Guardians of the Ancient Oath Episode 3 Recap
> Guardians of the Ancient Oath Recap
On her wedding night, Princess Jin Yang sits alone in her bridal chamber, the festive decorations unable to dispel a sense of solitude. She had heard many tales of Baili Hongxuan while in Liao Dong, and now, as his wife, she learns from her maid, Wan Xi, that he is uncharacteristically late due to urgent state affairs in his study.
Wan Xi explains that while Baili Hongxuan usually keeps a strict schedule, the recent troubles with the Wolf Tribe have demanded his full attention. Wan Xi praises Baili Hongxuan's talents and popularity, to which Jin Yang acknowledges that a man of such noble standing and strong sense of duty would naturally be admired. She then asks Wan Xi to prepare fresh tea. As Jin Yang waits, a yellow leaf drifts in through the open window.
She picks it up, wondering if the mysterious figure has returned. Standing by the window, she quietly asks the unseen person not to come to her anymore, explaining that she is now married into the Marquis’s family and wishes to avoid any unnecessary complications or trouble. That same evening, Uncle He goes through the wedding gifts and discovers a thousand-year-old ginseng from the Wolf Tribe's sacred Bu Xian Mountain.
He explains to Baili Hongxuan that this item is incredibly rare, challenging even for the King of the Wolf Tribe, Mola Khan, to obtain. It appears to be a personal gift from Ming Yefeng, accompanied by tiger hair, separate from the official white tiger presented by the Wolf Tribe.
Uncle He adds that King Mola Khan's son, A'Na Huai, is openly hostile toward Ming Yefeng, a rivalry fueled by the Wolf Tribe's custom of selecting leaders based on merit rather than birthright. Baili Hongxuan states that he never officially received such a gift, and Uncle He understands his position. Baili Hongxuan later meets privately with Ming Yefeng. They share a drink, discussing the merits of You Kingdom's smoother yet potent wine versus the Wolf Tribe's strong but unrestrained brew.
Ming Yefeng expresses his admiration for the Baili siblings' heroic spirit, recounting his previous encounter with Baili Hongshuo and Baili Hongyi who had ambushed him for disrupting the wedding. He then reveals that he was sent by A'Na Huai to cause trouble at the wedding, but Baili Hongxuan's tolerant demeanor prevented the scheme from escalating.
Ming Yefeng then hints at a more serious matter, informing Baili Hongxuan that certain elements within the Wolf Tribe are colluding with the He family, specifically General He Yao. He suggests they unite to counter this threat, believing Baili Hongxuan would spare no effort to protect the Great You Kingdom.
Baili Hongxuan, acknowledging Ming Yefeng's own impressive military career and potential to become the next Wolf Tribe King, questions why such a powerful figure would seek the help of a seemingly "powerless Marquis." Returning to his manor, Baili Hongxuan notices an eerie quiet. He discovers Yayu, disguised as the assassin from the previous day, attempting to kill Baili Hongyi in her room.
Baili Hongyi confronts Yayu, suspecting her of murdering Chun Liu, which Yayu implicitly confirms, boasting of her power to kill anyone in the manor. Baili Hongshuo, having been deliberately led to the scene by a mysterious white-clad figure, intervenes, saving Baili Hongyi. The siblings pursue Yayu, with Baili Hongxuan joining the chase. Yayu proves to be an extraordinary and powerful opponent. As Yayu transforms and unleashes a barrage of spiritual needles, Ling Jun suddenly appears, floating silently.
Her presence alone causes Yayu to writhe in pain before dying, its body dissolving into thin air, leaving only clothes. The Baili siblings are left bewildered by Yayu’s mysterious death and disappearance. Baili Hongshuo wonders about the "deviant magic" involved, while Baili Hongxuan sternly instructs them to keep the events a secret, especially the vanishing corpse. He sends Uncle He to escort a shaken Baili Hongyi back to her room and takes on the night watch himself.
Baili Hongshuo later reveals that a white-clad figure deliberately led him to Baili Hongyi's room, and that the assassin's wounds had healed instantly, marking the events as truly extraordinary. He tries to reassure Baili Hongyi that together, they can overcome any challenge. Meanwhile, Ming Yefeng also hears inexplicable sounds, seemingly within his mind, with no discernible source.
