I Will Never Let You Go Episode 38 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Dongfang Shi, intent on taking Hua Buqi, planned to leave with her, but their escape was discovered by Liu Mingyue's forces. Chen Yu intervened, blocking the attackers and urging Dongfang Shi to take Hua Buqi and leave, offering to cover their escape. However, Hua Buqi was unwilling to abandon Chen Yu. Dongfang Shi, realizing her affections, forcefully carried her away from the bandit camp, watching as Chen Yu became increasingly endangered.
He bitterly thought that since Hua Buqi favored Chen Yu, he would let Chen Yu perish there. After escaping the bandit camp, Dongfang Shi intended to take Hua Buqi into the city. Along the way, Hua Buqi spotted Xiao Liu and immediately called out to him. She quickly informed Han Ye of Chen Yu's peril in the bandit's stronghold and handed him a stolen defense map, urging him to use it to rescue Chen Yu.
Concerned that Hua Buqi might reveal more information, Dongfang Shi promptly knocked her unconscious, instructing Xiao Liu and Han Ye to protect her before riding off alone. Meanwhile, within the bandit camp, a severely injured Chen Yu hid and overheard a bandit leader informing Liu Mingyue that their lord commanded Big Beard Ma to gather five hundred men at Xiaoqiu Woods to confront the Emperor's forces, indicating a war was about to begin.
Just then, Dongfang Shi returned and sounded the horn for retreat. He informed Liu Mingyue that Xichu's troops were approaching and ordered her to evacuate immediately, abandoning the camp. Liu Mingyue questioned the lack of prior messages from their scouts. Dongfang Shi retorted that Hua Buqi had stolen Big Beard Ma's watchmen's map and given it to Chen Yu's people, allowing them to bypass their scouts. He then urged Liu Mingyue to report this to her superior.
Simultaneously, Han Ye's forces arrived at the bandit camp, finding it deserted but successfully rescuing the heavily wounded Chen Yu. Relieved to hear Hua Buqi was safe with Xiao Liu at a nearby inn, Chen Yu instructed Han Ye to keep her safe from Dongfang Shi and to conceal his injuries from her to prevent worry.
Remembering the conversation he overheard, Chen Yu told Han Ye that the enemy planned to engage the Emperor's forces at Xiaoqiu Woods, suspecting his teacher was the target. He ordered Han Ye to dispatch all guards to Xiaoqiu Woods to assist his teacher. Back at an inn, Doctor Yi assured Han Ye that Chen Yu's wounds were not deep and he would awaken within two hours.
Dongfang Shi arrived, inquiring about Hua Buqi, whom he referred to as the Princess he had just spoken about. Han Ye, following Chen Yu's prior instructions, evaded his questions. Realizing Chen Yu would not wake soon, Dongfang Shi decided to visit Xiaojin Ku. Elsewhere, a worried Zhu Shou had been seeking Hua Buqi's whereabouts, offering large sums to the Xichu Prefect, who proved unhelpful.
Zhu Shou then decided to go to the Xiaojin Ku gambling house to inquire about the bandit extermination and Hua Buqi's whereabouts. At Xiaojin Ku, he overheard officers discussing the successful bandit extermination. Madam Yu, the owner, following Dongfang Shi's orders, attempted to engage Zhu Shou in a gamble, but he postponed it. Zhu Shou then went to the Prefect's office to inquire if his lady had been rescued, but was told she had not been found, leaving him crestfallen.
Having spent a significant amount of money without finding Hua Buqi, Zhu Shou decided it was time to inform Grand Master Zhu, requesting five hundred thousand taels. He took five hundred taels from his silk store and returned to Xiaojin Ku. At Xiaojin Ku, Dongfang Shi gave Madam Yu another task, after she confirmed that all skilled fighters in Xichu would gather at Mingyue Villa in two days as instructed, and that Liu Mingyue's remaining forces were awaiting his orders.
As Zhu Shou pondered his next move, Dongfang Shi appeared, feigning surprise at their meeting. Zhu Shou explained his distress over Hua Buqi's disappearance, expressing anger at Dongfang Shi, believing his avoidance of him led them to Xichu and her going missing. Dongfang Shi feigned a joke, saying Hua Buqi was not abducted by bandits but by a "pervert," and offered to help, claiming it was a business deal.
