Episode 23 recap: Hua Qian asked Zhong Xi Wu to save Hua Rong Zhou.
The wealthy merchant's house where she went can be described as extremely cruel. They abused children, and many of them were tortured and tragically died. Hua Rong Zhou finally had a chance to escape, but fearing that they would catch him, he set fire to the wealthy merchant's house. After coming out, Hua Rong Zhou had no money and could only beg on the streets. He then encountered a craftsman named Wei Xian, who recognized Hua Rong Zhou's exceptional talent and took him in as an apprentice. Hua Rong Zhou had great respect for Wei Xian, but he often made mistakes and was beaten by Wei Xian. They had to do many tasks every day, and they would only receive food after completing them. They were constantly bound by iron chains until one day Hua Rong Zhou managed to break free.
Hua Rong Zhou sought out Wei Xian in order to obtain a mechanism bracelet for Hua Qian. At that time, Wei Xian didn't want to let him go and even used hidden weapons to harm Hua Rong Zhou, but he ended up being killed by his own weapon. After learning all of this, Hua Qian stated that she wouldn't let Hua Rong Zhou stay there forever and would find a way to rescue him.
Hua Qian's primary goal was to find the couple, but after searching for a long time, she discovered that the couple was not in the city. She then went to find Zhong Xi Wu and informed him that there was more to Hua Rong Zhou's situation. The couple couldn't be found anymore. Zhong Xi Wu looked at Hua Qian, who came to him for the sake of a guard, and felt uneasy.
Zhong Xi Wu asked Hua Qian if there was another reason she came to see him, besides missing him. Hua Qian told Zhong Xi Wu that if he wanted to see her, he shouldn't engage in such actions. In fact, Hua Qian knew that this matter had nothing to do with Zhong Xi Wu.
On the way back, Zhong Ye Lan stopped Hua Qian's carriage and said that he could help her rescue Hua Rong Zhou. He then provided her with the vague address of the couple. Hua Qian was delighted and quickly prepared to leave. After these events, Zhong Ye Lan had a new perspective on Hua Qian, not as a romantic interest, but more like a younger sister.
Zhong Ye Lan was actually just a messenger, and the main person who could resolve this matter was Mu Yao. After the previous incident, Mu Yao no longer disliked Hua Qian. Zhong Ye Lan also knew that there was a rift between them, so he hoped they could resolve it on their own. Upon learning that Hua Qian had gone to find the couple, Mu Yao quickly rode Zhong Ye Lan's horse to search for Hua Qian.
At this moment, Hua Qian had already ordered people to surround the entire courtyard. The couple had no choice but to stay. They were brought before Hua Qian by the guards. Initially, they stuck to their story, but Hua Qian quickly exposed their flaws with just a few words. Hua Qian accused them of their father's crimes and demanded that they explain themselves.
Knowing that Hua Qian possessed great power, the couple had no choice but to reveal the truth. They admitted to knowing what kind of person their father was. Initially, they didn't want to dig up the past, but they were forced to come here to identify Hua Rong Zhou. Hua Qian suddenly realized the situation but didn't respond and left directly.
Mu Yao was already waiting at the door. Mu Yao said that she would use her own abilities to make Zhong Ye Lan fall in love with her, but Hua Qian revealed that Zhong Ye Lan had been interested in her from the beginning. Mu Yao assured Hua Qian that she wouldn't trouble the Hua family in the future. She kindly reminded Hua Qian that even if she wanted to investigate the ones who manipulated the couple, she wouldn't be able to find any leads. The other side was incredibly powerful. At this point, Hua Qian could already guess the situation. Mu Yao was worried that if Hua Qian truly went to that large courtyard, she might never smile again.
Hua Qian carefully put away the videos that Hua Shen had given her. She planned to wait until Qian Zhi, Chen Hui, arrived before leaving. She treated her maidservants well and told them that if they wanted anything, they should just tell her, and she wouldn't refuse. Hua Qian wanted her father to leave the city with her, but he insisted on waiting a little longer.
What did the patriarch actually do for the female lead? He acted so affectionate, initially suspecting the female lead, but later they went to the Star Pavilion together and only gave her a divorce letter.
When the female lead got shot and her brother got killed during the kidnapping, he couldn't help at all. He even stubbornly arrested the little attendant for the sake of the female lead, but the little attendant always listened to the female lead.
Whatever the female lead asked, he would do it wholeheartedly. The patriarch is completely deluding himself. The female lead doesn't need his affection at all.
He's even a burden...
As for this drama, it started off really strong but then went downhill. In the beginning, it was truly captivating, and I binge-watched 18 episodes in one go. However, later on, it was just two episodes per update.
After Hua Qian divorced the old master and got together with the patriarch, their relationship storyline continued, which I found quite engaging. But then they started introducing various subplots involving supporting characters, which felt random and distracting.
I think this drama has been adapted very well! I came across a theory that when Hua Qian died in her previous life, the patriarch tried to save her but arrived too late. By the time he got there, Hua Qian was already severely injured, so the patriarch used a magical spice to treat her.
That's why Hua Qian always smells a strange fragrance! This current life is actually just a dream of Hua Qian's. In the first episode, when Hua Qian passed out and traveled through time, there was a voice saying, "I'll give you another chance, listen carefully to that voice." To me, it sounded like the patriarch's voice.
Also, in the first episode, after Hua Qian coughed up blood, two people rushed into the courtyard. I believe it was the patriarch coming to save Hua Qian.
Definitely! That fragrance is the exact remedy that Wu Shao wanted at the beginning, the one for treating Soul Departure Syndrome. The female lead is suffering from Soul Departure Syndrome, and the scent she smelled was from that specific remedy.
She had never encountered it before, so she didn't recognize it.
I know why the family head is not the male lead. In the previous life, Mu Yao was the female lead, and in this life, Hua Qian is the female lead. So the family head only likes the female lead.
In other words, the family head only likes the girl who fits his ideal image.