General and I Episode 19 Recap, Plot

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Bai Pingting regained consciousness, and Zui Ju, her healer, explained that a powerful medicinal bath had expelled stagnant blood from her body, which was why she had vomited. Though still weak, Pingting was on the path to recovery. Her first thought was of Chu Beijie, but Zui Ju, following Chu Beijie’s instructions, tried to deceive her, claiming she had been saved by Ze Yin and Chu Moran, not Chu Beijie.

Pingting was not fooled and refused to eat or drink until Chu Beijie came to see her. Zui Ju reported Pingting’s stubbornness to Chu Beijie, expressing her frustration that Pingting refused to believe their fabricated story and would not eat. Chu Beijie was vexed, lamenting that Pingting did not treasure her own life. Despite his frustration, he eventually brought porridge to her room, only to find she was gone.

He searched for her and found her standing alone in the falling snow, playing a zither. Chu Beijie approached her, covering her with his cloak. Pingting confronted him, acknowledging that he, the esteemed God of War, had gone to such great lengths to save her, rather than kill her when he had the chance in Taiji Hall.

Chu Beijie admitted that if she were truly guilty, he had countless ways to punish her, but he would never wish for her to sacrifice her life. He insisted that she must stay alive, even threatening to turn himself in if she harmed herself again. He confessed that since he had symbolically "stabbed" her, he had already betrayed everyone under Heaven and no longer cared for his reputation.

Moved by his words, Pingting declared she would live and stay by his side forever, realizing that simply being alive was a greater struggle than death. She confessed she could not bear to leave him to pine for her forever, echoing a poem he had written. Chu Beijie, though outwardly accepting, reiterated that she was to leave Great Jin in two days and needed to eat to regain her strength for the arduous journey.

He then gave detailed instructions to Chu Moran for Pingting’s escape: she would be escorted by a caravan disguised as medicinal herb transporters, traveling west through Bailan into Liang State and Jiayu Pass. Chu Beijie emphasized avoiding crowded cities, maintaining distance from the advance team, and changing bodyguards frequently to ensure secrecy. Only Zui Ju and Chu Beijie himself would accompany Pingting throughout.

Chu Moran asked if Chu Beijie still disbelieved Pingting was involved in the princes' murders, to which Chu Beijie recalled Pingting's earlier assurance that whatever happened would be a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, in Bailan, He Xia addressed the Princess, advocating for a stronger military. He argued that Bailan’s current peace was a fragile byproduct of the mutual restraint among Jin, Yan, and Liang, and that their military was the weakest among these states.

He proposed raising taxes, expanding armaments, and widespread conscription to build a robust army, asserting that "the people will maintain the army, and the army will protect the people" was the true long-term strategy. Prime Minister Gui Changqing strongly opposed, stating that such measures would disrupt the people's peaceful lives, causing anxiety and fear of being dragged into another war. He Xia countered that Bailan would be vulnerable if the current balance of power was broken.

Gui Changqing dismissed He Xia’s concerns as mere presumptions, warning that mobilizing forces based on rumors would cause panic and incite hostility from neighboring states. Most officials sided with Gui Changqing, and even the Princess, while acknowledging He Xia's points about the military might of other states and the transient nature of alliances, deferred to Gui Changqing’s counsel, agreeing to postpone the discussion of conscription.

After the court session, Gui Yan, Gui Changqing's son, mocked He Xia for his ineffective debut, but his father reminded him to show respect to the Prince Consort for the Princess’s sake. In Great Jin, the King continued to be disoriented and neglect state affairs, his mental clarity fleeting after taking golden pills. The Head Eunuch reported to Zhang Guifei that the King’s periods of lucidity were growing shorter.

Zhang Guifei ordered the golden pills to be continued and then, through a fabricated decree, declared the Yongyan Palace Hall (where the late Empress had resided) to contain "unclean objects," ordering a priest to perform rites and forbidding anyone from entering. At a feast hosted by Princess Yaotian, she sought to appease Gui Changqing and his faction by promoting his son, Gui Yan, to "General who Conquers Cities."

Officials Chen Fu and Lu Rongze immediately objected, citing Gui Yan’s lack of military achievements. He Xia intervened, subtly defending the Princess's right to bestow titles. Seizing the moment, Yaotian then surprised everyone by promoting Chen Fu to "Director of the Central Secretariat" and Lu Rongze to "Left Head of the Section of the People," effectively silencing their opposition. Yaotian then addressed her court, acknowledging the difficulty of her rule as a woman and a newcomer to governance.

She expressed understanding for ministers who, out of loyalty to her late brother, might criticize her, but firmly stated that their loyalty must be to the entire Bailan Kingdom, not to any single individual, including herself. She urged them to set aside their personal enmities and work together for Bailan’s stability amidst growing conflicts in the world.

Later, a drunken Yaotian expressed her frustration to He Xia about her lack of real power and her inability to fully support his ambitions, feeling she was holding him back. He Xia comforted her, explaining that deep-rooted political structures, like a "hundred-year-old tree with twisted roots," could not be dismantled overnight. He advised a steady, step-by-step approach rather than impulsive actions. The night before her scheduled departure, Bai Pingting refused to leave.

She told Zui Ju that being separated from Chu Beijie felt no different from death. She was determined to stay by his side, no matter if it required begging or trickery, asserting she would not leave unless he killed her. Zui Ju enthusiastically supported her decision, helping her prepare for a confrontation with Chu Beijie. As Chu Beijie drank alone, struggling with his emotions over Pingting's imminent departure, he heard her zither music from outside.

He went to her in the snow, wrapping her in his cloak. Pingting tearfully articulated her unwavering resolve: if she could not stay by his side through normal life or death, she would choose a "third path" – becoming someone entirely different. With that, she drew a dagger, intending to disfigure herself, declaring that true lovers face hardship without betrayal and face separation with unwavering devotion, even in death. Chu Beijie watched, deeply moved by her sacrifice.

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