Song of Youth Episode 23 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Lin Shaochun found herself in a difficult situation. Although Sun Yulou noticed her distress and offered help, Lin Shaochun couldn't reveal the true nature of her troubles. Soon after, Xiao Cui rushed in to report that Su Yingxue's embroidery building was on fire. The entire family, including Sun Yulou and Lin Shaochun, hurried to the scene. The fire was extinguished, but Su Yingxue lay on her bed, appearing suicidal. Lin Shaochun quickly realized Su Yingxue had deliberately started the fire.
Su Yingxue, fearing her pregnancy would be exposed upon Sun Junhao's return and wishing for a clean reputation, confessed her desire to die. Lin Shaochun, seeing her desperation and her wish to avoid serving Sun Junhao, agreed to help her. The next day, Shen Qingyao informed Su Yingxue that Sun Junhao was returning, but Su Yingxue showed no joy. She requested leave to visit Long'en Temple to pray for Sun Junhao.
Shen Qingyao was initially hesitant, but Lin Shaochun offered to accompany her, and Shen Qingyao agreed. Lin Shaochun then concocted a story about Su Yingxue having a twin sister named Su Yingning, who was skilled in the arts and had been raised in a nunnery, a lie Su Yingxue corroborated. At Long'en Temple, Lin Shaochun revealed a clever plan to Su Yingxue. On their way back, they learned Sun Junhao had already arrived home.
Su Yingxue, in a hurry, insisted on taking a perilous shortcut. As her carriage navigated the path, it stumbled. Su Yingxue pushed her maid, Qin Xin, from the carriage, then discreetly jumped out herself before the carriage plunged down a cliff. Lin Shaochun, informed of the accident, found Qin Xin but no sign of Su Yingxue, and immediately sent people to search for a body below the cliff.
Su Yingxue later emerged from hiding, and Lin Shaochun instructed her to assume the identity of Su Yingning from that day forward, providing her with a new household registration, money, and a disfigured body to be identified as the deceased Su Yingxue. Su Yingxue, profoundly grateful, tearfully departed to begin her new life. A funeral was held for Su Yingxue at the Sun manor.
Jia Fengyuan, who happened to pass by, was devastated to learn of Su Yingxue's supposed death and got drunk in his grief. That evening, a drunken Jia Fengyuan encountered a disguised Su Yingxue. Mistaking her for a ghost, he was terrified until she held his hand, confirming she was alive, and recounted the entire scheme.
Jia Fengyuan, initially hesitant to harbor her due to the risks, agreed to let her stay, promising to formally marry her as Su Yingning once the scandal had subsided. Sun Junhao returned to the heart-wrenching news of Su Yingxue's death. He was consumed by guilt for not having written to her during his three years away fighting. He vowed to give his entire military salary to the Su family to honor Su Yingxue's parents.
Sun Xun approved, despite Xu Fengqiao's concerns about the family's finances. Sun Junhao mourned tirelessly, kneeling by the coffin for days. Concerned for his health, Shen Qingyao decided to arrange a new marriage for him after the mourning period. Xu Fengqiao recommended Yao Dizhu, a suggestion Shen Qingyao readily approved, tasking Xu Fengqiao with the arrangements. However, Yao Dizhu was a spirited woman who spent her days drinking and composing poetry with men, much to her parents' chagrin.
When Xu Fengqiao proposed the marriage, Yao Dizhu made audacious demands: a husband who would not share her bed nor interfere with her private life. Sun Junhao, having witnessed Yao Dizhu's unconventional behavior, found her conduct unrefined and unacceptable. When the matchmaker from the Sun family arrived, Yao Dizhu rudely dismissed her. Sun Junhao then sent a letter annulling the engagement, citing his dissatisfaction with her behavior.
Enraged, Yao Dizhu stormed to the Sun manor, causing a dramatic scene that embarrassed Shen Qingyao. Lin Shaochun intervened, calming Yao Dizhu, who then apologized to Shen Qingyao before leaving. Learning that Sun Junhao had already departed for his military camp, Yao Dizhu's anger flared anew. She resolved to pursue him, make him fall deeply in love with her, and then cruelly abandon him as revenge.
To achieve this, she feigned illness and bribed a doctor to recommend a period of recuperation in the countryside. Her parents, unaware of her true intentions, sent her off with an old maid as a chaperone. On their journey, Yao Dizhu constantly offered the maid drinks and water until the maid needed to relieve herself in the woods.
Yao Dizhu seized the opportunity, sent the coachman away on an errand, and then drove off alone in the carriage to find Sun Junhao. As the Chongyang Festival drew near, the Sun manor buzzed with preparations. During the festival banquet, a maid named Songlian intentionally drew Sun Shijie's attention. Sun Shijie abruptly left the feast to pursue her, causing concern among his family, though Sun Xun was primarily angered by his son's sudden departure. That evening, Sun Shijie returned to the manor with a woman named Taoyao, announcing his intention to take her as a concubine.
