Episode 21 recap: In adversity, there is a chance for survival, but it's another adversity.
Meng Wan expressed her gratitude to Lou Ming Zhang by offering tea instead of wine and apologized to him. Lou Ming Zhang, despite being busy with official duties and originally scheduled to report to the capital, had been delayed in Huaizhou Prefecture for several months. Since Wu Lian's escape from the court, he had been searching for witnesses and evidence, but encountered continuous setbacks, resulting in a lack of progress in the case. It even almost allowed Wu Lian to rise in the ranks and enter the official circles in the capital. However, Lou Ming Zhang did not blame them, but time was running out. He only had ten days left before he had to leave Huaizhou Prefecture.
San Niang, in her lifetime, had deviated from the conventional path and never cared about worldly etiquette. She lived a carefree and indulgent life, which Meng Wan felt inferior to. However, it was precisely that carefree and indulgent nature that came after being hurt countless times, leading to detachment and letting go. Perhaps, even San Niang, who lingered in the streets filled with fireworks and willows, also desired to live out the rest of her life peacefully. The group erected a memorial stone for San Niang in the outskirts, and in front of her memorial, they raised their cups and vowed to win this battle.
The embroidery convention, which should have been a splendid event, was reduced to ashes by a massive fire last night. Many embroidery merchants couldn't help but feel heartbroken for their carefully selected embroidered goods. Li Chun Feng and Liu Xin didn't miss the opportunity to add fuel to the fire and held a storytelling event, vividly describing how Wu Lian orchestrated the embroidery convention. Huang Jiao Jiao followed the topic and, speaking as a representative of the embroidery merchants, appealed to everyone that grievances have a cause and debts have a debtor. This embroidery convention was organized by Wu Lian, so if something goes wrong, he should be held accountable. The merchants were already full of grievances, and with someone taking the lead, they naturally responded and headed towards the Misty Rain Embroidery Tower.
Faced with everyone's condemnation, Wu Lian remained calm and claimed to be a victim of the fire last night. If they wanted to find the culprit, they should go to the Wen Embroidery Academy. Seeing that Wu Lian was trying to divert the blame and distance himself, Huang Jiao Jiao quickly stepped forward and questioned why this thief specifically targeted the Misty Rain Embroidery Tower for destruction. Could it be that it was for personal grievances and intentional revenge? Since it was a personal matter, Wu Lian naturally had to take responsibility. The merchants also joined in, threatening Wu Lian to provide a response quickly, or they would expose his secrets to the authorities. Helpless, Wu Lian could only promise to give them an answer within seven days.
Meng Wan expressed gratitude to Lou Ming Zhang for his assistance by offering tea instead of wine. Lou Ming Zhang straightforwardly stated that his actions were also aimed at maintaining the peace and tranquility of Huai Prefecture, and there was no need for thanks. Meng Wan then explained that the purpose of her visit today was to apologize. Lou Ming Zhang, burdened with official duties, had originally intended to return to the capital for a report, but he stayed in Huai Prefecture because of her. The case against Wu Lian had gone through twists and turns, making it difficult to obtain testimonies and evidence, thus delaying the progress of the case. It had nearly allowed Wu Lian to advance to the capital and enter the officialdom. Lou Ming Zhang consoled her, stating that the trial of the case was already complicated, especially since it involved an old case from seven years ago. However, the capital was pressing for progress, and Lou Ming Zhang couldn't stay for long, so he only gave Meng Wan a period of ten days.
In order to quickly find new witnesses, Meng Wan wrote four letters, instructing everyone to search for the recipients of the letters separately. Tian Xiao Ling was among these four people. Li Chun Feng declined to accept the letter from Meng Wan because this time he intended to personally write and persuade Tian Xiao Ling to come down from the mountain. Before setting off, Meng Wan informed Xu Zhiyang of everything, hoping to gain his forgiveness. Upon hearing about Meng Wan and Ru Lan's ordeal, Xu Zhiyang felt pain and regret in his heart. He tightly held Meng Wan's hand and urged her to let go of the past and live her remaining life peacefully in this courtyard. Meng Wan slowly withdrew her hand, and for the first time in seven years, she called his name. Xu Zhiyang's eyes were filled with tears, and he felt a sense of joy, but he could only watch Meng Wan's retreating figure from afar.
