Episode 15 recap: Zhong Ye Lan refuses to divorce.
Hua Qian is worried that she said things she shouldn't have while drunk, and Qian Zhi just says that Hua Qian has been expressing her discontent and complaining about her unfortunate fate. Hua Qian feels extremely embarrassed, realizing that she spoke so much. After learning that only Qian Zhi and Hua Rong Zhou know about this, Hua Qian calls for Hua Rong Zhou to come over. Hua Rong Zhou still has bruises on his face, and Hua Qian remembers that she mistook him for Zhong Ye Lan and ended up hitting him.
Hua Qian decides to return home because she has been avoiding it for too long and it's time to face it. She tells her father the solution, emphasizing that their sole purpose is to help the Mu family, as only this will ensure Hua Shen's safe release from prison. At first, her father doesn't understand her and even considers hitting her. Hua Qian doesn't back down this time and says that if they want her brother to come back, they must listen to her. Only then does her father refrain from hitting her.
As Hua Qian is about to leave, her mother calls her to her room to have a chat. Initially, Hua Qian doesn't want to go, but unable to resist her mother's repeated invitations, she agrees. In reality, her mother is trying to find ways for Hua Qian to help Hua Shen. As the legitimate son, Hua Shen has always received her mother's love, both in this life and the previous one, as her mother favors males over females.
Her mother also mentions that even though she was the legitimate daughter, her father still preferred to be with her younger brother. Her father gave her something, but her brother saw it and forcibly wanted to take it. During their argument, she pushed her brother to the ground, and her father scolded her, demanding she apologize to her brother. Since then, her mother vowed not to suffer anymore. Her mother is also worried that Zhong Ye Lan and Mu Yao might have a son, which would make Hua Qian's life in the Zhong family even more difficult.
Hua Qian reassures her mother that she will definitely rescue her brother, asking her to trust her. Hua Qian instructs Hua Rong Zhou to withdraw all her money because she is about to do something significant. Hua Shen has been in prison for a month now and refuses to take any medicine, fearing that it might be poisoned.
Mu Yao is starting to worry as well because she wanted to use Hua Shen to make a move against the Hua family, but so far, Hua Qian hasn't taken any action.
Hua Qian asked her father to find the indenture contracts of the Mu family's people. Her father acted quickly and immediately gave the list to her. Hua Qian instructed Hua Rong Zhou to use the money to redeem all the individuals on the list.
Hua Rong Zhou quickly handled the matter, and then Hua Qian swiftly wrote a divorce letter and had Qian Zhi deliver it to Zhong Ye Lan. Hua Qian originally wanted to meet Mu Yao, but she was blocked at the door.
Unable to do anything, Hua Qian had to rely on Hua Rong Zhou. Hua Rong Zhou used his light skills to enter Mu Yao's courtyard, and Hua Qian handed over all the indenture contracts of the Mu family's people to Mu Yao. As an exchange condition, Hua Qian used the indenture contracts of her own servants. She also stated that if she wanted to find evidence, she would do it openly and honestly, without resorting to unethical methods.
The indenture contracts served as a warning. In fact, Zhong Ye Lan was aware of Mu Yao's tricks, which was why he hadn't taken any action against Hua Shen for a month. Hua Qian stated that she wanted to divorce Zhong Ye Lan and requested that their affairs no longer involve her.
As soon as Hua Qian returned home, she found Zhong Ye Lan waiting in the room. Zhong Ye Lan asked Hua Qian what she meant, and she replied that she wanted to leave the Zhong residence. Hua Qian believed that Zhong Ye Lan wanted to keep her here so that when the Hua family arrived, she would have a place to seek refuge. However, Hua Qian didn't care about any of that.
This time, she wanted to help reconcile Zhong Ye Lan and Mu Yao. Hua Qian realized that despite her efforts, she couldn't change Zhong Ye Lan's mindset, and he firmly stated that divorce was absolutely impossible. Hua Qian had no choice but to plan a visit to the Zhong family's garden the next day.
Mu Yao came to find Zhong Ye Lan to inquire about Hua Shen's situation. After much consideration, Mu Yao stated that Hua Shen had nothing to do with the matter and requested Zhong Ye Lan to release him. Zhong Ye Lan agreed to Mu Yao's request.
In my opinion, the second female lead is not at fault at all. She fits the typical script of past dramas where the entire family is framed, their home is destroyed, loved ones are taken away by schemes. At that time, she was even a servant herself. How could she have saved Linglong?
However, in this drama, she is not the main character, so she becomes the target of everyone's criticism. Other people's fathers are still in exile, so why should they forgive the female lead? The female lead framed another family, used schemes to steal someone else's man.
Now, just because she's trying to save her own life, she suddenly becomes a good person? It just goes to show that some viewers' perspectives are not quite right.
Escape? Hilarious. She hasn't been running away from the beginning. Zhong Ye Lan saved her from the start and let her stay with the Zhong family. They treated her well, but it was her own foolishness to go and become a maid for Zhong Ye Lan.