Forward Forever Episode 5 Recap, Plot

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Old horse head, having accidentally killed Jia Chang'an after he attempted to assault Qinger, was distraught. He insisted that Qinger leave immediately, offering her money, but she tearfully refused, suggesting they seek help from Chong Liming. Old horse head, however, was firm, explaining that murder was a grave crime, and they shouldn't further burden Chong Liming, who had already shown them kindness.

After a tearful exchange, Qinger decided to take matters into her own hands, attempting to bury Jia Chang'an's body under the cover of night using a cart. Her efforts were interrupted when she was spotted by Si San, Yang Zhen, and Wagner. Noticing her agitated state, they approached the cart and were shocked to discover Jia Chang'an's corpse.

At the lamb soup restaurant, Old horse head tearfully confessed to Si San, Wagner, and Yang Zhen that he had killed Jia Chang'an because Jia Chang'an tried to assault Qinger. Yang Zhen worried about the implications, reminding everyone that Jia Chang'an was an official and his disappearance would certainly cause an uproar. Wagner, however, saw an opportunity.

After confirming with Old horse head that Jia Chang'an had arrived alone and secretly, Wagner stated that they needed Jia Chang'an's body for their own plans, which Chong Liming had tasked them with. He then instructed Old horse head and Qinger to pretend nothing had happened and that they had never seen Jia Chang'an, emphasizing the need for absolute secrecy. Old horse head, deeply relieved, expressed his profound gratitude for their intervention.

Rui Zhen harbored doubts about Chong Liming's loyalty, knowing that Schultai had been Chong Liming's mentor. He instructed Mu Yi to closely monitor tingyuxuan and prepare for the worst. Rui Zhen declared that if Chong Liming deviated from the plan to poison Schultai, they would eliminate Chong Liming themselves. Concurrently, the Empress Dowager's health was failing rapidly. Aware of her impending death, she weakly ordered Dong Lianhai to bring the young prince designated to succeed the Emperor into the palace.

During the harsh winter, the Emperor, passionate about ice skating, found his nightly ritual on the platform's frozen river destroyed by eunuchs breaking the ice under orders. This sent him into a fit of rage, causing him to cough blood and fall gravely ill. Meanwhile, Shen Xiu, after learning of Brilliant Situation's secret order to Chong Liming to kill Schultai, was determined to save Schultai, despite viewing it as a suicidal endeavor.

Shen Xiu initially urged Chong Liming to flee the capital that very night to escape the Empress Dowager's ruthlessness. Chong Liming, however, argued that as a high-ranking official, he could not simply abandon his post and pressed his father for the true reason behind the formation of the Palace fire brigade.

Shen Xiu then revealed that his family, the Erji clan, had been loyal allies of the Aisin-Gioro imperial family for generations, and his apparent allegiance to the Empress Dowager was a facade. He formed the Palace fire brigade not to monitor the Emperor for the Empress Dowager, but to protect him, believing the Emperor would have already been assassinated otherwise.

Recognizing his father's deep loyalty to the Emperor, Chong Liming passionately argued that they must save Schultai, who had never betrayed their faction, and whose silence had enabled Shen Xiu to protect the Emperor through the fire brigade. With a newfound understanding of his father's hidden loyalty, Chong Liming reinforced his resolve to rescue Schultai. Shen Xiu, after careful consideration, reluctantly gave his consent.

Chong Liming set his plan in motion, instructing Wen Gou to remove the back seat of his car to make space for a body, while deflecting Wen Gou's questions about Brilliant Situation's new tasks and Wagner's corpse acquisition. He then tasked Can Yan Xin with preparing a car to rendezvous at Fuyou Street at 8 PM the following night, where he would hand over a person to be discreetly taken to Fairy Girl at Shanglin Xianguan.

Chong Liming repeatedly emphasized the critical nature of the mission, demanding absolute discretion and flawless execution from Can Yan Xin, who was warned not to ask questions about the mysterious individual. Chong Liming then met with A Zuo at the lamb soup restaurant, asking Old horse head to leave them to their private discussion. Chong Liming unveiled his audacious "stealing beams and changing columns" plan: he would smuggle a corpse into tingyuxuan, then set the building ablaze to create chaos.

During the fire, he would swap Schultai with the corpse of Jia Chang'an. Chong Liming explicitly instructed A Zuo to allow the fire to burn long enough to render the body completely unrecognizable before putting it out, thus preventing any identification. A Zuo confirmed he understood the instructions and raised a concern about potential outsiders, but Chong Liming assured him he had a solution.

