu Chang to come serve as a temple official at Dali Temple after completing the imperial examination.

Jian Mingshu was busy with the charity sale today, but someone was already jealous of her because of her relationship with Song Qingzhao. Yin Shujun was being harassed by Young Master Jiang, who kept claiming he was bewitched and wanted to win her back, but just then Prince Rui arrived at Hualang Pavilion and saw Yin Shujun harshly reprimanding Young Master Jiang for being unfaithful.

Unable to stand it, Prince Rui kicked Young Master Jiang and ordered him locked up, forbidding the Jiang family from ever entering the royal residence again. Lady Lu privately sought out Jian Mingshu, saying she wanted to buy a gift for her beloved, Song Qingzhao. Jian Mingshu recommended a piece of jewelry priced at five hundred taels. Upon seeing this, Song Qingzhao simply raised the price to one thousand taels and wrote it down in the charity sale ledger.

He then publicly rejected Lady Lu, stating that there was no relationship between them and that he already had someone he loved in his heart. The charity sale was a great success today, and Song Qingzhao took Jian Mingshu to a restaurant to celebrate. Lu Chang went to Hualang Pavilion to look for Jian Mingshu, but was told she had gone out with Song Qingzhao. Meanwhile, he caught the eye of Lady Jiang.

Yin Shujun especially thanked Prince Rui for standing up for her today, saying that Young Master Jiang was a hypocrite and not worth her affection. But Prince Rui could tell that the bold and passionate Yin Shujun was still partly stuck in the past. Jian Mingshu returned home that night to find Lu Chang sitting on the roof waiting for her. They sat on the roof together enjoying the scenery.

Jian Mingshu admitted that she also liked Song Qingzhao, but not enough to talk about marriage. Lu Chang didn’t want her to avoid anyone—he just wanted her to be happy. However, Lu Chang hoped that before she became deeply attached to Song Qingzhao, she wouldn’t give him an answer yet. Jian Mingshu, in a playful manner, said she would think about it.

Lu Chang then jumped down from the roof, and when Jian Mingshu reminded him they had promised to act as they did in the past, he finally broke into a smile. Song Qingzhao’s mother disapproved of his choice and decided to pressure Jian Mingshu to understand that she was not a suitable match for Song Qingzhao due to their differing social status. Wei Zhuo came to help Aunt Zeng repair the roof.

Just after she saw him off, Minister Lu arrived. Aunt Zeng gave him no warm reception. Minister Lu believed that Lu Chang and Jian Mingshu were his children. He had seen Lu Chang a few times when he was young, but when they parted, Aunt Zeng had just become pregnant, and he knew nothing of Jian Mingshu. Aunt Zeng told him that she had told the children their father was dead.

When they married, she didn’t know Minister Lu was the young master of the Lu family. After they separated, he had already remarried, and she didn’t know how to explain it. Song Qingzhao’s mother sent her old maid to pressure Jian Mingshu, claiming her background was unworthy of Song Qingzhao. Jian Mingshu stood her ground and quarreled back without fear.

Minister Lu suddenly stormed out and fiercely drove the maid away, saying that even the royal family had married his daughter—let alone the Song family. Jian Mingshu was shocked by this sudden “father” that appeared, and Lu Chang quickly took her back inside, shutting Minister Lu out. Aunt Zeng then told the children about this ill-fated relationship.

Back then, she was just an embroidery girl who fled her arranged marriage and left home, and Minister Lu was the legitimate son of the Lu family who left home after a quarrel with his grandfather. That was how they met. Minister Lu had concealed his identity and married Aunt Zeng. When Lu Chang was four, a flood hit Wuhu. Aunt Zeng, pregnant, fled with Lu Chang.

Later, she heard Minister Lu had returned to the capital and taken a new wife. Furious, she took the children to Jianglin. Jian Mingshu and Lu Chang both resented Minister Lu for being heartless. But Aunt Zeng said she had just learned today that Minister Lu had once searched for them, believing they had died in the flood. With his grandfather gravely ill, he had no choice but to remarry.

As for whether they wanted to acknowledge him, it was entirely up to them. After Aunt Zeng fell asleep, Lu Chang told Jian Mingshu that he had always known their father wasn’t dead—he just didn’t expect him to be the current minister. At the age of four, he remembered Aunt Zeng bringing him to a grand mansion to look for his father, only to be driven out. Since then, Lu Chang never brought it up again.

Even if Minister Lu now held high office, Lu Chang didn’t care. As for Jian Mingshu, she had no emotional connection to Minister Lu, and even felt that a father shouldn’t be like that. Lu Chang and Jian Mingshu were the children of Minister Lu who had lived among commoners. Song Qingzhao’s father told his wife to take the old maid to the Lu family and apologize. Song Qingzhao was furious at his mother for being rude to Jian Mingshu.

Seeing both father and son standing united, Song’s mother was so angry she threatened to leave home. After court, Song’s father personally went to apologize to Minister Lu, but was turned away. Today was the imperial examination, and Lu Chang performed outstandingly, winning first place. The top three scholars had a ceremonial horseback parade through the streets. Jian Mingshu got up early to powder his face and pin flowers in his hair. Dressed in splendid robes and riding a spirited horse, Lu Chang kept looking up at Jian Mingshu standing on the pavilion as he rode by.

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