Episode 17 recap: Mu Zhuo Hua goes to Jiangnan for disaster relief.
The Empress Dowager didn't expect that Liu Yan's trip to Jiangnan was to capture Xue Xiao Tang. Pei Lan mentions that this is what the people sent by Zhou Daren said. Princess Rou Jia is surprised to see Xue Xiao Tang. Mu Zhuo Hua comes to meet Mu Lao Ye and asks him to consider whether he wants to continue being a wealthy merchant or take it a step further. Mu Lao Ye finds Mu Zhuo Hua very familiar.
The steward speaks about Mu Zhuo Hua's situation and is surprised to learn that Mu Zhuo Hua has already gone to Jiangnan. He realizes that this relief effort is not a small matter. Liu Yan believes that Mu Zhuo Hua has ambitions and cannot be kept by his side forever. Liu Yan mentions that Princess Rou Jia has also gone to Jiangnan, and since Xue Xiao Tang is not in the capital, there is a possibility that he has followed her there. Liu Yan decides to go to Jiangnan as well.
The Empress Dowager didn't expect that Liu Yan's trip to Jiangnan was to capture Xue Xiao Tang. Pei Lan confirms that this is what Zhou Daren's people said. The Empress Dowager is surprised to learn that Xue Xiao Tang is still alive and orders someone to follow them. Mu Zhuo Hua and the others arrive in Yongding County, Huaizhou, Jiangnan. However, there is no food at the county office.
The county magistrate doesn't show up, but the county deputy arrives and confirms that there is indeed no food. They have arranged for some food to be brought from nearby cities, but it hasn't arrived yet. Mu Zhuo Hua asks if the county magistrate is Zhuang County Magistrate and receives an affirmative response. Mu Zhuo Hua observes that the officials in their yamen all seem well-fed and shiny, not like people without food. He suspects that they are hiding some food. The county deputy admits that they have no choice and reluctantly hands over a small amount of food.
The Third Prince felt that the amount of grain was too little. Shen Jing Hong suggested that they hand over the grain to the relief center established by Rou Jia Gong Zhu, as it would be better distributed to the people. The Third Prince agreed. Mu Zhuo Hua believed that the grain must be with the wealthy merchants. The Third Prince called the merchants, but they all made various excuses, claiming they had debts and refused to contribute grain.
Mu Zhuo Hua pondered what to do and thought they should catch the ringleader first, someone who would lead by example in donating grain. Liu Yan, accompanied by Zhi Jian, arrived in Jiangnan and also thought of this approach. Rou Jia Gong Zhu and Shen Jing Hong distributed porridge while secretly adding some bran into it. Two men complained, but Shen Jing Hong assured them that it wouldn't affect the taste and could alleviate hunger. Judging by their plump figures, they didn't seem to be lacking food.
The two men had no choice but to leave. Rou Jia Gong Zhu was impressed that Shen Jing Hong came up with such a method and thought he was worthy of being the top scholar. Rou Jia Gong Zhu spotted Xue Xiao Tang and was astonished. Xue Xiao Tang fled, and Shen Jing Hong couldn't believe that Xue Xiao Tang was still alive. He asked if Rou Jia Gong Zhu had made a mistake, but Rou Jia Gong Zhu affirmed that he hadn't.
Mu Zhuo Hua publicly announced the list of wealthy merchants who donated grain. When the people saw how little the merchants had contributed, they went to the merchants' doors and raged against them. Mu Zhuo Hua went to see Mu Lao Ye (the Old Master) and asked him to consider whether he wanted to continue being such a wealthy merchant or be berated alongside those who refused to donate grain. Mu Zhuo Hua pointed out that there would always be wealthy merchants who couldn't endure being the first ones to donate grain, and when that time came, the person who took the lead would receive the people's gratitude. If Mu Lao Ye wasn't willing to be that person, then she would find someone else.
Mu Lao Ye quickly stopped Mu Zhuo Hua and expressed his willingness to donate grain. After Mu Zhuo Hua left, Mu Lao Ye found her very familiar and wished he had someone like her in his family. Mu Fu Ren (Madame Mu) rolled her eyes, surprised that Mu Lao Ye couldn't even recognize his own daughter.
Mu Lao Ye and his men donated the grain, and the people were happy to see it. Mu Zhuo Hua went to see Mr. Shang (a merchant) and felt that the current situation outside was too chaotic. She asked Mr. Shang to stay there and not wander around. Mr. Shang believed that despite the chaos outside, he could find peace within himself. He mentioned that although the wealthy merchants had donated grain, there was a problem: the official grain supplies, where had they gone? Mr. Shang explained that when the locust plague first appeared, the county magistrate could have controlled it, but he took no action.
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