Stand By Me Episode 33 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Qi Yan disagreed with Cheng Ruoyu's risky plan to assassinate Zhang Jiang. He explained that Zhang Jiang was now on high alert, making a solo attempt futile. Cheng Ruoyu insisted on helping, urging Qi Yan to share his strategy. Qi Yan revealed his intention to send Zhang Zhongru to quell the Lu Cong uprising and, more importantly, to seek troops from various regional governors.
He acknowledged that while the governors would not want Lu Cong to gain power, Chou Ziliang would undoubtedly obstruct any attempt to unite them under imperial command. Cheng Ruoyu expressed her frustration, lamenting that Chou Ziliang, a mere eunuch, seemed indifferent to who sat on the throne, as long as he maintained control.
She felt angry on Qi Yan's behalf, pointing out that everyone believed he had usurped the throne, yet it was the late emperor who had empowered Chou Ziliang to become a fearsome figure and then left Qi Yan with the resulting chaos.
Qi Yan was deeply touched by her words, thanking her and stating that if all the past hardships were meant to lead him to her, it was worth it, even if he were to be revealed as her enemy and forced to pay the ultimate price. Qi Yan then urged Cheng Ruoyu to leave Heng'an City, but she adamantly refused, unwilling to abandon him. He emphasized that her departure was crucial for peace and the survival of innocent people.
He extracted a promise from her to obey him and trust him, vowing to endure until her return. Cheng Ruoyu reluctantly agreed to leave. Knowing Chou Ziliang would not let her depart peacefully, Qi Yan devised a clever plan. Meanwhile, Qi Chen had incapacitated Cheng Xi, stripping her of her martial arts, before bringing her back to consciousness. He confronted her about instigating Zhang Jiang's rebellion.
Cheng Xi readily admitted to it, explaining her desire for Zhang Jiang to reclaim the throne for Qi Chen, citing their family's past humiliation, especially her mother being forced into the palace. Qi Chen was furious, pushing her away and condemning her actions, declaring that their family name would not be sullied by such treachery. He immediately dispatched Yuan Du to thwart Zhang Jiang's rebellion. Upon realizing her martial arts were gone, Cheng Xi screamed in outrage.
Yan Zhi tasked Yan Xiu with investigating the Divine Doctor. Yan Xiu reported that the doctor, surnamed Wu and from Fengxing, was a solitary wanderer who practiced medicine without seeking riches. He also confirmed that the Divine Doctor was working for the Right Minister. In reality, the Divine Doctor Wu was Qi Chen's junior brother, and he had deliberately concealed Qi Yan's improving health from Chou Ziliang.
He spoke with his senior brother, Qi Chen, acknowledging Qi Yan's recovery, and was instructed to wait for the Lu Cong crisis to subside before initiating their grand plan, which they had been anticipating for ten years. The Divine Doctor expressed his shame and apologized to his senior brother.
The Grand Dowager Empress, having learned from Li Zening that An Wang had been poisoned by Chou Ziliang and that Qi Yan was severely wounded while saving Cheng Ruoyu, stormed into Qi Yan's chamber. She furiously reprimanded Cheng Ruoyu, holding her responsible for Qi Yan's injuries, and demanded to know about the child Cheng Ruoyu was rumored to be carrying.
Qi Yan was forced to admit that Cheng Ruoyu was not pregnant and tried to defend her, stating that she had also protected him. However, the Grand Dowager Empress, outraged that the Emperor had risked his life for a maid, ordered Cheng Ruoyu to be immediately banished from the palace. Qi Yan feigned compliance, using the Grand Dowager Empress's anger as a convenient pretext for Cheng Ruoyu's departure.
He comforted Cheng Ruoyu, urging her not to cry and reminding her of her loyalty and their shared determination to survive. As Cheng Ruoyu was being escorted out, Qi Yan instructed Li Zening to take her bow and leave swiftly, implying this would "balance" the Grand Dowager Empress's actions. Li Zening, realizing Qi Yan's true feelings were solely for Cheng Ruoyu, departed in disappointment.
Chou Ziliang, upon hearing of Cheng Ruoyu's expulsion, immediately suspected it was a ruse by Qi Yan to send her on a mission. His eunuch, Gao Ping, cautiously confirmed that the Grand Dowager Empress Guo, despite her outward demeanor, genuinely cared for Qi Yan, hinting at a deeper plot. Yan Zhi, while playing Go with Chou Ziliang, concurred with his suspicions.
She deduced that the expulsion was a "bitter stratagem" designed to allow Cheng Ruoyu to deliver a secret message, knowing Chou Ziliang would attempt to intercept her. Seeing this as an opportune moment, Yan Zhi decided to initiate her own plans concerning the Shen Cai Army, whose newly appointed generals were disorganized and whose common soldiers were discontent. Later that night, Gao Ping reported to Chou Ziliang that Qi Yan's military token was missing from his sleeping quarters.
Chou Ziliang expressed concern that other regional armies might answer to the token's command. He ordered his Right Commander to personally track Cheng Ruoyu and report her movements. Cheng Ruoyu, disguised as a man, slipped out of the palace and headed towards Li Deyun's residence, only to be intercepted by Chou Ziliang and his men. They searched her thoroughly but found no military token. A report then arrived, stating that the Shen Cai Army barracks were on fire.
Chou Ziliang, dismissing it as a distraction, continued to press Cheng Ruoyu for the token. However, Yan Zhi arrived moments later, delivering the urgent news that the Shen Cai Army had indeed rebelled. Fearing the loss of control over the vital one hundred thousand strong army, Chou Ziliang left Cheng Ruoyu in Yan Zhi's custody and rushed to the military camp.
Yan Zhi then revealed to Cheng Ruoyu that she had uncovered their entire scheme: the staged expulsion by the Grand Dowager Empress Guo, involving Li Zening, was a diversion to make Chou Ziliang believe Cheng Ruoyu carried the military token, while the actual token had been entrusted to Li Zening, who delivered it to Li Deyun. Cheng Ruoyu expressed admiration for Yan Zhi's insight. Yan Zhi, while calling their plan "clumsy," offered Cheng Ruoyu a chance to ally with her.
She promised to help Qi Yan resolve the Lu Cong crisis and secure his position on the throne, freeing him from Chou Ziliang's influence. In return, Cheng Ruoyu would pledge her allegiance to Yan Zhi after the Lu Cong matter was settled. Cheng Ruoyu questioned why Yan Zhi, with her numerous skilled subordinates, would choose her. Yan Zhi simply replied that she "liked her very much."
Meanwhile, Qi Yan, holding the Peach Blossom Bracelet given to Cheng Ruoyu by the Grand Dowager Empress Guo, worried about Cheng Ruoyu's safety outside the palace, hoping the item would protect her at a critical moment. He reaffirmed his resolve to hold on until she returned, as they had promised each other. At the Shen Cai Army camp, Chou Ziliang arrived to confront the rebellious soldiers.
They complained about their unpaid wages and tattered uniforms, refuting Chou Ziliang's claim of having ordered three months of additional pay. Another soldier reported that the deputy generals left in the camp had been killed, but insisted the rebels had only restrained them, not killed them, pleading for clemency. Chou Ziliang brutally killed the leading instigator on the spot. He then promised to pay three times their overdue wages the following morning, effectively quelling the rebellion. Yan Xiu observed the entire scene from a hidden vantage point.