Zhu Shou was skeptical, questioning how Dongfang Shi could suddenly help if he previously knew nothing. Dongfang Shi insisted on a payment of one million taels and a letter of authorization, implying that even if he rescued Hua Buqi, she might not return with him. Desperate, Zhu Shou agreed and signed an agreement stating that if Hua Buqi returned unharmed, the Zhu Manor would pay Dongfang Shi one million taels, or Zhu Shou would cut off an arm.
Conversely, if Dongfang Shi failed to save her, he would cut off his own arm. Dongfang Shi then demanded half the payment immediately, and Zhu Shou reluctantly led him to retrieve the deposit. Back at the inn, Hua Buqi, now awake, was told by Xiao Liu that Chen Yu was fine and on his way back. However, she then spotted Liu Qingwu and inquired about her presence. Following Liu Qingwu, Hua Buqi discovered a seriously injured and unconscious Chen Yu.
Han Ye reassured her that Chen Yu had been treated and would soon awaken. Hua Buqi, believing Liu Mingyue was the bandit leader and Mingyue Villa was implicated, demanded Xiao Liu take Liu Qingwu to the authorities for investigation. Liu Qingwu countered, claiming to have abandoned her evil ways, aligning herself with Chen Yu, and stating that Mingyue Villa was under his control.
She then questioned Hua Buqi's identity as a princess, saying she was merely the granddaughter of the Zhu family. Hua Buqi asserted she was both. As their argument escalated, Chen Yu awoke. He took Hua Buqi's hand, sternly telling Liu Qingwu to stop causing trouble, declaring their cooperation over, and instructing her to return to Mingyue Villa, severing all future ties. Enraged and heartbroken, Liu Qingwu departed, secretly vowing that Hua Buqi would die again.
Shortly after Liu Qingwu's departure, Chen Yu, now conscious, told Han Ye to refer to Hua Buqi only as "Miss Zhu," not "Princess." Hua Buqi, worried about Zhu Shou, asked Xiao Liu to go to the Zhu family's silk store and inform him of her safety. However, an attendant from Zhu Shou's silk store arrived and reported that Zhu Shou was gambling heavily at Xiaojin Ku, trying to win one million taels.
Realizing Zhu Shou had been tricked, Hua Buqi decided to go to Xiaojin Ku, with Chen Yu insisting on accompanying her despite his injuries. At Xiaojin Ku, Hua Buqi immediately noticed its resemblance to the Dongfang family's Yiliang Gambling House, suspecting Dongfang Shi's involvement. Their entry was facilitated when Chen Yu was recognized as the Commandery Prince. Inside, they found Zhu Shou losing heavily to Madam Yu. Hua Buqi confirmed to Zhu Shou that he had indeed been tricked.
Dongfang Shi arrived, feigning surprise at Chen Yu's quick recovery. He then revealed his knowledge of Chen Yu and Hua Buqi's relationship, claiming they had deceived him by pretending to meet for the first time. Chen Yu playfully responded that he had indeed just met "Miss Zhu" but had fallen in love at first sight, a sentiment Hua Buqi echoed.
Zhu Shou then confronted Dongfang Shi, accusing him of lying about Hua Buqi's abduction and manipulating him into signing the one million tael agreement. Hua Buqi further exposed Dongfang Shi, confirming Xiaojin Ku was a Dongfang family enterprise and accusing him of orchestrating the gambling match with Madam Yu to recoup the five hundred thousand taels Zhu Shou had previously won from Yiliang Gambling House.
When Zhu Shou tried to back out of the game, Madam Yu insisted he still owed the gambling house five hundred thousand taels. Dongfang Shi then demanded Zhu Shou pay the one million taels from their agreement or cut off an arm. Zhu Shou, in despair, chose to cut off his arm, but Hua Buqi quickly intervened. Chen Yu stepped forward, offering to pay the one million taels on behalf of the Zhu family.
Dongfang Shi accepted but reminded Zhu Shou of the additional five hundred thousand taels he still owed Madam Yu. Hua Buqi then urged Zhu Shou to continue gambling with Madam Yu.
After learning the rules of the dice game – where the highest score wins, and the dice had been "cracked" for added difficulty, putting Zhu Shou six points behind – Hua Buqi whispered a strategy to Zhu Shou to turn the tables, suggesting they raise the stakes to one million taels.
