Weaving a Tale of Love Episode 6 Recap
> Weaving a Tale of Love Recap
Cairen Wu learned of the long-standing palace rule that any concubine who had not borne children would be sent to Ganye Temple after the emperor's passing. Upon confirming with Chamberlain Gao that no exceptions had ever been made, Cairen Wu expressed her belief that human will could overcome fate, vowing to change this strict decree. Prince Cao Li Ming then requested permission to stay and attend to Emperor Li Shimin's illness in place of the Crown Prince Li Zhi.
He claimed concern for the Emperor's well-being, pointing out that Li Shimin was taking elixirs daily for longevity, which Taoist priests warned should not be tainted by alcohol. Prince Cao accused Li Zhi of frequently indulging in drinking with scholars and visiting places like the Drunken Fragrance Tower, contrasting this with his own year of abstinence. Annoyed by the bickering, Emperor Li Shimin dismissed both princes, stating that his beloved Consort Yang was enough company.
Kudi Liuli and her uncle, Silang, visited the Great Ci'en Temple, a site that brought back vivid childhood memories for Liuli. Silang explained that the temple, originally a smaller shrine, was rebuilt by the Crown Prince in memory of Empress Wende and was now a bustling hub, presided over by Master Xuanzang. While Silang went to visit the master, Liuli wandered off. There, Pei Xingjian encountered Prince Hedong Pei Ruzhuo.
Seeing Liuli sketching, Pei Ruzhuo made a snide remark about "Hu women" visiting temples instead of the West Market. Liuli quickly retaliated, questioning why a scholar would concern himself with women's trivialities instead of public welfare. This led to a sharp exchange, with Pei Ruzhuo’s attendant insulting Liuli by calling her a "lowly Hu person." Liuli, however, stood her ground, asserting her identity and challenging their understanding of the temple's origins.
Pei Xingjian watched the scene unfold with an almost imperceptible smile. Following the confrontation, Pei Ruzhuo secretly ordered his servants to investigate Liuli’s identity. Meanwhile, Liuli found herself in a familiar shrine, where she first prayed to Buddha for the safety of her grandpa, Sun Decheng, and Shun, fearing they might be implicated because of her. Later, a woman approached her, revealing that this particular Bodhisattva was especially potent for blessing elders.
Trusting the woman's advice, Liuli offered a prayer for her father, Kudi Yenzhong of Chonghuafang, wishing him health and a long, peaceful life. Unbeknownst to Liuli, this woman was one of Pei Ruzhuo’s agents, and Pei Xingjian observed the entire information-gathering process from a discreet distance. Separately, Crown Prince Li Zhi and Prince Cao Li Ming engaged in a heated debate concerning imperial examination reforms.
Li Zhi, concerned about the prevalent nepotism in the academies and the quality of officials, argued that reform was critical for selecting true talent. Prince Cao, however, held a conservative view, insisting that upholding the privileges of the imperial relatives and nobility was essential for maintaining the stability of the Li dynasty. Prince Cao further challenged Li Zhi’s standing, suggesting that Li Zhi’s position as Crown Prince was merely a birthright rather than a testament to his capabilities.
Silang arranged for Ni to take Kudi Liuli to the old An family residence. Stepping inside, Liuli was overwhelmed by a rush of childhood memories. After settling in, she confessed to Ni that she was penniless and asked to borrow some money, promising to repay her the next day once she retrieved a package that had been "picked up" by someone from the School of the Four Gates. The next morning, Liuli arrived at the School of the Four Gates.
She recognized Pei Xingjian, who was with Pei Ruzhuo at the temple, and, fearing he would cause trouble, initially tried to hide. However, as Pei Xingjian prepared to leave with her package, she donned a mask and confronted him. Liuli concocted a story, claiming the package contained the relics of her deceased cousin, a palace servant, which were lost when his coffin carriage overturned in the market.
To verify her claim, she precisely described three smaller colored parcels within the main one. Pei Xingjian confirmed her description and returned the package, leading Liuli to praise his integrity and noble character profusely. Liuli's joy was short-lived. On her way home, she accidentally dropped the package, only to discover it was filled with worthless tree branches and stones. Furious, she immediately stormed back to the School of the Four Gates.
Xue Xu, Pei Xingjian’s rival and superior, seized the opportunity to undermine him by publicly supporting Liuli and bringing her directly to Pei Xingjian. Liuli vehemently accused Pei Xingjian of theft and switching the contents of her package. Pei Xingjian denied the accusations, calling her a liar and threatening to report her to the authorities. As Xue Xu continued to encourage Liuli's tirade, Pei Xingjian, losing his temper, struck an acupoint on Liuli, rendering her mute.
He then carried her to an uninhabited house, instructing her to reflect on her actions for three hours until the acupoint would naturally release. As Pei Xingjian prepared to leave, Liuli, as her voice returned, cursed him furiously, comparing him to Pei Ruzhuo. Pei Xingjian then pulled off his mask, recognizing her as the "Hu woman" from the Great Ci'en Temple.
He warned her to be careful of Prince Hedong Pei Ruzhuo, revealing that the Prince had already investigated her identity and would soon come to make trouble. With that, Pei Xingjian departed, leaving Liuli to reflect on her predicament. Elsewhere, Zhuo Jinniang, realizing Xiaodouzi had not reported to the Wardrobe Service, sent Deng Qiniang to investigate. Deng Qiniang discovered that Xiaodouzi had fallen gravely ill and disappeared, which led Zhuo Jinniang to suspect Sun Decheng of foul play.
Meanwhile, Chamberlain Pan, known for his avarice, had ordered a thorough search of Shun’s room following a secret report of Shun’s alleged wealth from smuggling palace goods. However, the search yielded no hidden money. Crown Prince Li Zhi worked through the night to finalize Pei Xingjian's proposals for imperial examination reform. Despite his attendant's warnings about the Emperor's current irritable state and the potential political backlash from Prince Cao Li Ming, Li Zhi remained resolute.
He believed that, as Crown Prince, he had a duty to implement such a valuable solution for the empire and would not be swayed by personal considerations or fear of obstruction. Back at the old house, Kudi Liuli expressed her burning anger and determination to reclaim her mother's belongings from Pei Xingjian, emphasizing that they represented her entire life's savings and contained her mother's precious items, including a gold needle she had already lost.
Ni, however, advised caution, reminding Liuli of Pei Xingjian's power as an official. She suggested that rather than acting impulsively, they should devise a "perfect plan" to confront him and retrieve her mother's possessions. Ni also shared that the annual Hu Merchants Conference was approaching, and she had meticulously crafted a "Flower cage skirt" to win first place for Ruyi Dyeing Shop. Liuli inquired about the significance of this. Ni explained that the conference winner earned a year's worth of Hu merchant orders and industry recognition.
