Stand By Me Episode 16 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Chou Ziliang, using an hourglass, pressed Liu Misha and Sun Lie to reveal the identity of the person Qi Yan had met. As the sand dwindled, they remained defiant. Chou Ziliang, in a rage, ordered the execution of all Zhenwu vassals. Heartbroken, Liu Misha urged Sun Lie to disclose the strategist's location.
Sun Lie finally admitted that the strategist was at Yuzhen Workshop, but Chou Ziliang's men quickly reported that the strategist had already departed, a fact unknown to Liu Misha and Sun Lie. Chou Ziliang further mocked Liu Misha, reminding her that she still dreamed of being empress. Sun Lie, however, revealed that the strategist's true intention was to secretly arrange a marriage between Princess Liu Misha and His Majesty.
A mysterious message arrived for Chou Ziliang, signed by "Chaolu Guest," inviting him to a meeting at the Pavilion of Rain or Shine, stating, "Three kings and six pawns are gathered in Donglin, awaiting your move." Chou Ziliang, upon learning the strategist had gone to Zhenwu eight years prior, deduced that this "Chaolu Guest" was a survivor of the Chaolu Rebellion. He questioned the sender's worthiness and did not dare to accept the invitation.
He expressed no concern for Yan Zhi's capture, declaring that if she couldn't overcome the challenge herself, she was unfit to be "the one pulling the strings." Qi Yan found himself reflecting on the past, specifically the eve of the Chaolu Rebellion eight years ago. His teacher, Wang Yang, had pulled him aside, urgently advising him to stop the Emperor.
Wang Yang argued that even if their "Morning Dew Plan" succeeded in eliminating Chou Ziliang, powerful figures like Zheng Lu and Li Xu would only use it to control the Emperor, and if it failed, Chou Ziliang would unleash a brutal retaliation. Qi Yan immediately went to the palace to intervene, but Chou Ziliang intercepted him, having anticipated his move, and forcibly turned him away. Qi Yan hurried back to Wang Yang, who suspected a leak.
Wang Yang then made a profound plea to Qi Yan to save Daxing, instructing him to feign loyalty to Chou Ziliang. He described this as a "sinner's path," one of immense suffering, public condemnation, and even betrayal from loved ones, yet necessary for his ultimate goals. When Wang Yang was reported to have escaped, Qi Yan volunteered to handle it.
Recalling Zheng Lu's precise instructions on how to wound someone without killing them, Qi Yan, to demonstrate his fealty, acknowledged Chou Ziliang as his foster father and shot Wang Yang, leaving him injured but alive. Back in the present, Qi Yan, lost in these painful memories, looked at Cheng Ruoyu, who was dozing in his arms, and felt a rush of emotions.
He asked her if she would still stand by him, even if he was utterly beyond redemption and Han Yue had suffered great injustice. Cheng Ruoyu affirmed her loyalty, stating that while Han Yue had been wronged, his vengeful methods were brutal. She acknowledged Qi Yan's past mistakes but recognized his current repentance and actions, promising to live a different life with him. Qi Yan told her to remember her words. Cheng Ruoyu then woke up, complaining of hunger.
Qi Yan, with a gentle touch, tried to soothe her, recalling how his mother used to comfort him during fevers, and painting a vivid picture of buying osmanthus cakes, candied pork knuckle, and wontons at the West Market. Later, Qi Chen revealed he had an escape plan, having left marks on their way to captivity, confident that Yuan Du would soon find them.
He explained the greater issue was preventing widespread unrest among the regional armies of Lu Cong and Zhenwu, who had already been dragged into the conflict. Qi Yan instructed Cheng Ruoyu that once Yuan Du arrived, she should go with him to deliver messages to the Lu Cong and Zhenwu envoys, explaining the situation. He also asked Yan Zhi, who was familiar with the area's mechanisms, to delay Han Yue.
Qi Chen then suggested it was time to recall Li Deyun, explaining that despite Chou Ziliang's wariness, this moment, with Han Yue and Chou Ziliang at odds, was the perfect opportunity. Li Deyun, from a prestigious family with connections to regional armies, would be the ideal mediator to resolve the chaos, which included Lu Cong assassins targeting the Emperor, Zhenwu's strategist imprisoning him, and Princess Liu Misha wanting to marry him.
Qi Chen proposed a marriage alliance as a solution, perhaps involving a princess marrying into Zhenwu, and saw this crisis as an opportunity to reclaim military authority. Suddenly, Han Yue's voice boomed from a hidden room, calling them fools and warning that no one would leave until Chou Ziliang was dead. Han Yue scoffed at their ideas, confirming that their discussions about Li Deyun were as he expected.
Meanwhile, Chou Ziliang, aiming to control Zhenwu's 80,000 elite troops to counter "uncooperative regional governors," ordered Liu Misha to be held in solitary confinement. Liu Misha vowed vengeance if she survived. Xia Ziyuan reported to Han Yue that Chou Ziliang had failed to appear at the Pavilion of Rain or Shine. Han Yue acknowledged this was anticipated and decided to move to "Plan B."
