Stand By Me Episode 12 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Zuo Ma subjected Qiu Yanzhi to brutal torture, demanding her true identity. He pressed her to admit to forging her identity, framing Youma, and betraying Chou Ziliang, even accusing her of wanting to marry Qi Yan to become Empress Regent and covertly supporting Qi Yan by preserving Yuzhen Hall. Despite his torment and threats, Qiu Yanzhi remained defiant, refusing to speak. Chou Ziliang arrived, stopping Zuo Ma, who confidently promised to extract the truth if given more time.
Meanwhile, Yan Xiu approached Chou Ziliang to report an urgent matter concerning Princess Ninghe, noticing Qiu Yanzhi being interrogated. Though he seemed inclined to intervene, Chou Ziliang sternly ordered him to prioritize capturing the assassins, informing him that Princess Ninghe had been gravely wounded in an ambush at the Jingzhou post station. Yan Xiu reluctantly obeyed. Given the new developments, Chou Ziliang decided that Qiu Yanzhi should take charge of the Xiangqi Camp.
He gave Zuo Ma a strict ultimatum: one hour to prove Qiu Yanzhi's guilt, or Zuo Ma must take his own life. Back in Qiu Yanzhi's cell, Zuo Ma discovered a hidden portrait of Chou Ziliang concealed within another painting. He realized he had been tricked when he inadvertently defaced the portrait, understanding that Chou Ziliang would surely kill him for such an offense.
In a desperate plea, Zuo Ma knelt before Qiu Yanzhi, begging her to intercede on his behalf with Chou Ziliang and promising his unwavering loyalty if she saved his life. Qiu Yanzhi agreed, offering him medicine for his injured hand. This entire charade was revealed to be a calculated move by Qiu Yanzhi, who had confided to a companion that she sought victory, not death.
She aimed to use Zuo Ma's actions to prove her innocence and alleviate Chou Ziliang’s suspicions, which had grown since Youma's demise. Cheng Ruoyu, serving as the imperial swordbearer, rode swiftly to Jingzhou to investigate Princess Ninghe's assassination. She found the princess still comatose, her life stabilized by doctors but her awakening uncertain, with plans to consult imperial physicians upon return to the capital.
Princess Misha of Zhenwu impatiently inquired about Qi Yan's absence and then demanded Cheng Ruoyu perform a sword dance. Cheng Ruoyu respectfully declined, citing the inappropriate circumstances and promising a full performance in the palace. Cheng Ruoyu was also secretly jealous of Princess Misha’s obvious affection for Qi Yan. When Cheng Ruoyu attempted to examine Princess Ninghe's wound, Princess Misha blocked her, questioning her medical knowledge and insisting she would only discuss the assassination with Qi Yan directly.
Upon returning to the palace, Cheng Ruoyu reported her findings to Qi Yan. She noted the peculiar sight of Princess Misha, who was impeccably dressed in ceremonial attire despite the midnight attack, seemingly more prepared for a romantic rendezvous with Qi Yan than an emergency. Cheng Ruoyu revealed that she secretly brought back medicine the doctor had used and eavesdropped, though without significant discoveries.
Qi Yan, while amused by her "sneaky tricks," was informed that Princess Misha and her Zhenwu entourage were all highly skilled martial artists. Cheng Ruoyu concluded that the assassins were not Chou Ziliang's men. She recalled her aunt Cheng Xi's earlier claim that A-Wu was controlled by Princess Ninghe, but after seeing Princess Ninghe in person, she found her to be "sorrowful and aged before her time," not appearing as a calculating individual.
This led Cheng Ruoyu to suspect that Princess Ninghe might also be controlled by an unknown manipulator who was behind A-Wu, the assassins, and Princess Ninghe herself. Qi Yan found the situation suspicious, concurring with Cheng Ruoyu's assessment. Later, Qiu Yanzhi presented herself to Chou Ziliang. He noted Zuo Ma's survival and commended Qiu Yanzhi's strategic acumen. She confessed to Chou Ziliang, first accepting thirty rod strikes as punishment.
She then addressed three points: her identity was genuine, and Zuo Ma's accusations were false; the "Buddha's Smile" incident was orchestrated by Prince Guang (Qi Chen) to frame her and eliminate Youma, which she allowed to happen, realizing Youma's prolonged surveillance of Prince Guang had been futile; and finally, she admitted to her personal ambition of becoming a female emperor, intending to utilize Qi Yan.
Chou Ziliang expressed his astonishment, stating he had only ever accommodated the ambitions of the late emperor and Qi Yan, both of whom sought control over the world. Qiu Yanzhi defiantly argued that if others like Qi Ang and Qi Yan, who had both betrayed him, could sit on the throne, then she, with her capabilities, should also be able to. Chou Ziliang reacted with a roaring laugh.
