Stand By Me Episode 21 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Yan Zhi realized that Qi Yan's "lure the tiger out of the mountain" strategy had succeeded, but it was too late. She reported to Chou Ziliang, admitting her failure to intercept Li Deyun, who she believed had already met the Emperor. Chou Ziliang, however, revealed that his subordinate had already informed him of Li Deyun's return.
He decided against immediately eliminating Li Deyun due to the Li family's extensive influence and connections throughout the court, opting instead to keep him under close surveillance. During the morning court, Qi Yan initiated a discussion on dispatching troops to quell the rebellion in Lucong. When two generals offered unconvincing excuses to avoid the mission, Cheng Ruoyu bravely stepped forward, volunteering to lead the army. General Wang dismissed her, asserting that matters of war were not for women.
Cheng Ruoyu retorted that as a fifth-rank female official personally appointed by the Emperor, she had every right to make such a request, and was more capable than the two generals. Chou Ziliang vehemently opposed Cheng Ruoyu's proposal. At this critical juncture, Li Deyun made a grand entrance, receiving warm greetings from many officials. After respectfully saluting Qi Yan, he volunteered to personally lead the expedition to Lucong, mentioning his prior acquaintance with the rebel leader Chen Yintai.
Chou Ziliang feigned approval but pressed for a swift resolution, demanding that Li Deyun quell the rebellion within one month. Qi Yan intervened, granting Li Deyun a more reasonable two-month deadline. Not satisfied, Chou Ziliang compelled Li Deyun to make a public pledge: should he fail to complete the task within two months, he would resign his official post and retire. Chou Ziliang, appearing triumphant, then left the court with his faction.
Following the court session, numerous officials gathered to greet Li Deyun. Cheng Ruoyu observed Qi Yan’s rare, heartfelt smile, noting the palpable shift in the court’s atmosphere. Qi Yan explained to Cheng Ruoyu that Li Deyun, a highly esteemed civil official, had been intentionally demoted by the late emperor to protect him and allow him to bide his time. Now, with his return, the opportunistic "fence-sitting" officials would inevitably shift their allegiance.
Cheng Ruoyu realized this was a hidden maneuver orchestrated by the late emperor. Qi Yan confirmed that his late brother had many more such hidden strategies. He then dismissed Cheng Ruoyu, instructing her to rest and later join him to meet Qi Chen, whom he referred to as "Uncle Wang." Meanwhile, Ninghe Princess's injuries gradually healed under Qi Chen's devoted care. Qi Yan visited her, and Ninghe expressed her gratitude for his rescue and Qi Chen's medical expertise.
She reassured Qi Yan that Shi Quanzhong's remaining forces in Lucong were now at her disposal, enabling her to monitor Chen Yintai's every move, urging Qi Yan to rest easy. However, Qi Chen advised that the princess was still too fragile and needed more recovery time. Later, Qi Chen congratulated Qi Yan on his shrewd strategy, which had effectively tied down Chou Ziliang and paved the way for Li Deyun's return.
Qi Yan, however, viewed these as mere temporary measures, expressing his uncertainty about the final outcome and reiterating that all relied on fate. Qi Chen then added that a righteous ruler would ultimately prevail. Qi Yan then shared a deeply personal concern with Qi Chen, explaining that a brutal confrontation with Chou Ziliang was imminent. He feared for Cheng Ruoyu’s safety, admitting her presence would only distract him and expose her to constant danger.
He implored Qi Chen to find a suitable way to remove her from the palace, knowing she would never leave willingly. Qi Chen reluctantly agreed to the difficult request. Concurrently, Yan Xiu updated Yan Zhi on his investigation into the Right Chancellor. He began by searching for individuals known as "Thirteen," a name he'd heard Chou Ziliang use for the Right Chancellor.
