Eternal Brotherhood Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Eternal Brotherhood Synopsis
Young Zichuan Xiu, after defending the imperial capital of Zichuan from danger, finds himself framed and exiled to the borderlands by Yang Minghua. Many years later, having earned military merits, he returns to the imperial capital only to discover that his family is facing imminent crisis. Yang Minghua, now the Captain, is plotting rebellion from within, while external threats loom with the menacing presence of the Saiya and the Liufeng. To protect Zichuan Ning and fulfill the promises made in their youth, Zichuan Xiu, along with his sworn brothers Di Lin and Si Te Lin, set out to eradicate the rebellion.
Facing invasion by foreign forces, Zichuan Xiu journeys to the Far East, leading a rebellion of half-beast people to overthrow the brutal rule of the Saiya tribe. He establishes himself as the ruler of the Far East, earning the title "Radiant King." Subsequently, he engages in battles both in the south and the north, experiencing the baptism of blood and fire, and the clash of blades and swords. He grows into a continent's guardian with a vision for the world. Upon learning of the imminent threat of barbarian invasion to the continent, he sacrifices everything, leading his troops into the vast wilderness to confront a million barbarians.
Eternal Brotherhood Recap
Episode 1 Recap
The Zichuan Kingdom and the North Clan had been fighting for years, leaving the border people in dire straits. This time, the North Clan commander Gesha led 300,000 troops directly towards Hengchuan, a heavily fortified area on the Zichuan border, appearing determined to take it in one fell swoop. After hearing this news, the deputy commanders of Hengchuan, Bai Chuan, Luo Jie, and Ming Yu, were somewhat worried, but Zichuan Xiu, who was the banner leader, had not appeared yet.
Gesha was known as the North Clan's fiercest general, and this campaign was a sure victory for him. As the two sides were about to engage, Gesha issued three military orders. Just as the third military order was about to be sent, a masked figure hidden in the sand dunes quickly attacked, killing Gesha with a single clean sword strike. With their main general dead, the North Clan soldiers began to retreat.
Bai Chuan and the others worried it was a North Clan ploy and dared not pursue easily, so she came to seek instructions from Zichuan Xiu. Zichuan Xiu's nonchalant attitude angered Bai Chuan. He then easily made the decision to pursue, ordering Luo Jie to lead the cavalry to strike hard at the fleeing North Clan soldiers, and then waited quietly to count the spoils of war. Five thousand Zichuan soldiers scattered the North Clan's 300,000-strong army.
Among the fleeing soldiers, Zichuan Xiu discovered the North Clan princess Ka Dan. His soldiers strongly demanded to kill Ka Dan to avenge the fallen soldiers, but Zichuan Xiu stopped them. He then put his arm around Ka Dan, pretending to be fond of her, and took her away. Imperial Capital, Yang Minghua and Luo Minghai were discussing how to view the Battle of Hengchuan.
Luo Minghai suggested summoning Zichuan Xiu back to the capital for a report, asking how he fought this battle, and also suggested using this opportunity to eliminate Zichuan Xiu, leaving no future trouble. Bai Chuan questioned the captives about how Gesha died, but could find no clues. Zichuan Xiu wanted to gain some advantage from Ka Dan, but Bai Chuan misunderstood him as being driven by lust. Bai Chuan was quite disdainful of Zichuan Xiu's actions.
Zichuan Xiu suddenly issued the order to stop the pursuit. Bai Chuan and Luo Jie were very confused, while Ming Yu understood Zichuan Xiu's actions well. After careful consideration, Bai Chuan felt that although Zichuan Xiu's actions seemed somewhat absurd, every step seemed to have a unique meaning. The maid Xiaomei told Zichuan Ning that Zichuan Xiu's gift had arrived. Zichuan Ning happily ran back, only to find it was just a dead scorpion.
She mumbled that Zichuan Xiu always sent her strange gifts, but she still carefully treasured it. The two addressed each other as siblings. In fact, Zichuan Xiu was the adopted son of Zichuan Yuanxing. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and Zichuan Ning was deeply in love with Zichuan Xiu. Zichuan Xiu sent Ge Yingxing a gift as usual. Ge Yingxing had a premonition that this great victory was not necessarily a good thing.
Yang Minghua was called by Zichuan Canxing to taste the pastries sent by the regional administration. Zichuan Canxing acted meek and irresponsible in front of Yang Minghua. He asked about the purpose of transferring Zichuan Xiu back. Yang Minghua directly stated his intention, saying that calling Zichuan Xiu back was mainly to clarify the details, as there had always been cases of falsifying military achievements in the past.
Si Te Lin, the Deputy Commander of the Forbidden Army, spoke up to remind Yang Minghua to be mindful of status and hierarchy, but Zichuan Canxing said it didn't matter. Zichuan Xiu recalled what happened seven years ago. The Liu Family Army invaded Zichuan, and Zichuan Yuanxing died in that great battle. It was Zichuan Xiu who led eight hundred soldiers to retake military power and preserve Zichuan, but he was framed by Yang Minghua, who wanted to kill him.
Thanks to the strong protection of Ge Yingxing and Zichuan Ning, Zichuan Xiu's life was spared, but he was exiled to Yuanzhou. Facing Yang Minghua's summons back to the capital, Zichuan Xiu decided to return. This way, their target would be himself; otherwise, their target would be directed straight at Ge Yingxing. Di Lin volunteered to capture Zichuan Xiu. On the surface, the two had irreconcilable hatred, and seven years ago, Di Lin had even betrayed Zichuan Xiu.
In fact, the two were the closest partners, and Di Lin was an important piece inserted into Yang Minghua's faction. Zichuan Xiu cooperated with Di Lin and was captured and taken to prison. The secret passage in the prison was still there. The two brothers bathed together and talked freely. Their good brother Si Te Lin also rushed over. The three discussed how to resist Yang Minghua.
Si Te Lin had already come up with an idea: to widely publicize the military achievements of the great victory at Hengchuan among the people. This way, Yang Minghua would not dare to easily eliminate Zichuan Xiu. Early the next morning, facing this situation, Yang Minghua immediately devised a countermeasure. He used the doubt surrounding the great victory at Hengchuan as a pretext to have the Privy Council interrogate Zichuan Xiu. This way, he could frame him with a charge of colluding with the enemy, thus having a reason to kill him.
Episode 2 Recap
After Di Lin learned of Yang Minghua's countermeasure, he immediately called Si Te Lin to discuss. He was curious why Yang Minghua would entrust this interrogation of Zichuan Xiu to the Privy Council, because Privy Council Chief Xiao Long gained great popular support through his fairness, thus it circulated among the people that the military's heart was with Ge Yingxing and the people's heart was with Xiao Long.
But whether Yang Minghua had a fallback plan was unknown, and the two of them also had no better plan, could only wait and see how things developed. In fact, Xiao Long had long been in cahoots with Yang Minghua. Xiao Long asked Yang Minghua about ways to deal with Zichuan Xiu. After Yang Minghua's guidance, Xiao Long suddenly understood. Zichuan Xiu was known as the Flower of Yuanzhou, and was famous far and wide for his eloquence.
Luo Minghai was worried he would be eloquent during the trial and might influence the outcome of the trial. Yang Minghua said lightly, "Then don't let him speak. " Luo Minghai immediately understood Yang Minghua's intention. Yang Minghua seemed not to trust Di Lin, so he had Luo Minghai personally arrange this matter. Luo Minghai sent people from the Commander's Office to the prison to interrogate Zichuan Xiu and took Zichuan Xiu away under the pretext of an imperial interrogation.
Zichuan Xiu noticed the route was wrong and understood these people's intention. On the way, he exposed a few people, and the two sides immediately started fighting. Although Zichuan Xiu knocked them down, he himself was also injured. He stopped a carriage and threatened the driver to take him away to escape. Unexpectedly, the other person was Zichuan Ning.
Zichuan Ning took Zichuan Xiu to a separate villa, carefully helped him clean his wounds, and then asked him for a gift. Zichuan Xiu made excuses to evade. Zichuan Ning simply said directly that he should marry her as the gift. Zichuan Xiu immediately took out a stone, claiming it was a strange moonstone from Yuanzhou. Zichuan Ning loved it and couldn't put it down.
Zichuan Xiu couldn't bear to deceive her, so he told her this was just a stone he picked up casually and told Zichuan Ning not to treat it as a treasure. But Zichuan Ning didn't mind; as long as it was something Zichuan Xiu gave her, she would treat it as a real moonstone. Upon learning that Yang Minghua had already made a move against Zichuan Xiu, Di Lin and Si Te Lin called him to discuss countermeasures together.
The best method now was to have Zichuan Xiu leave the Imperial Capital, but Zichuan Xiu flatly refused, afraid that leaving like this would affect Ge Yingxing. The three of them argued incessantly. In the end, it was Lin Xiujia who came forward and used a trick to drug Zichuan Xiu before they stopped. At the Privy Council trial site, Luo Minghai listed Zichuan Xiu's crimes. Then a prison guard witness attended and also carried in a disfigured corpse.
The body shape was roughly the same as Zichuan Xiu's. The prison guard claimed Zichuan Xiu wanted to escape from prison, and after being discovered, committed suicide by taking poison. Si Te Lin also came to observe the trial. Zichuan Xiu had not left; he appeared at the trial site, pointing out that Luo Minghai had gone to great lengths to frame him with the charge of colluding with the enemy.
Luo Minghai then produced what Bai Chuan had provided regarding Zichuan Xiu's daily activity trajectory and called Bai Chuan to the scene as a witness. Xiao Long uncharacteristically listed Zichuan Xiu's eight major crimes and judged him guilty of treason and colluding with the enemy. Bai Chuan defended Zichuan Xiu. Xiao Long directly designated her as being in the ranks of colluding with the enemy, with the same guilt as Zichuan Xiu, to be immediately beheaded.
Upon learning that Zichuan Xiu was in crisis, Zichuan Ning jumped out the window to find Zichuan Canxing, begging him to step in and save him. Zichuan Canxing, being astute and protecting himself, said that even if he came forward, he couldn't save Zichuan Xiu; at most, it would only delay for a few hours. Even so, Zichuan Ning forcefully dragged him to the trial site.
Zichuan Canxing said that he would not change the verdict; he just wanted to have a farewell meal with Zichuan Xiu. Xiao Long and Luo Minghai had to give him this face. Although facing the outcome of being beheaded, Zichuan Xiu ate heartily. Zichuan Ning prepared tools for prison escape for him, but Zichuan Xiu didn't want to implicate the two of them. After the meal, Zichuan Ning still refused to leave.
Zichuan Canxing said that her being here was what made Zichuan Xiu worried, and only then did he take her away. On the other side, Di Lin and Si Te Lin were discussing the method of raiding the execution ground. Si Te Lin was afraid that Di Lin would be exposed because of this, so he took on the task of raiding the execution ground. They agreed that no matter what, they must rescue Zichuan Xiu.
Episode 3 Recap
Zichuan Xiu and Bai Chuan were at the execution ground for their execution. The executioner was ready for the execution, and Si Te Lin had also brought his men, ready to raid the execution ground, just waiting for his command before they would rush in to save them. But Zichuan Xiu was very calm; he seemed certain someone would come to save him.
Bai Chuan on the side was a bit terrified, her gaze fixed on Zichuan Xiu, placing all her hopes of survival on him. Before Si Te Lin could act, a team of fully armed officials rushed in, startling the executioner. On the other side, Yang Minghua had not received news of Zichuan Xiu's execution. His subordinate reported that a team of officials had abducted Zichuan Xiu.
Yang Minghua had already guessed who had the guts to dare to raid the execution ground in broad daylight; it could be no one other than Ge Yingxing. Yang Minghua came to see Zichuan Canxing, wanting to impeach Ge Yingxing. Zichuan Canxing had anticipated he would come, so he lied that he was unwell and left. Yang Minghua didn't wait for Zichuan Canxing but waited for Ge Yingxing.
Ge Yingxing got straight to the point, saying that Zichuan Xiu was a meritorious official, not a traitor colluding with the enemy, and that all his actions were under his secret orders. Ge Yingxing even brought Ka Dan, the princess of the North Clan, to prove Zichuan Xiu's innocence, but Yang Minghua refuted them one by one.
In desperation, Ge Yingxing had no choice but to use his final move: three hundred thousand troops from Yuanzhou were stationed outside the Imperial Capital. Yang Minghua had to accept this reason, because military power was the greatest reliance. Seeing that he had achieved his objective, Ge Yingxing stated another purpose for his return to the capital, which was to take this opportunity to negotiate peace with the North Clan.
He would force the North Clan to agree by demanding Ka Dan's release, ensuring peace for Zichuan for several years. Yang Minghua could only agree. Zichuan Xiu and Bai Chuan were acquitted and released. Luo Jie and Ming Yu came to pick them up. Just as the three were arguing over who would carry Bai Chuan, Zichuan Ning, who had received the news, rushed over. She wanted to take everyone back to her residence.
Zichuan Xiu wanted to return to the military camp under the pretext of treating Bai Chuan's injuries, but Zichuan Ning stopped him. She tempted Luo Jie and Ming Yu by appealing to their interests, leaving Zichuan Xiu with no choice but to obediently follow Zichuan Ning to her residence. Zichuan Ning pulled Zichuan Xiu to see the swallows that used to be under the eaves. The swallows already had many descendants, but he had not returned for seven years.
