Episode Summary
The episode sees Jian Mingshu rescued from Prince Yu's clutches thanks to Su Tangli's timely intervention with a tiger tally. Minister Lu sacrifices himself after ensuring Prince Rui has the means to enter the palace and save Lu Chang. Prince Yu is ultimately defeated and killed in a final confrontation with Su Tangli, who also succumbs to her injuries. The old Emperor passes away, naming Prince Rui his successor. Lu Chang initially declines a high-ranking position to test reforms as a prefect in Jianglin, while his arranged marriage to Jian Mingshu (under a different name) is nullified. After a period of mourning and separate endeavors—Lu Chang successfully implementing reforms and Jian Mingshu expanding her family's business to help those in need—the two are finally and joyfully reunited and married.
Spoiler Alert
"Serendipity" Episode 40 Recap & Spoilers
The 40th episode of "Serendipity" brings a dramatic culmination of long-brewing conflicts and sets the stage for a new era, focusing on the intertwined fates of its central characters.
The episode opens with high tension as Jian Mingshu, unwilling to see Lu Chang manipulated by the menacing Prince Yu, finds herself at the prince's mercy. Prince Yu threatens to kill Jian Mingshu right before Lu Chang's eyes. Just as Lu Chang is faced with an impossible choice, Su Tangli makes a timely entrance. She carries half of a coveted tiger tally – a symbol of military authority – and urges Lu Chang to rescue Jian Mingshu.
Prince Yu, though he releases Jian Mingshu, demands that Su Tangli personally hand over the tiger tally. Once Jian Mingshu is safely behind Lu Chang, Su Tangli, who understands Prince Yu's psyche (he trusts no one but has a deep attachment to his mother's memory), throws the contents of a box towards him, ensuring their immediate safety. It's clear that Prince Rui's forces are expected to enter the palace imminently.
Meanwhile, Minister Lu (Lu Shangshu) is brought by Officer Lin to negotiate with Prince Rui. Minister Lu promptly hands over the other half of the tiger tally to Prince Rui, imploring him to enter the palace, save the Emperor, and, crucially, rescue his son, Lu Chang.
Su Tangli's actions are driven solely by a desire for vengeance against Prince Yu; she harbors no romantic feelings for him. As Prince Rui leads his troops into the palace, aided by Wei Zhuo and the complete tiger tally, Prince Yu's privately raised soldiers quickly defect. Realizing he has no way out, Prince Yu declares he would rather die than be taken prisoner. In a swift move, Su Tangli uses a sleeve arrow to disarm him. She confronts him, expressing satisfaction that he has lived long enough for her to exact her revenge personally. The confrontation ends tragically: Prince Yu is stabbed. He asks Su Tangli if she ever held any love for him. Ultimately, both Su Tangli and Prince Yu are fatally wounded, falling together.
A poignant moment follows as Minister Lu, clinging to his last breath, waits to see Lu Chang. He presents Lu Chang with a pouch he had treasured for him. This pouch dates back to a day when Lu Chang had vehemently refused to acknowledge him as his father. Holding it now, Lu Chang finally, and tearfully, accepts Minister Lu as his father.
The gravely ill Emperor, in his final moments, instructs Prince Rui to have Prince Yu's body placed in the imperial mausoleum, a last act acknowledging their father-son bond despite everything. The Emperor reveals that the edict for succession has long been prepared, expressing his faith in Prince Rui's ability to be a good ruler and to finally implement the governmental reforms he himself had long championed.
Following his ascension to the throne, the newly crowned Emperor (formerly Prince Rui) initially plans for Lu Chang to spearhead these sweeping reforms. However, Lu Chang expresses his wish to first serve as the prefect of Jianglin. He argues that such significant changes should be implemented gradually, and he desires to test these reforms on a smaller, local scale before their wider application in the capital. Lu Chang also makes a personal plea: for the Emperor to retract the previous imperial decree arranging a marriage between Song Qingzhao and Jian Mingshu. The new Emperor playfully feigns refusal, observing Lu Chang's reaction, before laughingly clarifying that the edict was for a "Lu Mingshu." Since only Jian Mingshu exists, the marriage is effectively void.
As Lu Chang prepares to return to Jianglin, Jian Mingshu also plans her own return. Their impending departure is met with sadness by their friends. However, Jian Mingshu will not accompany Lu Chang immediately; the mourning period for her family is not yet over. They decide to focus on their respective duties during this time and plan to marry afterwards. In other developments, Yin Shujun is revealed to be pregnant, and the management of Hualang Ge is consequently passed to Yuan Ying. Minister Lu, a man who lived by the doctrine of the mean, is honored for sacrificing himself for his children and the Da'an nation. Lu Chang and Aunt Zeng (Zeng Yi) set up a memorial tablet for him in their home, ensuring his memory will always have a place there.
Song Qingzhao continues to write letters to Jian Mingshu, though he never sends them, unable to fully let go but choosing to entrust his feelings to time.
Back in Jianglin, Lu Chang implements a new lending law, aiding the populace during a period of natural disasters. Hualang Ge, now under the name Jian Shi Jin Pu (Jian's Gold Workshop), expands its operations to various locations, with a mission to assist women facing hardship. Jian Mingshu, using the Jian family's resources, brings substantial amounts of silver and grain to the local government office, further helping the people of Jianglin overcome their difficulties. Prince Rui, greatly pleased with Lu Chang's remarkable achievements and effective governance, entrusts him with the full authority to implement the new policies.
The episode draws to a close on the day the results for the new top imperial scholars (Zhuangyuan) are announced. Lu Chang observes the lively tradition of "grabbing a son-in-law from the graduates," a scene that reminds him of Jian Mingshu in years past. Suddenly, a contingent of people arrives, declaring they are there to "capture" Lu Chang under orders from their mistress, who has instructed them to bring him back no matter what. Recognizing the Jian family's banner, Lu Chang willingly accompanies them back to the Jian residence to marry Jian Mingshu.
The series culminates with the joyous wedding of Jian Mingshu and Lu Chang. Their union is celebrated with poetic wishes for a future as strong and graceful as bamboo, a life of eternal companionship without separation, filled with shared joy for all their years to come.