His investigation revealed that Chou Ziliang had established the Xiangqi Battalion on Thirteen's advice years ago, with the dual purpose of finding an imperial edict and training assassins. Yan Xiu reminded Yan Zhi that they themselves were among the first such assassins, rising to become "Golden Chess Pieces" and reclaiming their original names. Yan Zhi, however, expressed skepticism about the Right Chancellor's identity, wondering if "Thirteen" was also a fabricated name.
Yan Xiu then divulged that in his youth, a destitute Chou Ziliang had been saved by a reclusive master at Baikong Temple, who then imparted half a martial arts manual to him, which became the source of Chou Ziliang's formidable skills. Yan Zhi was stunned by the revelation, realizing Baikong Temple was where they had been just yesterday, leading her to suspect the Right Chancellor had orchestrated their recent encounter.
Back at the stable, Cheng Ruoyu was tending to Qi Yan's horse, Ru Feng, expressing her affection and gratitude for the horse having once saved her life. She inquired if another horse had been a gift from Li Zening. Qi Yan replied that everything he possessed, including her, had been given to him by others, to which Cheng Ruoyu playfully retorted that she was not, clarifying she was given by "Auntie" (Cheng Xi).
At that moment, Li Zening arrived, offering to guide Qi Yan on his hunting trip and pointedly suggested that Cheng Ruoyu remain in the palace. Qi Yan initially insisted Cheng Ruoyu accompany him, but Cheng Ruoyu, sensing the tension, discreetly declined, wishing him a swift return. Li Zening subtly lauded Cheng Ruoyu's "sensibility." Privately, Cheng Ruoyu fumed at Li Zening’s veiled threats. Shortly after, Cheng Xi approached Cheng Ruoyu, informing her that the Grand Dowager Empress wished to meet her.
In the presence of the Grand Dowager Empress, Cheng Ruoyu recounted her past as an orphan raised by Cheng Xi and Cheng Huaizhi. Cheng Xi praised Cheng Ruoyu's sharp intellect and quick learning abilities. The Grand Dowager Empress then presented Cheng Ruoyu with a Peach Blossom Bracelet, instructing her to serve Qi Yan well.
Confused, Cheng Ruoyu attempted to return the bracelet to Cheng Xi, who explained it was a betrothal gift, implying that Qi Yan had developed an affection for her and the Grand Dowager Empress approved of her as a concubine. Later, while hunting, Li Zening feigned a fall from her horse, claiming to have twisted her ankle. As a servant attended to her, Qi Yan seized the opportunity to secretly meet with Li Deyun.
He informed Li Deyun that the Misha would reach Zhenwu within a month. This would allow Zhenwu to demand an explanation from the court regarding the murder of a vassal, effectively buying another month's time. Qi Yan then tasked Li Deyun with using these two months to strategically strip Chou Ziliang of his power without resorting to open conflict. Upon returning from the hunt, Li Zening confronted Qi Yan, demanding to know who received a specific bow of hers.
When Qi Yan claimed ignorance, she summoned a servant to retrieve the bow and pressured him to accept it, invoking her father’s potential disappointment. Qi Yan recognized her veiled threat. Li Zening then tearfully pleaded for a second chance, expressing deep regret for not remaining by his side years ago and asking for an opportunity for her and her father to aid him.
Qi Yan, however, made it clear that his admiration for Cheng Ruoyu was akin to a monarch's respect for a loyal subject, a swordsman's appreciation for a famous sword, or a painter's for a beautiful landscape, unrelated to romantic love, and that she could not become his concubine or bear him children. Li Zening dismissed his immediate rejection, insisting he take more time to consider her offer and promising to return for his definitive answer.
Cheng Ruoyu found herself contemplating the Peach Blossom Bracelet. Qi Yan returned, exuding joy from his successful hunting trip, and presented her with a pristine white fox fur, praising it as the most beautiful catch of his many years of hunting. When Cheng Ruoyu then revealed the Peach Blossom Bracelet, Qi Yan immediately grasped the Grand Dowager Empress's true intentions. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Chou Ziliang’s arrival.
