Weaving a Tale of Love Episode 2 Recap
> Weaving a Tale of Love Recap
An had confided in her husband, Kudi Yanzhong, about modifying the empress's ceremonial robe. Her conniving concubine, Cao, immediately voiced concerns that An's involvement could endanger the entire family. Cao shrewdly suggested that Kudi Yanzhong write a Letter of Divorce to officially separate himself from An and their potential misfortune. Kudi Yanzhong, demonstrating his selfish and cowardly nature, promptly wrote the divorce paper.
An observed their actions with disdain, recognizing Cao’s ruthlessness and Kudi Yanzhong’s weakness, which solidified her resolve to ensure Kudi Liuli’s safety. Kudi Liuli, a young girl with an exceptional eye for detail, examined Zhuo Jinniang’s ceremonial robe and pointed out its lack of vitality, suggesting an additional embroidered bird to enhance it. An was taken aback by her daughter's inherent talent, yet worried about the unforeseen consequences such a gift might bring.
After careful consideration, An decided to send Kudi Liuli to a secure location. She entrusted her with the golden stitch, a treasured heirloom symbolizing the "best embroiderer under heaven," along with her compiled garment-making techniques. An gave Liuli strict instructions: she must memorize the contents, then burn the notes, and under no circumstances reveal the techniques or her identity as An's daughter.
An warned Liuli that if anyone other than herself came to retrieve her in seven days, she must not return home but instead seek sanctuary at a nunnery, protected by the Buddha. Liuli, distressed by the thought of separation, pleaded with her mother, but An remained firm, assuring her it was for her own protection and promising to return in exactly seven days.
Subsequently, An's brother, Silang, took Kudi Liuli to the Wu Mansion to deliver the auspicious clothes commissioned by Cairen Wu. Wu Yuanhua admired the lifelike peach blossom embroidered on her grand red ceremonial dress. Madam Yang, however, felt a single flower was too plain. Kudi Liuli promptly explained that the singular blossom symbolized "one of a kind," a wish for Cairen Wu to stand out amongst the other concubines. Madam Yang was thoroughly pleased and ordered a reward for Liuli.
Kudi Liuli then requested to stay at the mansion for a few days to perfectly adjust the collar and cuffs to Cairen Wu’s measurements. Upon learning that Liuli was the daughter of the renowned "best embroiderer under heaven," Wu Yuanhua gladly consented, eager to witness her skills firsthand. As Kudi Liuli settled into the Wu Mansion, she often reflected on her mother’s heartfelt warnings, feeling a deep sense of unease.
Concurrently, Pei Xingjian continued his wait at the temple, determined to meet General Su Dingfang, who was engaged in a prolonged game of blind chess with the abbot. A temple attendant informed Pei Xingjian that the blind chess game could last for days, making it impossible to predict when General Su would emerge. General Su had explicitly forbidden Pei Xingjian from "stepping" inside the temple.
Ingeniously, Pei Xingjian interpreted this rule to his advantage, using his agility to traverse the temple’s rooftops and walls, thus entering the premises without actually setting foot on the ground through any door. As he moved through the temple, he admired the camellia handkerchief he carried, marveling at its lifelike embroidery and wondering about the master artisan who created it. He was told by the attendant that, because it was blind chess, no one knew when the game would end.
Three days into her stay, Kudi Liuli visited the temple to pray for her mother's safety and seek guidance for her future, which felt uncertain and filled with fear. As she drew a particularly inauspicious fortune stick, Pei Xingjian, hidden in the rafters, subtly nudged it back with a small stone. He repeated this action each time she drew a bad omen until, finally, an auspicious stick fell from the cylinder.
In his haste, Pei Xingjian accidentally dropped the camellia handkerchief. Kudi Liuli instantly recognized it as her own and, interpreting its appearance with the auspicious stick, believed it to be a divine intervention from the Buddha, affirming her mother's eventual safety. Reassured, she departed with a sense of peace. Moments later, General Su Dingfang finished his chess game and appeared. He confronted Pei Xingjian about interfering with the young girl's fortune.
Pei Xingjian explained that while a fortune stick could not alter fate, a good one could instill the courage needed to face difficult circumstances. He eloquently defined courage as "doing what one knows cannot be done," citing General Su's own famous military feats as examples. Deeply moved by Pei Xingjian's insight and compassion, Su Dingfang finally accepted him as his disciple.
Soon after, Pei Xingjian paid his respects at the Wu Mansion, given that his late father and Cairen Wu’s father had been close friends. Madam Yang and Cairen Wu extended a warm welcome, inviting him to stay with them. As the seven-day period concluded, Zhuo Jinniang arrived at An's home to collect the ceremonial robe. She was visibly stunned by the garment's exquisite modifications, which were now vibrant and flawless.
