Treasures Around Episode 23 Recap
> Treasures Around Recap
The envoy reporting to the City Lord expressed strong dissatisfaction with Su Jue's craftsmanship on the Phoenix Crown, stating his jade carving skills were far from sufficient, and even the welding and wings were crude. The envoy worried about the Empress's potential punishment and suggested letting Pei Pei from Precious Pei Pavilion attempt to create the crown as well, so the City Lord could present the finer one.
The City Lord initially found this absurd, as Precious Pei Pavilion had been seized due to Pei Chufeng's theft of the Phoenix Crown, and seeking help from a criminal's son seemed impossible. However, the envoy argued that Pei Chu Feng had been dead for years, his son was not involved in the past crime, and Pei Pei's skill was evident during the recent jade carving competition where he achieved mastery quickly even with one hand.
While acknowledging the earlier copying incident, the envoy emphasized the urgency of pleasing the Emperor. They proposed that if Pei Pei succeeded, his merit could justify restoring Precious Pei Pavilion's status. The City Lord agreed that pleasing the Emperor was the priority and found the suggestion logical. Soon after, Pei Pei received the City Lord's secret order to recreate the Moon Phoenix Crown, which was an Imperial decree needing to be completed within a deadline.
Pei Pei deduced that the City Lord must have first tasked Su Jue, found him incapable, and only turned to Precious Pei Pavilion as a last resort under Imperial pressure, recognizing the City Lord's petty nature. However, he saw this as their only opportunity to restore Precious Pei Pavilion's prestige and expose the Su family's misdeeds.
He accepted the task but stipulated one condition: the City Lord must send guards to protect the Pei Residence and ensure everyone's safety until the deadline. Inside the Pei Residence, the family discussed the daunting task. Pei Pei felt confident about the jade carving, gold and silver fusion, and other techniques he knew, especially since Shan Shuangshuang had mastered many of the crown's special techniques.
However, the most challenging parts were acquiring Sun Wu's seamless welding and Lady Cheng's colored blade skills. Pei Chufeng suggested Pei Pei visit these retired masters to seek their guidance. Pei Pei agreed but pointed out the significant cost of the necessary materials, given their current financial state. Shan Dandan then proposed using her dowry, which the Old Madam had given her, remembering she had once convinced the madam to keep it as her betrothal gift.
Seeing the critical need, she offered it, and everyone agreed they had to go all out. Meanwhile, at Su Jade Pavilion, Su Jue was working on his own crown, dissatisfied with the quality of the jade and his progress. He became angry upon hearing that soldiers were surrounding the Pei Residence, realizing the City Lord must have tasked Pei Pei with creating the crown.
He feared Pei Pei's potential success, dismissing the idea that his father, Pei Chu Feng, who had been reported insane, could help. However, he worried he still couldn't surpass Pei Pei alone. A subordinate reminded him of other designers from back then, specifically Lady Cheng, the colored blade master, and Sun Wu, the seamless welding expert. Su Jue immediately ordered the subordinate to find them quickly before Pei Pei could.
Pei Chufeng provided Pei Pei with the addresses of Sun Wu and Lady Cheng. Due to the tight deadline, Shan Shuangshuang suggested they split up: she would go to Lady Cheng, while Pei Pei and Shan Dandan would search for Sun Wu. They cautioned each other to be careful. Around the same time, Su Jue arrived at Lady Cheng's remote home. He introduced himself as Su Jue, owner of Su Jade Pavilion and son of Su Zhi Yan.
Lady Cheng recognized his father's name and asked about him. Su Jue informed her his father had passed away years ago. Su Jue then straightforwardly requested her help to reforge the Moon Phoenix Crown. Lady Cheng claimed she had long forgotten her colored blade skill, which Su Jue found hard to believe. He pressed her, asking if she would refuse him but help Pei Chufeng's son. Lady Cheng responded that she simply did not want to help him.
She then revealed that her relationship with Su Zhi Yan was poor because his skills were mediocre, and he resorted to petty thefts and tricks, stating she would never associate with him. Pei Pei and Shan Dandan continued searching for Sun Wu deep in the woods, walking for a long time until Shan Dandan became tired. Just as Pei Pei offered to carry her, they fell into a deep pit.
They quickly realized it was a trap and too high to climb out, fearing they might die there. Shan Dandan expressed her fear, but Pei Pei comforted her, saying if he had to die with her, he would have no regrets, which surprisingly made Shan Dandan feel happy. As they were talking, they heard a sound from above, and a man appeared—it was Sun Wu.
Pei Pei called out, introducing himself as Pei Pei from Precious Pei Pavilion and asking for help. Sun Wu was surprised to hear his name and asked if he was Pei Chufeng's son, expressing happiness upon seeing a descendant. He then lowered a rope to help them climb out.