At this moment, Ge Yingxing's guards arrived, and Zichuan Xiu slipped away when Zichuan Ning was not paying attention. Zichuan Xiu met with Ge Yingxing. The master and disciple drank and talked happily. The reason Zichuan Xiu was calm at the execution ground was that Ge Yingxing was his ultimate support. Ge Yingxing asked him to return to Yuanzhou, but Zichuan Xiu was worried about Ge Yingxing's safety and refused to go back no matter what.
Even if he had nothing here, he wanted to stay with Ge Yingxing. Zichuan Xiu's secret departure made Zichuan Ning very angry. She was ready to burn Zichuan Xiu's books. Xiao Mei complained that she always did this but could never bring herself to do it. Although Zichuan Ning was full of anger, she immediately changed her demeanor upon hearing that Zichuan Xiu had returned. She took Zichuan Xiu to his former room.
Having not returned for seven years, Zichuan Xiu recalled the scenes from the past. Zichuan Ning pulled him, asking about the meaning of the things he had mailed to her. Zichuan Xiu was reminded of someone by seeing things, missing the battles on the battlefield from back then, but unable to tell Zichuan Ning the truth, he could only make up lies to deceive her. Zichuan Ning believed him and tried to please Zichuan Xiu.
She even wanted to play a duet with him like when they were children. Zichuan Xiu seemed somewhat resistant to Zichuan Ning's closeness and quickly left, making an excuse. Ge Yingxing's proposal for peace talks with the North Clan was met with varying opinions in the court; some supported it, others opposed it. Finally, Yang Minghua unexpectedly stepped forward to support it, silencing the objectors.
As for the bottom line for the peace talks proposed by Luo Minghai, Ge Yingxing agreed to all of it, and the proposal for peace talks was smoothly passed. Yang Minghua proactively offered to remove Ge Yingxing's worries and helped Zichuan Xiu solve his position problem, but the position of Deputy Director of the Supervisory Office was equivalent to that of an errand boy. Zichuan Xiu was also mocked by Luo Jie and Ming Yu.
Yang Minghua was not of the same mind as Ge Yingxing; he was always ready to disrupt the peace talks. On the other side, he called Ge Yingxing to meet Zichuan Canxing. He deeply understood Zichuan Canxing's difficulties and promised him that he would return to the capital to take office once the border defense was secure, and would no longer let Yang Minghua dominate everything, leaving Zichuan Canxing constantly in a difficult situation.
Episode 4 Recap
Di Lin and Si Te Lin were anxious to call Zichuan Xiu over. On the surface, they said it was for him to repay money, but in reality, it was to analyze the current Zichuan situation and discuss the next course of action. Zichuan Xiu felt that he was now isolated and couldn't help Ge Yingxing with anything. However, considering it in reverse, if he couldn't do anything, then he could do just about anything.
Zichuan Ning helped Bai Chuan apply medicine, asking if she had a relationship with Zichuan Xiu. She asked about Zichuan Xiu with some caution. Bai Chuan had worked with Zichuan Xiu for half a year. She complained that Zichuan Xiu only knew how to sleep all day, that during the North Clan invasion he ran faster than anyone, and that on normal days he only knew how to exchange cattle and sheep for things with the North Clan.
Zichuan Ning didn't think so; she defended Zichuan Xiu, and a few words enlightened Bai Chuan. Zichuan Xiu drank with Si Te Lin. Si Te Lin knew that he didn't want to return to Ning Mansion, so he inquired about the relationship between him and Zichuan Ning.
Zichuan Xiu said that he was not worthy, as he was someone who had been punished, while Zichuan Ning was the heir to Zichuan and would become the ruler of Zichuan in the future. He had to restrain this feeling. The next day, Zichuan Xiu went to the Supervisory Office to report for duty, reeking of alcohol. However, he was driven out by Commander Ge Shan.
First, she made him take off his coat, then told him to go back and wash up properly, and to be responsible for receiving the North Clan delegation, using the condition of docking his salary. Zichuan Xiu had a handle against him and had no choice but to obey obediently. In the prison cell, Ka Dan demanded that the North Clan soldiers be treated for their injuries, but the Zichuan soldiers refused.
She had no choice but to request to borrow a soldier's saber to do it herself. Both sides confronted each other. Si Te Lin stepped forward to protect Ka Dan and provided treatment for the North Clan soldiers' injuries, winning Ka Dan's favor. The peace talks began. The North Clan envoy, Mu Qi, questioned Ge Yingxing about why he changed the conditions. Ge Yingxing retorted by mentioning the North Clan instigating the half-beast uprising, leaving Mu Qi speechless.
Ge Yingxing proposed that after the North Clan returned the three prefectures in Yuanzhou, he would open up markets in five prefectures for mutual trade, which would bring endless economic benefits to the North Clan Divine Emperor. Mu Qi was moved after hearing this, but he couldn't make decisions on many matters because Prince Ka Dun's special envoy, Lu Di, had also arrived.
He was slightly unwell upon his first arrival in the Imperial Capital, so both sides agreed to continue the peace talks in a few days. Zichuan Xiu didn't want to be served by Zichuan Ning and insisted on going to work. Zichuan Ning went to great lengths to keep him, even clearing out rooms to create an atmosphere similar to the Supervisory Office. Zichuan Xiu was helpless.
Just then, someone came to report that both Lord Ge and Commander Ge requested Zichuan Xiu to go to work. Only then did Zichuan Xiu get away. A few days later, the peace talks resumed. Lu Di arrived at the venue, wanting to give Ge Yingxing a show of strength, but Zichuan Xiu intervened. Ge Yingxing took the opportunity to push Zichuan Xiu forward to compete with Lu Di in martial arts.
Although Lu Di used brute force, he didn't gain the upper hand and could only turn his attention back to the negotiating table. Lu Di deliberately found fault, saying the peace talks content was inappropriate. He proposed that the princess should be returned before signing the terms. Ge Yingxing responded calmly and naturally wouldn't readily give up this important bargaining chip. Both sides yielded a step and agreed that Princess Ka Dan must be present at the peace talks tomorrow.
Luo Minghai reported the peace talks situation to Yang Minghua. The two discussed how to cause an accident during the peace talks. Princess Ka Dan's inability to be present was the biggest breakthrough point. Ge Yingxing also realized this point. He specifically arranged for Zichuan Xiu to protect Ka Dan. Zichuan Xiu immediately understood. However, he asked Ge Yingxing for a bargaining chip. Although he only received some gifts, he was satisfied. Zichuan Xiu led people towards the prison cell.
Midway, he encountered Di Lin. The two exchanged gestures for a while. It seemed like they were sparring, but in reality, they were conveying a secret code. Only the three brothers could understand these gestures.
Episode 5 Recap
Zichuan Xiu brought his people to the prison cell and met up with Si Te Lin. Si Te Lin called him aside to question him. Zichuan Xiu informed him of Ge Yingxing's plan and also demonstrated the gestures Di Lin made. Si Te Lin understood that Di Lin was pointing out that there was a mole in his army. The two discussed how to uncover the mole and protect Ka Dan.
Zichuan Xiu proposed the plan of 'shedding the cicada's shell'. Si Te Lin and Zichuan Xiu came to the prison cell where Ka Dan was held. The two argued back and forth, wanting Ka Dan to choose who was more suitable to be her "sister", which meant that person would stay in the cell to impersonate Ka Dan, while the other would take Ka Dan out of the cell and protect her.
Finally, Zichuan Xiu stayed behind, while Si Te Lin took Ka Dan back to his mansion. In the middle of the night, someone indeed attempted to assassinate Ka Dan. Zichuan Xiu got up and caught the hidden weapon. The assassin was quite surprised to see Zichuan Xiu impersonating Ka Dan. Soon after, Bai Chuan came with food to visit Ka Dan. Zichuan Xiu grew suspicious of her actions at this time.
On the other side, Ka Dan, at Si Te Lin's mansion, received a signal from someone from the North Clan. After dismissing her maid, she quietly left. By the time Si Te Lin discovered this, it was too late. He could only search everywhere. After learning that a carriage had left the city, he used his sword to force the guards to open the city gate and quickly chased after it.
Ka Dan realized the carriage route was wrong and guessed the people who came were sent by her brother Ka Dun. She then knew their intention was because Ka Dun had always opposed peace talks, and if she died, the peace talks could not continue. The North Clan people simply stated their position, asking Ka Dan to make some contribution to the North Clan.
Ka Dan felt there was no escape, so she asked for a saber to end her own life. At the critical moment, Si Te Lin chased after them, killed the North Clan people who came for her, and rescued Ka Dan. North Clan soldiers hiding nearby shot arrows at Ka Dan. Si Te Lin blocked the arrows for her but was injured himself.
Zichuan Xiu returned to the Ning Mansion wearing women's clothes but was misunderstood by Zichuan Ning as having brought a woman back. So she searched all around the room. Zichuan Xiu left the Ning Mansion in a fit of anger. Zichuan Xiu went to find Si Te Lin but learned that neither he nor Ka Dan were at the mansion. He realized the situation was bad.
On the other side, Si Te Lin took Ka Dan to a cave to hide. Ka Dan's foot was sprained, and she kept falling down. He simply picked her up directly. Seeing this scene, Ka Dan's heart fluttered. The peace talks were about to begin, but Princess Ka Dan was late. Zichuan Xiu told Ge Yingxing the news of Si Te Lin and Ka Dan's disappearance.
Although Ge Yingxing was a little annoyed, he had no choice but to put on a show of "crossing the sea under false pretenses" with Zichuan Xiu for the moment. Of course, this matter also required the cooperation of the North Clan envoy Mu Qi.
For the sake of the peace talks, Mu Qi reluctantly agreed to cooperate with Ge Yingxing, but he only gave Ge Yingxing one day because some people in the North Clan also wanted to sabotage the peace talks. Zichuan Xiu found Princess Ka Dan's carriage and then dressed up as Ka Dan, falsely claiming she had a cold and was not suitable to meet. Mu Qi stopped Lu Di from visiting the princess; he personally went in to confirm.
Lu Di was half-believing and half-doubting this and secretly sent people to investigate Ka Dan's whereabouts. To prevent Zichuan Xiu from searching for Si Te Lin and Ka Dan, Yang Minghua specifically called him over to reminisce and asked him to tell him about rumors regarding relevant weapons. Seeing that he couldn't get away, Zichuan Xiu had to mention the 'Curled Pattern Double-Edged Saber' to handle the situation.
Yang Minghua asked Zichuan Xiu to draw it and had Di Lin accompany him. It seemed he also did not trust Di Lin. After settling Ka Dan, Si Te Lin wanted to return his saber and stand guard nearby, but he found that his wound had issues and then fell to the ground. Ka Dan, hearing the noise but not moving, immediately got up to check.
Meanwhile, Di Lin and Zichuan Xiu performed a 'shedding the cicada's shell' act, using armor as cover to allow Zichuan Xiu to slip away and search for Si Te Lin and Ka Dan. Tie Shou came to check and reported to Yang Minghua. Yang Minghua asked if both of them were there. Tie Shou was not sure and said he would go back and check again.
Episode 6 Recap
When Tie Shou came to check, Di Lin deliberately acted to delay time, pretending to have a deep hatred for Zichuan Xiu. He finally stopped Tie Shou before Zichuan Xiu rushed back, preventing him from being discovered. Zichuan Xiu pretended to have been beaten by Di Lin. The two of them worked together to dispel Tie Shou's doubts. Di Lin also specially drew a picture. Zichuan Xiu mocked it after seeing it, but his own drawing was like scribbles.
Ka Dan used a method unique to the North Clan to treat Si Te Lin's injury and remove the poison. Si Te Lin expressed his gratitude after he recovered. Ka Dan explained the truth, pointing out that her brother did not want peace talks. However, she didn't expect Ka Dun would disregard familial affection and ruthlessly leave her in Zichuan. That poisoned arrow was shot at her, but Si Te Lin blocked it for her.
After Tie Shou left, Zichuan Xiu explained the situation of his search outside to Di Lin. Si Te Lin had left a mark at the city gate, indicating that he had left the city to chase after Ka Dan. Now they must leave here immediately to help Si Te Lin. Di Lin said he would find a way for Zichuan Xiu to leave.
However, he needed Zichuan Xiu to provide some cover for him, as he needed to go out for a while. Bai Chuan, Luo Jie, and Ming Yu were playing cards. They suddenly heard an explosion outside. When they went out to check, they found that the office of the Supervisor General had been vandalized. Seven large characters were written on it: "Zichuan Xiu Was Here," which seemed to imply "there is no silver here (i. e. , confessing one's guilt).
" Soon after, Ge Shan came to Yang Minghua's place aggressively, demanding Zichuan Xiu. Claiming he had disrupted the peace talks, she insisted Zichuan Xiu return to compensate her. Zichuan Xiu hadn't expected Di Lin to use this method, but being able to leave Yang Minghua's place was a good thing. Bai Chuan and others helped Zichuan Xiu tidy up Ge Shan's office. However, they couldn't pay the fine for him. Fortunately, Zichuan Ning arrived in time.
Zichuan Xiu was thus saved from the crisis and able to leave to rescue Si Te Lin and Ka Dan. On the other side, Si Te Lin and Ka Dan developed feelings for each other during their time together. Si Te Lin persuaded Ka Dan to be brave and face the situation for her father. The two were pursued by men in black. Zichuan Xiu arrived in time to rescue them both and bring them back to the Imperial Capital.
Lu Di had no intention of facilitating the peace talks at all and was already prepared to leave. He bribed Luo Minghai to be lenient. Luo Minghai, following Yang Minghua's orders, naturally cooperated fully. Yang Minghua anticipated that Ka Dan would likely meet a bad end. He then asked Di Lin to deliver something to Lu Di at the North Clan embassy. Inside was a token belonging to Ka Dan, stained with blood.
