Stand By Me Episode 7 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Emperor Qi Yan confronted Cheng Xi, accusing her of misusing his hunting funds to secretly train three hundred assassins for the Yuzhen Workshop. He pressed her for her true intentions. Cheng Xi knelt, admitting her guilt. She explained that she suspected Yan Zhi was behind Zheng Wu's entry into the palace and the assassination attempts. Cheng Xi believed Yan Zhi used Zheng Wu to frame the Ziyi Bureau, and when that failed, orchestrated the tavern assassination.
Cheng Xi claimed she had no choice but to send assassins to silence Cai after Cai was captured and brutally tortured, which inadvertently led to the discovery of the Yuzhen Workshop. However, Qi Yan revealed he had independently traced his funds to Cai's Tavern and followed Cheng Ruoyu to the Yuzhen Workshop, thus uncovering Cheng Xi's secret operation. Qi Yan sternly declared his intention to dismiss Cheng Xi, who offered herself to his will.
He then announced that once Cheng Ruoyu recovered, she would fully take over both the Ziyi Bureau and the Yuzhen Workshop, becoming the true Sword Master. Cheng Ruoyu, lying injured in bed, heard the conversation and tried to intercede for her aunt but was too weak to move. Cheng Ruoyu struggled to sit up, prompting Qi Yan to quickly go to her side. However, she fainted from exhaustion.
Cheng Xi offered to check Cheng Ruoyu's pulse but admitted her own medical skills were inadequate. She suggested inviting Prince Qi Chen, known for his exceptional medical skills, to treat Cheng Ruoyu. Qi Yan, rejecting Cheng Xi's offer to accompany Cheng Ruoyu, declared he would take her himself and instructed Cheng Xi to remain in the Ziyi Bureau to recover.
Qi Yan then personally brought Cheng Ruoyu to Qi Chen's secluded cottage, urging his uncle to do everything possible to save her. While monitoring Cheng Ruoyu's condition, Qi Yan noticed a unique plant. Qi Chen identified it as "Buddha Smiled," a resilient plant that survived a lightning strike, earning its name because even Buddha would marvel at its tenacity. Qi Yan remarked that the flower's strength reminded him of Cheng Ruoyu.
Qi Chen advised Qi Yan to avoid acting alone in the coming days and mentioned he had sent the young Prince Xiao Ba to a relative's home in Huainan for safety. Yan Zhi, pondering the recent conflicts, concluded that Prince Qi Chen stood to gain the most from the clashes between the Ziyi Bureau and the Xiangqi Camp, and between Qi Yan and Chou Ziliang.
She hypothesized that if Qi Chen possessed the late emperor's imperial will, he could legitimately claim the throne. Believing the edict was not with either Qi Chen or Chou Ziliang, Yan Zhi ordered her subordinates to closely monitor Qi Chen. They reported that Qi Chen led a quiet life at his cottage, tending to plants with only his servant Yuan Du, who occasionally went to town for supplies.
Still uneasy, Yan Zhi decided to personally test Prince Qi Chen and sent Yan Xiu to his cottage. Meanwhile, Qi Chen had a candid conversation with Qi Yan, acknowledging the emperor's perilous situation. He pointed out Qi Yan's love for martial arts often led him to take personal risks, unlike the late emperor.
Qi Chen expressed his concern that Qi Yan was too isolated to effectively counter Chou Ziliang and announced his decision to return to court to assist him, declaring his unwavering loyalty and resolve to eliminate traitors. Qi Yan was overjoyed, but Qi Chen cautioned against rushing into action, advising patience for the right opportunity. The next morning, as Qi Yan prepared for court, he reflected on the words of Cheng Xi and Qi Chen.
While he held some skepticism towards them, his trust in Cheng Ruoyu remained unwavering. He immediately dispatched someone to reforge the broken Qingguang Sword. Later, Qi Yan visited the Grand Empress Dowager to discuss her upcoming 70th birthday. He proposed that Qi Chen manage the celebrations, despite knowing the Grand Empress Dowager's deep-seated dislike for Qi Chen, stemming from his mother's betrayal and the persistent rumors that Qi Chen was the rightful heir.
Qi Yan argued that he desperately needed an ally and that bringing Qi Chen back into the public eye would allow the people to see who truly deserved to be emperor. He also posited that the Grand Empress Dowager's public disapproval would ironically make Chou Ziliang more inclined to support Qi Chen's return.
After much persuasion, the Grand Empress Dowager reluctantly agreed, though she noted Qi Yan was the most inscrutable of the five emperors she had seen, likening his eyes to those of an eagle that would eventually blind Chou Ziliang. In court, Qi Yan announced the Grand Empress Dowager's desire for a modest birthday celebration, focusing on giving clothes and food to the common people.
When asked to propose someone to oversee the event, Chou Ziliang demurred, allowing Qi Yan to suggest Qi Chen. Chou Ziliang, seeing an opportunity to play on the Grand Empress Dowager's known dislike for Qi Chen, assented to his return. Shortly after, Yan Xiu arrived at the cottage. Qi Chen, sensing his presence despite claiming no martial arts skills, invited Yan Xiu for tea, explaining that everything in his garden possessed awareness.
