Forward Forever Episode 11 Recap, Plot

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Having retrieved Chong Liming's pistol from the Phoenix Spirit Flower Field, Yu Chu immediately returned to Dong Jiayu. She found Dong Xiao encouraging his father, Dong Lianhai, to ensure Chong Liming's death by poisoning. In the dungeon, Dong Lianhai was force-feeding Chong Liming a substance, calling for him to drink it. Yu Chu intervened, swiftly knocking out Dong Xiao before confronting Dong Lianhai. She was horrified by Chong Liming's emaciated appearance.

Despite his weakened state, Chong Liming urged Yu Chu to find the key to his chains. As she did, Dong Lianhai regained consciousness, grabbing a knife and holding it to Chong Liming's throat. Dong Lianhai taunted Yu Chu for returning and, in his delusion, spoke of living with the "Empress Dowager" (Lao Fo Ye). Realizing Dong Lianhai was utterly mad, Chong Liming desperately told Yu Chu to shoot him, suggesting they die together, but Yu Chu refused to harm him.

Dong Lianhai then ordered her to drop her gun, kick it away, kneel, and finally lock herself in chains. Yu Chu complied to protect Chong Liming. After Yu Chu complied, Dong Lianhai declared both of them would die. Chong Liming, despite his weakened state, suddenly sprang up and attacked Dong Lianhai, further enraging him. Suddenly, Hua Jiuqing emerged, attacking Dong Lianhai and rendering him unconscious. She then freed Chong Liming and Yu Chu.

Dong Xiao, having recovered, returned with his household guards, blocking their exit and demanding they be killed. However, Hua Jiuqing quickly subdued them all. As Hua Jiuqing turned to leave, Yu Chu pursued her, demanding to know her identity and her connection to Chong Liming. Hua Jiuqing refused to answer, simply stating, "You don't have to know who I am. Anyway, we will never see each other again," and then departed.

Under Yu Chu's careful watch, Chong Liming recovered after a day and a night. He told Yu Chu that Dong Lianhai had been poisoning both him and Hua Jiuqing. He had endured three agonizing days to detoxify, but Hua Jiuqing was already deeply addicted and had been forced to dress as the Empress Dowager in her youth due to Dong Lianhai's twisted fantasies. Yu Chu expressed disgust at Dong Lianhai's actions.

Chong Liming then shared his despair, feeling that searching for the truth behind the former Emperor's death was futile, much like the unresolved mystery of his own father's demise, making life seem meaningless. Yu Chu consoled him, emphasizing the importance of his survival and confessing the pain she felt seeing him tortured. Their shared ordeal deepened their emotional connection, and she openly declared her love for him.

In a fit of rage and grief, Chong Liming then set the Dong family dungeon ablaze. Chong Liming and Yu Chu's bond strengthened, and they left Dong Jiayu together. Upon returning to the capital, Chong Liming met with Lord Deqi to report on Dong Lianhai's death and the dead end in the investigation of the former Emperor's passing.

Lord Deqi advised him to put that matter aside for now and reminded Chong Liming that his most crucial mission, as entrusted by the late Shultai, was to gain full control of the brilliant situation. He stressed that the brilliant situation must remain loyal to the Emperor and that Chong Liming should be wary of Zhe Yu's true motives for sending Yu Chu. Chong Liming affirmed his understanding.

Meanwhile, at Shanglin Xianguan, Qi Belle paid 300 taels of silver for Fang Er's company. Despite Fang Er's polite attempts to serve him, Qi Belle subjected her to cruel abuse, causing her to cry out in agony. The madam of the establishment was indifferent, only concerned about potential compensation. Xiao Ke, who worked at the establishment, overheard the distressed cries and the staff's comments about Fang Er's suffering. Enraged that his sister was being mistreated, he stormed into the room.

