Stand By Me Episode 44 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Chou Ziliang arranged for Cheng Xi's release, but as Cheng Xi attempted to return Li Rong's ashes to their hometown for burial, she was ambushed by assassins. Cheng Ruoyu arrived in time to save her, and Cheng Xi, claiming she wasn't a good person herself, vehemently asserted that Yan Zhi was far worse. Soon after, Yan Xiu pursued them, advising Cheng Ruoyu not to trust Cheng Xi's words.
Cheng Xi then pushed Cheng Ruoyu away and deliberately ran onto Yan Xiu's sword, sacrificing herself. Cheng Ruoyu, believing Yan Xiu had murdered her aunt, screamed at him, while Yan Xiu, unable to explain, simply left a bottle of wound medicine before departing. Before her death, Cheng Xi repeatedly warned Cheng Ruoyu that Yan Zhi was manipulative, not only exploiting Qi Yan but also deceiving Qi Chen to serve her own ambitions of ascending the throne.
Cheng Xi, with her last breath, spoke many harsh truths about Yan Zhi, sacrificing her life to sow discord between Cheng Ruoyu and Yan Zhi. Overcome with grief, Cheng Ruoyu honorably buried her aunt. Chou Ziliang, informed of Cheng Xi's death, noted her cunning in using her own life to pit the "Wang sisters" against each other, and planned to further fan the flames of this "psychological warfare." Later, Cheng Huaizhi brought a cat to Qi Yan.
Yan Zhi, who was present, was visibly terrified and began to itch uncontrollably. Qi Yan then confronted her, revealing her true identity as Wang Ruoqing. He pointed out that while one's appearance, personality, or voice might change, an innate physical reaction, like her allergy to cats, never would. Yan Zhi was stunned. Meanwhile, Cheng Ruoyu witnessed soldiers gathering at Danfeng Tower, demanding their military pay from Li Deyun.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, she rushed back to the palace to confront Yan Zhi. She accused Yan Zhi of betraying the late Han Yue and manipulating Qi Yan solely to become Empress, threatening to kill her to avenge Li Rong and Cheng Xi. Zuoche, observing the scene from his wheelchair, watched with keen interest. As Cheng Ruoyu drew a dagger to strike Yan Zhi, Qi Yan swiftly intervened.
Zuoche, feigning concern for Yan Zhi, ordered his men to seize Cheng Ruoyu as an assassin. Qi Yan fiercely protected Cheng Ruoyu until Cheng Huaizhi arrived with Imperial Guards, dispersing Zuoche's forces. Zuoche then instructed his men to take the injured Yan Zhi for medical treatment before retreating, still in his wheelchair. Qi Yan, nearly revealing Yan Zhi was Cheng Ruoyu's sister, managed to restrain himself.
Wishing to prevent the sisters from fighting, he urged Cheng Ruoyu to leave immediately, promising to thoroughly investigate Yan Zhi's affairs. Cheng Ruoyu reluctantly complied, being escorted away by Huaizhi. Qi Yan realized Chou Ziliang's calculated move to force the sisters into conflict. Zuoche reported back to Chou Ziliang, confirming Yan Zhi's despair and Cheng Ruoyu's distress.
Chou Ziliang, confident that Yan Zhi's past deceptions would prevent Cheng Ruoyu from believing the truth if it were revealed, ordered Zuoche to continue the psychological warfare. Around the same time, Li Zening informed her father, Li Deyun, that Chou Ziliang had blamed him for the military pay cuts, leading hundreds of soldiers to riot at Danfeng Tower.
Despite Li Zening's pleas for him to stay home for his safety, Li Deyun insisted on facing the agitated soldiers, believing the Emperor had his own plans. He told his daughter that if anything happened to him, she should return to Lingnan and never come back, though Li Zening assured him that good would triumph over evil. Subsequently, Zuoche sent men to follow Cheng Ruoyu, but she quickly noticed them.
She cornered one of them on a rooftop and learned that Zuoche was investigating an imperial will. Qi Yan urged Yan Zhi to reveal her true identity to Cheng Ruoyu, explaining that Chou Ziliang already knew and his intention was to see Cheng Ruoyu collapse from the truth. Yan Zhi, however, firmly refused, begging Qi Yan not to expose her secret.
She expressed her desire for Cheng Ruoyu to forever take pride in the honorable Wang family, believing that the "bloodstained sinner" she had become would tarnish that legacy. Qi Yan promised to honor her wish. Later, Cheng Ruoyu secretly met Han Ding, hoping to learn more about Yan Zhi's identity, but he claimed ignorance. Cheng Ruoyu astutely deduced that Chou Ziliang intended to use the military pay dispute to eliminate Li Deyun.
She devised a foolproof strategy and asked Han Ding to relay it to Qi Yan, reaffirming her unwavering loyalty as his "King's swordsman." Han Ding reported Cheng Ruoyu's words and plan to Qi Yan, who, touched by her loyalty, instructed him to proceed with their original plan to lure the soldiers to Danfeng Tower, cooperating with Cheng Ruoyu's scheme.
Han Ding also revealed that Chou Ziliang had imprisoned all middle-ranking generals of the Xiangqi Camp, including Prince Kuang, to appoint new "Jinzi pieces." He noted that the "pawns" only recognized the Chess Command Token, not the individual. Yan Zhi then disclosed that she had preemptively stolen Zuoche's Chess Command Token and handed it to Han Ding, enabling them to install their own people within the Xiangqi Camp.
Recognizing the need for allies, Cheng Ruoyu sought help from the Ziyi Bureau. She found the once bustling bureau empty but filled with lingering memories. Revealing her true identity as Wang Ruoling, a descendant of the annihilated Wang family, she pleaded with Yuniang to lead the Ziyi Bureau in helping her eliminate the eunuch faction and clear her grandfather's name.
Yuniang, acknowledging Cheng Ruoyu as the Sword Bearer of the Ziyi Bureau, entrusted her with the Qingguang sword and requested that they first rescue Qi Chen, cautioning against any rash actions in such a heavily guarded operation. Meanwhile, Qi Yan's health continued to deteriorate despite consuming the medicine prescribed by Tian Shan. He suspected the medicine was problematic but felt he had no alternative, believing his continued reign was crucial for the legacy of the Qi clan.
Chou Ziliang then sent an invitation for Qi Yan and Consort Shu (Yan Zhi) to attend the selection of new flag bearers for the Xiangqi Camp. Upon their arrival, Chou Ziliang, feigning illness, refused to kneel before Qi Yan and brazenly demanded that Consort Shu personally brew tea for him. That same morning, Cheng Ruoyu returned to the Ziyi Bureau to bid farewell to Yuniang, only to find her gone, immediately sensing that something was amiss.
