Song of Youth Episode 16 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Before her wedding, Lin Shaochun received a letter falsely implicating Sun Xun and Liu Ying in her father Lin Yuandao's death. She verified Sun Xun's handwriting but, suspecting deceit, informed him, and they devised a plan. Sun Xun apprehended the imposter, who claimed the real Zhu Wuji was dead and refused to name the mastermind behind the 10,000 taels he received. Lin Shaochun extracted the amount, and Sun Yulou immediately sent people to investigate the money trail.
Meanwhile, a nervous Su Yingxue secretly informed Jia Fengyuan about the capture. Feigning surprise, Jia Fengyuan assured her he was not involved before rushing to report to Liang Jingguan. Fearing exposure, Liang Jingguan adopted Jia Fengyuan's plan: he falsely reported 10,000 taels stolen from his home, claiming the thief left handprints. Official Du's men quickly caught the thief trying to exchange the money.
Under interrogation, the thief confessed to being the brother of "Chaitou," a bandit leader killed by the Sun family, and sought revenge by stealing money from Liang Jingguan to hire assassins for Sun Xun. Official Du imprisoned him. The Emperor, informed of the incident, ordered increased security and extended condolences to both Liang Jingguan and Sun Xun. Sun Xun, suspecting Liang Jingguan's involvement but lacking evidence, vowed to find the person who mimicked his handwriting.
Knowing Jia Fengyuan's skill in calligraphy, Sun Xun summoned him. However, Jia Fengyuan had intentionally injured his right hand with a centipede, successfully deceiving Sun Xun and claiming the injury prevented him from writing. Sun Xun and Shen Qingyao praised Lin Shaochun, entrusting her to assist Xu Fengqiao in managing the household. While Lin Shaochun willingly accepted, Sun Yulou was concerned she would overexert herself.
Xu Fengqiao, feigning sincerity, inwardly resented Lin Shaochun and vowed to oppose her, dismissing Wu Yuehong and Su Yingxue’s lack of interest in household duties. In other family matters, Wu Yuehong struggled to gain Sun Shijie's affection. Her maid Shijian advised her against excessive submissiveness. Emboldened by alcohol, Wu Yuehong forcibly attempted intimacy with Sun Shijie, who resisted, leaving her frustrated by his lack of enthusiasm.
Su Yingxue secretly met Jia Fengyuan, pleading with him to elope, but he prioritized his revenge. She threatened to expose their affair, citing her teeth marks on his hand, but he remained resolute, eventually leaving her in anger. Su Yingxue vowed revenge if she was merely a tool in his schemes. Xu Fengqiao, fearing Lin Shaochun would usurp her position, complained to Sun Jingge, who flattered her.
She plotted to sabotage Lin Shaochun’s upcoming palace visit with Sun Yulou to thank the Emperor and Consort Sun Youzhen. Xu Fengqiao instructed her maid Yinsuo to retrieve Consort Sun Youzhen’s gift, a begonia auspicious gown, and secretly cut all its golden threads. She then presented the damaged gown to Lin Shaochun, falsely claiming it was new. Shen Qingyao encouraged Lin Shaochun to wear it for the special occasion. In the palace, Sun Yulou noticed the gown was amiss.
Lin Shaochun pulled a thread, revealing all the golden threads had been cut. Realizing Xu Fengqiao's malice, Lin Shaochun quickly used paints on a nearby table to draw a magpie-on-branch cloud collar onto the gown. The Emperor, noticing the unique cloud collar, inquired about it. Lin Shaochun cleverly explained it as a display of the family's frugality, following Sun Xun's decree after a natural disaster. Impressed, the Emperor gifted her a Ruyi satin embroidered auspicious robe.
He recognized Lin Shaochun as a showgirl who was once allergic to pollen, but she lied, claiming a doctor cured her. The Emperor, out of respect for Consort Sun Youzhen, did not press the matter but subtly warned Sun Yulou to be careful with his eloquent wife. Upon their return, Aunt Mei was envious of the treasures bestowed by the Emperor, which Lin Shaochun generously shared with the family.
Xu Fengqiao attempted to apologize for the gown incident, blaming Yinsuo, but Sun Yulou did not believe her. Lin Shaochun, however, accepted the apology to avoid further conflict. Sun Xun reiterated that his four daughters-in-law should get along peacefully, and Shen Qingyao tasked Lin Shaochun with helping manage the household. Later, Su Yingxue overheard that Jia Fengyuan had bought a house, and Sun Xun even helped furnish it, causing her worry and Xu Fengqiao's displeasure.
