Stand By Me Episode 42 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Cheng Ruoyu awakened from unconsciousness and expressed her desire to travel to Jian Nan Dong Chuan. She explained that her ancestors had resided there for some time, and she hoped to find old servants who could help her piece together blurry childhood memories. Yan Zhi, who had specifically dressed early in a phoenix crown and embroidered wedding robe to show Cheng Ruoyu, confirmed that Dong Chuan was a suitable place.
She then requested Cheng Ruoyu to place a hairpin for her, revealing a past promise made with someone to perform this ritual for each other. Yan Zhi found it equally meaningful for Cheng Ruoyu to do so, saying Cheng Ruoyu "just seemed pleasing to the eye." As Cheng Ruoyu prepared to depart, Yan Zhi advised her to take care in the hot climate of Dong Chuan and to contact her if needed.
However, Cheng Ruoyu refused, stating that for their paths never to cross again would be for the best. Yan Zhi, in a poignant moment, spoke of a future where dark clouds would disperse and peace would return, promising they would meet again. She explained her current actions as a sacrifice for this cause, parting from her sister now for that future day.
She ensured that all checkpoints along Cheng Ruoyu's route were informed and secretly dispatched twenty guards to protect her. Meanwhile, Qi Chen worried about the consequences if Cheng Xi revealed Cheng Ruoyu's true identity to Chou Ziliang, fearing Chou Ziliang's violent temper and the wrath he would unleash if he discovered Yan Zhi's concealment. He hoped Cheng Xi had not fallen into Chou Ziliang's hands, or at least had kept Cheng Ruoyu's secret.
Elsewhere, Left Chariot relentlessly interrogated Cheng Xi, demanding to know if Cheng Ruoyu was Lingling and if Lingling was Wang Ruoling. Cheng Xi vehemently denied any knowledge, claiming Cheng Ruoyu was dead and deflecting Left Chariot's questions to Yan Zhi. Left Chariot, however, revealed he knew His Highness Prince Guang was the Right Minister and Cheng Xi's brother, accusing her of protecting him. Cheng Xi denied this.
Left Chariot boasted of uncovering many "interesting secrets" and warned of the master's wrath once Wang Ruoling was captured. Despite the pressure, Cheng Xi defiantly stated that as a daughter of the Qi family, she would never become a eunuch's pawn, and that only she had the right to harm Cheng Ruoyu. Emperor Qi Yan summoned Qi Chen, His Highness Prince Guang, to present his imperial will.
Qi Yan expressed that he should have died long ago and every day he lived was a bonus. He proposed a drastic plan: on his wedding day, he would ensure that his, Chou Ziliang's, and Yan Zhi's cups would all contain poison, ensuring they would die together, paving the way for Qi Chen.
Qi Chen strongly rejected this, not wishing to become emperor and expressing his unwavering trust in Yan Zhi, whom he called an "old friend" and trusted as much as himself. Qi Yan reminded Qi Chen that Yan Zhi had once betrayed Han Yue, but Qi Chen's conviction remained unshaken. Qi Chen warned against such a destructive act, stating that "destroying everything" would be like "removing the foundations" of the dynasty, leading to "chaos and collapse."
He urged Qi Yan to retract the decree. Qi Yan, already suspicious that Yan Zhi was Wang Ruoqing, found his suspicions further confirmed by Qi Chen's staunch defense of her. He shared his "chess game" strategy: first, inform Chou Ziliang of his critical illness; second, use covert agents to influence Chou Ziliang to fear an unreliable Prince Guang, thereby forcing Yan Zhi to marry Qi Yan quickly to stabilize Chou Ziliang's power.
This would disrupt Prince Guang's plans, revealing whether he would try to prevent the marriage to ascend the throne or ally with Yan Zhi to eliminate Chou Ziliang, effectively "killing two birds with one stone." Qi Yan explained that by dying, he would escape the power struggle, leaving the battle to Prince Guang and Chou Ziliang, and thus revealing Prince Guang's true desires. Cheng Ruoyu then questioned her role in this elaborate "chess game."
Qi Yan told her to leave Heng'an to create a distraction, acknowledging the dangers but emphasizing that it would allow her to gain clarity on many things, including Yan Zhi's true intentions. As Cheng Ruoyu embarked on her journey to Dongchuan, Left Chariot, accompanied by thirteen men, unexpectedly intercepted her, brandishing a Chess Command Token. Pawn to 7, acting on Yan Zhi's orders to protect Cheng Ruoyu, engaged Left Chariot in a fierce fight, allowing Cheng Ruoyu to escape.
Pawn to 7, wounded, returned to Yan Zhi and reported Left Chariot's attack and his possession of the Chess Command Token, an item usually reserved for the Chessmaster. Yan Zhi realized this meant her own identity, not just Cheng Ruoyu's, had been exposed. She deduced that Chou Ziliang had not taken more aggressive action because Left Chariot lacked concrete evidence.
