I Will Never Let You Go Episode 22 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Yuan Chong, smitten with Xiaoxia at first sight, bravely jumped into the fray, vowing to protect the lady. However, he, a mere scholar, proved no match for Tiger Wu and his men and was quickly beaten down. Hua Buqi, observing from a corner in her maid's attire, instructed Xiaoxia to intervene, assuring her own safety. Xiaoxia confronted the attackers, fiercely battling them while blocking them. Witnessing Xiaoxia's impressive martial arts, Yuan Chong was utterly captivated, exclaiming her beauty.
After Xiaoxia swiftly dispatched Tiger Wu's gang, she prepared to leave with Hua Buqi. Yuan Chong, however, stopped them, expressing his sudden infatuation with Xiaoxia, claiming a tingly feeling in his heart. Xiaoxia, disgusted by his advances, called him a maniac and pushed him away.
Heir Apparent Jing, who owned the restaurant where the incident occurred, saw Yuan Chong's blatant admiration and, mistaking Xiaoxia for the Zhu family's granddaughter, offered to facilitate a marriage proposal to Grand Master Zhu for Yuan Chong, confident that a match with the son of the Capital City Garrison Commander would be well-received. As Hua Buqi and Xiaoxia departed the inn, Xiaoxia playfully called Yuan Chong a womanizer, though Hua Buqi defended him, as he had helped them.
Suddenly, mysterious assassins descended upon them, aiming to kill Hua Buqi. Xiaoxia quickly moved to protect Hua Buqi, who questioned why Chief Steward Shou's guards had not yet appeared. From a hidden vantage point, Oriental Shuo and Black Wind observed the fight. Black Wind asked if they should intervene, but Oriental Shuo, noticing Xiaoxia's combat prowess, decided to wait and see.
When an assassin attempted to ambush Hua Buqi, Lotus Robe Knight appeared, shooting the attacker with an arrow, and Oriental Shuo from the shadows also made a move, saving her. Recognizing him as Chen Yu, Hua Buqi desperately urged Xiaoxia to pursue the retreating Lotus Robe Knight. Xiaoxia explained that Lotus Robe Knight preferred to remain solitary and insisted they return to the manor due to the danger.
Hua Buqi, though yearning to meet him, realized the perilous implications of Chen Yu discovering her connection to the House of Zhu, fearing it would expose the family to the Seventh Prince. She reluctantly abandoned the chase, recognizing the necessity of hiding her identity. Chief Steward Shou arrived shortly after, explaining to Xiaoxia that Grand Master Zhu had intentionally allowed Hua Buqi to experience danger to prepare her for the future.
He then stressed to Xiaoxia the critical importance of Hua Buqi's safety, reminding them of their deep gratitude to the Grand Master. Back at his residence, Chen Yu found Yuan Chong still daydreaming about the "Zhu granddaughter." Yuan Chong excitedly shared Heir Apparent Jing's plan to take him to Zhu Manor and seek a marriage proposal, asking Chen Yu's opinion.
Chen Yu playfully teased Yuan Chong about falling for a "tigress," and Yuan Chong admitted "he" found her captivating when she lifted a 5 kg wine jug and threw it at Tiger Wu. Chen Yu, pondering the restaurant incident, realized it was likely a deliberate act related to the Zhu family's newly revealed granddaughter, and worried for her safety after she left.
He revealed that he had shot an arrow to save the servant by her side, who was almost attacked by a man in black. Chen Yu then shared his disappointment in his unsuccessful search for Oriental Shuo in Suzhou. Concerned for his father, the Seventh Prince, Chen Yu decided to return to the capital the next morning, leaving Yuan Chong to continue the search for Oriental Shuo and pursue his newfound love.
Meanwhile, Chief Steward Shou reported to Grand Master Zhu about the day's events. He confirmed that the assassins they had captured overnight implicated First Aunt. While Tiger Wu remained tight-lipped due to bribes, Chief Steward Shou found evidence of his dealings with Fourth Aunt. Grand Master Zhu expressed his dismay at the corruption within the family, likening the House of Zhu to a "rotten pear."
Chief Steward Shou further revealed that three maids in Hua Buqi's courtyard had suspiciously left the manor on the day of her outing, implying their involvement with the assassins. Grand Master Zhu, having long tolerated the various aunts' exploitation of the family's assets, declared it was time to "clean up our house." Hua Buqi, taking charge, summoned the maids who had leaked information about her outing. The maids, terrified, immediately begged for forgiveness.
