Better Halves Episode 22 Recap
> Better Halves Recap
At Mount Qianya, Lu Chi assessed the overwhelming enemy forces and devised a strategy with Lu Zhuxi. They decided to leverage the mountain's terrain, using a feigned attack and retreat from the eastern, flatter side to lure enemy forces beneath the western cliff, where Lu Chi and other forces would set an ambush at a mountain pass.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Shi Fa'ke's brothers, Shi Chongshan and He Kexian, along with several friends, were desperately seeking a way to rescue her from the Military Headquarters Prison. They correctly deduced that Marquis Wu'an was behind her arrest, likely due to the public humiliation he suffered at Miss Cheng's matchmaking event, which Shi Fa'ke had exposed. Recognizing Marquis Wu'an's immense power and military might, they knew direct confrontation was futile.
They resolved to gather support through a petition, aiming to apply pressure through diplomatic means. They sought the assistance of influential figures like Miss Cheng, the Emperor's sworn sister from Jiangning's Dream, and Xu Ao, the Commander of the Imperial Cavalry Bureau and a close confidant of the Emperor. Many, including Yan Qiyue, who had only recently met Shi Fa'ke, enthusiastically signed the petition.
When they presented their grievances and the petitions at the Military Headquarters, Xu Ao boldly asserted his identity, demanding Shi Fa'ke's release. However, the Military Headquarters official dismissed his authority and refused to open the gates, leaving the group at a loss. Inside the prison, Shi Fa'ke remained defiant. Marquis Wu'an visited her, gloating and falsely claiming Mount Qianya had been razed and Lu Chi defeated.
He revealed Lu Chi was working for the Emperor and subtly hinted at his own ambitions. Shi Fa'ke saw through his schemes, realizing he aimed to usurp the throne, and bravely retorted that he was overconfident and would eventually face consequences. Marquis Wu'an left, threatening her with Lu's demise, but Shi Fa'ke, left alone, was consumed by worry for Lu Chi's safety. Back at Mount Qianya, despite inflicting heavy damage on the enemy's vanguard, Lu Chi's forces were still outnumbered.
Lu Chi received a letter from the capital informing him of Shi Fa'ke's capture and urging him to return. His subordinates also pressed him to leave. However, Lu Chi reasoned that returning would play directly into Marquis Wu'an's hands by neutralizing Shi Fa'ke's value as a hostage and weakening Mount Qianya's defenses, which were crucial for the Emperor's last line of retreat. Prioritizing the larger strategic objective, Lu Chi decided to remain, trusting that Shi Fa'ke would understand his decision.
He immediately initiated a counter-strategy, instructing Lu Zhuxi to intercept all of Marquis Wu'an's messengers on the road back to the capital. They were to incapacitate the messengers with anesthetic arrows and replace their confidential dispatches with fake messages stating that Mount Qianya had fallen. Lu Chi also planned to cut off Marquis Wu'an's military supplies, aiming to win without a direct confrontation.
Later, Marquis Wu'an received the fabricated news of Mount Qianya's fall and Lu Chi's escape, believing Lu would now seek refuge with the Emperor's army. Confident in his success, he returned to the prison to pressure Shi Fa'ke. He showed her the fake reports of Lu's defeat and Mount Qianya's destruction, demanding she write a letter to Lu Chi revealing the Emperor's army's location, promising to spare both their lives.
Shi Fa'ke, however, feigned indifference, claiming she was unimportant to Lu Chi and that he wouldn't care for her safety over national affairs, firmly refusing to write the letter. Marquis Wu'an, frustrated, left, believing her stubbornness would lead to her death. Still, Shi Fa'ke remained consumed by worry for Lu Chi's safety. Seeing the collective efforts to release Shi Fa'ke falter, He Kexian discreetly dismissed the disheartened group, urging them to rest.
He then spoke privately with Shi Chongshan, entrusting his sister, Ketian, into his care, explaining that he would go to extreme lengths to save Shi Fa'ke, but his sister's safety remained his deepest concern. After Shi Chongshan promised to protect Ketian, He Kexian proceeded to Marquis Wu'an's mansion. There, he pledged his loyalty to the Marquis, offering the deed to his family's century-old "He's Bakery," with its numerous branches and significant annual revenue, as a token of his sincerity.
