Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 2 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
Baili Hongshuo finds his sister, Baili Hongyi, fuming over Baili Hongxuan’s impending marriage. He attempts to placate her, explaining that while the title of Prince of Great Plains was hereditary for their father, the Empress Dowager of You has now given Baili Hongxuan the title of Marquis of Northern Defence. This, Baili Hongshuo clarifies, is a subtle demotion disguised as a promotion—a clever trick by the Empress Dowager of You.
He emphasizes that Baili Hongxuan is deeply troubled by this arrangement but endures it for the sake of the Baili family. Baili Hongshuo then instructs a servant to fetch Hongyi's favorite rice cakes. Still furious, Baili Hongyi secludes herself in her room. Moments later, her maid, Chun Liu, enters but then transforms into a terrifying entity known as a Yayu. The Yayu attacks Hongyi by causing her to feel as though she is drowning, even from a distance.
Fortunately, Baili Hongshuo returns just in time, saving Hongyi from the attack. The Yayu quickly escapes. Ling Jun and an unknown companion observe the incident, with Ling Jun remarking that the Yayu’s actions were insufficient to achieve their broader goals, hinting at a more significant plan yet to unfold. Later, in the main hall, Uncle He reports that Chun Liu's body has been discovered.
Although her clothes are dry, the medical examination reveals clear signs of drowning: her body is swollen, skin flaking, arms bent upwards, fingers curled, and torso distended. Hongyi, still reeling from the attack, corroborates these details, explaining how she felt like she was drowning. She speculates that Chun Liu might have committed suicide out of fear after the assault. Baili Hongshuo adds that the attacker was astonishingly skilled, far surpassing their combined abilities.
Baili Hongxuan orders Tao Shen to thoroughly investigate Chun Liu's background and uncover who orchestrated the attack, cautioning Baili Hongshuo and Hongyi to remain vigilant during these turbulent times. Hongyi tries to convince Baili Hongxuan to postpone his wedding due to the strange occurrences, but he sternly dismisses her suggestion, stating that the Marquis of Northern Defence Manor is under close scrutiny and marriage is not a matter to be trifled with.
As Hongyi leaves in a huff, Baili Hongxuan feels a pang of remorse, remembering his late father’s dying wish for him to treat Hongyi as his own sister. Meanwhile, in the Wolf Tribe, Great Lord Mola Khan learns of Baili Hongxuan’s apparent demotion. He views this as an ideal opportunity to undermine You Kingdom and help A'Na Huai appease the resentment from his previous defeat.
Ming Yefeng proposes sending a white tiger, a trophy from Mola Khan's hunt, as a "wedding gift" to Baili Hongxuan. This gesture, he explains, would serve as a congratulation while simultaneously demonstrating the Wolf Tribe's power to You Kingdom. Mola Khan approves the plan and dispatches Ming Yefeng.
Ming Yefeng recognizes the inherent danger of this mission, understanding it to be a test of his loyalty and capabilities by Mola Khan, potentially even a way to remove him and elevate A'Na Huai. Despite the risks, Ming Yefeng accepts the mission, prioritizing the Wolf Tribe's honor.
He believes Baili Hongxuan is a man of honor who would not harm a messenger, and he anticipates that being on You Kingdom soil will grant him greater freedom to execute his own agenda. The wedding day arrives, but despite the red silks and festive lanterns adorning the Marquis of Northern Defence Manor, a somber atmosphere prevails.
The young Emperor Baili Haohe arrives unexpectedly, having sneaked away from the palace due to his frustration with the Empress Dowager of You's constant surveillance. He complains about Baili Hongxuan's overly cautious demeanor, even within his own residence, and seeks out Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi. He finds them secretly drinking wine and avoiding the wedding ceremony, as Hongyi remains vehemently opposed to the marriage.
Hongyi openly criticizes the Empress Dowager of You and Baili Haohe for forcing Baili Hongxuan to marry Princess Jin Yang, whom she considers unsuitable. Baili Haohe defends Princess Jin Yang as gentle and kind, asserting that the marriage was also his idea, and warns Hongyi against disrespecting him. The bridal procession finally reaches the manor. Princess Jin Yang, recalling strange phenomena seen in the palace earlier, feels uneasy.
