General and I Episode 25 Recap
> General and I Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
Upon hearing the devastating news, Sima Hong, the King of Jin, collapsed onto his royal couch. Chancellor Zhang took the opportunity to suggest that since the incident occurred within Bailan territory, and given that Chu Beijie, the Prince Zhenbei, had previously clashed with Princess Yaotian in the Bailan palace, nearly resorting to violence, combined with his old enmity with He Xia, the matter was likely connected to Princess Yaotian. However, without concrete evidence, they could not hold Bailan accountable.
Sima Hong commanded that all information regarding Chu Beijie's supposed death be strictly suppressed until he personally saw the bodies. Leaving Sima Hong's chambers, Chancellor Zhang gravely instructed Eunuch Wang Dequan to meticulously care for His Majesty during these troubled times, preventing any unauthorized individuals from entering or leaving, especially from the inner palace. Wang Dequan understood and agreed to comply.
As Sima Hong attempted to draft an imperial decree, he was seized by a splitting headache, his emotions becoming uncontrollable. He violently drew his sword, slashing wildly, terrifying the eunuchs and palace maids. Wang Dequan quickly brought a golden pill for the King to consume. Shortly after, Sima Hong regained his composure. He was keenly aware of his dangerous reliance on the golden pills but found himself unable to quit them.
A palace maid named Shuang'er, assigned to serve him, later expressed her concern that every medicine has side effects and these golden pills should not be taken regularly, advising His Majesty to take good care of himself. In Bailan, Princess Yaotian heard that Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting had died on the river. Suspecting her consort, He Xia, she visited his residence to gauge his reaction. Seeing He Xia's genuine surprise and Dong Zhuo's profound grief, her apprehension eased.
He Xia explained that the incident was likely Chancellor Zhang's stratagem, designed to make Bailan appear unrighteous and escape blame like a cicada shedding its skin. He noted that official reports from Huarong mentioned finding weapons belonging to Chu Beijie and the Twelve Water Ghosts, along with fourteen unidentifiable bodies. He Xia urged Yaotian to expand Bailan's armed forces and prepare for war.
Yaotian acknowledged her limited power as a newly ascended ruler but promised to assist He Xia when the opportunity arose to reverse their passive situation. He Xia decided to personally investigate the site of the incident at Huarong. Meanwhile, the King of Yan State, having received a letter from Chancellor Zhang, hurried to Great Jin to discuss the matter of enthroning a new king.
He expressed his devastation over Chu Beijie's death and condemned Jin's King for morally corrupt behavior and cruelly killing a loyal subject. Chancellor Zhang explained that the Jin King's nature had drastically changed, becoming extravagant, dissipated, barbaric, and heartless. He revealed his plan to spread rumors that Sima Hong suspected Chu Beijie of rebellion and colluded with Bailan to cruelly kill him.
This narrative would be used to invite righteous individuals from across the land to fight for justice, ensuring the new king's popular support. The Yan King praised the clever scheme, recognizing that it would arouse the masses. Chancellor Zhang promised that when a new king was crowned, the Yan King would enjoy the golden age of the new dynasty without deploying a single soldier, forging a unified "Yan and Jin as one family."
In Great Jin, rumors about Chu Beijie's death circulated widely. Garrison soldiers discussed the news, along with tales of Sima Hong's increasingly erratic and cruel behavior. Disguised as commoners, Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting overheard these discussions. Chu Beijie deduced that someone was exploiting the situation to exacerbate tensions between Sima Hong and his ministers.
Bai Pingting agreed, asserting that Sima Hong had no reason to kill Chu Beijie; the true culprit must be someone else who colluded with Bailan to put him in peril. Chu Beijie's gravest concern was that Sima Hong might already be under the control of this person through the use of medicine, specifically the golden pills. One day, Sima Hong, feeling somewhat invigorated, decided to attend court.
However, Wang Dequan, acting on Chancellor Zhang's instructions, obstructed him, urging him to take the golden pill again. Sima Hong seized Wang Dequan by the throat, demanding to know what was in the golden pills that made him so addicted, why he couldn't stop taking them, and why no other ministers, besides Chancellor Zhang, had visited him. He suspected something was being hidden from him. Wang Dequan, gasping, told him to ask Chancellor Zhang.
Sima Hong released him, and Wang Dequan then ordered Shuang'er to give His Majesty a golden pill to prevent him from "going crazy." Sima Hong refused the medicine, clutching Shuang'er and begging her not to leave him. Meanwhile, a group of Jin ministers gathered outside Taiji Hall, demanding an audience with Sima Hong. Wang Dequan, acting arrogantly under Chancellor Zhang's orders, denied them entry, citing His Majesty's ill health. The furious ministers surrounded and assaulted Wang Dequan.
Later, Chancellor Zhang, under the guise of an imperial decree, ordered the rebellious generals imprisoned. He Xia traveled to Huarong, the site of the merchant ship incident. He found the fourteen bodies were so severely burned by the explosion they were unrecognizable. On the riverbank, he discovered a small spring clip, which reminded him of a childhood game with Bai Pingting. This led him to deduce that Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting were indeed alive.
Dong Zhuo was overjoyed by this revelation. He Xia subsequently learned that Princess Yaotian was set to enter Jin via Huarong and would be staying at Prime Minister Gui's private residence. He placed the residence under surveillance and was surprised to discover He Dapao, a wealthy arms dealer from Yan, present at the private home. He Xia resolved to investigate the matter further.
