Weaving a Tale of Love Episode 4 Recap
> Weaving a Tale of Love Recap
Deng Qiniang confronted Kudi Liuli, revealing she was inquiring about the sachet's origin on behalf of Zhuo Jinniang. Deng Qiniang explained that the intricate embroidery was a lost technique, one that even Master Zhuo, An's only apprentice, could not replicate. Kudi Liuli claimed she had purchased the sachet from Shun at the Mortuary.
She then asked Deng Qiniang why Zhuo Jinniang was so interested, learning that Zhuo Jinniang was An’s only apprentice and naturally sought to understand the origin of a sachet embroidered by An. Overjoyed by the news that her mother had an apprentice in the palace, Kudi Liuli rushed to Sun Decheng, eager to uncover the truth about her mother’s death.
Sun Decheng sternly cautioned Kudi Liuli against approaching Zhuo Jinniang or revealing her true identity, warning that doing so could endanger many people, including Zhuo Jinniang herself, who would have been implicated if she knew the truth about An’s death. Kudi Liuli understood and agreed to remain hidden. Realizing that Zhuo Jinniang would likely investigate further, Sun Decheng and Kudi Liuli devised a plan to mislead her. Zhuo Jinniang summoned Shun to her, pressing him about the sachet.
Shun, adhering to Sun Decheng's instructions, claimed he bought it from a nomadic Hu merchant in the West Market and showed Zhuo Jinniang several other sachets he had acquired. Zhuo Jinniang, noting the distinctive needlework reminiscent of An's style, immediately dispatched Deng Qiniang to search every stall and shop in the West Market to find the merchant. The extensive search, however, yielded no results. Still suspicious, Zhuo Jinniang summoned Kudi Liuli and Shun.
She questioned Kudi Liuli’s deep attachment to the sachet, to which Kudi Liuli feigned concern for the money she claimed was inside. Zhuo Jinniang persisted in demanding the sachet's true origin, but Shun steadfastly maintained his story about buying it from a Hu merchant whose whereabouts were uncertain due to his transient nature. Shun even offered the remaining sachets he had. At this critical moment, Cairen Wu arrived at the Wardrobe Service for a fitting for her "Flower dress."
Overhearing the commotion, she inquired about the special sachet that had caused such a stir. Deng Qiniang presented the sachet, explaining its unique, lost embroidery technique, which even Zhuo Jinniang couldn't replicate, prompting Zhuo Jinniang's investigation. Cairen Wu mentioned that she, too, had a similar sachet. Cairen Wu cleverly intervened, claiming her younger sister had also bought a similar sachet from a Hu merchant in the West Market, offering to procure more for Zhuo Jinniang.
This fabricated story temporarily appeased Zhuo Jinniang, who, expressing her admiration for the embroidery, concluded her interrogation. After Zhuo Jinniang left, Cairen Wu confronted Kudi Liuli directly, revealing she knew Kudi Liuli had made the sachets Shun sold. Cairen Wu pointed out discrepancies between Kudi Liuli’s mother's old sachet, which Kudi Liuli still carried, and the new ones made with palace fabric.
Cairen Wu advised Kudi Liuli to quickly make new batches of sachets using a mix of ordinary and old fabrics, instructing her to send one to her, anticipating Zhuo Jinniang would soon visit to verify her story. Shun was greatly impressed by Cairen Wu's astute observations and quick thinking. Meanwhile, at an inn for examinees, Pei Xingjian, slightly tipsy, encountered a challenging couplet displayed in the hall.
It was set by Crown Prince Li Zhi, inviting Chang'an's talents to provide a matching lower line within two days, threatening to tarnish the inn's reputation if none could.
Pei Xingjian quickly penned an acrostic poem that not only contained a sharp critique of the Imperial Examination but also cleverly integrated both the upper line ("Fog veils the mountaintop and mountain veils the fog") and its ingenious lower line ("Wine soaks the saddened and sadness soaks the wine") within its verses. Two days later, Crown Prince Li Zhi, visiting incognito, was highly impressed by Pei Xingjian's literary prowess and calligraphy.
He ordered his attendant, Sheng, to invite Pei Xingjian for a meeting. Kudi Liuli swiftly crafted the new sachets and delivered one to Cairen Wu. Just as Cairen Wu predicted, Zhuo Jinniang arrived shortly after. Cairen Wu showed Zhuo Jinniang the new sachet, which, with its ordinary fabric, appeared to support the story of it being from a common Hu merchant. Satisfied, Zhuo Jinniang's doubts were finally laid to rest.
Cairen Wu discreetly had a palace maid escort Kudi Liuli out through a side door. Kudi Liuli thanked Cairen Wu for her help, promising to one day reveal her full story. Cairen Wu responded that she only helped because of Kudi Liuli's kind heart, considering it a repayment for Kudi Liuli having made Cairen Di's beautiful ceremonial robe.