He explained that their initial strategy involved drawing Zhenwu into the conflict with its 80,000 troops to tie down the Divine Talent Army, and using the "three kings and six pawns" to lure Chou Ziliang. He expressed surprise that Yan Zhi was the leader of the Chess Camp. Yan Zhi then proposed Plan B: reveal her true identity as Wang Yang's granddaughter to Chou Ziliang.
She argued that Chou Ziliang, who could not tolerate disrespect or betrayal, would personally come to kill her, the "traitor" he had groomed, thus creating an opportunity for Han Yue to strike.
Han Yue agreed to this dangerous plan but chose Zuo Ma to deliver the message, intending to test Zuo Ma's loyalty, as he suspected Zuo Ma had been corrupted by power and would have betrayed him long ago if not for losing the competition for the top chessman to Yan Zhi.
Unbeknownst to Han Yue, Zuo Ma arrived at the secret room, overhearing Han Yue and Xia Ziyuan discussing Yan Zhi's true identity as Wang Ruoqing, Wang Yang's granddaughter, and quietly slipped away. Elsewhere, Cheng Ruoyu's condition worsened, her fever soaring. Qi Yan, greatly distressed, called for medicine. Xia Ziyuan, present with them, refused, taunting Cheng Ruoyu as unworthy to be a sword-bearer or to serve a "puppet emperor" like Qi Yan, accusing him of participating in the Chaolu Rebellion.
She told Qi Yan that if he wanted medicine for Cheng Ruoyu, he would have to beg Han Yue himself. Qi Chen then revealed Cheng Ruoyu’s internal injuries were severe from Han Yue's attack, and without immediate medical attention, her life was in peril. Despite Cheng Ruoyu's pleas for him not to risk himself, Qi Yan was determined to save her and set off to confront Han Yue.
Qi Yan found Han Yue, who held up a bow named "Three Springs," recalling how the late Emperor, known for his diligence, had gifted it to Qi Yan. Han Yue lamented the late Emperor's fate, first betrayed by Chou Ziliang, then by Qi Yan, his beloved younger brother, leading to his bitter end.
He claimed the late Emperor had left an imperial will, entrusting the throne to Qi Chen, but it was lost amidst the chaos, allowing Qi Yan, whom he called a "traitor who acknowledged a thief as his father," to seize power. Han Yue demanded that Qi Yan write a new imperial will, returning the throne to Qi Chen. Qi Yan steadfastly refused. Han Yue then threatened to kill Cheng Ruoyu.
Qi Yan, feigning indifference, stated he was capable of killing his own brother, so a mere woman meant nothing to him. He then revealed that Cheng Ruoyu was none other than the person Qi Chen had painstakingly rescued from the dead, and her current critical condition, caused by Han Yue's own actions, would soon lead to her death without immediate aid. He challenged Han Yue to consider how Qi Chen, his future master, would view him then.
Han Yue, enraged but recognizing the leverage, ordered Qi Yan to be taken back to his cell. Meanwhile, Zuo Ma brought an old nanny from Wang Yang's former residence to a prison cell. The nanny confirmed that Yan Zhi bore an uncanny resemblance to Wang Yang's wife in her youth. Zuo Ma concluded that Yan Zhi was indeed Wang Ruoqing, Wang Yang's granddaughter.
Simultaneously, Cheng Xi sought out Li Zening, Li Deyun's daughter, for assistance, revealing that Qi Yan had been captured by the Zhenwu strategist. Li Zening remembered her father had left a sealed pouch with instructions for such an event and went to retrieve it. She also inquired about Cheng Ruoyu's well-being. Back in captivity, Cheng Ruoyu struggled to stay awake, urging herself not to fall asleep. When Qi Yan returned, she noticed his fresh injury and tearfully apologized, blaming herself.
Qi Yan comforted her, dismissing his wound as minor. Cheng Ruoyu expressed her relief that he was fine and her unwavering loyalty despite the hardships, proclaiming him "the best emperor." She shared her contentment at finally being by his side and gently smoothed his brow. Qi Yan then presented her with a hairpin she had admired during their outing to the West Market, recalling those moments of shared joy as the happiest of his life.
He urged her to live freely, to travel and taste the world, and be a "happy fish." Then, in a desperate move, Qi Yan plunged the hairpin into his own chest, instructing Cheng Ruoyu to live well. Cheng Ruoyu screamed for help. Han Yue rushed in, ordering a subordinate to get Qi Chen to prepare medicine for Qi Yan. But Qi Yan, seizing the moment, demanded that Han Yue release Cheng Ruoyu first, threatening to take his own life. As Han Yue hesitated, Qi Yan pulled the hairpin out and stabbed himself again, causing Yan Zhi to quickly escort Cheng Ruoyu away from the scene.
