I Will Never Let You Go Episode 42 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Hua Buqi, deeply concerned for Chen Yu, was advised by Dongfang Shi to give up on him. Dongfang Shi warned that Chen Yu held items the Emperor desired, ensuring he would not be easily released. He described the grim torture Chen Yu might endure in prison, suggesting that if Chen Yu’s actions were true, he would never see the outside world again. Dongfang Shi then urged Hua Buqi to abandon her hopes for Chen Yu and instead remain with him.
After Dongfang Shi departed, Hua Buqi, recognizing that he knew more than she had initially realized, decided to visit the prison with Xiao Xia the following day to gather information on Chen Yu, fearing for his safety. Dongfang Shi later reported to Xiao Jiufeng. He acknowledged Hua Buqi's convincing portrayal of distress over Chen Yu's capture, but admitted he couldn't be entirely certain of its authenticity.
He noted that despite their efforts, his men had gleaned no information from the heavily guarded Baisha Cell. Xiao Jiufeng, believing Chen Yu would eventually try to retrieve the holy object and the Saintess, instructed Dongfang Shi to keep a close watch on Hua Buqi to draw Chen Yu out. Hua Buqi and Xiao Xia proceeded to the prison, where they overheard confirmation that Chen Yu was indeed incarcerated and would soon be transferred to the capital.
Hua Buqi reflected on Dongfang Shi’s words about Chen Yu possessing items the Emperor coveted. She then reasoned that if Dongfang Shi was a descendant of the Prince of Cheng, he would also desire those same items. She concluded that she could potentially leverage Dongfang Shi to rescue Chen Yu and decided to confront him at Xiaojin Ku.
As Jianfei emerged from the prison, Hua Buqi instructed Xiao Xia to follow him to gather more intelligence, while she headed to Xiaojin Ku. Unbeknownst to them, Liu Qingwu overheard their conversation and dispatched Ping'er to tail Jianfei, while she herself followed Hua Buqi, having conceived a new plan to deal with her rival. Meanwhile, Dongfang Shi stood alone by a cliff, visibly troubled. Madam Yu approached him, inquiring about his mood.
Dongfang Shi confessed that the previous night, disguised as the Lotus Robe Knight, he had visited Hua Buqi only to find her thoughts consumed by Chen Yu. He admitted to leaving a hint for her, feeling conflicted: he would be upset if she came for Chen Yu, yet he would miss her dearly if she didn’t. Madam Yu observed that he was finally experiencing love but advised him not to torment himself over Hua Buqi.
Shortly after, Xiao Xia arrived, frantically searching for Hua Buqi, asking if Dongfang Shi had seen her. He denied it. Once Xiao Xia left, Dongfang Shi immediately ordered Hei Feng to investigate Hua Buqi’s whereabouts, noting the lack of intelligence from his own surveillance. On her way to Xiaojin Ku, Hua Buqi was intercepted, knocked unconscious, and abducted by Liu Qingwu. Liu Qingwu brought Hua Buqi to Qunfang Brothel, a secluded and disreputable establishment.
Her intention was to force Hua Buqi into prostitution, a cruel revenge for her past imprisonment. She taunted Hua Buqi, describing how being defiled by "filthy and smelly soldiers" would surely make Chen Yu lose interest in her. Hua Buqi, terrified, pleaded for her release. In a critical moment, Hua Buqi used a hidden dart to wound Liu Qingwu in the waist. As Liu Qingwu reeled in pain, Hua Buqi seized the opportunity to escape on horseback.
Disoriented and mentally shaken, Hua Buqi nearly fell from her horse on the street but was rescued by a beggar named Bai Ma. Just then, Dongfang Shi arrived, having tracked Hua Buqi down. Hua Buqi, still in a state of shock and confusion, tearfully confessed to him that she believed she had killed Liu Qingwu, before collapsing into his arms. Dongfang Shi took Hua Buqi away, instructing Hei Feng to investigate the scene.
However, Hei Feng found no trace of Liu Qingwu’s body in the carriage, only blood, and the trail vanished, indicating someone else had removed her. Bai Ma, carrying Hua Buqi’s hairpin, subsequently led Xiao Xia and Zhu Shou to Xiaojin Ku to find Hua Buqi. Elsewhere, Jianfei visited Liu Qingwu in prison, informing her that Chen Yu's capture was merely a charade staged for the Emperor.
