Against The Current Episode 21 Recap
**SPOILER ALERT**
Table of Contents
TL;DR (Quick Overview)
A brutal fight over a young widow’s right to remarry opens the episode with real social commentary, while back home, Xiuru’s dazzling betrothal celebration sits in stark contrast to Xiuwan’s quiet reckoning with her own mistakes. Scholar Han finally works up the nerve to propose to Lanxiang, unaware that Jinqi’s own interest is deepening at exactly the same time, and a marriage prospect from an unexpected source arrives for Jinqi himself.
A Lesson in Frugality
At the market, Lanxiang stops to buy vegetables from a vendor who was also looking after a newborn. She explains that her husband’s out selling the game he’s caught and with another mouth to feed, every coin counts. Lanxiang gives her some patronage.
Han Ju, sister of the promising young scholar Han Liang, haggles good-naturedly over vegetables with another vendor. He questions why she’d bother haggling given her brother’s growing prospects, and feeling timid, she relents. Lanxiang interjects and she pushes back plainly, money doesn’t fall from the sky just because someone’s a scholar, every family counts its coins. The vendor relents.
She reflects to Han Ju that she used to feel embarrassed watching her own mother haggle this way, before eventually learning the same lesson herself, kind words cost nothing, but money never does.
A Mob at the Door
On their way home, they are confronted by the arrival of the Zhang clan demanding Han Ju be handed over. Widowed with no surviving in-laws and no children, she’d been brought home by her brother rather than left isolated in her late husband’s household, and the Zhang clan insists tradition demands she remain a widow regardless of her own wishes.
Han Liang pushes back with the actual law, a widow’s choice to remain unmarried must be voluntary, and where no parents-in-law survive, her own parents have the right to decide for her. Feng Lin, his mother, refuses outright to sacrifice her daughter for the family’s reputation. Han Ju wanting to stop the outcry is stopped by Lanxiang and they hide and watch.
The clan leader argues that a sister known for lifelong fidelity would only enhance Han Liang’s future prospects as an official, prompting a sharp rebuke, a man willing to sacrifice his own sister for career advancement is lower than an animal, unworthy of the title of official at all. Mr. Lu applauds the line. The confrontation turns physical, the mob threatening real violence, until Feng Lin declares she’ll die before handing her daughter over.
A Timely Distraction
Amid the chaos, Lanxiang sees an opportunity and grabs a jar of tung oil from the housekeeper and tosses it at the clan, sending everyone scrambling and toppling over. Han Liang presses his advantage, citing the actual legal penalties for forced entry and assault in detail.
Then he turns the confrontation on its head entirely, asking whether this insistence on his sister’s chastity is really about honouring her late husband, or securing the Zhang clan’s tax exemptions and reduced labour obligations that come with a chastity memorial arch.
Lanxiang then asks Mr. Lu, as a top three scholar to verify the truth. Should a widow die just to obtain a chastity memorial arch, will the authorities exempt the clan from compulsory labour and reduce grain tax? He replied no. When it comes to such greed, and such disregard for basic human decency, they will not only revoke the chastity memorial arch, but also severely punish the clan leader and may even implicate the entire clan.
Word that city patrol officers have arrived, the clan finally scatters.
A Family’s Gratitude
In the aftermath, everyone credits Lanxiang’s sharp legal knowledge for helping avert disaster, though she deflects the praise, insisting she only backed Scholar Han up. Han Liang insists otherwise, crediting her thorough understanding of the law with saving the day entirely.
As they all revel in their small win, the mothers look at each other knowingly, hoping for a union between their children.
A Mother’s Matchmaking
In bed, Guihua mulls over the possibility of a match between the two families. Wanquan worries their humble background puts Lanxiang at a disadvantage, but reasons Scholar Han’s own family, honourable and unpretentious despite hardship, might overlook that gap.
Guihua points out, more pointedly, that Madam Han seems just as fond of the idea, and hints that Scholar Han himself may already carry deeper feelings, an observation that visibly surprises Wanquan.
A Grand Betrothal
At the Lin residence, Xiuru’s betrothal ceremony to the Yuan family plays out with real fanfare, drawing pointed commentary from Second Madam about how far she’s risen, and not without some resentment. Watching her mother’s obvious hurt on her behalf, Xiuwan reassures her she’s at peace, the consequences she’s living with were brought about by her own past actions, and Xiuru had nothing to do with any of it.
Xiuwan shares something Jinqi told her since her confinement began, that life is like a river, calm waters promised to no one. If she remains a small boat, the weight of her past mistake with Du Zheng will eventually sink her.
But if she can grow into a great ship instead, that same weight becomes nothing more than a small stone by comparison. She resolves to try becoming exactly that, and finds comfort in a quieter victory too, whatever she’s lost, she’ll still be the Marquis’s sister-in-law, owed proper respect from both sides of the match regardless.
