Fight For Love Episode 1 Recap
> Fight For Love Recap
The Great Sui lay in the Central Plains, bordering North Qi. For years, the two nations had been locked in war, leaving the land in ruins and its people in misery. Emperor Chunde ordered General Chu Jianchang of the Northwest to defend Fengling City to the last. The Chu Army fought valiantly, holding the city with their flesh and blood, but suffered heavy losses, and General Chu Jianchang ultimately fell in battle. In Huajing City, the Wei Army returned triumphantly.
Wei Yun, the Seventh Young Master Wei, known as the young general in white who had pacified the northern border, was responsible for entering the city first to report the victory. As he led the vanguard, many citizens cheered, exclaiming that the Wei family had returned in triumph. On this celebratory day, Chu Yu, the eldest daughter of the Chu family, appeared dramatically, dressed in red and dancing with a sword in the middle of a bridge.
Simultaneously, Gu Chusheng, a Senior Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, was heading to the Duke of Ning's residence for his wedding. Onlookers, familiar with Chu Yu's past elopement with Academician Gu five years prior, believed she had been abandoned and was now creating a scene to disrupt Gu Chusheng's wedding. Even Gu Chusheng thought she was there for him, asking why she would risk her reputation with such public actions.
He reminded her they had long separated, stating, "There's no longer anything between us." Chu Yu retorted, questioning whether he truly understood her. She clarified to him, "I'm standing here to stop you." She then added pointedly, "Now that the Chu family has fallen, you should find your own path. As for me, I have a future I must face."
As Wei Jun, the First Son of the Wei family, and his five brothers followed, Chu Yu, tired of Gu Chusheng's presumptions, cut the ropes holding a large red banner. It unfurled to reveal words of affection. She declared to the crowd, "Today I have come for Young General Wei Jun." She openly expressed her admiration for his bravery and asked if she, a martial woman, could be considered worthy of him.
Wei Jun initially responded politely, stating he had "pledged myself to the state" and was not the right match. However, just then, a soldier reported that Northwest General Chu Jianchang had fallen at Fengling City and General Chu Linyang was gravely wounded. In response, Chu Yu affirmed her unwavering martial spirit, despite her family's decline, and reiterated her connection to the state.
Wei Jun, seemingly moved by the news and her steadfastness, reassured her, "I never believed those rumors," which Wei Yun immediately pointed out to his brother, indicating it sounded like acceptance. Chu Yu's maid, Wanyue, then threw an embroidered ball, which Wei Yun pierced with his spear, scattering petals. Wei Yun found a hidden note and tried to conceal it, but Wei Jun saw him and asked for it.
After reading the note, Wei Jun promised Chu Yu, "I will give you a satisfactory answer." Chu Yu replied, "Good. I'll be waiting." Later, at the Chu Mansion, Chu Yu's maid Wanyue joked about Gu Chusheng believing Chu Yu's public display was for him. Chu Yu confirmed it was a calculated risk that almost failed, saying, "Who could've known his wedding would nearly ruin my plan?"
Meanwhile, Chu Jin, Chu Yu's younger sister, complained loudly about Chu Yu's actions, calling her "shameless and indecent" and claiming she had disgraced the Chu family. When Chu Yu confronted her, Chu Jin accused her of being selfish. Chu Yu warned her, "misfortune comes from the mouth," and that she wasn't someone to be trifled with. Their argument escalated into a physical altercation, with Wanyue confirming that Chu Jin struck first.
Old Madam Xie Yun intervened, scolding Chu Yu without asking for her side of the story. She accused Chu Yu of being undisciplined due to her upbringing on the frontier and chastised her for disgracing the family name. Chu Yu, resigned, retorted, "You didn't even ask me why I did that today. And you judged me based only on Chu Jin's word. You'll never believe me. Fine. I'm used to it. Think what you like. I won't change anyway."
