The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 30 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
Xu Qingjia is now a high-ranking official in the capital's Ministry of Revenue, but he finds himself in a perilous position, where a single misstep could lead to ruin. Gao Zheng and Jia Quan had already warned him of the dangers, including the Grand Preceptor's ruthless methods, citing an Imperial Censor who was beheaded in his own home. Hu Jiao, however, confidently stated that her husband would never accept bribes.
Despite the extreme risks, Xu Qingjia remained steadfast, declaring he would not leave. Hu Jiao questioned why Ning Wang and Prime Minister Jia could not defeat a single Grand Preceptor, who, despite being a first-grade official, also held the influential position of tutor to three generations of the royal family, the Empress's father, and the Crown Prince's grandfather. This strong backing, especially with the ailing Emperor handing supervision to the Crown Prince, upset the balance of power.
Prime Minister Jia explained that to overthrow the Grand Preceptor, they needed concrete evidence of his corruption and abuse of power, not just minor offenses from local areas. He acknowledged that the Grand Preceptor was already monitoring Xu Qingjia, but Xu Qingjia asserted that with Hu Jiao by his side, he was not afraid.
The next morning, Xu Qingjia went to meet Prime Minister Jia, who casually mentioned that Xu Qingjia and the assigned courtyard were "fated" if he had married Jia Fang'er. Xu Qingjia affirmed his commitment to reforming the Imperial Court, regardless of difficulty. Prime Minister Jia then revealed that he and Xu Qingjia's father, Imperial Censor Xu (Xu Keyan), were once classmates and good friends.
When Xu Qingjia asked about his father's demotion to a junior county magistrate, Prime Minister Jia admitted that his father had also refused to discuss the matter with him. Prime Minister Jia confessed that their chances of overthrowing the Grand Preceptor were less than ten percent. The evidence from Shangyong and Xiangzhou was deemed minor and could be easily dismissed, especially with the Crown Prince's support.
He stressed that they needed to uncover how the Grand Preceptor directly harmed the country, explaining why Xu Qingjia was sent to the Ministry of Revenue, the Grand Preceptor's stronghold. If they waited until the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the opportunity would be lost. Xu Qingjia vowed not to disappoint him. Meanwhile, Cui Wulang reported to Ning Wang, bringing the former nanny of Miss Ruoqi.
The nanny described strange symptoms Ruoqi experienced before her death: an extremely itchy left neck that emitted a faint, fragrant scent like grass after rain. Doctors couldn't stop the itching, which worsened when touched by water. Cui Wulang recognized these symptoms as matching a grass powder poison used by bandits, which produces invisible, undetectable smoke upon burning and causes death five to seven days later without leaving a trace.
He concluded that Fei Jin, the only one still possessing such poison after the bandits were wiped out, must be involved. Ning Wang realized it was Grand Preceptor Fu who was trying to kill him, but he had been away on military duty, leaving Ruoqi behind. The poisonous smoke meant the killer didn't need to enter the room and wouldn't know Ning Wang wasn't there.
Though Fei Jin was dead, Ning Wang vowed to seek justice for Ruoqi, even if it meant becoming an enemy of the Crown Prince. While Xu Qingjia was engaged in these discussions, Hu Jiao visited Yu Niang, finding Jade House quiet due to financial difficulties in the capital. Hu Jiao offered to invest, becoming the second shopkeeper, drawing on her successful "House of Relaxation" earnings. She proposed a "winding stream party" concept, inspired by Xu Qingjia's student days.
She reasoned that while she initially found the scholars "cheesy," they could bring in significant business. The idea quickly made Jade House a popular gathering spot for literati. On his first day at the Ministry of Revenue, Xu Qingjia met Liu Meng, the Chancellor of the Nation's Finances, who assigned him the task of sorting documents.
Later, an official named Lord Feng, likely on Prime Minister Jia's instructions, subtly warned Xu Qingjia to be cautious with his words and actions, emphasizing that the Ministry of Revenue was not like local government offices and that everyone focused on their own work, implying that no one would "look after" him. Xu Qingjia internally recognized the Ministry of Revenue as an impenetrable fortress.
Jia Jifang, hearing about Hu Jiao's new role at Jade House and still resentful from Xu Qingjia's rejection of her marriage proposal, gathered her entourage. She publicly ridiculed Hu Jiao, calling her "uneducated" and a "country bumpkin" who sold meat, suggesting such a person didn't suit elegant pastimes.
When challenged to a poetry contest, Yu Niang recited a poem by someone else, while Hu Jiao, with her limited literary knowledge, composed a simple poem about a plum blossom and her husband. Jia Jifang and her companions mocked Hu Jiao, reiterating that a "pig killer" should not have married a second-place scholar, and then left, causing other customers to depart, leaving Jade House deserted. Hu Jiao, disheartened, calculated the day's earnings and went home.
Xu Qingjia discussed the difficulty of his investigation with Gao Zheng. He explained that all Ministry of Revenue documents were in a guarded warehouse, requiring three approvals and constant surveillance. Gao Zheng could only advise caution. Hu Jiao, meanwhile, felt deeply affected by Jia Jifang's insults, which echoed in her mind. Xu Qingjia noticed her distracted state while looking at tea leaves and her abrupt departure to her room, sensing her hidden distress.
He found her still sleeping late the next morning and sensed something was wrong, promising to talk after work. After several days, Xu Qingjia, using the excuse of familiarizing himself with his duties, returned to the warehouse. He covertly reviewed recent military supply and fund transportation records. He discovered a document detailing a 900,000 "dan" grain transfer for disaster relief in Canzhou, which strikingly resembled his father's transfer order found in the People's Umbrella.
This new record contained more detailed timings. Within a month of that transfer order, his father was demoted. Following this timeline, Xu Qingjia cross-referenced official transfer documents and found a name: Qian Chengyu. To his dismay, Qian Chengyu had already been executed years ago for errors in grain transportation. Xu Qingjia suspected a deeper connection between these events. Later, Gao Zheng met Xu Qingjia and Cui Wulang.
Recognizing the Ministry of Revenue was not a suitable place for a detailed discussion, they decided to reconvene at Jade House after work. Xu Qingjia, arriving at Jade House, learned from Yu Niang about Jia Jifang's destructive visit and the resulting loss of customers, which explained Hu Jiao's recent sadness. Yu Niang suggested he check on Hu Jiao, who was embarrassed in front of everyone. Xu Qingjia rushed home.
He found Hu Jiao and tried to reassure her, saying they shouldn't care about others' opinions and only their mutual love mattered. Hu Jiao, however, brought up the past, asking if he remembered why he married her. She recalled that he married her out of gratitude because the Hu family sheltered, fed, and supported his studies, providing money for his imperial examination. She then suggested they were perhaps not a suitable match and that she shouldn't have married him.
Later that night, as Hu Jiao feigned sleep, Xu Qingjia softly recounted their shared history: her reckless courage in saving him from the silver mines, and her great love for others despite her rough exterior, evident when they raised funds to build a school. He wondered aloud if his initial intentions mattered now, implying his feelings had deepened beyond mere repayment of kindness.
