diff --git a/internal/parser/parser/align_test.go b/internal/parser/parser/align_test.go
index 0699948c87..640b14aadc 100644
--- a/internal/parser/parser/align_test.go
+++ b/internal/parser/parser/align_test.go
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+
+	"golang.org/x/net/html"
 )
 
 // Normalizer transforms a single item's text before comparison. Normalizers
@@ -295,6 +298,132 @@ func FilterOutDocTypes(items []map[string]any, drop []string) []map[string]any {
 	return out
 }
 
+// filterTableDivergence applies the "table" accepted divergence on BOTH sides
+// of the alignment comparison. Go emits a table as a single
+// doc_type_kwd:"table" item (already dropped by FilterOutDocTypes), while
+// Python keeps the <table> markup inlined as a doc_type_kwd:"text" item. The
+// table content is dropped from the prose comparison so the test focuses on
+// non-table prose, but the table is NOT silently removed from a combined prose
+// item: only items that are ENTIRELY a <table> block are dropped (see
+// isStandaloneTable). A prose item that merely *contains* a table (e.g.
+// "intro <table>…</table> outro") is kept whole, so structural differences in
+// surrounding prose are never masked. Table *equivalence* (column/cell content
+// matching between Go and Python) is checked separately by tableSignatures in
+// the golden tests.
+func filterTableDivergence(items []map[string]any, drop []string) []map[string]any {
+	items = FilterOutDocTypes(items, drop)
+	if !slices.Contains(drop, "table") {
+		return items
+	}
+	out := make([]map[string]any, 0, len(items))
+	for _, it := range items {
+		if text, _ := it["text"].(string); isStandaloneTable(text) {
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, it)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// isStandaloneTable reports whether text is exactly a <table> element with no
+// surrounding prose (ignoring surrounding whitespace) — i.e. the whole item IS
+// the table. This recognizes Python's HTML golden inline table text item
+// (doc_type_kwd:"text", text == "<table>…</table>") without accidentally
+// treating a prose item that merely contains a table as droppable. A combined
+// item such as "intro <table>…</table> outro" returns false and is kept in the
+// prose comparison.
+func isStandaloneTable(text string) bool {
+	t := strings.TrimSpace(text)
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(t), "<table") {
+		return false
+	}
+	close := strings.ToLower(t)
+	idx := strings.LastIndex(close, "</table>")
+	return idx >= 0 && strings.TrimSpace(t[idx+len("</table>"):]) == ""
+}
+
+// tableCellSignature returns a normalized, order-preserving signature of a
+// <table>'s cell text (th/td inner text, whitespace-collapsed, cells joined by
+// "\n"). It is intentionally tolerant of serialization differences (attribute
+// order, <tbody> insertion, self-closing vs paired tags) because only the
+// visible cell text is used — which is exactly what guards against a table
+// being collapsed or a column/cell being dropped. Returns "" if text is not a
+// parseable table.
+func tableCellSignature(text string) string {
+	doc, err := html.Parse(strings.NewReader(text))
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var cells []string
+	var walk func(*html.Node)
+	walk = func(n *html.Node) {
+		if n.Type == html.ElementNode && (n.Data == "th" || n.Data == "td") {
+			var b strings.Builder
+			var collect func(*html.Node)
+			collect = func(c *html.Node) {
+				if c.Type == html.TextNode {
+					b.WriteString(c.Data)
+				}
+				for ch := c.FirstChild; ch != nil; ch = ch.NextSibling {
+					collect(ch)
+				}
+			}
+			collect(n)
+			cells = append(cells, strings.Join(strings.Fields(b.String()), " "))
+		}
+		for ch := n.FirstChild; ch != nil; ch = ch.NextSibling {
+			walk(ch)
+		}
+	}
+	walk(doc)
+	return strings.Join(cells, "\n")
+}
+
+// tableSignatures extracts the distinct per-table cell signatures from items.
+// A table item is either doc_type_kwd:"table", or a text item that is entirely
+// a <table> block (Python's HTML golden keeps the table markup inline as a
+// standalone text item). Duplicate signatures are collapsed to a set, because
+// Python's Markdown golden keeps BOTH an inline copy and a structured
+// doc_type_kwd:"table" item for the same table — we compare DISTINCT tables,
+// not raw item counts. The returned set is the unit of Go↔Python table
+// equivalence compared by the alignment golden tests.
+func tableSignatures(items []map[string]any) map[string]bool {
+	sigs := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, it := range items {
+		kd, _ := it["doc_type_kwd"].(string)
+		text, _ := it["text"].(string)
+		if kd != "table" && !isStandaloneTable(text) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if sig := tableCellSignature(text); sig != "" {
+			sigs[sig] = true
+		}
+	}
+	return sigs
+}
+
+// assertTablesEquivalent fails the test if the set of tables (by cell-content
+// signature) differs between the Go output and the Python golden. This restores
+// the Go↔Python table-equivalence guard that filterTableDivergence intentionally
+// removes from the prose comparison: it catches a table being collapsed or a
+// column/cell dropped on either side, while tolerating serialization
+// differences (attribute order, <tbody> insertion).
+func assertTablesEquivalent(t *testing.T, goItems, pyItems []map[string]any) {
+	t.Helper()
+	goSigs := tableSignatures(goItems)
+	pySigs := tableSignatures(pyItems)
+	for sig := range goSigs {
+		if !pySigs[sig] {
+			t.Errorf("Go table not present in Python golden (possible collapse / dropped column):\n%s", sig)
+		}
+	}
+	for sig := range pySigs {
+		if !goSigs[sig] {
+			t.Errorf("Python golden table not present in Go output (possible collapse / dropped column):\n%s", sig)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // MarkdownAlignOptions returns the normalizer preset for Markdown. The order
 // matters:
 //   - StripMarkdownSyntax first: drops "#"/"-"/fenced-code markup that Python
diff --git a/internal/parser/parser/html_parser.go b/internal/parser/parser/html_parser.go
index 9feb8438b6..e6e73c5bf4 100644
--- a/internal/parser/parser/html_parser.go
+++ b/internal/parser/parser/html_parser.go
@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ func (p *HTMLParser) ParseWithResult(ctx context.Context, filename string, data
 // <style>, and <noscript> blocks are skipped entirely so they
 // don't pollute the downstream chunker input.
 func walkHTMLBlocks(root *html.Node, out *[]map[string]any) {
-	// tableItems collects the structured doc_type_kwd:"table" items so they
-	// can be appended after the walk (mirrors markdown_parser.go:366-367,
-	// which appends tables after all sections to match Python's ordering).
-	var tableItems []map[string]any
 	for child := root.FirstChild; child != nil; child = child.NextSibling {
 		if child.Type == html.TextNode {
 			if emitsLooseHTMLText(root) {
@@ -134,21 +130,17 @@ func walkHTMLBlocks(root *html.Node, out *[]map[string]any) {
 			walkHTMLBlocks(child, out)
 			continue
 		case "table":
-			// Keep the table as its full HTML markup (NOT flattened) so
-			// row/column structure survives into embedding, retrieval, and
-			// LLM rendering. This mirrors the markdown table handling
-			// (markdown_parser.go:305-328) and Python's HtmlParser, which
-			// keeps the <table>…</table> string as the section text.
+			// Emit the <table> as a SINGLE structured doc_type_kwd:"table"
+			// item, in document order. Keeping the full <table>…</table>
+			// markup (not flattened) preserves row/column structure for
+			// embedding, retrieval, and LLM rendering, and doc_type_kwd/
+			// ck_type drives downstream table handling (discrete chunk +
+			// table context). We emit ONLY this item — no duplicate
+			// doc_type_kwd:"text" copy — so the table is embedded once and
+			// its markup does not pollute neighbouring prose chunks.
 			markup := renderTableHTML(child)
 			if strings.TrimSpace(markup) != "" {
-				// Inlined copy in document order (matches Python's <table>
-				// section text and markdown's text-flow copy).
 				*out = append(*out, map[string]any{
-					"text":         markup,
-					"doc_type_kwd": "text",
-				})
-				// Structured table item, appended after the walk.
-				tableItems = append(tableItems, map[string]any{
 					"text":         markup,
 					"doc_type_kwd": "table",
 					"ck_type":      "table",
@@ -156,11 +148,9 @@ func walkHTMLBlocks(root *html.Node, out *[]map[string]any) {
 			}
 			continue
 		}
-		text := htmlLeafText(child, &tableItems)
-		appendHTMLTextItem(out, text, htmlTagToCkType(tag), tag != "pre" && tag != "textarea")
-	}
-	if len(tableItems) > 0 {
-		*out = append(*out, tableItems...)
+		ckType := htmlTagToCkType(tag)
+		trim := tag != "pre" && tag != "textarea"
+		htmlLeafText(child, out, ckType, trim)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -285,21 +275,46 @@ func (w *leafWriter) hardBreak() {
 }
 
