The Double Episode 18 Recap
> The Double Recap
While the Ye family celebrated, Xue Fangfei found herself alone, prompting Xiao Heng to approach her. He offered her wine, stating it was to give her courage to speak freely without fear of running away. Xue Fangfei, in turn, challenged his methods, referring to their past encounter in his interrogation chambers where he failed to extract a full confession. She suggested he could resume his questioning today.
Xiao Heng acknowledged her sharp memory and, adhering to his belief that "no one tells the truth without a little pressure," pressed her for her surname. Xue Fangfei playfully claimed to have no surname or name, identifying herself as a "restless spirit from the Qingcheng Mountain." Finally, she confessed, "I am not Jiang Li." Xiao Heng revealed he already knew, calling her a "little leopard cat" and dismissing her impoliteness as "eccentric."
He urged her to smile, reminding her she had just successfully taken down Tong Zhiyang. As they ate "baozi", Xue Fangfei wondered if people only truly cherish what they have lost, to which Xiao Heng replied that only fools do. Calling herself a fool, she was then reassured by Xiao Heng that she was not, as she had never harmed another and thus had no regrets about her past or future.
He commended her courage to "return and find out what happened, and to move forward to seek justice." When he suggested she go home, she sadly responded, "That's not my home." Xiao Heng then called her "A Li" and tenderly explained that while verifying identity is crucial for prisoners, for humans, it is not always necessary to seek absolute clarity.
He concluded that if she truly were a restless spirit, the warmth of Luyang City's lights would have long since extinguished her. Xue Fangfei declared she would live on well. Later that rainy night, with lightning and thunder, Xue Fangfei bathed while Xiao Heng practiced his sword. Both were lost in thought, reflecting on their conversation and the profound connection they shared.
Xue Fangfei recalled Xiao Heng's words about cherishing what is lost and his comforting assurance that she was not a restless spirit, but she still felt the sting of having no home. The next day, Tong Er informed Xue Fangfei that Qiongzhi wished to see her. Xue Fangfei hurried to Qiongzhi's residence, where she saw a physician leaving with a sigh, offering no explanation about Qiongzhi's condition. Inside, Xue Fangfei found Qiongzhi severely injured and bedridden.
Qiongzhi advised Xue Fangfei, whom she knew was not a true Xue family member, not to meddle in old cases, calling such matters mere "entertainment" for the wealthy, and warning her that her "luxurious clothing will get dirty." Xue Fangfei countered that if human lives were merely entertainment, she "shouldn't even be a human," affirming her resolve that someone "has to be someone who dares to return and find out what happened, and moves forward to seek justice."
Qiongzhi then delivered shocking news: Magistrate Xue was not dead, but imprisoned on death row, awaiting execution six months from now. She recounted how officials from Huaixiang, including Magistrate Feng, had repeatedly visited Xihua Brothel, demanding Cuizhu. These men had violently assaulted Cuizhu in their drunken stupor. Cuizhu, needing money for her mother's medical treatment, had begged Qiongzhi not to report it.
Two days prior, the same officials returned, and when the other girls were terrified to face them, Qiongzhi bravely stepped forward in their place, resulting in her severe injuries. It was from these men that she overheard the information about Magistrate Xue. Heartbroken by Qiongzhi's plight, Xue Fangfei vowed to seek justice for her and for the Xue family, promising to "capture these lowly beasts, peel their skin and drink their blood."
Realizing her life was fading, Qiongzhi entrusted Xue Fangfei with Xue Zhao's drawings, asserting they were not idle sketches but held a deeper meaning she was unable to decipher. She urged Xue Fangfei to solve the mystery and bring the culprits to justice, stating that heaven had kept her alive to wait for Xue Fangfei. As Xue Fangfei turned to fetch medicine, Qiongzhi passed away, her last breath whispering Xue Zhao's name.
Distraught, Xue Fangfei returned to the Ye family residence and secluded herself in her room, ignoring greetings from her worried relatives. Meanwhile, Lu Ji reported to Xiao Heng that Wulan's rent was paid in "grains of gold." Xiao Heng immediately suspected the presence of a nearby gold mine.
Wen Ji expressed surprise, noting that imperial mines had been sealed two years prior due to land disasters in the south, and Luyang's mining ban remained in effect, suggesting it must be "private mines." Xiao Heng explained that such operations often involve "open-pit sand gold mines" due to limited manpower. He dispatched Wen Ji to search along the downstream waterways of the previously sealed imperial mines.
Wen Ji soon confirmed his suspicions, finding a sand gold mine with workstations cleverly disguised as "sand and earth mining" operations, positioned strategically along the river. The uppermost station was directly adjacent to the old imperial mine, indicating they were illegally extracting gold from it. Xiao Heng noted the striking coincidence that Xue Huaiyuan, who had been imprisoned for corruption, was the former magistrate of Huaixiang, where the imperial mine was located.
