The Legend of White Snake Episode 15 Recap
> The Legend of White Snake Recap
After the street performance incident, Xu Xian immediately paid double the compensation to the crowd, even though it made his already "poverty-stricken" situation much worse. Xiao Qing felt terribly guilty for causing trouble instead of helping to earn money. Xu Xian, in turn, expressed his shame for being unable to provide a better life for Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, promising to visit more clinics the next day.
Bai Suzhen gently stopped Xiao Qing from revealing the difficulties they faced with other clinics and suggested to Xu Xian that he should open his own clinic to help and save more people, which had always been his dream. Xu Xian explained the high cost of opening a clinic in Lin'an, but Bai Suzhen reminded him that "if we work together, we can solve the problem," and that his skills meant he could cure people anywhere.
Inspired by her advice, Xu Xian felt enlightened. Bai Suzhen then decided to find other ways to raise money, as Xu Xian refused to use her own funds. Bai Suzhen worked diligently, even developing calluses on her hands from embroidery. She created a "Tianxiang Cream" using various flower juices and herbs, which proved highly effective and sold out quickly.
Customers were so impressed that one man claimed his wife looked ten years younger after using it, leaving money to reserve more. Xu Xian noticed the increasing number of patients and the success of her beauty products, even mentioning inquiries about her sachet craftsmanship for custom clothing. Despite their success, Xu Xian felt remorseful about Bai Suzhen's hard work and politely declined a custom dress order, wishing to spare her further toil.
Bai Suzhen, however, pointed out that Xu Xian endured more, working from day to night and facing "cold stares" while street vending. Xiao Qing, tired of their affectionate bickering, humorously interjected about her hunger, as their love couldn't fill her stomach. Later, over a simple dinner, Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen playfully described their dishes with poetic verses, turning the "simple dishes" into a "feast" of love.
Meanwhile, Fahai, meditating in Jinshan Temple, was troubled by visions of his "inner demon," which declared, "I am you, you are me," and challenged him to face himself. The demon asserted its presence within his heart, beyond the physical realm. After his meditation, a monk delivered a "secret treasure" from his master called Guiyi. The master's voice explained that Guiyi could help Fahai "see through the fantasy" and "understand the karma of reincarnations."
He was advised to travel again, hoping he would "get rid of distractions" and achieve enlightenment. As Baohe Clinic's grand opening approached, Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen visited his parents' graves, where Bai Suzhen solemnly promised to care for Hanwen. At another grave site, Prime Minister Liang mournfully visited his son Liang Jun's tomb, vowing vengeance against Xu Xian.
He then encountered Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen, warning Xu Xian that he would soon send him to join his parents, and that his son would enjoy Bai Suzhen's company in the afterlife. Bai Suzhen, angered by the threats, subtly used her magic to trip Prime Minister Liang. Observing a grieving father weeping at his son's grave, Xu Xian lamented that "corrupt officials" like Prime Minister Liang caused such "tragedies."
Bai Suzhen suggested they name their clinic "Baohe Clinic," symbolizing their hope to help all people, rich or poor, and foster "happily" families. Qin San, Prime Minister Liang's confidant, soon reported the opening of Baohe Clinic. Still seething over his son's death, Prime Minister Liang approved Qin San's plot. Qin San deliberately infected isolated elderly people with "leprosy," knowing other clinics would refuse them.
He anticipated that Xu Xian, known for his bold use of medicine and previous suggestion of treating leprosy with "arsenic," would take them in. Their plan was to frame Xu Xian for murder. Soon, an old couple, whom Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen had met earlier, arrived at the clinic seeking help for the old woman's leprosy. Xu Xian welcomed them despite bystanders' warnings about the contagious nature of the disease and fears of being "burned" in their village.
Xu Xian informed the old woman that he could treat her "leprosy" using "arsenic," warning that it was a potent "poisonous" medicine. The old woman, desperate for any hope, declared she would try anything, even drink it. Xu Xian carefully instructed her to apply the medicine externally for a month and strictly warned her "not to drink" it. The grateful couple departed with the medicine.
Xu Xian, however, was puzzled, wondering why the old woman, who had been well just days before, had suddenly contracted leprosy. That night, Qin San found the old woman alone, offering her freshly steamed buns. When she tried to save them for her husband, Qin San forcibly made her eat one. The next morning, officials stormed Baohe Clinic, accusing Xu Xian of murder.