 // htmlLeafText joins the visible text of an HTML node and its
-// descendants. <script>/<style>/<noscript> subtrees are skipped. Whitespace
-// is folded per CSS rules (so "<h1>Hello   world</h1>" becomes "Hello world"
-// and "<br>" survives as a real line break), while <pre>/<textarea> keep
-// their source formatting verbatim. Any <table> encountered in the subtree is
-// rendered as its <table>…</table> markup (so row/column structure survives)
-// and registered as a structured doc_type_kwd:"table" item via tableItems —
-// see walkHTMLLeaf's "table" case.
-func htmlLeafText(n *html.Node, tableItems *[]map[string]any) string {
+// descendants and emits items directly into out. <script>/<style>/<noscript>
+// subtrees are skipped. Whitespace is folded per CSS rules (so
+// "<h1>Hello   world</h1>" becomes "Hello world" and "<br>" survives as a
+// real line break), while <pre>/<textarea> keep their source formatting
+// verbatim. ckType is the block's ck_type (from htmlTagToCkType) applied to the
+// accumulated prose item; trim controls whether trailing/leading whitespace is
+// collapsed (false for <pre>/<textarea>, which must stay verbatim). Any <table>
+// encountered in the subtree is emitted as a single structured
+// doc_type_kwd:"table" item at its document position (see walkHTMLLeaf's
+// "table" case) — the prose around it is flushed as ordinary text items, so
+// the table is never relocated to the end and never duplicated.
+func htmlLeafText(n *html.Node, out *[]map[string]any, ckType string, trim bool) {
 	var b bytes.Buffer
 	w := &leafWriter{b: &b}
-	walkHTMLLeaf(n, w, tableItems)
-	return b.String()
+	walkHTMLLeaf(n, w, out)
+	flushLeafText(w, out, ckType, trim)
 }
 
