Episode Summary
Episode 10 sees Jian Mingshu questioning her growing feelings for Lu Chang. A plan is executed where Liu Yuanying drugs Lu Wencai, learning partial truths about her brother and confirming her father was likely coerced into framing Mr. Su. At the Enyin Banquet, after a performance by Jian Mingshu and Lu Chang, Liu Yuanying uses her dance to dramatically expose Lu Wencai's abuse. His wife, Wang Xiuyun, unexpectedly corroborates the accusations and demands a divorce, leading to Lu Wencai's public downfall. Though Wang Xiuyun gains control of his assets, she decides against divorce, choosing instead to live independently within the marriage. Jian Mingshu moves forward with her jewelry shop, "Hualang Ge," sharing a close moment with Lu Chang. Liu Yuanying recalls a past confrontation involving her father and the Jian family gold shop owner, offering further clues.
Spoiler Alert
Serendipity Episode 10 Recap: Secrets, Schemes, and a Public Takedown!
Alright, so things start off with Jian Mingshu feeling... weird about Lu Chang. Like, really weird. She has this dream about some guy's back, wakes up, and realizes the clothes look exactly like Lu Chang's. Hmm, subconscious, what are you trying to tell us?
Meanwhile, the plan to expose the slimy Lu Wencai kicks into high gear. He eagerly goes to see Liu Yuanying at night. Following Lu Chang's instructions, she gives him a special powder – the kind that makes you spill all your secrets in a half-awake state and forget everything by morning. Genius, right?
Before that drama unfolds, though, we get a visit from Song Qingzhao. He brings Jian Mingshu snacks (smooth move?) and makes it clear his feelings for her are legit, regardless of her background. He insists he wasn't just putting on a show before. But just as he's maybe about to confess properly, guess who shows up? Yep, Lu Chang. Talk about timing.
Back to the main plot: Liu Yuanying successfully drugs Lu Wencai. She finds out he got her little brother's jade pendant from somewhere else entirely, but he's frustratingly vague about the kid's actual whereabouts. Realizing she's been totally played by Lu Wencai, Liu Yuanying is filled with rage. Seeing her distress, Lu Chang and Jian Mingshu decide it's time to come clean. They reveal their real identities and their mission: they suspect Liu Yuanying's father might have been forced into framing the mysterious "Mr. Su" (Su Xiansheng) way back when.
Liu Yuanying adds another piece to the puzzle. She explains that she and her brother were living peacefully in their hometown until about a year ago when they were suddenly kidnapped. Their captors used their lives as leverage to force her father, Liu Xiangui, to do something. She wasn't sure what back then, but now? It seems pretty clear it was the setup of Mr. Su.
Fast forward to the big Enyin Banquet – a fancy gathering for officials. Song Qingzhao makes a point of mentioning Liu Yuanying after taking his seat. Then, surprise! The first performance is... Jian Mingshu and Lu Chang! Our girl Jian Mingshu has clearly been practicing because her dancing skills have leveled up massively, and Song Qingzhao is practically mesmerized.
Next up is Liu Yuanying with her "Flying Sky Dance." It starts beautifully, wowing the high-ranking guests. But then, her monologue takes a sharp turn... As she dances, Liu Yuanying dramatically reveals bruises and scars on her body. Gasps ripple through the crowd. Song Qingzhao, ever the righteous official (or maybe just seizing the opportunity?), demands an investigation. Since Liu Yuanying is technically an official courtesan under the Lu family's jurisdiction, this reflects badly on them.
Cornered, the Lu family has no choice but to let Liu Yuanying speak her truth. And boy, does she! She accuses Lu Wencai of assaulting common women. To prove she knows him intimately (in the worst way), she accurately describes a birthmark on a very private part of his body. Oof.
Lu Wencai, trying to bluff his way out, denies everything and calls on his wife, Wang Xiuyun, to back him up. Big mistake. HUGE. Wang Xiuyun steps forward and confirms everything Liu Yuanying said about the birthmark is absolutely true. The room erupts. Jian Mingshu piles on, bringing up Lu Wencai's past assault on another woman named Xiang Yun. Then, Wang Xiuyun delivers the final blow: she testifies that Lu Wencai has a long history of assaulting women... and she demands a divorce! Mic. Drop.