Meng Wan and Liu Xin arrived at Shili Lane and met with the elder brother of the Lin family. The elder brother of the Lin family had long lost the elegance and charm of his youth, leaving only the marks of time's erosion. Upon learning the purpose of Meng Wan's visit, the elder brother of the Lin family glanced at his wife and saw her nodding. He then turned around solemnly and agreed to testify for Ru Lan in court seven days later.
On the other hand, Wu Lian was not idle. He threatened Zhang Rong Er and accompanied him to the Zhang family, hoping to leverage the Zhang family's connections in the capital. The matriarch of the Zhang family was initially unwilling to see Wu Lian climb higher and higher and made various excuses to decline. However, Wu Lian had already made up his mind, even if it meant tearing his relationship with his mother-in-law. He revealed the past events, bluntly stating that Zhang Rong Er had been unfaithful shortly after their marriage, and if it weren't for his silence at the time, the Zhang family would have been drowned in gossip, and they wouldn't enjoy their current good reputation.
Because of Wu Qian's arrival, but this Ru Lan character is really pitiful. She lacks intelligence and calmness, and it seems like she's not seeking justice but simply seeking self-destruction.
She even drags the people who care for her into suffering.
There are too many injustices in this world, and good people often have to bear a lot and sacrifice a lot out of conscience and responsibility in order to seek justice for others.
However, energy is limited, and it's better to invest it in more deserving individuals.
Although Ru Lan is unjustly treated, she is not worth it.
Lin Ru Lan longed for love in her heart. Growing up under the protection of her family, she believed that society would be a beautiful place. If it weren't for her husband's affection towards her, he wouldn't have committed such despicable acts against her.
Lin Ru Lan wouldn't overthink things like Meng Wan, nor would she blindly adore her husband like other Xiao Niang Zi.
Initially, Lin Ru Lan felt deceived, which led to her heated argument with Meng Wan. When she realized she had been deceived, she felt that her true feelings had been misplaced, and someone had to pay the price...
Moreover, Wu Lian had also mistreated numerous innocent girls. This retribution should have come long ago!
When Lin Ru Lan's actions after losing her innocence at the Yanyu Embroidered Tower are observed, some may say that she appears somewhat artificial. Since she has already made her choice, they argue, she should face her own fate.
However, it wasn't as if Lin Ru Lan willingly surrendered her virtue the first time either.
Deep in her heart, Lin Ru Lan convinced herself that her husband acted rashly because he genuinely loved her.
In truth, this was a form of self-deception.
The events have already unfolded, and there is no way to change them. Ultimately, people must continue living; they cannot abandon their vitality because of one incident.
At the very least, this self-deception provides temporary solace to her wounded soul.
Perhaps this self-deception is the reaction many women would resort to after losing their innocence.
In the process of seeking revenge, Meng Wan and the others were, as the Abbess said, more driven by their personal vendettas than concern for other girls.
Although they did become more diligent and devoted in pursuing their goals over time, if they were to relentlessly pressure others to testify, it would contradict their original intentions.
The Abbess's words served as an awakening for those lost in their own desires. The girls had the right not to testify, and they had the right to remain silent because testifying would undoubtedly impact their lives.
This society already places high demands on women, so if they forcefully demand others to come forward, how would they differ from Wu Lian?
It is precisely because they consider others that the Jiu Yi people don't appear as excessive as Wu Lian.
Although Li Chun Feng had some days of petty theft, he never gave up on himself as long as he had someone he loved.
However, after Tian Xiao Ling left, Li Chun Feng did experience a sense of self-abandonment.
He seemed to be sulking with himself, staying in that rundown house.
Before, Li Chun Feng, despite his petty thefts, still dedicated himself to studying every day. But after Tian Xiao Ling disappeared, he couldn't fully focus on studying anymore, let alone think about pursuing official positions.
The main purpose of Li Chun Feng pursuing official positions in the past was to be worthy of Tian Xiao Ling, to win the approval of her parents and have them agree to marry their daughter to him, all for the sake of providing a better life for Tian Xiao Ling.
