Stand By Me Episode 4 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Cheng Ruoyu visited the inner library to search for information about A-Wu, only to discover that the records had been tampered with. Qiu Yanzhi, who was also investigating, found that Cheng Ruoyu's own records had also been altered. Qiu Yanzhi noted that the ink used in Zheng Wu’s register was from Shezhou, which should not have been available when Zheng Wu entered the palace in the tenth year of Tai'an.
Cheng Ruoyu quickly took both sets of documents to Cheng Xi. Cheng Xi explained that the ink difference was an accident from years ago when tea was spilled on their records, requiring them to be rewritten, and this incident was documented. She assured Cheng Ruoyu that neither her nor A-Wu's initial records were problematic, but rather, if any issue existed, it would stem from before their entry into the palace.
Cheng Xi cautioned Cheng Ruoyu to be wary of Qiu Yanzhi, reminding her that Qiu Yanzhi was Chou Ziliang’s close associate. Cheng Xi, reflecting on the situation, realized Qiu Yanzhi had indeed discovered the discrepancy. She was relieved that the prepared excuse about the spilled tea had successfully diverted suspicion from Cheng Ruoyu, but remained concerned about Qiu Yanzhi, describing her as a "little fox raised by an old fox," thus difficult to deal with.
Meanwhile, Qiu Yanzhi and Yan Xiu investigated the Purple Robe Bureau. They discovered that Emperor Wen had ordered the reconstruction of the Purple Robe Bureau in the tenth year of Tai'an, initially selecting a thousand people. However, the current bureau only comprised thirty-six palace maids, barely a hundred people including musicians and servants.
While official records stated that unsuitable candidates were gradually sent out of the palace, Qiu Yanzhi's scouts found that many of these individuals never returned home; they simply disappeared. Qiu Yanzhi also examined Emperor Qi Yan's hunting expenses over the past few years, noticing a significant increase. Last year's expenses were comparable to the budget of the Chesshold Camp, meaning Qi Yan spent enough on hunting to support another Chesshold Camp.
Given that Cheng Xi, a loyalist of the late emperor, was heavily favored by Qi Yan, despite the late emperor being Qi Yan's adversary, Qiu Yanzhi suspected Qi Yan was secretly training the dismissed Purple Robe Bureau members using these hunting funds to bolster his forces against the Chesshold Camp. Qiu Yanzhi returned to report her findings to Chou Ziliang.
She described two previous assassination attempts on her and Qi Yan, which seemed like provocations, and a third at Chou Ziliang’s birthday banquet. She believed a third party was aware of the Purple Robe Bureau's hidden strength and sought to instigate conflict between their two factions, framing Qi Yan in the process. Qiu Yanzhi proposed using the A-Wu case as a long-term strategy to uncover this mastermind.
Simultaneously, Cheng Ruoyu sought an audience with Qi Yan, requesting a reinvestigation of the A-Wu case. Qi Yan became enraged, reiterating that the case was closed and forbidding her further involvement. Cheng Ruoyu defiantly argued that the case was far from over, asserting that A-Wu's revenge was just the beginning.
She spoke of the Chao Lu incident, which led to numerous casualties, and questioned why Qi Yan was afraid to investigate, emphasizing her duty as a Sword Bearer to protect the King by understanding their enemies. Infuriated, Qi Yan immediately stripped her of her Sword Bearer title and demoted her to a commoner, ordering Cheng Huaizhi to escort her out of the palace immediately, never to return. Cheng Ruoyu, dejected, departed.
As Cheng Ruoyu prepared to leave the Purple Robe Bureau, Cheng Xi expressed her reluctance to see her go but acknowledged the imperial decree. Cheng Xi handed Cheng Ruoyu a jade thumb ring for protection and advised her to stay at Cai Tavern, as Madam Cai was Li Rong's sister-in-law and would care for her.
Cheng Ruoyu, cheered by the news, realized this arrangement would allow her to continue investigating A-Wu's case from outside the palace, which she was determined to do. Cheng Xi also noted that Qi Yan had not reclaimed the Qingguang Sword, suggesting Cheng Ruoyu keep it for unforeseen circumstances. Upon leaving the palace, Cheng Ruoyu headed straight for Cai Tavern, where Madam Cai warmly welcomed her.