That night, Qi Yan brought Cheng Ruoyu to discuss the assassinations with Qi Chen. Yuan Du delivered the assassins' confessions, which Cheng Ruoyu helped Qi Yan review. Yan Xiu had successfully captured twenty-seven assassins, all identified as descendants of Zheng Lu. Qi Yan decided to personally interrogate them the next day. Qi Yan then led Cheng Ruoyu to a high point, recalling the moonless night of the Chaolu Rebellion eight years prior, when he raided Zheng Lu's home.
He admitted to letting A-Wu, Zheng Lu's daughter, escape to honor his brother's wish to preserve Zheng Lu's bloodline, clarifying that his previous explanation about "testing arrows" was a guise. Cheng Ruoyu challenged him, asserting that his past actions of confiscating property and killing were solely for the throne, not self-preservation, a truth Qi Yan ultimately acknowledged. Cheng Ruoyu urged Qi Yan to forget his painful past, sharing her own experience of losing traumatic childhood memories and living happily.
She proposed they embark on a new way of life together, to which Qi Yan dismissively called her "naggy." That night, Cheng Ruoyu dreamed of an intimate encounter with Qi Yan, waking up with a blush. Back at the prison, Yan Xiu reported to Qi Yan that of the twenty-seven captured Zheng family descendants, seventeen were dead, and the remaining ten gave identical confessions, which he found suspicious. He had brought Zuo Ma to assist with the interrogation.
Qi Yan arrived with Cheng Ruoyu to supervise. Upon seeing the brutal scene, Qi Yan immediately sent Cheng Ruoyu out. Qiu Yanzhi, also present, mockingly remarked on Qi Yan's tenderness, but he also instructed her to wait outside. Zuo Ma presented his findings: the leader, Zheng Tian, confessed that Qi Yan had shown mercy and allowed them to escape eight years ago. They had fled to Fengyang for Zheng Lu's hidden treasures, then to Hedong, unnoticed by You Che.
A year later, A-Wu sought revenge. The Left Chancellor, during the Xiangqi Camp's recruitment, fabricated A-Wu's identity and selected her, though she was later eliminated. She was then recommended by the Music Bureau to Cheng Xi, joining the Zi Yi Bureau. A-Wu in the palace and Zheng Tian outside communicated through Hong Gu, with all letters originating from Hedong.
Zuo Ma explained A-Wu's premature assassination attempt by revealing a blackened bone fragment, indicating severe poisoning which compelled her to act desperately. He advised not to inform Cheng Ruoyu of this. Zuo Ma concluded that after A-Wu's death, Zheng Tian sought revenge by attacking Princess Ninghe to sow discord between Qi Yan and Zhenwu.
Qi Yan acknowledged his past mercy towards Zheng Tian and A-Wu, and the cumulative oversight of many, including You Che, the Left Chancellor, and Cheng Xi, that led to this "coincidence." However, Qiu Yanzhi vehemently disagreed, asserting that while the assassins spoke truthfully to the extent of their knowledge, a "mysterious hand" was manipulating events from behind, and she eagerly anticipated this "third person's" next move.
She also pointed out to Qi Yan that the next move he had been waiting for was now unfolding. Shortly after, Cheng Ruoyu learned from Cheng Xi that Princess Misha was escorting Princess Ninghe into Heng'an, claiming imperial physicians were more skilled. Cheng Ruoyu rushed to report to Qi Yan, but gagged and vomited upon accidentally stepping in blood. Qi Yan sent her to rest, much to Qiu Yanzhi's disdain.
Qi Yan then told Qiu Yanzhi that the "third person" intended for them to eliminate the "worthless pawns" (the captured assassins), but he would defy this by keeping them alive. Meanwhile, Princess Misha, accompanied by Sun Lie, entered Heng'an, marveling at its prosperity and expressing her eagerness to meet Qi Yan. Suddenly, Princess Misha's horse bolted, creating chaos.
Qi Yan swiftly came to her aid, and both he and Cheng Ruoyu were injured in the process, while Cheng Ruoyu bravely stopped the runaway horse, earning applause from the crowd. Princess Misha and Sun Lie then arrived before the grand hall, where Chou Ziliang and the Shen Cai Army awaited them. Displeased by Chou Ziliang's haughty demeanor and his failure to personally greet her, Princess Misha publicly insulted him as an "old eunuch."
Angered, Chou Ziliang turned and left, abandoning Princess Misha. Sun Lie tried to reassure Princess Misha that Chou Ziliang was "brainless" and not even comparable to "that little small fry" (referring to Cheng Ruoyu) as a threat, but Princess Misha cautioned him not to speak too soon.