Once safe, Pei Pei explained he was looking for Sun Wu to ask for his seamless welding technique to restore the Moon Phoenix Crown, revealing that the City Lord ordered him because Su Jue's skills were inadequate. Sun Wu acknowledged Su family's lack of skill but questioned who would dig such a deep pit. He claimed it was to trap wild animals like wolves, implying he dug it himself.
When confronted, he readily agreed to help, stating that Pei Chufeng was a good friend for years, and he would certainly help with his family's matters. Back at Su Jade Pavilion, Su Jue was surrounded by the colored pigments he had acquired, noting that he still couldn't find any trace of Sun Wu and wasn't even sure if the man was alive.
However, he wasn't overly concerned, believing that if his family couldn't find him, the Pei family with less resources wouldn't either. With the colored blade pigments in hand, he decided to focus on the crown's appearance, believing the colorful structure, gemstones, and jade would attract notice, and they could abandon intricate welding and engraving details. He also received news that the Empress's condition had worsened and he needed to hurry.
He resolved to work in seclusion until the crown was finished, after which he would need craftsmen to help with color and details. Soon after, Shan Dandan returned to the Pei Residence, bringing Sun Wu with her. Pei Chufeng was overjoyed to see his old friend, calling out to him. Sun Wu, however, was completely shocked, believing Pei Chufeng was dead and questioning if he was seeing a ghost. Pei Chufeng reassured him that he was alive.
The two old friends shared an emotional reunion, embracing and crying. Pei Chufeng said he would tell Sun Wu about his years of hardship later and expressed how Sun Wu's arrival was a blessing that would help them revive the crown's glory. As they reviewed the crown's progress, Pei Chufeng noted that while the welding (with Sun Wu's help) and major polishing were progressing well, they lacked the fine tools needed for intricate filigree and gildings.
He lamented that despite Pei Pei's skill, these details were hard without proper tools, and Precious Pei Pavilion's century-old reputation relied on such meticulous craftsmanship. He believed only Su Jade Pavilion in the entire city had the necessary fine tools, molds, and furnaces. Shan Shuangshuang immediately volunteered to retrieve them, insisting she was the only one who could handle it.
Despite everyone's concerns about the danger posed by the ruthless Su family, she was resolute, adding that she had personal matters to settle with the Su family. She planned to return to Su Jade Pavilion under the pretense of helping Su Jue and secretly swap their tools, arranging to meet Shan Dandan at Su Residence's back gate just before midnight to hand over the finished components and retrieved items.
Shan Dandan and A'Liu were worried about Shan Shuangshuang's safety, but Pei Pei reassured them. He believed Shan Shuangshuang was skilled in martial arts and meticulous in her plans, being the most mature among them, and they should trust her decision as some issues only she could resolve.
Pei Pei also shared some good news: he and Sun Wu had almost completed the crown's body and major welding work, and his own jade belt and pendant components were also taking shape, making the crown's reappearance feel imminent. Later, Shan Shuangshuang arrived at Su Residence, appearing injured. Su Jue was extremely concerned and excited to see her, carrying her into the house. He asked what happened and where she had been.
After getting some water, she revealed her background: she was Shan Jingtian's daughter, the one who stole the Phoenix Crown. She confessed she joined Su Jade Pavilion to investigate who hired her father, believing he was framed. However, she claimed she was wrong about Su Jue and later discovered the Pei family was the real culprit, vowing revenge on them.
This admission shocked Su Jue, but he seemed relieved when she declared the Pei family her enemy, telling her Su Jade Pavilion would always be her home. She explained she left the Pei family after their property was seized, having attempted to kill Pei Pei but was stopped by Shan Dandan and outnumbered, forcing her to escape.
She claimed she had been wandering and was recently robbed by bandits outside the city gate, leaving her with no choice but to return to Su Jade Pavilion. Su Jue comforted her, promising she would not suffer grievances again, and offered to get her food. After resting briefly, Shan Shuangshuang joined the work at Su Jade Pavilion's workshop, even correcting a craftsman's technique. Su Jue was pleased to have her help.
She noticed how exhausted Su Jue looked and urged him to get some sleep. She offered to help with the crown, stating her expertise in gold and silver inlay and jade-wrapping techniques was unmatched in Su Jade Pavilion. She claimed her father had given her remnants of the crown, allowing her to master the craft over the years and promising she would not let the Pei family succeed.
Su Jue was delighted, calling her his lucky star returned by God in his toughest time. She made him promise to rest. After Su Jue left, Shan Shuangshuang continued working, then discreetly gathered some tools and a box of colored pigments. Later that night, she went to the back gate of Su Residence and handed the tools and colored pigments to Shan Dandan, who was waiting. Unbeknownst to them, Su Jue watched this exchange from a distance.