After returning to the Wardrobe Service, Zhuo Jinniang and Deng Qiniang overheard a servant from Cairen Di's household praise Physician Douzi from the Mortuary for making Cairen Di's exquisite burial robe, criticizing the Wardrobe Service's skills and ethics. This revelation, coupled with Kudi Liuli's suspicious sachets, reignited Zhuo Jinniang's suspicions. She realized that Kudi Liuli, originally found with An's sachet, was also a skilled dressmaker. Convinced it was no coincidence, Zhuo Jinniang hurried to the imperial archives.
She discovered Kudi Liuli, listed as "Physician Douzi," had entered the palace at age seven, with no record of her parents, having been found as an orphan by Sun Decheng during an outing. This information intensified Zhuo Jinniang's suspicions about Kudi Liuli's true identity. Around this time, Chamberlain Liu tried to assign Wei Lin to the Mortuary, but Sun Decheng rebuffed him, citing Wei Lin's dishonesty.
Zhuo Jinniang then approached Sun Decheng, requesting Kudi Liuli be transferred to the Wardrobe Service, praising her talent. Sun Decheng vehemently refused, asserting Kudi Liuli was his adopted son and indispensable to the Mortuary. With Kudi Liuli's eighteenth birthday approaching—the age her mother An had intended for her to leave the palace—Sun Decheng secretly began making plans.
He cooked longevity noodles for Kudi Liuli, shared his concerns about her inability to hide her talents, and even feigned a complaint to the Imperial Hospital, accusing Kudi Liuli of being unruly, hoping they would expel her from the palace. Kudi Liuli, however, was reluctant to leave Sun Decheng. Suddenly, a notice arrived from the Chamberlain Institute, ordering Kudi Liuli's transfer to the Wardrobe Service.
Terrified, Sun Decheng devised a desperate plan: he instructed Shun to prepare a coffin, which they secretly modified with air holes, to smuggle Kudi Liuli out. Wei Lin, passing by and noticing their furtive actions, mistakenly assumed they were illicitly moving palace goods and approached to investigate. Kudi Liuli feigned drunkenness, allowing Shun to distract and dismiss the other eunuchs.
Sun Decheng quickly placed Kudi Liuli in the coffin, giving her three parcels: one containing her mother An's belongings, and two others filled with Sun Decheng's and Shun's savings for her future. He reiterated strict instructions to remain still inside the coffin until he called for her. Meanwhile, Pei Xingjian arrived at the Drunken Fragrance Tower for his meeting.
However, Crown Prince Li Zhi sent his guard, Huantian, to apologize for his absence due to his father's illness and strict household rules. Pei Xingjian, discerning Huantian's impressive martial arts skills through a shared drink, pressed for his master's identity and whereabouts. Huantian remained evasive, only revealing his master's noble background. Unsatisfied, Pei Xingjian secretly followed Huantian to uncover the truth. Sun Decheng and Shun covertly transported the coffin out of the palace in a carriage.
At the palace gate, they were intercepted by Chamberlain Pan Qinhai, who, acting on an anonymous tip, arrested Shun for privately selling palace items. Inside the coffin, Kudi Liuli, hearing Shun's cries, began to shout, unwilling to let him take the blame alone. Sun Decheng, fearing her exposure, quickly knocked her unconscious and drove the carriage through the gate, managing to deceive Wei Lin, who bought Sun Decheng's lie about transporting a plague victim.
During the chaotic escape, Huantian, still being trailed by Pei Xingjian, fired a hidden weapon at Sun Decheng's horse, causing it to bolt. The coffin was flung from the carriage, and Kudi Liuli was thrown out. Sun Decheng hastily pulled her away to safety. From a rooftop, Pei Xingjian witnessed the dramatic event and, upon descending, picked up a lost parcel that had fallen from the coffin. Kudi Liuli, regaining consciousness, insisted on returning to the palace to save Shun.
Sun Decheng vehemently forbade her, explaining that her return would only implicate more people connected to her true identity. He promised to use all his resources, including bribing the notoriously greedy Vice Chief Pan Qinhai, to rescue Shun, noting that the offense was not severe. Kudi Liuli tearfully knelt, vowing to honor and care for Sun Decheng in the future.
Sun Decheng urged her to leave Chang'an immediately and head towards the West State, instructing her to leave a mark outside the city gate to assure him of her safe passage. Kudi Liuli, remembering her mother's dying wish for her to live a peaceful, free life without seeking revenge, bid a tearful farewell to Sun Decheng. As Kudi Liuli ventured through Chang'an, she admired a beautiful woman's dress in a clothing store.
Reaching for her money, she discovered her parcel was missing. With no other funds, she offered her only valuable possession, a jade pendant, to the shopkeeper, who, taking a slight loss, accepted it in exchange for the dress. Dressed in feminine attire for the first time in years, Kudi Liuli instantly caught the attention of many men, unnerving her and causing her to try and blend in. Unbeknownst to her, the missing parcel was now in the possession of Pei Xingjian, who had picked it up after the carriage accident.
