Stand By Me Episode 8 Recap
> Stand By Me Recap
Cheng Ruoyu returned to the Ziyi Bureau, a heavy burden in her heart as she vowed to uncover the truth and seek justice for A-Wu. She soon encountered Yan Zhi, who congratulated her on her reinstatement. Cheng Ruoyu, however, did not accept the congratulations. Instead, she accused Yan Zhi of manipulating her to expose the Yuzhen Workshop and Cheng Xi to His Majesty.
Yan Zhi insisted that she disliked Cheng Xi but favored Cheng Ruoyu, claiming the Yuzhen Workshop incident was a "gift for Cheng Ruoyu's promotion." Cheng Ruoyu saw through her words, asserting that Yan Zhi's true aim was to keep Qi Yan under Chou Ziliang's control. Yan Zhi then proposed that they join forces against a third party lurking in the shadows.
Cheng Ruoyu flatly refused, but Yan Zhi remained unperturbed, confident that Cheng Ruoyu would eventually come around and welcome her anytime. Later, Qi Yan held a blood-stained handkerchief, remembering the technique Zheng Lu had taught him: by shooting an arrow swiftly and precisely into the gap between the ribs and spine above the heart, a person could be saved, making their death appear real to others. He had practiced this for years.
During the Chaolu Rebellion, he used this method on three individuals, including A-Wu. He wondered about the fate of the other two, challenging them to seek revenge if they were still alive. Cheng Ruoyu arrived at Qi Yan's quarters to guard him, suspecting he planned to sneak out of the palace disguised as a masked figure again. Qi Yan told her to go rest, but she refused.
She reported her conversation with Yan Zhi in detail, expressing regret for refusing Yan Zhi's offer to collaborate against the third party. Cheng Ruoyu then proposed that Qi Yan establish his own Xiangqi Camp to counter Chou Ziliang. Qi Yan was amused by her ideas and tried to send her away. However, as he pushed her, he slipped and fell, inadvertently pulling Cheng Ruoyu down with him. Their lips met in an accidental kiss.
Just then, Cheng Huaizhi walked in, letting out a startled cry. Cheng Ruoyu, blushing furiously, quickly scrambled off Qi Yan and fled. That night, Yan Zhi and Yan Xiu visited Qi Chen, immediately questioning him about the "Buddha's Mockery" plant he sent Right Horse. Qi Chen clarified that it was a gift for Yan Zhi, hoping she would use it to "turn chaos into joy."
Yan Zhi suspected Qi Chen intended to use her to eliminate Right Horse, to which Qi Chen retorted that Yan Zhi was the one who truly wished to get rid of Right Horse. Subsequently, Right Horse presented the "Buddha's Mockery" to Chou Ziliang. Chou Ziliang, furious, smashed the plant on the spot. Right Horse, cradling the broken plant, desperately tried to explain his loyalty, then took his own life.
Yan Zhi firmly believed in Right Horse's loyalty, convinced that Qi Chen had deliberately manipulated Chou Ziliang. She requested permission to punish Qi Chen, but Chou Ziliang advised against acting prematurely, emphasizing the ongoing power struggle with Qi Yan. Undeterred by Chou Ziliang's caution, Yan Zhi led the Xiangqi Camp into Qi Chen's hermitage, ordering them to destroy all the plants. Qi Chen watched calmly as his hermitage was ransacked, understanding that this act would make his opponents feel secure.
Meanwhile, Cheng Ruoyu practiced archery at the training grounds. Qi Yan personally guided her, teaching her to hold the bow steady, draw it with control, and maintain a steady mind. Under his tutelage, Cheng Ruoyu hit every target, expressing her heartfelt gratitude to Qi Yan. Qi Chen later met with Qi Yan to discuss arrangements for the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday, presenting a list of surviving Qi family descendants.
Qi Yan then informed him of the Military Governor of Lu Cong's death. Both expressed a desire for Princess Ninghe, who had married into Lu Cong, to return, but acknowledged that Chou Ziliang's animosity towards her would prevent it. Overhearing their conversation, Cheng Ruoyu excitedly interjected, mentioning that Princess Ninghe had taken many rare music scores when she married. She eagerly asked Qi Yan to write a letter to the princess to request copies of the scores.
