Episode Summary
In Ning'an, Su Tangli and Jian Mingshu, both driven by revenge, unite. Jian Mingshu suspects Old Madam Lin is the mother of Cao Hai, the man who destroyed her family. She cleverly infiltrates the Lin household as a physician, with Su Tangli joining as a kitchen helper. Jian Mingshu confirms her suspicions through the captive Zhou Yiniang (Cao Hai's concubine) and by recognizing her mother's Guanyin statue, a gift from Cao Hai to Old Madam Lin. They plan to use explosives at Old Madam Lin's upcoming birthday banquet, which Prince Yu is expected to attend. Lu Chang unexpectedly arrives, having deduced Jian Mingshu's plan, and offers his unwavering support. Initially set on her vengeful path, Jian Mingshu is deeply moved by Lu Chang's devotion. Ultimately, she decides she cannot drag him into her dangerous quest, choosing to protect him, the "living person," over her consuming need for revenge for the dead.
Spoiler Alert
"Serendipity" Episode 37 Recap & Spoilers
In the pivotal 37th episode of "Serendipity," the intertwined fates of Su Tangli and Jian Mingshu draw them to Ning'an, both women driven by an unyielding desire for vengeance that overshadows all else.
Su Tangli, despite having her legal status restored, cannot find peace while her father's murder remains unavenged. Jian Mingshu is in a similar predicament, her life consumed by the need for retribution. Their shared goal centers on the Lin family, helmed by Old Madam Lin. She was once the wet nurse to Prince Yu and continues to be held in high esteem by him. Su Tangli initially expresses confusion about Jian Mingshu's focus on Old Madam Lin, believing her to be unconnected to her own family's tragedy, despite her ties to Prince Yu. However, Jian Mingshu’s vendetta is clear: she remembers vividly that Cao Hai was the one responsible for the massacre of the Jian family. She harbors a strong suspicion that Cao Hai is not only a member of the Lin household but is, in fact, Old Madam Lin's son. "If she could raise such a demon," Jian Mingshu bitterly muses, "how can Old Madam Lin claim innocence?" With a plan to infiltrate the Lin residence and ensnare them when they return, Jian Mingshu is resolute. Su Tangli joins forces with her, and together they vow to make Prince Yu and Cao Hai pay for their heinous actions.
Jian Mingshu cleverly engineers her way into the Lin household. When Old Madam Lin visits a temple and suddenly feels unwell, Jian Mingshu seizes the opportunity. She approaches, offers medical assistance, and provides a remedy that instantly alleviates Old Madam Lin's dizziness and nausea. Impressed and grateful, Old Madam Lin invites Jian Mingshu to become her personal physician. Jian Mingshu initially feigns reluctance, stating she was merely passing through Ning'an to offer incense for her deceased parents before departing. Moved by her apparent piety and unfortunate circumstances, Old Madam Lin insists, offering her a monthly salary for her services.
Once established within the Lin residence, Jian Mingshu learns that the family's ancestral hall is only opened when the "Young Master" (Old Madam Lin's son, later confirmed to be Cao Hai) returns for his mother's birthday celebration. To bring Su Tangli into the Lin household, Jian Mingshu concocts a story about a pitiful acquaintance from her hometown. Old Madam Lin agrees to give this "little sister" a trial position as a kitchen helper. Thus, Su Tangli also successfully infiltrates the Lin residence. Jian Mingshu feels she is on the verge of confirming her critical suspicion: that Old Madam Lin is Cao Hai's mother.
One evening, as a servant delivers an extra blanket to Jian Mingshu's room on Old Madam Lin's orders, Jian Mingshu stumbles upon a secluded courtyard. She discovers that it houses the Young Master's pregnant concubine. Jian Mingshu immediately suspects this woman is Zhou Yiniang (Concubine Zhou). Later that night, she stealthily enters the concubine's room. She finds Zhou Yiniang, heavily pregnant, and to her horror, discovers that Zhou Yiniang has been blinded and her legs crippled.