After receiving the token, Lu Di reprimanded Mu Qi. He questioned why Mu Qi, knowing the princess was missing, didn't reveal the truth. Mu Qi countered that Lu Di had malicious intentions and demanded to know the whereabouts of Princess Ka Dan. Lu Di harbored murderous intent and said he would soon meet the princess. The time for peace talks arrived, but the North Clan envoys were not present. Ge Yingxing felt very strange.
At this point, a subordinate reported that all the North Clan envoys had left yesterday. All the Zichuan guards were killed, which is why the report was not timely. Lu Di also left a box for Ge Yingxing. When Ge Yingxing opened the box, he found Mu Qi's head inside. Lu Di left a letter, twisting the facts and framing Mu Qi as a traitor who colluded with the enemy.
He accused Zichuan of having no sincerity in the peace talks and agreed to meet on the battlefield. Yang Minghua had long anticipated this outcome. He deliberately tricked Zichuan Canxing into coming to the peace talk site. He then pressured Ge Yingxing to give an explanation. Ge Yingxing handed the investigation over to Zichuan Xiu. Zichuan Xiu finally found evidence that the city guards had let the North Clan envoys leave. Ge Yingxing wanted to report this to Zichuan Canxing.
Unexpectedly, Yang Minghua made a move first. He pushed the commander of the city guards, Lei Xun, out to take the blame, demoting him three ranks. He even had a backup plan, intending to assign him to a post in Yuan Province. Ge Yingxing could only go along with the plan and likewise placed the blame on Si Te Lin to deal with the situation.
Seeing that both sides were at a stalemate on this matter, Zichuan Canxing came out to mediate. He said that currently, state affairs should be prioritized, and they should discuss the next steps rather than assigning blame here. In the court, the ministers discussed how to handle the matter of Princess Ka Dan. If she were sent back now, they would lose the initiative in the peace talks.
After Ge Yingxing and Yang Minghua offered their suggestions, everyone had no further objections. At this point, Di Lin stepped forward. He presented his unique viewpoint: mobilize a large army to intimidate the North Clan.
Episode 7 Recap
Di Lin stepped forward and proposed a different opinion. Zichuan Canxing asked him to elaborate on the specific plan. Di Lin put forward three suggestions: first, place Ka Dan under house arrest; second, deploy one hundred and seventy thousand Imperial Guard troops to Yuan Province to pressure the North Clan; third, do not proactively propose peace talks, but only discuss peace after forcing their troops to retreat with a strong military force.
Ge Yingxing immediately agreed and proposed that Lei Xun lead the Imperial Guard troops there. Lei Xun readily agreed, and Yang Minghua had no objection either. At this point, Luo Minghai stepped forward to express his opposition. Luo Minghai proposed that Ge Yingxing and Si Te Lin had committed serious crimes due to the peace talks incident, and leading troops into battle might not garner popular support. With war imminent, military law should not be taken lightly.
Di Lin also chimed in, leaving Zichuan Canxing momentarily undecided. Di Lin voluntarily stepped forward to lead the expedition, stating he only needed fifty thousand Imperial Guard troops and would make a military pledge: if any battle was lost, he would immediately present his head. Yang Minghua accused Di Lin of being young and impetuous, but Ge Yingxing thought Di Lin was viable.
He stated that there was no need for Imperial Guard troops to go; he could allocate fifty thousand Yuan Province troops to Di Lin. After this matter was settled, Ge Yingxing brought up the issue of punishment again, bringing Yang Minghua and Lei Xun into it as well. Luo Minghai had no choice but to state the specific measures of punishment. Ge Yingxing modified them, using ten days of seclusion as the punishment.
He would travel day and night to Wayun tomorrow, undergoing seclusion in his carriage, but Si Te Lin and Lei Xun could not escape the physical pain of thirty military strokes. Yang Minghua was also punished. Ge Yingxing proposed that political affairs be handled by Zichuan Canxing. Zichuan Canxing used illness as an excuse to decline, but finally agreed. --- Zichuan Xiu, Di Lin, and Si Te Lin bathed together and discussed matters.
Zichuan Xiu mentioned that the token Yang Minghua had Di Lin deliver to Lu Di was perfectly timed, directly leading to the North Clan envoys' escape. The two of them then began to mock Si Te Lin for receiving military strokes. Regarding the investigation of the mole, Zichuan Xiu stated that the mole originated from his subordinates. In fact, Zichuan Xiu had a basic judgment.
He brought dishes he cooked himself to Ning Residence, wanting to find Bai Chuan, but Zichuan Ning stopped him. Zichuan Xiu agreed to do something important with her that evening, only then managing to escape Zichuan Ning's affectionate entanglement. Zichuan Ning used the dishes symbolically, hoping Bai Chuan would turn back from her misguided path. Bai Chuan understood Zichuan Xiu's intention, but she seemed to have difficulties and did not say them out loud.
On the other side, Ge Yingxing came to find Yang Minghua. Yang Minghua closed his door and refused to see him. Ge Yingxing simply spoke his "innermost thoughts" outside his door. In fact, Ge Yingxing and Yang Minghua were superficially mortal enemies, but they, along with Zichuan Yuanxing, were sworn brothers. In the past, they fought side by side for Zichuan, going through life and death together.
Zichuan Yuanxing even rescued the dying Yang Minghua from a pile of corpses and brought him back to Zichuan. Therefore, after Zichuan Yuanxing died in battle, the two of them, one civil and one military, assisted Zichuan Canxing. Ge Yingxing asked Yang Minghua in a probing tone if he would rebel. Only after receiving Yang Minghua's negative reply did he feel relieved. After leaving Yang Minghua with sketches of thirteen top-tier weapons as a memento, he turned and left.
After "interrogating" Zichuan Xiu, Lin Xiujia prepared sufficient front-line supplies for Di Lin. The two said their reluctant goodbyes. On the other side, Ge Yingxing bid farewell to Zichuan Canxing. He told Zichuan Canxing about probing Yang Minghua, stating that although Yang Minghua acted overbearingly and monopolized affairs, he had no intention of rebelling. Zichuan Canxing could use Yang Minghua's ten-day seclusion period to test him. Zichuan Canxing agreed on the surface, but had different ideas in his heart.
Ka Dan was settled at Ning Residence by Zichuan Canxing. Zichuan Ning received her grandly, but Ka Dan seemed to be in low spirits and only wanted to return to her room to rest alone. She specifically asked for a carving knife. After discussing with Xiao Mei, Zichuan Ning worried that Ka Dan might have suicidal thoughts.
The two went over to check and burst into the room, causing a misunderstanding, only to learn that Ka Dan wanted to make a token for her father to report her safety. Zichuan Ning specifically arranged a gathering to help Ka Dan relieve her worries. Ka Dan was very grateful, but her most important task at the moment was to deliver her token to her father.
Episode 8 Recap
Zichuan Ning handed the token to Zichuan Canxing. At this time, Ge Yingxing had already left. Before leaving, he instructed Zichuan Xiu to help Zichuan Canxing investigate if Yang Minghua had intentions of rebellion. Zichuan Canxing ordered Ka Dan's token to be quickly sent to Ge Yingxing, which could increase the bargaining chips for peace talks. Little did he know, a mole reported the news to Luo Minghai.
Luo Minghai sent people to intercept it halfway, killing all the messengers and seizing the token. Zichuan Ning dressed up carefully for a romantic evening with Zichuan Xiu, but unfortunately, Zichuan Xiu forgot everything. It turned out that the important matter he mentioned was just sending Ge Yingxing back to Yuan Province. This greatly disappointed Zichuan Ning, and she pushed him out directly. In fact, how could Zichuan Xiu not know Zichuan Ning's feelings?
But given his current status and situation, he could not accept Zichuan Ning's love and did not want to involve her. Therefore, he could only cruelly refuse her deep affection. Zichuan Canxing took charge of political affairs. All the officials reported relevant matters. Issues like refugees and locust plagues gave him a headache. He then asked Luo Minghai how Yang Minghua handled these matters in the past, and subsequently followed suit.
Taking the opportunity, he also requested all of Yang Minghua's records of handling political affairs to search for evidence of Yang Minghua's attempt to rebel. Luo Minghai turned around and reported Zichuan Canxing's handling of political affairs to Yang Minghua. He also gave Yang Minghua the token from Ka Dan that was seized the previous night. Yang Minghua threw the token aside and dismissed Zichuan Canxing's actions. Zichuan Ning was very angry about Zichuan Xiu's neglect.
She directly distributed Zichuan Xiu's personal belongings and the private savings she had accumulated for seven years to Bai Chuan and others. Zichuan Xiu was helpless when he discovered this. He took out Zichuan Ning's makeup and tried to use it to counter Zichuan Ning, but unexpectedly, Zichuan Ning was not afraid at all. Zichuan Xiu wanted to use himself as a bargaining chip, but he was ignored by Zichuan Ning.
Zichuan Xiu planned to use the opportunity of quarreling with Zichuan Ning to enter the Monarch's Residence. Si Te Lin coincidentally brought news that Zichuan Canxing was hosting a family banquet. Zichuan Xiu deliberately staged a scene of quarreling with Zichuan Ning at the family banquet. Zichuan Ning left in a huff, and Zichuan Xiu stayed behind logically. The study became his temporary residence, which perfectly suited his intentions.
Si Te Lin came to accompany Zichuan Xiu and help him look for evidence of Yang Minghua's rebellion. At this time, Yang Minghua did not realize that Zichuan Xiu was targeting him. He told Luo Minghai to send all his records of handling political affairs from the past decade to Zichuan Canxing, hoping to make him even busier and thus have no time to bother with him.
Little did he know, this action provided Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin with more materials for comparison. Luo Minghai's arrival almost exposed Zichuan Xiu's plan. Fortunately, Si Te Lin was prepared beforehand, and coupled with Zichuan Xiu's godly acting skills while pretending to be drunk, Luo Minghai did not see any flaws. The two of them also hurried to copy important content to prevent Yang Minghua from interfering or causing damage at any time.
After cooling down, Zichuan Ning tacitly allowed Xiao Mei to find Zichuan Xiu. Zichuan Xiu had not yet completed his task, so he had to find a way to provoke Zichuan Ning again. To this end, he asked Si Te Lin to accompany him to the Spring Wind Garden, and even invited ten beautiful women to join them. Xiao Mei told Zichuan Ning this news, making her so angry that she was speechless.
In reality, Zichuan Xiu was just creating this false impression. He was merely telling fortunes for the beautiful women to pass the time. However, he discovered a Payi person mixed among them, who was transmitting intelligence outwards. Hard work paid off. Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin finally found a breakthrough. The two acted separately. Si Te Lin led people to blow up the illegally mined iron ore.
Zichuan Xiu, on the other hand, killed Tie Shou and obtained Yang Minghua's seal from him. He planned to distribute the grain Yang Minghua had secretly stored to the refugees, and he specifically entrusted this task to Bai Chuan, clearly intending to test her. After finishing these matters, Zichuan Xiu felt it was time to comfort Zichuan Ning.
When he returned to Ning Residence, he found that Zichuan Ning was drowning her sorrows in alcohol all day and stubbornly said she would never speak to him again. Zichuan Xiu also felt very depressed. Facing his childhood sweetheart, he dared not show his true feelings. He could only sit down and release his feelings through alcohol.
Episode 9 Recap
Tie Shou's failure to return on time made Yang Minghua feel a trace of unease. He immediately sent people out to search. At this time, news unfavorable to Yang Minghua kept coming in: a mining disaster, Tie Shou being assassinated, and his private granaries being used to distribute grain to refugees in his name. These incidents were enough to overwhelm him. At this moment, Zichuan Canxing also rushed over to join in the fun.
He first flattered Yang Minghua, claiming that these few days in charge of political affairs had already given him a headache, and expressed that he would hand over all major and minor matters to him in the future. Finally, he produced the ultimate weapon Zichuan Yuanxing had given him. Zichuan Canxing explained the purpose of this item, which was to restrain Yang Minghua.
He claimed that after long deliberation, he still chose to believe that Yang Minghua had no rebellious intentions, which was why he handed this item to him. Yang Minghua opened the box and understood Zichuan Yuanxing's meaning. He then went to find Tong Chui for confirmation, because this person was the hidden line Zichuan Yuanxing had left by his side. He and Tie Shou were Yang Minghua's left and right arms. Yang Minghua asked Tong Chui about the mission content.
Tong Chui answered truthfully: if Yang Minghua had rebellious intentions, he was to be executed immediately; if there was no betrayal, he would pledge his loyalty unto death. What Yang Minghua could not tolerate the most was the feeling of being distrusted by the people closest to him.
He ended Tong Chui's life with a single strike, then came before Zichuan Yuanxing's spiritual tablet and wept, speaking of the journey of his heart and mind over the years, lamenting Zichuan Yuanxing's distrust of him. He spat out blood and declared that since things were this way, he would fulfill his wish. Early the next morning, Zichuan Ning woke up, not remembering what happened while she was drunk last night.
Fortunately, Xiao Mei testified, and only then did she believe that what Zichuan Xiu said was true. She had forgiven Zichuan Xiu and forced him to swear loyalty to her. Zichuan Xiu came to find Bai Chuan. Bai Chuan asked him when he discovered she was an internal spy. Zichuan Xiu said it was when the official grain from Hengchuan hadn't arrived.
At that time, only Zichuan Xiu and Luo Bo knew the news, but Bai Chuan had already divided the grain into multiple portions. Zichuan Xiu claimed he had long treated her as one of his own people and that she was not suitable to be an undercover agent. Bai Chuan said her true change happened during the trial. She realized she was just an insignificant pawn, and that perhaps Yang Minghua didn't even know her surname.
