Against The Current Episode 41 Recap
**SPOILER ALERT**
Table of Contents
TL;DR (Quick Overview)
The Lin household finally gets its happy ending, with a triple celebration as Gantang, Xiaolian and Yuchan each claim the husbands they’ve chosen, followed by the birth of Jinqi and Lanxiang’s daughter, Zhangcheng, during which a terrified Jinqi faints. But the joy carries a shadow. Jinqi’s mother is hiding an illness, and when Lanxiang’s mother innocently reveals details that contradict Lanxiang’s story, Jinqi pieces together years of clues and finally asks his wife who she really is.
Thanks From Four Young Ladies
Jinqi’s mother asks Jinqi and Lanxiang not to blame Xiuru for going to such lengths. Lanxiang tells her she needn’t take the blame on herself. Xiuru is quick witted and decisive, and when something seemed off about Du Cuique, she was the first to notice.
Now, to protect herself and her children, she had no choice but to resort to this plan, and neither Lanxiang nor Jinqi holds it against her. His mother replies that those who help pave the way for others will find their own path growing wider too, and Lanxiang thanks her for the guidance.
Jinqi’s mother then calls in Jiarong and her three younger sisters, who kneel and thank their Uncle Jinqi and Aunt Lanxiang for giving them a new lease on life. Lanxiang moves to help them up, but Jinqi’s mother tells her to stay seated, because she deserves their gratitude. She explains that this was Xiuru’s idea.
Xiuru doesn’t want her daughters going through life unaware of the world around them. From an early age, they must understand their situation. The Marquis’s residence is both the home their lives depend on and a place where they must tread carefully, and they mustn’t let a life of apparent luxury cloud their judgment. Jinqi feels his sister is being awfully hard on such young girls.
Xiuru’s Performance
At the Yuan residence, the relatives are in uproar, with one elder furiously berating and beating a family member for pretending to be pitiful. Xiuru watches the turmoil unfold from blow. Shaohui comes to her and asks whether she’s satisfied with how this grand drama turned out.
Xiuru reflects that she used to sit down there, but now that she’s standing up here, she realises that while they were watching the performances from below, those above were watching their performance too. Shaohui says that from the very beginning, she never really cared whether he took a concubine.
She tells him she does care, but would that stop him? Whether she cares or not, he’ll take a concubine for the sake of an heir anyway, so why should it matter? For the sake of her daughters’ reputations, she will be a virtuous wife and arrange a grand concubine ceremony, satisfying the Old Madam and leaving the clan nothing to criticise.
Xiuru walks away with dignity and Shaohui comes to the shocking realisation that all this had nothing to do with him taking in a concubine but was entirely to secure their daughters’ future.
Gantang Chooses Her Own Husband
At Zhichun Hall, Lanxiang finds her maids kneeling before her, refusing to get up unless she agrees to their request. Shyly and almost reluctantly, Gantang announces that she has already chosen a husband: Du Dasong, Xiaolian’s older brother.
Xiaolian is stunned and demands to know when this happened. Gantang says she made up her mind long ago, but one thing after another got in the way. First there was mourning for the Old Madam, then Xiaolian’s grandmother passed away, then the Fourth Young Lady’s wedding, and then the Young Madam’s pregnancy. She never found the right moment. Lanxiang tells her to explain carefully, and if her reasons make sense, she might agree.
Gantang says people claim a woman’s marriage should be decided by her parents, but her mother cares too much about money, and she doesn’t trust the family her mother would choose. After serving the Young Madam for so many years, she has learned not to resign herself to fate.
She’s the one getting married and spending her life with her husband’s family, so the decision should be hers. She explains her reasoning. Sharing a room with Xiaolian, she often hears about her family. Xiaolian’s father died young, the family spent all its savings treating his illness and was left in debt, and her older brother has never been able to arrange a marriage.
But Granny Du cares deeply for her daughter-in-law, and Xiaolian’s mother cares deeply for her daughter, so Gantang figured the son they raised couldn’t be a bad man. When Xiaolian went home, Gantang went along to meet her brother, and sure enough, he was steady and mature. She just doesn’t know how he feels about her.