An reminded Zhuo Jinniang of their prior agreement, which included maintaining secrecy about An's daughter. Zhuo Jinniang, while praising An's unparalleled skill, subtly accused her of withholding deeper secrets. An countered by explaining that true artistry transcended mere technique, residing instead in the heart. Zhuo Jinniang, feigning agreement, took the robe, but reiterated her cynical promise to keep An's daughter a secret. At the Wu Mansion, Kudi Liuli put the final perfect touches on Cairen Wu's auspicious clothes.
Cairen Wu, admiring her stunning reflection, profusely praised Liuli's remarkable skill. She offered to bring Liuli into the palace to be her personal dressmaker. Kudi Liuli gently declined, explaining that her mother described the palace as a beautiful but restrictive cage, and that she longed for the freedom of her mother's homeland, Gaochang.
Cairen Wu reflected on their divergent paths, acknowledging that while Liuli sought boundless freedom, her own ambition lay within the palace walls—to climb to power, become her own mistress, and ultimately command influence over the realm. She then kindly instructed Liuli to call her "Sister Wu." In the palace, Minister Lin presented the ceremonial robe to Consort Yang, congratulating her on her anticipated promotion to empress. However, Emperor Li Shimin unexpectedly arrived.
Recognizing the ceremonial robe, he furiously accused Consort Yang of usurping the empress's position. Consort Yang vehemently denied the accusation, swearing her innocence and even attempting to commit suicide by running into a pillar to prove her loyalty. Li Shimin intervened just in time, then pressed for the identity of the robe's creator.
Panicked, Minister Lin and Zhuo Jinniang immediately shifted the blame to An, falsely claiming that An, once the "best embroiderer under heaven," regretted leaving the palace and had fabricated the ceremonial robe to curry favor with Consort Yang, hoping to secure her re-entry into the Wardrobe Service. They insisted they were merely messengers, delivering what they believed to be an ordinary skirt. Initially, Li Shimin, enraged, ordered the execution of both Minister Lin and Zhuo Jinniang.
However, Consort Yang, recovering from her injury, pleaded for their lives, arguing that their deaths would only fuel rumors about her ambitions and cause further turmoil in the court. Li Shimin relented, commuting their sentences. Instead, he ordered them to cooperate with the Highest Judiciary to arrest An, whom he now considered a manipulative instigator of discord. Zhuo Jinniang, accompanied by Highest Judiciary guards, descended upon An’s residence.
She publicly accused An of illicitly colluding with harem concubines and disrupting the imperial court. An courageously confronted Zhuo Jinniang, exposing her false accusations and treachery. Witnessing the unfolding crisis, Kudi Yanzhong and Cao quickly produced the Letter of Divorce, presenting it to the officers as proof of their separation from An. The guards immediately arrested An. Unsatisfied, Zhuo Jinniang frantically searched An’s room for the golden stitch but found nothing. Kudi Yanzhong genuinely knew nothing of its whereabouts.
Under the threat of torture from the Highest Judiciary, Cao reluctantly revealed that the golden stitch was likely with Kudi Liuli. Zhuo Jinniang forced Cao to disclose Liuli's current location and led the guards to the Wu Mansion. Simultaneously, Pei Xingjian, having arranged his lodging for the imperial examinations, was about to bid farewell to the Wu Mansion. Cairen Wu, alerted to the approaching danger, urgently pleaded with Pei Xingjian to help Kudi Liuli escape through the back exit.
As the Highest Judiciary guards stormed the mansion to search, Cairen Wu valiantly stalled them. A guard soon discovered fresh hoof prints near the back gate, indicating a hasty departure. Pei Xingjian quickly concealed Kudi Liuli inside a large book box and galloped away. Zhuo Jinniang and the guards relentlessly pursued them. Realizing she was endangering Pei Xingjian, Kudi Liuli secretly placed her mother's invaluable golden stitch and garment-making notes into his book box.
Then, with a brave and determined heart, she pulled out a small dagger, cut the horse's reins, and intentionally fell from the horse. This selfless act allowed Pei Xingjian to escape with the precious items. Seeing the guards closing in on Liuli, Pei Xingjian was forced to continue his escape alone. Cao, present with Zhuo Jinniang, immediately recognized Kudi Liuli. Despite a thorough search, Zhuo Jinniang again failed to find the golden stitch on Liuli and, in a fit of anger, ordered Kudi Liuli to be imprisoned.
