Weaving a Tale of Love Episode 7 Recap
> Weaving a Tale of Love Recap
The annual Hu Merchants Conference, a grand event where the winner secures a year's worth of orders and earns the esteemed title of industry leader, was fast approaching. Ni was determined for Ruyi Dyeing Shop to compete, not just for the orders, but to clear its name. She explained that after the passing of her mother, An, Cao's brother opened Cao Dyeing Shop nearby.
They brazenly claimed to be An's successors, promoting themselves with the title "An's greatest stitch in the world." This deceit had not only attracted new customers but also stolen many of Ruyi Dyeing Shop's loyal patrons. Ni's maternal uncle, An Silang, was deeply distressed by this, recalling how Cao had betrayed An in the past and was now profiting from her reputation. Ni vowed to defeat Cao Dyeing Shop at the conference, seeking justice for An and Ruyi Dyeing Shop.
Meanwhile, Kudi Yenzhong and Cao had other ambitions for Shanhu. Hearing that Commandant Pei Yan was seeking a concubine, they aimed to marry Shanhu into the influential family. Kudi Yenzhong's sister, Kudi Wuniang, was consulted. Wuniang revealed that Pei Yan's legitimate wife, Madam Cui, had initiated the search for a concubine herself because she had been unable to bear children after three years of marriage, despite Pei Yan's kindness.
Wuniang praised Pei Yan as a promising, good-looking, and high-ranking official whose concubine would enjoy a life similar to a legitimate wife, especially if she bore the first son. To secure this advantageous match, Wuniang advised Shanhu to attend the upcoming flower fight banquet at the Commandant's Mansion, where other noble young ladies would be present to meet Pei Yan. Wuniang arranged for a carriage and prized peonies for Shanhu but stressed the importance of Shanhu's attire and demeanor.
Cao assured Wuniang that Shanhu would be impeccably dressed to impress. In the palace, Cairen Wu was consumed by worry as Emperor Li Shimin's health deteriorated. Palace maids gossiped about childless concubines being exiled to Ganye Temple after an emperor's death, causing Cairen Wu immense anxiety about her own future. While walking alone in the imperial garden, she spotted a fledgling bird that had fallen from its nest.
Empathizing with its vulnerability and thinking of her own uncertain fate, she tried to return it but found the tree too tall. Prince Li Zhi happened upon the scene and instructed his attendant to help. When the attendant struggled, Li Zhi, dismissing the idea that human scent would cause the bird's parents to abandon it, climbed the tree himself. In the process, a memorial he carried fell to the ground.
Cairen Wu picked it up, revealing it to be a proposal for reforming the imperial examination system. Observing Li Zhi's scratched hand, Cairen Wu gently bandaged it and advised him against pressing the ailing Emperor with state affairs, suggesting he prioritize filial piety instead. Li Zhi expressed his gratitude for her counsel. Later, in a court assembly, a frail Li Shimin met his officials. Li Zhi seized the opportunity to present his imperial examination reform proposal.
He argued that the current system fostered bookish scholars unfit for governance and that the imperial academies disproportionately admitted royalty and nobles, leading to factionalism and corruption. An official interjected, urging patience and reminding Li Zhi of the Emperor's need for rest. Li Shimin, visibly irritated, agreed, perceiving Li Zhi's actions as "impatient." Prince Li Ming then subtly undermined Li Zhi by declaring his sole focus was the Emperor's well-being, disavowing any interest in political affairs.
This pleased Li Shimin, leaving Li Zhi regretting his earlier decision not to heed Cairen Wu's advice. Meanwhile, Zhuo Jinniang, accompanied by Deng Qiniang, went to the Mortuary in search of Xiaodouzi. They learned that Sun Decheng was away, preoccupied with rescuing Shun from prison. After Deng Qiniang's thorough search yielded no sign of Xiaodouzi, Zhuo Jinniang left in a huff. Wei Lin, a Mortuary subordinate, discreetly followed Zhuo Jinniang and informed her that Xiaodouzi's disappearance was suspicious.
