The Chang'an Youth Episode 21 Recap
> The Chang'an Youth Recap
After class, Shen Yiyi called out to Yang Zian. He turned around but did not immediately answer. As he walked away, Shen Yiyi felt she heard him thank her for telling him the truth, which made her jump with joy. In the following days, Yang Zian was often seen walking around alone, appearing distraught. Shen Yiyi wondered what was troubling him, as he had been gloomy despite their recent reconciliation.
Hesitating, Yang Zian showed her a copper coin, which Shen Yiyi immediately recognized as a new form of bad money. Yang Zian confessed his suspicion that his father might be involved. Shen Yiyi suggested that perhaps Lord Yang was secretly investigating the matter himself, and, being his son, he might want to shield them from danger.
Yang Zian found this plausible but recalled a recent incident: his father had claimed to inspect the Ministry of War with Minister Han, but his shoes were covered in red mud, found only in Chang'An's west. This made Yang Zian wonder why his father lied, and he hoped his father was not involved. Shen Yiyi comforted him, telling him not to overthink things as nothing was confirmed.
They embraced, which was witnessed by their roommate, who quickly pretended not to see anything to avoid awkwardness. Later, the Five Scholars of Shangyi School were out for drinks. After leaving the tavern, they noticed paper money scattered on the ground. Tang Jiuhua mentioned that Lord Zhang Yu, an important court official, had recently died. Rumor had it that a box of bad money and a written confession were found in his home, leading to his suicide.
The confession stated he bribed officials with bad money, killed Censor Tu who discovered it, and then took his own life, begging the Emperor to spare his family. Yang Zian found this suspicious, noting the lack of other evidence like a list of bribed officials or details of the mint. Dugu Muxue also found the case suspicious and, remembering seeing Rou at Zhang Yu's mansion, decided to investigate alone to avoid implicating her.
Dugu Muxue went to Ningxiang Pavilion, where he confronted Ning Xiang, calling her Rou. She denied her identity, stating "Rou is dead" and threatened to destroy the nepenthe flowers in the courtyard and cut off her scar if that was what identified her to him. Dugu Muxue seized the knife from her, pleading with her not to deny their past.
He told her he had lost her once, and now that he had found her by her scar, he implored her to promise that if they were ever separated again, she would seek him out. Meanwhile, Shen Yiyi asked Xiao Xinyuan to obtain an ancient coin from the palace mint, which resembled current currency but had a different weight.
She gave it to Yang Zian, explaining it could be used to test Lord Yang: if he was innocent and secretly investigating the bad money case, he would question Yang Zian about the coin; if he was guilty but repentant, he would confess to the Emperor. This coin was a warning, a chance, and a window of time for Lord Yang. They realized they needed more concrete evidence, like a coin mold.
At dinner, Dugu Muxue relayed Han Yu'er's query about Shen Yiyi selecting jade carving patterns, mentioning Han Yu'er would find someone to engrave them. This conversation about carving templates gave Shen Yiyi an idea. Shen Yiyi and Yang Zian went to a jade workshop in the city's west, a place known for skilled engravers where even Han Yu'er would go.
Shen Yiyi staged a loud scene, claiming the workshop ruined her Sinan pendant, drawing a crowd and forcing the owner to call out all the engravers. This diversion allowed Yang Zian to slip into the back room to search for templates. Though he didn't find a mold, Yang Zian discovered something he deemed more important, keeping the details secret from Shen Yiyi for the time being.
Separately, Xiao Xinyuan, Tang Jiuhua, and Han Yu'er were eating noodles when they witnessed a commotion. The Crown Prince's hunting dog had bitten a child, and the child's father, unaware of the dog's owner, killed it. The Crown Prince, initially enraged, was advised by a subordinate and then publicly offered the family money. However, Xiao Xinyuan, who was with Tang Jiuhua and Han Yu'er, felt something was amiss and followed the family.
Shortly after, the Crown Prince's guards intercepted the family, demanding the child's life as compensation for the dog. The Second Prince, intervening, publicly shamed the guards for their cruelty and offered the family more money, advising them to immediately leave Chang'An. Later, a guard reported the Second Prince's intervention to the Crown Prince, who was furious at his brother's defiance. Minister Han then met with the Crown Prince and other allies in the West Mountain, where they were supposedly hunting.
Minister Han warned the Crown Prince about the Second Prince's growing favor with the Emperor and his close ties with the "Five Scholars" of Shangyi School, particularly Yang Zian and Shen Yiyi. He argued that if the Second Prince's power continued to grow, the Crown Prince's position would be threatened, urging immediate action to seize power. The Crown Prince reluctantly agreed to Minister Han's counsel, and the allies toasted to their impending coup.
Meanwhile, Yang Zian stealthily followed a suspicious attendant who was returning to his father's mansion. The attendant managed to evade Yang Zian, but later reported to Lord Yang that his son was tracking him. Lord Yang was startled, remembering Yang Zian's recent probing questions, and realized his son might have clues. The attendant also relayed a message from his "master," demanding a large sum of money and warning Lord Yang not to let his son interfere with their plans.
After the attendant left, Yang Zian, who was observing from a distance, watched as Lord Yang reflected on his actions, wondering if he had made mistakes, and wishing he would repent. Lord Yang then checked a hidden compartment and discovered that one of the bad money coins was missing. Yang Zian, witnessing this, understood that his warning had been received, and hoped his father would use this chance to confess to the Emperor.
