Fight For Love Episode 5 Recap
> Fight For Love Recap
In the wake of the tragedy, the wives of the Wei family gathered to discuss their future. Fifth Lady Xie Jiu declared that the death of 70,000 soldiers would bring trouble even to their families, and they must decide whether to leave or stay. She clarified that her desire to leave was not to remarry, prompting Third Lady Zhang Han to question if she harbored no affection for her husband, Wei Ya, after all these years.
Second Lady Jiang Chun firmly stated she would not leave, vowing to protect the Wei family as her late mother-in-law had entrusted it to her. Lady Wang Lan, who was pregnant, admitted she did not want to leave but was being pressured by her father to return home and give birth. Another unnamed lady felt trapped and unsure what to do.
One of the wives criticized Xie Jiu, saying that while Xie Jiu had no children and could leave freely, their own children were still in the mansion, making Xie Jiu's suggestion to leave heartbreaking. Just then, Chu Yu entered, interrupting their discussion. Xie Jiu challenged her, implying Chu Yu, as Wei Jun’s betrothed, a woman of deep loyalty, would surely condemn Xie Jiu's "ungrateful" decision to leave.
Chu Yu, however, stated that she cared little for reputation and would never constrain them. Having seen the world beyond Huajing City, she believed each woman should decide her own life. Though some found her words inappropriate, Chu Yu brought the conversation back to the immediate crisis: Wei Yun was still imprisoned, and none of them could leave without his divorce papers. She urged them to unite and help secure Wei Yun’s release first.
Xie Jiu agreed, acknowledging that Chu Yu’s point was valid and rescuing Wei Yun was their top priority. Later, Chu Yu observed Xie Jiu burning letters for her late husband, Wei Ya. Chu Yu approached, noting that Xie Jiu was not as heartless as she claimed, but rather a woman of deep affection. Xie Jiu denied it, asserting all her actions were for her own benefit.
Chu Yu understood that Xie Jiu's family, the Xie clan, favored legitimate children, making Xie Jiu's journey through life difficult. Xie Jiu confessed her struggle to survive, saying her life was not her own, and she couldn't die for her husband like Jiang Chun had attempted, despite missing him every moment.
Chu Yu reassured her that she was not wrong, needed no guilt, and should not be confined by traditional notions of virtue, as true loyalty was not proven by a mere monument. Touched, Xie Jiu thanked Chu Yu for her understanding and affirmed that her great-uncle, Grand Tutor Xie, would indeed intervene in Wei Yun’s case without needing her prompting. A few days later, Gu Chusheng sent a note to Chu Yu through his page, Zhang Deng, requesting a meeting.
Chu Yu, however, decided not to meet him, believing it was not the time for personal matters while the Wei family faced such a crisis. Chu Yu then secretly returned to her family mansion and met with her elder brother, Chu Linyang. She thanked him, realizing he was behind Grand Tutor Xie's appearance at the Wei family's funeral procession.
Chu Linyang confirmed it, recounting how he had stopped Grand Tutor Xie’s carriage and reminded him of the Wei family’s century-long loyalty and countless sacrifices, such as General Wei Chengyun and General Wei Jingyi, who valiantly defended the nation while their own families suffered. Chu Linyang questioned whether such loyal heroes deserved less respect than corrupt officials, pleading with Grand Tutor Xie to restore the Wei family's dignity.
However, Chu Linyang cautioned that Grand Tutor Xie’s influence alone was insufficient to free Wei Yun; they needed someone with an extraordinary bond with the Emperor. Chu Yu immediately realized he was referring to the Eldest Princess. Recalling Gu Chusheng’s recent note, Chu Yu decided to leverage his status as Wang Linlang’s husband and the Duke of Ning’s esteemed son-in-law to gain an audience with the Eldest Princess. She arranged to meet Gu Chusheng at Qinxi Valley.
Gu Chusheng questioned why she had not sought his help sooner and suggested she leave the Wei family to avoid entanglement. Just then, the Eldest Princess Li Changming arrived. Chu Yu introduced herself and Gu Chusheng, highlighting his renowned status as a top scholar who had excelled in three imperial examinations. The Eldest Princess was impressed and offered Gu Chusheng a position as her retainer, promising him advancement, but he politely declined, stating his loyalties lay elsewhere.
The Eldest Princess then asked Gu Chusheng whether she should help Wei Yun, to which he replied it depended on Chu Yu’s plea. The Eldest Princess found Chu Yu's approach bold and calculating, but Chu Yu explained her desperate situation. Chu Yu then praised the Eldest Princess's past charitable work, such as personally aiding flood victims in the Shu Region three times, implying that a person of such righteousness would not stand by as the Wei family crumbled.
Xue Hanmei, the Princess's follower, interjected, suggesting that the Wei family's recent defeat might be more complex than it appeared and that the Emperor always sought to balance civil and military powers. The Eldest Princess noted Chu Yu’s sharp intellect, remarking that it was a pity she was a woman, to which Chu Yu countered that women were capable of great achievements, a sentiment she believed the Princess shared.
The Eldest Princess then hinted that there was indeed a way to help Wei Yun. Chu Yu thanked her and departed. After Chu Yu left, the Eldest Princess questioned Xue Hanmei’s intervention. He explained that helping Wei Yun now, when the Wei family was vulnerable, would earn the Princess Wei Yun’s lasting gratitude. He also observed that Chu Yu’s fierce dedication reminded him of the Eldest Princess in her youth.