Baili Hongxuan helps Princess Jin Yang from her palanquin, and as their hands touch, a gentle breeze lifts her veil, revealing her face and stirring a subtle connection between them. He then carries her into the manor, symbolizing their commitment. Suddenly, the distinctive sound of Wolf Tribe reed pipes echoes through the air, announcing Ming Yefeng's arrival. Under the guise of offering congratulations, Ming Yefeng delivers barbed remarks, mocking Hongxuan's marriage and his implied diminished status.
He presents a white tiger as a gift from Mola Khan, subtly insinuating the superior power of the Wolf Tribe. Ming Yefeng then provocatively suggests that if Baili Hongxuan ever grew weary of his "small" manor, the Wolf Tribe would welcome him. Baili Hongxuan, maintaining his composure, gracefully deflects Ming Yefeng's insults, declaring that his marriage to Princess Jin Yang is a blessing and not a sacrifice. He firmly rebuffs Ming Yefeng's disrespectful offer and dismisses him.
Princess Jin Yang, though initially uneasy, manages a faint smile at Baili Hongxuan's dignified response. As Ming Yefeng turns to leave, the sky inexplicably darkens, and everyone in the manor is frozen in time. Ling Jun suddenly appears before Baili Hongxuan. Chanting an arcane incantation, she extracts the souls of Baili Hongxuan, Baili Hongshuo, Baili Hongyi, and Ming Yefeng, drawing them into a shared, ancient memory.
In this vision, they witness several figures performing rituals to seal a mysterious woman clad in red, an unseen force preventing them from approaching. Ling Jun then conjures a yellow, leaf-shaped object and places it into Princess Jin Yang’s hand before vanishing. The darkness recedes, and time resumes. Guests whisper in alarm about an evil presence and an ill omen. Hongyi, disoriented, claims to have seen people in red and white, which Baili Hongshuo dismisses as a drunken hallucination.
Baili Hongxuan sternly silences the fearful guests, reminding them that his marriage is a sacred union blessed by the Empress Dowager of You, and any disrespect is an affront to both her and the You Kingdom. Princess Jin Yang, though outwardly serene, surreptitiously hides the mysterious leaf, her brow furrowed with deep concern. Baili Hongxuan later finds Baili Haohe in the backyard, perched atop a rockery and loudly complaining about Ming Yefeng’s visit.
The young Emperor stubbornly refuses to return to the palace. Baili Hongxuan patiently coaxes him, assuring him that the Wolf Tribe envoy has already fled, intimidated by His Majesty's presence, and warns of the Empress Dowager of You's displeasure if he stays out too long. He successfully persuades Baili Haohe to return, promising to keep his unauthorized outing a secret. As Baili Haohe descends, he stumbles, but Ling Jun, unseen by all but Baili Hongxuan, subtly stabilizes him.
Baili Hongxuan notes this strange intervention with curiosity but without alarm. He then speaks to Hongyi, cautioning her and Hongshuo to be extra careful within the busy manor, especially with the recent strange events, and presents her with a gift. In the Wolf Tribe, A'Na Huai confronts Mola Khan, questioning why Ming Yefeng was chosen for the mission to You Kingdom instead of him.
He expresses profound jealousy and suspicion of Ming Yefeng's increasing power and influence among the tribesmen, despite Mola Khan's assurances that Ming Yefeng has no designs on the throne. A'Na Huai vehemently argues that Ming Yefeng is cunning and dangerous, recalling how Ming Yefeng instigated his previous failed attack on Baili Hongxuan and subsequently mocked him. Mola Khan angrily silences A'Na Huai, forbidding him from doubting loyal subjects.
Still, A'Na Huai later confides in his Chancellor, convinced that his father is blind to Ming Yefeng's true ambition. The Chancellor suggests that Mola Khan’s dangerous mission for Ming Yefeng might actually be a protective measure for A'Na Huai, who is not yet politically mature. A'Na Huai rejects this, believing he is Ming Yefeng's equal and only needs an opportunity to earn his father’s full trust.
Unbeknownst to A'Na Huai, the very spies he dispatched to monitor Ming Yefeng have already been compromised and are now under Ming Yefeng's control. Later that evening, Baili Hongshuo teases Hongyi about being caught by their older brother earlier. He then presents her with a "best sword book." They joke about their earlier attempt to confront Ming Yefeng, implying that Hongshuo had prevented Hongyi from fully engaging, and Hongyi warns him not to hinder her next time.