Ling Jun, observing from afar, acknowledges the difficulty of restoring the siblings' ancient, sealed memories and enhances her own spiritual power, anticipating future attacks from Yayu and the Baili siblings' need for assistance. In his own chambers, Emperor Baili Haohe reflects on Baili Hongxuan's earlier refusal of his abdication, recalling a minister's reassurance that he, the Emperor, is the true heir and will be fully supported in his reign.
The next morning, Baili Hongxuan and Princess Jin Yang visit Empress Dowager He. The Empress Dowager expresses her joy for their marriage and praises Jin Yang's virtuous character, urging Baili Hongxuan to protect her and expand the family, while dismissing any court gossip. To allow for a private discussion, she sends Jin Yang away to select winter clothing materials for the younger Baili siblings.
Once alone with Baili Hongxuan, Empress Dowager He voices her concern about the urgent military situation in Li City, emphasizing its strategic importance. As they speak, Emperor Baili Haohe arrives, accompanied by Ling Jun, whose presence Baili Hongxuan alone perceives, causing him a moment of confusion. The Emperor immediately issues a decree appointing Baili Hongshuo as Left Cavalry Commander to assist Northern Defense General He Yao in fortifying Li City, with immediate departure orders.
Baili Hongxuan objects, citing Baili Hongshuo's youth and lack of military experience, offering to go himself. However, Empress Dowager He dismisses his concerns, referencing his recent marriage and the risk of fueling rumors. Emperor Baili Haohe further supports his mother, stating that Baili Hongshuo, despite his playful nature, is a skilled martial artist. He emphasizes that Baili Hongshuo's role is merely to assist with construction and inspection under the seasoned He Yao, not to engage in direct combat.
The Emperor declares the imperial decree final, leaving Baili Hongxuan with no choice but to accept. The Empress Dowager then suggests she assist Jin Yang with selecting winter clothes for Baili Hongshuo before dismissing Baili Hongxuan and the Emperor. On the carriage ride back, Baili Hongxuan observes the Empress Dowager's seemingly excessive affection for Jin Yang, leading him to subtly probe her.
He questions her background and her feelings about their arranged marriage, noting her initial surprise and the general expectation that he would marry into the powerful He family. Jin Yang explains her status as an orphan from remote Liao Dong, granted the title of Princess out of pity, and asserts her ignorance of the Empress Dowager's true motives for their union, as their first meeting was upon her arrival in Ye City.
Baili Hongxuan then firmly asserts that as his wife, she is now a member of the Baili family and must prioritize its interests above all else, even herself. He directly asks if she is hiding anything from him. Jin Yang hesitates noticeably before denying any secrets and pledging her unwavering loyalty, but her momentary pause leaves Baili Hongxuan with a lingering suspicion, causing him to maintain a subtle distance.
Back at his manor, Baili Hongxuan summons Baili Hongshuo to his study, closing the door to express his apprehension. Baili Hongshuo, having received the imperial decree for his posting to Li City, expresses youthful excitement about joining the army and earning military merit, eager to follow in their father's footsteps. Baili Hongxuan, however, warns him against such naive idealism, revealing that the true threat in Li City is not the Wolf Tribe, but the powerful He family, particularly He Yao.
Baili Hongshuo scoffs, recalling He Yao as a "reckless brave man" and a childhood loser who merely indulged in pleasures. Baili Hongxuan sternly cautions him not to underestimate He Yao, who has entrenched his power in Li City over the years and is no longer the simple childhood acquaintance.
He stresses that Li City demands a different demeanor than Ye City and instructs Baili Hongshuo to abandon his "spoiled young master" behavior, fulfill his duties diligently, and practice extreme patience and tolerance. For secure communication, Baili Hongxuan provides him with a secret foreign tribal message tool, which uses water as ink, making writing invisible once dry and only revealed by a special method. He explicitly warns Baili Hongshuo against acting on his own initiative and, critically, to trust no one in the army.
