Episode 17 recap: Liu Mian Tang's Memory Recovery
In Episode 17, when Liu Mian Tang encounters Cui Xing Zhou again, she becomes more cautious. She casually brings up events from the previous year, trying to find out what Cui Xing Zhou was busy with at that time. Cui Xing Zhou casually mentions he was in Qingzhou dealing with porcelain trading.
However, Liu Mian Tang's instincts tell her something is off. She had just been at the market earlier that day, and Qingzhou is quite far from there. It had only been a year—why would Cui Xing Zhou suddenly be involved with Qingzhou? The more she thinks about it, the more suspicious she becomes, but she maintains her composure and curiously asks why Cui Xing Zhou is so nice to her.
Cui Xing Zhou's response seems sincere, but Liu Mian Tang feels it's not quite right.
That evening, Cui Xing Zhou takes Zhao Quan to the county office in Qizhou, claiming they need to investigate something. Upon checking the records, they discover numerous irregularities, clearly indicating collusion with local officials. Cui Xing Zhou intentionally provokes the county magistrate by mentioning that A Gu Shan has confessed to everything. The magistrate, terrified, quickly sends someone to silence A Gu Shan. However, A Gu Shan isn't easily overpowered and swiftly deals with the assassin. Cui Xing Zhou's guard witnesses the whole thing, leaving the magistrate with no way to deny it.
Just as they plan to force the magistrate to confess, he ends up being poisoned, cutting off the lead.
Meanwhile, Liu Mian Tang isn't idle. She adds something to the wine to make the maid sleep, then quietly slips out. Remembering the location of the escort agency from earlier, she heads there and finds it as expected.
When she pushes the door open, darkness greets her, and rain pours outside. An old woman approaches, and Liu Mian Tang instantly recognizes her as Zhao Po. Zhao Po, in tears, asks where she has been all these years. She pulls Liu Mian Tang inside, offering fruit and preparing to call others, saying the children are resting after a long day of escorting.
But before Zhao Po can call anyone, the sound of clashing weapons erupts outside. Liu Mian Tang rushes out to see her brothers surrounded by a group of assailants in black. Zhao Po is also caught in the chaos, stabbed in the abdomen and collapsing in front of Liu Mian Tang.
Fortunately, one of her brothers fights desperately to get her to safety, but she refuses to leave. He knocks her unconscious and hides her in a large shipping crate, saving her life.
When Liu Mian Tang wakes up, memories flood back like a movie in her mind. Three years ago, she almost married Cui Jiu, and the bandits they encountered were actually members of the escort agency in disguise. Later, she met Zi Yu, who taught her many things. She remembers being ambushed by a masked person on a rainy night, a memory that still chills her.
Cui Xing Zhou arrives at the escort agency later, but it's too late; chaos reigns inside, and no bodies are found, indicating skilled work. At the entrance, Cui Xing Zhou spots Liu Mian Tang's umbrella, and his face pales as he frantically searches for her.
Finally, he finds her in the yard, relieved to see she’s unharmed. That night, they share a bed, and Liu Mian Tang cautiously asks about the past, but Cui Xing Zhou claims to know nothing about the escort agency, saying she usually stayed home to do needlework or manage the business. Liu Mian Tang feels a sense of betrayal, realizing that Cui Xing Zhou has been lying to her.
Once Cui Xing Zhou falls asleep, Liu Mian Tang quietly gets up and heads to the yard. Now that she has regained her memory, she is determined to uncover the truth. Whether it’s finding those responsible for the massacre at the escort agency or the masked assailant from that night, she plans to track them all down. She takes out paper and pen, writing down each suspicious name to investigate one by one.
The night is still long, and her journey is just beginning.
Comments(Episode 17)