-func walkHTMLLeaf(n *html.Node, w *leafWriter, tableItems *[]map[string]any) {
+// flushLeafText emits any text accumulated in w as a doc_type_kwd:"text" item
+// (dropping empty output) and resets the writer. ckType/trim mirror
+// appendHTMLTextItem. It is called at block boundaries and at <table> elements
+// so tables are emitted in their original document position rather than being
+// relocated. Prose with no specific block tag (e.g. text accumulated just
+// before a nested table) is flushed as ck_type "text".
+func flushLeafText(w *leafWriter, out *[]map[string]any, ckType string, trim bool) {
+	text := w.b.String()
+	if trim {
+		text = strings.TrimSpace(text)
+	}
+	if text == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	appendHTMLTextItem(out, text, ckType, false)
+	w.b.Reset()
+	w.lastSpace = false
+	w.lineStart = true
+	w.endsNL = false
+}
+
+func walkHTMLLeaf(n *html.Node, w *leafWriter, out *[]map[string]any) {
 	switch n.Type {
 	case html.TextNode:
 		w.writeText(n.Data)
@@ -315,24 +330,24 @@ func walkHTMLLeaf(n *html.Node, w *leafWriter, tableItems *[]map[string]any) {
 			// Verbatim: no folding, no injected block breaks.
 			w.pre = true
 			for child := n.FirstChild; child != nil; child = child.NextSibling {
-				walkHTMLLeaf(child, w, tableItems)
+				walkHTMLLeaf(child, w, out)
 			}
 			w.pre = false
 			return
 		}
 		if n.Data == "table" {
-			// Keep the table as its full HTML markup (NOT flattened) so
-			// row/column structure survives into the wrapper's text item,
-			// embedding, retrieval, and LLM rendering. This mirrors the
-			// top-level walkHTMLBlocks "table" case, and covers tables nested
-			// in div/section/article/… (which the walkHTMLBlocks case never
-			// reaches). The structured table item is collected for the
-			// downstream chunker (appended after the walk by the caller, same
-			// as the top-level path).
+			// Emit the <table> as a SINGLE structured doc_type_kwd:"table"
+			// item, in document order. flushLeafText first emits any prose
+			// accumulated before the table so the table stays in its original
+			// position rather than being relocated to the end. The full
+			// <table>…</table> markup is preserved (not flattened) so
+			// row/column structure survives; we do NOT also inline the markup
+			// into the parent's text, which would duplicate the table and
+			// pollute the prose chunk with raw tags.
 			markup := renderTableHTML(n)
 			if strings.TrimSpace(markup) != "" {
-				w.writeText(markup)
-				*tableItems = append(*tableItems, map[string]any{
+				flushLeafText(w, out, "text", true)
+				*out = append(*out, map[string]any{
 					"text":         markup,
 					"doc_type_kwd": "table",
 					"ck_type":      "table",
@@ -352,7 +367,7 @@ func walkHTMLLeaf(n *html.Node, w *leafWriter, tableItems *[]map[string]any) {
 			}
 		}
 		for child := n.FirstChild; child != nil; child = child.NextSibling {
-			walkHTMLLeaf(child, w, tableItems)
+			walkHTMLLeaf(child, w, out)
 		}
 		if !w.pre && isBlockTag(n.Data) && w.b.Len() > 0 && !w.endsNL {
 			w.hardBreak()
diff --git a/internal/parser/parser/html_parser_align_test.go b/internal/parser/parser/html_parser_align_test.go
index 9c7eb38c35..3feae909d0 100644
--- a/internal/parser/parser/html_parser_align_test.go
+++ b/internal/parser/parser/html_parser_align_test.go
@@ -7,20 +7,14 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-// TestHTMLParser_TableProducesStructuredItems asserts the HTML table
-// alignment fix (approach a, mirroring markdown_parser.go:305-328 and
-// :366-367): a <table> must NOT be flattened into a single text blob. The
-// parser must emit two items:
-//
-//  1. an inlined copy in the text flow (doc_type_kwd:"text") whose text keeps
-//     the <table> markup, so embedding/retrieval/LLM rendering preserve the
-//     row/column structure (no "collapse");
-//  2. a structured table item (doc_type_kwd:"table", ck_type:"table") appended
-//     after the walk, consumed by the downstream chunker (attachMediaContext).
-//
-// Before the fix, walkHTMLBlocks ran htmlLeafText over the <table>, producing
-// ONE flat item (e.g. "Name Age Alice 30") tagged ck_type:"table" but with no
-// markup — this test fails on that behavior.
+// TestHTMLParser_TableProducesStructuredItems asserts the HTML table contract:
+// a <table> is emitted as exactly ONE structured doc_type_kwd:"table"/
+// ck_type:"table" item, in its original document position (not relocated to
+// the end), with NO duplicate doc_type_kwd:"text" copy carrying the <table>
+// markup. Keeping the full <table>…</table> markup (not flattened) preserves
+// row/column structure for embedding/retrieval/LLM rendering, and the single
+// structured item is what the downstream chunker keeps as a discrete,
+// independently retrievable chunk.
 func TestHTMLParser_TableProducesStructuredItems(t *testing.T) {
 	const html = `<html><body>
 <h1>Employee Table</h1>
@@ -37,67 +31,71 @@ func TestHTMLParser_TableProducesStructuredItems(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
 
-	var inlinedText, structuredText string
-	inlinedIdx, structuredIdx, trailingIdx := -1, -1, -1
+	var tableText string
+	tableIdx, headingIdx, trailingIdx, inlineTableCount, tableCount := -1, -1, -1, 0, 0
 	for i, it := range res.JSON {
 		text, _ := it["text"].(string)
 		switch it["doc_type_kwd"] {
 		case "text":
 			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
-				inlinedText = text
-				inlinedIdx = i
+				inlineTableCount++
+			}
+			if text == "Employee Table" {
+				headingIdx = i
 			}
 			if text == "Trailing paragraph" {
 				trailingIdx = i
 			}
 		case "table":
-			structuredText = text
-			structuredIdx = i
+			tableText = text
+			tableIdx = i
+			tableCount++
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected doc_type_kwd %q", it["doc_type_kwd"])
 		}
 	}
 
-	if inlinedIdx < 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("no inlined doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item contains <table> markup; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(inlinedText, "<table") ||
-		!strings.Contains(inlinedText, "Name") ||
-		!strings.Contains(inlinedText, "Alice") {
-		t.Errorf("inlined table copy missing markup/cells: %q", inlinedText)
-	}
-
-	if structuredIdx < 0 {
+	if tableIdx < 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item emitted; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
 	}
-	if got, want := res.JSON[structuredIdx]["ck_type"], "table"; got != want {
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item count = %d, want exactly 1", tableCount)
+	}
+	if got, want := res.JSON[tableIdx]["ck_type"], "table"; got != want {
 		t.Errorf("structured table item ck_type = %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
-	if structuredText != inlinedText {
-		t.Errorf("structured table text differs from inlined copy:\n inlined=%q\n struct =%q", inlinedText, structuredText)
+	if !strings.Contains(tableText, "<table") ||
+		!strings.Contains(tableText, "Name") ||
+		!strings.Contains(tableText, "Alice") {
+		t.Errorf("structured table text missing markup/cells: %q", tableText)
+	}
+	// No duplicate inline text copy of the table markup.
+	if inlineTableCount != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("found %d doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item(s) containing <table> markup; the table must not be duplicated as text", inlineTableCount)
+	}
+	// In document order: between the heading and the trailing paragraph,
+	// NOT relocated after the trailing paragraph.
+	if headingIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("heading item missing")
 	}
-
-	// The structured table item must be appended after the walk, i.e. after
-	// the in-walk text items (mirrors markdown_parser.go:366-367). The trailing
-	// <p> is an in-walk text item, so the structured item must come after it.
 	if trailingIdx < 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("trailing paragraph text item missing; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
+		t.Fatalf("trailing paragraph item missing")
 	}
-	if structuredIdx <= trailingIdx {
-		t.Errorf("structured table item at index %d must come after the trailing paragraph at index %d", structuredIdx, trailingIdx)
+	if tableIdx <= headingIdx {
+		t.Errorf("structured table item at %d must come after heading at %d", tableIdx, headingIdx)
+	}
+	if tableIdx >= trailingIdx {
+		t.Errorf("structured table item at %d must come before trailing paragraph at %d (not relocated to end)", tableIdx, trailingIdx)
 	}
 }
 
