Resumen del episodio 38 de A Splendid Match
> Resúmenes de A Splendid Match
Xue Qinglan confronted Ye Xian as he prepared to leave the capital, demanding to accompany him. Ye Xian flatly refused, warning her to stop following him and meddling in his affairs. He made it clear that he had no romantic feelings for her and revealed he had already notified her father. Soon after, servants from the Xue family arrived and forcibly took a crying Xue Qinglan back home, leaving Ye Xian to continue his journey.
Meanwhile, Ji Yao led his convoy along the dangerous road to the border. Along the way, they encountered a massive crowd of refugees fleeing south from Shicheng, who brought news of Chunyuan remnants attacking the imperial envoy and leaving many dead or missing. Despite the guards' terror of the perilous Bitter Ridge, Ji Yao kept them motivated by promising to triple their wages and grant a substantial silver bonus to everyone once they safely returned.
Unbeknownst to Gu Jinzhao, Ye Xian and his men traveled ahead of her caravan, quietly clearing the path of bandits to ensure her safety. When his guard, Li Xianhuai, questioned why he was helping her in secret instead of traveling together, Ye Xian explained that if Gu Jinzhao knew he was there, she would only insist on sending him back to safety. It was far better to keep his distance until they reached Shicheng.
Upon arriving in Shicheng, Ji Yao's convoy managed to secure the last two rooms at a local inn, but only because of the prestige of the Ji family name. Nearby, Ye Xian kept a watchful eye on the area. Li Xianhuai expressed concern over the suspicious timing of the local commander going into mourning right when the envoy vanished, and begged Ye Xian to take better care of his failing health.
Before Ye Xian could dismiss his worries, Gu Jinzhao’s cries for help echoed nearby. Ye Xian rushed to her side in a panic, only to realize she had feigned danger to lure him out of hiding. Gu Jinzhao urged Ye Xian to return to the capital with his guards, explaining that she was prepared to search beyond the pass and even enter the Northern Wastes alone to find Chen Yanyun.
She pleaded with him not to be reckless for the sake of his family. Ye Xian stubbornly refused. Their argument was cut short when alarms blared at the city gate, signaling the approach of a large force of Northern Barbarians. Realizing the local commander had fled and left the garrison leaderless, Ye Xian resolved to stay and defend the city.
He dispatched warning letters to Menyuan and Yi County, urging Gu Jinzhao to flee south immediately while he rallied the remaining soldiers. As Gu Jinzhao and her group fled the city, they were ambushed by the advancing enemy. Cornered by a barbarian soldier, Gu Jinzhao stabbed her attacker and blew the emergency whistle Chen Yanyun had given her. Chen Yanyun suddenly appeared to strike down the foe and rescue her, promising to take her home safely.
After regrouping with Ye Xian, the party uncovered a dark conspiracy. They discovered a portrait of Lady Weirui, the Grand Secretary's wife, revealing her connection to the Chunyuan Cult. Ye Xian and Chen Yanyun deduced that Grand Secretary Fu had colluded with the Chunyuan remnants to control the court through military intelligence, but had ultimately been betrayed and used by the Northern Barbarians' second prince to facilitate the invasion.
Although Chen Yanyun had sent a warning back to the capital, they feared the Grand Secretary would intercept it to protect himself, especially if he knew Chen Yanyun was still alive. Their planning was interrupted by a scout's report that an army of eight hundred Northern Barbarians carrying heavy baggage was marching toward Tiger Roar Gorge. At the refugee camp, Gu Jinzhao noticed that morale was critically low among the soldiers and civilians, with many planning to desert.
She quickly informed Chen Yanyun of the situation. Knowing they had only four hundred men, Chen Yanyun proposed using the legendary reputation of the Ye family to inspire the troops, as many of their men were veterans who had once served under Ye Xian's father. Ye Xian stepped forward dressed in the legendary armor and red-plumed helmet gifted to his father by the late emperor.
The sight of the Ye Family Army banner and the ancestral armor instantly galvanized the veterans, who stepped forward one by one to report their old ranks and declare their allegiance. Delivering a rousing speech of their past victories, Ye Xian promised generous rewards for bravery, rallying the motivated soldiers behind him and Chen Yanyun to defend their land.
Before the men departed for the gorge, Gu Jinzhao bid farewell to Ye Xian, promising they would share Zhaoyebai wine together upon his victorious return. While those left behind prepared bandages and medicine, Gu Jinzhao urged Ji Yao to escape if the battle went poorly. Ji Yao firmly refused, declaring that though his family were merchants, they possessed a fierce desire to protect their country.
At the front line, Chen Yanyun observed the approaching enemy vanguard and noticed a crucial detail: they carried no baggage wagons. He realized the eight hundred barbarians had split into two distinct forces of four hundred. To avoid being pincered, they had to strike fast before the second wave arrived. He immediately sent a messenger to warn Ye Xian of the situation. The battle erupted fiercely at the gorge as Chen Yanyun's forces ambushed the first wave.
Although they initially held the upper hand, the physical superiority of the barbarians began to overwhelm them. A scout delivered grim news to the camp: their musket ammunition was exhausted, and their battered forces were losing ground in close-quarters combat. Hearing this, Gu Jinzhao became extremely anxious and wanted to go find Chen Yanyun. However, Ji Yao stopped her, reminding her that they could not abandon the many civilians in their care.
Left with no choice, Gu Jinzhao stayed to protect the refugees. The clash grew increasingly desperate as the second wave of four hundred barbarians pressed forward, causing heavy casualties. As the battle raged, the enemy archers released a deadly volley of arrows. To protect Ye Xian, his loyal guard Li Xianhuai threw himself in front of him, shielding him from the lethal barrage. Collapsing into Ye Xian's arms, the dying guard urged his master to survive at all costs before taking his final breath.