He sarcastically remarked on Qi Yan’s leisurely hunting while the nation faced turmoil, predicting that Qi Yan’s happiness would be short-lived, especially concerning Li Deyun’s mission or Ninghe Princess’s recovery. A subordinate of Chou Ziliang then brutally informed Qi Yan that Ninghe Princess had "died." When Qi Yan stated that the more respectful royal term "薨" should be used, the subordinate acknowledged and repeated the corrected terminology. Distraught, Qi Yan immediately rushed with Cheng Ruoyu to Ninghe's side.
Chou Ziliang's associate, observing the scene, later commented to Chou Ziliang that Qi Yan's attempts to outsmart him were foolish and only brought him disgrace. Overcome with grief, Qi Yan mourned Ninghe. Cheng Ruoyu, offering him food, blamed herself for not being by the princess’s side, believing she could have prevented her death.
Qi Yan, in his anguish, sharply rebuffed her, stating that her presence would only have added another life to the tragedy, and that staying by his side inevitably led to suffering. He then demanded the Peach Blossom Bracelet back, reiterating that the Grand Dowager Empress’s marriage proposal was made without his knowledge and that Cheng Ruoyu should forget about it. Cheng Ruoyu complied, accepting his decision.
Later, Cheng Huaizhi gently chided Cheng Ruoyu for her self-blame, which had prompted Qi Yan to retrieve the bracelet. Cheng Ruoyu confided in Cheng Huaizhi, reaffirming her steadfast loyalty to Qi Yan as her Emperor. She expressed her sole desire to be a devoted subject, a brave guard, and the finest sword-bearer, wishing for nothing more. Cheng Huaizhi, understanding her unwavering resolve, promised not to broach the subject again.
Left alone, Qi Yan silently expressed his profound sorrow, acknowledging that a romantic future with Cheng Ruoyu was impossible, but vowing to secure a peaceful realm to ensure her survival. Meanwhile, Yan Xiu reported to Yan Zhi that Chou Ziliang himself had brutally suffocated Ninghe Princess. Yan Zhi acknowledged the formidable challenge of undermining Chou Ziliang’s entrenched power and his "Divine Talent Army," noting that Ninghe’s death would severely complicate Qi Yan’s future plans.
She grimly praised Chou Ziliang’s ruthless move as a "clever strategy." She then proceeded with Yan Xiu to Qingyu Pavilion to meet the Right Chancellor. There, a masked Right Chancellor greeted them. When Yan Zhi pressed him to reveal his true face, he simply wrote "Thirteen." Yan Xiu, exasperated by this evasiveness, removed the mask, revealing a disfigured face.
The Right Chancellor explained that "Thirteen" was a name given to him by his master, not his birth name, and that he was aiding Yan Zhi out of gratitude for her grandfather, Wang Yang. Yan Zhi vehemently denied having a grandfather and stormed out in anger. Overwhelmed by Ninghe's memory, Qi Yan silently vowed to avenge her. Suddenly, Xia Ziyuan burst in, attempting to assassinate Qi Yan and cursing him as a "despicable emperor."
Cheng Ruoyu swiftly intervened, engaging Xia Ziyuan in a fierce struggle. She pleaded with Xia Ziyuan to reconsider, reminding her that Chou Ziliang was responsible for both her clan’s destruction and Han Yue's death, urging her to direct her vengeance towards him instead. However, consumed by hatred, Xia Ziyuan dismissed her words, declaring all of them evil and continuing her relentless attack. Qi Yan rushed forward to protect Cheng Ruoyu and was accidentally wounded by Xia Ziyuan. Cheng Ruoyu eventually subdued Xia Ziyuan, and imperial guards arrived to apprehend the assassin. Cheng Ruoyu quickly pleaded for Xia Ziyuan's life, asking them not to kill her.