He explained that Xiaodouzi was Sun Decheng's favored adopted son, yet Sun Decheng had recently threatened to expel him from the palace. Wei Lin observed that while everyone else in the Mortuary was frantic about Xiaodouzi's absence, Sun Decheng remained singularly focused on Shun. Wei Lin suspected Sun Decheng had deliberately helped Xiaodouzi escape. Although lacking concrete proof, he suggested Shun, being Xiaodouzi's close friend and Sun Decheng's disciple, might hold the key.
Wei Lin, who had been demoted to the Mortuary for offending someone, offered his loyalty to Zhuo Jinniang in exchange for her patronage. Zhuo Jinniang promised him a reward if he could help uncover the truth and instructed him to diligently monitor Sun Decheng and report any developments. Back at Ruyi Dyeing Shop, Kudi Liuli, working as "Yu," received an urgent request from Baniang (Pei Yan's sister) and Yuniang (Madam Cui's sister).
They needed a unique dress for Madam Cui for the flower fight, to be completed by the next day. Kudi Liuli confidently assured them she could deliver a beautiful gown within half a day, drawing on their descriptions of Madam Cui's height, demeanor, and preference for light blue and pink. She planned a layered silk gauze design, creating a "cloud-like" effect.
Simultaneously, at Cao Dyeing Shop, Shanhu, desperate to make a grand impression at the Commandant's Mansion, rejected all the garments presented by her mother, Cao, and her cousin, Cao Darlang, deeming them "for commoners." She later overheard Baniang and Yuniang effusively praising the new designer at Ruyi Dyeing Shop. Shanhu, intrigued, snuck into Ruyi Dyeing Shop and meticulously memorized Kudi Liuli's dress design for Madam Cui. Ni caught her in the act and called her out.
Shanhu, recognizing Kudi Liuli from a previous encounter, boldly tried to recruit her to Cao Dyeing Shop. Kudi Liuli firmly refused, denouncing Cao's fraudulent claims of being An's successor. Ni quickly intervened, telling Shanhu it was not the time for old grievances. As Shanhu left, she mentioned Cao Darlang's deep infatuation with Ni and his intention to propose marriage. Ni unequivocally rejected Cao Darlang, stating she had no romantic interest in him.
The next day, Kudi Liuli completed Madam Cui's dress, and Baniang, highly impressed, picked it up. She then invited Kudi Liuli to the Commandant's Mansion to tailor more clothes for Madam Cui, an invitation Kudi Liuli accepted, arriving by the Commandant's carriage. Meanwhile, Cao, proud of the dress she made for Shanhu based on the stolen design, personally escorted her to the mansion, adorning her hair with a peony at the entrance, knowing Madam Cui's fondness for the flower.
Upon arrival, Kudi Liuli immediately spotted Shanhu in the copied dress and directly confronted her about the plagiarism. Shanhu, however, defiantly denied any wrongdoing, insisting she was an invited guest. Kudi Liuli observed that Shanhu's dress, though 70-80% similar, was crude in craftsmanship and ill-suited for the event, especially without a proper peony.
As Pei Yan, Pei Xingjian, and other esteemed scholars gathered for wine and poetry, a servant announced that the ladies were engaged in a "flower fight" in the pavilion, and Madam Cui suggested it as a theme for their compositions. Pei Yan candidly explained his reluctant decision to take a concubine. When he lightheartedly inquired about Pei Xingjian's own marriage, Pei Xingjian dismissed himself as a "rare jinx" whom no one would marry.
Moments later, the scholars noticed Shanhu and Madam Cui wearing almost identical dresses. Their snickers and whispers mocked Shanhu's crude imitation, comparing it to a clumsy imitation. Baniang, mortified, confronted Kudi Liuli, demanding an explanation for her sister-in-law's embarrassment. Kudi Liuli calmly revealed Shanhu's previous day's visit and her theft of the design. Surprisingly, Madam Cui appeared indifferent, stating that beautiful clothing would naturally be imitated. However, Baniang insisted on a truly unique garment.
Kudi Liuli, stepping forward, promised to create a "unique in the world" dress for Madam Cui on the spot, incorporating the rare black jade peonies from Madam Cui's own garden. She explained that the previous dress had only been half-made as she did not know which flowers Madam Cui would wear.
