I Will Never Let You Go Episode 32 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Dongfang Shi brought Hua Buqi to his room and, instead of answering her questions about his family's insistence on marrying a Zhu daughter, he directed her attention to a small hole in the wall. Through it, Hua Buqi saw Yun Lang and Lin Dansha confined in a secret room. Distraught, Hua Buqi cried out to Yun Lang and demanded their immediate release. Dongfang Shi, however, remained unconcerned, telling her she'd have to figure out how to open the door herself.
Hua Buqi, realizing her efforts were futile, fell to her knees, pleading with Dongfang Shi. She apologized for her past actions, vowing to comply with his wishes, and tearfully begged for the freedom of Yun Lang, her most cherished friend, expressing her unwillingness for him to suffer because of her. Dongfang Shi, observing her distress, asked if she feared the Lotus Robe Knight would be jealous.
He then, softened by her tears, stated that he had merely wanted her to watch a "show" and ordered Hei Feng to release Yun Lang and Lin Dansha. Hua Buqi confirmed she would keep the reason for their capture a secret, to which Dongfang Shi assured her he had achieved his purpose and would not harm them again. Soon after, Yun Lang awoke in a forest, finding a dazed Lin Dansha beside him, and quickly helped her up.
Hua Buqi watched them leave from a distance, relieved they were safe. When Dongfang Shi asked if she was at ease, Hua Buqi reminded him of his promise not to bother her friends again. Dongfang Shi reaffirmed his word, including his intention to marry her, which Hua Buqi immediately rejected, vowing never to marry him.
Dongfang Shi, amused by her defiance, called her a "girl hooligan" and insisted she belonged to him, as Dongfang family men are destined to marry a Zhu woman. Sending Hei Feng away, Dongfang Shi continued to spend time with Hua Buqi. During their playful arguments, Hua Buqi subtly retrieved a token from Dongfang Shi, surprised to find it was a badge from Prince of Cheng Manor, an institution long ago confiscated by the former emperor.
Finding Xiao Xia, Hua Buqi, enjoying her rare outing, asked her to accompany her for a walk. Later, on a busy street, danger loomed. Hei Yan, an assassin sent by Liu Mingyue, who had disfigured herself to hide her identity, shot an arrow at Hua Buqi. Xiao Xia quickly shielded Hua Buqi, holding her close and vehemently preventing Dongfang Shi from approaching, accusing him of orchestrating the attack.
Dongfang Shi, genuinely concerned for Hua Buqi, caught Hei Yan and demanded to know who sent her, but Hei Yan committed suicide without revealing anything. Dongfang Shi immediately ordered Hei Feng to withdraw all secret agents in Suzhou and intensify the search for the mastermind behind the assassination. Back at Zhu Manor, Old Master Zhu rushed to Hua Buqi's room upon hearing the news, only to find it empty.
Xiao Xia explained that Hua Buqi and Zhu Shou had already departed for Dongping Commandery. She revealed that Hua Buqi had deliberately agreed to the outing with Dongfang Shi and then staged the assassination attempt on their way back to create an illusion of injury. This allowed her to escape Dongfang Shi's constant surveillance and travel to Dongping Commandery, where she expected to earn at least three million taels of silver for the Zhu family.
Old Master Zhu was to maintain the pretense of Hua Buqi recuperating in the manor, forbidding visitors, to quell any suspicions Dongfang Shi might have. News of Hua Buqi's "injury" reached Yuan Chong, who hurried to Zhu Manor, relieved to find Xiao Xia unharmed. He informed her of his imminent return to the capital, where he intended to ask his father, the Capital City Garrison Commander, to propose marriage to Xiao Xia.
However, Xiao Xia firmly rejected him, stating she would never marry anyone. A disheartened Yuan Chong asked if she would at least see him off, but Xiao Xia, believing they had no future and needing to focus on her duties, gently refused, watching him leave with a heavy heart, reminiscing about their past interactions. Meanwhile, Hua Buqi and Zhu Shou, on their journey, decided to take a detour through Suizhou instead of heading directly to Dongping Commandery.
Hua Buqi, now calling herself Ah Zhu, explained to Zhu Shou that Dongfang Shi was too cunning, and she feared he would discover their true destination. By visiting various gambling houses in Suizhou and making some money, they would mislead him into thinking their purpose was merely to pay off debts. Hua Buqi also shared her concerns about the mysterious Dongfang family and their unusual insistence on marrying a Zhu daughter.
She revealed she had stolen the Prince of Cheng's imperial badge from Dongfang Shi and intended to question the Prince of Dongping about it, as a royal member might know its secrets. That night, despite the increased security and traps, Dongfang Shi covertly entered Zhu Manor, easily bypassing the defenses. He eventually found Xiao Xia, who confronted him, denying him access and accusing him again.
Dongfang Shi maintained his innocence regarding the assassination attempt, asserting that if he truly wished to harm Hua Buqi, he would have done so without resistance. He expressed distrust in the Zhu family's doctor and his desire to personally examine her. Xiao Xia fiercely refused, informing him that Hua Buqi had been moved to a safer location by Old Master Zhu and wished never to see him again.
Unable to find Hua Buqi or get details on her condition, Dongfang Shi left the manor in a rage, vowing not to grant Hua Buqi's wish. Hei Feng then reported that the assassin's belongings offered no clues and that the arrow's trajectory pointed to the second floor of Jubaozhai.
Dongfang Shi, recalling seeing Zhu Manor's secret guards jumping from that very spot, deduced that Hua Buqi had likely not been injured at all and that the entire incident was a cleverly orchestrated ruse. The following day, Dongfang Shi observed Xiao Xia secretly bidding farewell to Yuan Chong. He confronted Xiao Xia, threatening Yuan Chong's safety if she did not reveal Hua Buqi's true location.
Under duress, Xiao Xia falsely claimed Hua Buqi had gone to the capital to earn money. Dongfang Shi dismissed this, recognizing it as a lie. He deduced that Hua Buqi had gone to the capital, possibly to seek out the Lotus Robe Knight and investigate the matter of the Prince of Cheng's imperial badge.
He ordered portraits of Hua Buqi and Zhu Shou to be distributed to all his establishments across different counties and provinces, instructing his men to search for them. Dongfang Shi then decided to personally travel to the capital with Hei Feng, acknowledging that it might be a trap but embracing the challenge, finding Hua Buqi's schemes intriguing.
Meanwhile, Hua Buqi and Zhu Shou arrived at the One Tael Gambling House in Suizhou, which Hua Buqi admired as the city's premier gambling establishment. After winning some quick money, they were invited to a private room. Hua Buqi, introducing herself as Sima Shou from the "House of Sima," explained her purpose was to sell a unique gambling device.
She unveiled a design draft of a "Great Wheel of Fortune," detailing its mechanics and various betting options, emphasizing its fairness and novelty compared to traditional dice games. She offered to sell the blueprint for 500,000 taels, convincing the manager that such an innovative item deserved a prominent place in his famous gambling house.
