The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
Lin Cui, accompanied by Jia Jisheng, arrived in the capital to congratulate Hu Jiao on her pregnancy. Upon seeing Hu Jiao, Lin Cui expressed concern for her health, noticing her stomach wasn't showing an obvious bump. Hu Jiao explained that the situation was complicated, revealing that even finding an imperial physician wouldn't help without the necessary medicinal ingredients.
Jia Jisheng, having previously written to his sister asking her not to cause trouble for Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao, was worried when his sister scolded him back. He and Lin Cui rushed to the capital and were shocked to learn about the poisoning, lamenting Grand Preceptor Fu's ruthlessness.
Jia Jisheng outlined the two major challenges in creating the antidote: obtaining the medicinal herbs, as three were extremely rare and the other five costly, requiring large quantities for their essence, and the labor needed to scour apothecaries around the capital. He offered to cover the financial cost, while his sister, Jia Jifang, might have a solution for the labor. Everyone worked together, with Jia Jifang leading groups to search through apothecaries.
When some of the medicinal herbs were too heavy, Jia Jifang called on Cui Wulang for help, and he readily assisted. Eventually, they successfully gathered all the required medicinal herbs, including a large, high-quality ganoderma lucidum, and instructed it to be ground into powder. Despite gathering the herbs, a significant challenge remained: Huang Yaoshi knew the eight ingredients for the cure but not their precise dosage ratios. He explained that they would have to test it slowly.
When questioned if the medicine could truly neutralize the poison, Huang Yaoshi warned that if the prescription or proportions were incorrect, it wouldn't just fail to cure them, but could actually worsen the poison in their bodies. Faced with the uncertainty, Ge Sang declared she would try the antidote first. When others, including Yu Niang, tried to volunteer, Ge Sang insisted, revealing she had deliberately inhaled the withered grass powder the previous night.
She felt responsible for the situation and stated she would feel guilty if she didn't test it herself. Her self-sacrifice paid off; she successfully determined the correct proportions. Her neck, previously red and itchy, returned to normal. With the antidote confirmed, she urged everyone else to take it quickly without delay, thus saving Xu Qingjia, Hu Jiao, and the others. Xu Qingjia thanked Ge Sang for her efforts and urged her to rest.
Ge Sang, however, wasn't tired and had more to tell him. She explained that Zhou Ming'an, her adoptive father, had previously warned her about Grand Preceptor Fu's vicious nature. Fearing harm once their plans were complete, Zhou Ming'an had secretly kept two "life-saving" documents as evidence. One of these was Yu Niang's father's letter. Xu Qingjia realized the second document might be the change order his father had hidden in the People's Umbrella.
He then requested Ge Sang's help once more. As instructed, Ge Sang informed Zhou Ming'an that Xu Qingjia was scheduled to meet the Crown Prince in the East Palace early the next morning. Xu Qingjia confirmed with an ally that this leaked information would prompt Grand Preceptor Fu to send the Crown Prince away, and his ally promised to send a message to the Crown Prince and advised Xu Qingjia to be careful.
Zhou Ming'an reported to Grand Preceptor Fu that Xu Qingjia had sent a memorial and was scheduled to meet the Crown Prince the following morning. Grand Preceptor Fu casually asked if Xu Qingjia would survive the night, to which Zhou Ming'an replied that the next day was the seventh, when the poison should take full effect. Grand Preceptor Fu then offered Zhou Ming'an new Fujian tea.
After Zhou Ming'an praised the tea, Grand Preceptor Fu revealed that Ge Sang had come to him earlier. A shocked Zhou Ming'an asked why. Grand Preceptor Fu then produced the change order and Yu Niang's father's letter, informing Zhou Ming'an these items were found during a search of his residence. Zhou Ming'an realized Ge Sang's betrayal, attempting to stammer her name before collapsing, having been poisoned by Grand Preceptor Fu.
