Fight For Love Episode 16 Recap
> Fight For Love Recap
Yao Jue refused to meet her son, Lingmo, even though he had rarely visited. Through a closed door, she thanked Wei Yun and Chu Yu for bringing him but claimed her cold hadn't recovered, making it inconvenient to see anyone. She insisted they take Lingmo back to Wei Mansion, promising her cousin, Yao Yong, would escort her back once she felt better. Lingmo pleaded, assuring his mother he wasn't afraid of getting sick and just wanted a hug.
Yao Jue, expressing her own longing for him, offered to recite a nursery rhyme if Lingmo promised to be good and return home with Chu Yu and Wei Yun. She then recited a rhyme about bees hiding under a tree, asking them to "wait under the leaf for dawn." Afterwards, Chu Yu suggested to Wei Yun that they let Lingmo cry, acknowledging that children must learn about separation as they grow. Meanwhile, Wei Yun remained to speak with Yao Yong.
Yao Yong recounted his severe injuries from the Battle of Baidi Valley, emphasizing his valiant defense of Qingzhou, which prevented Great Sui from losing a fourth city. He contrasted his current position with Wei Yun's ability to inherit his title and remain Marquis of Zhenguo, despite significant losses, hinting at his deep dissatisfaction with the Emperor for not trusting him due to his past allegiance to the Lord of Qin.
Wei Yun subtly warned him that "if you make a wrong move, it will be hard to turn back." Yao Yong, while denying he felt wronged and professing loyalty to the Emperor, reiterated his desire to fight alongside Wei Yun. On the carriage ride back, Chu Yu was furious, declaring Yao Yong ungrateful and his intentions "unforgivable," noting that he was spared death and allowed to earn merits by the Emperor's benevolence, yet still felt wronged.
Lingmo, recalling his mother's unusual nursery rhyme, realized it was a clue. He showed Chu Yu and Wei Yun a note he found under a large tree in the courtyard. Together, they deciphered the message, revealing "The Xu hour on the 7th, Dingfeng Valley," which they interpreted as Yao Yong planning a rebellion in Dingfeng Valley at the Xu hour on the seventh day. Chu Yu expressed her shock, realizing Yao Yong truly intended to rebel.
Wei Yun confirmed that Yao Yong's clandestine storage of weapons indicated long-term planning, and that during the rebellion, he would be preoccupied, giving them an opportunity to rescue Yao Jue. They knew they needed more allies as they were unsure of Yao Yong's forces. To secure more help and ensure Yao Jue's rescue, Chu Yu approached the Eldest Princess. She carried willow twigs as a symbolic "atonement for my sins," explaining she couldn't find thorny branches.
She confessed to having "acted before telling you" by previously using the Princess's name to intimidate Yao Yong. She revealed their suspicions about Yao Yong's involvement in the Baidi Valley incident and his impending rebellion in Dingfeng Valley, assuring the Princess that despite being a woman, she would not back down in the face of danger. Impressed, the Eldest Princess declared, "A woman as valiant as a man. I like that," and agreed to help rescue Yao Jue.
She even offered to dispatch a team to assist Chu Yu and Wei Yun in their mission and told Chu Yu to write her own invitation to Yao Jue in the Princess's name. Although Chu Yu lamented her poor handwriting, she complied. Wei Yun then instructed a commander from the Arsenal Bureau to use the invitation to bring Yao Jue home.
The commander, despite criticizing the handwriting, acknowledged Chu Yu's resourcefulness and the Eldest Princess's clear favoritism towards her, to which Wei Yun added, "She's always been likable." With the invitation, Yao Jue was successfully brought back to Wei Mansion and tearfully reunited with Lingmo, promising never to leave him again. Wei Yun’s sister-in-law expressed concern over Chu Yu and Wei Yun's secretive actions but acknowledged the urgency, suggesting they should rely on each other as family.
Lu Qiba, witnessing Chu Yu's capabilities, praised her as a "heroine among women" and proposed they "forget the past and start anew," declaring their previous disagreements resolved. Song Wenchang, accompanied by his brother, arrived at Wei Mansion, hoping Chu Yu would help him with matchmaking for Chu Jin. He excitedly announced he wanted to join their impending battle in Dingfeng Valley, boasting about his martial arts skills.
When his brother reminded him that Chu Jin didn't want him on the battlefield, Song Wenchang hesitated but quickly insisted on going anyway, stating it would be embarrassing to retract his words and that he would be a valuable asset. He then suggested also bringing his intelligent and skilled brother, and Chu Yu agreed that both could join.
When Song Wenchang questioned Chu Yu's ability to lead in battle as a woman, she challenged him to a match with spears, proposing that if she lost, she would follow his command. Song Wenchang accepted but was swiftly defeated, admitting he had underestimated her and praising her formidable skills, saying, "I admit defeat." Wei Yun further elaborated on Chu Yu’s extensive martial arts training since childhood under General Chu.
Song Wenchang then gave Chu Yu a food box, asking her to speak well of him to Chu Jin, to which Chu Yu replied that "A Chu lady isn't that easy to court." Later, as Chu Yu and Wei Yun sparred with spears amidst falling blossoms, Wei Yun tried to bring up their past encounter at Spring Breeze House, hinting at his feelings, but Chu Yu quickly deflected, reminding him of the imminent battle.
Left alone, Wei Yun was visibly conflicted and questioned, "What should I do?" Late that night, Gu Chusheng's servant rushed to Wei Mansion, frantically begging Chu Yu to save his master. He explained that Gu Chusheng had gone to Qinxi Valley to investigate clues related to the auction banquet, believing they would help Chu Yu. Gu Chusheng had instructed the servant to seek Chu Yu if he didn't return by Yin hour (3-5 AM).
Chu Yu deduced that Gu Chusheng was likely safe but possibly injured and hiding, as no news of an official’s death had reached the capital. Wei Yun suggested this might be a ploy to divide their forces. Citing her expertise in military strategy from her time at the border, Chu Yu decided to lead the Song brothers to Dingfeng Valley to intercept Yao Yong, while Wei Yun would go to Qinxi Valley to rescue Gu Chusheng.
Before they parted, Chu Yu advised Wei Yun that Gu Chusheng was good at swimming, increasing the chances of finding him by searching along water sources. Following Chu Yu's guidance, Wei Yun and his subordinate searched along the water source near Qinxi Valley. They found Gu Chusheng's official uniform but no footprints, leading Wei Yun to deduce that Gu Chusheng had jumped into the water to hide from his pursuers.
He then discovered a "wood" character carved in seal script, which he recognized as a secret mark from Gu Chusheng's private maps, indicating he should search east. This led them to the Gu family's old residence, where they found an injured Gu Chusheng. Gu Chusheng was surprised to see Wei Yun, admitting his disappointment that it wasn't Chu Yu.
He handed Wei Yun a bamboo slip containing evidence from Qinxi Valley and urged him to escape with it, as his pursuers would arrive soon. Wei Yun, however, insisted on bandaging Gu Chusheng's wound, which was bleeding profusely. He forced Gu Chusheng to take a "coptis pill" to stop the bleeding, admitting he lied about its properties to silence Gu Chusheng's complaints.
As Wei Yun tightly bandaged the wound, Gu Chusheng, despite the pain, stoically declared that "a real man can handle a little pain." Recognizing that Gu Chusheng’s injury prevented them from escaping on horseback and that pursuers were closing in, Wei Yun decided to use the familiar old residence as a temporary stronghold.