Every year, he would send people to adopt some orphans, then train and cultivate them, ready to obey his orders at any time. Zichuan Xiu wanted Bai Chuan to return her records of his daily behavior. Bai Chuan said the rift between them would widen after he read them, because the content recorded would make him even more embarrassed.
Zichuan Xiu gave Bai Chuan a chance to mend the rift, telling her to disguise herself as a man and go to the Spring Wind Garden. Bai Chuan was seen through by Ming Yu. Ming Yu judged that there were important items in her bag, so he got her drunk with wine, took out the items from the bag to check, and found that it was actually a confidential letter from the Monarch's Residence.
At this moment, Zichuan Xiu suddenly appeared and questioned the person behind Ming Yu, stating that he would offer corresponding chips in exchange. Zichuan Canxing held a family banquet to celebrate the merits of Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin. He was still somewhat worried about Yang Minghua. Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin stated that Ge Yingxing had already given instructions before he left; their mission was to protect Zichuan Canxing.
If Yang Minghua developed rebellious intentions, Ge Yingxing would return with his army to protect the throne. Zichuan Ning and Ka Dan were chatting together. Ka Dan wanted to release a sky lantern on her mother's death anniversary, but she was stopped by Si Te Lin. Zichuan Ning, as the heir to the throne, ordered him to accompany Ka Dan to release it. Ka Dan didn't want to trouble Si Te Lin and wanted to destroy the sky lantern.
Unexpectedly, Si Te Lin released it instead, claiming it was his fault and that he would apply for punishment at the Army Command the next day. He then spoke words of comfort to Ka Dan, which made Ka Dan feel even more affectionate towards him, but she couldn't express it due to their respective statuses.
Episode 10 Recap
Zichuan Xiu wanted to find the mastermind behind the intelligence gathering from Spring Wind Garden. If he didn't belong to Yang Minghua, he could be used for Zichuan Xiu's own purposes. If Yang Minghua was the instigator, he must be removed, otherwise their every move would be under Yang Minghua's control. For this, he went to Si Te Lin for discussion and didn't forget to ask Si Te Lin for some extra funds.
Si Te Lin knew that Zichuan Xiu was troubled by Zichuan Ning ignoring him, so he found him an emotional coach. The so-called emotional coach was someone who could better understand a girl's feelings. Only after Zichuan Xiu arrived did he realize it was actually Ka Dan. Ka Dan told him that what Zichuan Ning needed was understanding, what she needed was emotional resonance. Zichuan Xiu was half-understanding after listening.
Before leaving, Ka Dan gave Si Te Lin a piece of clothing modified from a battle robe, which had many knife cuts on it. In the North Clan, this meant supreme glory. Si Te Lin asked her to sew up all the cuts, because this was not allowed in the Zichuan army, and he wanted to wear this battle robe. Seeing Ka Dan's shy and happy expression, Zichuan Xiu seemed to understand what she meant.
Zichuan Xiu saw that Si Te Lin also liked Ka Dan and proposed the idea of helping them elope, but Si Te Lin disagreed. He wanted to suppress such thoughts, after all, Ka Dan was a North Clan princess, while his heart belonged to Zichuan. Zichuan Xiu faced the same problem, and Zichuan Ning was also a princess. The top priority now was to appease her, so Zichuan Xiu racked his brain thinking about what gift to give Zichuan Ning.
After several attempts at gifting, Zichuan Xiu even took out a rattle drum used to appease children when he was a child. Zichuan Ning was both angry and amused and finally said that the way to forgive him was to play a song together. Zichuan Xiu was naturally happy to agree, but Zichuan Ning's performance was truly difficult to listen to, even the tuning was off. Xiao Mei looked for something to stuff her ears after listening.
Zichuan Xiu finally managed to cooperate and finish the performance. Xiao Mei applauded and praised against her will. Zichuan Ning was overjoyed, saying it was her most satisfactory performance and that she wanted to perform it for the civil and military officials at her birthday celebration. Xiao Mei and Zichuan Xiu quickly advised her to reconsider.
A battle report from the Far East arrived: Di Lin was advancing rapidly with his troops, having consecutively captured ten North Clan cities, leaving nothing behind wherever he went. Such actions would naturally provoke the North Clan's accumulated desire for revenge. For this, the Zichuan Imperial Guard had to be prepared. Luo Minghai urgently summoned the commanders of the Border Pacification Army, Ming Hui, and the Black Flag Army, Fang Jin, to the capital to discuss military matters.
Just as the generals were worrying about countermeasures, Yang Minghua appeared and declared that the North Clan's revenge was not to be feared. The major event at hand was the princess's birthday celebration. Luo Minghai suggested summoning Di Lin back to the capital for the princess's birthday celebration, and Yang Minghua nodded in agreement. Yang Minghua hosted a banquet for Ming Hui and Fang Jin, the intention to win them over was obvious.
The two sides finally laid their cards on the table. Yang Minghua suggested that if something happened in the capital in the future, he hoped their two armies would remain inactive. Ming Hui chose to protect himself wisely, while Fang Jin's attitude was firm; he would protect Zichuan with all his might and threatened to inform Zichuan Canxing about this matter. He then left in a rage.
Luo Minghai chased after him and threatened him with his daughter, forcing him to abandon the idea of confronting Yang Minghua. On the Far East front, Di Lin's actions also met with opposition from Ge Yingxing's subordinates. He had now expanded his army to two hundred thousand, which would become a threat to the Far East Army if this continued. Lei Hong, Yang Minghua's hidden line embedded in the Far East Army, stirred up trouble.
Ge Yingxing remained calm and composed; he seemed to have everything under control. In the capital, Zichuan Xiu finally met the mastermind through Ming Yue. It turned out to be the Chief of the Privy Council, Xiao Long. After a period of probing, Xiao Long stated that he did not belong to Yang Minghua; the two sides were merely exchanging interests. Likewise, he could also exchange information with Zichuan Xiu.
Zichuan Xiu exchanged the information that Zichuan Ning liked him for the information that half the officials in the four administrative offices near the capital were obeying Yang Minghua. Zichuan Ning's birthday was approaching. Zichuan Xiu thought of what gift to give her. He took her to find Ming Yue to learn to play a musical instrument. After listening, Ming Yue directly pointed out her pitch problems and said she would only teach Zichuan Ning if she paid more money, because Zichuan Ning's foundation was negative.
Episode 11 Recap
Zichuan Xiu asked Ming Yue to teach Zichuan Ning to play the zither, promising her a large sum of money. Only then did Ming Yue become serious, completely disregarding Zichuan Ning's princess status and treating her only as a student. Indeed, a strict teacher produces outstanding students. Both Zichuan Xiu and Xiao Mei were moved by Zichuan Ning's zither playing, and even Ming Yue felt a great sense of accomplishment. Ka Dan made North Clan cuisine for Si Te Lin.
Remembering his father's past teachings, Si Te Lin suggested protecting her and Zichuan Ning to experience her former life in the mountains and forests. Ka Dan felt Si Te Lin's thoughtfulness. On the other side, Yang Minghua and Xiao Long discussed how to fabricate conclusive evidence to frame Si Te Lin. Before leaving, Yang Minghua reminded Xiao Long that war would break out soon, and how to pick a side was a problem he needed to consider.
Si Te Lin was framed for murder and taken to the prison for interrogation. The interrogators presented relevant evidence. Si Te Lin recalled that the time of the incident was when he was accompanying Ka Dan to release sky lanterns. For Ka Dan, he could not provide evidence of his whereabouts during this time, and he would rather die than speak. Zichuan Xiu immediately came to the prison to visit after hearing about it.
Si Te Lin also didn't tell him. Zichuan Xiu wanted to break him out of prison and take him away. Si Te Lin revealed Yang Minghua's scheme, which was to control the Imperial Guard, indicating that his time to rebel was approaching. Zichuan Xiu wanted to find out Si Te Lin's whereabouts that day from Zichuan Ning. Zichuan Ning also couldn't say. At this moment, Ka Dan walked in and explained everything, wanting to testify in person.
Only then did Zichuan Xiu realize that Yang Minghua and Xiao Long had long planned it out. Afterwards, Zichuan Xiu came to plead with Zichuan Canxing. Zichuan Canxing made a gesture of going to ask Yang Minghua to release him. Zichuan Xiu felt it was inappropriate. An unintentional remark by Zichuan Canxing reminded Zichuan Xiu, and he immediately came up with a countermeasure: send someone to the prison to participate in the interrogation and cripple Si Te Lin.
This way, his life could be spared without worry. Ge Yingxing led his subordinates to search for Zuo Jia Ming Wang. When they encountered pursuing soldiers, he had already sensed it. There were Yang Minghua's moles in the Far East Army, presumably Lei Hong had brought men here, with the aim of killing him. Zichuan Canxing came to the prison to visit Si Te Lin and pleaded with Yang Minghua to spare Si Te Lin for his sake.
Before leaving, he also hinted to Yang Minghua that he was his closest relative. This remark also confused Yang Minghua. Shortly after, Si Te Lin was released. Ka Dan came to visit. She stroked Si Te Lin's injured cheek, and her heart was deeply tied to Si Te Lin. Zichuan Ning's birthday celebration was exactly the day Yang Minghua wanted to seize the opportunity to rebel.
Zichuan Ning attended in grand attire but hadn't seen Zichuan Canxing appear for a long time. At Luo Minghai's reminder, Yang Minghua stepped forward to preside over the ceremony. This was originally Zichuan Canxing's duty. If Yang Minghua presided, it would be considered a transgression. Someone stepped forward to stop him, but was killed by Di Lin, who had just returned. He spoke up in support of Yang Minghua, and everyone else had no dissenting opinions.
Zichuan Canxing, who had just arrived and saw the situation, slipped away using a stomachache as an excuse. Zichuan Xiu, seeing that things were going badly, quickly took Zichuan Ning back to Ning Mansion, asking her to stay and protect herself and Ka Dan. He was going to deal with Yang Minghua according to the countermeasure. Zichuan Ning was reluctant to leave. Ge Yingxing was surrounded by pursuers with no way out.
His only option was to use a rope to jump off a cliff. The guard, Wei Ming, received the order to kill Ge Yingxing with his own hands, but he couldn't do it. So he confessed everything, revealing that he was a pawn placed beside Ge Yingxing by Zichuan Yuanxing. He knew that Ge Yingxing was loyal and had no intention of rebelling, yet he received the order to kill him.
Only then did Ge Yingxing understand that everything was orchestrated by Zichuan Canxing behind the scenes. He had found a way to deal with Yang Minghua. If Yang Minghua was removed, he would become Zichuan Canxing's biggest threat, so he had to die to eliminate Zichuan Canxing's worry.
Episode 12 Recap
Ge Yingxing understood that he had become Zichuan Canxing's thorn in the side. For the Zichuan great plan, he had to die. So he told Wei Ming that they would jump off the cliff together, and at that time, he would give Wei Ming an item of proof to take back as completion of the mission, while he would wander the world. Wei Ming believed him and went down first along the rope Ge Yingxing threw.
However, Ge Yingxing threw the rope down to him but did not come down himself. Wei Ming immediately understood that he intended to seek death. Ge Yingxing instructed him that if he saw Zichuan Xiu in the future, to pass a message to him, emphasizing that everything should prioritize the Zichuan great plan. Inside the Imperial Capital city, Yang Minghua was ready for rebellion.
His preparations and planning were very thorough, so he firmly believed that success was just a matter of time. Luo Minghai brought him liquor and reported that the Imperial Guard Army had entered the city in batches. Curfew would be enforced earlier tonight, and the news of Ge Yingxing being surrounded had been conveyed to Zichuan Xiu, who must now be extremely anxious. Zichuan Xiu was indeed on pins and needles after receiving the news.
Di Lin comforted him, saying that he had found a way to notify Ge Yingxing when he was in Yuanzhou, so he would likely be prepared. Afterward, the two began discussing how to deal with Yang Minghua's rebellion. Si Te Lin's joining them gave them more confidence. It turned out that Zichuan Xiu had found someone to mend Si Te Lin's injured bones and tendons, restoring him to his original state.
Rumors outside claimed that Di Lin was cold-blooded and bloodthirsty. Zichuan Xiu also blamed him, saying he should have just put on a show in front of Yang Minghua and didn't need to kill the two directly. Di Lin stated that he didn't care about anyone's opinions except for his two brothers and Lin Xiujia. Zichuan Xiu understood Di Lin's painstaking effort. The hands of the three were clasped together, firmly believing that their righteous army would win.
Tonight, the Imperial Capital would flow with blood, but it definitely wouldn't be theirs. The Imperial Guard Army led by Lei Xun had already assembled outside the city. Lei Xun told his subordinates to stand by and act only upon his command. At the same time, Lei Hong led his men to surround Ge Yingxing. He greatly admired Ge Yingxing, but he was Yang Minghua's man and had to obey orders. Ge Yingxing also did not resist.
He said that he was not dying by Lei Hong's hand, but because his existence no longer held any meaning. In the end, Ge Yingxing died under a hail of arrows. Facing the approaching storm, Zichuan Canxing also seemed confident. He sat alone in the Monarch's Mansion playing a game. Seven years of forbearance would yield results tonight. Di Lin brought Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin to Lei Xun's main camp, silently eliminating him. Then, the three split up.
