Jun Jiu Ling Episode 30 Recap
> Jun Jiu Ling Recap
Zhu Zan's whereabouts remained unknown, causing Jun Jiuling considerable worry as she prayed for his safety. The following day, reports from the North confirmed that Lord Cheng Zhu Shan had feigned a retreat before launching a surprise attack on Beiqi's left flank, forcing their troops to withdraw and resolve the crisis in Hejian Prefecture. However, this daring maneuver left Lord Cheng in a perilous situation in Yizhou.
Meanwhile, with the newly signed peace agreement between the two nations taking effect, Beiqi's army was set to enter the three counties. Emperor Chu Rang immediately ordered all Northern garrisons to withdraw, threatening charges of treason for any disobedience. It was clear to all that this directive was aimed directly at Lord Cheng. Jun Jiuling realized Lord Cheng's deeper strategy: he had risked his life to buy more time for the civilians to evacuate.
To honor his sacrifice, she decided to change her route and continue northward, forfeiting her planned rendezvous with Madame Yu. As Lord Cheng was now trapped in Yizhou after his bold strike against Beiqi, Madame Yu, not having met with Jun Jiuling, understood that Jun Jiuling had gone alone to rescue him. After safely escorting the people of Bazhou to safety, Zhu Zan, along with Li Sanbing and Zhang Baotang, immediately rode towards Yizhou.
Knowing that they could not rely on Emperor Chu Rang for military support, they prepared themselves for a desperate fight. Lord Cheng Zhu Shan, a seasoned commander, recognized the grim reality of their situation. He instructed his subordinates to meticulously record the names of every fallen soldier, ensuring their sacrifice for the hundreds of thousands of people in the three counties would be remembered for generations.
Jun Jiuling assessed the strength of Beiqi's forces surrounding Yizhou, realizing that even with all their available troops, they would be heavily outnumbered and unable to break the siege through direct confrontation. She devised a strategic plan, instructing Mr. Lei to find a trustworthy individual who would consume a special medicine designed to mimic smallpox symptoms. This person would then infiltrate the Beiqi military camp, creating the illusion of a full-blown epidemic to sow panic and disrupt their morale.
The plan worked perfectly; chaos erupted within Beiqi's ranks, allowing Lord Cheng to seize the opportunity and successfully lead his forces to break through the encirclement at Yizhou. In the capital city, a storyteller, instigated by Prime Minister Huang, twisted Lord Cheng's heroic actions into a criminal offense, claiming he had disregarded the peace treaty for personal glory. While the onlookers murmured, Fang Jinxiu, enraged, stepped forward to challenge the storyteller.
Before she could speak, a group of refugees from the North, who had just arrived in the capital, began vociferously defending Lord Cheng, accusing the storyteller of slandering him. They spoke of Lord Cheng's benevolence, recounting his and his family's brave deeds and how they saved the people of the three counties from dire straits. Just then, city soldiers galloped through the streets, announcing Lord Cheng's successful escape and victory.
Jubilant cheers erupted from the crowd, and the discredited storyteller fled in disgrace. Upon Zhu Zan's arrival at the government yamen, he learned that Madame Yu was at the Town God's Temple distributing congee, and Lord Cheng was resting due to his injuries. Zhu Zan decided to first meet the woman rumored to be the "Crown Prince's wife."
While he admired her courage and accomplishments, he felt compelled to explain that he could not agree to the marriage, as his heart already belonged to someone else, and he wished to preserve her reputation. Just as he finished speaking, Jun Jiuling turned around, a wry smile on her face. Zhu Zan was stunned, then overwhelmed with joy and concern for her having faced such dangers alone. After their emotional reunion, Zhu Zan went to see Lord Cheng.
Father and son shared a drink, celebrating their victory and honoring the soldiers who had fallen in battle. With the safe return of the people from the three counties and Beiqi's army suffering significant losses, a period of calm was expected. Emperor Chu Rang summoned Lord Cheng to the capital to receive honors. Prime Minister Huang seized the opportunity to suggest that the Earl of Qinghe temporarily assume Lord Cheng's post as guardian of the North.
Lu Yunqi agreed with this suggestion but reported that he found it difficult to act against Zhu Zan due to the presence of many experts and large crowds, making it hard to find an opportune moment. Consequently, Emperor Chu Rang instructed Prime Minister Huang to manage the arrangements for Lord Cheng and his son to return to the capital.
That night, a heavily intoxicated Zhu Zan once again found his way into Jun Jiuling's room, persistently asking why she resembled Princess Jiuling so closely. Jun Jiuling felt a surge of impulse to reveal the truth but held back. As she tried to help him, he pulled her onto the bed. Coincidentally, Madame Yu arrived with some pastries and inadvertently witnessed the scene, mistakenly believing she had interrupted a private moment between her son and his intended.
She immediately turned and left. Jun Jiuling, with great effort, finally managed to push Zhu Zan away. As she looked at his sleeping face, she couldn't resist leaning in to kiss his cheek. The next morning, both of them, already harboring mutual affection, woke up feeling sweet and shy. The imperial edict reached Hejian Prefecture, signaling that their journey to the capital would be fraught with unknown dangers, and refusal was not an option.
Jun Jiuling discussed a plan with Lord Cheng and Madame Yu: she and Zhu Zan would go to the capital first to gather intelligence, with Zhu's army following closely behind, to preempt any schemes by Prime Minister Huang. Lord Cheng was very pleased with Jun Jiuling's foresight. Madame Yu, eager to see her son marry Jun Jiuling, advised Zhu Zan to let go of his past attachment to Princess Jiuling. Zhu Zan understood his mother's intentions.
He confessed his deep feelings for Jun Jiuling and his desire to marry her. However, he insisted that he must first publicly clarify the misunderstanding surrounding her identity as the "Crown Prince's wife" to restore her reputation, before grandly welcoming her into their family. Madame Yu was supportive of his decision and expressed her profound satisfaction.
