I Will Never Let You Go Episode 41 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Chen Yu was apprehended as a rebel, causing widespread shock and confusion among the public, with many wondering what he could have possibly done to incur the Emperor's wrath. Meanwhile, Hua Buqi and Xiao Liu made their way to Xichu Province, cautiously avoiding the main entrances where Hua Buqi's wanted portrait was displayed. Dongfang Shi and his group also arrived in Xichu, observing the situation from a distance. Inside the jail, Chen Yu emerged unharmed from an iron prisoner cart.
This entire arrest, it turned out, was a meticulously planned ruse orchestrated by Chen Yu himself, in collaboration with General Guan and Magistrate Du of Xichu. Their goal was to go undercover and thoroughly investigate the forces behind Mingyue Villa. Chen Yu, having previously sought the Emperor's permission for a secret investigation with the cooperation of General Guan and Magistrate Du, decided to expand his plan after acquiring items related to Biluotian.
He aimed to make the rebels who killed his Master believe that the Emperor wanted these items, leading to his arrest. This, he hoped, would provoke the rebels to attempt a rescue, allowing him to capture them all and then fake his own death to fully resolve the rebel issue. He chose to keep the true nature of his plan secret from Hua Buqi, believing it was for their future.
Soon after, a special envoy from the capital arrived to meet Chen Yu in his cell, who turned out to be Bai Jianfei, an old acquaintance. Bai Jianfei conveyed the Emperor's verbal decree, giving Chen Yu six months to investigate the Zhu House's alleged involvement with rebels, specifically Dongfang Shi, and to prevent any of their money from falling into Dongfang Shi's hands.
The Emperor also threatened that if Chen Yu failed or contacted Hua Buqi during this time, Hua Buqi would suffer severe consequences, with a piece of her flesh being cut for every tael of money that reached the rebels. To control Chen Yu, Bai Jianfei presented a red "poison" pill and brown "antidotes," explaining that Chen Yu would need to take the red pill and report to him every three months to receive an antidote.
Bai Jianfei smugly revealed that this method was his own idea, proposed to the Emperor who saw Chen Yu as too unruly. In response, Chen Yu coldly laughed, knocked the pills from Bai Jianfei's hand, and forcefully made him swallow the red pill. He then threatened Bai Jianfei, stating that if he dared to speak ill of Chen Yu to the Emperor, he would not receive the antidote.
Chen Yu revealed that he knew Bai Jianfei had learned of his identity as the Lotus Robe Knight from Yuan Chong and had used this information, along with Hua Buqi's identity as Miss Zhu, to threaten him to the Emperor. Realizing Dongfang Shi was the rebel, Chen Yu admitted he had been careless. Meanwhile, Hua Buqi and Xiao Liu managed to enter Xichu.
Hua Buqi visited a Zhu's silk shop, where the manager informed her that Chief Steward Zhu Shou had been arrested, though the Zhu House had not yet been formally implicated in the rebellion. Hua Buqi instructed the manager to spare no expense in bribing officials to secure Zhu Shou's release. Outside the shop, Hua Buqi unexpectedly encountered Dongfang Shi.
Knowing that Xiaojin Ku, a gambling house, was an asset of the Dongfang family and a hub for information, she asked Dongfang Shi to investigate Zhu Shou's situation for her, expressing concern that Chen Yu's rebellion might implicate the Zhu House. Dongfang Shi agreed, secretly intending to use this opportunity to ascertain if Chen Yu's arrest was genuinely an imperial decree or merely a self-orchestrated act.
Later, Xiao Xia arrived in Xichu, followed by Chief Steward Fu, who brought a substantial sum of one million taels in silver. Feeling relieved that they had the funds, Hua Buqi decided to proceed to the local government office to inquire about Zhu Shou. Back at the jail, Chen Yu decided to leave, prompting Bai Jianfei to question his intentions.
Chen Yu, showing no respect, warned Bai Jianfei not to send his men to follow him, or he would face dire consequences. As Chen Yu departed, Bai Jianfei smirked, revealing that the "poison" he had given Chen Yu earlier was fake. He vowed to report Chen Yu's insolence to the Emperor and exact revenge on Hua Buqi for Chen Yu's arrogance.
Hua Buqi and Xiao Xia were then brought to the jail where Bai Jianfei met Hua Buqi, dismissing Xiao Xia to speak with her alone. Bai Jianfei questioned Hua Buqi about her relationship with Chen Yu. Aware of his malicious intentions, Hua Buqi deliberately denied any deep connection with Chen Yu, hoping to secure Zhu Shou's release.
Bai Jianfei pointed out Zhu Shou's presence at the Dongping Commandery Prince's manor and insinuated that the Zhu House was inevitably linked to Chen Yu.
He then proposed a deal: if Hua Buqi would shift all blame to Zhu Shou and pay a bail of one million taels, the Zhu House would be cleared and become a trusted royal associate, with the imperial family also acquiring 10% of the Zhu House's shares for free and sending in accountants to oversee the business. Desperate to save Zhu Shou, Hua Buqi reluctantly agreed.
Bai Jianfei inwardly gloated, having effortlessly gained control of the Zhu House by exploiting Chen Yu's elaborate scheme, believing the Emperor would be pleased with his success. After leaving the government office, Hua Buqi instructed Xiao Xia to, upon seeing Yuan Chong, inquire about Bai Jianfei's character and his relationship with Chen Yu, urging Yuan Chong to be wary of Bai Jianfei. Xiao Xia recalled Bai Jianfei's cowardly and disloyal behavior when they were captured by Dongfang Shi.
Hua Buqi, noting Bai Jianfei's true aim was the million taels and control over Zhu House's business, also expressed her displeasure that he seemed overly interested in her relationship with Chen Yu. Zhu Shou was subsequently released. He apologized to Hua Buqi for his predicament, but she assured him it was not his fault.
Zhu Shou shared what he had learned in prison: Chen Yu had been taken to the "Baisha Cell," the most dangerous bottom level of the Xichu prison, far from where Zhu Shou had been held. An impulsive Xiao Liu, indebted to Chen Yu, immediately wished to storm the prison, but Hua Buqi and Zhu Fu restrained him.
Zhu Fu then pointed out several inconsistencies in the rebellion case, such as why Hua Buqi, as the Zhu House heir, and Zhu Shou were released so easily, and why Liu Qingwu, the potentially more suspicious Master of Mingyue Villa, remained in Dongping's prison rather than being transferred to Xichu.
Hua Buqi then recalled Chen Yu's previous words about having to abandon the Commandery Prince's manor because his adversaries' power was far greater than his own, necessitating him to minimize all his forces. A wave of understanding washed over her, realizing that Chen Yu had orchestrated this entire scenario as a grand strategy.
Though annoyed that Chen Yu had kept her in the dark, her heart finally eased, and she instructed everyone to rest, no longer mentioning the rescue of Chen Yu. Later, a figure disguised as the Lotus Robe Knight appeared to Hua Buqi. Joyfully, she rushed to embrace him but unexpectedly noticed the absence of a distinct scar on his hand, realizing it was Dongfang Shi impersonating the Lotus Robe Knight.
Playing along with the charade, Hua Buqi asked about his supposed imprisonment. Dongfang Shi, still in character, evaded the question and instead urged Hua Buqi to forget about Chen Yu and be with Dongfang Shi, claiming Chen Yu might be confined in the Baisha Cell for life. Hua Buqi refused, reiterating her loyalty to Chen Yu. Dongfang Shi then removed his mask, revealing his true identity. He admitted that he had merely been testing Hua Buqi, wanting to confirm if Chen Yu's arrest was indeed a self-directed play.