Minister Lu (Lu Shangshu, Wencai's dad) is absolutely floored. Song Qingzhao and Lu Chang work together seamlessly, pressuring the Minister to handle this according to the law, pointing out that Lu Wencai, having broken the law himself, is now ineligible for any official post.
How did this perfectly timed takedown happen? We learn that Wang Xiuyun had overheard Jian Mingshu asking around about Lu Wencai's character earlier. Fed up, Wang Xiuyun secretly passed along the crucial evidence needed to expose him publicly. Liu Yuanying and Jian Mingshu express their immense gratitude. Wang Xiuyun just hopes that one day, she too can escape her miserable situation.
With his career prospects (the Enyin position) utterly destroyed, Lu Wencai throws a tantrum and still threatens to divorce Wang Xiuyun. Minister Lu, furious, lays down the law: keep Wang Xiuyun and salvage what little reputation they have left, or get shipped off to the ancestral home for good. Suddenly desperate, Lu Wencai grovels, begging Wang Xiuyun not to leave him. He promises her full control of the household. Wang Xiuyun ups the ante: transfer all his assets and properties to her name and write a formal letter of repentance. He agrees to everything.
Even with this victory, Wang Xiuyun feels empty. Her own father, who witnessed the whole humiliating affair, sent her a letter telling her to basically suck it up, be dutiful, and not cause trouble. If she insisted on divorce, she'd likely have no support from her own family either. So, she decides not to finalize the divorce. Instead, she'll stay, hold all the power and assets, and live her own life, separate from him, within the marriage. A power move, but a lonely one.
Meanwhile, Jian Mingshu is moving forward with plans for her own jewelry shop, "Hualang Ge." Wang Xiuyun happens to see her working on it and feels a pang of envy for Jian Mingshu's freedom to choose her path. Jian Mingshu offers some encouragement, telling Wang Xiuyun she can make choices too, that life isn't just about suffering. This seems to strike a chord with Wang Xiuyun, inspiring her to think about what she truly wants.
Jian Mingshu also recruits a skilled artisan, Zeng Yi (Auntie Zeng?), who's been stuck doing small, hidden jobs. Jian Mingshu wants her expertise as an appraiser for Hualang Ge, recognizing her talent. She voices her hope that the shop can be a platform to showcase the skills of many women who are confined to their homes.
Needing a sign for her shop, Jian Mingshu asks Lu Chang for help with the calligraphy. He playfully insists that as the owner, she should write it herself. Then, in a move straight out of a romance novel, he gently takes her hand and guides her brush as they write "Hualang Ge" together. Sparks? Oh yeah, you could feel the electricity crackling. Neither seems quite aware of the depth of the feelings brewing.
Later, Yin Shujun hears about Liu Yuanying's public accusation and suggests their little group could take on commissions, helping other women facing difficulties. Jian Mingshu loves the idea. But she also has something personal she wants to ask Yin Shujun...
In a quick side plot, Song Qingzhao has rigged up bells in his courtyard to alert him if his dad approaches. It works – his father walks in and is genuinely surprised (maybe even pleased?) to find Song Qingzhao actually studying. Progress?
Jian Mingshu finally asks Yin Shujun about her confusing feelings towards Lu Chang. Yin Shujun's take is pretty logical: given Jian Mingshu's amnesia, it's totally normal. To her memory-wiped brain, Lu Chang is essentially a stranger she's getting to know, so developing feelings isn't strange at all.
Just when you think things are settling, Liu Yuanying rushes back to Jian Mingshu with a sudden memory flash: she remembers the owner of the Jian family gold shop confronting her father, Liu Xiangui, and absolutely chewing him out about something. Even though she's still technically stuck in the courtesan house (Jiaofang Si), Liu Yuanying pledges her support to Jian Mingshu's budding women's support network. Jian Mingshu is thrilled to have her on board.
The episode wraps up with Jian Mingshu visiting Yin Shujun's garden, admiring some bamboo, and later sketching it back at home.