Xiaolian says that as the Young Madam’s most trusted first-class maid, Gantang could marry a head shopkeeper. Of course, her brother would be willing, he just wouldn’t dare dream of it. Gantang says she doesn’t need to marry a shopkeeper. She can write, keep accounts and run a business, and someday she can become a shopkeeper herself.
Xiaolian happily declares that her brother can follow Gantang’s lead. Her family’s debts are paid, her brother finishes his apprenticeship this year, and her mother says that if they all work hard together, they’ll build a good life. Lanxiang approves. Gantang will marry Du Dasong.
Xiaolian and Baogai go back to kneeling. Xiaolian blurts out that she won’t be a concubine, and Baogai says she doesn’t want to marry at all. It’s explained that they heard the First Madam was choosing a maid to send to the Yuan residence as the Third Young Lady’s husband’s concubine, and both panicked. Lanxiang reassures them that the First Madam wants someone who is willing, so neither of them will be chosen. The maids are relieved.
Nanke’s Proposal
Nanke arrives asking to see Lanxiang. He explains that he heard something troubling and took the liberty of coming. He would like to ask for the hand of her maid, Du Xiaolian. Behind the screen, Xiaolian can’t believe her ears.
Lanxiang tells Nanke she’ll need to ask Xiaolian first, then eases his worry by telling him the Third Young Lady’s husband’s concubine won’t be a maid from Zhichun Hall. Nanke leaves relieved. The maids swarm Xiaolian with congratulations. Nanke is a deputy company commander appointed by the Emperor himself, and fortune truly favours the simple hearted.
Bao Gai says that with Xiaolian’s absent-minded nature, she needs someone sharp and capable like Nanke. Lanxiang reminds them not to get carried away, since Xiaolian hasn’t agreed yet. Xiaolian says she’ll have to ask her mother, and the others tease that her mother will surely listen to her, and that she kept this well-hidden. Shyly but happy, Xiao Lian agrees to the union.
Three Happy Occasions
Before long, Xiaolian marries Nanke and Gantang marries Du Dasong on the same day. The double celebration fills the courtyard with toasts and homemade liquor, and the guests urge the grooms to drink up.
Amid the festivities, Madam Wu can’t stop worrying about Jiugao, who is already in his thirties and still unmarried. Madam Xu wonders whether her standards are too high. Madam Wu admits that in the early years, she did have high expectations. But after all these years, she feels like an old soybean ground beneath a millstone, with every expectation worn away.
She doesn’t care whether the woman has been married before or whether she’s pretty or plain. As long as she doesn’t mind Jiugao, that’s enough. When pressed, she insists that once she gives her word, it’s set in stone.
Standing nearby, Yuchan nervously asks Madam Wu what she thinks of her. Before Madam Wu can answer, Jiugao steps forward and declares that he and Yuchan love each other and wish to marry. Yuchan explains that she is alone in the world with no parents or siblings, and ever since coming to the Lin residence, Madam Wu has treated her like a daughter.
She always felt she wasn’t good enough for Jiugao and kept avoiding him. But after so long at the Young Madam’s side, her thinking has changed. She may be an orphan, but she has always relied on her own strength and never stopped learning. She can read, keep accounts, sew and cook. She truly cares for Jiugao and respects Madam Wu, and she believes they are well matched in both character and ability.
Madam Wu responds by rounding on Jiugao, scolding him as a little rascal who always puts on an act and never speaks plainly. He has ruined his own reputation, and now Yuchan, his wife, has to suffer the gossip because of him. She chases him around swatting at him, and someone even offers to fetch her a stick.
In calling Yuchan his wife mid rant, she has already given her answer. Madam Xu steps in, declaring that she’s vented enough and it’s a happy occasion. They offer to play matchmaker and settle the marriage on this auspicious day, with everyone as witnesses. The crowd cheers, and the evening becomes three happy occasions at once.
