Wild Ambition Bloom Episode 31 Recap
> Wild Ambition Bloom Recap
At the trial for Chu Shaohua, the defense lawyer argued that the prosecutor's claims lacked evidence. The prosecutor then called Zhou Yan to testify, identifying her as Chu Shaohua's sister-in-law. Zhou Yan claimed that Kang Erniu had tried to bribe her with 4,000 silver dollars to give false testimony in favor of Chu Shaohua, but she refused. Kang Erniu, present in the courtroom, angrily denounced Zhou Yan, leading to her forcible removal for contempt of court.
Reassured by the judge, Zhou Yan continued her testimony, stating that eight years ago, before Huashun Apothecary was looted and burned, Chu Shaozhong, Chu Shaohua's elder brother, returned home late that night and told her that Chu Shaohua had killed Chen Ershun, his mother Mrs. Chen, and Chen Xuan. Chu Shaohua's defense lawyer immediately dismissed Zhou Yan's statement as nonsense, insisting Chu Shaozhong had never said such a thing.
The prosecutor countered by suggesting that Chu Shaozhong himself should be called to verify Zhou Yan's account. Despite the defense's objection that a direct relative's testimony held no legal weight, the judge permitted Chu Shaozhong to take the stand. When questioned, Chu Shaozhong initially denied ever telling Zhou Yan that Chu Shaohua had committed the murders.
The prosecutor then accused Wen Zhiqiu, Chu Shaohua's friend, of bribing Chu Shaozhong with a large sum of money a week prior to give favorable testimony, even suggesting Chu Shaozhong's son, Chu Xiaobao, could testify to this. Chu Shaozhong, visibly conflicted, suddenly confessed, "It's me!" He admitted to killing Mrs. Chen, Chen Ershun, and Xuan.
He explained that he went to Huashun Apothecary that night not to bid farewell to Chu Shaohua, but to confront her about the unequal distribution of shares. Upon arrival, he witnessed Mrs. Chen and Chen Ershun arguing with Shaohua, attempting to prevent her from remarrying. He was overcome by the thought that if he eliminated them, Huashun Apothecary would become his alone. Zhou Yan interjected, calling him a liar and insisting Chu Shaohua was the killer.
Chu Shaozhong continued, detailing how he used a guillotine knife from the house to slit Chen Ershun's throat, then smothered Xuan, and also killed Mrs. Chen, though he could not recall the exact method due to the passage of time. He affirmed that these details aligned with the crime scene investigation. He claimed he was about to kill Chu Shaohua when bandits suddenly burst in, prompting him to flee.
He later told Zhou Yan that Shaohua was the killer, but the truth was he had killed them all. Based on his detailed and consistent confession, the presiding judge ordered Chu Shaohua's release and Chu Shaozhong's arrest. Chu Shaohua visited Chu Shaozhong in prison, heartbroken, asking why he had taken the blame for her. Chu Shaozhong explained that Shaohua had always sacrificed for him, while he was useless and incapable.
He felt that taking the blame was the only way he could ever truly help her. Shaohua, tearfully, promised that with her lawyer, she would get him out. Later, Chu Shaohua recounted the events of that night to her lawyer. She clearly remembered locking the main door and putting Xuan to bed before drinking a cup of tea that had been drugged, causing her to lose consciousness. She recalled Chen Ershun attempting to assault her.
As she struggled, Xuan cried out for help, and Chen Ershun smothered the child with a pillow. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Chu Shaohua retaliated by killing Chen Ershun with a paper cutter. Shortly after, Mrs. Chen arrived, and then bandits stormed the apothecary, killing Mrs. Chen and abducting Chu Shaohua. Her lawyer noted that Chu Shaozhong had mentioned finding the main door locked but the side door open.
They also recalled that the night watchman, Shuangxi, was not present when Shaohua, disoriented, called for him. The lawyer further highlighted the oddity in Chen Ershun's wife, Song Ping's, previous testimony, which was mostly incoherent except for her firm declaration that Chen Ershun "deserved it." This suggested Song Ping knew more than she was revealing. Determined to uncover the truth, Chu Shaohua returned to Qizhou. She first sought out Shuangxi, the apothecary's night watchman from eight years ago.
Shuangxi revealed that on the night of the incident, Song Dawei, Chen Ershun's cousin, had falsely told him his father was ill and offered to cover his shift, sending him home. Shuangxi discovered his father was perfectly fine, realizing he had been tricked. Chu Shaohua's suspicions grew that Song Dawei might have intentionally left the side door open for Chen Ershun.
Shaohua then attempted to find Song Dawei, but he had left Qizhou for business years ago, and his whereabouts were unknown; some rumors even suggested he was dead. The local villagers believed the Song family had incurred misfortune due to some wrongdoings. Chu Shaohua then located Song Ping, Chen Ershun's widow. Song Ping was astonished to see Chu Shaohua alive, believing she was a ghost, and questioned how Shaohua had survived when everyone else had died and everything was lost.
