A Love Never Lost Episode 23 Recap
> A Love Never Lost Recap
Wu Tianbai had suffered a gunshot wound back then. Had he come earlier, Master Sun Jingchao could have fully restored his meridians and energy points. But now, Master Sun could only help him recover to fifty percent. As soon as Master Sun inserted the needle, Wu Tianbai cried out in pain, cursing aloud. The burning sensation spread from his waist to his buttocks, then down to his calves and toes.
For the first time in five years, Wu Tianbai could feel his toes again. Illness comes like a landslide but goes away like spinning silk—one needle wouldn't have an immediate effect. Master Sun said Wu Tianbai would likely need to come several more times. He also knew Wu Tianbai didn’t come only for treatment, there must be other intentions.
Wu Tianbai admitted frankly that while top physicians treat the ailments of the world, he had come to seek Master Sun’s ancestral secret remedy—to heal the suffering of all under heaven. Master Sun didn’t answer. Once the time was up, he pulled out the needle and asked Wu Tianbai to try walking with a crutch. Wu Tianbai struggled, but finally managed to stand up and walk again.
Although he fell after just a few steps, he got back up and staggered forward. After this experience, Wu Tianbai finally understood how Master Sun had gathered tens of thousands of followers. On the way back, Wu Tianbai realized someone was following him. He ordered the bearers to go directly to the dock, skipping his lodging. Soon, Xie Shuhong at the residence was also informed and left with their belongings.
Wu Tianbai had the two men knock out the tailing spy. He then decided to go to Fuyang, where Master Sun’s military advisor was located, hoping to persuade all twenty thousand of Master Sun’s followers to join the Zhejiang-Anhui uprising. Liang Xiang bypassed Fengshan and directly submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager, which she took seriously. She instructed the Grand Council to discuss the feasibility of establishing an independent royal imperial guard.
This indirectly suggested the Empress Dowager was questioning the loyalty of the Beiyang Army stationed in the capital. Duan Fang felt that such memorials were best written less often. An urgent telegram arrived from Jiangning: the Anhui Governor Enming had been publicly shot by Xu Xilin, assistant director of the Police Academy. The entire city of Anqing had descended into a rebellion by revolutionaries. Duan Fang immediately rushed to handle the situation. Revolutionary Chen Boping died in the gunfight.
Xu Xilin retreated to the arsenal and was captured alive after being defeated during the Yin hour. The Grand Council’s overseer instructed Duan Fang to swiftly execute Xu Xilin to quickly quell the unrest in the south. Duan Fang ordered that there be no further interrogation—Xu Xilin was to be executed on the spot. Liang Xiang believed proper legal procedures should be followed, but Duan Fang didn’t want the situation to escalate further and insisted on taking extraordinary measures.
Thus, revolutionary Xu Xilin led the student army in an uprising, seized the arsenal, and after four hours of intense battle, was captured and killed. When Qiu Jin heard the news of Xu Xilin’s failure, she dismissed everyone and resolutely stayed behind at the Datong School. On the 13th, Qing troops surrounded the school and captured her. In the early morning of the 15th, Qiu Jin died a heroic death.
Wu Tianbai stayed in Fuyang for seven days before managing to bring out Master Sun Jingchao’s adviser. Wu Tianbai exchanged several code phrases with him until his identity was finally confirmed. Soon, they received word at Xiangtang that the uprising had failed. In Shanghai, all ships from Anqing and Shaoxing were being strictly inspected, and all suspects arrested. Xie Shuhong came from Hangzhou with no contraband in her luggage and was quickly allowed to pass.
Left with no other option, Xie Shuhong stayed temporarily at Song Baoquan’s villa. She was well-versed in flower arranging and tea ceremony, which delighted Madam Song. Xie Shuhong also took two portraits, one for Madam Song and one for Song Baoquan. Though she appeared calm, her heart was filled with concern for her elder sister and her son, Wu Bugu. There was, however, one piece of good news—among the three arrested, there were no women or children, and Yang Yifan was not among them.
