Unique Lady Season 3 Episode 14 Recap
> Unique Lady Season 3 Recap
As the second round of the Chamber of Commerce competition, focused on culinary skills, approached, Jiang Xuanyu dedicated himself to researching and preparing his finest dish. Meanwhile, Tang Meng, who believed a masked woman’s advice had led to their victory in the first round, implicitly trusted her. The masked woman had previously approached Tang Meng, claiming to be repaying Jiang Xuanyu’s kindness after he helped her family financially.
She had given Tang Meng a design drawing for Qi Yu's Chamber of Commerce and instructed her to place it on Jiang Xuanyu's desk so he could study his opponent, assuring her he would win with his competence. Though Tang Meng initially found this akin to cheating, the woman convinced her it was about knowing one's enemy, and the credit for victory would be hers.
Indeed, Jiang Xuanyu later found the design drawing on his desk, feeling confused and not knowing what it was. In his gratitude, he thanked Tang Meng for her quick thinking in inviting Zhong Wumei and others to fill in as models during the first round when their own models were absent. To further express his appreciation, Jiang Xuanyu presented Tang Meng with a beautiful dress he had made especially for her, promising to continue tailoring clothes for her frequently.
Following the success of the first round, the masked woman returned to Tang Meng, who eagerly sought her advice for the upcoming cooking competition. The woman provided Tang Meng with a sachet of what she described as a special spice from Qi Yu, claiming it would enhance the taste of any dish. She instructed Tang Meng to add this spice to Jiang Xuanyu's pot during the competition, assuring her of an easy victory.
Tang Meng, convinced she was helping, readily agreed. Unbeknownst to her, the sachet contained opium. During the second round of the competition, two dishes were presented: Qi Yu's stewed goose with various exotic ingredients, and Sheng Jing's medicinal black-boned chicken soup, prepared by Jiang's private kitchen Chef Tong and now enhanced by Tang Meng’s unwitting addition. Many people found the black-boned chicken soup remarkably delicious.
Zhong Wumei, however, who had tasted the dish at Jiang's private kitchen before, noted that it tasted different from what he usually had, hinting it might not be Jiang's personal recipe. A representative from Qi Yu's Chamber of Commerce then openly accused Sheng Jing of using illicit means, specifically pointing out the presence of opium in the soup. The crowd reacted with shock and outrage, questioning the Jiang family’s integrity and expressing concern about their shops.
An inspection confirmed the presence of opium in the soup. Chef Tong, who had prepared the dish, vehemently denied adding any such substance, emphasizing his decades of experience. Jiang Xuanyu, believing in Chef Tong's character, asked if any outsiders had accessed the kitchen during preparation. Chef Tong insisted that a servant had been on watch and no unauthorized person had entered the Julong Tower kitchen. Jiang Xuanyu then considered the possibility that someone from his own household might be involved.
Accepting responsibility for the oversight within his premises, Jiang Xuanyu expressed his willingness to accept any outcome without complaint. Faced with mounting public unrest, Prince Jing Yuan regretfully announced the disqualification of Jiang Xuanyu and declared Qi Yu's Chamber of Commerce as the winner of the second round. In the aftermath, Prince Jing Yuan arrived to deliver an imperial decree: His Majesty wanted Zhong Wumei to represent Sheng Jing Chamber of Commerce in the third and final round.
This decision was meant to calm public sentiment and vindicate Jiang Xuanyu, as Zhong Wumei was both a Prince and Jiang Xuanyu's close friend. Zhong Wumei, however, felt ill-equipped, admitting his lack of expertise in commerce. Prince Jing Yuan explained that many Sheng Jing merchants were too fearful to participate, given the current scandal surrounding Jiang’s business. If no one stepped forward, Qi Yu would win by default, ceding the chairmanship to Liu Xiuwen.
Lin Luojing, finding Zhong Wumei troubled, offered him encouraging words. She reminded him of his compassionate nature and assured him that she would stand by him, no matter his decision. Meanwhile, a distraught Jiang Xuanyu sought solace in alcohol, lamenting his inability to protect Tang Meng. Drunkenly apologizing to her, he confessed that while he never cared about his own reputation, his concern for her now was paramount.
He had promised her father to care for and protect her, but with both the Jiang and Tang families' businesses implicated and their reputations tarnished, he felt utterly helpless. Overcome with guilt, Tang Meng admitted her mistake, blaming herself for trusting the masked woman's misleading advice. The third round of the competition was announced, with the theme of commerce. Each contestant received a capital of 100 taels and three days to earn as much as possible.
