Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 14 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
As Jin Yang’s teal feathers reappeared, she desperately called out for Ling Jun’s help from beneath the gingko tree. Ling Jun immediately rushed to her side and taught her how to suppress the transformation. Seeing Jin Yang's distress, Ling Jun finally revealed the truth of her identity. Years ago, Jin Yang was a Zhen bird who had been saved by Baili Hongxuan in a previous life.
She vowed to repay his kindness, but he repeatedly refused her help, viewing her as a demon. This rejection saddened the Zhen bird deeply, fostering a powerful obsession within her. Later, the Zhen bird, through an extraordinary stroke of luck, transformed into a human. When the real Commandery Princess Jin Yang succumbed to a sudden illness at the age of eight, the Zhen bird sought Ling Jun’s assistance to take her place.
She wished to live as a human and gain Baili Hongxuan’s love. However, upon entering Jin Yang’s body, she lost her memories and her powers. Despite this, her deep-seated obsession for Baili Hongxuan remained within Jin Yang’s heart. Ling Jun explained that if Jin Yang could recall her past, she would regain her former strength, which would then allow her to truly help Baili Hongxuan. For now, with Baili Hongxuan burdened by worries, Jin Yang could only wait patiently.
In Great You, Right Minister Pang Hua and the Royal Archives’ officials faced reprimand from the Empress Dowager for not promptly reporting the situation in Li City. They were eventually punished with a two-year suspension of their salary, though their efforts in gathering evidence were acknowledged. The Emperor suggested rewarding Baili Hongxuan and Baili Hongshuo for their contributions to Great You.
The Empress Dowager, still displeased with Baili Hongxuan for publicly embarrassing her during court, grudgingly awarded the Marquis of Northern Conquest manor 100 taels of gold, declaring the matter closed. The Emperor later advised Baili Hongxuan to reconcile with the He family, emphasizing the need for unity in Great You. Baili Hongxuan felt exhausted by the constraints placed upon him as the eldest son of the Baili family, unable to act freely in many situations.
The recent failure to fully bring He Yao to justice added to his weariness. His sister, Baili Hongyi, joined him in the courtyard, trying to reassure him that as long as the three siblings—Baili Hongxuan, herself, and Baili Hongshuo—stood together, the Baili family would be invincible. Observing their close bond, Jin Yang quietly left, feeling that her connection to Baili Hongxuan could never compare to theirs.
Ling Jun, concerned by Jin Yang’s unwavering obsession, urged her to let it go to avoid self-harm. But Jin Yang declared that she would never abandon her desire to help Baili Hongxuan, even if it meant sacrificing herself. Meanwhile, in the Wolf Tribe, the Ancestral God ceremony had concluded, and Mola Khan hosted a banquet in his tent. Although the Ancestral God had indicated the chosen one, Mola Khan still reserved the final decision of succession.
As the chosen one was not his preferred candidate, he hesitated to make the announcement, struggling to weigh the implications. A'Na Huai, feigning intoxication, seized the opportunity to leave the banquet with Xili Du. He believed Mola Khan unfairly favored Ming Yefeng, disregarding him, his own son. Convinced that Ming Yefeng was the chosen one, A'Na Huai saw no way to reverse his unfavorable position.
Believing that failure to secure the kingship would mean his death, A'Na Huai impulsively decided on a desperate plan, undeterred by Xili Du’s warnings. While Ming Yefeng was training his soldiers, A'Na Huai confronted Mola Khan in his tent, demanding to know the identity of the chosen one. A heated argument ensued, escalating A'Na Huai’s despair. He drew his sword, attempting to assassinate his father. Suddenly, Ming Yefeng emerged from the shadows and subdued him.
A'Na Huai was heartbroken, realizing his father trusted an outsider more than his own son. Such an act of patricide and attempted usurpation was a capital crime. However, Mola Khan had lost fourteen sons to death or departure, leaving A'Na Huai as his only surviving child. Seeing Mola Khan’s hesitation and Xili Du’s plea for mercy, Ming Yefeng intervened, requesting Mola Khan to spare A'Na Huai’s life.
Mola Khan agreed to spare his son but ordered the execution of A'Na Huai's personal guards who participated in the rebellion. Everyone, including Ba Yin, assumed Ming Yefeng harbored ambitions for the kingship. Ba Yin envisioned herself as the sole woman of the king should Ming Yefeng ascend to power. However, Ming Yefeng disliked those who presumed to know his thoughts or acted without his explicit instruction.
Ba Yin’s attempts to speculate on his intentions angered him for the first time. In Li City, Baili Hongshuo received an imperial decree promoting him to General of Northern Conquest, granting him command over Li City’s military and administrative affairs. Hou Zhengze also achieved his wish, becoming Baili Hongshuo’s personal bodyguard, a position Baili Hongyi had personally arranged for him before her departure, leaving Baili Hongshuo no choice but to accept.
Back in his quarters, Baili Hongshuo received a message from Baili Hongxuan, informing him that He Yao had used Yuan Qing as a scapegoat for his crimes. He Yao was merely demoted from his marquis title but was given a new appointment to manage affairs in Ye City. This failed attempt to completely depose He Yao had only further angered the Empress Dowager.
Baili Hongxuan warned that the Baili family would face greater difficulties ahead and must exercise extreme caution to avoid giving their enemies any advantage. Despite his busy schedule, Ming Yefeng ordered Chou Nu to investigate Baili Hongyi’s background. It was widely known that she was suddenly brought to Ye City by Baili Haoyuan, purportedly as his illegitimate child.
Her true identity and origins remained a mystery, and after Baili Haoyuan and his wife both died, no one pursued the matter further. The information Chou Nu uncovered confirmed Ming Yefeng’s suspicions and stirred distant memories from his own childhood: a parting with a woman who urged him to flee and never speak of her to anyone. He wondered if this past memory was connected to Baili Hongyi’s mysterious origins.
