General's Lady Episode 14 Recap
> General's Lady Recap
Chu Xiuming recalled his childhood, when his aunt, whom he affectionately called "Ming'er," taught him that a true man should possess a benevolent heart for the world. She urged him to grow into a capable and powerful individual, not only to protect his family, including her and her unborn child, but also to use his strength to defend the vulnerable.
On that day, his aunt also gave him a jade pendant, passed down from her own mother, wishing him peace and joy. She hoped that one day, he would pass it on to his beloved, for her to keep close as a protective amulet. Years later, with his aunt no longer alive, Chu Xiuming clutched a bottle of medicinal powder, vowing to fulfill his promise: he would protect those he cherished and uncover the truth behind his aunt's fate.
The Eagle tribe's streets bustled with life, rivaling the General's Mansion in their vibrancy. Shen Jin was delighted by the exotic sights and smells. She watched bare-chested wrestlers and was drawn to the aroma of meat skewers roasted directly on charcoal.
Despite Chu Xiuyuan's cautious warnings about the Eagles' different eating habits and potential discomfort from the unfamiliar food and cooking methods, Shen Jin enthusiastically sampled the delicious skewers, even suggesting they buy some of the unique spices to take home. She dismissed Chu Xiuyuan's concerns as a "jinx" and playfully ate more. The trio eventually found a table at a pre-arranged tavern where they were to meet Chu Xiuming.
Chu Xiuyuan suggested finding a quieter place, but Shen Jin insisted on staying, explaining that Chu Xiuming would come looking for them there, and promised to keep a low profile. As they settled in, a group of drunk men at a nearby table began harassing some women. Unable to tolerate the behavior, Shen Jin boldly splashed water on them, provoking a fight. Chu Xiuyuan quickly intervened.
Just then, a young woman named Tarou burst in, kicking one of the men down. When another assailant lunged with a stool, Chu Xiuyuan swiftly pulled Tarou into his arms, shielding her. Her brother, Hute, then arrived and helped scare off the remaining troublemakers. It was at this moment that Chu Xiuming also arrived. Shen Jin, still ruffled, told him she had been bullied. Chu Xiuming thanked Tarou and Hute for their timely assistance.
Noting they weren't locals, he invited them to join them for dinner as a token of gratitude, an offer which Tarou and Hute eagerly accepted. The two groups then moved to another establishment for their meal. Shen Jin, introducing herself as "Jin," reminisced about her past as a "queen of the street," noting how much life had changed since she married. Chu Xiuyuan gently reminded her to "watch what you say."
Shen Jin addressed Chu Xiuming simply as "Chu" and mentioned he was in town for business, prompting Hute to offer his assistance, revealing himself to be a "local officer." Tarou, meanwhile, was openly captivated by Chu Xiuyuan. She directly asked him to drink with her, and when he demurred, she boldly declared, "Marry me, and I'll drink wine with you every day." Meaty corrected her, saying Chu Xiuyuan should be the one proposing, but Shen Jin quickly silenced her.
Tarou continued to pursue Chu Xiuyuan, even quoting a poem about a stunning beauty from the north and playfully teasing him for his aloofness. She then stated directly that he was her crush and asked if he would spend the rest of his life with her. Chu Xiuyuan, a man of simple manners, humbly replied that he was "a coarse man" and did not deserve her.
Tarou observed the calluses on his hands, which reminded her of her own father, who had died when she was young, followed by her mother who succumbed to grief. She shared that she and Hute were now alone and that her brother was very strict. She then asked Chu Xiuyuan to take another walk with her the following day, to which he agreed.
During their revelry, a tipsy Meaty inadvertently revealed Chu Xiuming's true identity, proclaiming him "Count Yongning, Chu Xiuming." Shen Jin immediately tried to dismiss it as drunken nonsense, but Hute, with a subtle shift in his eyes, had clearly taken note. Later that night, Meaty was heavily intoxicated and restless in bed. Shen Jin, though dizzy from the wine, was still lucid.