Yan Zhi immediately sent Yan Xiu to find and protect Cheng Ruoyu, while she resolved to confront Chou Ziliang herself to verify the situation. Yan Zhi attempted to see Chou Ziliang, who was in seclusion, but was curtly dismissed. She then ordered her subordinates to keep a close watch on Chou Ziliang, specifically preventing Left Chariot from reporting to him. Yan Xiu successfully captured Left Chariot and brought him before Yan Zhi.
Yan Zhi pressed Left Chariot for information, and he defiantly revealed that he was Right Horse's younger brother and intended to expose both Cheng Ruoyu and Yan Zhi as sisters. He stated that Yan Zhi's capture of him, Wang Ruoqing, now confirmed everything to Chou Ziliang, and it was too late for her to explain her way out.
He taunted her, asking if she was afraid and declaring that if he died, all secrets—Wang Ruoling's, Prince Guang's, and Yan Zhi's—would be revealed to Chou Ziliang. Yan Zhi, in turn, threatened him with a "living hell" if he harmed Cheng Ruoyu. Shortly after, as Yan Zhi was trying to send Yan Xiu to protect Cheng Ruoyu, Chou Ziliang's Shen Cai Army arrived. Yan Zhi released a smoke bomb to cover Yan Xiu's escape, then confronted Chou Ziliang alone.
Chou Ziliang mocked her, calling their elaborate scheme a "splendid game." He then revealed he knew her true identity as Wang Ruoqing, a "clever girl" who had "hidden her brilliance" and "endured hardships silently" to become his heir. He then exposed Cheng Ruoyu, whom he called a "little fish" or Wang Ruoling, as Yan Zhi's younger sister, describing her as "strong-willed, straightforward, and equally radiant."
Chou Ziliang expressed his joy that both sisters were alive, seeing them as "hope" and "wisdom," and proclaimed it the "best thing" since his seclusion. Yan Zhi pleaded with him to grant her death, acknowledging that for him, death would be a mercy. Chou Ziliang retorted that she was "not even worthy of death" and then demanded to know what she desired. Yan Zhi offered to do anything if he would grant Cheng Ruoyu a swift death.
Chou Ziliang then summoned Qi Chen, the Right Minister, to join them. Chou Ziliang informed Qi Chen that Yan Zhi wanted her sister dead and asked for his opinion. Qi Chen concurred, also pleading for Cheng Ruoyu's death. Chou Ziliang, filled with hatred, recounted how Wang Ruoqing, Wang Ruoling, Qi Yan, and Qi Chen had mocked him, promising to repay them a hundredfold.
He declared he would keep them all alive to inflict "pain that pierces the soul," intending to "crush their spirits and grind their bones" slowly. Chou Ziliang orchestrated a cruel torture, suspending Qi Chen over a boiling pot of oil and forcing Yan Zhi to burn the rope holding it. As the rope slowly burned, threatening to drop Qi Chen into the cauldron, Chou Ziliang intervened, saving them just in time.
He then coldly instructed Yan Zhi that "life and death are like a game of chess" with "room to maneuver." He commanded her to quickly bear a son for Qi Yan, stating that the "dragon child" was her only hope, as Qi Yan's days were numbered. Chou Ziliang promised to support Yan Zhi in marrying Qi Yan and would assist her son in becoming emperor.
He also instructed Qi Chen to continue serving as the Right Minister and assist Yan Zhi's son. He praised them as "smart people" who cared only for "their own growth" and offered them "one more chance." Later, Chou Ziliang visited a weakened Qi Yan, feigning concern. He told Qi Yan that they had always been "on the same boat," but "disagreements arose, giving others the chance to exploit."
He implied that alliances "formed out of interest, naturally part ways for the same reason." Chou Ziliang revealed he had "arranged a little drama," a "pain that pierces the soul," refusing to bear it alone. Qi Yan, admitting that they had "brought this upon ourselves," pleaded with Chou Ziliang to spare Cheng Ruoyu. Chou Ziliang dismissively asked if that was still possible.
Qi Yan, desperate, struggled out of his bed and knelt, repeatedly begging Chou Ziliang to forgive him and spare Cheng Ruoyu, taking all the blame. Chou Ziliang, however, remained unmoved and turned to leave, ignoring Qi Yan's frantic pleas. In a moment of quiet reflection, Yan Zhi recalled a past encounter with Han Yue, lamenting that she had almost killed Chou Ziliang then, but ultimately failed. She grieved that General Han had sacrificed his life in vain, while Chou Ziliang remained alive, confirming her long-held realization that he was truly a demon.