He furiously attacked the drunken Qi Belle, yelling "Bastard! Dog stuff!" When Qi Belle defiantly asked if Xiao Ke knew his identity, Xiao Ke responded with "Dead!" and killed him. Xiao Ke then took Qi Belle's money and his brilliant situation gold token. Unbeknownst to Xiao Ke, Mr. Lin, who was secretly meeting Xian Er in a nearby room, witnessed the murder, though he tried to distract Xian Er from what he had seen.

Later, Yu Chu had a private conversation with Chong Liming, admitting that Zhe Yu had sent her to exert control over the brilliant situation. However, she expressed her disinterest in being entangled in such power struggles, especially anything connected to Yang Ming, and told Chong Liming she would rather he become the Fan Zhu. Soon after, Rui Zhen called an emergency meeting of the brilliant situation. Chong Liming attended and learned about Qi Belle's death.

Rui Zhen detailed the discovery of Qi Belle's body in Yandai Hutong, noting he smelled of alcohol, suggesting a visit to Shanglin Xianguan, and that he died from a knife wound, likely last night. Chong Liming speculated it was a revenge killing, finding it unusual that Qi Belle's valuables and brilliant situation gold token were also missing, suggesting more than just common robbery, possibly the work of a "chaos party."

When Rui Zhen insisted the infantry led Yamen handle the investigation, Chong Liming questioned their ability to solve an intricate case, arguing that their overt involvement would only drive the killer deeper into hiding. He also pointed out that many officials present were involved in Qi Belle's corrupt activities and could themselves become targets of a revenge killer. Chong Liming asserted his authority, declaring he would find the killer within three days and warned the other officials to exercise caution.

Chong Liming then met with A Yi, confronting him about Qi Belle's murder. A Yi denied involvement, stating he would not hide it if he had done it, and instead pressed Chong Liming to fulfill his earlier promise of helping him exact revenge. Chong Liming explained that the current situation was too sensitive for a direct act of vengeance, but suggested they could impersonate the killer to achieve their goals.

He then announced a competition for the brilliant situation's final open position: whoever could find Qi Belle's killer first would earn the spot. He assigned Can Yan Xin to organize teams, including Si San and Wagner, to investigate. Chong Liming emphasized careful examination of the crime scene for clues about the weapon and the exact time of death, noting that earlier investigators had badly damaged the scene.

Yu Chu took charge of investigating Shanglin Xianguan to determine Qi Belle's departure time. She and Chong Liming questioned Fang Er, who, with visible ligature marks on her neck, confirmed Qi Belle's sadistic nature and her relief at his demise, though she had passed out and remembered little else. Chong Liming was enraged by the revelation. Yu Chu also pressed the Shanglin Xianguan madam and a waiter.

The madam vehemently denied any prior incidents or conflicts, concerned for her business, but the waiter recalled Qi Belle leaving just after Hai Shi, a time he remembered clearly because he was trying to delay him on Sister Shan's orders due to Fang Er's condition. Meanwhile, Wagner, Si San, and Wen Gou expressed concern about the competition for the final spot.

Wen Gou was sent to eavesdrop because his colleagues were uneasy and wanted to know what Rui Zhen was discussing. Wen Gou overheard Rui Zhen speaking with Yu Chu. Rui Zhen not only offered Yu Chu full command of the infantry led Yamen's forces for her investigation but also explicitly guaranteed her the last spot in the brilliant situation.

Furthermore, Rui Zhen revealed that Yu Chu was Zhe Yu's niece and Yang Ming's daughter, the former Fan Zhu, making her succession legitimate. Upon hearing this, Wen Gou returned to his group, angrily packing his bags and declaring his departure, convinced that the final spot was already predetermined for Yu Chu due to her connections with Zhe Yu and Yang Ming. A Yi was stunned by this news.

Separately, A Yi and Yang Zhen were canvassing a tea house when Yang Zhen noticed A Yi carrying a rouge box identical to his mother's. Later, when A Yi questioned Yang Zhen about Yu Chu's identity, he denied ever knowing or seeing Yu Chu during his upbringing at the Yang residence. Disturbed, A Yi walked away alone.

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