Grand Preceptor Fu smiled, remarking that Zhou Ming'an had earned an invaluable merit and that there would be a good show to watch tomorrow. The next morning, Hu Jiao urged Xu Qingjia to be careful and wait for her return as he set off for the East Palace. Upon arrival, Xu Qingjia formally greeted the Crown Prince, only to be met by Grand Preceptor Fu.
Realizing the Crown Prince wasn't there, Xu Qingjia made to leave, but Grand Preceptor Fu stopped him, insisting on a chat. Grand Preceptor Fu mockingly questioned Xu Qingjia's etiquette for expecting to see the Crown Prince so easily, admitting he was there instead. Xu Qingjia immediately understood that Grand Preceptor Fu was behind everything.
Grand Preceptor Fu accused Xu Qingjia of being a despicable villain trying to sow discord between him and the Crown Prince, but Xu Qingjia retorted that Grand Preceptor Fu was the true villain agitating the imperial court. When Grand Preceptor Fu challenged him to explain how, Xu Qingjia declared he would say it all to the Crown Prince.
Grand Preceptor Fu then threatened Xu Qingjia, asking if he thought he could leave the East Palace alive, and revealed his plan to frame Xu Qingjia for assaulting palace maids and have him caned to death, ensuring the Crown Prince would never know the truth. Xu Qingjia then brought up Grand Preceptor Fu's past crimes: using the Crown Prince's personal seal years ago to divert provisions meant for Ning Wang, a fact the Crown Prince was unaware of.
Grand Preceptor Fu admitted to this, justifying it as a necessary scheme because the Crown Prince wouldn't suppress Ning Wang. Xu Qingjia pressed on, asking if Grand Preceptor Fu feared losing national territory and people's suffering if Ning Wang lost the battle. Grand Preceptor Fu coldly replied that all territory and people would eventually belong to the Crown Prince anyway, and if Ning Wang got his way, the nation wouldn't belong to the Crown Prince.
Xu Qingjia then accused Grand Preceptor Fu of dispatching someone to poison Ning Wang's consort years ago behind the Crown Prince's back. Grand Preceptor Fu, enraged, cursed Fei Jin for telling Xu Qingjia, and expressed regret that Fei Jin had only poisoned Ning Wang's consort, lamenting that he still had to deal with this headache.
Xu Qingjia listed Grand Preceptor Fu's numerous crimes: poisoning an imperial prince, secretly mining silver in Stone Sheep Village, and monopolizing medicinal material prices in Xiangzhou, demanding if he acknowledged them. Grand Preceptor Fu arrogantly dismissed Xu Qingjia's accusations, demanding proof and declaring that even if he acknowledged them, Xu Qingjia would not have the chance to tell the Crown Prince.
He added a cruel threat, stating that Xu Qingjia's family and friends, all poisoned, would soon die to accompany him. He then ordered his guards to drag Xu Qingjia out and cane him to death. Just as the guards moved, the Crown Prince and Ning Wang appeared, having been listening outside the entire time.
The Crown Prince had, in fact, orchestrated this encounter by feigning estrangement from Ning Wang and having Ning Wang write to Xu Qingjia, knowing that Grand Preceptor Fu would try to prevent Xu Qingjia from meeting him, thereby revealing his true colors. The Crown Prince confronted Grand Preceptor Fu, expressing his disbelief that his maternal grandfather had truly committed such heinous deeds. Ning Wang, enraged, lunged at Grand Preceptor Fu, intending to avenge Ruoqi.
Grand Preceptor Fu, shocked, stammered, asking the Crown Prince when he had arrived. The Crown Prince revealed that he and Ning Wang had been there since Xu Qingjia first entered, having heard everything. Grand Preceptor Fu tried to dismiss his statements as jokes and claimed Xu Qingjia was framing him. The Crown Prince questioned if ordering Xu Qingjia to be caned to death was also a joke.
