The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 23 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
Everyone suspected the death of the third brother was suspicious, not a direct act by Gao Zheng. They recalled Gao Zheng merely scaring the men, who fled swiftly, making it unlikely he had caused the fatality. They believed Nanfeng House, potentially orchestrated by Tang Ze, was responsible for the man's death and had framed Gao Zheng. This suspicion was solidified when Yong Shou found a letter stating, "Close the shop. The person will be released," confirming Nanfeng House's direct involvement.
Xu Qingjia initially considered closing Hu Pharmacy to secure Gao Zheng's freedom, but Yu Niang strongly objected. She reminded Xu Qingjia that Gao Zheng had chosen to join him, even at the cost of offending the Prime Minister, because he believed Xu Qingjia prioritized the welfare of the people. Yu Niang warned that if Xu Qingjia abandoned the fight against Nanfeng House for Gao Zheng's sake, Gao Zheng would be deeply hurt and self-reproachful.
She evoked Xu Qingjia's own past self-sacrifice in Shangyong as an example of what Gao Zheng would expect from himself. After their discussion, Yu Niang left to visit Gao Zheng. In prison, Yu Niang found Gao Zheng severely bruised and injured. Despite his attempts to hide his condition and refuse food, she tenderly fed him, tears streaming down her face as she witnessed his suffering.
Gao Zheng admitted he was beaten because he chose not to fight back against his captors. Meanwhile, Xu Qingjia met with Han Nansheng, who stated he could not directly intervene in the conflict between Xu Qingjia and Tang Ze. Han Nansheng pledged impartial judgment based on the law and promised not to convict Gao Zheng of murder without concrete proof, but he could not release him as Gao Zheng had admitted to injuring the man.
Xu Qingjia then requested that Gao Zheng be spared any further unwarranted torture while imprisoned, a request Han Nansheng granted. Han Nansheng advised Xu Qingjia to back down, suggesting a path of less resistance, but Xu Qingjia retorted that while he himself could retreat, the common people had no such option. Hu Jiao was invited to a banquet hosted by Han Wenfang at Xiao Xiang Restaurant. Hu Houfu advised against attending, but Hu Jiao insisted.
At the banquet, Han Wenfang, who managed Nanfeng House, acknowledged her role as a "pawn" for her powerful patron, to which Hu Jiao sharply retorted by calling her a "minion." Han Wenfang then implied that Hu Jiao also relied on her husband, Xu Qingjia, for her business. Hu Jiao vehemently corrected her, stating that Hu Pharmacy operated on principles of integrity and conscience, never engaging in market manipulation.
Han Wenfang shared the long history of her Han family in the medicinal herb business and the establishment of Nanfeng House, but conceded its vulnerability to powerful lords. She rationalized that being a minion was preferable to destruction and boasted of her dominance over the medicinal herb trade in Xiang County. Hu Jiao countered that her pharmacy would also survive.
Han Wenfang proposed an alliance, offering Hu Jiao shares in Nanfeng House and urging her to close Hu Pharmacy, promising higher returns. Han Wenfang, who aspired to marry Tang Ze, also suggested Hu Jiao advise Xu Qingjia against holding grudges that could jeopardize his career. Hu Jiao, proud of her humble origins as a butcher's daughter, declared her family's commitment to honest living and affirmed that her marriage to Xu Qingjia was based on love, not status.
She concluded with a fierce warning: if Han Wenfang dared to harm anyone close to her again, she would retaliate without mercy. Yu Niang continued her daily visits to Gao Zheng, bringing him special food and comforting him. She playfully questioned whether he blamed her for convincing Xu Qingjia not to close the pharmacy.
Gao Zheng affirmed he did not blame her, stating she had done the right thing, and likened his situation to Xu Qingjia's past sacrifices for the people. Yu Niang then playfully challenged his resolve, asking if he would sacrifice her for the common people, leading to a loving exchange where he declared his unwavering choice for her. Meanwhile, Hu Pharmacy suffered immensely. With Gao Zheng imprisoned, customers disappeared, intimidated by Nanfeng House's threats.
Han Wenfang and Tang Ze reveled in their successful strategy to cripple Hu Pharmacy's business. Villagers, desperate to sell their accumulating herbs before they spoiled, were forced to sell them to Nanfeng House at drastically reduced prices. Hua Tuo reported this dire situation to the Xu household. Determined not to let Nanfeng House win, Hu Jiao promised the villagers she would secure funds to purchase their herbs.
