Episode 19 recap: Wu Lian embroiders a new fallen plum blossom painting
A new group of aspiring embroiderers entered the Yanyu Embroidered Tower with anticipation. Wu Lian instructed Chen Mo Mo to prepare a large embroidery frame, the bigger the better, as he wanted to embroider a new painting of falling plum blossoms that would be acclaimed by the world.Returning to the Yanyu Embroidered Tower, Wu Lian gazed at the regained painting of the falling plum blossoms, and his thoughts drifted to the distant past, a time that was unforgettable for him. During his childhood, when the Lord of the Wu family quarreled with Fu Ren, Wu Lian always preferred to stay with his aunt Chen Yingxue, watching her embroider and listening to her sing, spending the long hours in the back courtyard.
However, he didn't always have the opportunity to escape his parents' disputes. During those times, his parents would vent their anger at each other, and Wu Lian was caught in the middle, torn between them and unable to find relief. So, when his parents were too engrossed in their heated arguments and paid him no attention, he would quietly slip out and find Chen Yingxue, where he could at least have a warm meal.
Chen Yingxue loved to embroider plum blossoms and even gave Wu Lian two sachets embroidered with plum blossoms. Holding the sachets, Wu Lian solemnly told Chen Yingxue that from then on, his favorite thing would be plum blossoms. Watching every stitch and thread transform into a beautiful pattern in his aunt's hands, Wu Lian also wanted to give it a try. Chen Yingxue was delighted and patiently guided him throughout the process.
On that day, Wu Lian accompanied his mother to the dyeing workshop in the outskirts to settle the accounts. Taking advantage of Mo Mo's absence, Wu Lian wandered around the workshop and seemed to have witnessed something he shouldn't have. When he returned home, his father asked him about what he had seen that day. However, Wu Lian lied, claiming that he had been sleeping the whole time and didn't stay long at the workshop. After leaving his father, Wu Lian went straight to Chen Yingxue's room and began embroidering without a care. When Chen Yingxue returned, he asked her to teach him. In this world, it was uncommon for men to engage in embroidery, and Chen Yingxue worried that Wu Lian would face criticism. She advised him to focus on his studies instead. But when children made up their minds, they would inexplicably persist, and Wu Lian was no exception. Helpless, Chen Yingxue could only caution him not to tell his father about this matter.
Wu Lian worked hard and his embroidery skills became even more remarkable. However, someone discovered this and, accompanied by several siblings, barged into his room, throwing all his embroidery fabrics into the courtyard. Soon, Wu Lian's father learned of the situation. As a result, Wu Lian kneeled in the courtyard, enduring the harsh lashes of the whip. Moreover, his father vented his anger on Chen Yingxue, fiercely scolding and punishing her by confining her to the courtyard. That night, Wu Lian quietly sneaked into Chen Yingxue's yard through a small path and saw the faint palm print on her face, feeling overwhelmed with guilt. Chen Yingxue gently touched Wu Lian's head and said that she was fortunate to have him visit her in this courtyard. The next day, Chen Yingxue was going to a village outside the city, and before leaving, she encouraged Wu Lian to study hard and strive for official success in the future.
In order to prepare more money for Xiao Niang, Wu Lian went to the pawnshop early in the morning with his jade pendant. However, when he returned to the courtyard, Chen Yingxue had already ended her life by hanging herself with a three-foot white cloth. Wu Lian, in a daze, returned to Chen Yingxue's room and sat there motionless from dawn till dusk. Unknowingly, the day had turned bright. Wu Lian made up his mind to leave home and study embroidery, to become a true master of embroidery. Countless seasons passed, and the Yanyu Embroidery Tower was finally built.
The Yanyu Embroidery Tower gradually gained renown and even earned the recognition of the wealthy Zhang family in Huaizhou City. Consequently, Wu Lian and Zhang Rong Er were betrothed to each other. At first, Wu Lian treated Zhang Rong Er extremely well and observed all the proper etiquette of a son-in-law when visiting her house. However, he felt a strong aversion and even some disgust towards Zhang Rong Er's physical contact. Suddenly, Wu Lian mentioned that he wanted to take on apprentices and asked Zhang Rong Er to arrange it personally. Unaware of any hidden motives and feeling guilty towards Wu Lian, Zhang Rong Er followed his instructions and recruited many young girls.