Chu Shaohua treated Song Ping to a meal, during which Song Ping shared her arduous life since the massacre: her own family had disowned her, she was unable to remarry due to her inability to bear children, and she had to take on menial jobs, barely surviving. Shaohua cautiously inquired about the chicken soup Mrs. Chen had delivered that night, asking who prepared it and if it was tampered with.
Song Ping admitted to making the soup but denied adding anything suspicious, vehemently stating she knew nothing. Shaohua pressed her, reminding her of her earlier statement to the police that Chen Ershun "deserved it," but Song Ping, fearing further trouble, refused to speak. Shaohua urged Song Ping to reveal the truth, explaining that Chu Shaozhong would be condemned otherwise.
Song Ping broke down, recounting the ostracization, abuse, and humiliation she endured after the Chen family's demise, and her fear of reliving that painful past if the case were reopened. Understanding her plight, Chu Shaohua decided not to force the issue. After leaving Song Ping, Chu Shaohua visited Xuan's grave, bringing a new picture book similar to one Xuan cherished, a gift from Xia Yuan years ago. Song Ping, who had followed her, then emerged.
Chu Shaohua asked Song Ping if she would visit Xuan's grave when she was gone, remembering how much Xuan adored her. It was then that Chu Shaohua revealed to Song Ping that Chen Ershun had brutally suffocated Xuan with a small tiger pillow Song Ping herself had made. This devastating truth deeply affected Song Ping. Chu Shaohua expressed her deep anguish that Chen Ershun's monstrous act remained unknown, while some even pitied his death.
She implored Song Ping for help in revealing the truth, not just for herself but for Xuan. Overwhelmed, Song Ping was unsure. As Chu Shaohua prepared to leave for Shanghai, bidding a tearful farewell to Xuan and asking her to visit in her dreams, she also quietly made peace with her past self.
Unbeknownst to Song Ping, Chu Shaohua had arranged for Wang, a former Huashun Apothecary shopkeeper who had since opened his own establishment, Yixin Apothecary, to offer Song Ping a job. Wang offered her a monthly salary of twenty silver dollars, along with an advance, explicitly stating that "Miss Chu Shaohua" had instructed him to do so. Moved by this gesture, Song Ping immediately went to pay her long-overdue rent to her landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Zhang.
Her landlords, however, refused the payment, revealing that a "Miss Chu in Shanghai" had been anonymously sending them rent money every six months for years. Realizing that Chu Shaohua had been secretly supporting her all this time, Song Ping was deeply touched and rushed to find Shaohua. Back in Shanghai, the day arrived for Chu Shaozhong's sentencing. The prosecutor reiterated that Shaozhong's confession aligned perfectly with the evidence and pushed for a severe punishment.
In court, Chu Shaohua's lawyer pleaded for more time, stating that crucial witnesses were on their way. The judge granted a ten-minute extension. Wen Zhiqiu frantically drove Shaohua and Song Ping to the court, arriving just as the judge was about to announce the verdict. Chu Shaohua took the stand and made a stunning declaration: Chu Shaozhong had not killed anyone; "she" had killed Chen Ershun. The courtroom erupted in chaos.
Chu Shaohua then recounted the horrific events of that night in vivid detail: Chen Ershun and his mother had conspired to drug her, first with chicken soup and then her tea, rendering her powerless. Chen Ershun had arranged for someone to damage the apothecary's door, allowing him to break into her room and rape her. When Xuan cried out, Chen Ershun callously smothered her with a pillow.
Driven by the agonizing loss of her daughter, Chu Shaohua retaliated by killing Chen Ershun with a paper cutter. Shortly after, Mrs. Chen arrived, followed by bandits who killed Mrs. Chen and abducted Chu Shaohua. Shaohua explained Chen Ershun's motive: his mother, Mrs. Chen, feared losing Shaohua, her "golden goose," and her granddaughter, Xuan, if Shaohua married the man she loved and moved to France.
Chen Ershun, who had previously harassed Shaohua, conspired with his mother to trap her in a levirate marriage. During Shaohua's testimony, Zhou Yan, fearing that the police would investigate her role in drugging Chu Shaohua's tea, quietly left the courtroom. With this revelation, Chu Shaohua announced that Song Ping, Chen Ershun's wife, was present in court and had witnessed the entire conspiracy and drugging, and was willing to testify on her behalf.
Song Ping then took the stand and corroborated Chu Shaohua's testimony, confirming the conspiracy and the drugging. Her testimony officially cleared Chu Shaozhong of the murder charges. Following the dramatic trial, Wen Zhiqiu hosted a dinner, toasting Chu Shaozhong and expressing gratitude to Song Ping for her courage in revealing the truth. Chu Shaohua found a measure of peace, finally letting go of the heavy burden she had carried for so long, and quietly mourned Xuan.
Later, Kang Erniu found Shaohua reflecting, encouraging her to cherish the present now that her past burdens were lifted. Kang Erniu subtly hinted at Wen Zhiqiu's deep, unspoken affection for Shaohua, leaving her surprised and pondering the future.