They claimed the old woman had died, bleeding from her "ears, nose and eyes", with her "stomach damaged badly", and "suffocated," indicating poison. They concluded she died from Xu Xian's arsenic. Xu Xian vehemently denied it, explaining his medicine contained only a "little" arsenic and was strictly "for external use only," thus incapable of causing death. Despite his protests, the official accused him of "killed people" and ordered his arrest and the clinic's closure.
Bai Suzhen told Xiao Qing they had anticipated a frame-up, but not such a "maniac" act of killing an innocent person. They decided to go to court. In court, Prime Minister Liang pressured Xu Xian to confess to a "capital offence," accusing him of using patients to "test your drug" and causing death, threatening him with "suffer." Xu Xian cited Emperor Gao Zong's decree, which prohibited torture during initial interrogations.
Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing then arrived with the old man, who testified that his wife never used Xu Xian's medicine, so she couldn't have been poisoned by it. He revealed he, too, had leprosy and secretly tested Xu Xian's medicine on himself, showing his cured skin as proof. He still had some medicine left and urged the court to test its toxicity.
The old man accused "the bad guy" of poisoning his wife, presuming she had used Xu Xian's medicine, to frame the doctor. He then identified Qin San as the man he had seen fighting with his wife that night, recalling that his wife had scratched Qin San's hand. Bai Suzhen requested Qin San's hand be checked. Qin San tried to flee but was apprehended by Xiao Qing, revealing a scratch on his hand.
Prime Minister Liang, in a calculated move, berated Qin San for acting alone, forcing Qin San to take sole responsibility for the crime. Although Bai Suzhen noted that Prime Minister Liang "suffered a lot" from the setback, they had no means to implicate him further. Xu Xian grieved for the old couple, reflecting on their deep love and the pain of separation. He contemplated that no one could stay with another forever, but love and memories endure.
He expressed gratitude that he and Bai Suzhen didn't "waste" their time together, cherishing every moment. To celebrate Baohe Clinic's doubled income, Xu Xian distributed money to his staff. Xiao Qing, grabbing her share, playfully declared herself their "chief" and promised to "keep these" funds safe. She then headed to Juyizui Restaurant, ordering a jar of Qiulubai.
There, she encountered Zhang Yutang, who tried to claim the last jar for himself, suggesting she try the sweeter, less potent peach blossom wine. Xiao Qing scoffed at the "juice" for "children," boasting she was the best wine connoisseur in Lin'an. Zhang Yutang challenged her knowledge, asking about the best Yuhang liquor and Tusu wine.
They bonded over their shared appreciation for Bailixiang and Zhuike Xian, with Zhang Yutang revealing his knowledge of Tusu wine's secret herb-based recipe, passed down from his physician ancestors. He introduced himself as "the winebibber in Lin'an," frequently supplying rare herbs to Mr. Qian (the Tusu owner) and receiving a jar of "Ten-year Tusu" annually. Xiao Qing eagerly traded her Qiulubai for a taste of the Ten-year Tusu, and they quickly became "buddies," vowing to "get drunk today."
Later, two merchants tried to sell "Rough Gentian" from "Qianzhou" at Baohe Clinic, attempting to pass it off as "Gentians from the East." Xu Xian refused, citing the "adulterated" quality of their products. He explained to Bai Suzhen that while their "tiger bones and bear galls" were good, he preferred to buy fewer animal-derived medicines to promote "safe" treatment for animals, as herbal alternatives existed.
Bai Suzhen praised his compassion, remarking that it had taken her "thousands of years" to truly understand such empathy. Still lacking reliable suppliers, Xu Xian worried. Bai Suzhen suggested posting a list of needed "medicines" outside the clinic, believing honest merchants would come forward. Xiao Qing, still in the tavern, encouraged Zhang Yutang to bring his "good medicine" and "good liquor" to Baohe Clinic, solidifying their "buddies" bond.
The next morning, Zhang Yutang saw the posted list and, realizing it was Xiao Qing's clinic, entered. He proudly presented her with various snake-derived products, including "gall from flat-necked snakes," "snake skin," "snake bones," and galls from "Zaocys snakes," "mandarin rat-snakes," and "grey rat snakes," emphasizing their "much" quantity. Xiao Qing's face grew pale, and her eyes turned red at the sight of her slain kin. Zhang Yutang, misinterpreting her reaction, attributed it to too much drinking and offered her a fresh green snake gall to "clear away heat and toxin."
