Song of Youth Episode 31 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Sun Junhao celebrates the defeat of the wild wolves. Yao Dizhu, who did not attend the celebration, helps Mr. Baicao dry herbs, thinking happily of Sun Junhao. After Mr. Baicao leaves, Yao Dizhu discovers a severely injured man, Gu Ye, hidden in a haystack. Gu Ye claims he was forced into banditry a year ago, was beaten for refusing, and only got severely injured on his first robbery.
He insists he never harmed anyone and asks Yao Dizhu to verify his story with a Liu couple at General's Slope. Yao Dizhu bandages his wounds, and while initially skeptical, she temporarily believes him, though she warns him after he compliments her scent. Meanwhile, Sun Xun is delighted after finding a solution to the national treasury deficit, a task given by the Emperor to him and Liang Jingguan.
His wife, Shen Qingyao, and Aunt Mei compete to congratulate him, much to Shen Qingyao's annoyance. Taoyao tries to please Sun Xun and Shen Qingyao by serving them. Sun Xun is unwelcoming towards Taoyao, but Shen Qingyao defends her, urging Taoyao to rest for her pregnancy and leave chores to servants. Taoyao feigns guilt, claiming she wants to work due to causing trouble.
Later, Shen Qingyao and Aunt Mei again vie for Sun Xun's attention, leading to Shen Qingyao kicking Aunt Mei. Annoyed, Sun Xun leaves. Taoyao is caught by Sun Xun secretly searching his study for his national strategy. She quickly claims she was cleaning, but Sun Xun notices the document drawer has been disturbed. He warns her not to enter his study again without exposing her.
Sun Yulou informs Lin Shaochun that Chen Boyuan was exiled to the frontier and subsequently drowned en route. Lin Shaochun suspects Chen Boyuan was murdered to silence him, believing Taoyao has ulterior motives and is backed by a court official. Lacking concrete evidence, Lin Shaochun decides to wait for Taoyao to make a mistake. Meanwhile, Songlian's secret meeting with Jia Fengyuan's contact is compromised when she is followed, and a crucial message is destroyed by a passing carriage.
Taoyao, realizing they are exposed, devises a new plan: Songlian is to bribe a fruit vendor to relay messages to Jia Fengyuan. Lin Shaochun instructs Nanny Chang to monitor Songlian. Nanny Chang discovers the suspicious exchange with a fruit vendor and tracks him to Jia Fengyuan's residence. Lin Shaochun, realizing Su Yingxue is in Jia Fengyuan's household, decides to send a guqin to Su Yingxue, hoping she can help uncover information about Jia Fengyuan.
Inside Jia Fengyuan's residence, Su Yingxue overhears him giving Sun Xun's stolen national treasury plan to Liang Jingguan. She is caught eavesdropping and quickly pretends to be delivering dim sum, but is dismissed. Liang Jingguan, suspicious of Su Yingxue, urges Jia Fengyuan to eliminate her and Taoyao. Jia Fengyuan is reluctant, citing Su Yingxue's pregnancy with his child, but warns her that his hatred for the Sun family, especially Sun Xun, runs deep, blaming Sun Xun for his father's death.
He forbids her from leaving the house. Lin Shaochun sends a kite into Jia Fengyuan's residence, bearing a coded message in musical notes. Su Yingxue recognizes Lin Shaochun's handwriting and message. Jia Fengyuan sees the kite but, not understanding the message, tears it. Feeling indebted to Lin Shaochun, Su Yingxue fakes abdominal pain to summon a midwife. She bribes the midwife with her jade bracelet to deliver a message to Lin Shaochun.
Lin Shaochun learns from the midwife that Taoyao and Jia Fengyuan are conspiring against Sun Xun. She rushes to inform Sun Xun, but he has already left for court. Liang Jingguan presents the stolen plan to the Emperor, who is initially pleased. Liang Jingguan boasts that his strategies will greatly enrich the treasury and make the Emperor rely on him. Upon Sun Xun's return, he convenes a family meeting.
Lin Shaochun publicly accuses Taoyao of stealing Sun Xun's national strategy for Jia Fengyuan. She reveals she had dusted gold powder on Sun Xun's papers in his study and points to Taoyao's handprints as proof. Taoyao admits to touching the documents. Shen Qingyao and Aunt Mei demand Taoyao's arrest. Sun Shijie pleads for Taoyao, citing her pregnancy, while Wu Yuehong is furious. Sun Yulou and Sun Jingge insist on legal punishment.
However, Sun Xun reveals that Taoyao did not betray the Sun family. He explains that he had caught Taoyao trying to steal documents and, upon her confession about Jia Fengyuan's bribery, orchestrated a counter-scheme. Taoyao, realizing Jia Fengyuan's unreliability, chose to side with the Sun family, following Sun Xun's instructions to modify and deliver the false documents to Jia Fengyuan. Lin Shaochun is shocked by Taoyao's cunning.
A few days later, the Emperor discovers Liang Jingguan's plan is ruthless and would lose public support, becoming furious and reprimanding him. Sun Xun then presents his own, superior plan, which the Emperor approves, giving him full authority and reinstating Sun Shijie to assist him. Liang Jingguan is sent home for reflection, realizing he walked into Sun Xun's trap. Sun Xun further humiliates Liang Jingguan by forcing him to apologize to the officials he had harmed.
Jia Fengyuan is implicated by Liang Jingguan and exiled to Lingnan. He hastily prepares to leave. Sun Xun visits Jia Fengyuan, who attempts to ingratiate himself. Sun Xun reveals he knows Jia Fengyuan is Jia Zhen's son, not Jia Shicai's, and clarifies that the Emperor, not Sun Xun, ordered Jia Zhen's execution years ago, and that Sun Xun had even tried to save Jia Zhen. Su Yingxue, pregnant, comforts Jia Fengyuan, pledging to stay by his side.
Moved, Jia Fengyuan asks her to remain in the capital to care for their child, sparing her from his suffering. Exhausted from managing household affairs, Lin Shaochun coughs frequently. Shen Qingyao, concerned for Lin Shaochun's health, suggests Taoyao take over household management. Sun Xun initially refuses, prioritizing Taoyao's pregnancy. However, after Shen Qingyao shows him Taoyao's impeccably organized accounts, Sun Xun agrees to let Taoyao temporarily manage the household.
Sun Yulou, Wu Yuehong, and Sun Jingge are displeased by Taoyao's new role. Taoyao, feeling triumphant, tries to show Sun Shijie a cooling windmill she made. Sun Shijie, however, is indifferent and makes excuses to leave, citing national affairs, causing Taoyao to realize he is actively avoiding her. Songlian suggests he might just be tired.