But now that Tian Xiao Ling is no longer here, what ambitions can he speak of?
If it weren't for Lin Ru Lan's presence, Meng Wan probably wouldn't have made up her mind to confront Wu Lian.
Meng Wan has always been someone who relies on her own efforts for everything.
If it weren't for the appearance of Lin Ru Lan, Meng Wan might have given up on her own life.
For Meng Wan, Lin Ru Lan is her light. And Wu Lian took away her light, which is an incredibly difficult thing to accept.
In the past, no matter how Wu Lian treated her, Meng Wan's predominant feeling was disappointment. But when her light was persecuted by others who refused to believe in her, Meng Wan's heart was filled with profound sadness.
Before, even if she was hurt, it didn't matter. Because even if she was hurt, there would be no one to stand up for her, just blaming herself for making mistakes. She had already grown accustomed to it!
But Lin Ru Lan was different. She treated others with kindness and brought radiance to this world.
Wu Lian robbed Meng Wan of her light twice. With no light in her life, Meng Wan embarked on the path of revenge.
Tian Xiao Ling actually had a sense of pride in her heart. She believed that even if others didn't lie, it was because of their negligence that Wu Lian succeeded.
She thought that as long as she drew clear boundaries and worked hard, she could avoid everything and avoid the complicated situations that followed.
However, ultimately, her thoughts seemed somewhat naive. Some things cannot be changed simply by resisting them.
Wu Lian had a seemingly endless array of methods when it came to dealing with girls. At the beginning, he would use the awe he inspired as a senior figure in the hearts of other girls.
And when things were exposed, he would resort to coercion and enticement to make several girls comply.
Dealing with these endless methods is not something that a girl can easily handle. They might be able to delay these things to some extent, but they cannot completely avoid them, especially when they have to interact with each other day in and day out.
Faced with a cunning and sly Wu Lian, how can an ordinary girl possibly resist?
Meng Wan's life can truly be described as quite tragic. She had an alcoholic father and a self-centered mother.
With such family members, she couldn't escape from them and could only accept her life as it was.
But then Lin Ru Lan appeared, bringing light into Meng Wan's life. For the first time, Meng Wan felt that someone cared about her and that her thoughts mattered to someone.
After Lin Ru Lan passed away, Meng Wan reflected on her current life.
She knew very well that if she didn't fight, all that awaited her would be endless darkness.
During the years of her struggle, Meng Wan not only worked hard to clear Lin Ru Lan's name but also fought for her own life.
It was Lin Ru Lan's presence that made Meng Wan realize the existence of light in this world! It was Lin Ru Lan's fight that made Meng Wan see the reality!
And it was Lin Ru Lan's departure that allowed Meng Wan to regain her courage!
Liu San Niang has actually spent her entire life fighting against her tragic fate. When she sees the peacock in the cage, does she also wonder if the peacock, trapped in this filthy place, is just like her, unable to control its own destiny?
Liu San Niang cannot determine what her own life will be like, but she can strive to restore freedom to the peacock.
In the moment when she helps release the peacock, it truly feels like Liu San Niang is redeeming herself, hoping to express her emotions through the redemption of the peacock.
Liu San Niang and the peacock resonate with each other, like two equally unfortunate individuals cherishing one another, wanting to help each other escape from the cage.
The peacock cannot help Liu San Niang escape from her cage, but Liu San Niang can help the peacock break free.
In comparison, Liu San Niang appears even more tragic.
The wife of the Duke of Ningguo always believed that what Wu Lian did had nothing to do with her. In her eyes, she thought that all the bad things Wu Lian did were his own doing, and no one should blame her for it.
But she didn't realize that without the support of the wife of the Duke of Ningguo behind the scenes, Wu Lian would just be a young man skilled in embroidery.
Without that much power, those local officials wouldn't have spared Wu Lian for the sake of the wife of the Duke of Ningguo.
If it wasn't for the continuous indulgence of Wu Lian, perhaps everything would have been much simpler, and it wouldn't have become so complicated as it is now, nor would so many people have had to sacrifice for this matter.
It is precisely because of the attitude of the wife of the Duke of Ningguo, who believes that as long as no lives are lost, everything is fine, and even if lives are lost, she can help resolve it, that Wu Lian feels that everything can be smoothed over.