Zichuan Xiu took the troop deployment order to the Imperial Guard Army to seize military power. Si Te Lin led the Imperial Guards to protect the Monarch's Mansion and the Princess Mansion. Di Lin was outside the city providing support, ready to enter the city and quell the rebellion at any time. Zichuan Xiu arrived at the Imperial Guard Army's main camp with the troop deployment order in hand.
Lei Xun's subordinate generals were very surprised not to have received Lei Xun's order but to have welcomed Zichuan Xiu instead. Deputy Commander Ge Qing was loyal to Lei Xun, but the other generals were hesitant. Zichuan Xiu used both tough and soft tactics. First, he brought men for a strong confrontation, and then he revealed the news of Yang Minghua's rebellion and Ge Yingxing leading troops to support the Monarch, breaking the generals' unity.
Next, he offered a condition: as long as the generals held their troops, and the situation calmed down tomorrow, he would guarantee their future security with his head. After this series of actions, the generals' will to resist disintegrated, and they each left with their subordinates. The appointed time had arrived, but there was still no movement from Lei Xun. Yang Minghua couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
Luo Minghai offered to go to the Imperial Guard Army to check and prepare to take over. After Luo Minghai left, Yang Minghua ordered someone to notify Xiao Long that they could proceed with the plan. Shortly after, Xiao Long's Military Police began attacking the Monarch's Mansion. Although Si Te Lin led his troops in full resistance, the Monarch's Mansion was in imminent danger. After receiving the news, Zichuan Xiu immediately sent Bai Chuan to provide assistance.
He also sent an item of proof to Si Te Lin, asking him to find a way to give it to Xiao Long so that the Monarch's Mansion's crisis could be resolved. Si Te Lin found Xiao Long. After Xiao Long saw the note Zichuan Xiu gave him, which read "Di Lin is an undercover agent in the Monarch's Mansion," he immediately changed his mind, and the Military Police subsequently withdrew their troops.
Upon hearing the news, Yang Minghua immediately led his troops towards the Monarch's Mansion, preparing to capture Zichuan Canxing. However, everything was beyond his expectations. Luo Minghai and Di Lin were both pieces Zichuan Canxing had placed by his side in advance. Zichuan Canxing had pretended to be mad and foolish for seven years, all for this very moment. In the end, Yang Minghua was killed, and his rebellion to seize power became a fleeting dream.
Episode 13 Recap
Yang Minghua ultimately failed to complete his rebellion plan. What surprised him the most was that Zichuan Canxing turned out to be the main person preventing his success. He had endured hardship in every possible way before, just for this day to bring him down. Such cunning made Yang Minghua shudder with fear. Zichuan Canxing, considering Yang Minghua's contributions to Zichuan, allowed him a complete corpse. After the soldiers cleaned up the battlefield, the wind stopped and the rain ceased.
After being told the time, Zichuan Canxing sighed, stating that Zichuan would usher in a completely new era from then on. Sensing that Yang Minghua's rebellion would likely fail, Xiao Long felt the danger. He began preparing a backup plan, finding evidence of Yang Minghua's rebellion, hoping to use it to secure his safety. But it was already too late. Di Lin led his men into the city to quell the rebellion.
He had always been known for his decisive killing, and this time was no exception. For a time, the Imperial Capital saw bloodshed and terror, and everyone feared for themselves. Xiao Long also could not escape his fate of being killed. Several generals of the Imperial Guard Army also feared Di Lin, worried that he would be unfavorable to them. Zichuan Xiu gave his assurance that Di Lin was his eldest brother, and he would surely ensure their safety.
However, when Di Lin arrived with his men in a menacing manner, Zichuan Xiu also sensed something was wrong. He pleaded for the generals, but Di Lin had Zichuan Canxing's oral order and insisted on executing the remnants of the rebels. Zichuan Xiu desperately tried to stop him, not caring even if it meant sacrificing his bright future. He said that if he couldn't even protect innocent people, what use was a future? Neither side would back down.
Zichuan Xiu pleaded with Di Lin to give him half an hour so he could go and beg Zichuan Canxing for mercy. Di Lin agreed. Zichuan Xiu quickly rode to the Monarch's Mansion and knelt, begging Zichuan Canxing to spare the several generals, even risking the charge of speaking on behalf of rebels. Finally, he obtained Zichuan Canxing's handwritten order. However, when he rushed back to the Imperial Guard Army camp excitedly, Di Lin had already acted mercilessly.
The several generals and their subordinates lay in pools of blood. Zichuan Xiu was filled with grief. He didn't understand why Di Lin would do this, when he could have clearly spared these people, yet he stubbornly took their lives. Because of this, a rift formed between the two brothers. Luo Minghai reported to Zichuan Canxing that Yang Minghua's remnants had been cleared. Ge Yingxing's coffin was being transported to the Imperial Capital.
The commanders of the Black Flag Army and the Border Pacification Army had sent letters of repentance, expressing deep remorse for not returning to the Imperial Capital in time to serve the monarch. Zichuan Canxing stated that their two armies remaining stationary had actually been a great help and that they should be rewarded rather than punished. He told Luo Minghai to go home and visit.
After Luo Minghai left, his expression turned serious, and he muttered to himself, "Everything is for Zichuan. " After returning home, Luo Minghai discovered that none of his thirty-four family members had survived. This made Luo Minghai suffer immensely. He believed it was Di Lin's doing, so he knelt and begged Zichuan Canxing to uphold justice for him. Zichuan Canxing took responsibility, saying that he had not told Di Lin his identity, but he would give Luo Minghai an explanation.
Zichuan Xiu stayed behind closed doors for a long time in thought. Zichuan Ning brought him food. Just as Zichuan Xiu had taken a few bites, Bai Chuan arrived with the news of Ge Yingxing's death. This plunged Zichuan Xiu into deep grief. Zichuan Xiu returned to the noodle shop where he had eaten when parting ways with Ge Yingxing. The past was vivid in his mind, but now things were different, and the person was gone.
Zichuan Canxing held a grand state funeral for Ge Yingxing and feigned deep grief. Zichuan Xiu observed with cold eyes and an indifferent expression. At the funeral, Luo Minghai made a scene, accusing Di Lin of being the murderer of Ge Yingxing, claiming he was the one who revealed Ge Yingxing's marching route to Lei Hong. Di Lin strongly denied it and expressed willingness to accept an investigation. The person in charge of the investigation was precisely Luo Minghai. He wanted to use this opportunity to put Di Lin to death, and Zichuan Canxing adopted an attitude of tacit approval.
Episode 14 Recap
After Ge Yingxing's funeral was held, Zichuan Xiu knelt before his memorial tablet, continuously murmuring in remembrance of his mentor. He also secretly resolved to thoroughly investigate the truth behind his mentor's death. Afterward, Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin went to the prison to visit Di Lin. Zichuan Xiu was still angry with Di Lin and stood outside the cell without entering.
Si Te Lin went inside and talked to Di Lin about the case, wanting to help clear Di Lin's name. Di Lin endured the pain of torture, pretending to be fine, and asked Si Te Lin to send a message to Lin Xiujia, saying that he was alright and she shouldn't worry about him.
As soon as Si Te Lin and Zichuan Xiu left the prison, their subordinate delivered news that Ge Yingxing's bodyguard, Weiming, knew the truth about Ge Yingxing's death. Zichuan Xiu immediately set off for the location Weiming had arranged to meet, while Si Te Lin went to inform Lin Xiujia. Zichuan Ning asked Si Te Lin to spend some time with Ka Dan, as Ka Dan had been worried about him since he was injured.
Zichuan Ning then informed Lin Xiujia about Di Lin's situation. On the other side, Zichuan Xiu arrived at the meeting point arranged by Weiming and just happened to see two masked men attacking Weiming. He intervened and subdued the masked men, wanting to question them about the mastermind, but unexpectedly, the masked men committed suicide by taking poison.
Weiming was severely injured and, before he died, revealed the truth about Ge Yingxing's heroic death and relayed Ge Yingxing's parting message, "Zichuan is paramount," to Zichuan Xiu. Weiming didn't know who the real killer of Ge Yingxing was, but Zichuan Xiu guessed it. Besides Zichuan Canxing, no one else could make Ge Yingxing make such a choice. Zichuan Xiu considered for a long time and finally decided to pressure Zichuan Canxing into releasing Di Lin.
Zichuan Xiu hit on Zichuan Canxing's true thoughts, which made him very uncomfortable. Zichuan Xiu spoke Ge Yingxing's dying words, and from Zichuan Canxing's flustered eyes, Zichuan Xiu became even more certain of his judgment. Zichuan Xiu requested to return to Yuanzhou to lead troops and guard the border, inheriting Ge Yingxing's mantle.
Zichuan Canxing first tried to persuade him by mentioning his relationship with Zichuan Ning, then stated that his assignment would be decided by the Commandery of Mobilization, as a soldier's duty is absolute obedience. After Zichuan Xiu left, Zichuan Canxing sent a message to Luo Minghai, ordering the investigation into Di Lin to stop. The next day, Zichuan Canxing began rewarding the officials who contributed to quelling the rebellion.
Luo Minghai replaced Yang Minghua as the Commander-in-Chief of the Zichuan family. Si Te Lin was promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guard Army. Di Lin replaced Xiao Long and took charge of the Bureau of Discipline. The most unlucky was Zichuan Xiu, who was demoted to the garrison duty at Jianshan Pass. Bai Chuan and others began complaining about being demoted instead of promoted following Zichuan Xiu.
The three of them wanted to pool some money to help Zichuan Xiu find a way out, but their pockets were equally empty. Zichuan Ning was also surprised upon hearing this news. She didn't understand what her uncle was thinking. However, Zichuan Xiu's departure without saying goodbye angered her even more, so she simply went to find him.
Zichuan Xiu, knowing Zichuan Ning's feelings, deliberately evaded and pushed her away, which made Zichuan Ning very unhappy, but Zichuan Xiu's actions were for Zichuan Ning's sake. Zichuan Canxing asked Di Lin about suppressing the rebellion in Yuanzhou. Di Lin said the twenty-five rebel regiments in Yuanzhou were within a controllable range, but various tribes had become restless, and troops should be sent to apply pressure to prevent trouble.
Zichuan Canxing stated that this matter should still be under the jurisdiction of the Commandery of Mobilization and asked him to produce a proposal for the Commandery of Mobilization to decide. Di Lin understood the implied meaning. The Commandery of Mobilization ultimately decided to change the operational direction of Luo Bo and Lin Bing, who were pursuing Lei Hong, and ordered them to lead their troops to attack the beastmen and snake tribe rebels instead.
Di Lin was worried about the safety of the Yuanzhou army and sent a message through Si Te Lin to Zichuan Xiu, asking him to write to Luo Bo to prepare in advance. Even so, Luo Bo and others were attacked from behind by Lei Hong's troops. Most of Yuanzhou's regional headquarters were lost, and Luo Bo retreated with his troops to Wayun Pass. After consulting with his ministers, Zichuan Canxing ordered Si Te Lin to lead the Imperial Guard Army to Wayun first for rescue, while the Black Flag Army and Border Pacification Army would also send troops after their border defenses were settled.
Episode 15 Recap
Zichuan Canxing issued a conscription order, preparing to ease border tensions this way. After receiving the order, Zichuan Xiu immediately began his conscription work, but being unfamiliar with the people and surroundings, the work did not go smoothly. The flag officer responsible for conscription in the area claimed that most of the work had been completed and the average age of the conscripts was around thirty.
However, when Zichuan Xiu went to check with three of his subordinates, he found that his words were greatly exaggerated. Most of the conscripts were elderly and children; while the average age might have been met, they had no fighting strength. How could these people go to the battlefield? Zichuan Xiu saw through the flaw. He took the initiative to propose going to Chunfengyuan, ostensibly appearing frivolous and unrestrained, but in reality, to gather information. Chunfengyuan had already closed.
Under Zichuan Xiu's threat, the person in charge revealed the truth: in order to resist conscription, the young and strong men here had gone up the mountain to become bandits. This way, they could not only avoid conscription but also gain benefits by intercepting passersby, killing two birds with one stone. Zichuan Xiu came up with a strategy.
He lied, saying he was taking everyone for a physical examination, and brought the elderly and children to a place where the bandits frequently appeared. As expected, upon seeing them, the bandits immediately reunited with their relatives and were also taken back by Zichuan Xiu. Zichuan Xiu lectured them with grand principles, but they simply couldn't listen. Zichuan Xiu then played another "honey trap", suggesting they play exciting games with Bai Chuan.
Everyone's minds were filled with images of a beauty in their arms, but what awaited them was Bai Chuan's wrestling challenge. But how could they be Bai Chuan's opponents? In the end, they obediently followed orders and became soldiers. Si Te Lin achieved a great victory on the front line, relentlessly pursuing the rebels. The three brothers had the same idea: to use this opportunity to defeat the rebels.
Zichuan Ning copied the war report from the Commandery of Mobilization, wanting Ka Dan to know the news about Si Te Lin, because she knew what longing felt like. This deeply moved Ka Dan. Luo Minghai wanted to stop while they were ahead and ordered the Imperial Guard Army to retreat and stop the pursuit, but Si Te Lin disobeyed. As the saying goes, a general outside is not bound by the sovereign's command.
Luo Minghai was helpless against him for a while. Xiu's Army was mostly composed of bandits, usually undisciplined and difficult to lead, which made Bai Chuan so angry that she complained to Zichuan Xiu. Some even demanded to see Zichuan Ning dance. Zichuan Xiu wanted them to find someone to casually fool them, but unexpectedly, Zichuan Ning actually came. Zichuan Xiu immediately pretended to be dozing off.
