General's Lady Episode 28 Recap
> General's Lady Recap
Ministers gathered before the Emperor, expressing concern over Shen Jin's mysterious disappearance from Prince Rui's Mansion. Some suspected General Chu Xiuming had rescued her and was now training soldiers within his mansion, hinting at a potential rebellion. Others defended Chu Xiuming, citing the Chu Family Army's long history of loyal service and undefeated record in defending the nation against the Eagles.
However, accusers highlighted Chu Xiuming's unauthorized return to the capital, his absence from court, and his disregard for imperial orders. The Emperor, acknowledging Chu Xiuming's past military achievements, nevertheless found his recent conduct arrogant and, succumbing to the ministers' appeals for the nation's stability, issued an immediate order for the arrest of Count Yongning, Chu Xiuming.
Shortly after, Xiao Su rushed to Chu Xiuming, warning him that imperial soldiers were on their way and would arrive within the hour, urging him to leave. Chu Xiuming, however, confirmed his decision to proceed with a rebellion was genuine and sought Xiao Su's crucial assistance. Meanwhile, Lord Liu received word from Chu Xiuming, signaling that it was time to act.
Chu Xiuming addressed his assembled soldiers, proclaiming that the Emperor had twisted the truth and that they would march to the imperial palace to seek justice. As they approached the palace, Chu Xiuming, along with Lord Liu's contingent, found an unusually clear path with no imperial guards in sight, which immediately raised Chu Xiuming's suspicions of a trap. Suddenly, Xiao Su appeared, commanding the imperial guards to apprehend the "rebels."
In a swift move, Chu Xiuming turned his blade, pressing it against Lord Liu's neck. Inside the imperial hall, Lord Liu knelt before the Emperor. Chu Xiuming presented falsified account books of the treasury and military payrolls, accusing Lord Liu of years of embezzlement, skimming soldiers' salaries, and colluding with the General of the Right Guard, the Minister of Personnel, and the President of the Censorate.
Lord Liu vehemently denied the charges, attempting to shift the blame to Chu Xiuming, claiming Chu Xiuming was the true mastermind planning a rebellion for years. The Emperor threatened severe punishment, including clan extermination, for those who dared to lie, but offered leniency for accomplices who confessed. Faced with this threat, the implicated officials quickly pointed to Lord Liu as the sole orchestrator. Despite the overwhelming evidence and accusations, Lord Liu refused to reveal who was behind the plot.
The Emperor, in profound disappointment, declared Lord Liu guilty of embezzlement and treason, sentencing him and his entire clan to extermination. Following his exoneration, Chu Xiuming returned, eager to see Shen Jin, but she intentionally avoided him. He then found Chu Xiuyuan and explained that he had to feign a real rebellion to make their enemies believe it.
Chu Xiuming acknowledged his past suspicions about the Emperor's involvement in the tragedy sixteen years ago, recognizing that the Emperor was indeed the ultimate beneficiary. However, he also pointed out that the Emperor was a benevolent and diligent ruler who had brought peace and stability. Chu Xiuming urged Chu Xiuyuan to consider the well-being of the common folk and to let go of his desire for revenge, as reigniting conflict would make them enemies of the state.
Chu Xiuyuan, however, insisted that he had no ambition for the throne; he only sought the truth about who killed his parents. Unbeknownst to them, Mr. Hua, who had been tending to herbs nearby, had quietly listened to their entire conversation. With great difficulty, he emerged and called Chu Xiuyuan by his childhood name, "An'er." He then revealed intimate details of An'er's childhood habits—how he would smile through tears after falling and nervously dig his nails into his palms.
Removing his mask, Mr. Hua revealed a face partially disfigured by scars, but his eyes were unmistakably those of the Eighth Prince, thought to have perished years ago. The Eighth Prince explained that he had not died in the great fire sixteen years ago; it was a gardener from his mansion who perished in his place.
He recounted receiving a rare golden nugget, which changed form when squeezed within a Glass Marble, from his ninth brother, the current Emperor, who stated it was a tribute. The Eighth Prince had given this peculiar item to the gardener just before an explosion erupted, engulfing his mansion in an inexplicable fire that claimed over thirty lives and left him disfigured. From that day, he had lived in hiding, swearing to uncover the truth.
He further revealed that he had used Princess Rui, who was close friends with Chu Xiuming's aunt, to send cryptic clues to Chu Xiuming through Shen Jin. The Eighth Prince expressed his profound sorrow at not knowing his youngest son, An'er, was still alive. Chu Xiuyuan then shared his fragmented memory of the day of the fire: his mother had frantically hidden him in a secret compartment in a wardrobe, promising to return.
But it was the current Emperor who eventually opened the compartment and quietly sent him to the Chu Family Army, where he was raised as Chu Xiuyuan. The Emperor had claimed this was to protect him from the true culprits.
This revelation prompted Chu Xiuming to suggest that the Emperor might not be the murderer, but was also secretly investigating the events of the Eighth Prince's Mansion, possibly linked to the army pay corruption case the Eighth Prince had been pursuing. Back in the imperial palace, the Emperor suddenly issued a new, harsh edict, accusing Chu Xiuming of selfishly rescuing the criminal Shen Jin and colluding with Lord Liu to plot rebellion.
The decree ordered Chu Xiuming's immediate arrest and execution if he resisted. Upon hearing this, Shen Jin felt a deep sense of betrayal. She confronted Chu Xiuming, lamenting his lack of trust, arguing that despite his efforts, her family was imprisoned, she was a fugitive, and their unborn child would face a life of constant hiding.
In despair, she returned the safety buckle to Chu Xiuming, who refused to take it back, telling her to smash it if she truly no longer wanted it. At Count Yongning's mansion, which had been sealed by imperial orders, Ruonan had managed to secure Meaty. Meaty urgently pleaded with Ruonan to take her to see Shen Jin, stating she had important private business that could not wait. Ruonan, cautious of the many watchful eyes, promised to arrange a meeting soon.
Chu Xiuming discussed the Emperor's new warrant with Chu Xiuyuan, noting that it contradicted their prior secret agreement. He explained that his "rebellion" and freeing Shen Jin had been a carefully orchestrated plan with the Emperor to lure out the true mastermind behind the army pay corruption. Since Lord Liu, a lower-level conspirator, had been exposed, yet the Emperor continued to pursue Chu Xiuming, it indicated a higher power was still at play.
The only remaining lead was the rare golden nugget in the Glass Marble that the Eighth Prince had mentioned, which the Emperor had received as a tribute. Chu Xiuming concluded that finding the original owner of this item might expose the true culprit. To pursue this, Chu Xiuming covertly entered the mansion of Prime Minister Lord Situ.
Lord Situ, initially terrified of harboring a wanted man, was swayed by a sense of obligation to his late "little sister," Chu Xiuming's aunt, before Chu Xiuming inquired about the mysterious golden nugget in a Glass Marble.
