The Double Episode 17 Recap
> The Double Recap
Honoring his wager with Xue Fangfei, Lai Biao revealed that the buyer of the Tuoluo flowers was Dafeng Pharmacy. Upon hearing that Lai Biao had talked, Prefect Tong immediately dispatched assassins to the pharmacy to eliminate all witnesses. Separately, Xiao Heng also visited Lai Biao and secured his military assistance for a future confrontation.
Lai Biao agreed, seeing it as a way to repay a debt to Xiao Heng's father, Xiao Minghan, and requested to be invited for drinks once Minghan's name was cleared. That evening, Ye Mingyu was found heavily intoxicated and distraught. He clung to a bridge pillar, repeatedly apologizing to "Zhenzhen," expressing deep remorse for failing to protect her and longing for her to return, saying he missed her every day and night.
Lu Ji eventually had to knock Mingyu unconscious to take him home. Meanwhile, Xue Fangfei was also quite drunk, calling Xiao Heng "the cannon" and insisting she wasn't intoxicated despite clearly being so. She criticized him for not getting drunk, wondering if he ever spoke the truth. He retorted that she hadn't spoken the truth either despite her drinking. As the rain poured, she playfully threw aside his umbrella and pulled him into a dance.
She then leaned in close, complimenting his good looks. Xiao Heng gently averted her attempt to kiss him. He later offered to take her home, draping his coat over her shoulders. Xue Fangfei, in her inebriated state, declared she no longer had a home. Xiao Heng, with a hint of shared experience, remarked that he didn't have a home either. Back at the Ye residence, Ye Jia'er and Tong Er were anxiously waiting for Xue Fangfei.
Tong Er expressed worry about her whereabouts, while Ye Jia'er, upon seeing Xiao Heng carry a drunk Xue Fangfei back, was surprised and questioned his presence, asking who he was and why he let Xue Fangfei drink so much. Xiao Heng simply stated he was her savior. Wen Ji and Lu Ji were keeping watch over Wu Lan from the rooftop, anticipating Chu Lan's arrival. Wu Lan, seemingly prepared, welcomed her masked master. Xiao Heng observed silently.
Chu Lan spoke to Wu Lan in the language of Dai Country, informing her of a traitor in the stronghold and instructing her to deal with it. He then unmasked, revealing himself, and confronted Wu Lan about her contact with Xiao Heng, threatening her brother's life if she didn't remain loyal. Wu Lan, fearing for her brother, pledged allegiance to Chu Lan and informed him of Xiao Heng's presence and lack of reinforcements.
Xiao Heng entered, and he and Chu Lan, having met before, recognized each other immediately. A fierce fight ensued. When Wu Lan attempted to help Chu Lan, Chu Lan shockingly stabbed her, revealing he had already killed her brother for his betrayal. The battle spilled outside, where Xiao Heng and his men were quickly surrounded by Chu Lan's assassins. Despite Chu Lan's confidence in his superior numbers and his connection to Lord Cheng, Xiao Heng found himself injured and outnumbered.
Just as things looked dire, Lai Biao arrived with his men, fulfilling his promise to Xiao Heng. Lai Biao declared that his debt to Xiao Minghan, Xiao Heng's father, was now repaid. Chu Lan managed to escape the skirmish. The next morning, Xue Fangfei woke up, still feeling dizzy. Ye Jia'er, bringing her red bean congee and a perilla drink, questioned her about the previous night, particularly a red cape she was wearing.
Xue Fangfei downplayed the cape, calling its owner "a stranger," and insisted she needed to investigate the Tuoluo flower's origin. She urged Jia'er to stay home and manage family affairs while she and Ye Mingyu went to Dafeng Pharmacy. They found the pharmacy closed and deserted. Sensing foul play, Ye Mingyu sent their subordinate, Shun, to climb over the wall to investigate.
Shortly after, Prefect Tong arrived with his retinue, making a public show of concern for the "murder" of eight people at the pharmacy. He immediately apprehended Shun, accusing him of the crime. Ye Mingyu was furious, but Xue Fangfei quickly intervened, warning him against rash actions that could jeopardize both of them. Realizing the official inquiry was being manipulated, Xue Fangfei urgently pursued Tang Fan, the officer from the Office of Weaving and Dyeing, as he was leaving.