Upon hearing Jian Mingshu's voice, Zhou Yiniang becomes extremely agitated. She tearfully confesses that she had believed Cao Hai's deceitful words and, as a result, betrayed the Jian family—an act for which she has felt unending remorse. Crucially, Zhou Yiniang confirms Jian Mingshu's deepest fear: Old Madam Lin is indeed Cao Hai's mother. She reveals that after the Jian family was annihilated, Cao Hai and Old Madam Lin had originally planned to kill her too. However, upon discovering her pregnancy, they chose to imprison her, blind her, and cripple her instead. Zhou Yiniang desperately begs Jian Mingshu to kill Cao Hai and help her escape. She also reveals a vital piece of information: the Jian family's plundered wealth is hidden by Cao Hai in the kitchen, and it can only be retrieved after he is dead.
Jian Mingshu also learns that Old Madam Lin has no intention of sparing Zhou Yiniang, planning to kill her after she gives birth. Later, while accompanying a servant named Yu'er, who is taking Old Madam Lin's hand-copied Buddhist scriptures to a small prayer hall, Jian Mingshu is shocked to see a Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) statue that belonged to her own mother. Yu'er casually mentions that it was a New Year's gift to Old Madam Lin from her son (Cao Hai) the previous year.
This discovery is the final proof Jian Mingshu needs. She immediately finds Su Tangli and tells her that Cao Hai is unequivocally Old Madam Lin's son. This means Old Madam Lin must be fully aware of her son's monstrous crimes. The Lin family's current affluence, Jian Mingshu now understands, is built upon the stolen fortune of the Jian family. Old Madam Lin, who presents herself as a great benevolent figure, is, in reality, a malicious and calculating hypocrite.
Their resolve hardened, Su Tangli manages to acquire powerful explosives – potent enough, she notes, to easily obliterate an entire household. Jian Mingshu ascertains the location where Old Madam Lin’s upcoming birthday banquet will be held. Under the veil of night, the two women secretly bury the explosives at the site, preparing a deadly surprise.
As Jian Mingshu returns to her room, she senses she is being followed. Instinctively drawing a knife, she turns to confront her pursuer, only to find it is Lu Chang. He forcefully kisses her, then admonishes her for her recklessness in secretly leaving the capital. Lu Chang explains that he had first gone to Jianglin in search of her. When he didn't find her there, he correctly deduced that she had come to Ning'an, seeking revenge against the Lin family, Cao Hai, and Prince Yu, who is expected to attend the ill-fated banquet.
Jian Mingshu declares that she is no longer the person he once knew. She confesses that in the past, she couldn't fully understand Su Tangli's extreme actions, nor could she comprehend why Nanny Lu (Lu Momo) had been so utterly consumed by hatred. She had felt sympathy but not true understanding. "But now," she admits with raw honesty, "I have become one of them."
Lu Chang reassures her that he has not come to dissuade her from her path of vengeance. Instead, he is there out of deep concern for her safety and is willing to help her in any way she needs. He vows to stay by her side, regardless of what she chooses to do. Overwhelmed by his devotion and unwilling for him to see her in this hardened state, Jian Mingshu bites him fiercely.
After crying herself to sleep, Jian Mingshu awakens to find Lu Chang calmly preparing a meal. He reiterates his decision to stay with her, even if it means forsaking his prestigious title of Zhuangyuan Lang (Top Scholar).
Lu Chang's unwavering commitment sparks a profound change of heart in Jian Mingshu. Although he is willing to descend into darkness with her, she realizes she cannot bear to drag him into hell. She articulates her inner conflict: "The dead are in my left hand, the living in my right." For a time, she confesses, she had lost sight of which held more weight. But now, she sees clearly that she cannot allow the living to suffer because of her quest for vengeance. Lu Chang, she acknowledges, is the precious, living person in her right hand. Hearing her words, Lu Chang is overcome with emotion and moved to tears.