-// TestHTMLParser_NestedTableProducesStructuredItems asserts the table fix also
-// covers tables that are NOT direct children of <body> — i.e. a <table> wrapped
-// in a layout container such as <div>/<section>/<article> (the common real-world
-// case). walkHTMLBlocks only special-cases a <table> that is a direct child of
-// the walk root; a nested <table> is reached via the default-branch leaf-text
-// extractor (htmlLeafText → walkHTMLLeaf). Before the fix, that path ran
-// htmlLeafText over the wrapper, flattening the table into a single text blob
-// ("Name Age Alice 30") with no markup — the same collapse as the top-level case,
-// just hidden one level deeper. After the fix, walkHTMLLeaf must render the
-// <table> markup inline (so it survives inside the wrapper's single text item)
-// AND register a structured doc_type_kwd:"table"/ck_type:"table" item (appended
-// after the walk like the top-level path).
+// TestHTMLParser_NestedTableProducesStructuredItems asserts the contract also
+// covers tables wrapped in a layout container such as <div>/<section>/<article>
+// (the common real-world case). walkHTMLBlocks only special-cases a <table> that
+// is a direct child of <body>; a nested <table> is reached via htmlLeafText →
+// walkHTMLLeaf. The nested <table> must be emitted as exactly ONE structured
+// doc_type_kwd:"table" item in document order, with NO duplicate inline text
+// copy — the parent container's prose stays clean of raw <table> tags.
 func TestHTMLParser_NestedTableProducesStructuredItems(t *testing.T) {
 	const html = `<html><body>
 <h1>Heading</h1>
@@ -116,53 +114,211 @@ func TestHTMLParser_NestedTableProducesStructuredItems(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
 
-	var inlinedText, structuredText string
-	inlinedIdx, structuredIdx, trailingIdx := -1, -1, -1
+	var tableText string
+	tableIdx, headingIdx, trailingIdx, inlineTableCount, tableCount := -1, -1, -1, 0, 0
 	for i, it := range res.JSON {
 		text, _ := it["text"].(string)
 		switch it["doc_type_kwd"] {
 		case "text":
 			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
-				inlinedText = text
-				inlinedIdx = i
+				inlineTableCount++
+			}
+			if text == "Heading" {
+				headingIdx = i
 			}
 			if text == "Trailing paragraph" {
 				trailingIdx = i
 			}
 		case "table":
-			structuredText = text
-			structuredIdx = i
+			tableText = text
+			tableIdx = i
+			tableCount++
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected doc_type_kwd %q", it["doc_type_kwd"])
 		}
 	}
 
-	if inlinedIdx < 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("no inlined doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item contains <table> markup (nested table flattened?); got items: %#v", res.JSON)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(inlinedText, "<table") ||
-		!strings.Contains(inlinedText, "Name") ||
-		!strings.Contains(inlinedText, "Alice") {
-		t.Errorf("inlined nested table copy missing markup/cells: %q", inlinedText)
-	}
-
-	if structuredIdx < 0 {
+	if tableIdx < 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item emitted for nested table; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
 	}
-	if got, want := res.JSON[structuredIdx]["ck_type"], "table"; got != want {
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item count = %d, want exactly 1", tableCount)
+	}
+	if got, want := res.JSON[tableIdx]["ck_type"], "table"; got != want {
 		t.Errorf("structured nested table item ck_type = %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(structuredText, "<table") ||
-		!strings.Contains(structuredText, "Name") ||
-		!strings.Contains(structuredText, "Alice") {
-		t.Errorf("structured nested table item missing markup/cells: %q", structuredText)
+	if !strings.Contains(tableText, "<table") ||
+		!strings.Contains(tableText, "Name") ||
+		!strings.Contains(tableText, "Alice") {
+		t.Errorf("structured nested table item missing markup/cells: %q", tableText)
+	}
+	// No duplicate inline text copy of the table markup.
+	if inlineTableCount != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("found %d doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item(s) containing <table> markup; nested table must not be duplicated as inline text", inlineTableCount)
+	}
+	// In document order: between the heading and the trailing paragraph,
+	// NOT relocated after the trailing paragraph.
+	if headingIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("heading item missing")
+	}
+	if trailingIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("trailing paragraph item missing")
+	}
+	if tableIdx <= headingIdx {
+		t.Errorf("structured nested table item at %d must come after heading at %d", tableIdx, headingIdx)
+	}
+	if tableIdx >= trailingIdx {
+		t.Errorf("structured nested table item at %d must come before trailing paragraph at %d (not relocated to end)", tableIdx, trailingIdx)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestHTMLParser_NestedTableWithSurroundingText guards the structural contract
+// for a <table> nested inside a container that also carries prose before AND
+// after the table (the common real-world shape, e.g.
+// "<div><p>Before.</p><table>…</table><p>After.</p></div>"). The table must be
+// emitted as ONE structured doc_type_kwd:"table" item, and the surrounding prose
+// must be split into SEPARATE clean text items bracketing the table in document
+// order — NOT merged into a single blob that embeds the raw <table> markup.
+// This locks in the fix that removed the inline writeText(markup) of the table
+// into the parent's text flow (the old code would produce one text item
+// "Before <table>…</table> After").
+func TestHTMLParser_NestedTableWithSurroundingText(t *testing.T) {
+	const html = `<html><body>
+<div class="box">
+<p>Before the table.</p>
+<table>
+<tr><th>Name</th><th>Age</th></tr>
+<tr><td>Alice</td><td>30</td></tr>
+</table>
+<p>After the table.</p>
+</div>
+</body></html>`
+
+	p := NewHTMLParser()
+	res := p.ParseWithResult(context.Background(), "nested.html", []byte(html))
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
 
