Stand By Me Episode 46 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Qi Yan and Chou Yanzhi had meticulously prepared their plan, but Cheng Ruoyu's ingenious use of a false Li Deyun to mislead Chou Ziliang proved to be a crucial factor in the successful execution of Qi Yan's plan. Qi Yan had earlier embedded agents within the Shen Cai Army, inciting the soldiers to cause a disturbance at Danfeng Tower.
Qi Yan revealed that he had deliberately kept Gao Ping by his side, describing him as diligent, aware of what he should know, and ignorant of what he shouldn't. Qi Yan then instructed Gao Ping to retrieve an item from his study, giving him the choice to either deliver it to Qi Yan or keep it.
He further disclosed that he had located Gao Ping’s long-lost younger sister, Xiao Chai, who had sold herself into servitude due to their family's poverty. Qi Yan had Xiao Chai sent to Gao Ping’s home, presenting Gao Ping with a choice between achieving lasting fame or quietly perishing within the palace. Gao Ping ultimately chose the path to fame. Cheng Ruoyu confronted Qi Yan, expressing her confusion and hurt at being kept in the dark.
She questioned why Chou Yanzhi would risk her life to save her, the secrets Chou Yanzhi might be harboring, and why Qi Yan would ally with Chou Yanzhi and Prince Guang, whom she had previously believed to be a rival. Qi Yan acknowledged that it was time to reveal the full truth. He explained that Wang Yang’s death was a pivotal step in the Chaolu Rebellion, a plan originally conceived by Li Xu to eliminate Chou Ziliang.
The late emperor, fearing the plan’s failure and subsequent retaliation, sacrificed himself to preserve a "flame" for Da Xing – that flame being Qi Yan. He tasked Qi Yan with enduring hardships silently under Chou Ziliang’s nose. Wang Yang, Qi Yan's mentor, also joined the plan, and they agreed that if the primary plan failed, rumors of an imperial will would be spread to attract Chou Ziliang’s attention, leading Han Yue to Wang Yang’s home with the edict.
Qi Yan recounted how his mentor instructed him to personally kill him in front of Chou Ziliang to gain the eunuch's complete trust. Qi Yan had prepared a special arrow for this purpose, but Chou Ziliang acted first, shooting Wang Yang. In a desperate move to save Cheng Ruoyu, Qi Yan then shot her with the specially crafted arrow, thus preserving her life.
When Cheng Ruoyu asked about Chou Yanzhi, Qi Yan simply stated that Chou Yanzhi was also a descendant of a loyal official involved in the Chaolu Rebellion, sharing the same fate as himself and A Wu. Word reached Qi Yan that Imperial Consort Shu (Chou Yanzhi) was in critical condition. It was revealed that Qi Chen, accompanied by Gao Ping, had found Chou Yanzhi unconscious from a heart condition after rescuing her.
Learning of Chou Yanzhi’s grave illness, Cheng Ruoyu rushed back to the palace. Qi Chen, explaining he needed to return to the Xiangqi Camp dungeon to complete his part of the act, urged Cheng Ruoyu to stay and care for Chou Yanzhi. As Chou Yanzhi lay unconscious, Cheng Ruoyu wept, expressing her profound apologies for ever doubting Chou Yanzhi and for succumbing to Chou Ziliang's manipulative tactics, as well as her aunt’s framing.
She reflected on how the intricate mechanisms at Xiangqi Camp, which Chou Yanzhi had taught her, had saved her life, solidifying her trust. When Chou Yanzhi finally regained consciousness, Cheng Ruoyu profusely apologized again. Chou Yanzhi comforted her and, deeming Heng'an too perilous, urged Cheng Ruoyu to leave the city with Yan Xiu, who had promised to protect her with his life.
