The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 33 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
Considering Hu Jiao's pregnancy, Xu Qingjia worried about her overworking and planned to write home for her sister-in-law and La Mei to come and help. However, Hu Jiao firmly refused, explaining that the Jade House had just opened, and she didn't want to be an absentee business owner. She also mentioned that La Mei and Yong Shuo were courting, and the House of Relaxation still needed them.
Hu Jiao, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, assured Xu Qingjia that she wasn't a frail lady and was perfectly fine, especially with him by her side. Though Xu Qingjia remained concerned, he eventually relented and allowed her to continue working at the Jade House. Meanwhile, after over a month of confinement, Jia Jifang eagerly questioned her father about Cui Wulang, General Cui's son, with girlish shyness.
Her father, Jia Xiang, sarcastically questioned Cui Wulang's supposed interest in her, listing hypothetical flaws like ugliness or old age. Jia Jifang insisted Cui Wulang was heroic and in his twenties, claiming his interest was "8 or 9 out of 10." Unconvinced, Jia Xiang dismissed her claims and ordered her to remain confined and reflect on her actions, to which Jia Jifang declared she would ignore him.
At the Jade House, Hu Jiao expressed her growing suspicion about Ge Sang, noting her excessive proactiveness and sneaky behavior. Yu Niang, however, dismissed Hu Jiao's concerns, attributing Ge Sang's cautiousness to her past struggles and fear of being abandoned, much like Yu Niang herself had been after fleeing the capital. Gao Zheng had journeyed to the now-desolate former residence of Yu Zhongliang, a disgraced Assistant Minister of Revenue. There, he encountered yamen runners who mistook him for an intruder.
Gao Zheng asserted his authority, identifying himself as being from the Prime Minister's residence, and learned from the officers that the estate belonged to a criminal whose daughter, Yu Xiu, was still a wanted fugitive for theft. This confirmed Gao Zheng's suspicion that Yu Niang was, in fact, Yu Xiu. Back at the Jade House, Hu Jiao, still early in her pregnancy, confided in Yu Niang about keeping it quiet from her family to avoid being treated like a "Buddha."
She then playfully suggested Yu Niang and Gao Zheng would marry sooner than her child's birth. When Xu Qingjia and Gao Zheng arrived, Yu Niang excused Ge Sang. Xu Qingjia then revealed to Yu Niang her true identity as Yu Xiu, daughter of Yu Zhongliang. Yu Niang acknowledged her past, stating there was "nothing to be proud of" as a criminal's daughter.
Xu Qingjia shared his belief that Yu Zhongliang's downfall, like his own father's, was tied to Qian Chengyu, the Minister of Revenue, suggesting a larger conspiracy. Yu Niang then recalled her father giving her a silk pouch containing a note before his arrest, with the cryptic message, "One foot under the orchid flower shelf." She surmised her father had buried something important in the garden of their old home.
Yu Niang and Gao Zheng decided to retrieve the buried item that night. Yu Niang insisted on accompanying Gao Zheng, as only she knew the precise location of the orchid shelf amidst the ruins of their old home. She instructed Hu Jiao to stay and watch the Jade House. Later that evening, while serving a customer, Ge Sang subtly passed a note to an accomplice, relaying the information she had overheard.
As Gao Zheng and Yu Niang recovered a brocade box from the specified location, several black-clad figures suddenly attacked, attempting to seize it. Gao Zheng's formidable martial arts skills, however, allowed them to escape with the box. Inside the brocade box, they found Yu Zhongliang's personal letters.
The letters revealed that during a critical period of the Nanjiang war, with the imperial court desperate for funds and Prince Ning repeatedly requesting supplies, Minister of Revenue Qian Chengyu had been pressured to divert vital military provisions. Zhou Ming'an, an associate of Grand Preceptor Fu, had presented a transfer order bearing the Crown Prince's unique personal seal, claiming it was the Grand Preceptor's will and explicitly implying the Crown Prince's involvement. Qian Chengyu, initially resisting, was compelled to comply.