Connecting the dots, he realized Xue Huaiyuan's imprisonment six months ago coincided with the establishment of these private mining operations. Xiao Heng theorized that Li Zhongnan and his associates had framed Xue Huaiyuan to seize control of the imperial gold mine. The subsequent deaths of Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao, he concluded, were likely not just for offending Wanning, but to silence them and prevent Xue Huaiyuan from ever revealing the truth to his children.
Convinced, Xiao Heng declared his intention to travel to Huaixiang, dismissing Wen Ji's suggestion to inform Xue Fangfei of his departure. As Xue Fangfei prepared to leave, packing a small bag, Ye Jia'er intercepted her, concerned for her well-being. Xue Fangfei confided in her, recounting the story of a woman she met at Zhennyu Hall whose father, the magistrate of Huaixiang, had been framed and "passed away suddenly."
Xue Fangfei had promised to place flowers on his grave, but had recently learned he was "not dead" but merely "imprisoned in a jail in Huaixiang." Ye Jia'er, seeing Xue Fangfei's determination, offered to accompany her, stating that the "A Li" she knew would always "stand up for justice." However, Xue Fangfei insisted Ye Jia'er stay behind to manage the Ye family's recently "faltered business," especially with Second Uncle just returning home.
Ye Jia'er warned Xue Fangfei about the treacherous state of Huaixiang, describing how their own family's business there had been extorted by corrupt officials under the new magistrate, forcing them to withdraw. Overhearing their conversation, Ye Mingyu, their Third Uncle, insisted on going with Xue Fangfei, asserting his escort skills and arguing that Ye Jia'er should remain at home to avoid putting him in a position where he'd have to choose between saving them both.
Xue Fangfei agreed, asking Ye Jia'er to help explain their departure to their second uncle and aunt. Ye Jia'er promised to oversee the household and provide support if needed. Disguised, Xue Fangfei, Tong Er, and Ye Mingyu arrived in Huaixiang. Xue Fangfei was saddened by the desolate state of the city, a stark contrast to her childhood memories of bustling streets filled with happy children, vendors selling sweets and fragrance sachets, and her father, "Uncle Xue," promising treats after school.
She lamented the drastic changes in Huaixiang over the past six months. They attempted to find lodging at a guest house, but found it overrun by yamen officials gambling. The owner explained that the "bookmakers are all from the yamen" and he was forced to pay "70% to the officials," making the room rates exorbitant at ten taels. Xue Fangfei, disgusted, led them away, claiming knowledge of another place to stay.
They passed by her childhood home, now sealed by the Huaixiang County Yamen. She tried to question her old neighbor, Aunt Chunfang, about the Xue family's fate, but Aunt Chunfang was quickly pulled back indoors by her husband. Xue Fangfei directed Ye Mingyu to an empty courtyard she knew. She then revealed her plan to him: to confront the county yamen directly, as the current state of Huaixiang differed drastically from what her friend had described.
Fearing this would "alert those people," Ye Mingyu expressed concern. Xue Fangfei proposed a strategy. Following Xue Fangfei's plan, Ye Mingyu created a disturbance at the guest house/gambling den, resulting in him being beaten and arrested by yamen guards. Xue Fangfei, her face concealed by a veil, then loudly struck the drum at the county yamen, interrupting Magistrate Feng Yutang's sleep. Annoyed, he ordered her to be beaten.
However, upon catching a glimpse of her, he hesitated, recognizing her as "Xue. . ." Xue Fangfei quickly unveiled herself and proclaimed she was "Jiang Li," daughter of the Secretariat Director and Grand Preceptor. She issued a stern warning, threatening him with beheading and a death without a burial place if he dared to harm her or slander a high official's daughter.
Feng Yutang, visibly shaken by her powerful alleged identity, immediately changed his demeanor, apologizing for his "ignorance" and claiming his officers were "rash and foolish" and that he was "new here" and couldn't control them. He conveniently denied the existence of any gambling dens or brothels in the supposedly "pure and innocent" Huaixiang. Xue Fangfei then demanded the release of her "man," Ye Mingyu, whom she admitted had caused trouble at the guest house.
Feng Yutang, despite his earlier denials of gambling, requested compensation for the "destroyed" guest house. Xue Fangfei had Tong Er pay him, mockingly praising him as a "responsible official." With Ye Mingyu released, Feng Yutang, eager to please, offered to arrange their stay, but Xue Fangfei declined, asserting she was in Huaixiang to learn business from her uncle, not to rely on her father's or the magistrate's influence.
As she left the yamen, Xue Fangfei was overcome with emotion, imagining the torments her father must have endured in prison. Suddenly, a seemingly "mute granny" stumbled in front of her and subtly slipped a rolled scroll into her hand. Meanwhile, Magistrate Feng Yutang ordered his men to "keep a tight eye" on Xue Fangfei and her companions.