Qi Yan, caught between amusement and frustration, signaled Cheng Huaizhi to reprimand Cheng Ruoyu, effectively silencing her. Qi Chen commented that Cheng Ruoyu brought a rare liveliness to Changming Palace, even if she gave Qi Yan a headache. Elsewhere, Yan Xiu sought advice from the Left Prime Minister in the Imperial Library, but was unceremoniously dismissed by the busy official. Shortly after, Left Horse, a former Xiangqi Camp member, unexpectedly returned.
He offered to investigate the poison on the assassin's needle, requesting ten individuals of various ages and genders for testing. Left Horse revealed that he had left to clear his head after losing the competition for the Chessmaster position to Yan Zhi, but had returned upon hearing of Right Horse's death. He instructed Yan Xiu to deliver a message to Yan Zhi, telling her to step down as Chessmaster. Cheng Ruoyu diligently studied documents related to the Xiangqi Camp.
Qi Yan, after sending Cheng Huaizhi away, surprised Cheng Ruoyu by pouring her tea when she instinctively tapped for a refill. He then explained the Xiangqi Camp's brutal elimination system, noting that it was far more ruthless than that of the Yuzhen Workshop. Cheng Ruoyu, flattered by Qi Yan's attention, poured him more tea and tried to cheer him up, though Qi Yan found her efforts overwhelming.
Left Horse soon identified the poison on the needle as from a pufferfish, also known as "hou tai." He realized that the late Emperor had also used this very poison to take his own life. Eager to report his findings, he rushed to Yan Zhi, only to find that she already knew. Left Horse left, disheartened.
Meanwhile, Cheng Xi, learning of Qi Chen's presence in the palace, came to confess her failures, particularly losing the Yuzhen Workshop and Qi Yan's trust. Qi Chen reassured her, stating that neither he nor the late Emperor would blame her. His primary concern was the "third person" involved in recent events. He instructed Yuan Du to share his findings with Cheng Xi, revealing that the third person was Hong Gu, an elderly maid from Hanliang Hall.
Hong Gu was once Princess Ninghe's handmaiden and had fallen from grace to become a palace gatekeeper after the princess married afar. Qi Chen suspected Hong Gu intentionally ignited the conflict between Qi Yan and Chou Ziliang, hoping to use Qi Yan to eliminate Chou Ziliang and pave the way for Princess Ninghe's return. Cheng Xi, however, suspected Princess Ninghe herself, a notion Qi Chen vehemently denied, believing Ninghe to be "simple and kind-hearted."
Later, Cheng Ruoyu spotted a masked figure entering Qi Yan's bedchamber and followed. The figure was revealed to be Han Ding, one of Qi Yan's trusted confidantes. Qi Yan introduced them. Han Ding's investigation also pointed to Hong Gu as the third party. He revealed that Hong Gu's elder sister was A-Wu's wet nurse, and Hong Gu herself had suspiciously drowned in Taiye Pool three days after A-Wu's death.
Han Ding confirmed that Hong Gu had received a letter from Princess Ninghe from Lu Cong, though its contents were unknown. Han Ding had personally traveled to Lu Cong, only to find Princess Ninghe's whereabouts unknown. Qi Yan ordered him to continue the search. Cheng Ruoyu immediately volunteered to join the search for Princess Ninghe, hoping to bring justice to A-Wu. Qi Yan, however, forbade her from taking such a risk.
In the presence of Qi Chen and Cheng Xi, Cheng Ruoyu then directly addressed Qi Yan about the rumors circulating outside the palace that he had killed the late Emperor and usurped Qi Chen's rightful place on the throne. She firmly declared these rumors to be false. Cheng Ruoyu argued that Qi Yan had deliberately allowed A-Wu to escape, showed her mercy despite her repeated failures, and even suffered injuries protecting her.
She asserted that such a benevolent ruler could not be a cold-blooded regicide or usurper. Qi Chen, while listening to her defense, stated that if the rumors were true and the throne was gained through such chaos and the murder of a nephew, he would disdain to claim it.
