The Story of Pearl Girl Episode 16 Recap, Plot

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Duan Wu and Cui Shiqi had been performing hard labor for several days, pushing their strength to the limit. Realizing they couldn’t go on like this, Duan Wu seized an opportunity and struck the overseer with a rock. Cui Shijiu’s men quickly finished the job. With few overseers left, they managed to subdue the guards and open the door, urging the other laborers to escape. The miners, oppressed by Cui Bagong for years, hesitated, fearing capture and punishment if they fled.

They believed staying might offer a better chance of survival. Despite Duan Wu’s repeated urgings, they wouldn’t move. Over the past days, Cui Shijiu had lived among the miners and understood their suffering. She took out the Cui family’s command token, reassuring everyone that seeing the token meant they could escape without fear of punishment. Finally, a large group of miners began to flee. Meanwhile, Zhang Jinran and his guards surrounded the Octagonal Tower.

Cui Bagong feigned ignorance and denied harboring miners there. After ensuring the miners escaped safely, Duan Wu went deeper into the prison to find Yan Zijing. As she expected, he was confined in a prison cell, bound and floating at the center of a poisonous water pool. When Duan Wu moved to save him, Yan Zijing shook his head, urging her to leave, warning that the water was toxic and stepping into it would poison her.

But Duan Wu couldn’t ignore him; she quickly ran to his side, untied him, just as the pursuers arrived. Both prepared for the worst, thinking they might not escape, when Kang Ju arrived just in time. Zhang Jinran had uncovered Cui Bagong’s abuse and secret exploitation of the miners, handing him over to the authorities for trial. Previously unaware of Cui Bagong’s hidden operation, Cui Shijiu now agreed to testify. To ensure fairness, Zhang Jinran personally participated in the investigation.

Duan Wu’s selfless rescue of Yan Zijing strengthened their bond. Later, Duan Wu asked if Yan Zijing had planned everything. Without his poisoning and capture, the hidden miners might never have been found. Yan Zijing nodded; his poisoning and subsequent danger had been part of his plan to trace Li Longdao’s kidnapped victims. He admitted feeling uneasy—if not for Duan Wu rescuing him first, things could have taken a dark turn.

Usually known for his fearless and ruthless exterior, Yan Zijing secretly longed for a warm embrace during vulnerable times. Duan Wu reminded him never to disregard his own life, as someone would always worry for him. When Yan Zijing nodded, his eyes were already red with emotion. Zhang Jinran later met with Yan Zijing, now aware of Cui Bagong’s connection with Li Longdao’s treasure smuggling.

He learned that years ago, a tribute crafted by the Yan family was intercepted by Li Longdao, who swapped it with a fake on its way to the imperial palace. Zhang Jinran planned to investigate further and asked for Yan Zijing’s help. Having lost his family to the enemies, Yan Zijing agreed to join Zhang Jinran in seeking justice. They decided to continue their collaboration. After Yan Zijing recovered, he brought out a wealth of jewels.

He informed his caravan that they would soon journey to Hexi, a long road ahead, and offered a year’s wages to anyone who wished to return home instead. To his surprise, not a single member, including the reformed Cao Da, chose to leave. Yue Yunxiu’s hand injury had worsened, and Zhang Jinran, knowing a skilled imperial physician, offered to take her for treatment. Thus, Yue Yunxiu left the caravan, traveling with Zhang Jinran by carriage.

Meanwhile, the romance between Duan Wu and Yan Zijing became evident to everyone in the caravan. Yan Zijing, no longer hiding his feelings, openly acknowledged their relationship.

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