The Right Marshal, a Xiangqi Camp operative who had been monitoring Qi Chen for years, also appeared, confirming he was spying. Yan Xiu questioned Qi Chen's seemingly peaceful life, but Qi Chen insisted he had done nothing untoward, prompting Yan Xiu to leave. The Right Marshal then approached Qi Chen, confessing that Chou Ziliang suspected him due to his lack of reports.
Qi Chen reassured him, stating they both had clear consciences, and gifted him a pot of "Buddha Smiled" as a token of appreciation for his quiet surveillance over the years. Yan Zhi, still suspicious, sought out the learned Left Prime Minister, using a new book, "The Tale of Liu Yi," to initiate a conversation about "Buddha Smiled." The Left Prime Minister revealed that the plant's roots were poisonous; its scent caused hallucinations, and ingestion led to a slow, smiling death.
He also explained that victims would experience intense discomfort and a sense of loss if they stopped exposure, making it difficult to discern the true cause of their symptoms. Yan Zhi, after considering this, found Qi Chen's public gift of "Buddha Smiled" to the Right Marshal illogical, concluding that Qi Chen's blatant act of leaving such a significant clue was a deliberate test, indicating his desire for a meeting. Back at the cottage, Cheng Ruoyu slowly regained consciousness.
She vaguely recalled Qi Yan scolding Cheng Xi and felt compelled to defend her aunt. Qi Chen reassured her that Qi Yan would not be too harsh on Cheng Xi and urged her to drink her medicine. Cheng Ruoyu asked when her injuries would fully heal. Qi Chen told her that her physical wounds were minor, but her recurring headaches would require prolonged care.
Just then, Qi Yan entered, and Cheng Ruoyu, still disoriented, mistook him for someone else before realizing he was the Emperor. She then learned it was Qi Yan who had brought her to the cottage. Qi Yan also learned that Qi Chen had previously saved Cheng Ruoyu from human traffickers, which led her to reunite with Cheng Xi. Qi Chen remarked on the karmic connection between them, then excused himself, leaving Qi Yan and Cheng Ruoyu alone.
Qi Yan presented Cheng Ruoyu with a newly reforged Qingguang Sword, fulfilling his promise to replace her broken one. He then reiterated his decision for her to take charge of the Ziyi Bureau and the Yuzhen Workshop, instructing her to return to the palace with him. Cheng Ruoyu, however, hesitated, asking if Qi Yan no longer trusted her aunt.
She candidly admitted her lack of confidence, explaining that her career choices were primarily driven by her aunt's wishes, even acknowledging that she might turn against Qi Yan if ordered by Cheng Xi. Qi Yan, surprisingly pleased by her honesty, remarked on how rare it was for him to hear the truth. He told her that as emperor, he had no choice but to rule, and she, as the chosen Sword Master, also had no choice.
Cheng Ruoyu seized the moment, requesting permission to re-investigate A-Wu's case to clear her name and to allow Cheng Xi a chance to atone. She passionately argued that only she could prevent Yan Zhi from controlling the Ziyi Bureau and help Qi Yan fight against her. Qi Yan, after a moment of consideration, agreed to her terms. Cheng Ruoyu eagerly asked for the truth about A-Wu's case.
Qi Yan admitted he had indeed allowed A-Wu to escape, having used a specially crafted arrow designed to cause a non-fatal injury and feigned death. He explained this was an experiment to test if such a method could be used for other purposes. Qi Yan also revealed that he had prevented a thorough investigation of A-Wu's injuries to keep his involvement a secret. However, he expressed disappointment that A-Wu had chosen death despite being given a chance at life.
He warned Cheng Ruoyu to be careful during her investigation and never to contemplate ending her own life. Later, as Cheng Ruoyu spotted countless fireflies dancing in the night sky, she gleefully chased them like a child. Qi Yan watched her, captivated by her innocence, and silently hoped that one day she would confide everything in him without reservation.
Upon her return to the Ziyi Bureau, Cheng Xi presented Cheng Ruoyu with a detailed roster of the three hundred assassins from the Yuzhen Workshop, who were currently in Qishan, and instructed her to bring them back to the capital when the time was right. Cheng Xi explained that the Qingguang Sword was the symbol of authority, making its bearer their master. Cheng Ruoyu then asked Cheng Xi to confirm if she had indeed ordered the murder of Cai.
Cheng Xi admitted to it, speaking with a hint of self-reproach, which Cheng Ruoyu understood as a necessary, albeit cruel, act. Cheng Xi then initiated Cheng Ruoyu's training, detailing the coded music scores used for Yuzhen Workshop's operations and explaining that the assassins were trained for self-sacrifice. She sternly reminded Cheng Ruoyu that a Sword Master protects the king not with a sword, but with their life, proclaiming Cheng Ruoyu to be Qi Yan's "second life."