-	// The structured table item must be appended after the walk, i.e. after
-	// every in-walk text item (mirrors the top-level path and markdown).
-	if trailingIdx < 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("trailing paragraph text item missing; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
+	var tableText string
+	tableIdx, beforeIdx, afterIdx, inlineTableCount, tableCount := -1, -1, -1, 0, 0
+	for i, it := range res.JSON {
+		text, _ := it["text"].(string)
+		switch it["doc_type_kwd"] {
+		case "text":
+			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
+				inlineTableCount++
+			}
+			if text == "Before the table." {
+				beforeIdx = i
+			}
+			if text == "After the table." {
+				afterIdx = i
+			}
+		case "table":
+			tableText = text
+			tableIdx = i
+			tableCount++
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected doc_type_kwd %q", it["doc_type_kwd"])
+		}
 	}
-	if structuredIdx <= inlinedIdx || structuredIdx <= trailingIdx {
-		t.Errorf("structured nested table item at index %d must come after the inlined text item at %d and trailing paragraph at %d", structuredIdx, inlinedIdx, trailingIdx)
+
+	if tableIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item emitted; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
+	}
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item count = %d, want exactly 1", tableCount)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(tableText, "<table") ||
+		!strings.Contains(tableText, "Name") ||
+		!strings.Contains(tableText, "Alice") {
+		t.Errorf("structured table item missing markup/cells: %q", tableText)
+	}
+	// No duplicate inline text copy of the table markup.
+	if inlineTableCount != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("found %d doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item(s) containing <table> markup; nested table must not be duplicated as inline text", inlineTableCount)
+	}
+	// The surrounding prose is split into clean text items bracketing the
+	// table in document order — NOT collapsed into one blob embedding the tags.
+	if beforeIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("'Before the table.' text item missing")
+	}
+	if afterIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("'After the table.' text item missing")
+	}
+	if !(beforeIdx < tableIdx && tableIdx < afterIdx) {
+		t.Errorf("document order wrong: before=%d table=%d after=%d (prose must bracket table, not merge into one blob)", beforeIdx, tableIdx, afterIdx)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestHTMLParser_MultipleTablesOrdering is the HTML counterpart of
+// TestMarkdownParser_MultipleTablesOrdering: two top-level tables must each be
+// emitted as a SINGLE structured doc_type_kwd:"table" item, in document order,
+// bracketing the "Middle." paragraph (not relocated to the end of the stream —
+// the old deferred-append behaviour this PR removes). Cell text of both tables
+// must be present and in source order.
+func TestHTMLParser_MultipleTablesOrdering(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	p := NewHTMLParser()
+	const html = `<html><body>
+<h1>Title</h1>
+<table>
+<tr><th>A</th><th>B</th></tr>
+<tr><td>x</td><td>y</td></tr>
+</table>
+<p>Middle.</p>
+<table>
+<tr><th>C</th><th>D</th></tr>
+<tr><td>p</td><td>q</td></tr>
+</table>
+<p>End.</p>
+</body></html>`
+
+	res := p.ParseWithResult(ctx, "doc.html", []byte(html))
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+
+	var tableItemIdx []int
+	titleIdx, middleIdx, endIdx := -1, -1, -1
+	for i, it := range res.JSON {
+		text, _ := it["text"].(string)
+		switch it["doc_type_kwd"] {
+		case "text":
+			switch text {
+			case "Title":
+				titleIdx = i
+			case "Middle.":
+				middleIdx = i
+			case "End.":
+				endIdx = i
+			}
+		case "table":
+			tableItemIdx = append(tableItemIdx, i)
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected doc_type_kwd %q", it["doc_type_kwd"])
+		}
+	}
+
+	if titleIdx < 0 || middleIdx < 0 || endIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("missing anchor text item (title=%d middle=%d end=%d)", titleIdx, middleIdx, endIdx)
+	}
+	if len(tableItemIdx) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("table items = %d, want 2", len(tableItemIdx))
+	}
+	// Both tables appear in document order, bracketing "Middle.":
+	// table1 before Middle, table2 between Middle and End.
+	if !(titleIdx < tableItemIdx[0] && tableItemIdx[0] < middleIdx && middleIdx < tableItemIdx[1] && tableItemIdx[1] < endIdx) {
+		t.Fatalf("table order wrong: tables=%v title=%d middle=%d end=%d", tableItemIdx, titleIdx, middleIdx, endIdx)
+	}
+	t1, _ := res.JSON[tableItemIdx[0]]["text"].(string)
+	t2, _ := res.JSON[tableItemIdx[1]]["text"].(string)
+	if !strings.Contains(t1, "x") || !strings.Contains(t1, "y") {
+		t.Errorf("first table item missing x/y cells: %q", t1)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(t2, "p") || !strings.Contains(t2, "q") {
+		t.Errorf("second table item missing p/q cells: %q", t2)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -365,12 +521,18 @@ func TestHTMLParser_AlignmentGolden(t *testing.T) {
 			doc := LoadGoldenDoc(t, tc.golden)
 
 			// Drop the meta-declared accepted divergences on both sides (here "table"):
-			// Go appends a structured doc_type_kwd:"table" item, while Python keeps the
-			// <table> markup inline as a "text" item. The inline markup remains in both
-			// runs and is still compared — that is exactly what guards against collapse.
+			// Go emits a single structured doc_type_kwd:"table" item, while Python keeps
+			// the <table> markup inlined as a "text" item. filterTableDivergence drops
+			// the table content from both sides so the comparison stays on non-table prose.
 			drop := AcceptedDivergences(doc.Meta)
-			goText := FilterOutDocTypes(res.JSON, drop)
-			pyText := FilterOutDocTypes(doc.Items, drop)
+			goText := filterTableDivergence(res.JSON, drop)
+			pyText := filterTableDivergence(doc.Items, drop)
+
+			// filterTableDivergence drops the table from the prose comparison;
+			// the table-equivalence guard below (assertTablesEquivalent) checks
+			// the table cell content still matches Python, so a collapse or
+			// dropped column on either side is caught independently.
+			assertTablesEquivalent(t, res.JSON, doc.Items)
 