While Zhong Wumei delved into stacks of books, Lin Luojing had a sudden inspiration, recalling modern-day internet solutions. She developed an innovative business model, setting up various stalls around the city under names like "Saltyshrimp," "Pindoudou," and "Taoshell shop," all operating under the umbrella of "Shengjing58. com." This service allowed citizens to exchange unused household items, connecting buyers and sellers and fostering community engagement.
The stalls quickly attracted large crowds, delighting citizens who found long-lost items from their childhood, like a porcelain plate to replace a broken one or a favorite toy that reunited old friends, Xiao Mei and Dumpling. A painter even found renewed inspiration through a "buyer show" initiative. Witnessing Zhong Wumei's personal involvement in running the stalls, a lady even proposed marriage to him, to his polite refusal, which was amusingly handled by Lin Luojing.
Liu Xiuwen’s subordinate reported on Lin Luojing's unusual business, which involved trading unused items for profit. Liu Xiuwen, however, dismissed it as a desperate, amateur attempt, confident in his own strategy of high-interest loans (a 40-percent daily rate, compounded daily), believing Zhong Wumei would face utter defeat. When the results were tallied, Qi Yu's Chamber of Commerce initially won with 200 taels, surpassing Sheng Jing's 180 taels.
Zhong Wumei felt he was not cut out for business, but Lin Luojing, despite their efforts, declared she truly wanted to win, jokingly mentioning Zhong Wumei's experience as a "customer service representative." The crowd, however, erupted in protest, arguing that Sheng Jing's approach, which provided jobs, reunited families, and stimulated the local economy through "Saltyshrimp" and other initiatives, was far more beneficial than Qi Yu's high-interest lending. To address the widespread discontent, Prince Jing Yuan called for another anonymous vote.
The initial count resulted in a tie, 100-100. Just as the judge prepared to declare Qi Yu the winner based on silver earned, a masked woman, identifying herself as Ye Chen Xi from the Tian Yi Clique, stepped forward to cast her vote. She declared that while making money was the goal, true prosperity lay in earning from the people and using it for their benefit.
She praised Sheng Jing's methods for enriching citizens and boosting the city's trade, casting her decisive vote for Sheng Jing. With this unexpected turn, Sheng Jing Chamber of Commerce was declared the victor. Lin Luojing expressed her gratitude to Ye Chen Xi, who politely declined an invitation to celebrate, stating they would meet again if fate allowed. Later, Liu Xiuwen, fuming over Qi Yu's loss to a mere "Saltyshrimp" business and an unknown woman's vote, confronted Prince Jing Yuan.
He accused the Prince of orchestrating the opium incident, a claim Prince Jing Yuan readily admitted. Liu Xiuwen reminded him of his previous warnings against such dishonorable tactics. Prince Jing Yuan retorted that his actions were necessary to create opportunities for Liu Xiuwen and asked if he truly understood the difficulty of establishing their influence in Sheng Jing.
Liu Xiuwen condemned Prince Jing Yuan’s methods, asserting that a gentleman acquires wealth ethically, and this defeat only proved Prince Jing Yuan's flawed judgment. Infuriated by Liu Xiuwen's defiance, Prince Jing Yuan was met with a stern warning: if he ever again acted unilaterally to harm the common people, Liu Xiuwen would not stand idly by. As Liu Xiuwen departed, Prince Jing Yuan observed his retreating figure, musing that he was growing increasingly princely and asserting his will.
He believed that when he finally revealed his ultimate strategy, Liu Xiuwen would realize the correctness of his decisions. After the celebrations, Jiang Xuanyu, still quite drunk, thanked Zhong Wumei and Lin Luojing for saving his family’s business. He continued to ramble to Zhong Wumei about past punishments. Lin Luojing noticed that Xi Que seemed unhappy despite their victory.
Xi Que confided in Lin Luojing that she felt a tightness in her chest and difficulty breathing whenever she saw Zhang Ji speaking with other girls. Lin Luojing, recognizing the symptoms, playfully told Xi Que she was in love and asked if Zhang Ji had confessed his feelings. Xi Que, unfamiliar with the term "confess," believed Zhang Ji didn't like her. Lin Luojing reassured her that Zhang Ji clearly had feelings for her, but hinted that dealing with a "straightforward man" like him would require some strategy.
