Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 29 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
Qixiang accidentally cut her hand while performing chores and confessed to Wei that she had been feeling restless and anxious for days, fearing something terrible was about to befall her brother, Zhao Fengchu. She explained that their appointed meeting time was nearing, yet she had received no word from him. Wei, already aware of Zhao Fengchu’s disappearance, tried to comfort Qixiang, reassuring her that her brother would return safely.
Qixiang expressed the profound bond she shared with Zhao Fengchu, as they were orphans who grew up depending solely on each other, with him serving as both brother and father. She acknowledged his ideals and ambitions, but admitted she had never been so worried about his current mission. Wei, hearing Qixiang’s deep concerns, hesitated to reveal the painful truth. Meanwhile, Yinti discussed his scheme, believing the time was ripe to leverage public opinion and bring down Yinzhen and Yinxiang.
He noted that Yinzhen's brutal torture of Eldest Baylor had already caused a public outcry, and he intended to further fan the flames to force Eldest Baylor's release. Simultaneously, Kangxi received numerous memorials impeaching Yinzhen. Yinti further swayed Kangxi, claiming Yinzhen’s actions were disgraceful and had alienated many officials. Kangxi eventually decreed that if Yinzhen failed to produce results by the end of the day, Eldest Baylor would be released.
In prison, Eldest Baylor, despite being severely tortured and disfigured, defiantly sang a sorrowful tune, lamenting his unjust plight. Elsewhere, Yinxiang continued his urgent search for Zhao Fengchu in the southern mountains. It was then that he received the shocking news: Eldest Baylor had hanged himself in prison. Following this suicide, numerous ministers implored Kangxi to thoroughly investigate Yinzhen and administer severe punishment, arguing that Eldest Baylor had been unjustly persecuted to his death and that justice must be served.
Shun'er prepared to take a change of clothes to Yinxiang, who was in the palace dealing with the fallout from Yinzhen’s impeachment. Wei overheard this and realized that Eldest Baylor’s death intensified the danger to Zhao Fengchu. Anxious, she immediately sought out Qixiang. Wei found Qixiang waiting stubbornly in the rain at their agreed meeting spot, refusing to return until her brother arrived.
Unable to keep silent any longer, Wei finally broke the news: Zhao Fengchu was missing, and his fate was unknown. Qixiang, determined to rescue her brother, declared she would go alone to find him. However, Wei insisted on accompanying her, stating she knew roughly where to look. Meanwhile, Zhao Fengchu was being subjected to brutal torture and interrogation.
Despite his immense pain, he remained defiant, expressing contempt for his captors who prioritized selfish gains over the safety of the nation and its soldiers. In a cruel response to his defiance, his captors callously blinded him. Qixiang and Wei journeyed to the southern mountains. After an accidental tumble down a small cliff, Qixiang discovered a special, blood-stained flower crafted by her brother, confirming his presence nearby.
They located a hidden mechanism behind an old Buddhist niche, which opened a secret door to a chamber where they finally found Zhao Fengchu, severely injured and blinded. With the gravely wounded Zhao Fengchu, Qixiang and Wei faced a barrage of attackers. Despite his injuries, Zhao Fengchu fought valiantly, but the overwhelming number of enemies forced them to split up. Wei cleverly distracted some of the pursuers, and just as she sustained an injury, Yinxiang arrived and rescued her.
Meanwhile, Qixiang and Zhao Fengchu managed to evade their pursuers, but Zhao Fengchu had been struck by several arrows. Clinging to life, he handed Qixiang a note containing the location of the vault. After a long separation, their reunion ended tragically. Zhao Fengchu, though dying, expressed contentment at being in his beloved sister’s arms, but voiced his regrets about leaving her and his unfulfilled dreams. Heartbroken, Qixiang cradled her brother, who slowly passed away as she sang their childhood lullaby.
When Yinxiang and Wei arrived at the scene, they found only Zhao Fengchu’s body. Yinxiang was devastated by the loss of his close friend, feeling a profound sense of indebtedness. However, he acknowledged that Zhao Fengchu’s death was not in vain, as he had successfully provided the crucial location of the vault. The next day at court, the ministers once again pressed for severe punishment for Yinzhen, accusing him of forcing Eldest Baylor to commit suicide.
Yinzhen chose not to defend himself, stating that people only believe what they see and act in their own self-interest. Kangxi, left with no alternative, ordered Yinzhen’s imprisonment. However, just as the sentence was about to be carried out, Yinxiang arrived. He presented hidden treasures from Eldest Baylor’s vault along with a detailed account book, offering irrefutable proof of Eldest Baylor’s corruption.
This evidence enraged Kangxi, who, without further punishing Yinzhen, adjourned the court and ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Court of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Still reeling from the reality of Zhao Fengchu’s death, Qixiang sat at his grave, speaking to him as if he were still alive, offering his favorite food and wine. She desperately pleaded for him to return, lamenting that she had lost her only remaining family.
Yinxiang and Wei arrived to comfort her. Yinxiang assured Qixiang that she was not alone and that he and Wei would now be her family. Inspired by a mended, plum-shaped object that symbolized perseverance, Qixiang resolved to honor her brother's memory by living strongly, for herself and for him.
