Against the Current Episode 14

Story hour at the naval camp

There is a commotion when the daughter finds out the Xies aren’t coming. She is going to find JinQi to take care of things when she sees him being hauled out by a squadron of guards. The sister boldly plants herself in front of the captain and demands to see her brother. He is allowed to briefly speak to her and tells her he will be home soon and not to worry. He is tossed in prison where they have found him guilty of collusion and he is blamed for the death of Dalong. 😝🙄 He has left a letter to be delivered if osmanthus cakes arrived. His maid is fearful and gets Lan Xiang to go with her. They have been left a clue how to find the Marquis and try their luck at the gate he’s most likely to enter. They sing the song mentioned as he passes by. He refuses to be part of the investigation but LanXiang said it was about river defense which got his immediate attention. He takes the letter and after reading has the maids sent to the naval camp until he gives orders for them to be released. The look on head maid’s face when Lan Xiang admits to bluffing, but that it seems she was correct.🤣😂There is quite the conflict at the dock and the missing cotton and jacket material is on board. Additionally they had kidnapped weavers to take to Wo. The Marquis was rather stunned to have half a dozen ladies kneeling around him in gratitude. Here was the needed evidence to find the real culprits. After his release Jin Qi was greeted by the platoon of men that started the outcry about the jackets. They were ashamed and wanting punishment which JinQi refused. He congratulated them for doing the right thing. Their loyalty is assured now that they’ve seen their commander in action. The Du brother does not seem pleased that things worked out well. I don’t know what the sibling agenda is, but him being alone briefly with the disappointed sister makes me wonder. She at least now knows that the one she admired was not the one she was engaged to. So she’s no longer depressed about Xie son being engaged to a Zhao daughter. Wait til he finds out she’s illiterate. 😝JinQi stops to see his mother but discovers the maids have not returned. He and aide rush to camp expecting terrified women. The commander at the gate said he was going to return them earlier, but the men refused. 🧐 He escorts them to an area where the men are enthralled listening to Lan Xiang telling a war story. She had a captive audience including JinQi. He was as entranced as the men watching her. This is the first time he truly sees her as more than her station. There is true admiration in his eyes as he watches her hold an entire cadre of men’s attention in the palm of her hand. She was magnificent. 👏🏻

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Lanxiang's wit and charm

I am in awe of how clever and quick-witted Lanxiang is. Her mind works wonders, and her words do too. She mesmerised a whole camp full of warriors, while I was worried she and Yuchan were being held hostage for some terrible reason. AND now Jinqi has noticed her even more... I see the way he looks at her. It's not the way a master looks at his servant, and it hasn't been for a while now! 😌Xiuwan learned that the man she likes is not Xie Zhao as she thought, but Du Zheng. It looked like she didn't really care much about that, but the one who did care was the concubine's daughter, Xiuru. Does she also like the man? 🧐 But he's sus and might envy Jinqi and harbour ill plans, so I can only hope that none of the Lin family daughters marries him. 🤞🥺And Xingtang couldn't escape her family's arrangement to marry that man? I really hope she makes a comeback and makes them pay for selling her off just to increase Grand Secretary Zhao's power and influence (which is the reason behind it, in my opinion). 😔

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A rescue achieved through a joint effort.

The girl weeping over her lost suitor appears inconsolable; however, upon meeting a young man by the lake and speaking with his sister, she discovers that her true suitor—the one she had chosen—was not lost after all. For her, losing meant gaining, whereas gaining would have meant losing. We shall see in future episodes if that truly holds true. Our elegant general, a man of great ideals and courage, has been ensnared by fate and dragged into a dungeon, despite having committed no crime. His sister/cousin stands firm in his defense, refusing to let them take him away. Lin Jin Qi asks the commander for permission to speak to her and tells her, "I will get out of here. And remember: I always keep my promises." While she is in the dungeon, a friend arrives and leaves her some supplies. The fake cotton merchant had killed himself and implicated Lin Jin Qi in the process—but this is nothing the drama's smartest girl can't help resolve. Lin Jin Qi had anticipated this and left a letter for her to deliver to the Marquis (a young commander who is very hard to convince). Yuchan and Jia Lam positioned themselves by the roadside and sang a deeply meaningful folk song that made the commander and his soldiers stop to listen. Yuchan stepped forward to deliver the letter; the general was about to turn away, but Jia Lam’s voice—incisive, authoritative, and clearly audible—rang out and convinced him. After reading the letter, the general spoke with Lin Jin Qi; upon hearing her arguments, he inspected the warehouse, found the spoiled straw, and discovered the true source of the problem, thereby exonerating Lin Jin Qi. At home, the young general acts like a mere boy when greeted warmly and affectionately by his mother. However, instead of returning to speak with his grandfather and father, Lin Jin Qi—upon learning that Jia Lam and Yuchan have not yet returned—declares in a strong, energetic, commanding voice that he will go fetch them from the barracks. His friend, a subordinate soldier, is also worried about Yuchan, as night has already fallen. The episode ends with Lin Jin Qi gazing in admiration at Jia Lam as she performs for the soldiers; relying solely on her expressive female voice and a captivating narrative, she tells a heroic tale that moves the soldiers to tears. The Marquis commander even remarks, "I missed part of the story because I had to go speak with you, Lin Jin Qi." Yet, Lin Jin Qi once again casts a profound look toward Jia Lam, and the episode concludes with the knowledge that there will be more moments for him to admire her.

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