The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 11 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
After being knocked unconscious by Cui Wulang’s men, Xu Qingjia awoke inside a carriage, where Cui Wulang sat beside him. Xu Qingjia quickly deduced Cui Wulang’s identity and rank. The carriage traveled until evening, reaching a military camp. Inside a tent, Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao met General Cui, Cui Wulang’s father, who had been waiting. Cui Wulang reported on their capture, but General Cui, known for his hatred of evildoers, was suspicious of Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao.
He had heard rumors from the locals that Xu Qingjia was "Exploiter Xu," an insatiably greedy official, and Hu Jiao a "crude butcher woman." He accused them of impersonating bad people. Hu Jiao, undeterred, declared that they were "the genuine evil pair of man and woman" and proceeded to demonstrate her extraordinary knife skills by precisely cutting specific weights of pork, impressing General Cui.
Xu Qingjia then explained their true mission and Zhu Tingxian’s corruption, confirming their identities and changing General Cui’s perception. General Cui was outraged by Zhu Tingxian’s malpractices, acknowledging that a thorough investigation would take time. To avoid alarming Zhu Tingxian and harming innocent miners, he decided to dispatch Cui Wulang to Shangyong County to assist Xu Qingjia. Once Xu Qingjia gathered sufficient evidence, General Cui would personally present it to Prince Ning, ensuring Zhu Tingxian’s capture.
Xu Qingjia suggested that Cui Wulang pose as his distant relative to avoid suspicion. After being treated to a grand feast by General Cui, they prepared to return to Shangyong County the following day. On their journey back, Yong Shou, tormented by guilt, confessed to Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao. He admitted to previously acting as Zhu Tingxian’s accomplice, explaining that he initially became a bailiff to uphold justice like his benefactor.
He had felt compelled to obey Zhu Tingxian to keep his position but had grown increasingly guilty, especially after witnessing Xu Qingjia’s righteous actions. Yong Shou earnestly expressed his desire to rectify his mistakes and serve Xu Qingjia. Xu Qingjia readily accepted his repentance, and Hu Jiao, offering him a chance, appointed him as their stable boy and guard. She then accompanied him to the county government office for his official resignation.
Roughly fifteen days later, domestic life at the Xu residence was fraught with tension. Xu Qingjia accidentally ruined Hu Jiao's eggplant plants, leading to a heated argument. Hu Jiao lamented his low salary, the lack of meat, and how his carelessness undermined her efforts to earn money, angrily threatening divorce. Just then, Cui Wulang arrived at their doorstep to move in.
He revealed that he had overheard their argument and discovered their marriage was a sham, much to Hu Jiao’s dismay. She warned him that she would kill him if he revealed their secret, but he playfully countered by asking her to teach him her knife skills. Xu Qingjia, noting the situation, asked Hu Jiao to settle Cui Wulang into the guest room before leaving for work.
Meanwhile, Xu Qingjia met with Gao Zheng to re-evaluate his previous conversation with Lady Yu. Gao Zheng recalled Lady Yu provocatively offering to let him search her body. Xu Qingjia realized this was a subtle hint that the authentic ledger was not hidden in Jade Spring Pavilion but likely on someone’s person. He chastised Gao Zheng for missing such an obvious clue, which had led them to waste two weeks searching the pavilion.
Gao Zheng speculated the ledger might be with Zhu Tingxian, but Xu Qingjia argued that such an important document would not be carried by him, suggesting they investigate Clerk Song with extreme caution to avoid alerting anyone. Xu Qingjia then tried to probe Gao Zheng’s true identity, but Gao Zheng maintained his secrecy.
Back at the house, while Hu Jiao was showing Cui Wulang around, she set strict rules: no entering the second-floor bedroom, no damaging her garden plants (at a fine of 1,000 wen per plant), and no breaking furniture (at a fine of 10,000 wen per piece). Cui Wulang provocatively asked what she would do if Xu Qingjia died during the dangerous investigation. Hu Jiao firmly stated she wouldn't let him die because he still owed her 270,000 wen.
Cui Wulang later praised her knife skills and suggested she join the military, proposing a competition. He then openly questioned her fake marriage to Xu Qingjia, implying Xu Qingjia was not a "real man" and suggested she consider him instead, calling himself "strong and reliable." Hu Jiao retorted that women liked roguish men but not bad men, then lunged at him with her knife. Cui Wulang deftly disarmed her, praising her "Slash in the Wind" technique.
At that moment, Xu Qingjia walked in and misinterpreted the scene, assuming Cui Wulang was embracing Hu Jiao. Overcome with jealousy, he hastily sent Hu Jiao out to buy oranges. He then confronted Cui Wulang, accusing him of inappropriate behavior. Xu Qingjia declared Cui Wulang his personal guard, demanding he follow him 24 hours a day, before ordering him to accompany him to Jade Spring Pavilion.
After being sent out, Hu Jiao learned from La Mei that Xu Qingjia and Cui Wulang had gone to Jade Spring Pavilion, described as a place where "female bodhisattvas" helped men relieve worries for a hefty price. Infuriated, Hu Jiao rushed to the pavilion. Meanwhile, Xu Qingjia was already there, directly questioning Lady Yu about the ledgers.
He recalled her past attempt to frame him and surmised that she, despite possibly owning all shares of Jade Spring Pavilion, was still compelled to help Zhu Tingxian due to a significant financial burden or recent change in her life. Lady Yu hesitated, her expression revealing her dilemma, then suddenly proposed that she would reveal the ledger’s whereabouts only if Xu Qingjia married her.
Unbeknownst to them, Hu Jiao had just arrived and overheard Lady Yu’s shocking demand from outside the door. Upon returning home, Xu Qingjia found Hu Jiao distant and somber. He mistakenly assumed she was upset about him ruining her eggplant plants and tried to apologize, unaware of what she had overheard. That night, Hu Jiao locked Xu Qingjia out of their room, forcing him to spend a restless night sharing a room with Cui Wulang.
The next morning, Lady Yu unexpectedly arrived at Xu Qingjia’s house. A flustered Xu Qingjia sought help from Cui Wulang, who merely advised him to handle it himself before making a quick exit. Xu Qingjia reluctantly welcomed Lady Yu and firmly stated that he had no intention of taking a concubine. Lady Yu then revealed that her proposal was merely a joke and offered to help him, hinting that she too had a problem she wished for his assistance with. Meanwhile, Cui Wulang once again teased Hu Jiao about her feelings for Xu Qingjia, to which Hu Jiao admitted that she "admired him quite a bit."