Undeterred, Grand Preceptor Fu dared the Crown Prince to repeat his words to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, confident they wouldn't convict him based solely on words. He continued to accuse Xu Qingjia and Ning Wang of colluding to frame a high official and challenged them to produce proof, otherwise demanding their conviction. Xu Qingjia, with a knowing look, declared that since Grand Preceptor Fu demanded proof, he would provide it.
He informed the Crown Prince that the change order, stamped with the Crown Prince's seal, and the deceased Assistant Minister of Revenue Yu Zhongliang's handwritten letter, stamped with the Ministry of Revenue's official seal, were currently with Hu Jiao at Jade House and could be retrieved at any time. A stunned Grand Preceptor Fu cried "Impossible!"
Xu Qingjia further revealed that Grand Preceptor Fu's subordinate, Ge Sang, was also at Jade House and willing to testify that Grand Preceptor Fu used her to poison them with the same poison that killed Miss Ruoqi years ago. The Crown Prince asked Grand Preceptor Fu if he had anything else to say.
Xu Qingjia added that Grand Preceptor Fu's many wrongs and vicious acts had led his subordinates, like Qing Chengyu and now Zhou Ming'an, to keep life-saving evidence against him, demonstrating that Heaven's net catches all. Grand Preceptor Fu desperately tried to convince the Crown Prince that all his actions were for the Crown Prince's sake, and that without him, others would cause trouble due to the Crown Prince's illness.
However, Xu Qingjia countered that they had collected ample evidence, including Ge Sang's testimony and the secret letters from Yu Zhongliang and his own father, which could have led to a direct impeachment. He explained they chose to resolve the matter privately in the East Palace to preserve the imperial image. The Crown Prince then denounced his grandfather, stating that the nation did not belong to him alone, but to the tens of thousands of people.
He declared that if his selfishness harmed the imperial court or the people, he would be ashamed to sit on the throne. What he truly desired was peace for generations, not merely the position of emperor. Following this, Grand Preceptor Fu acknowledged his guilt and was executed. Due to his advanced age and frail health, the Emperor abdicated, and the Crown Prince ascended the throne. Three months later, life had settled into a new rhythm.
Jia Jisheng returned to Jia Manor, where his father, despite initially pretending indifference, revealed he hadn't touched any of his son's belongings, indicating reconciliation. Jia Jisheng playfully accused his father of throwing away his things, which his father denied, stating he was too busy. A steward confirmed nothing in Jia Jisheng's room had been moved. Jia Jifang, dressed in elegant female attire, appeared, surprising her father who comically asked if she had eaten something bad.
She reminded him she was a girl, asking her brother, Jia Jisheng, if she looked nice. Jia Jisheng enthusiastically approved, believing Cui Wulang would adore it. Her father, still playfully disapproving of her newfound femininity, joked about needing a doctor for Cui Wulang, fearing he'd be "scared sick." Gao Zheng and Yu Niang's wedding ceremony took place at Jade House.
Jia Jisheng's father, Prime Minister Jia, presided over the ceremony as an elder, given that both Gao Zheng and Yu Niang's parents were no longer alive. As they exchanged vows, Hu Jiao remarked to Xu Qingjia how much Gao Zheng had changed, becoming a completely different person. Xu Qingjia teased her, saying it was no wonder she and Yu Niang were good sisters, implying they both mastered the art of "controlling" their husbands.
The ceremony proceeded with the traditional bows to Heaven and Earth, ancestors, and each other. Xu Qingjia, watching the loving ceremony, mused to Hu Jiao if it wouldn't have been wonderful if their own wedding had been as openly romantic. Taking the opportunity, Xu Qingjia looked at Hu Jiao and confessed his profound love, wishing for their love to never wither.
He expressed a desire to protect her, "the most beautiful peony flower in the world," even in a next life. He then humbly asked if she would be willing to spend eternity with a "poor scholar, who is too weak to carry things by hand or on the back." Hu Jiao, smiling, softly replied, "I'm willing." The officiant then declared the ceremony concluded to much celebration.