She went to Chang Sheng Bank and, to acquire the necessary 200 taels, mortgaged Hu Pharmacy's property and land deeds, agreeing to repay the loan with interest within twenty days. However, Han Wenfang soon appeared at the pharmacy, holding the deeds. She revealed that Nanfeng House held shares in all Chang Sheng banks in Xiang County, making her the de facto creditor.
She offered to waive the interest if Hu Jiao surrendered the pharmacy immediately, but Hu Jiao defiantly insisted on the full twenty-day term. That evening, Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao discussed their predicament. Hu Houfu suggested borrowing from Yu Niang, but Hu Jiao refused, feeling she had already failed her concerning Gao Zheng and believing that business and personal relationships should remain separate.
Lin Cui then proposed a brilliant plan: transport their existing 700 taels worth of medicinal herb inventory from the warehouse to Yunlai. Her brother, Liang A'Niu, who ran the Windward Bodyguard Agency there, could help sell the herbs in Yunlai and other regions, circumventing Nanfeng House's local monopoly. She estimated they could generate a profit of 300-400 taels after transport costs within the twenty-day deadline. Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao wholeheartedly endorsed this strategy.
Lin Cui, Hu Houfu, and Yong Shou, along with others, embarked on their mission to Yunlai. Despite confronting some rivals and facing difficulties, they successfully rallied local wealthy merchants. Lin Cui and Hu Houfu persuaded them to invest in the medicinal herbs from Xiangzhou's mountain citizens, highlighting the high demand in distant markets such as the Capital, Jiangnan, Yuhang, Nanjiang, and even the Western Regions.
Liang A'Niu's Windward Bodyguard Agency pledged to safely transport the goods, ensuring substantial profits even after escort costs, thanks to Nanfeng House's local price suppression. Unaware of these developments, Han Wenfang confidently discussed Hu Pharmacy's impending failure with Tang Ze. She believed Hu Jiao would be unable to repay the loan within three days, dismissing the possibility of them securing another loan as their stockpiled medicine would simply spoil.
Tang Ze praised her strategy and, in response to her request for a reward, promised to marry her and secure her transfer to the Ministry of Revenue within a year if his plans for Xiangzhou succeeded. On the final day of the loan term, Cha Pi and his men arrived at Hu Pharmacy, attempting to intimidate Hu Jiao and seize the shop. Cha Pi taunted her about her inevitable failure and suggested she might resort to desperate acts.
Just as tensions escalated, Liang A'Niu and Yong Shou arrived, triumphantly presenting 500 taels. Startled by the unexpected turn of events, Cha Pi and his men quickly retreated. Cha Pi reported back to Tang Ze, confirming that Liang A'Niu was from the Windward Bodyguard Agency. He explained that this agency had successfully transported Hu Pharmacy's stockpiled herbs to Yunlai for sale and could now facilitate distribution to other regions beyond Xiangzhou.
This development meant that Nanfeng House would face significant competition and substantially reduced profits. The next morning, Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao met with the villagers, introducing the Windward Bodyguard Agency and explaining how they could now sell their herbs directly to merchants in various places, freeing them from Nanfeng House's oppressive monopoly. To solidify their trust, Xu Qingjia displayed two large chests of silver, promising fair and frequent purchases.
When some villagers still expressed fear of Nanfeng House's powerful backing, Xu Qingjia publicly declared his identity as the local magistrate of Xiangzhou, vowing to uphold justice against anyone, regardless of their influence. Hua Tuo then brought forward Wang Fu, a villager who had previously associated with Nanfeng House's thugs. Reminded of his conscience and the village's gratitude to Xu Qingjia, Wang Fu courageously testified that Gao Zheng had not killed the third brother.
He revealed that he had witnessed Liu Wen and Zhang Yi killing the injured third brother while everyone else was at dinner. Wang Fu agreed to testify in court. Consequently, in court, Lord Duan informed Tang Ze that he was compelled by the overwhelming evidence. Wang Fu's testimony, combined with the confessions of Liu Wen and Zhang Yi under Xu Qingjia's interrogation, led to the arrest of Cha Pi, Liu Wen, and Zhang Yi. Gao Zheng was immediately released.