 			if ok, diff := CompareAlignment(goText, pyText, HTMLAlignOptions()); !ok {
 				t.Fatalf("html parser not aligned with Python golden:%s", diff)
diff --git a/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser.go b/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser.go
index 54175449f6..680db0a5c1 100644
--- a/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser.go
+++ b/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser.go
@@ -269,17 +269,13 @@ func markdownTableCells(line string) []string {
 //
 // Tables: a GFM/HTML table is rendered inline as a single <table> HTML
 // block by renderMarkdownTablesInlineText and kept as one HTML block.
-// It is emitted as TWO items, mirroring Python's _markdown
-// (separate_tables=False): an inlined copy in the text flow
-// (doc_type_kwd:"text") and a separate structured table item
-// (doc_type_kwd:"table", ck_type:"table"). The downstream chunker
-// consumes doc_type_kwd:"table" to keep the table whole and attach
-// table context to neighbouring chunks (chunker/token.go). Non-table
-// HTML blocks (<div>, <style>, …) are emitted as ordinary text with
-// no ck_type. Table items are appended after the walk so the order
-// matches Python (_markdown appends tables after all sections).
+// It is emitted as ONE structured item (doc_type_kwd:"table",
+// ck_type:"table") in its original document position — there is no
+// duplicate doc_type_kwd:"text" copy. The downstream chunker consumes
+// doc_type_kwd:"table" to keep the table whole and attach table context
+// to neighbouring chunks (chunker/token.go). Non-table HTML blocks
+// (<div>, <style>, …) are emitted as ordinary text with no ck_type.
 func walkMarkdownBlocksWithImages(doc ast.Node, out *[]map[string]any, flatten bool) {
-	var tableItems []map[string]any
 	for _, child := range doc.GetChildren() {
 		var ckType string
 		var docTypeKwd string
@@ -307,20 +303,13 @@ func walkMarkdownBlocksWithImages(doc ast.Node, out *[]map[string]any, flatten b
 			// HTML block thanks to the blank lines renderMarkdownTablesInline
 			// wraps around it) or a plain HTML block such as <div>/<style>.
 			// Only a table is emitted as a structured table item; everything
-			// else is treated as ordinary text (no ck_type).
+			// else is treated as ordinary text (no ck_type). We emit exactly
+			// ONE item (doc_type_kwd:"table"/ck_type:"table") in document
+			// order — no duplicate doc_type_kwd:"text" copy — so the table is
+			// embedded once and its markup does not pollute prose chunks.
 			txt = leafText(n)
 			if isTableHTML(txt) {
-				// Inlined copy kept in the text flow. This is what the
-				// alignment golden compares against (Python inlines the
-				// rendered <table> HTML into a text section).
 				*out = append(*out, map[string]any{
-					"text":         txt,
-					"doc_type_kwd": "text",
-				})
-				// Separate structured table item (mirrors Python's extra
-				// doc_type_kwd:"table" item). doc_type_kwd:"table" drives
-				// downstream table handling.
-				tableItems = append(tableItems, map[string]any{
 					"text":         txt,
 					"doc_type_kwd": "table",
 					"ck_type":      "table",
@@ -363,8 +352,6 @@ func walkMarkdownBlocksWithImages(doc ast.Node, out *[]map[string]any, flatten b
 
 		*out = append(*out, item)
 	}
-	// Tables appended last, mirroring Python's _markdown ordering.
-	*out = append(*out, tableItems...)
 }
 