Zichuan Ning, in her capacity as Your Highness, ordered Zichuan Xiu to return with her, but Zichuan Xiu stated that he had to obey the orders of the Commandery of Mobilization, and that when the time comes, he must go to Yuanzhou, where he has unfinished business. Zichuan Ning said she understood Zichuan Xiu and that as long as he had a heart to return home, she could keep waiting.
Zichuan Xiu wanted to steel himself to say words of refusal, but Zichuan Ning didn't give him the chance. After stopping him from speaking, she turned and left. Feeling depressed, she could only confide in her maid Xiaomei after returning. Ka Dan and Si Te Lin each wrote letters to the other, expressing their mutual longing, but neither could deliver them, so they could only silently destroy them. Li Qing, Zichuan Canxing's adopted daughter, returned from the border.
She and Si Te Lin had a playful engagement when they were young. Upon her return this time, Zichuan Canxing deliberately tried to bring them together, and Li Qing showed a shy smile. Luo Minghai summoned Di Lin because Si Te Lin refused to retreat. He asked the Bureau of Discipline to intervene, but how could Di Lin easily cooperate with him? He even mocked him for never being on the battlefield.
Luo Minghai reported Si Te Lin's disobedience to Zichuan Canxing. Zichuan Canxing gave him the authority to make decisions. On the Yuanzhou front line, Luo Bo brought Si Te Lin the Commandery of Mobilization's order, telling him to immediately return to the Imperial Capital, otherwise he would be punished by military law. Zichuan Canxing also sent him a personal letter, on which were written eight characters: "I worry about you, and I know your heart.
" Si Te Lin understood the implied meaning. Luo Bo voluntarily offered to return to the capital to report back on Si Te Lin's behalf. As expected, after Luo Bo returned to the Imperial Capital, he was detained by Luo Minghai and prepared to be subjected to military law. Since he couldn't deal with Si Te Lin, making an example of Luo Bo was a good option. Upon learning of this situation, Lin Bing immediately went to find Zichuan Xiu to think of a way to save Luo Bo.
Episode 16 Recap
Zichuan Xiu had deep feelings for Ge Yingxing's subordinates. Even if Lin Bing hadn't come to ask him, he would have found a way to save Luo Bo. Lin Bing was very relieved after hearing this. She also brought a box that Ge Yingxing had asked her to give to Zichuan Xiu.
Ge Yingxing had long anticipated that Yang Minghua would rebel, and if the situation became uncontrollable, he wanted Zichuan Xiu to find the owner of the box and ask him to get rid of Yang Minghua. This person was Zuo Jia Ming Wang. Zichuan Xiu told Lin Bing that the best person to save Luo Bo at the moment was undoubtedly Di Lin.
Although there had been a rift between them last time because of the matter involving the Imperial Garrison generals, he still proactively came to find Di Lin for Luo Bo's sake. Di Lin was waiting for Zichuan Xiu to proactively make peace with him, and saving Luo Bo was an opportunity. In fact, when the rift first appeared between the two brothers, Di Lin appeared ruthless on the surface, but in reality, he had made a decision for Zichuan Xiu.
If he had truly saved the Imperial Garrison generals, it would have undoubtedly planted a thorn in Zichuan Canxing's heart. From this perspective, Di Lin was also thinking for Zichuan Xiu, which was why he played the villain. Now, Zichuan Xiu understood, and they cleared all previous grievances with a cup of wine between brothers.
Compared to saving Luo Bo, Di Lin was more concerned about Zichuan Xiu's future, as he had now been treated as a discarded piece by Zichuan Canxing. But Zichuan Xiu was indifferent; he had no interest in vying for power and profit, his only goal was to capture Lei Hong and avenge Ge Yingxing. Luo Minghai was bewildered upon learning that Di Lin had sentenced Luo Bo to death.
Based on Luo Bo's crime, demotion or reduction in rank would have been more appropriate, but Di Lin directly sentenced him to death. Luo Minghai worried that Di Lin was plotting in Yuanzhou, so he went to Zichuan Canxing to intercede for Luo Bo. This fell right into Di Lin's trap. He knew that Luo Minghai had been by Yang Minghua's side for many years and had developed a habit of being suspicious, and Di Lin skillfully exploited this.
Zichuan Ning came to see Zichuan Canxing and knelt, begging him to let her and Zichuan Xiu be together. Zichuan Canxing immediately refused, trying to persuade her to change her mind as the heir, emphasizing the importance of the overall situation. He even became furiously angry and smashed things to intimidate her. Zichuan Ning didn't want to see her uncle enraged, so she stopped bringing up the matter.
After Zichuan Ning left, Zichuan Canxing immediately ordered that the Xiu's Army be incorporated into the expeditionary force. It didn't matter where he went, the further away from the Imperial Capital and Zichuan Ning, the better. After Zichuan Xiu received the order to set off, he wanted to see Zichuan Ning before leaving, as his departure might mean an uncertain fate. Zichuan Ning wanted a clear answer from Zichuan Xiu; she was willing to keep waiting.
Zichuan Xiu hardened his heart and told her to find a friend with whom she was truly compatible, which made Zichuan Ning incredibly disappointed. Ka Dan burned the letters she had written to Si Te Lin. When Zichuan Ning saw this, she encouraged her to bravely send them, offering her help. Ka Dan, in turn, saw through Zichuan Ning's feelings for Zichuan Xiu in one sentence and encouraged her to express them boldly.
Inspired by Ka Dan, Zichuan Ning decided to go after Zichuan Xiu. However, Zichuan Canxing would certainly not let her go easily at this time, so Zichuan Ning came up with the idea of sneaking out. Ka Dan tried her best to dissuade her, saying the trip to Yuanzhou was extremely dangerous. Zichuan Ning was fearless and even used catching a cold as an excuse to ask Ka Dan for help in covering for her. Ka Dan reluctantly agreed.
Zichuan Ning, disguised as an employee of Lin Xiujia's shop, tried to sneak out of the city and happened to run into Di Lin inspecting at the city gate. Lin Xiujia recognized Zichuan Ning disguised as a man, but she did not expose her. Instead, she helped her leave the city smoothly. However, she only thought Zichuan Ning was going out to play and didn't expect her to head to Yuanzhou.
Episode 17 Recap
Zichuan Xiu led his troops to Yuanzhou, but was obstructed by the logistics and supply department in Kaige City. They claimed that his Xiu's Army were all stragglers and vagrants, similar to a group of hooligans, and refused to provide even basic food and grass supplies, even beating Luo Jie. This made Zichuan Xiu furious. Zichuan Xiu immediately took his men there and made Luo Jie appear severely injured.
He wanted to show these petty people what hooligans truly looked like. The person in charge of the Service Department in Kaige City finally experienced Zichuan Xiu's capabilities this time. Zichuan Xiu not only had his men seize the food and grass supplies, but also brought the account books to find problems. Sure enough, he found a flaw. After being beaten up, the person in charge obediently provided more supplies to the Xiu's Army.
After Bai Chuan heard about this incident, she was very worried that it would be disadvantageous to Zichuan Xiu. She came to remind Zichuan Xiu to be more restrained in his actions, but Zichuan Xiu didn't care. The Commander of the Department of Discipline was his older brother, so it didn't matter even if he did something excessive. Ming Yu came to report to Zichuan Xiu that preparations had been made to distribute porridge to the people of Kaige City.
Only then did Bai Chuan understand Zichuan Xiu's deeper intention. Hearing that Zichuan Xiu had also arranged for the brothers in the Xiu's Army to go out and relax, Bai Chuan started to worry again. This was not a standard practice in the army camp. Zichuan Xiu already had his own view: if he didn't give these soldiers, who used to be mountain bandits, a chance to relax, they wouldn't be far from rebelling.
When the soldiers under Zichuan Xiu went out to relax, they were plotted against. They were all tied up and a ransom was demanded. Just as they were helpless and seeking help, Zichuan Xiu arrived with his men like a divine force and rescued them. The soldiers naturally would not forget this life-saving grace. Zichuan Ning also arrived in Kaige City and just missed Zichuan Xiu. She checked into an inn.
Because she was generous, the owner and staff were very polite to her. Zichuan Ning specifically gave the staff a tip and asked her to help her inquire about Zichuan Xiu and the Xiu's Army. The staff was naturally very willing and told her to wait for her news early the next morning. Zichuan Canxing came to Ning's residence. After Xiaomei's attempts to stop him failed, he discovered that Zichuan Ning was not in her bed.
At the critical moment, Ka Dan arrived and helped Xiaomei out of the predicament. She said that a few days ago, Zichuan Ning went to Xiangshan to pray for a blessing pouch and later forgot it at her place. Zichuan Ning had secretly run out, probably to Xiangshan to pray for a blessing pouch for Zichuan Xiu. Although Zichuan Canxing was full of doubts, he did not delve deeper.
Lin Xiujia noticed a loophole and, after learning that Zichuan Ning had gone to Yuanzhou, she immediately explained the situation to Di Lin, asking him to quickly notify Zichuan Xiu. He must find Zichuan Ning quickly to prevent anything from happening to her.
Di Lin also understood the importance of this matter, so he activated a special method of communication with Zichuan Xiu to send him a message, telling him to find Zichuan Ning no matter what and send her back to the Imperial Capital. Zichuan Ning found out from the staff that the Xiu's Army would be heading to the Lunshan Pass. She disregarded the danger and set off alone towards the Lunshan Pass, determined to catch up with Zichuan Xiu.
At the same time, Zichuan Xiu also found out that Lei Hong had appeared in Luoxia Valley. Di Lin's message also arrived simultaneously. He was very nervous after receiving the letter. Learning that Zichuan Ning had come to find him, he ordered Bai Chuan to first take men to Luoxia Valley. If they encountered Lei Hong, they should hold him up. After he found Zichuan Ning, he would come and meet up with them.
Zichuan Ning encountered a group of refugees on her way. With good intentions, she took off her jade bracelet and gave it to an old woman. However, the refugees were unbearably hungry and ended up eating her beloved horse, Zhuizhui. Zichuan Ning was so frightened that she fled, but in her haste, she twisted her ankle and was tied up by three unidentified people.
From their conversation, she misunderstood that they wanted to eat her, so she untied herself and continued to run. Those few people chased after her upon hearing the news. Zichuan Ning hid behind a tree, watching anxiously. At this moment, someone approached her from behind.
Episode 18 Recap
Zichuan Ning discovered someone behind her and was scared out of her wits. However, she found the person was Zichuan Xiu, and only then did her heart settle. She threw herself into Zichuan Xiu's arms and cried loudly. On the other side, Bai Chuan led the team to a village. The whole atmosphere was full of strangeness. She claimed that Zichuan Xiu had given instructions before, telling Luo Jie to go and persuade the rebels to surrender.
Luo Jie timidly went forward to persuade them to surrender, but the other party was not Lei Hong's rebels, but a tribe from Yuanzhou, named the Zuoyi tribe. The tribal chief, Lao Delun, was preparing to lead his men to fight the Xiu's Army when he saw a meat bun arc through the air. Zichuan Xiu suddenly appeared before everyone. Amidst the surprised gazes of the officers and soldiers of the Xiu's Army, he walked forward and embraced Lao Delun.
It turned out that Lao Delun and Zichuan Xiu were friends of many years. Lao Delun set up a banquet to entertain Zichuan Xiu and his party from the Xiu's Army. Zichuan Xiu introduced Zichuan Ning. Because it was inconvenient to reveal her princess identity, he called Zichuan Ning his friend named Zining.
At the same time, he told Zichuan Ning that these people were not bad themselves; calling her "wuhuarou" (pork belly) was meant to describe her skin being relatively white, not that they actually wanted to eat her. After the meal, Zichuan Xiu and Lao Delun reminisced about the past. Lao Delun felt that with his abilities, Zichuan Xiu should be doing very well now.
Zichuan Xiu did not reveal his current awkward situation; he just inquired about Lei Hong's situation with Lao Delun. Lao Delun said that Lei Hong had once tried to lobby him, but he did not agree, though some tribes chose to cooperate with Lei Hong. Zichuan Xiu prepared hot water for Zichuan Ning, who had a sprained ankle, and used the Zuoyi tribe's exclusive black grass paste to help her treat the injury.
Zichuan Xiu casually mentioned sending her back to the capital, but Zichuan Ning was absolutely unwilling and threw a princess tantrum. Zichuan Xiu had to slowly persuade her, and even stood guard outside the door for Zichuan Ning all night, just like when she was a child. That night, Zichuan Ning slept very peacefully. Early the next morning, Zichuan Xiu took Zichuan Ning to where the refugees who killed Zhuizhui were.
One was to get some revenge for her, and the second was to let Zichuan Ning feel the dangers of Yuanzhou. Zichuan Ning understood Zichuan Xiu's good intentions, but she was unwilling to leave Zichuan Xiu. Out of helplessness, Zichuan Xiu had no choice but to let her stay for a few more days. --- The situation in Yuanzhou was already under the control of the Diju Army led by Si Te Lin. Zichuan Canxing's hanging heart slightly relaxed.
He came to find Di Lin, guessing that Zichuan Ning had secretly run off to Yuanzhou, and asked Di Lin to find a way to notify Zichuan Xiu, ensuring Zichuan Ning's safety and sending her back to the Imperial Capital. Si Te Lin led his troops to Deyunxingtai. Commander Gu Lan hosted a banquet to receive them. Si Te Lin wanted to raise a thousand shi of grain, but Gu Lan showed a difficult expression.
He and his subordinate put on a double act, and finally only agreed to raise three hundred shi of grain for the Diju Army. Even so, Si Te Lin expressed his gratitude. Zhuo Lin, an official from Deyunxingtai, deliberately spilled wine on Si Te Lin. Taking the opportunity to help Si Te Lin tidy up, he revealed the matter of Gu Lan embezzling military funds. Si Te Lin wanted to know why he would tell him these things.