At Shanglin Xianguan, Chong Liming found himself in a bidding war with Lian Er for Fairy Girl's time. As Chong Liming raised his bids to 1500, 1700, and then 2000 taels, Lian Er consistently countered with an extra tael, much to Chong Liming's annoyance. In a dramatic move, Chong Liming produced his prized, rare Luger P08 pistol, gifting it to Fairy Girl as his bid. Lian Er then openly accused Chong Liming of using his official authority to intimidate him.

Just as the tension peaked, Can Yan Xin arrived, bearing a large sum of silver notes, which Chong Liming used to definitively win the bid, forcing Lian Er to withdraw, grumbling about Chong Liming's power. Chong Liming then spoke with Fairy Girl, asking her to shelter a mysterious individual for several days to half a month, emphasizing the extreme danger and the need for absolute secrecy, including from her own lover.

When Fairy Girl suggested he go to Fang Er for such matters, Chong Liming firmly stated that her cautious nature made her the ideal person for this critical, final step of his plan. Impressed by his trust, Fairy Girl solemnly promised her full cooperation. Shen Xiu, furious, confronted A Zuo after learning Chong Liming's plan to burn tingyuxuan and substitute Schultai with a corpse.

Later, upon Chong Liming's late return home, Shen Xiu demanded he leave the capital that very night, emphasizing the immense danger and the certainty of failure. He questioned how Chong Liming expected to smuggle a body past the vigilant Mu Yi and Rui Zhen, reminding his son that he was the last of the Erji family and that his safety was paramount. Chong Liming, however, refused to back down, stating that his plans were already set and irreversible.

He revealed his secondary plan: to fight their way out alongside Schultai with A Zuo's help, confident in their combined combat skills. Seeing his son's unwavering determination, Shen Xiu, though deeply concerned for Chong Liming's life, could only yield. Chong Liming knelt before his father, expressing his unfilial regret. The crucial three days arrived. Chong Liming started the day by helping his father, Shen Xiu, prepare for court, carefully putting on his official robes before sending him off.

He then immediately headed to tingyuxuan. A heavy rain began to fall as he approached, finding Rui Zhen, Mu Yi, and other Brilliant Situation members waiting outside. Chong Liming noted that the guards had been replaced by personnel from The infantry led Yamen, signaling a heightened level of control. He walked confidently into the building, challenging the onlookers to join him inside.

Inside, Chong Liming urgently handed his pistol to Schultai, imploring him to fight their way out and revealing the secret order from Brilliant Situation to poison him. Schultai, calm amidst the crisis, admonished Chong Liming for his haste. He questioned Chong Liming about the number of guards outside, learning there were nearly thirty men from The infantry led Yamen and other Brilliant Situation members. Schultai acknowledged the limited eight bullets in Chong Liming's pistol against such a force.

Chong Liming, insisting they had no time, tried to rally Schultai to escape, asserting that together they could overcome their enemies. Schultai then asked Chong Liming to check the backyard for ambushes, a tactic he himself would employ. As Chong Liming turned to look out the window, Schultai seized the opportunity, quickly consuming the poison that Chong Liming was meant to administer. Chong Liming turned back too late, witnessing Schultai's deliberate act of self-sacrifice.

Devastated, Chong Liming pleaded for an explanation. Schultai, with his last breaths, expressed his contentment at having Chong Liming as a brother and urged him to understand that achieving great things requires sacrifice, especially in the face of inevitable, greater difficulties. He explained that his escape would be tantamount to death and only burden Chong Liming, whereas his death would allow Chong Liming to remain within Brilliant Situation, potentially even succeeding him as its leader.

He tragically revealed that the palace situation had likely already changed, and his death was inevitable. His final, poignant instruction to a heartbroken Chong Liming was to protect the Emperor at all costs. Schultai then coughed up blood and passed away, leaving Chong Liming in profound despair. Moments later, Rui Zhen and Mu Yi, accompanied by other Brilliant Situation members, entered tingyuxuan to verify Schultai's death, finding him lifeless.

Outside the imperial palace, as Shen Xiu and the kneeling court officials mourned, Dong Lianhai delivered the shocking news of the Emperor's passing. This announcement was swiftly followed by the Empress Dowager's order, relayed through Dong Lianhai, to arrest all members of the Imperial parties, initiating a purge and a dramatic shift in power. Officials cried out in distress and confusion as they were taken away, with Dong Lianhai coldly confirming it was the Empress Dowager's decree.

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