More Good News
Lin Xiushu and her husband, Yang Cong, visit Jinqi’s mother with news. Xiushu is pregnant, and since she’s passed three months and the pregnancy is stable, they’ve come to share the joy. Her mother is overjoyed and declares she could now die without regret, before quickly being told to spit and ward off such unlucky words. She promises to choose a day to go outside the city and offer incense to the Bodhisattva.
Word arrives that the Young Madam has gone into labour. Before anyone can panic, they’re told that Lanxiang has already made every arrangement. Two midwives and a female physician are attending her at Zhichun Hall, and someone has been sent to fetch her mother.
Jinqi’s mother tells Xiushu to learn from her sister-in-law. She should cherish her blessings and her life, always prepare for what may come, and put her own wellbeing first, because taking care of herself is the greatest filial devotion she can show her parents. Yang Cong promises to bring in the same midwives and physician for Xiushu.
The Birth of Zhangcheng
In the birthing room, the midwives coach Lanxiang through each breath and push, reassuring her that the baby is in the right position and she just needs to do as she’s practised. Jinqi stays by her side. The physician reassures him that Lanxiang is healthy, stayed active throughout her pregnancy, and will have a smooth delivery.
Second Aunt objects that a man shouldn’t be in the room, since childbirth is considered inauspicious. Jinqi’s mother will have none of it. Bringing a child into the world is how a family line continues, so how could that be inauspicious? It’s one of the most auspicious things there is. Back when they gave birth, their husbands were nowhere to be seen, not even outside the door, and that should have been auspicious enough. Yet after all these decades, neither man has accomplished much for the country or the family.
As the baby arrives, cries go up that someone has fainted. In the chaos, everyone fears for Lanxiang, until it turns out mother and daughter are both safe and the one who collapsed is Jinqi. The attendants press his philtrum until he comes round, and the room erupts in relieved laughter as they tell him he’s a father now.
Madam Xu who is happy is also quietly anxious that the baby is a girl. Jinqi’s aunt reassures her that Shunhua doesn’t have that awful habit of favouring sons. This little girl is the only girl among the Lin family’s great-grandchildren. Not only is Shunhua delighted, but the Old Master chose a name for her long ago.
Jinqi explains that according to the family genealogy, this generation uses the character Zhang. Grandfather decided that boy or girl, the child would be named Zhangcheng, with Cheng meaning purity. He hopes she’ll grow up reflecting on herself and keeping a pure heart.
Why Jinqi Fainted
Alone with Lanxiang, Jinqi can’t stop smiling at her. She asks why he fainted, joking that his mother nearly scared herself out of her wits. He tells her she was bleeding so much, and then the midwife pulled out a tiny baby covered in blood. His chest tightened, everything went black, and he lost consciousness.
He insists her husband is no coward, and finally admits it was because he was so worried about her. He tells her that for a woman, the birthing room is no less dangerous than a battlefield, and no one can take her place or fight beside her. She has to face it alone, and she went through it all for his sake.
Lanxiang corrects him gently. It wasn’t for him, it was for their daughter. This was a battle she chose to fight, just as her mother endured a day and a night of labour to bring her into the world.
A Secret Illness
Meanwhile, Jinqi’s mother is unwell. Her loyal companion Madam Wu urges her to tell the Young Master and Young Madam, but she refuses. This is Lanxiang’s first childbirth, and she needs to rest and recover fully during her confinement.
If she learns her mother-in-law is ill, she’ll insist on nursing her at her bedside, and if she ends up with a lingering illness from her confinement as Jinqi’s mother did, she’ll suffer for the rest of her life. Madam Wu warns that her illness can’t go untreated much longer, but Jinqi’s mother says she can hold on until Lanxiang’s confinement ends.
She apologises to Madam Wu for keeping her busy when she’s a mother-in-law herself and should be enjoying her own family. Madam Wu tells her not to say such things. They grew up together, and though they’re mistress and servant in name, Jinqi’s mother has always treated her like a sister.
When Jiugao’s father died, she stayed by Madam Wu’s side day and night for fear she might do something desperate. They know each other’s hardships better than anyone, and being by her side makes Madam Wu happy. Jinqi’s mother says that having Madam Wu with her through every hardship has made her very happy too.