A Marriage Long Considered
First Madam raises the pressing matter of Jinqi’s own marriage now that the Zhao complication has fully resolved, revealing she’s already been quietly planning a match for some time. She has been eyeing Duke Xianguo’s youngest daughter, Zheng Manyi.
She was raised in the palace under Dowager Consort Zheng’s personal favour and known for her intelligence and gentle temperament. The families’ connection runs deep, an old friendship between the Dowager Consort and Old Madam, and word has already been sent to bring Young Lady Zheng back to Jinling.
A Visit, and a Discovery
Jinqi arrives to visit Lanxiang only to find she is at Mr. Lu’s courtyard, transcribing songs. As she is singing, she is joined by Scholar Han whilst Jinqi can only stand and watch dishearteningly. They finish to his applause and Lanxiang is pleased to see him. He formally introduces himself to eccentric Lu Xie, presents him with a gift, only for him to insult him by saying he had nothing in common with the Lin family and walks away.
Lanxiang proceeds to invite Jinqi to her courtyard, and much to Jinqi’s dismay, is followed enthusiastically by Scholar Han. At the Xu residence, Lanxiang explains their door stays open all day given her constant coming and going for work, and that her mother’s cooking has simply expanded to include Mr. Lu and Grandpa Tu as regular guests, since it’s easier to cook for everyone at once.
Curious about his education, Jinqi offers to recommend him for admission to the prestigious Qixia Academy under his own former teacher, Scholar Shouyi. Han is excited at first but later declines the offer, explaining gently that his particular circumstances make it complicated.
Jinqi delivers pastries from First Madam to celebrate Xiuru’s betrothal, along with an orchid, under the guise that it was from Yuchan and Gantang. Although she loved it, she was puzzled why they’d think to send her flowers.
Pride Over Favor
Later, over the neighbourhood wall, Lanxiang presses Scholar Han on why he turned down such a remarkable opportunity to go to Qixia Academy. He explains honestly, he can’t accept a favour he hasn’t earned, uneasy about owing Commander Lin a debt he might never be able to repay given they’re neither family nor old friends.
Lanxiang then him something over the wall, Scholar Shouyi’s own personal calling card, explaining she’d received it by chance and has little use for it herself since she isn’t pursuing an official career through the examination system. Scholar Han is overwhelmed by this gesture and Lanxiang wants to know why he’s so quiet. He simply tells her that he is extremely happy.
A Proposal, Set in Motion
Later Madam Han is doing some chores and he confides in her, he’s fallen for Lanxiang and wants her to find a proper matchmaker to arrange a marriage proposal. His mother admits, gently amused, they’d already guessed his feelings long ago, and reassures him she’ll handle everything properly.
When she worries their modest means won’t allow for a proper betrothal gift, and considers waiting until after his examinations for Lanxiang’s sake, he points out plainly that Lanxiang isn’t someone who cares about such things. Worried that someone else might beat him to the pole, he stresses the urgency of the proposal.
Zheng Manyi
In the Lin residence, Zheng Manyi, the youngest daughter of Duke Xianguo and ward of Dowager Consort Zhen, along with her mother, visit First Madam. She draws admiring comparisons for her exceptional manners and bearing, said to outshine every young lady currently in the Lin family.
Against the Current Episode 21 Recap: My Thoughts
I have to say that this is the first episode of the series which I found a little lack lustre. Whilst I understand they are trying to set the scene for a possible new love interest between Lanxiang and Scholar Han, too much time was spent focusing on them. Perhaps the scene about the Chastity Memorial Arches didn’t quite have to extend as long as it did as it took significant air time away from our leads.
Although I obviously want the leads together, Scholar Han is a total green flag and truly would make a fine match for any woman. Smart, caring, talented, upstanding gentleman and easy on the eyes. It’s no wonder Jinqi finds him so irritating! I am secretly wondering if he in fact the deposed Crown Prince. Wouldn’t that be a hoot? His impending proposal is going to be fun to watch and I wonder how that will play out.
I love that Jinqi still visits Lanxiang. He had the perfect excuse this time, sending along pastries from the presentation of Xiuru’s betrothal gifts. If I was Lanxiang, wouldn’t you be surprised that the Young Master continues to make such efforts to come and visit a “lowly” commoner? Or is she just so naïve to think he’s just a nice man doing his rounds? The gift of the orchids he so painstakingly looked after was beautiful even though she in none the wiser.
In this episode I am also wondering if it ever crosses her mind that this was the man she was suppose to be married to. Does she wonder what kind of a life she would have had and the drama doesn’t delve into that post his wedding to Young Lady Zhao. I also then wonder if she will ever reveal that she’s actually Shen Jialan.
Let’s hope things get back on track next episode.
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