Fall in Love Episode 26 Recap
> Fall in Love Recap
Following his narrow escape from capture after being exposed for Mu Yuanhang's murder and subsequent public condemnation orchestrated by Tan Xuanlin, Xu Bojun furiously demanded an investigation into why Xu Guangyao had concealed his involvement in the Shanghai gun-running case from the family. He believed the matter was not simple, especially since Pei Shaojun had been confined by Pei Xun because of it.
Shortly after, a verdict from the Higher Court arrived at Xu Bojun's residence, ordering him to step down and surrender his military command. Enraged, he overturned a table, declared the verdict meaningless, and vehemently refused to comply, deciding instead to retaliate and fight.
His assembled troops awaited his command, while his men reported that Xu Bojun's soldiers had resisted their takeover attempts, refusing to surrender weapons and even assaulting and detaining their officers, confirming Xu Bojun's defiance towards the order to step down. He also worried about Xu Guangyao, who had delivered supplies to Hangu Pass, and ordered his return, citing the danger of the location as Xu Guangyao's mission there was complete.
Meanwhile, Pei Xun confronted Pei Shaojun, who had been confined by his father. Pei Xun informed him that Xu Bojun had rejected the verdict, refused to step down, and was instead provoking conflict near Hangu Pass by gathering an army. Pei Xun, having anticipated this, boasted of his strategic preparations and a formidable force already in position, trapping Xu Bojun.
He proposed that Pei Shaojun lead an elite division to the front as a mobile unit, allowing others to charge first, then following to easily claim credit. Pei Shaojun, however, firmly refused, declaring himself untalented and unwilling to fight such a humiliating and meaningless war that only brought suffering to the common people, preferring to live a mediocre life if forced to fight it.
Pei Xun angrily dismissed his son's words as cowardice, framing military achievements as essential for promotion and succession, but Pei Shaojun scoffed at positions gained through such means, calling them corrupting and precarious. Enraged by his insubordination and defiance, Pei Xun ordered Pei Shaojun to be given thirty lashes.
Despite the brutal beating that left him unconscious, Pei Shaojun refused to relent, maintaining his stance that his confused state made him unfit for the front line and would only lead to defeat. Pei Xun ordered the beating to continue until Pei Shaojun regained his senses, but he remained unconscious. Mu Zhiyuan was confined to his sickbed, heartbroken after learning the truth about Xu Bojun, his trusted friend and potential in-law, being the true murderer of his son, Yuanhang.
He prayed to his deceased wife, Bingqing, expressing gratitude for their wonderful daughter, Wanqing, who had single-handedly taken charge of the Mu family business, and wished for her safety and success. His servants revealed that Wanqing had instructed them to conceal the news from him, fearing for his health. He dismissed their apologies, acknowledging Wanqing's filial devotion.
He refused to allow them to call Wanqing, expressing profound regret for almost marrying her into the Xu family, now realizing that she had long been aware of the truth about Yuanhang and had stoically feigned ignorance while dealing with Xu Bojun. He acknowledged her immense pain and suffering, noting she had endured it all alone and was now seeking justice for Yuanhang with Tan Xuanlin, making him determined not to add to her burdens.
Tan Sangyu visited Pei Shaojun at the Pei mansion, heartbroken to find him severely injured and bedridden. Despite his claims of being fine, her eyes reddened, and she vowed to stay and care for him, even if it meant being trapped in a metaphorical cage. Tan Xuanlin, however, ordered Sangyu to return to Shanghai with him the next day.
Sangyu stubbornly refused, asserting that no one could deter her once she made up her mind, even if it meant getting involved in a difficult situation. Pei Shaojun expressed concern for her safety, fearing he couldn't protect her. She dismissed his worries, playfully teasing him for fussing, and excitedly misinterpreted his comment about not being able to control her as permission to stay, affectionately embracing him. Tan Xuanlin then confronted Pei Shaojun, directly asking about his feelings for Sangyu.
Pei Shaojun confessed his affection, explaining his earlier hesitation was out of concern for Sangyu's well-being and to avoid causing trouble for her and Xuanlin, not due to a lack of feelings. He pledged to protect her with his life, despite his current powerlessness within his own home after being punished. Tan Xuanlin expressed deep concern for his only sister, highlighting Pei Shaojun's vulnerability.
