Fall in Love Episode 23 Recap
> Fall in Love Recap
Following his direct confrontation with his father, Pei Xun, regarding the assassination attempt on Xu Guangyao, Pei Shaojun now fully understood Pei Xun's calculated plan. His father had orchestrated the attack and intended to frame the Revolutionary Army, thereby provoking Xu Bojun into a decisive conflict, which would allow the Pei Army to withdraw from the front lines. Pei Xun confirmed this, explaining that Xu Bojun was too self-preserving to engage in a true fight without profound personal stakes.
Pei Shaojun expressed his sorrow, referring to Xu Guangyao as his best friend, and lamented that Xu Guangyao's good intentions of maintaining peace had been in vain. However, Pei Xun coldly dismissed the notion of friendship in official circles, stating that Xu Guangyao, as Xu Bojun's son, was bound to pay for his father's actions. He asserted that Xu Guangyao could not truly deceive his father, as their birthright inherently tied them to opposing camps.
In their world, Pei Xun declared, one must either contend or perish, a fate Pei Shaojun struggled to accept. To gain leverage over Tan Xuanlin, Pei Xun had Tan Sangyu brought to his residence. Upon meeting Pei Xun, Tan Sangyu skillfully charmed him with her candidness and compliments.
When inquired about Tan Xuanlin’s current situation, she expressed concern, revealing that her brother had inadvertently offended Military Governor Xu due to his rumored engagement to Mu Wanqing and was now under close surveillance. Despite public perception, Tan Xuanlin was in a precarious situation, with one misstep potentially leading to his ruin. When pressed about her purpose in Beijing, Tan Sangyu boldly declared her intention to pursue Pei Shaojun.
Pei Xun initially dismissed her, calling her a mere tomboy from a bandit den, seemingly beneath his son. Undeterred, Tan Sangyu countered by citing Mu Guiying as an example of a formidable woman from humble origins who achieved a legendary marriage, highlighting her brother's position as Shanghai Commander.
When challenged by Pei Xun to demonstrate her capabilities, with him asking what she, unlike Mu Guiying, could actually "do", Tan Sangyu dramatically presented a "great gift": a film containing the truth about the mysterious death of Mu Yuanhang, the Mu family's eldest son. Tan Xuanlin revealed that the entire scheme, including the delivery of the film to Pei Xun, was his calculated plan. Mu Wanqing, however, worried about the danger this posed to Tan Sangyu.
Tan Xuanlin explained that as her only brother, he believed shielding her from life's adversities would prevent her from understanding the harsh realities of the world. To ensure her long-term safety, he felt it imperative for her to gain experience and learn how to assess situations. He noted that Sangyu was already adept at deception and clandestine actions.
Mu Wanqing was visibly touched by this glimpse into Tan Xuanlin's softer, protective side, recognizing an unexpected tenderness in the usually resolute and sharp-witted commander. That night, after completing her work, Gu Yueshuang encountered Su Hongchen on her way home. Discovering he had been injured while rescuing her, she invited him to dinner as a gesture of gratitude.
Gu Yueshuang confided that she had never openly confessed her feelings to Tan Xuanlin, acknowledging that he had never harbored romantic interest in her, unlike his regard for Mu Wanqing. Sensing her sadness, Su Hongchen produced a silver pendant, a cherished relic from his deceased mother. He shared that his mother, an actress, was a concubine, which led to him and his mother living in the back courtyard of the Military Governor's Office.
He recounted how he was frequently beaten and taunted as "an actress's son" by his half-siblings whenever he ventured into the front yard, prompting him to join the military academy at thirteen to escape his cold home and the insults. He explained that he adopted a carefree demeanor to cope with life's hardships, concealing his true feelings. Gu Yueshuang realized that he, too, kept his deepest emotions hidden.
Xu Bojun's scouts had reported Tan Sangyu's secret journey to Beijing, sparking suspicions about Tan Xuanlin's own trip north. True to their suspicions, Tan Xuanlin soon arrived and was personally greeted by Pei Xun at the train station, followed by a grand dinner reception. During the meal, Tan Xuanlin, while feigning embarrassment over his sister's unauthorized visit, smoothly flattered Pei Xun, who received the compliments well. Pei Xun then brought up the subject of the film.
Tan Xuanlin asserted that the apparent cordiality between Pei Xun and Xu Bojun was superficial and temporary, advocating for a preemptive strike against Xu Bojun, whom he identified as their greatest common adversary. Pei Xun acknowledged his intention to dismantle Xu Bojun's power but stipulated that all of Xu's family assets, including Shanghai, must fall under his control.
Tan Xuanlin countered, pointing out that while the material evidence was in Pei Xun's hands, he possessed a vital human witness: Min Dacheng, former adjutant to Military Governor Luo, who had covered up the truth for Xu Bojun. Tan Xuanlin offered this witness in exchange for a commission letter granting him full authority over Shanghai. Initially dismissive, Pei Xun attempted to coerce Tan Xuanlin at gunpoint into revealing the witness's location.
However, Tan Xuanlin revealed that the witness was safely hidden within a foreign consulate, a territory beyond Pei Xun's reach. He then led Pei Xun to the consulate, where Mr. Liao, a translator, confirmed the witness's well-being and disclosed that the consul owed his life to Tan Xuanlin.
Convinced by Tan Xuanlin's surprising foreign connections, Pei Xun agreed to collaborate, even deciding to grant the commission letter, anticipating that Tan Xuanlin's "Shanghai King" title would soon be irrelevant given the advancing Revolutionary Army. While Pei Shaojun was confined for his defiance, Tan Sangyu brought him food, even offering to cook for him daily. However, Pei Shaojun was unreceptive, accusing her of feigning sincerity and deliberately seeking to advance Tan Xuanlin's agenda.
Tan Sangyu vehemently denied the accusation, asserting that she had met him during a student protest, long before her brother became Commander, and that her feelings were genuine. Despite her earnest pleas, Pei Shaojun asked her to leave. Feeling deeply wronged, Tan Sangyu vowed to prove him mistaken, unaware that Pei Shaojun’s harsh words were intentionally designed to provoke her anger and compel her to leave the perilous environment for her own safety.
Following the intense meeting, Tan Sangyu expressed bewilderment at the sudden shift from armed confrontation to apparent camaraderie between Tan Xuanlin and Pei Xun. Tan Xuanlin explained that the adult world was a complex interplay of truth and falsehood. Mu Wanqing inquired about the outcome of the negotiations, and Tan Xuanlin confirmed that Pei Xun had agreed to relinquish any claim on Shanghai once their plan succeeded.
He further revealed that Pei Xun had indeed attempted to force him at gunpoint to disclose Min Dacheng's location, intending to seize all benefits for himself. However, Tan Xuanlin had shrewdly hidden Min Dacheng in the foreign consulate, a place beyond Pei Xun's jurisdiction, much to Sangyu's impressed acknowledgment of her brother's cunning. Sangyu then worried that her brother's machinations would tarnish her image in the eyes of her "future father-in-law."
Tan Xuanlin, however, dismissed her romantic aspirations, firmly stating that she must return to Shanghai once their objective was achieved and even enlisted Mu Wanqing to help persuade her if necessary, reiterating that Beijing was no place for her. He then playfully sealed his claim on Mu Wanqing, his "future wife," with a kiss, openly asserting their relationship.
