The Autumn Ballad Episode 20 Recap
> The Autumn Ballad Recap
The women of the Qiu family, confined to the Royal Academy, continued to bicker amongst themselves despite their shared misfortune. Qiu Yan stepped forward, reminding them that with their home gone and the Old Madam deceased, they had only each other in such a perilous place. She urged them to unite and face their adversities together, stating it was their only chance for survival.
Qiu Yan revealed that she had deliberately provoked Shi Xiaoxiao to be banished to their current courtyard, which had a thin wall that could be breached within five days, and someone would be waiting outside to pick them up. Meanwhile, Qiu Ying approached Wang Ma to entertain guests and live a better life, distinguishing herself from Qiu Yan, who had gotten on Shi Xiaoxiao's bad side.
Seeing this, Official Yuan took Qiu Ying aside, promising her a better life, even freedom from servitude, if she provided him with information. Eager for release, Qiu Ying, following Qiu Yan's and Liang Yi's strategic plan, disclosed false information: that in half a month, Marquis Yongming Residence would supposedly hire Qiu Yan for a performance.
Qiu Yan would then take the other women in a carriage, and men from the Firewood Office, disguised as refugees, would intercept them, making it appear as if they were captured by bandits. Liang Yi would then arrange for their escape and shelter. On the day of the planned escape, Liang Yi had Song Jin drive a decoy carriage carrying the Old Madam's relatives towards the city gate.
Official Jiang attempted to inspect the carriage, but Song Jin, feigning urgency, pushed past, then staged a commotion with beggars to create a diversion. Meanwhile, Qiu Yan and the other women successfully bypassed checkpoints by hiding in a dung cart. After their smooth escape from the city, Qiu Yan thanked Qiu Ying for her pivotal role in the plan. Yuan Lang, who had been informed of the decoy escape plan by Qiu Ying, lay in wait, expecting Qiu Yan.
To his surprise, only Shi Xiaoxiao was in the carriage. Shi Xiaoxiao clarified that Marquis Yongming Residence had always hired her, exposing Liang Yi's "decoy" strategy. Realizing he had been tricked, Yuan Lang ordered his men to return to the Royal Academy and search the Qiu family's courtyard, but found it empty. Believing the women had escaped via the Bian River, Yuan Lang immediately ordered his men to search every boat upstream and downstream.
That night, the Qiu women boarded a boat. However, the next morning, news arrived that the boat had hit reefs. The bargeman confessed that only he had survived, and just one female body was found, stuck in the cabin, the others presumed swept away by the current. Beixue informed Liang Yi that people were discussing the boat accident and an unidentified body.
Official Tong, despite the body being unrecognizable due to water immersion and fish, concluded it was Qiu Yan based on her clothing. Yuan Lang expressed skepticism, pointing out that if eight women were on board, there should be more bodies. Official Tong explained the quicksand nature of the Bian River. Qin Xuan, devastated by the news, rushed to identify the body.
Though he initially struggled to confirm the identity due to the body's condition, he was horrified to find the ebony hairpin he had personally carved for Qiu Yan, which she wore constantly. This confirmed for him that it was indeed Qiu Yan, and he was overwhelmed with grief. Despite Yuan Lang's lingering suspicion about the singular body and the "too deliberate" nature of the discovery, the case was officially closed by Official Tong with the "witness, evidence, and body" present.
Yuan Lang, still unconvinced, ordered a search of all villages outside the city, notably excluding Guangji Hall, an institution for the mentally ill, which he believed would be an unlikely hiding place for the women. Meanwhile, Liang Yi, though rumored to be burning joss papers, refused to see Qin Xuan, who surmised that Liang Yi's actions were a ruse and Qiu Yan might still be alive.
Indeed, the Qiu family women were safely hidden in Guangji Hall, which, ironically, was the safest place given it was dismissed by Yuan Lang. Madam Liu complained bitterly about living with the "crazy" and "drooling" residents, longing for the Royal Academy. Qiu Yan reminded her that they were wanted fugitives and owed their refuge to the manager, an old acquaintance of Liang Yi.
Soon after, a letter from Qiu Min was discovered, expressing her feelings of inadequacy and being a burden to the family. She declared her intention to "leave," asking them to consider her as having "gone with our late mother," which led her family to fear she intended to end her life at her mother's grave. Driven by concern for Qiu Min, Qiu Yan decided to return to the city, despite warnings about the patrolling officers.
She reasoned that to the authorities, she was already presumed dead, making her less likely to be recognized. Upon entering the city, she encountered a fraudulent old woman who feigned injury and demanded ten taels of silver. As officers approached, Qiu Yan fled. Just as she was cornered, Liang Yi pulled her into Heming Building. He chastised her recklessness, reminding her how close she was to being arrested by the Fengjing Prefecture authorities.
However, Yuan Lang's men had spotted them entering the building, and soon, Heming Building was surrounded. Liang Yi and Qiu Yan, thinking quickly, feigned an intimate encounter in a room. When Yuan Lang burst in, accusing Liang Yi of harboring the fugitive Qiu Yan, Qiu Yan confidently introduced herself as "Su Yiwan." Yuan Lang, disbelieving, insisted she was Qiu Yan. Just then, Official Tong arrived.
Liang Yi explained the situation, emphasizing that Su Yiwan was his "love interest" and Yuan Lang had simply made a mistake due to a resemblance. Official Tong, acknowledging Su Yiwan as a reclusive songstress from Jizhou, examined Qiu Yan closely. Despite her strong physical resemblance to Qiu Yan, he declared that "the bearing is quite different" and concluded, "She is not Qiu Yan." Yuan Lang, calling Official Tong a "slippery eel," demanded Su Yiwan sing for them.
Liang Yi interjected, stating that Su Yiwan was now his concubine and only sang for him. Official Tong privately admitted that even if she were Qiu Yan, he would deny it to avoid reopening the case he had already closed. Lacking direct evidence and with Liang Yi's new claim, Yuan Lang was forced to leave. Meanwhile, Qiu Min had sought out Qin Xuan.
She confirmed she was alive but implicitly perpetuated the belief in the boat accident, claiming it hit a reef and she was the only one washed ashore. She told him she only remembered Qiu Yan remained in the cabin when the final wave struck. Qin Xuan was distraught, refusing to believe Qiu Yan was dead. He expressed deep regret and guilt, lamenting his inability to prevent the misfortunes that befell their family and Qiu Yan's death.
Qiu Min offered to comfort him, suggesting he view her as Qiu Yan. Qin Xuan, in his drunken sorrow, mistook Qiu Min for Qiu Yan, calling out her name repeatedly, then realizing she was not his beloved. Qiu Min then asked him for a kiss. Qin Xuan had arranged for Qiu Min to stay at Yao Gai's place. He was also assured by the troupe leader of Heming Building, whom he once saved, that their secret would not be revealed.
Liang Yi was informed by Beixue that Qin Xuan likely suspected the boat accident was a setup. Liang Yi, focused on finding Qiu Min and clearing his family's name, dismissed the thought of Qin Xuan, indicating their relationship was over.