She pleaded with him to continue the investigation, highlighting that the buyer of the Tuoluo flowers had been murdered, indicating a larger conspiracy. However, Tang Fan firmly stated that his mandate only covered the Soochow brocade's toxicity and that the murder case was now under the jurisdiction of the local prefect, refusing to get further involved. Mrs. Ye, desperate to free Ye Mingxuan, met with Prefect Tong.
He slyly suggested that Ye Mingxuan's stubborn pride was the cause of his predicament and demanded an exorbitant sum of one hundred thousand taels of gold for his release, warning that the price would only increase if she delayed. Mrs. Ye, though refusing his initial terms, began selling her shops and dowry. Simultaneously, Ye Mingyu was found selling his escort agency, admitting it was failing and he needed money for the family.
Xue Fangfei encouraged him to return home and reconcile, reminding him that family was paramount. He initially refused, feeling too ashamed to face his family after years of estrangement. He gave Xue Fangfei the deposit from the sale and his collected "rare trinkets" to pass to Mrs. Ye, but Xue Fangfei insisted he deliver them himself. Inspired by an inscription, Xue Fangfei devised a cunning plan. She approached Xiao Heng, offering him baozi and inviting him to witness a "play."
She thanked him for his help the night before, feigning partial memory loss, and then outlined her scheme: they would use Prefect Tong's greed and love for opera against him. The Ye family, on Xue Fangfei's advice, would present the key to their family vault to Prefect Tong, implying the treasures, including imperial tribute items, were being offered as a bribe for Mingxuan's freedom. Meanwhile, Ye Mingyu would secretly inform the Surveillance Commissioner that Prefect Tong was embezzling imperial tributes.
Xiao Heng, initially skeptical, was convinced by Xue Fangfei's analysis of Prefect Tong's weaknesses and dispatched his men to hasten the Surveillance Commissioner's arrival. The Surveillance Commissioner's team arrived to find Prefect Tong in the midst of his theatrical indulgence, dressed in costume and carousing with his subordinates. Confronted with Ye Mingyu's accusation of tribute embezzlement, they immediately arrested the disgraced prefect. Although Ye Mingyu worried about the potential fallout, Xue Fangfei had anticipated every step.
She explained that for Prefect Tong to salvage his reputation and escape harsher punishment, he would need the Ye family's testimony that he was merely safeguarding the imperial tributes, not stealing them. This forced Prefect Tong to beg the Ye family for assistance. In return, the Ye family demanded that he publicly clear their name in the Soochow brocade affair and release Shun.
Xue Fangfei further reasoned that even if Prefect Tong escaped the current charges, Li Zhongnan would never trust him again, effectively ending his political career. The plan worked perfectly, leading to Ye Mingxuan's successful release. With Ye Mingxuan safely back, the Ye household buzzed with joyous preparations, with Mingxuan's wife ensuring everything was perfect, including burning a brazier to ward off bad luck.
Ye Mingxuan embraced his wife and then warmly reconciled with Ye Mingyu, playfully teasing him about his long absence. Mingxuan then offered a heartfelt apology to Xue Fangfei, admitting his past cynicism and thanking her for saving their family, recognizing her as one of them. Xue Fangfei expressed her gratitude, regretting how she had hurt their family in the past due to her youth and being misled.
She believed that if her mother, Ye Zhenzhen, were still alive, she too would have helped the family. The family members comforted her, acknowledging her difficult past at the Jiang residence, especially under Ji Shuran. Finally, Ye Mingxuan led Xue Fangfei to meet Old Madam Ye. The Old Madam, overjoyed, embraced Xue Fangfei, telling her she was glad to see her alive and did not blame her for past mistakes, emphasizing that she was "Jiang Li, the Ye family's granddaughter."
Overcome with emotion, Xue Fangfei wept, imagining Jiang Li's spirit finding peace in this warm acceptance. She thought of her own deceased family, wishing they too could forgive her. Ye Jia'er gently held her hand, reassuring her, "Li, stop crying. You're home. We're home."
