General and I Episode 20 Recap
> General and I Recap
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Bai Pingting, knowing the outside world believed her dead, told Chu Beijie that she could change her name, even her appearance, or pretend to be deaf and mute, to stay by his side as a slave. She declared that by doing so, she would have no regrets in her life. Chu Beijie kissed her to stop her from speaking further.
He had previously worried about keeping her safe, explaining that their circumstances made it difficult for them to live a lifetime without worries, and that many people sought to harm her, making it too dangerous for her to remain. However, Bai Pingting countered that ever since she broke into the royal palace, she felt she had been a burden to him, putting him in a difficult position whether alive or dead.
After much thought, she realized that her decision to leave or stay was not truly hers to make. She insisted there was another solution besides life or death: she could become someone else. She then attempted to disfigure herself with a dagger, explaining that she did not fear death, but living without him would be a soulless existence.
She reminded him of their oath to the moon to never betray each other, which to her meant facing difficulties together without abandoning each other, and following each other in life and death when separated. Chu Beijie, deeply moved, apologized, admitting that he had taken life and death too seriously, forgetting their oath in his pursuit of her safety. He acknowledged that Bai Pingting was more clear-headed and possessed more valuable moral qualities than him.
He realized that if he, Chu Beijie, who had never lost a battle, could not protect her, then no one else in the world could. He declared that no one was leaving, that they would not leave each other anymore, and for her, he would face and conquer the world without fear. Observing their reconciliation from the woods, Chu Moran and Zui Ju joyfully embraced. Zui Ju exclaimed her delight that Sister Bai was staying.
Meanwhile, Zhang Noble Consort continued her schemes in the Jin palace. She feigned waking from a nightmare, screaming that a black tiger with a bloody mouth had attacked her. She claimed to be born in the year of the rabbit and to have always feared tigers. She then asked the Jin King if anyone in the palace was born in the year of the tiger.
Wang Dequan, the palace eunuch, replied that according to a decree by the late Queen Dowager, no one born in the year of the tiger was allowed into the palace, as the late king's zodiac sign, the monkey, conflicted with the tiger. However, Wang Dequan added that among the intimate individuals who frequently visited the palace, only Prince Zhenbei, Chu Beijie, was born in the year of the tiger.
Zhang Noble Consort then subtly questioned how Bai Pingting's death was handled, remarking that she had died miserably despite being the woman Prince Zhenbei loved. She further suggested that Prince Zhenbei might hold a grudge against the King for forcing him to kill Bai Pingting. She expressed her worry for the King, noting that Prince Zhenbei commanded vast military forces and that vigilance was necessary against those who could harm him.
The Jin King dismissed her concerns, stating that the inner palace was not permitted to discuss political affairs and that she was overstepping her bounds. He then ordered Wang Dequan to prepare his chambers for him to sleep elsewhere, indicating his unsettled state of mind. That night, Bai Pingting informed Chu Beijie that it would be her birthday the following day.
When she awoke, she found a magnificent cloak made of rare tribute satin, interwoven with golden threads, placed by her bed. Zui Ju, admiring the exquisite gift, noted that such satin was so precious that even the Queen only received it on her birthday, suggesting Chu Beijie was doting on Bai Pingting like a queen. Zui Ju also pointed out that several wintersweet trees had mysteriously appeared in the courtyard overnight.
Bai Pingting smiled, knowing Chu Beijie had planted them for her. Eager to express her gratitude, Bai Pingting asked about Chu Beijie's whereabouts. Chu Moran informed her that after planting the trees, Chu Beijie had left early that morning without rest, only stating he would return in two days and not revealing his destination.
He had, however, instructed Chu Moran to ensure Bai Pingting did not leave the country house, having deployed a thousand of his most trusted soldiers to protect her. Bai Pingting immediately realized that the next day was the 49th day of the princes' passing, the day their souls were believed to return, and Chu Beijie must have gone to the palace.
Concerned for his safety, especially after hearing from Zui Ju about recent assassination attempts, she expressed fear that a powerful individual in the palace intended to harm him. She then ordered Chu Moran to immediately send a team of soldiers to the city to gather news from the palace and report back to her without delay. Chu Moran confirmed that Chu Beijie also suspected internal trouble but did not know who was behind it.
The memorial ceremony for the Queen and the two princes commenced. After Zhang Noble Consort and other concubines, civil and military officials, and envoys from various kingdoms such as Bailan's Prince Consort He Xia and Yan State's Lu Ke had offered their respects, Prince Zhenbei, Chu Beijie, who had been waiting outside the palace hall since early morning, was finally summoned. As Chu Beijie prepared to offer incense, the sticks inexplicably failed to light.
Unbeknownst to those in attendance, Wang Dequan, acting on Zhang Noble Consort's instructions, had tampered with the incense. Whispers spread among the crowd, some suggesting the Queen refused Chu Beijie's offerings, while others openly blamed him for the princes' deaths. The Jin King cut off the murmurs, declared the ceremony over, and ordered the spirits' tablets to be moved to the temple, leaving Chu Beijie standing isolated and ignored.
After the ceremony, the Jin King confronted Chu Beijie, stating that Chu Beijie's pain from losing Bai Pingting was akin to his own pain from losing the Queen. He asserted that this shared grief would create an unhealed wound between them, permanently affecting their trust. He told Chu Beijie that he could no longer trust him as before, and Chu Beijie, in turn, could no longer be as selfless in his service to the Jin court.