Zhuo Lin mentioned the disappearance of his former commander, Zha Xi, after demanding medical expenses from Gu Lan. He requested Si Te Lin to investigate this matter and prosecute Gu Lan. Si Te Lin decided to report this matter to the Shulu Si.
After Di Lin learned about it, he immediately reported the matter of Gu Lan embezzling military funds to Zichuan Canxing, and simultaneously copied other departments to maximize the impact and build momentum for Si Te Lin to punish Gu Lan. On the other side, after providing three hundred shi of food and grass, Gu Lan specially prepared gifts to give to Si Te Lin, but unexpectedly, Si Te Lin refused them on the spot. He had a premonition that the situation was bad but did not know where he had made a mistake.
Episode 19 Recap
Di Lin reported Gu Lan's embezzlement to Zichuan Canxing. Luo Minghai's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, because Gu Lan was his only brother-in-law. His wife was deceased, and now Luo Minghai only had this one relative. He desperately defended Gu Lan, accusing Di Lin of harboring resentment towards him and using this matter to drive him to extinction.
Zichuan Canxing felt that this matter must be thoroughly investigated, but he did not let Luo Minghai recuse himself; instead, he had the two of them investigate the matter together. Afterwards, he kept Luo Minghai alone, very subtly expressed his attitude, and very subtly revealed his idea of giving him a way out, but without fully clarifying it. The half-beast race held a fasting ceremony. The soldiers of the Xiu's Army watched in a daze.
Bai Chuan reminded Zichuan Xiu to check on Zichuan Ning's situation. Zichuan Xiu understood Zichuan Ning's feelings, but he couldn't return to the Imperial Capital with her. In the evening, Zichuan Ning and Bai Chuan chatted together. Bai Chuan told her about Zichuan Xiu's feelings for Yuanzhou. Both of them were startled by the bugs on the ground. Although Bai Chuan had been on battlefields for a long time, she was still a woman after all.
Si Te Lin was preparing to investigate Gu Lan. After hearing the news, Gu Lan tried to bribe Si Te Lin. Seeing his decisive refusal, he brought up Luo Minghai as his backer, but Si Te Lin was unmoved. Si Te Lin's subordinates found evidence, and Gu Lan's guard also confessed the details of Commander Chake's murder. Si Te Lin immediately arrested Gu Lan and would escort him to the Imperial Capital for trial on a chosen day.
Although it was said that the Directorate of Troops and the Shulu Si were jointly investigating, Luo Minghai still sent people to intercept Gu Lan halfway and bring him to his residence. He gave Gu Lan two options, just to confirm if Gu Lan was lying. The result proved his conjecture; Gu Lan was indeed suspected of corruption. He thought of what Zichuan Canxing had said and finally sent Gu Lan to the Shulu Si.
Luo Minghai confirmed that Gu Lan was indeed involved in embezzlement, but he only had this one relative. He bowed his head to Di Lin, willing to resign from Zichuan Canxing to save Gu Lan's life. Di Lin was a bit moved this time, as it was an opportunity to reconcile with Luo Minghai. But if he let Gu Lan off, it would be difficult to handle corruption in other xingtai, so he still heartlessly refused Luo Minghai.
Luo Minghai knew that Gu Lan's life was hard to save. He said fiercely to Di Lin, that his hands were stained with blood that could never be washed away, and the pain of losing a loved one would befall him in the future. Zichuan Xiu wanted to establish the Hall of Prosperity to gain benefits through transactions with local merchants. At first, these merchants did not trust the Xiu's Army.
Zichuan Xiu brought up his two elder brothers, but the effect was not obvious. At the crucial moment, Zichuan Ning stepped forward and made a promise on behalf of Zichuan Xiu. Only then did the merchants agree to cooperate with the Xiu's Army. Of course, Zichuan Xiu established the Hall of Prosperity not just to make money, but also for an important purpose: to find clues about Lei Hong. Luo Minghai came to Zichuan Canxing to plead for mercy.
Zichuan Canxing pointed out the importance of the Gu Lan matter, because many xingtai had corruption issues, and investigating Gu Lan would curb this unhealthy trend, so Gu Lan could not be spared. Luo Minghai reluctantly accepted this outcome. At the time of execution, Gu Lan shouted on the execution ground, asking Luo Minghai to save him, and also said he was sorry to his sister. Di Lin found it noisy, stepped forward, and killed him with a single slash.
This was also considered helping Luo Minghai make a decision, but Luo Minghai once again held a grudge against Di Lin. Back at home, the child in Lin Xiujia's belly was moving. She wanted Di Lin to touch it. Di Lin quickly went to wash his hands. He thought of the malicious words Luo Minghai had said, and the usually decisive him couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Episode 20 Recap
Zichuan Canxing prepared a banquet to entertain Di Lin and Luo Minghai separately, hoping to let the two of them reconcile and let go of past grudges. However, this kind of hatred was already rooted in Luo Minghai's bones and could not be resolved with just a word or two. He agreed on the surface, but inwardly was full of resentment.
Di Lin stated that there were as many as twenty-five people involved in corruption cases in various xingtai, who had now been escorted to the Imperial Capital. If the Gu Lan case was used as a reference, all of them would be executed. Luo Minghai obstructed, telling him to make sure to investigate thoroughly to avoid wrongly accusing good people; he was speaking with veiled meaning. Zichuan Canxing, on the other hand, told Di Lin to handle it freely.
Di Lin reported Zichuan Ning's recent situation to Zichuan Canxing. Zichuan Canxing assigned Di Lin a task, arranging for Si Te Lin to escort Zichuan Ning back to the Imperial Capital. Di Lin accepted the order and left. Zichuan Canxing kept Luo Minghai behind, saying that he was the closest person to him (of course, this might also include Di Lin), and told him to investigate freely. If Di Lin made any mistakes, he would also handle it impartially.
This approach undoubtedly provoked the open and secret struggle between Luo Minghai and Di Lin, preventing either side from becoming too powerful after consolidating their influence, which would be unfavorable to the stability of his regime. To improve his subordinates' combat effectiveness and cohesion, Zichuan Xiu specially hired members of the Serpent Race to steal items from his men. Then he issued an order that if anyone's items were lost, their year-end bonus would be deducted.
His subordinates had to unite to retrieve their belongings from the Serpent Race. The Three Provinces Directorate was about to hold a meeting. Bai Chuan and others did not understand why Zichuan Xiu would attach so much importance to it. Zichuan Ning explained the origin of the Three Provinces Directorate to everyone.
The ruler at that time, Zichuan Yun, in order to check the power of the monarch, initially formulated good policies, but as it gradually developed, the Three Provinces Directorate became a tool for nobles to seize benefits, and even the monarch sometimes had to make concessions. Si Te Lin also received news telling him to return. Di Lin also sent a message. He immediately ordered his subordinates to pick up Zichuan Ning.
After he finished the handover of the Deyun Xingtai matters, he would lead his troops to rendezvous with his subordinates and then return to the Imperial Capital together. Zichuan Ning asked Si Te Lin's subordinates for another day. She was reluctant to leave Zichuan Xiu, but she also understood his intentions for Yuanzhou. Leaving now was the best support she could give him.
Zichuan Xiu was also reluctant, but he had a great cause in mind and might have to stay in Yuanzhou in the future; this was not a matter of just a year or two. Ultimately, Zichuan Ning still left. She kept Zichuan Xiu in her thoughts. This return was not the end of their relationship, but a new beginning. Zichuan Xiu escorted Old Derun back to his hometown.
Old Derun hosted a banquet to entertain everyone and advised him to stay there temporarily to avoid the war. At this moment, Zichuan Xiu's subordinate reported that a merchant doing business with the Wealth Creation Hall sent news that they had found clues about Lei Hong and others. Zichuan Xiu immediately organized his troops, determined to kill Lei Hong to avenge Ge Yingxing.
Lei Hong had previously sent his subordinate to the North Clan to pledge allegiance, preparing for his next step of seeking refuge in the North Clan. At the border, Zichuan Xiu led his men to intercept Lei Hong, and a fierce battle ensued. Finally, Zichuan Xiu severely wounded Lei Hong. Just as he was about to finish off Lei Hong, someone intervened and rescued Lei Hong.
Zichuan Xiu knew this person was one of the top experts in the North Clan. The fact that the North Clan valued Lei Hong so much indicated that Lei Hong still had potential use. After Lei Hong and his subordinate were captured, the North Clan's sorcerer performed an exorcism ritual for the two of them. The subordinate was panicked, but Lei Hong laughed heartily. He knew that this time he had truly escaped death.
During the Three Provinces Directorate meeting, Di Lin also wanted to listen in, but was stopped by Zichuan Canxing. Most of the councilors had businesses in Yuanzhou, and the continuous warfare had already caused them huge losses. If it continued, it would harm their foundations, so they strongly demanded a ceasefire. For this purpose, they even found a respected elder from the Zoey clan. However, this elder proposed that he take charge of Yuanzhou, which Zichuan Canxing could not accept.
Episode 21 Recap
The councilors jointly pressured Zichuan Canxing, wanting him to hand over the governance of Yuanzhou to the elder of the Zoey clan, so that their interests could be guaranteed. But this had already touched Zichuan Canxing's bottom line. However, the power of the Three Provinces Directorate could check the monarch, and Zichuan Canxing could not think of a good solution for a while. At the critical moment, Di Lin walked in.
Originally, Di Lin was not qualified to attend the Three Provinces Directorate meeting. After he heard the councilors' excessive remarks outside, he immediately stepped forward to criticize their treasonous actions. The councilors accused Di Lin of being unqualified to criticize them, but Di Lin directly stated that their words and actions were treason. This huge accusation made everyone daren't act rashly, and they could only use the power of the Three Provinces Directorate to expel Di Lin.
Di Lin saw that Zichuan Canxing did not express any opinion, apparently acquiescing to his actions. So, taking advantage of the opportunity to walk out, he suddenly drew his sword and stabbed the Zoey clan elder to death as he passed by him. With the elder dead, the councilors' plan fell through, and Zichuan Canxing's predicament was resolved.
When everyone was accusing Di Lin of his actions, Zichuan Canxing stepped forward to speak for him, resolving the situation lightly, and the councilors had nothing more to say. After the meeting, the councilors gathered to discuss countermeasures. Helpless against Di Lin, they turned their attention to Si Te Lin, intending to attack him with rumors, ultimately forcing him to be unable to fight. Si Te Lin escorted Zichuan Ning back to the Imperial Capital.
Zichuan Ning was worried that she would be blamed by her uncle. Unexpectedly, Zichuan Canxing acted out of character and instead talked about his own mistakes. He prepared a lot of food that she liked, and also taught her how to study ancient history using pictures. Zichuan Ning's hanging heart finally settled. Li Qing was very happy to see Si Te Lin, but Si Te Lin had a cold face.
In his heart now, besides Ka Dan, there was no room for other women. Ka Dan was exceptionally joyful after hearing the news of Si Te Lin's return. However, considering her identity, she was also afraid of bringing trouble to Si Te Lin. Moreover, the current rumors outside were unfavorable to him. Under Zichuan Ning's arrangement, she disguised herself as an attendant and followed Zichuan Ning to meet Si Te Lin.
After the two met, they confessed their feelings to each other, their affection deep and lingering, unable to bear parting. Zichuan Canxing sought the ministers' attitude towards the punitive army. Many people accused Si Te Lin of not following orders, delaying military opportunities, and indirectly causing the death of many soldiers. This time, Luo Minghai strongly supported Si Te Lin. Zichuan Canxing was very satisfied with Luo Minghai's performance, which was exactly what he wanted.
He decided to reward Si Te Lin, conferring upon him the title of Duke of Loyalty and Valor, and granting him the Zichuan family medal. At the same time, he bestowed a marriage between him and Li Qing. Si Te Lin refused on the grounds that the country's affairs were not settled.
Di Lin knew his thoughts and feared that he would make further transgressions, so he stepped forward to smooth things over, saying that Si Te Lin was too excited to speak. After Zichuan Ning learned about Zichuan Canxing bestowing marriage upon Si Te Lin, she felt indignant for Ka Dan. Although Ka Dan was heartbroken, she would rather have a lifetime of regret than let her beloved fall into a difficult situation.
On the other side, Di Lin persuaded Si Te Lin not to sacrifice his future on a momentary impulse. But Si Te Lin's mind was made up. He would rather die on the battlefield than betray Ka Dan. The North Clan army invaded, and Moon Bay fell. Luo Minghai suggested immediately dispatching Si Te Lin to meet the enemy. Zichuan Canxing also had this idea. Just then, Si Te Lin requested an audience.
He then assigned Si Te Lin the task. After receiving the order, Si Te Lin knelt and pleaded with Zichuan Canxing to withdraw the decree of marriage. Zichuan Canxing guessed that he had someone he loved, but upon hearing that Si Te Lin's beloved was actually Ka Dan, the princess of the North Clan, he immediately frowned.
Episode 22 Recap
Zichuan Canxing didn't expect Si Te Lin's intended person to be the North Clan princess Ka Dan. This was something he could not accept. So he laid out the pros and cons for Si Te Lin, playing on his emotions, saying he had always thought highly of Si Te Lin, regarding him as the most important candidate to assist Zichuan Ning in the future.
His marriage to Li Qing would be a perfect match, and this was the best future he could give him. He advised him to think twice. But Si Te Lin was unmoved, insisting on refusing the marriage, stating he would only marry Ka Dan in this life.