As he watched the group of girls enter with joy, Wu Lian asked Chen Mo Mo to prepare a large piece of fabric, intending to embroider a fallen plum blossom painting. However, after embroidering for many years, he felt that this fallen plum blossom painting had become somewhat lacking. Therefore, he decided to mobilize the entire Embroidery Tower's efforts to embroider a masterpiece that would be celebrated by the world.
When Mei Po came knocking, everyone thought that Lin Ru Lan had made a lofty match. However, nobody ever considered the humiliation and grievances Lin Ru Lan endured throughout this process, or whether it was voluntary.
When Wu Da Niang Zi came to Lin Ru Lan's house for the marriage proposal, she even believed it was a favor bestowed upon Lin Ru Lan, a great concession she made.
She believed that her husband was indeed remarkable and attracted the attention of many girls, but each person had their own unique pursuits.
Wu Da Niang Zi couldn't obtain her husband's love and had already been deceived by her cousin, so she had some feelings of inferiority.
She thought her own husband was good, but that didn't mean everyone had to adore her husband!
The drama is excellent. However, reading the comments, many women seem to lack the most basic sense of self-respect as individuals. Even in the modern society of 2023, they still hold the view that women are inferior to men, just like women in feudal societies.
They exhibit a kind of groveling and fawning towards men who are clearly revealed to be vile, twisted creatures with no regard for women, thus diminishing the dignity and worth of women. They see engaging in relationships with such men through deception as some kind of honor.
Any woman who resists the power, coercion, and oppression of men like Wu Lian is met with verbal degradation, contempt, and even being trampled upon. These women seem to have some kind of masochistic tendency or psychological disorder. While diminishing the character of Ru Lan in the drama, they themselves may also belittle and degrade themselves when they encounter the same type of male abuse from individuals like Wu Lian, falling into a quagmire of self-deprecation and sorrow...
The magistrate is well aware of how far his subordinates can go in committing outrageous acts. In fact, he hopes that his subordinates will go beyond the limits, as only when they go too far will Lin Ru Lan understand the need to back down and withdraw the lawsuit.
In the magistrate's eyes, as long as he gains benefits, anything is permissible. What does it matter to him how it affects others?
When the magistrate conspires with Liu Xin, we can see that their intentions are unfathomable to many.
They have never intended to be good government officials or truly stand up for the people against those in high positions of power.
For those girls, entering the Misty Rain Embroidered Tower was merely a means to learn a trade and sustain themselves.
From Meng Wan's mother's perspective, sending her daughter to the Misty Rain Embroidered Tower meant securing her future, ensuring she would learn a skill to support herself.
If one mother thought this way, then surely others had the same idea when sending their daughters to the tower.
In the eyes of these mothers, sending their daughters to the Misty Rain Embroidered Tower was for their future livelihood, to help them establish themselves in their future families, and to provide them with happiness.
And families like Meng Wan's were not uncommon in the Misty Rain Embroidered Tower.
When their daughters faced mistreatment, the parents had no power to fight back. They could only let such things happen and even choose to hide, as their own lives would be threatened otherwise.
Wu Lian's actions undoubtedly added insult to injury for these impoverished families! Before entering the Misty Rain Embroidered Tower, they even spent a significant amount of money on tuition, only to find themselves delivered into the jaws of a wolf, at the mercy of others.
The Misty Rain Embroidered Tower is like a beautiful trap, causing one person after another to fall into it!
Regarding the truth behind the male lead's motive, my personal understanding is this: Xiao Niang taught Wu Lian embroidery, but she witnessed Xiao Niang's death with her own eyes.
On his wedding night, he discovered that his bride didn't have the token of virginity, which was a double blow to him. This dual impact caused Wu Lian to develop a strong obsession with purity and a sense of self-identity loss.
He sought to complete the Falling Plum Blossom painting by leaving behind the token of virginity (Wu Lian mentioned that this was the most beautiful Falling Plum Blossom painting he wanted to complete).
Why is it the most beautiful Falling Plum Blossom painting in his mind? Because it embodies his obsession: an obsession with a pure, clean, intact, and happy marriage, an obsession with Xiao Niang, and an obsession with self-identity.