He then instructed Yu Zhongliang to use the Ministry of Revenue's seal to authorize the diversion of grain to Cangzhou, a region that, despite a natural disaster, had sufficient supplies, unlike the front lines. Shortly after, Xu Keyan, Xu Qingjia's father and a Censor, entered the Ministry of Revenue's office, expressing concern about the Nanjiang supplies and questioning Zhou Ming'an's unauthorized presence as a non-official.
Qian Chengyu, realizing the danger, discreetly entrusted the crucial transfer document to Xu Keyan, believing it would be safer with him than at the Ministry of Revenue. He hoped that one day, this document would serve as evidence to clear their names, should someone in court be able to challenge Grand Preceptor Fu and the Crown Prince.
Although Ning Wang's valiant efforts eventually quelled the rebellion despite the shortages, preventing a deeper investigation into the military supplies at the time, Grand Preceptor Fu still fabricated charges to remove Minister Qian from his position and confiscate his property, likely due to the hidden transfer order.
Anticipating his own fate, Yu Zhongliang meticulously recorded these events in his letters, sealing them with both the official Ministry of Revenue seal and his personal seal, with the hope that the truth would eventually be revealed. After reading Yu Zhongliang's letter, the group discussed their next steps. Hu Jiao reiterated her suspicions about Ge Sang, recalling seeing her eavesdropping earlier that afternoon.
Xu Qingjia, connecting this with the attack by the black-clad men, realized that Ge Sang was likely Grand Preceptor Fu's informant. To confirm her role, Hu Jiao intentionally allowed Ge Sang to see the letter and overhear it being discussed as crucial evidence.
Once the Jade House closed for the night, Ge Sang went directly to Zhou Ming'an, reporting that Gao Zheng had injured the men sent to retrieve the letters and that Hu Jiao and the others possessed important evidence found at Yu's house. The following morning, Xu Qingjia met with Jia Xiang and Ning Wang, presenting Yu Zhongliang's letter as proof. He explained how Minister Qian Chengyu had been forced to divert military supplies by Zhou Ming'an, using a transfer order.
Ning Wang and Jia Xiang were surprised, having never heard of such an order. Xu Qingjia admitted he no longer possessed the original transfer order, as Zhou Ming'an had retrieved it from him in Xiangzhou, but stated that Yu Zhongliang's letter, authenticated by both official and personal seals, served as sufficient evidence. Jia Xiang declared Grand Preceptor Fu's actions an "unforgivable crime" for harming the nation.
Xu Qingjia then revealed the unique seal on the transfer order bore the characters "Rui Min." Ning Wang was stunned and confirmed it was a personal seal he and the Crown Prince had carved when they were young, initially "Rui Ze" for the Crown Prince, later changed to "Rui Min" to symbolize working for the people. He further explained that such personal seals were often used for unofficial financial transactions by royals, making them recognizable to former Ministers of Revenue.
Xu Qingjia suggested that while the seal was the Crown Prince's, it didn't necessarily mean the Crown Prince was directly responsible, theorizing that someone close to him, such as Grand Preceptor Fu, might have secretly used it. Ning Wang agreed, asserting that the Crown Prince would never compromise the country's safety, and pledged to inquire directly with the Crown Prince. Both Ning Wang and Jia Xiang stressed the critical importance of keeping Yu Zhongliang's letter safe.
Concurrently, at the Grand Preceptor's Manor, Zhou Ming'an informed Grand Preceptor Fu about Yu Zhongliang's letter and Yu Niang's true identity as Yu Xiu. Grand Preceptor Fu was vexed that the letter hadn't been discovered during the initial confiscation of the Yu family's property, learning from Zhou Ming'an that it had been buried and only Yu Niang knew its location.
Recognizing the severe implications if Ning Wang and Jia Xiang obtained this letter, Grand Preceptor Fu ordered Ge Sang to acquire it. He also instructed his people in the East Palace to closely monitor Ning Wang and the Crown Prince. Although Xu Qingjia might not recognize the seal on the transfer order, Grand Preceptor Fu knew Ning Wang certainly would, and if Yu Zhongliang's letter corroborated the incident, the connection would be undeniable.
Grand Preceptor Fu declared he would personally "take care of the Crown Prince" and, chillingly, ordered that once the letter was secured, Xu Qingjia and Gao Zheng "can't be left alive."