In the process of Meng Wan seeking revenge, it is somewhat understandable to harm the wife of the Duke of Ningguo. It's like if a child commits a crime, can you completely refrain from resenting their parents?
The likelihood of that is almost zero, right?
Meng Wan is someone who knows the extent of her own abilities. Therefore, many years ago, she chose to lie low and slowly accumulate her power.
Knowing that the backing behind Wu Lian is the wife of the Duke of Ningguo, Meng Wan gradually approached the wife of the Duke of Ningguo, lurking by her side, slowly gaining her trust, and sowing seeds of discord.
To know oneself and the enemy is to win every battle. The wife of the Duke of Ningguo's identity is something that cannot be changed, no matter how hard one tries. So let the wife of the Duke of Ningguo gradually dislike Wu Lian, gradually make Wu Lian lose this backing.
Since everyone else says that Wu Lian is a lucky star for the wife of the Duke of Ningguo, then Meng Wan can only use superstition to fabricate stories that portray Wu Lian as a harbinger of misfortune. Step by step, she undermines their trust.
After finally exposing herself, Meng Wan openly admits to her actions, appearing righteous and causing the wife of the Duke of Ningguo to see the reality clearly.
It is because of Meng Wan's calculated steps that the impossible becomes possible.
In that era where husbands were revered, the Duke of Ningguo had been deceased for a long time, and it was extremely difficult for his Fu Ren to maintain the past glory and wealth.
However, the wife of the Duke of Ningguo managed to establish a cooperative relationship with Wu Lian.
Wu Lian helped her preserve the newfound prosperity, appease the upper echelons of power, and in return, Wu Lian repaid her in his own way.
Although it's clear that the wife of the Duke of Ningguo has been living a difficult life, it doesn't mean that her actions should be condoned.
One sincerely wishes to tell the wife of the Duke of Ningguo that when one collaborates with someone who has a dubious character solely for the sake of pursuing personal interests, there is a high likelihood of betrayal.
Even if you consider them as your own, there will come a day when they will abandon you for their own gain.
Wu Lian's psyche is clearly twisted. He doesn't know how to cherish the person he loves...
In his eyes, he will always be the victim. If it weren't for his wife, he wouldn't have ended up where he is now.
Deep down, Wu Lian harbors some resentment towards his wife. Even though she has done many morally questionable things for him, Wu Lian has never truly empathized with the hardships she has endured.
In Wu Lian's mind, everything his wife does is merely a form of compensation for the wrongs he has committed in the past. But even with her efforts to make amends, it cannot change the reality that she had a previous partner before him.
Wu Lian's actions resemble more of a retaliation against society.
Lin Ru Lan's parents agreed to the marriage proposal from the Wu family because they were well aware of the high expectations society had for women during that era.
They understood that if their daughter dared to go to court, there might be one or two individuals who would admire her, but the chances of that happening were slim.
It was unlikely that someone would propose marriage to their daughter again due to her bold actions. If Wu Lian could handle their daughter properly, at least she wouldn't end up alone in her old age.
She would have a place to belong.
In that era, everyone believed that women should get married. Not getting married was seen as a big deal. It seemed that everyone easily assumed that if a woman left a man, she wouldn't be able to survive.
Whether it was So Lan's mother or Meng Wan's mother, they both believed that the idea of making a living through their own skills was absolutely wrong.
To those who subscribe to the notion that victims are guilty, thank you for being just like the perpetrators! What makes the victims unable to carry on is not necessarily the extent of their grievances and injuries, but rather the terrifying power of your words.
It is your inability to distinguish right from wrong, your irresponsible and thoughtless remarks, your misguided praise of the wrongdoers, and your cold-hearted and merciless mockery.
Jiu Yi Ren is a hero born out of idealistic sentiments. I believe the original creator intended to draw parallels between the past and the present. In every era, there will always be lone warriors.
However, I hope that in our current era and in the future, these heroes will no longer be alone. With few remnants of the dreadful traditional feudal ideology, we should have our own independent thinking and beliefs, a moral compass rooted in fairness and justice.
I hope that more and more people will scoff at and criticize the idea that victims are guilty, and actively work to prevent it. Because anyone can fall victim to harm, and the next one might be oneself!
