Episode 9 recap: Lin Ru Lan's past scandals have caused her to be tainted with a bad reputation.
Meng Wan found her cousin. Initially, she pursued the study of law to seek justice for those who were wronged and to ensure fairness in society. Meng Wan wanted her cousin to help with the lawsuit. For Lin Ru Lan, it involved a lifetime of reputation and innocence. Regardless, Lin Ru Lan was determined to see the lawsuit through to the end. If the county yamen couldn't provide justice, they would go to the capital. If that didn't work, they would petition the imperial court. There would always be a place where justice could be served.
Seven years ago, Feng Da, severely injured, rode his horse desperately, trying to evade his pursuers. Accidentally, he fell off his horse and, enduring the pain, fled on foot. Wang Liu Lang, a merchant from Chen County, shouted at Lin Ru Lan, demanding to divorce her. The surrounding crowd gathered and accused Lin Ru Lan of not adhering to her wifely duties. Lin's father, unable to bear it any longer, opened the door and defended his daughter. Lin Ru Lan questioned Wang Liu Lang about his intentions, as their engagement had already been dissolved. Wang Liu Lang turned the tables and claimed that the Lin family had taken the dowry and run away. In reality, it was the Wang family who unreasonably demanded a divorce without just cause. The dowry remained intact and was returned. Wang Liu Lang promptly presented the contract to the crowd as evidence, and the onlookers turned their blame towards Lin Ru Lan. Unwilling to face the situation, Lin Ru Lan turned back and went inside.
The consecutive events worried Lin's mother, who took Lin Ru Lan to Fuyuan Temple to ward off misfortune. While her mother went to draw a fortune stick, Lin Ru Lan went alone to the back mountain to get some fresh air. Unexpectedly, she encountered someone chasing after her. Initially intending to leave, Lin Ru Lan saw Feng Da lying on the ground. After much hesitation, she applied some medicine to his wound to stop the bleeding and brought him to a nearby woodshed. On the other side, Meng's mother brought Meng Wan to the temple in a carriage for prayers.
Feng Da, enduring the pain, kneeled down and expressed gratitude to his savior. Between their conversation, a woman accompanied by a group of women burst into the woodshed, accusing them of engaging in an illicit affair in the back mountain. The crowd kept gossiping and speculating. Passing by, Meng Wan noticed the commotion and wanted to investigate, but her mother hastily pulled her away. Just as she was leaving, Meng Wan heard Lin Ru Lan's voice, which stirred her heart. She found an excuse to leave her mother and departed.
The crowd distorted the truth and blamed Lin Ru Lan. Meng Wan hurriedly made her way to the front with the abbot and took Lin Ru Lan and Feng Da away, finally putting an end to the discussion. Meng's mother caught up and took Meng Wan away from the woodshed, finally bringing an end to the farce.
Feng Da explained to the abbot that he was the second-in-command of Hei Feng Village. He had stolen the medicinal herbs being escorted by Chang Feng Escort Agency because his elder brother was sick, which led to him being pursued and ending up in this place. The abbot urged Feng Da to seek treatment for his injuries and, before leaving, Feng Da wanted to find out Lin Ru Lan's full name. However, Lin's mother blocked his way, and Feng Da couldn't inquire further. The abbot personally divined for Lin Ru Lan, and the result was: "The origin is unclear, do not pursue the truth. Even if the mud wall collapses, it's difficult to proceed, even with divine assistance." Despite this, Lin Ru Lan was determined to persevere.
Sitting in the carriage heading home, Lin Ru Lan pondered deeply. Wang Liu Lang's appearance was definitely not a coincidence. Despite having left Chen County for so long, he appeared precisely at this critical moment. It must be the doing of Wu Lian behind the scenes.
The next day, Wang Liu Lang returned with people and knocked on the door of Lin's Medicine Shop. This time, Wang Liu Lang brought so-called witnesses to testify how Lin Ru Lan seduced Yang San Lang. Feng Da, who happened to pass by, couldn't bear to watch and kicked them out. He then turned to Lin Lang to propose marriage, with the betrothal gifts already prepared. However, Lin Lang mistook Feng Da for a bad person and grabbed a stick to attack him. Fortunately, Lin Ru Lan intervened in time to stop the commotion. They drove everyone away, leaving only Feng Da and Lin Ru Lan. Lin Ru Lan advised Feng Da and finally managed to make him leave.
Meng Wan, with her face veiled, arrived at the medical clinic. After examining the pulse, she reached the conclusion that brought her great joy. Trying to maintain composure, Meng Wan went to Yan Zhi Lane and found Gao Cheng Cheng. She recounted the truth of the matter and everything that had happened. Upon hearing about Wu Lian's despicable actions, Gao Cheng Cheng decided to testify in court and make Wu Lian pay the price.
To share Wu Lian's worries, Da Niang Zi personally visited as a mediator. She was well aware of his pointless actions but chose to turn a blind eye because she wanted to stay alive. Unable to convince Lin Ru Lan, Da Niang Zi turned to persuade Lin's father and Lin's mother, and the two of them began to waver for the sake of Lin Ru Lan's future.