She sweetly told Chu Xiuming how happy she was and how much she owed him for the joyful day. Their tender moment was briefly interrupted by Meaty's ramblings, but Chu Xiuming soon decided to get some sobering soup for them both to ease their discomfort. As he left the room, he was ambushed by several skilled assassins. Simultaneously, Chu Xiuyuan was walking Tarou home from their late-night stroll when they heard the sounds of combat.
Investigating, Chu Xiuyuan found Chu Xiuming engaged in a fierce battle. Tarou also rushed to the scene. Upon seeing her, the assassins quickly fled. Chu Xiuyuan warned Chu Xiuming that these attackers were far more skilled than the thugs from the tavern. Recognizing the immediate danger, Chu Xiuming ordered Chu Xiuyuan to pack their belongings so they could depart at dawn and told Tarou to gather more men.
Tarou, confused, immediately confronted her brother Hute, demanding to know why he had attacked their friends. Hute angrily told her to stay out of the matter, accusing Chu Xiuming and his party of hiding their true identities and never truly considering them friends. At dawn, as they prepared to leave, the assassins struck again. Chu Xiuming, facing a large group, ordered Chu Xiuyuan to take Shen Jin and Meaty and flee while he engaged the attackers alone.
He assured Shen Jin he would be fine and urged them to hurry. The situation quickly became desperate as some assassins targeted Chu Xiuming, while others pursued Shen Jin, Chu Xiuyuan, and Meaty. Chu Xiuming, a formidable fighter, skillfully fended off his attackers. In the chaos, he managed to unmask the leader, revealing him to be Hute. Without time to press the matter further, Chu Xiuming quickly disengaged and sped off to rescue Shen Jin.
Shen Jin, Chu Xiuyuan, and Meaty fled into a bamboo forest. The assassins, armed with curved swords, quickly overwhelmed the unarmed Chu Xiuyuan, who sustained injuries while protecting the women. Seeing his perilous situation, Shen Jin instructed Meaty to stay hidden and wait for the General. To save Chu Xiuyuan, she then stepped forward, revealing her identity as Chu Xiuming's wife and surrendering. Both she and the injured Chu Xiuyuan were captured.
Meaty later found Chu Xiuming and reported what had happened. Unable to act openly in the Eagles' territory, Chu Xiuming sent Meaty to seek help from Princess Maya. At the princess's mansion, Meaty was told that Maya was not home and was only permitted to leave a letter. Meanwhile, Chu Xiuming tried to gather information about Hute, but locals, clearly intimidated by Hute's influence, refused to speak. Hute had confined Shen Jin and Chu Xiuyuan together.
Tarou, confronting her brother, learned the shocking truth: Chu Xiuming was the man who had killed their father on the battlefield. Hute declared this their only chance to avenge their parents. Tarou, though devastated, argued that on the battlefield, life and death were unpredictable, and that Chu Xiuyuan, as an innocent party, should be released.
Hute, however, remained resolute, accusing Tarou of being a "betrayer" for advocating for their enemies, especially after their family had suffered so much following their father's demise. Tarou countered, accusing Hute of not being brave enough to succeed their father as chieftain. In their cell, Shen Jin discovered the lock had two mechanisms. Her own hairpin was too thick for the second lock, but she noticed Tarou's finer hairpin might do the trick. Later, Tarou brought food to the captives.
Shen Jin subtly suggested to Chu Xiuyuan that Tarou's hairpin could be the key to their escape. As Tarou placed the food down, Chu Xiuyuan used a piece of straw to deftly snatch the hairpin from Tarou's hair. The thin hairpin proved effective, allowing them to unlock the door. Just as they were escaping, Tarou encountered them. Realizing Chu Xiuyuan had used her feelings, she was deeply hurt. "
I like you so much, yet you used me," she tearfully exclaimed, asking if he had any feelings for her at all. When Chu Xiuyuan remained silent, she angrily ordered the guards to lock them back up. However, Hute intervened. He had been informed that Chu Xiuming was still at the inn, actively inquiring about his whereabouts. Seeing an opportunity, Hute decided against re-imprisoning them and instead ordered a letter to be sent directly to Chu Xiuming.
