The Story of Pearl Girl Episode 20 Recap, Plot

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The imperial court had been summoning Zhang Jinran back urgently. With no choice, he returned to the palace. His older brother, Prince Ying, who had always supported him, couldn’t bear to see him work so hard and advised him to find a capable assistant if he wanted to reopen the old case, rather than handling everything himself. Zhang Jinran bowed in apology, saying the matter was too significant, and he wanted to investigate it personally.

In the early morning, Zhang Jinran awoke to find a letter on his table. Prince Ying had sensed the gravity of Zhang Jinran's investigation and, fearing involvement, planned to detain him in the palace. Zhang Jinran carefully surveyed his surroundings, then wrote a letter to the court, sincerely expressing his lifelong aspiration to uncover the truth for the imperial court. Halfway to the capital, Cui Shijiu escaped from the prisoner cart.

She was supposed to be escorted to the Ministry of Justice for punishment, but her maid risked everything to help her flee. Cui Shijiu eventually made her way back to the Cui household, only to see her elderly father, Cui Jingchu, climbing into a carriage with a hunched back, looking both desolate and humble. Afraid of showing him her current plight, she turned away in tears.

Cui Jingchu was heading to the merchant guild, where he had been trying to raise funds. Over the past days, he had borrowed from almost every silver shop he could to cover the fines imposed by the imperial court. Yan Zijing returned to Hangzhou, and the shopkeeper presented him with the IOUs that Cui Jingchu had signed over the years—eighteen pawned shops, all pledged to the guild by Cui Jingchu.

Now stripped of his position as head of the guild, Cui Jingchu had dismissed all his servants. Once surrounded by admirers, he now sat alone, his wife and children having left him to return to her family. Yan Zijing arrived at the Cui residence with Kang Ju, holding all the IOUs. At this, Cui Jingchu finally understood the enemy he had been fighting against. Once he had slaughtered the entire Yan family, and now karma had come full circle.

Yan Zijing took out a box containing the debt notes and land deeds for all eighteen shops and reminded Cui Jingchu that it wasn’t over; another family would soon meet the same fate. In despair, Cui Jingchu hanged himself. Reduced to a beggar, Cui Shijiu was ridiculed by everyone and nearly assaulted by a group of vagrants. Hearing of her father’s death, she cried uncontrollably, wanting to see him one last time, but was dragged away by other beggars.

Duan Wu, hearing the commotion, looked over and saw that it was indeed Cui Shijiu. Remembering how she had helped save the miners at the mines, Duan Wu, still believing there was a trace of goodness in her, chased away the beggars and rescued her. Cui Shijiu, freezing and weak, fainted in the street but was luckily spotted and saved by a nobleman. With his support, she naturally began to plot her revenge for her father.

In Hangzhou, Duan Wu met the courtesan Bai Xiaoshu, who played the pipa beautifully. As they walked, passersby admired Bai Xiaoshu’s headpiece and clothing with envy. Though Duan Wu and Yue Yunxiu had seen luxury before, they noted that her jewelry was not particularly innovative. However, the townspeople found it dazzling, and many saved up their money just to buy accessories from the famed Bai Caoshu, where Bai Xiaoshu shopped.

A decree was issued: Zhang Jinran was appointed the Imperial Inspector of Huainan Dao, giving him the authority to investigate further in Yangzhou. Now with higher rank, he could come and go freely. He went to bid farewell to Prince Ying, who advised him to seek help from the Zheng family if he encountered trouble in Yangzhou. Duan Wu eventually found Yan Zijing in Yangzhou.

In the pouring rain, she arrived at his merchant guild and asked why he had fled that day. Yan Zijing, hearing her voice, felt a mix of surprise and joy, but, realizing his illness was worsening with little time left, he steeled himself and harshly told her to leave Yangzhou and stay far away from him. Duan Wu, holding a dagger, wanted to avenge Xiao Xiami, but Yan Zijing’s guard blocked her.

Yan Zijing disarmed her himself and told her to leave. Finally estranged from Yan Zijing, Duan Wu felt that any remaining kindness between them had been exhausted. She turned her focus toward planning with Yue Yunxiu how to establish themselves in Hangzhou. Since both knew jewelry-making techniques, Duan Wu decided to replicate Bai Caoshu’s approach. They would find a courtesan and use her influence to promote their shop’s reputation.

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