The Eldest Princess pointed out that helping Wei Yun would antagonize the Duke of Ning and his faction. Xue Hanmei countered that the Duke of Ning was stubborn and it was more beneficial to support a useful individual like Wei Yun. The Eldest Princess, wanting a more personal response, told him to reconsider his answer. Xue Hanmei immediately pledged his absolute loyalty, vowing to protect her with his life.
The Eldest Princess accepted his loyalty but warned him not to interfere in her discussions in such a manner again. Gu Chusheng then confronted Chu Yu, accusing her of using him as a mere stepping stone, feeling insulted. Chu Yu calmly stated she had merely chosen a discreet meeting place and pointed out his earlier eagerness to help, subtly hinting that she had other means if he chose not to assist. Later, Chu Yu visited Wei Yun in prison.
Wei Yun questioned her continued presence, asserting that the Wei family could barely protect itself and warning her against using them for her own family’s protection, telling her to abandon her "righteous act." Chu Yu affirmed her genuine sincerity towards Wei Jun, vowing never to harm the Wei family. She proposed a bet: she would get him out, and in return, he would allow her to stay in the Wei family. Wei Yun accepted.
To ensure he would fight to survive, Chu Yu warned him that if he died in prison, she would "scourge his family" and turn it upside down. Wei Yun then asked her to find Song Wenchang, the eldest son of the Duke of Hu, and bring him to the prison. Song Wenchang rushed to Dali Temple to see Wei Yun.
He apologized for missing the funeral, explaining that his father, the Duke of Hu, had forbidden him from attending, almost causing a serious rift between them. Wei Yun understood his father's actions but asked Song Wenchang to apologize to the Duke of Hu and deliver an item: the Red Shadow Sword.
Wei Yun explained that while his father had prevented his presence at the funeral, the Duke of Hu still possessed the military spirit and would not want the Wei family to utterly collapse. The sword was a reminder of a past favor, when the Marquis of Zhenguo had guaranteed the Song family's safety during the Lord of Qin's treason case, saving them from ruin.
Upon returning to his mansion, Song Wenchang attempted to give his father the Red Shadow Sword, reminding him of the Wei family’s past kindness and urging him to repay the debt. The Duke of Hu vehemently refused to touch the sword, feigning a sudden back injury to escape Song Wenchang's insistence. Song Shilan, the Duke of Hu’s second son from a concubine, tried to intervene, but Song Wenchang dismissed him rudely.
The Duke of Hu explained that intervening in Wei Yun’s case, which involved the deaths of 70,000 soldiers, would brand him an accomplice and doom their own family. Song Wenchang, still resolute, insisted on helping Wei Yun. The Duke of Hu, increasingly frustrated, praised his other children, his daughter for being a respected physician and his younger son for holding a high official post, while calling Song Wenchang a "playboy" who only brought trouble to the family.
He then continued his act, feigning severe back pain and left with his daughter, successfully evading his son. Song Shilan again tried to explain the complexities of the political situation to his brother, but Song Wenchang ignored him. Armed with the Eldest Princess’s guidance, Chu Yu understood that to persuade the Emperor, they needed a compelling reason that transcended legal principles and garnered human sympathy and justice, offering him a dignified "out."
She approached Jiang Chun and asked her to join in a risky endeavor: kneeling before the palace gates. Chu Yu explained they would carry the ancestral tablets of the Wei family, asking Jiang Chun to bring the tablet of her husband, Wei Shu, and emphasized that only the two of them should go, as involving fewer people was safer given that the other wives might eventually leave the Wei family. Jiang Chun readily agreed, grateful for Chu Yu’s tireless efforts.
Chu Yu also expressed her personal commitment to saving Wei Yun, not just for the Wei family, but also for Wei Jun, whom she considered her own brother. Dressed in mourning clothes, Chu Yu, carrying the tablet of the Marquis of Zhenguo, and Jiang Chun, carrying Wei Shu’s tablet, knelt before the Chengqing Gate, requesting an audience with the Emperor. The palace guards informed them they couldn't enter without a summons.
Chu Yu calmly stated that if they had a summons, they wouldn't be kneeling there. They declared they would not leave until the Emperor granted them an audience, even if they turned to stone. A minister reported their actions to the Emperor, dismissing it as a theatrical display to pressure His Majesty using military merits.
As Chu Yu and Jiang Chun knelt from dawn until dusk, the other four Wei wives, including Xie Jiu, Wang Lan, and Third Lady Zhang Han, appeared, also dressed in mourning clothes and carrying their deceased husbands’ tablets. They knelt in a solemn row beside Chu Yu and Jiang Chun. Xie Jiu explained that Wei Yun needed her, and while she intended to leave, she felt obligated to help while still part of the family.
Wang Lan joined, stating that Wei Yun was her husband’s most beloved brother, and he would be displeased if she did not come. The Third Lady stated this was the last thing she could do for her husband. Chu Yu expressed her profound gratitude for their sisterhood, and another wife remarked that having endured the hardest paths together, this final journey was of little consequence. As they knelt, a figure approached them from behind.