He cunningly claimed that Lu Chi had bewitched Shi Fa'ke and caused her current plight, expressing a desire for revenge and to reclaim Shi Fa'ke, aligning his goals with the Marquis's. Impressed by Kexian's apparent devotion and generous offer, Marquis Wu'an granted his request to visit Shi Fa'ke in prison, believing Kexian would persuade her to abandon Lu Chi and secure the Shi family's allegiance.
During the prison visit, Shi Fa'ke was initially confused and furious to see He Kexian, especially noting the guard's respectful demeanor towards him. She accused him of betraying her and siding with Marquis Wu'an, demanding he leave and severing all ties.
However, He Kexian subtly whispered a warning about "walls having ears" and revealed Lu Chi's prior instruction: if Shi Fa'ke's safety was ever compromised, they should spread the false rumor that Lu Chi was leading an army to attack the capital. They then meticulously played out their act, with Shi Fa'ke loudly denouncing Kexian while he feigned attempting to persuade her. The eavesdropping guard was completely fooled.
Afterward, He Kexian reported back to Marquis Wu'an, maintaining the ruse that Shi Fa'ke was stubborn but that he would continue to persuade her. He "informed" the Marquis of Shi Fa'ke's "warning" that Lu Chi would soon attack the capital, reinforcing the deception. Meanwhile, at He's Bakery, Marquis Wu'an's men arrived, claiming ownership of the shop based on the deed He Kexian had "personally given" to the Marquis.
Ketian was devastated and refused to believe her brother would betray their family's legacy or align with someone like Marquis Wu'an. Shi Chongshan intervened, preventing her from confronting the men directly and urging her to trust He Kexian, believing his actions must have a hidden purpose. Elsewhere, on the street, Yan Qiyue was suddenly ambushed by unknown assailants. As she fled, the Emperor, disguised as Mr. Huang, unexpectedly appeared and helped her escape her pursuers.
He had earlier left the palace in disguise, seeking to understand the situation firsthand. Later that night, the Emperor and Yan Qiyue found refuge by a quiet river. They lit a bonfire for warmth, sharing a romantic moment. The Emperor, clearly smitten, expressed his deep affection for Yan Qiyue, recalling their repeated chance encounters and how her presence had captivated him. He was on the verge of confessing his true feelings.
However, both subtly hinted at their concealed identities, with Yan Qiyue asking what he would do if she wasn't truly who he thought she was, and the Emperor reciprocating the question. He reassured her that regardless of their true identities, she would always be "Miss Qiyue" to him. Yan Qiyue revealed she had run away from an arranged marriage, and the Emperor shared that his situation was "more complicated" than just escaping marriage.
They mused about the unhappiness of marrying someone one does not love, and the Emperor recited a romantic verse from Mr. Lin Yuan's painting. The following morning, the Emperor silently departed from Yan Qiyue, preparing to face the dangers ahead alone. He told her to "wait for me to come back." Simultaneously, Marquis Wu'an made another visit to Shi Fa'ke in prison. He gleefully informed her of Lu Chi's supposed death and presented Lu's unfinished seal as undeniable proof.
Shi Fa'ke's heart sank, but she desperately clung to the belief that Lu Chi was alive, convincing herself that the seal was merely part of their strategy to deceive the Marquis. Marquis Wu'an then taunted her, suggesting she consider He Kexian's affections. Shi Fa'ke angrily dismissed him. Marquis Wu'an, still finding her useful as a hostage, reminded her of her family before leaving her to despair.
Confident that Lu Chi was dead and the Emperor had fled, Marquis Wu'an marched his troops into the imperial palace. He strode into the Zichen Hall, reveling in his perceived conquest, believing that everything now belonged to him. He then arrogantly donned the dragon robe. However, in the midst of his triumph, the Emperor suddenly appeared, confronting Marquis Wu'an in his own bedchamber. The Emperor immediately accused Marquis Wu'an of treason and rebellion, but the Marquis remained defiant, proclaiming that the throne was now his.