Cheng Ruoyu, however, insisted on staying and pressed Chou Yanzhi to reveal the "special reason" for her fierce protection. Qi Yan then arrived, and Chou Yanzhi promised to disclose everything the following day, contingent on both of them surviving, as someone significant was scheduled to arrive in Heng'an. Meanwhile, Chou Ziliang was in a fit of rage and despair, having lost control of his troops and feeling betrayed by those around him, including a eunuch named Xiao Jiuzi.
Despite his defeat, he refused to yield, instructing Zuoche to assassinate Zhang Zhongru and other generals, promising Zuoche command of the Xiangqi Camp in return for their heads. That night, Qi Yan and Cheng Ruoyu stood on the city wall, gazing at the lit-up Heng'an, anticipating the resolution that tomorrow would bring.
Qi Yan reflected on his good fortune compared to his predecessors Zheng Lu and Li Xu, having loyal allies like his mentor, Li Deyun, and Cheng Ruoyu by his side. He vowed to restore a prosperous and peaceful era to the nation, a promise Cheng Ruoyu wholeheartedly believed. Qi Yan then tenderly asked Cheng Ruoyu if she would share this glorious era with him.
Cheng Ruoyu affirmed her commitment as his "sword-bearer," declaring their destiny to be forever intertwined, brought together and made inseparable by fate itself. Zuoche diligently carried out his orders, sending Xiangqi Camp soldiers to eliminate the targeted generals. By morning, Zuoche presented Zhang Zhongru’s head to Chou Ziliang, who then appointed him as the new commander. As dawn broke, Qi Yan and Cheng Ruoyu watched the sunrise together before Cheng Huaizhi arrived to remind Qi Yan of the morning court.
Hand in hand, they returned to the palace. Chou Ziliang, determined to disrupt the morning court, ordered Zuoche to mobilize the Shen Cai Army. Cheng Ruoyu assisted Qi Yan in donning his imperial robes. Qi Yan entered the golden hall, attended by Cheng Ruoyu with her Qingguang sword, and immediately noticed the absence of several key officials, including Zhang Zhongru.
Chou Ziliang then made a dramatic entrance, carrying what he claimed was Zhang Zhongru’s head, and taunted Qi Yan, implying that more heads of defiant officials would follow. He openly challenged Qi Yan's authority and cautioned the assembled civil and military officials. Qi Yan calmly ordered Cheng Ruoyu to prepare Zhang Zhongru's head for a proper burial, but Chou Ziliang defiantly prevented her, forcing Qi Yan to physically retrieve the head himself.
At that critical moment, Liu Misha arrived with Zhenwu vassals, presenting a birthday gift for Qi Yan. The gift, upon opening, was revealed to be the Zhenwu Golden Command, granting Qi Yan authority over 80,000 elite Zhenwu troops. Chou Ziliang was visibly stunned to find Liu Misha alive, having believed her dead after his repeated attempts to capture and imprison her, which had left her face disfigured by Zuoche.
Liu Misha defiantly recounted her ordeal and revealed that the 80,000 Zhenwu soldiers were already positioned outside Heng'an, demanding justice from Chou Ziliang. Chou Ziliang, furious at his intelligence failure, roared at his subordinates for their incompetence. He then threatened Qi Yan, boasting of his power to eliminate any general and even the Emperor himself.
Cheng Ruoyu, however, calmly questioned Chou Ziliang's certainty, asking if he was sure the head he carried was truly Zhang Zhongru's, implying Zuoche might have made a mistake. Chou Ziliang, ignoring the doubt, commanded the Shen Cai Army to surround the golden hall. To his shock, the Shen Cai Army soldiers were already being subdued by Zhang Zhongru and Han Ding’s forces, who had been secretly placed by Qi Yan to purge the "rebellious elements" within the army.
Despite this setback, Chou Ziliang defiantly challenged Qi Yan, boasting that the Emperor would never dare to harm him, a mere "insignificant small fry" surrounded by "useless incompetent fools." He confidently strode out of the hall, bellowed to close the palace gates, and declared his intention for a final confrontation.