Tian Xiao Ling, in the past, gave Li Chun Feng the courage to persevere. It was because of Tian Xiao Ling's presence in his life that Li Chun Feng believed that as long as he achieved success, he would be able to be with the person he loved in the future.
With such motivation, Li Chun Feng would strive harder in his pursuit because he knew there was a bright future ahead.
And now, Li Chun Feng gives courage to Tian Xiao Ling.
Tian Xiao Ling understands that even if she keeps avoiding Li Chun Feng, he will always be there, patiently waiting for her to turn back.
Even if she wants to speak up about their past, even if others may criticize her, Li Chun Feng is willing to stand by her side.
Li Chun Feng gives Tian Xiao Ling greater courage to face their bleak lives. They are each other's redemption.
It is because of their mutual existence that they can have a brighter future.
Wu Lian embroidered the names of the victimized women beneath each plum blossom. He embroidered fallen blossoms, symbolizing the lost purity of those women. If it weren't for his embroidery in this artwork, no one would be able to assemble such a vast list and grasp the extent of harm inflicted by Wu Lian upon countless women.
Wu Lian's behavior is reminiscent of leaving a mark after committing a misdeed.
In Wu Lian's mind, those girls who have not lost their purity are deemed clean, while those whose purity he has taken away are considered tainted.
It suddenly dawned on me why he used silk for those girls who had just entered the embroidery workshop. It was because he wanted to pluck away those fallen petals. He didn't want coarse cloth to soil his artwork.
Suddenly, everything seems terrifying!
Meng Wan has a keen understanding of utilizing people's strengths and capitalizing on their unique characteristics. Liu Xin possesses decent martial arts skills, making him the perfect choice as the intermediary contact.
Liu San Niang, being a part of the brothel, has connections with many high-ranking officials.
This allows her to seamlessly infiltrate Zhao Yin's circle and swiftly react to situations, accessing venues that others may not have the opportunity to engage with.
Huang, the shopkeeper, excels in embroidery. Therefore, replacing Wu Lian with Huang not only causes Yanyu Embroidery to decline but also provides an exit strategy for The Wife of the Duke of Ningguo, allowing her to completely sever ties with Wu Lian.
Li Chun Feng is a skilled thief, making him the ideal candidate to steal the physical evidence.
If it were anyone else, they would likely be unable to accomplish these tasks. Feng Da may sometimes appear rash, but his physical strength allows him to handle the more demanding and cumbersome tasks efficiently.
Understanding the unique traits of these individuals, Meng Wan strategically orchestrates their roles, ensuring each person's abilities are maximized and increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Wu Lian's treatment of Wu Da Niang Zi can truly be described as harsh. In his eyes, he pities his own "little mother.
He believes that without his "little mother," he wouldn't have such excellent embroidery skills.
But after everything unraveled, everyone dragged away his "little mother," leaving him alone and lonely.
He sympathizes with his own "little mother" but doesn't extend the same sympathy to Wu Da Niang Zi, who has experienced similar tragedy.
In reality, whether it's the "little mother" or Wu Da Niang Zi, they are just epitomes of the miserable women of that era.
Regardless, the harm in Wu Lian's heart is not determined by women.
The tragedy of Wu Da Niang Zi was caused by their cousin who initiated and abandoned her, and the "little mother's" woeful experience was determined by their demanding father.
Ultimately, the ones to truly blame are the self-righteous men who think highly of themselves.
Lin Ru Lan's greatest fear was actually the lack of trust from her own family. Initially, when she decided to file a complaint with the authorities, at least her brother believed in her.
But after repeated trials, her brother gradually aligned with the advice of the elders.
He no longer believed in his sister and was willing to believe Wu Lian.
He even thought that if Ru Lan hadn't stirred up the matter before, at least she could have married into the Wu family and had a decent life.
What her brother said was like the final straw that broke Ru Lan's spirit.
How desperate Ru Lan must have felt at that time! In this world, no one believed in her. She wanted to leave this chaotic place together with her good sister, but she feared burdening her.
If she continued to stay here, she would continue to endure this tragic fate. The only choice she had was to depart from this world.