 // isTableHTML reports whether block text is an outer <table> element (the
diff --git a/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser_test.go b/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser_test.go
index e0d5413b7a..d8c819d797 100644
--- a/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser_test.go
+++ b/internal/parser/parser/markdown_parser_test.go
@@ -98,32 +98,42 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_ParseWithResult_RendersTableInline(t *testing.T) {
 	if res.Err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
-	// 方案 Y: a document containing a table must NOT collapse into a single
-	// item. Each top-level block is its own item, and the table is emitted as
-	// both an inlined text copy (doc_type_kwd:"text") and a separate
-	// structured table item (doc_type_kwd:"table"), so the item count is > 1.
-	if len(res.JSON) < 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("len(JSON) = %d, want >= 2 (table must not collapse the doc)", len(res.JSON))
+	// The document has three top-level blocks: the leading paragraph, the
+	// table, and the trailing note. The table is emitted as exactly ONE
+	// structured doc_type_kwd:"table" item (not flattened, not duplicated as
+	// a doc_type_kwd:"text" copy).
+	if len(res.JSON) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("len(JSON) = %d, want 3 (leading paragraph, table, note)", len(res.JSON))
 	}
-	var all strings.Builder
+	tableCount, inlineTableCount := 0, 0
 	for _, item := range res.JSON {
 		kd, _ := item["doc_type_kwd"].(string)
-		if kd != "text" && kd != "table" {
+		text, _ := item["text"].(string)
+		switch kd {
+		case "table":
+			tableCount++
+			if ck, _ := item["ck_type"].(string); ck != "table" {
+				t.Errorf("table item ck_type = %q, want \"table\"", ck)
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
+				t.Errorf("table item text is not raw <table> HTML: %q", text)
+			}
+		case "text":
+			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
+				inlineTableCount++
+			}
+		default:
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected doc_type_kwd %q; want text or table", kd)
 		}
-		text, _ := item["text"].(string)
-		all.WriteString(text)
-		all.WriteString("\n")
 		if strings.Contains(text, "| Check item |") {
 			t.Fatalf("raw markdown table leaked into text: %q", text)
 		}
 	}
-	// The table is kept as raw <table>…</table> HTML (one HTML block), so the
-	// cell text survives as text inside the tags — possibly duplicated across
-	// the inlined copy and the table item. Check the concatenated text.
-	concat := all.String()
-	if !strings.Contains(concat, "Check item") || !strings.Contains(concat, "Blood routine") {
-		t.Fatalf("table cell content (Check item / Blood routine) not present: %q", concat)
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("table items = %d, want 1", tableCount)
+	}
+	if inlineTableCount != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("found %d doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item(s) with <table> markup; table must not be duplicated as text", inlineTableCount)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -297,12 +307,12 @@ func TestFetchImageAsBase64_InvalidURL(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // TestMarkdownParser_TableNotCollapsed is the core regression guard for the
-// Markdown table fix (方案 Y): a document containing a GFM table must keep one
-// item per top-level block instead of collapsing into one giant item, AND the
-// table must be emitted as a single raw <table>…</table> HTML block (not
-// scattered cell text), appearing both as an inlined text copy and as a
-// separate doc_type_kwd:"table" item. A heading, the table, and the trailing
-// paragraph must each be present.
+// Markdown table fix: a document containing a GFM table must keep one item per
+// top-level block instead of collapsing into one giant item, AND the table must
+// be emitted as a SINGLE raw <table>…</table> HTML block (not scattered cell
+// text) carrying doc_type_kwd:"table" in its original document position. There
+// must be NO redundant inlined doc_type_kwd:"text" copy of the table. A heading,
+// the table, and the trailing paragraph must each be present and in order.
 func TestMarkdownParser_TableNotCollapsed(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := t.Context()
 	p, _ := NewMarkdownParser(GoMarkdown)
@@ -311,12 +321,13 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_TableNotCollapsed(t *testing.T) {
 	if res.Err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
-	// Title, Intro, inlined table copy, separate table item, Trailing = 5.
-	if len(res.JSON) < 5 {
-		t.Fatalf("len(JSON) = %d, want >= 5 (one per top-level block + table item)", len(res.JSON))
+	// Title, Intro, table item, Trailing = 4.
+	if len(res.JSON) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("len(JSON) = %d, want 4 (one per top-level block, table as one item)", len(res.JSON))
 	}
 	var all strings.Builder
-	sawTitle, sawTrailing, sawTableItem, sawRawTableHTML := false, false, false, false
+	sawTitle, sawTrailing, sawTableItem, sawInlineTable := false, false, false, false
+	tableCount := 0
 	for _, item := range res.JSON {
 		text, _ := item["text"].(string)
 		all.WriteString(text)
@@ -326,12 +337,13 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_TableNotCollapsed(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		switch kd, _ := item["doc_type_kwd"].(string); kd {
 		case "text":
-			// inlined copy carries the raw <table> HTML with cell text.
+			// A doc_type_kwd:"text" copy must NOT carry the raw <table> HTML.
 			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") && strings.Contains(text, "A") && strings.Contains(text, "B") {
-				sawRawTableHTML = true
+				sawInlineTable = true
 			}
 		case "table":
 			sawTableItem = true
+			tableCount++
 			if !strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
 				t.Fatalf("table item text is not raw <table> HTML: %q", text)
 			}
@@ -347,17 +359,91 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_TableNotCollapsed(t *testing.T) {
 	if !sawTitle {
 		t.Fatal("heading item not emitted")
 	}
-	if !sawRawTableHTML {
-		t.Fatal("inlined table not emitted as raw <table> HTML with cell text")
+	if sawInlineTable {
+		t.Fatal("table wrongly emitted as redundant inlined doc_type_kwd:\"text\" copy")
 	}
 	if !sawTableItem {
 		t.Fatal("separate doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item not emitted")
 	}
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item count = %d, want exactly 1", tableCount)
+	}
 	if !sawTrailing {
 		t.Fatal("trailing paragraph content not present in concatenated items")
 	}
 }
 
+// TestMarkdownParser_TableWithSurroundingText is the Markdown counterpart of
+// TestHTMLParser_NestedTableWithSurroundingText: a GFM table with prose both
+// before and after it must emit the table as ONE structured
+// doc_type_kwd:"table" item, with the surrounding paragraphs split into
+// SEPARATE clean text items bracketing the table in document order — NOT
+// merged into a single blob, and NOT duplicated as an inlined
+// doc_type_kwd:"text" copy. This locks in the single-item-in-document-order
+// contract for the common "intro / table / outro" shape.
+func TestMarkdownParser_TableWithSurroundingText(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	p, _ := NewMarkdownParser(GoMarkdown)
+	md := "Before the table.\n\n| Name | Age |\n| --- | --- |\n| Alice | 30 |\n\nAfter the table.\n"
+	res := p.ParseWithResult(ctx, "test.md", []byte(md))
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+
+	var tableText string
+	tableIdx, beforeIdx, afterIdx, inlineTableCount, tableCount := -1, -1, -1, 0, 0
+	for i, item := range res.JSON {
+		text, _ := item["text"].(string)
+		switch kd, _ := item["doc_type_kwd"].(string); kd {
+		case "text":
+			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
+				inlineTableCount++
+			}
+			if text == "Before the table." {
+				beforeIdx = i
+			}
+			if text == "After the table." {
+				afterIdx = i
+			}
+		case "table":
+			tableText = text
+			tableIdx = i
+			tableCount++
+			if !strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
+				t.Fatalf("table item text is not raw <table> HTML: %q", text)
+			}
+			if ck, _ := item["ck_type"].(string); ck != "table" {
+				t.Fatalf("table item ck_type = %q, want \"table\"", ck)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if tableIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item emitted; got items: %#v", res.JSON)
+	}
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item count = %d, want exactly 1", tableCount)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(tableText, "Name") || !strings.Contains(tableText, "Alice") {
+		t.Errorf("structured table item missing cell text: %q", tableText)
+	}
+	// No duplicate inline text copy of the table markup.
+	if inlineTableCount != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("found %d doc_type_kwd:\"text\" item(s) containing <table> markup; table must not be duplicated as inline text", inlineTableCount)
+	}
+	// The surrounding prose is split into clean text items bracketing the
+	// table in document order — NOT collapsed into one blob.
+	if beforeIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("'Before the table.' text item missing")
+	}
+	if afterIdx < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("'After the table.' text item missing")
+	}
+	if !(beforeIdx < tableIdx && tableIdx < afterIdx) {
+		t.Errorf("document order wrong: before=%d table=%d after=%d (prose must bracket table, not merge into one blob)", beforeIdx, tableIdx, afterIdx)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestMarkdownParser_NonTableHTMLBlockNotTable guards against the blanket
 // ck_type:"table" bug: a raw HTML block that is NOT a <table> (e.g. <div>,
 // <style>) must be emitted as ordinary text with no ck_type, so downstream
@@ -421,8 +507,8 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_TableInCodeFenceNotRendered(t *testing.T) {
 // TestMarkdownParser_RawHTMLTableHandled covers a user-written raw <table> HTML
 // block (not a GFM pipe table). renderMarkdownTablesInline only rewrites GFM
 // pipe tables, so the raw <table> passes through and is caught by isTableHTML
-// as an HTMLBlock, producing the same inlined copy + separate doc_type_kwd:"table"
-// item shape as a GFM table.
+// as an HTMLBlock, producing a single doc_type_kwd:"table" item in document
+// order. There must be NO redundant inlined doc_type_kwd:"text" copy.
 func TestMarkdownParser_RawHTMLTableHandled(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := t.Context()
 	p, _ := NewMarkdownParser(GoMarkdown)
@@ -432,6 +518,7 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_RawHTMLTableHandled(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
 	sawInlined, sawTableItem := false, false
+	tableCount := 0
 	for _, item := range res.JSON {
 		text, _ := item["text"].(string)
 		switch kd, _ := item["doc_type_kwd"].(string); kd {
@@ -441,6 +528,7 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_RawHTMLTableHandled(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		case "table":
 			sawTableItem = true
+			tableCount++
 			if !strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
 				t.Fatalf("raw table item text is not raw <table> HTML: %q", text)
 			}
@@ -449,19 +537,22 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_RawHTMLTableHandled(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if !sawInlined {
-		t.Fatal("raw <table> HTML block not emitted as inlined copy in text flow")
+	if sawInlined {
+		t.Fatal("raw <table> HTML block wrongly emitted as redundant inlined copy in text flow")
 	}
 	if !sawTableItem {
-		t.Fatal("raw <table> HTML block not emitted as separate doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item")
+		t.Fatal("raw <table> HTML block not emitted as single doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item")
+	}
+	if tableCount != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("structured doc_type_kwd:\"table\" item count = %d, want exactly 1", tableCount)
 	}
 }
 