He maliciously suggested that Chen Yu had confided his true plan only to Hua Buqi and that the two had since happily absconded from Xichu Province. To reinforce his deception, Jianfei escorted Liu Qingwu to Chen Yu's iron prisoner cart, which was conspicuously empty. Convinced by the absence of Chen Yu and Jianfei's cunning words, Liu Qingwu, consumed by rage and heartbreak, declared her intention to meet the Emperor.
She offered to reveal the identity of the Biluotian Saintess in exchange for power and influence. Hua Buqi eventually regained consciousness while with Dongfang Shi. She pressed him to reveal what exact items Chen Yu possessed that compelled the Emperor to accuse him of treason. Dongfang Shi disclosed that Chen Yu held the sacred artifact of Biluotian, rumored to unlock the Biluotian treasure, which in turn promised ultimate power over the world.
He attempted to persuade Hua Buqi to give up her pursuit of Chen Yu, offering to rescue him if she agreed to marry him. However, Hua Buqi vehemently refused, asserting her unwavering resolve to save Chen Yu, even if it meant sacrificing the entire Zhu family fortune. She then returned to the Zhu family store. Upon returning, Hua Buqi encountered the beggar Bai Ma.
Her keen eye noticed a distinctive scar on his hand, confirming her suspicion that Bai Ma was none other than Chen Yu in disguise. That night, after Hua Buqi deliberately sent Xiao Xia away, Chen Yu removed his disguise. Hua Buqi, furious at being kept in the dark, chastised him for his deception. Chen Yu explained that he had shaken off Jianfei and his men because he desperately wanted to see her.
He had witnessed her horse panicking in the street and intended to rescue her, but Bai Ma had intervened first. Chen Yu's suspicions were aroused by Bai Ma's concealed martial arts skills and a subtle nod exchanged between Bai Ma and Dongfang Shi, which confirmed Bai Ma's allegiance to Dongfang Shi. He then captured Bai Ma and took his place.
Hua Buqi then told Chen Yu about the Prince of Cheng's badge she had found on Dongfang Shi and Dongfang Shi’s surprising knowledge of Chen Yu possessing Biluotian items. Chen Yu realized that Dongfang Shi must be connected to those who murdered his master. He theorized that Dongfang Shi was either a descendant of the Prince of Cheng or someone using the Prince's name to incite rebellion.
Chen Yu warned Hua Buqi that her greatest threat was not Liu Qingwu, but Dongfang Shi and the powerful forces behind him, as Dongfang Shi's desire to marry her stemmed from a more sinister motive. He then revealed that Hua Buqi's mother, Xue Fei, was the Biluotian Saintess, making Hua Buqi, by bloodline, a Saintess herself.
He explained that Dongfang Shi and his faction intended to exploit Hua Buqi to unearth the Biluotian treasure and, ultimately, seize control of the world. Chen Yu also confessed that his own father, the Seventh Prince, had also sought the Biluotian treasure but clarified that he himself held no ambition for rebellion, understanding that warfare only brought suffering and desolation. Hua Buqi then suggested they unearth the treasure and present it to the Emperor.
However, Chen Yu revealed the complete prophecy: "Then, activate the holy item and sacrifice the Saintess, the treasure will then be gained." This chilling revelation meant that anyone who desired the treasure would require Hua Buqi's sacrifice. Chen Yu, determined to protect her, insisted on taking her away before her identity as the Saintess became widely known.
Hua Buqi, however, refused to leave, fearing that her sudden disappearance would compromise the authenticity of Chen Yu's intricate plan to expose his master's true murderers. She decided to remain and see the scheme through, believing that her visible presence, seemingly under Bai Ma’s care, would keep Dongfang Shi from suspecting her true intentions. She then locked Chen Yu outside, hoping he would understand her difficult decision.
The next day, Hua Buqi learned that Jianfei was scheduled to escort Chen Yu back to the capital in three days. She then ordered all the Zhu family guards to be dispatched to Qiyun Mountain. This maneuver was a calculated pretense of attempting to rescue Chen Yu, designed to manipulate Dongfang Shi, who she knew also coveted the Biluotian treasure.