He agreed to let Sangyu stay in Beijing, but only on the condition that Pei Shaojun fundamentally changed his relationship with his father. He advised Pei Shaojun, a former top student of Baoding Military Academy, to approach his father as a tactical opponent and study him meticulously, warning him not to disappoint. Overhearing the conversation, Sangyu was ecstatic, praising Xuanlin as the "best brother ever" and joyfully hugging him.
She then turned to Wanqing, who was present, asking if she was happy, as she could finally be with Pei Shaojun. Tan Xuanlin then laid down three strict rules for Sangyu: be cautious in her words and actions and send a telegram if she encountered insoluble problems, maintain proper boundaries with Pei Shaojun (no entering his room alone), and never stay overnight at the governor's mansion.
He warned her that her chosen path would be far from smooth, urging her to trust her own judgment and assuring her that he would always be there to protect her if anyone ever wronged her. Meanwhile, Xu Guangyao, as the Young Marshal of the Xu family, furiously discovered his family's precarious military situation from a newspaper, which his adjutant, Xu Yuan, had deliberately hidden from him to prevent distress over news of Tan Xuanlin and Wanqing.
Infuriated by the deception, Xu Guangyao confronted Xu Yuan, who had been sent by Xu Bojun to assist with supplies and escort Xu Guangyao back to Yuecheng for his safety. Xu Guangyao vehemently questioned his father's decision to fight a battle without any favorable conditions, despairing that his soldiers' lives were being used as mere bargaining chips to pressure Pei Xun.
Despite Xu Yuan's insistence on following military orders, Xu Guangyao defiantly refused to retreat, vowing to stay with his men. He declared that a family legacy built on a "mountain of corpses and a sea of blood" was not worth preserving. Amidst the chaos of battle, the telephone lines were severed, prompting Xu Guangyao to insist on leaving the command post despite warnings.
He then, determined, ordered his troops to retreat, asserting the war's meaninglessness and his refusal to let his soldiers die in vain, knowing only Xu Bojun had the authority to issue such an order. Venturing out onto the chaotic battlefield, Xu Guangyao discovered a telephone operator weeping over his dead brother, who lay in an enemy uniform. The operator tearfully explained that his brother had served under Military Governor Pei and they hadn't seen each other in three years.
He pleaded with Xu Guangyao to be allowed to go home to care for their widowed mother, who would be left alone if he, too, perished. Despite his adjutant Xu Yuan's counsel against mercy, fearing it would demoralize the troops, Xu Guangyao, with a heavy heart, cut off the soldier's index finger, declaring a soldier unable to fire a gun useless, and told him to leave.
However, just moments later, Xu Yuan shot the man dead, explaining that it was necessary to prevent a collapse in morale. Xu Guangyao confronted Xu Yuan, condemning his actions, lamenting the loss of another son and a mother left without support. He reiterated his belief that the family's survival was not worth the cost of so many lives.
Knowing that Xu Guangyao insisted on staying on the battlefield and was outflanked, Xu Bojun decided against sending large reinforcements, which would expose them to the Revolutionary Army. Instead, he dispatched a small squad to bring Xu Guangyao back. Since Xu Yuan had failed to persuade him, Xu Bojun instructed his men to find Su Hongchen, inform him of Xu Guangyao's perilous situation, and ask him to intervene.
Xu Bojun reasoned that Xu Guangyao would not jeopardize his friend, and would ensure Su Hongchen's safety by sending him to a safe place, at which point Su Hongchen could be detained from returning to the front. Su Hongchen sought out Gu Yueshuang to bid her farewell. Though initially appearing annoyed, Gu Yueshuang quickly became worried upon learning he was heading to the front, questioning why he would involve himself in Xu Bojun's self-made mess that implicated his son.
Su Hongchen countered that he intended to prove himself a true soldier, not merely a playboy, especially since Guangyao, his best friend, was innocent and shouldn't suffer. Gu Yueshuang expressed deep concern for his safety on the brutal battlefield, prompting Su Hongchen to observe her worry. He implored her not to push him away, as this might be their last encounter.
He then slowly walked up and hugged her, presenting her with a silver pendant, his mother's most treasured relic, asking her to keep it as a cenotaph in case he died. He then lightened the mood, joking that his most precious possessions were with her, ensuring he wouldn't die. Gu Yueshuang, accepting the pendant, urged him to return safely and promised to wait for him.