Elsewhere, Lanxiang softly lulls Zhangcheng to sleep.
A Slip of the Tongue
When Zhangcheng is two months old, Madam Xu and Jinqi look after her while Lanxiang rests. Madam Xu says that just looking at Zhangcheng makes her heart sweet as honey. The midwife said Zhangcheng was a considerate baby who barely troubled her mother, and Madam Xu says she’s just like Lanxiang. She went into the birthing room at noon and gave birth before nightfall.
Jinqi recalls Lanxiang telling him her mother endured a day and a night of labour. He asks, carefully, whether Lanxiang was born in only half a day. Madam Xu happily confirms it, cooing that mother and daughter are both their precious little darlings. Jinqi, in a state of shock, excuses himself to reply to some letters in his study.
Who Are You?
In his study, Jinqi frantically takes out the drawings and writing of Lanxiang’s that he has kept. Memories flood back. Someone once identified a figure in one of her drawings as a stagehand from their troupe. Han Liang is renowned at court for his learning and skill in painting, and Lanxiang’s painting is no less accomplished.
Calligraphy and painting share the same roots, since both depend on mastery of the brush. Her figures are vivid and lifelike, her brushwork exquisite. There’s no way her handwriting could genuinely look like that of a child just learning to hold a brush. He remembers her telling him her writing wasn’t good and she’d show him once it improved.
More memories return: Jinqi asking if she was well versed in music, a remark that even the Lin family’s maids are remarkably perceptive, Commander Yuan noting that she showed no fear at all on her first visit to a military camp, and the comment that Lanxiang truly is remarkable. Jinqi silently asks what exactly she has been hiding. Or perhaps the real question is who she really is, although he has pieced it together in his mind.
The Box
Lanxiang wakes to find Jinqi beside her. She asks where the baby is, and he says his mother has her. He seems on edge, and she asks what’s in the box he’s holding and why he looks so nervous. When he hesitates, she teases him for bringing it right in front of her and refusing to let her see.
He opens it to reveal the Zhichun Hall daily expense account book and other small belongings of hers. Lanxiang is touched that he has carefully kept even these little things. Jinqi tells her that he has always loved her with all his heart. Now that they have a child together, surely she can tell him where all of this really came from.
Against the Current Episode 41 Recap: My Thoughts
Xiuru’s character development is fantastic. She has gone from a timid but very observant woman to a strong and decisive one, protecting her three daughters and her stepdaughter. However, I have to admit I was a bit sad to see that this was mainly what drove her. I had thought there might still be some love for the Marquis, but in the end she seemed ruthless, especially as they’re still going ahead with finding him a concubine. The Marquis looked so hurt.
I absolutely loved the triple happiness. It’s always so nice when the drama gives us beautiful moments that aren’t overcharged with unnecessary emotions or plots. Gantang asking permission to choose her own husband, Nanke’s proposal and Yuchan’s courage in asking for Jiugao’s hand were all stunning. After the heavy political, legacy and marital crises of Episodes 39 and 40, this episode felt like a breath of fresh air.
From marriages we move on to births, with Xiushu announcing her pregnancy and Lanxiang giving birth. Jinqi fainting was beyond epic, and his clumsy, deeply protective reaction was the perfect sweet counterweight to all the earlier household drama. It was so heartwarming that First Madam wasn’t disappointed it was a girl. I’ve really enjoyed seeing so much of Lanxiang’s mother this episode, too.
And finally, we’re heading towards the big reveal, as an innocent slip of the tongue propels this arc forward. Past remarks and memories come flooding back, pointing to behaviour that doesn’t fit someone born poor and uneducated. As sweet as this episode’s family payoff was, the shadow of the Shen family’s uncleared name and the questions around Lanxiang’s identity mean heavier conflict is still waiting for us.
I loved this episode so much. It’s proof that we don’t need high stakes plots running through all 45 minutes for an episode to be enjoyable and engaging. I especially loved it when Tan Songyun’s OST played as the little family of three was together, and you could hear her voice through the song.
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