General and I Episode 39 Recap, Plot

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Princess Yaotian expressed that she had come to terms with Bai Pingting staying by He Xia’s side, acknowledging He Xia as her Prince Consort and Bai Pingting as his childhood sweetheart. She admitted it was impossible to erase their shared memories and respected He Xia for risking his life out of affection for an old friend.

Princess Yaotian declared that Bai Pingting should assist He Xia in governing the state, believing her presence would empower him and lead to Bailan's flourishing. However, Bai Pingting gratefully stated her heart only yearned for her husband and she would rather die than marry another, requesting to be allowed to leave.

Princess Yaotian retorted that He Xia knew bringing Bai Pingting to Bailan would create discord with her and public criticism, concluding that his intelligence meant he must have anticipated the difficulties. To her, this proved his sincerity towards Bai Pingting. Bai Pingting reiterated that her heart was given to her husband and no one else, then asked Princess Yaotian if she could accept another man.

Princess Yaotian lamented that her devotion to He Xia could no longer receive a sincere heart from him due to Bai Pingting. She wished Bai Pingting had never appeared and, as a woman, she could never forgive her, even if as a wife, she could convince herself to accept her. Bai Pingting then reflected that the days of "maidservant Bai Pingting and Young Prince Jing'an" were long gone and would never return.

Now, it could only be "the princess and her prince consort," and all He Xia possessed were Princess Yaotian's true feelings. Bai Pingting believed that one day He Xia would understand that Princess Yaotian was his best destiny. Observing the ongoing war, Bai Pingting acknowledged that He Xia had the upper hand, but the enemy had not withdrawn, making the outcome uncertain.

She offered to help repel the enemy, suggesting Princess Yaotian keep her home safe and build a family with He Xia, while she herself would leave after the war, living only with her yearning. She concluded that their parting would bring relief and peace of mind to both. Princess Yaotian questioned Bai Pingting if she had a strategy to defend the city. Bai Pingting explained that while Yun'an City was easily defended, the dense forest outside could conceal the enemy.

If He Xia underestimated them and pursued, the war could be reversed. Moreover, Yun'an’s two water sources were outside the city, and cutting them off during the current dry season would make a protracted war unsuitable. To determine if the enemy’s retreat was a feint, Bai Pingting suggested Bailan’s army, with the favorable downwind, should shoot fire arrows towards the enemy’s camp to start a conflagration, forcing a reaction that would reveal their true situation.

She stressed the importance of conveying this strategy to He Xia promptly to prevent a premature advance. Princess Yaotian thanked her. Princess Yaotian then provocatively asked Bai Pingting if she wanted to know the identity of the general leading the attack against Bailan. Bai Pingting dismissed world affairs as irrelevant, stating that friend or foe, attacker or defender, no longer mattered to her. She simply wished Princess Yaotian would uphold her promise and let her leave.

Princess Yaotian then revealed the general was Chu Beijie, who was waiting outside the city to take Bai Pingting home, grimly adding that she hoped he would still be alive. Distraught, Bai Pingting lamented her foolishness for not realizing the Jin Army surrounded the city and that Chu Beijie was not dead.

She blamed herself for misleading him and for falling into Princess Yaotian's scheme, which she realized through a subtle detail: the lack of new dye on the embroidery threads indicated an absence of new silk imports from Jin, suggesting a blockade. She confessed to Zui Ju that Chu Beijie was alive and outside the city, here for her. Zui Ju rejoiced, eager to return to their country home with Chu Beijie.

However, Bai Pingting refused, feeling too ashamed to face him, believing she had repeatedly put him in danger, especially by providing the battle strategy against him. Zui Ju tried to console her, saying He Xia was no match for Chu Beijie, and that Chu Beijie would forgive her for the child’s sake, urging her to reunite happily. But Bai Pingting remained convinced that her presence brought Chu Beijie nothing but harm.

Zui Ju, noticing Bai Pingting's distress was affecting her pregnancy, pleaded with her to prioritize her and the baby's well-being, vowing to stay by her side. Princess Yaotian later reprimanded Prime Minister Gui for attempting to assassinate Bai Pingting without authorization.

She explained that Bai Pingting was dear to He Xia and a treasure to Chu Beijie; her death would lead to severe repercussions from both men and the advancing Jin army, accusing the Prime Minister of bringing disaster upon Bailan. Prime Minister Gui apologized, acknowledging his mistake stemmed from his hatred of Bai Pingting. Princess Yaotian, however, conceded that the assassination attempt wasn't entirely fruitless, as it forced Bai Pingting to seek her out, revealing her determination to leave.

Princess Yaotian planned to leverage this, making Bai Pingting cooperate in a public spectacle to show Yun'an City that she sincerely wished to find a concubine for He Xia. Princess Yaotian then sent an urgent message with the battle plan to He Xia, along with the "good news" of him marrying a concubine. Shortly after, a noisy procession arrived at Prince Consort Manor to publicly propose marriage.

The news spread quickly among the common folk: Bai Pingting, the legendary Princess Consort Zhenbei and former personal maid of He Xia, was being offered as a concubine by Princess Yaotian. The crowd criticized Bai Pingting, blaming her for betraying her former master, abandoning her husband, and instigating the war with Jin.

Inside the manor, servants attempted to dress Bai Pingting in bridal garments, but Zui Ju angrily stopped them, worried that once Bai Pingting wore the gown, the title of Princess Consort Zhenbei would cease to exist. Bai Pingting responded that she felt unworthy of the title, as too many people had died because of her, and she longed to escape the endless conspiracies surrounding her.

She proposed that she and Zui Ju flee to Great Liang, where her best friend, Yang Feng, would surely offer them refuge. Zui Ju agreed, willing to follow Bai Pingting anywhere. Bai Pingting then allowed herself to be dressed in the bridal gown, telling a servant to convey her gratitude and promise of cooperation to Princess Yaotian.

As Bai Pingting and Zui Ju attempted to leave the manor, they were stopped by Dong Zhuo, who urged Bai Pingting to stay for He Xia's sake. Bai Pingting insisted on leaving, accusing He Xia of framing her, making her a public target, killing the love of her life, and now attempting to keep her under house arrest. She declared that if forced to stay, he would only have her dead body. Zui Ju pushed Dong Zhuo aside.

Bai Pingting urged Dong Zhuo to take care of He Xia, and a tearful Dong Zhuo reluctantly let them go. However, they were soon stopped again by a guard. Meanwhile, in the Jin army camp, He Xia, upon receiving Princess Yaotian's urgent message containing the battle plan, expressed satisfaction and ordered his army to "send Chu Beijie on his way tonight."

Simultaneously, some Jin soldiers were grumbling about fighting a war for Chu Beijie's woman, leading to a skirmish within the ranks. Chu Beijie then addressed his soldiers, referring to them as brothers. He explained his resolve to rescue his wife and offered them the choice to stay or leave without consequence. His loyal soldiers, however, pledged their unwavering support. Chu Beijie toasted them, promising to care for their families should they fall in battle.

Later, Chu Beijie spoke with Moran, confirming that He Xia was indeed employing the fire strategy, just as he had anticipated. Noting that He Xia had underestimated him, Chu Beijie revealed his counter-plan: he would personally lead five hundred elite soldiers to feign a breakout from the west, drawing the enemy's attention, while Moran and the remaining soldiers would put on a convincing "good show" for He Xia.

As the plan went into motion, He Xia, believing he had won a decisive victory, sent a message to Princess Yaotian announcing the good news, completely unaware he had fallen into Chu Beijie's trap.

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