Hua Buqi, though inherently kind and not liking to harm others, understood the need to establish authority. She sentenced the three offending maids to plant sunflowers on her rooftop as a symbolic punishment, warning them that any future unauthorized departures would result in broken legs. Chief Steward Shou reinforced her decree with a stern lecture, emphasizing that while they were being given a second chance, future transgressions would not be tolerated.
Later, Heir Apparent Jing and Yuan Chong arrived at Zhu Manor to visit Hua Buqi. Hua Buqi, following her plan, feigned illness, sending Chief Steward Shou to convey her apologies and excuse herself from meeting them due to trauma from the previous night. Heir Apparent Jing, seeing through the excuse, insisted on seeing Grand Master Zhu, who also conveniently "fell ill" from anger over the attack on his granddaughter.
Heir Apparent Jing, realizing the Zhu family intended to keep Hua Buqi hidden until the official acknowledgment ceremony, dismissed Yuan Chong’s suggestion of climbing the manor walls. Instead, he devised a plan to have his mother, Ninth Aunt, visit Hua Buqi, as a female relative's visit would be more difficult to refuse. They would then arrange a private meal at Zuiyitai to finally meet Hua Buqi.
Chief Steward Shou relayed the challenge of the aunts' visits to Hua Buqi, particularly Ninth Aunt's influence. Hua Buqi, deciding against having Xiaoxia impersonate her again, opted to present herself as genuinely ill. Soon after, Ninth Aunt arrived with First Aunt and Seventh Aunt. The aunts, suspecting Hua Buqi's true identity, expressed their curiosity about her resemblance to Jiuhua, Hua Buqi's mother.
Hua Buqi, playing her role, had braziers lit and the doors closed, creating a stifling hot environment, while also pressing ice to her hands to appear feverish. She greeted them, claiming to have been slashed on the face during the attack, and lamented her trauma, convincing the aunts of her distress.
Ninth Aunt, attempting to show goodwill, offered to invite Hua Buqi to a meal at Zuiyitai, but Hua Buqi maintained her illness, claiming she couldn't risk exposure to the wind. After a while, Hua Buqi, citing the contagious nature of her illness, politely urged the aunts to leave. Just as Hua Buqi relaxed, Ninth Aunt made a sudden return, claiming to have forgotten a gift.
Hua Buqi immediately suspected a maid had tipped her off, realizing the risk of her ruse being exposed. She quickly ordered Chief Steward Shou to welcome Ninth Aunt and instructed Xiaoxia to gather all the inner courtyard maids. Hua Buqi then confronted the maids, demanding to know who the informant was.
When no one confessed, she set a chilling deadline: confess before Ninth Aunt reached the front door for a lighter punishment, but if Ninth Aunt entered the courtyard before a confession, the culprit would be beaten to death. Ninth Aunt entered the courtyard, questioning the maids kneeling there. Hua Buqi, seizing the opportunity, dramatically ordered Xiaoxia to beat one of the maids. The maid cried out her innocence.
Hua Buqi tearfully complained to Ninth Aunt about the maids' disrespect and gossiping, pleading for justice. Ninth Aunt, initially scolding Hua Buqi for her deception, listened as Hua Buqi explained that Grandfather insisted she conceal her identity until the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to surprise everyone and protect her while she prepared to take over the family. Hua Buqi cleverly mentioned her unauthorized outing to Zuiyitai, where she encountered Tiger Wu, which further enraged her grandfather and led to her confinement.
She then feigned confusion as to why Grandfather would also hide her from her own aunts. Ninth Aunt, placated, assured Hua Buqi of her affection and swore she would never harm her. As Xiaoxia continued the beating, Ninth Aunt grew concerned, fearing the maid might die. Hua Buqi, with a show of alarm, asked Xiaoxia to check if the maid was still breathing.
Xiaoxia, following Hua Buqi’s lead, declared the maid "not breathing anymore," claiming she had a pre-existing heart condition. Hua Buqi feigned surprise and indignation, then dismissed the death as the maid's own fault for her wicked actions. Ninth Aunt, accepting the explanation, offered to send two clever maids to Hua Buqi the next day. Hua Buqi then offered Ninth Aunt a carnelian bangle as a gift to ward off bad luck, apologizing for the unpleasant scene.
Ninth Aunt accepted the gift and promised to visit again after the banquet. After Ninth Aunt finally left the manor, Hua Buqi immediately turned to Xiaoxia, questioning why she had "really beaten her to death" when the intent was only to frighten.