The lawyer who had taken on Ru Lan's case approached her and returned the money, refusing to proceed with the lawsuit. With the continuous rumors and gossip surrounding Ru Lan, the lawyer felt that where there's smoke, there's fire. Lin Ru Lan was completely disappointed.
In Hei Feng Village, the elder brother bid farewell to his brothers for the last time and personally disbanded the gang. Feng Da helped his elder brother put on clothes and watched helplessly as his brother passed away in his arms. While still grieving, members from Chang Feng Escort Agency arrived, and with a heart full of hatred, Feng Da confronted them head-on.
Meng Wan excitedly found Lin Ru Lan. Her cousin was a well-known lawyer in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions and happened to be in Huai Prefecture these days. Despite Lin Ru Lan's unwavering determination, he decided to accompany her and give it a try. After hearing Lin Ru Lan's ordeal, Zhao Yu Cheng initially wanted to refuse, citing lack of time and energy. However, moved by Lin Ru Lan's determination and persistence, as he had entered the legal profession for the sake of justice, he decided to testify for Ru Lan.
On the way back, Lin Ru Lan encountered Feng Da, who had his hat pulled down low. He told her that Hei Feng Village had been completely destroyed by Chang Feng Escort Agency, and his brothers had all dispersed. Feng Da was planning to leave, and before departing, he bid farewell to his benefactor. Kindly, Lin Ru Lan suggested that Feng Da could become a courier.
I truly believe that this drama holds great significance, just like the issue of teachers sexually abusing students nowadays. They take advantage of your innocence and deceive you, turning the problem of criminal behavior into a question of the victim. Does the victim have to be perfect? We shouldn't interpret ancient times with modern thinking, but the reason this drama is being aired is to encourage everyone to critically analyze the perpetrators with a modern mindset. It aims to show that in modern times, if we encounter such situations, we should be as courageous as Lin Ru Lan and the character portrayed by Wu Qian.
Is there a problem with my sense of right and wrong? When Rulan was first involved with Wu Lian, wasn't it a situation where she was somewhat coerced? Didn't she know that Wu Lian already had a legal wife at that time? So, did Rulan initially accept being a concubine or a second wife? And when she found out that Wu Lian was a scoundrel, she planned to cause trouble at his workplace, seeking revenge and wanting to ruin him? In reality, she willingly got involved with him to some extent, and when she didn't get what she wanted, she sought revenge? So, in order for the scoundrel to be held accountable, Rulan has to take matters into her own hands and bring about his downfall? Is this logic sound? Does this mean Rulan was having an extramarital affair and colluding with Wu Lian? Is this a double standard? Is Rulan not observing the rules of propriety, crossing boundaries at first and then expecting Wu Lian to be responsible and conform to societal norms?
Personal opinion, please refrain from attacking if you disagree.
1. In ancient times, it was not a one-man-one-wife system. Wu Lian was considered an excellent standard for choosing a spouse in that era.
Even being a concubine was not a bad choice for many women. So, when people in the comments say that Rulan knew Wu Lian had a wife, they should familiarize themselves with the circumstances of that time before making judgments.
2. Throughout history, perfectly innocent victims are rare. It's normal for someone to refuse to accept the truth if they mistakenly believe in solemn pledges. It's only when they encounter someone like Wu Lian that they are forced to face the reality.
3. Legal principles are the minimum standards of morality, yet when it comes to rape and similar crimes, we always seem to look down from the moral high ground at the victims. Are we saying that murder and arson should be acquitted because the victims are not perfect?
The imperfections of the victims should be borne by themselves and society as moral pressure, but we cannot confuse the primary and secondary issues. Punishment should be given for the crime, but the crime does not stem from the imperfections of the victims.
Let me ask this, if Wu Lian had enough humanity and moral standards, even if Rulan tempted him, he should have been like Liu Xiaohui!
How many women have been hurt by the same person? There are dozens, hundreds of them. Once they lose their chastity, they are deemed guilty, impure. But what about the person who takes away their chastity?
Are they not guilty? Should they be forgiven? Do you know why there are so many single people in society today? Do you know why there is a gender imbalance? Do you know why there are so many bachelors?
And why are women both soft-hearted and strong-willed? These problems persist regardless of time or era. They can never be fully understood or explained. Even with laws in place today, they cannot control the mouths and actions of those who will make mistakes.
Who can provide a clear answer? Who can truly achieve that?
Currently, I'm looking forward to the future developments and also the events from seven years ago. I've seen many debates, but it's difficult to truly empathize and put myself in the shoes of the women in the embroidery building.
I don't have the right to judge whether they truly volunteered or were simply deceived. Looking at it from a different perspective, it was a different era, where social status and hierarchy surpassed what we have now.
How can we, with our modern mindset, assert that the embroidery women were willing participants?
In ancient times, women faced the most unfair treatment. Why should they endure humiliation? Why should they suffer in silence, knowing that speaking up would only lead to being accused of seeking advantages? This drama truly made me realize the darkness and decadence of ancient society.
There is not just one Wu Lian in this world, but countless Wu Lians. They all deserve condemnation and should perish.