Chou Ziliang, informed of Cheng Ruoyu's dismissal, suspected Qi Yan had ulterior motives and dispatched Qiu Yanzhi to monitor Cheng Ruoyu. Undeterred, Cheng Ruoyu immediately went to Zheng Wu's former desolate home to investigate. There, she encountered a masked black-clad figure. They engaged in a fierce battle, but Cheng Ruoyu was quickly overpowered. Two unknown individuals tracking Cheng Ruoyu arrived at Zheng Wu’s residence. The black-clad figure pulled Cheng Ruoyu into hiding, and the pursuers, finding no one, left.
The black-clad figure then mocked Cheng Ruoyu's swordsmanship, calling it mediocre and her combat experience poor, asserting she would not survive on a real battlefield. Cheng Ruoyu, offended, challenged him to a bet, vowing to defeat him should they meet again. The next morning, Qi Yan slept late. A eunuch attempting to wake him noticed a purple ribbon tied to his boot and subtly removed it.
Cheng Huaizhi, fearing exposure of Qi Yan's activities, quickly took the ribbon from the eunuch, attempting to casually dismiss it. The eunuch, however, passed the ribbon to Qiu Yanzhi. She immediately recognized it as belonging to Cheng Ruoyu's Qingguang Sword, which had an extra silver thread compared to others. This led her to conclude that the black-clad figure Cheng Ruoyu encountered the previous night at Zheng Wu's residence was none other than Qi Yan.
Cheng Ruoyu, filled with unanswered questions about A-Wu's escape, the forged identity, her entry into the palace, and her desperate assassination attempt, wanted to return to Zheng Wu's home for further investigation. Her thoughts were interrupted by Qi Yan's sudden arrival at Cai Tavern, demanding wine. Cheng Ruoyu begrudgingly served him. Qi Yan, tasting the wine, declared it watered down and threatened to report the tavern to the authorities for closure.
Cheng Ruoyu, startled, quickly confessed to diluting the wine herself for fun. Qi Yan then sternly warned her to abandon the investigation into A-Wu's case. When Cheng Ruoyu defiantly reiterated her resolve, he threatened to cripple her martial arts. Suddenly, several masked black-clad figures descended upon the tavern. Qi Yan fought them fiercely. Cheng Ruoyu initially stormed off in anger, but her conscience prevented her from leaving Qi Yan to die.
She rushed back to assist him, quickly subduing all the attackers. She pressed one assassin for information about the mastermind, but before he could speak, a silver needle, shot from the rooftop, killed him instantly. Cheng Ruoyu pursued the unseen assailant onto the roof but found no trace. Qi Yan thanked her for protecting him, temporarily setting aside his earlier command to expel her. Qiu Yanzhi dispatched her men to retrieve the six assassins' bodies.
Upon examination, she noted that they had all been killed by poisoned silver needles, similar to the weapon Zheng Wu had used. Meanwhile, Qi Yan, reviewing the recent events, realized that Cheng Ruoyu was genuinely unaware of the hidden matters concerning the Purple Robe Bureau. To prevent her from inadvertently endangering herself further, he resolved to find a way to remove her from the capital entirely.
Cheng Ruoyu, still determined, continued to visit the capital government office daily for updates on the case, but she was repeatedly turned away without any information. Frustrated, she left, only to be ambushed by another attacker using silver needles. Cheng Ruoyu quickly subdued the assailant and brought him back to Cai Tavern. Chou Ziliang hosted An Wang at his estate.
Qi Yan understood this move as a clear warning from Chou Ziliang: if Qi Yan did not comply with Chou Ziliang’s wishes, An Wang would be put in his place. Cheng Huaizhi expressed deep concern for Qi Yan's precarious position. Back at Cai Tavern, Cheng Ruoyu repeatedly plied the captured assassin with wine, hoping to loosen his tongue. She continued until he was completely intoxicated and incoherent, then she let him go.