Chu Jin, feigning innocence, then played the victim, telling Xie Yun it was all her fault for angering Chu Yu. Chu Yu then had a private conversation with her elder brother, Chu Linyang, who had recovered after half a year. He observed that she still seemed angry at their mother and Chu Jin, to which Chu Yu simply replied, "I'm used to it." Chu Linyang then directly asked her, "Honestly, why are you getting close to Wei Jun?"
Chu Yu explained that her public display was "out of desperation" and shared the true reason for her actions with Wei Jun at a secluded pavilion in the eastern woods, as per the note. Wei Jun acknowledged that he already suspected her true intentions, knowing that with her father, General Chu Jianchang, recently fallen and her three-year mourning period, no celebrations would be held by the Chu family.
He admired her past loyalty to Gu Chusheng and said he believed her. Chu Yu then revealed that her father was killed by the North Qi army using a new octagonal crossbow, and her brother was gravely injured by it. She explained that the weapon's core instant-firing mechanism was strikingly similar to a new design from the Wei family, a design that had not yet been publicly released in Great Sui.
Producing the Chu family's heirloom jade token, she swore that every word was true. She told Wei Jun that she needed the Wei family's help to find the traitor who leaked the military secrets, and that her public display of affection was a ruse to prevent suspicion from the court.
Wei Jun confirmed his understanding of the secret nature of the Arsenal Bureau's octagonal crossbow, agreeing that its design was a state secret and expressing his own desire to know how North Qi obtained it. Suddenly, Wei Yun and his five brothers emerged from their hiding spots, where they had been eavesdropping. Wei Jun, visibly annoyed, reprimanded them, especially Wei Yun, and ordered Wei Yun to apologize to Chu Yu for his rudeness.
Wei Yun grudgingly apologized, and Chu Yu generously dismissed it, saying she wouldn't hold it against "kids." Wei Jun then suggested to Chu Yu they meet again at Qinxi Valley to discuss further, to which she agreed. After Wei Jun and his brothers departed, Wei Yun lingered, stopping Chu Yu to confront her. He still didn't believe she had suddenly fallen for his elder brother, expressing concern for Wei Jun's emotional well-being.
Chu Yu, refusing to directly answer, challenged him to a fight, promising to reveal the truth if he won. Wei Yun, however, lost the duel, failing to uncover her secrets. Later, at the Marquis of Zhenguo's Mansion, during a family dinner, Liu Xueyang, the Marchioness of Zhenguo and mother of the Wei brothers, voiced her strong disapproval of Chu Yu. She noted that the entire city was gossiping about Wei Jun marrying Chu Yu after her public spectacle.
While some of the younger Wei brothers lightheartedly suggested Chu Yu and Wei Jun made a good match, and Wei Jun praised Chu Yu's resilience, Liu Xueyang remained firm. She argued that Chu Yu's elopement for love and the resulting scandal showed a disregard for "private morals," making her an unsuitable match for their military family. Wei Jun, without finishing his meal, excused himself to attend to "official business."
Wei Jun also discussed the secret octagonal crossbow with his father, Wei Zhong, Marquis of Zhenguo, expressing his concern about how North Qi obtained the design for a weapon that was never deployed by Great Sui due to its dangerous nature. Meanwhile, at Qinxi Valley, in the Eldest Princess's garden, Linlang, daughter of the Duke of Ning, was admiring the blooming flowers with Gu Chusheng.
Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Cao Yan and Young Master Sun were also present, mocking Chu Yu. Cao Yan remarked on Academician Gu's "luck" in being pursued by General Chu's daughter and then gaining the Duke of Ning's daughter's favor. He then launched into a harsh criticism of Chu Yu, recalling how she grew up on the frontier, joked freely with soldiers, and "ignored gender taboos," ending by saying he felt "ashamed for General Chu."
At that moment, Wanyue, unable to tolerate the insults, confronted them, shouting, "Don't go too far!" Cao Yan demanded to know whose maid she was, and Chu Yu then stepped forward, declaring, "She's my maid."