 // TestMarkdownParser_MultipleTablesOrdering guards the ordering contract: each
-// GFM table emits an inlined copy in its original document position (among the
-// surrounding text blocks) and a separate doc_type_kwd:"table" item appended at
-// the end of the stream (mirroring Python's _markdown, which appends tables
-// after all sections). Both tables' cell text must be present and in source order.
+// GFM table is emitted as a single doc_type_kwd:"table" item in its original
+// document position (among the surrounding text blocks). Both tables' cell text
+// must be present and in source order, bracketing "Middle." — NOT appended at
+// the end of the stream.
 func TestMarkdownParser_MultipleTablesOrdering(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := t.Context()
 	p, _ := NewMarkdownParser(GoMarkdown)
@@ -471,7 +562,6 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_MultipleTablesOrdering(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("ParseWithResult: %v", res.Err)
 	}
 
-	var inlinedTableIdx []int
 	var tableItemIdx []int
 	var titleIdx, middleIdx, endIdx = -1, -1, -1
 	for i, item := range res.JSON {
@@ -486,9 +576,6 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_MultipleTablesOrdering(t *testing.T) {
 			case "End.":
 				endIdx = i
 			}
-			if strings.Contains(text, "<table") {
-				inlinedTableIdx = append(inlinedTableIdx, i)
-			}
 		case "table":
 			tableItemIdx = append(tableItemIdx, i)
 		}
@@ -497,21 +584,13 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_MultipleTablesOrdering(t *testing.T) {
 	if titleIdx < 0 || middleIdx < 0 || endIdx < 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("missing anchor text item (title=%d middle=%d end=%d)", titleIdx, middleIdx, endIdx)
 	}
-	if len(inlinedTableIdx) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("inlined table copies = %d, want 2", len(inlinedTableIdx))
-	}
 	if len(tableItemIdx) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("separate table items = %d, want 2", len(tableItemIdx))
+		t.Fatalf("table items = %d, want 2", len(tableItemIdx))
 	}
-	// Inlined copies appear in document order, bracketing "Middle.":
+	// Table items appear in document order, bracketing "Middle.":
 	// table1 before Middle, table2 between Middle and End.
-	if !(inlinedTableIdx[0] < middleIdx && middleIdx < inlinedTableIdx[1] && inlinedTableIdx[1] < endIdx) {
-		t.Fatalf("inlined table order wrong: tables=%v middle=%d end=%d", inlinedTableIdx, middleIdx, endIdx)
-	}
-	// Separate table items are appended after all text items, in source order:
-	// table1 (x,y) then table2 (p,q), each strictly after the previous.
-	if !(tableItemIdx[0] > endIdx && tableItemIdx[0] < tableItemIdx[1]) {
-		t.Fatalf("table items not appended after text items in source order: %v end=%d", tableItemIdx, endIdx)
+	if !(titleIdx < tableItemIdx[0] && tableItemIdx[0] < middleIdx && middleIdx < tableItemIdx[1] && tableItemIdx[1] < endIdx) {
+		t.Fatalf("table order wrong: tables=%v title=%d middle=%d end=%d", tableItemIdx, titleIdx, middleIdx, endIdx)
 	}
 	t1, _ := res.JSON[tableItemIdx[0]]["text"].(string)
 	t2, _ := res.JSON[tableItemIdx[1]]["text"].(string)
@@ -568,9 +647,17 @@ func TestMarkdownParser_AlignmentGolden(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// Exclude the doc types the golden declares as accepted divergences
 			// (meta.accepted_divergences) on both sides — no hardcoded list in the test.
+			// filterTableDivergence additionally drops the inlined <table> markup that
+			// Python keeps as a "text" item, so only non-table prose is compared.
 			ignore := AcceptedDivergences(gd.Meta)
-			goText := FilterOutDocTypes(res.JSON, ignore)
-			pyText := FilterOutDocTypes(gd.Items, ignore)
+			goText := filterTableDivergence(res.JSON, ignore)
+			pyText := filterTableDivergence(gd.Items, ignore)
+
+			// filterTableDivergence drops the table from the prose comparison;
+			// the table-equivalence guard below (assertTablesEquivalent) checks
+			// the table cell content still matches Python, so a collapse or
+			// dropped column on either side is caught independently.
+			assertTablesEquivalent(t, res.JSON, gd.Items)
 
 			if ok, diff := CompareAlignment(goText, pyText, MarkdownAlignOptions(DefaultMarkdownDelimiter)); !ok {
 				t.Fatalf("markdown parser not aligned with Python golden:%s", diff)