Episode 16 recap: Luo Yi Ning Suspects Her Father of Poisoning Her Late Mother
---In Episode 16, at the banquet, Luo Shen Yuan impresses everyone with a poem, showcasing his talents. Meanwhile, Lu Jia Xue has searched the Luo residence for an entire day without finding anything incriminating. He learns from his subordinates that there are still gift boxes being sent to the Cheng family that haven’t been searched, leading him to regard Luo Shen Yuan as a formidable opponent.
Confident that Lu Jia Xue's men wouldn’t dare search the prestigious Cheng family gifts, Luo Shen Yuan disguises his senior brother as a servant and hides him in the Cheng family’s sedan chair, demonstrating his cunning strategy. When Lu Jia Xue encounters Luo Yi Ning again, he initially feels an attraction towards her. However, Luo Yi Ning is sharp-tongued and shows no inclination to flatter him, even daring to embarrass him. Lu Jia Xue finds himself uncertain about Luo Yi Ning’s true identity and whether she is connected to an old acquaintance.
That night, Luo Cheng Zhang visits the room of the son of the concubine. After fainting from the poem earlier, he questions the boy about the cause. Luo Cheng Zhang scolds his elder sister for constantly pushing him to study late at night before the exam, resulting in his lack of energy during it. Luo Yi Ning finally receives the old servant Zheng Rong, who had cared for her mother until her passing and had recently returned from the south. It takes great effort for Luo Yi Ning to bring him back.
Upon seeing Zheng Rong, the old lady Luo's expression changes, and she reprimands him for coming uninvited. Luo Yi Ning quickly claims that her longing for her mother prompted the visit, allowing Zheng Rong to stay for a few days. In private, Zheng Rong reveals to Luo Yi Ning that her mother’s death was quite suspicious. He recounts how the concubine was quite cunning and had manipulated Luo Cheng Zhang, who had initially wanted to divorce but chose to endure for the children's sake. For years, Luo Cheng Zhang never visited Luo Yi Ning’s mother.
One day, however, Luo Cheng Zhang unexpectedly came to her mother’s courtyard with a gift of tea leaves. Soon after, Luo Yi Ning’s mother learns that he was interested in her dowry, leading her to despair. She throws the tea leaves under a hawthorn tree, which subsequently dies.
Luo Yi Ning is shocked, wondering if her father’s gift of tea leaves caused this. Searching through her mother's belongings, she discovers a half-preserved tea cake. Lacking the courage to confirm her fears, she takes the tea to Luo Shen Yuan’s courtyard. Together, they witness a mouse that consumes the tainted food and soon dies.
That night, Luo Yi Ning is filled with anger and determination. She holds the tea leaves, ready to confront her father, but when she finally sees him, she hesitates. Just then, Luo Shen Yuan arrives to ease the tension.
Luo Shen Yuan advises Luo Yi Ning that while she knows the tea leaves are poisonous, it doesn’t prove that Luo Cheng Zhang was responsible. They need substantial evidence before determining the source of the poison.
Luo Yi Ning begins to contemplate the idea of formally including Luo Shen Yuan in the Luo family tree. She discusses this with Lin Hai Ru, who has not had children since marrying into the Luo family. Luo Yi Ning suggests adopting Luo Shen Yuan under her name, so that if he succeeds in future exams, he can become a recognized scholar, and since Luo Shen Yuan is kind-hearted and grateful, he would surely appreciate it in the future.
Comments(Episode 16)