Zichuan Canxing saw he could not persuade Si Te Lin, so he proposed a necessary condition for him to marry Ka Dan, which was for Zichuan and the North Clan to achieve great unification. Looking at the current situation, this possibility was extremely slim. Zichuan Canxing still needed Si Te Lin to defend Yuanzhou, so he had to put the matter of the bestowed marriage aside for now.
To appease Si Te Lin, he returned to his inner chambers and brought out a pair of jade bracelets, saying they were a gift for the two of them. Si Te Lin refused to accept them, saying they were too precious. Zichuan Canxing said he was supposed to give them to Ka Dan as a token of love, so she would not look down on the Zichuan nobility. Si Te Lin gratefully accepted.
Ka Dan was currently conflicted about her relationship with Si Te Lin when Si Te Lin came to find her. Ka Dan could not bear to let Si Te Lin ruin his promising future for her, so she cruelly rejected Si Te Lin. Si Te Lin took out the jade bracelets, saying they were a token of love given by Zichuan Canxing for them, and mentioned the condition for the two of them to be together in the future.
Although Ka Dan dared not believe such a situation could happen, Si Te Lin's deep affection made it impossible for her to refuse. As their emotions deepened, they kissed. Ka Dan gave herself to Si Te Lin. Even if the two of them could not marry in the future, she would not regret giving this relationship. Early the next morning, after Si Te Lin left, Ka Dan sat alone in front of her dressing mirror, full of worries.
Would she really wait until the day when the world was peaceful? Even she herself did not dare to believe it. Knowing that Si Te Lin had led the Imperial Guard Army to Yuanzhou, Zichuan Xiu naturally would not stand idly by. While fighting was not the strength of the Xiu Camp, he meticulously arranged for intelligence gathering and logistics. With his good brother going to war, he would definitely lend a hand.
On the other side, Si Te Lin rushed to reinforce Pa Yi. Halfway there, he received news that Pa Yi had fallen. It was Lei Hong who led the North Clan soldiers, colluding with his subordinates inside Pa Yi to open the city gates. The North Clan soldiers massacred the city. Commander Ming Hui narrowly escaped death by hiding among the corpses, but he had been so frightened that he became mentally deranged. The news reached the Imperial Capital.
The fall of Pa Yi meant the barrier for Yuanzhou was gone. If Wa Yun were to fall again, the barrier for Zichuan would be gone. Luo Minghai knew this well, but there were no good generals available in the court. He thought of Di Lin, but there was a rift between them after all. He had no choice but to suggest to Zichuan Canxing that Di Lin be ordered to lead troops to defend Wa Yun.
Zichuan Canxing once again used his political maneuvering. On one hand, he claimed he was incompetent and needed to send Di Lin to the front lines, while on the other hand, he prevented him from amassing too much power. Under the guise of taking care of Lin Xiujia, he placed Di Lin under house arrest in the Junzhang Mansion. This way, Di Lin would have to obey orders meekly.
Lu Di brought Fang Jin's corpse back to the main camp to request reward from the Divine Emperor. Only the disappearance of the head made him lose face. The Divine Emperor didn't mind, and bestowed rewards upon everyone. Lei Hong stepped forward to request reward, as it was he who had opened the city gates of Pa Yi after all. The Divine Emperor gave him a small test, asking him to use a knife to eat Fang Jin's flesh.
Lei Hong gritted his teeth and endured, stepping forward. Just as he was about to act, the Divine Emperor stopped him. The Divine Emperor enfeoffed him as Duke of Pingjing and ordered him to lead troops with the North Clan generals to sweep across Zichuan. Zichuan Xiu told Si Te Lin the intelligence he had gathered, and the two of them discussed countermeasures.
Zichuan Xiu would lead a team for a feigned attack, while he (Si Te Lin) would lead the Imperial Guard Army on a detour to attack Pa Yi, retaking the stronghold to build a barrier for Wa Yun. The North Clan general Yun Qianxue rendezvoused with Lu Di. News came from the front line that Si Te Lin was taking a route to attack Maple Leaf Dan Lin. This was clearly a strategy of Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao.
Yun Qianxue felt there was a trick involved. After Lu Di reviewed the enemy's grain and fodder preparation situation, he felt that Si Te Lin was indeed planning to attack Maple Leaf Dan Lin. He immediately sent troops back to reinforce, unwilling to let the Divine Emperor be harmed by this.
Episode 23 Recap
Lu Di led his troops back to Maple Leaf Dan Lin to rescue the Divine Emperor. As a result, both he and Ka Dun were severely scolded by the Divine Emperor, who thought they couldn't even see through a simple strategy like 'Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao'.
At this moment, Ka Lan walked in and claimed he had guessed Si Te Lin would use the 'Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao' stratagem, and thus had already dispatched Imperial Guard General Yun Qianxue to secretly investigate Si Te Lin's whereabouts, and he would definitely defeat him soundly.
The Divine Emperor also criticized him, saying that if Si Te Lin's actions were genuine, then he (Ka Lan) would have disregarded the Divine Emperor's safety and earned the charge of disloyalty and unfilial conduct. The Divine Emperor did this partly to quell the open and secret struggles between the two brothers. He ordered his generals to gather their armies and station them here, to see what Si Te Lin was really up to.
On the other side, news came that Si Te Lin had sent a declaration of war to the North Clan Divine Emperor and was leading his troops directly towards Maple Leaf Dan Lin. Everyone was extremely surprised, not knowing what Si Te Lin's intentions were. Li Qing defended Si Te Lin, believing his action must have a deeper meaning and he would not push Zichuan's elite into a fire pit.
Zichuan Canxing immediately realized that Si Te Lin wanted to use the 'Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao' strategy to buy more time for Zichuan's defense. Zichuan Ning had recently been studying state affairs with Zichuan Canxing. Zichuan Canxing asked her to express her opinion on this matter. Zichuan Ning said that what was important now was not General Si Te Lin's affair; the crisis was internal, not external.
They should first quell the confusion caused by this news, and at the same time prepare military provisions for future needs. Zichuan Ning's proposal was approved by Zichuan Canxing and Luo Minghai. At this moment, Advisor Ma Wei came for an audience.
Representing the Three Provinces Platform, he suggested that besides guarding against the North Clan, Zichuan should also guard against other tribes, strengthen cooperation with the Lin family, purchase grain and fodder from them, and also strengthen the defense of Wa Yun. Zichuan Canxing praised Ma Wei and intentionally arranged for Zichuan Ning to have more contact with him, with the clear intention of matchmaking.
However, Zichuan Ning was not interested in him; her heart was only concerned with Zichuan Xiu's safety. She asked Ma Wei to help her inquire about news of Zichuan Xiu and Si Te Lin. Si Te Lin and Zichuan Xiu cooperated seamlessly, using the strategy of "Repairing the plank road by day, crossing the Chencang pass by night". They led the Imperial Guard Army to seize Pa Yi.
The North Clan garrison there lost their lives while still celebrating and drinking. Zichuan Xiu wanted to send his subordinates to Wa Yun and go himself to rendezvous with Si Te Lin. Because the journey was dangerous, he didn't want these soldiers who hadn't experienced battle to follow him to their deaths. His subordinates had long seen his intention, and the soldiers were all willing to fight alongside him, preferring to die in battle rather than be cowards.
Yun Qianxue surrounded Pa Yi. He was not prepared for a direct assault; he merely cut off Pa Yi's water supply. Once the grain and fodder inside the city were exhausted, surrender would be their only option. Zichuan Xiu saw through Yun Qianxue's plan. He led men disguised as North Clan soldiers in a night raid on Yun Qianxue's main camp.
He even went alone, impersonating a North Clan soldier, to deliver a message to Yun Qianxue, intending to assassinate him. However, Yun Qianxue saw through the deception, and the two began to fight. Zichuan Xiu's skill was superior, and he ultimately cut off one of Yun Qianxue's arms. Due to the large number of enemy troops, he had to quickly escape.
The officers and soldiers of Pa Yi discovered a troop of North Clan soldiers swaggering towards the city gate, holding a white flag and banners. Si Te Lin looked through his telescope and confirmed it was Zichuan Xiu arriving. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. After the Divine Emperor learned this news, he immediately dispatched troops to surround Pa Yi.
After Ka Dun and Lu Di arrived, they pretended to visit and offer condolences, but in reality, they were mocking them relentlessly. Because Yun Qianxue belonged to Ka Lan's faction, they dearly wished Yun Qianxue would die in battle. Zichuan Xiu used the method of writing a will to educate and guide the soldiers of the Xiu Camp, dispelling their thoughts of surrender.
In reality, he was also prepared to die, joining Si Te Lin to defend the defense line of Pa Yi for Zichuan. On the other side, Di Lin, defending Wa Yun, used an iron-fisted policy to punish officers and soldiers who did not follow orders. Everyone was terrified and agreed to immediately construct fortifications. Di Lin demanded it must be completed within seven days, or he would enforce military law.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
Zichuan Xiu launched a night raid on the North Clan's main camp, not only severely wounding Yun Qianxue but also indirectly causing Lei Hong to be questioned. It was widely spread that the raid was carried out by North Clan rebels. Ka Dun found Lei Hong and deliberately used this incident to pressure him. Lei Hong was very worried, fearing that the Divine Emperor would blame him for the matter, so he begged Ka Dun to speak up for him.
Ka Dun said that he had already vouched for him before the Divine Emperor but had also made a military pledge for him: capture Pa Yi and kill Si Te Lin within three days. Lei Hong had unspeakable difficulties. Si Te Lin was known as the Tiger of Zichuan; how could he be dealt with in three days? But as things stood, he could only brace himself and prepare to attack Pa Yi.
Lei Hong was indeed full of cunning strategies. He used the captured Pa Yi soldiers as his first barrier, making them push equipment in the front as laborers. The defending soldiers would certainly hesitate out of camaraderie. As expected, Lei Hong led his troops to approach Pa Yi. Si Te Lin and Zichuan Xiu were somewhat troubled by this formation. Zichuan Xiu was resourceful; since they couldn't shoot arrows and harm the prisoners, they had to use another strategy.
Zichuan Xiu ordered the soldiers of the Xiu Camp to mobilize the common people and prepare a large amount of lime, chili, and other items for backup. The method to break the strategy was to first use catapults to hurl stones and gunpowder, creating smoke to isolate the enemy's front and rear, and then use flag signals to direct the prisoners to run towards the two city gates.
Si Te Lin would lead a team out of the city to meet the enemy, creating escape opportunities for the prisoners. The primary point was to eliminate the enemy's couriers so that the rear would not know the situation at the front, preventing them from acting rashly. Zichuan Xiu's plan was indeed effective. Lei Hong could not get information from the front and could only send more scouts.
Most of the prisoners entered the city, but some of Lei Hong's subordinates also followed them in. This was precisely the result Zichuan Xiu had hoped to see. The soldiers of the Xiu Camp let the enemy troops into the city, implementing the tactic of 'closing the door and beating the dog. ' The lime and chili powder came in handy now; the enemy troops suffered terribly after being attacked and were ultimately annihilated.
The time Zichuan Xiu had agreed upon with Si Te Lin was approaching, but Si Te Lin was still entangled with the enemy troops. He told his subordinates to retreat first while he acted as the final defense line for them. Zichuan Xiu saw his brother was in danger and naturally would not stand by idly. He charged out alone to help Si Te Lin break free.
The two brothers fought with all their might, safely breaking through and returning to the city. Only then did Lei Hong realize what had happened and led his troops to begin assaulting the city, but he was met with a painful blow from rolling logs and stones. In desperation, he had no choice but to withdraw his troops. However, upon returning to the main camp, he was severely scolded by Ka Dun.
Ka Dun had initially thought he could reap the benefits from the situation but had instead waited for Lei Hong's defeat. Ka Lan came to visit Yun Qianxue and incidentally inquire about the front-line situation. Yun Qianxue felt that Si Te Lin had the help of a master strategist behind him, because this fighting style was not a regular tactic of the Imperial Guard Army, but he had no way of knowing who it was.
Si Te Lin and Zichuan Xiu summarized the battle, feeling it was a narrow victory. Of course, the two brothers couldn't help but praise each other. Zichuan Xiu suddenly saw Si Te Lin's bracelet and insisted on taking it to look at. Si Te Lin had no choice but to tell him the truth, but he had no confidence regarding his and Ka Dan's future. After all, unifying Zichuan and the North Clan would be a very long road.
The North Clan's National Preceptor came to see Yun Qianxue. The Divine Emperor decided to re-employ him as the main commander for attacking Pa Yi. The Preceptor also highly approved of Yun Qianxue's ability, but he reminded Yun Qianxue that the opponent might have a master strategist commanding behind the scenes, possibly the one who cut off his arm, and hoped he would proceed cautiously in his next step.
Yun Qianxue led his troops to surround Pa Yi, continuing to implement his strategy, which was to besiege without attacking. He planned to wait until the city ran out of food and fodder, and morale plummeted, at which point it would fall without an assault. Si Te Lin and Zichuan Xiu also saw through Yun Qianxue's strategy, but currently, they had no good countermeasures.
Other Zichuan armies were preoccupied and could not send reinforcements, so they could only temporarily hold out and look for another plan. After Di Lin learned about the situation in Pa Yi, he was very worried for his two brothers. He cursed them both as two idiots, doing the impossible when they knew it was impossible, yet he could not just watch them suffer in a predicament. So, he prepared to lead men to their rescue, sharing life and death.
Lin Bing was somewhat confused. Di Lin stated that he was now going to become the third idiot.
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