Jun Jiu Ling Episode 37 Recap
> Jun Jiu Ling Recap
The Emperor, Chu Rang, had previously discussed the division of Deshengchang and Jun Jiuling's return to Zezhou, noting that the downfall of the Fang and Zhu families presented a good opportunity to strengthen control elsewhere. Meanwhile, in the North, Earl of Qinghe took over Zhu's army. He ordered General Wei to take his men to the Yongjing Army and General Wei himself to Jiaohe. General Wei expressed concern that such frequent and large-scale redeployment might offer an opening for Beiqi.
He suggested that the deployment seemed more like a strategy to withdraw, divide forces, and fragment power rather than strengthen defenses. He also implied that Earl of Qinghe was suppressing them because they were loyal to Lord Cheng, warning that Beiqi was a threat and internal strife should be avoided.
Earl of Qinghe, however, dismissed these concerns, ordering General Wei to be taken down and stating that Lord Cheng had fled to the North because he knew it was his territory and he would find protection there. General Wei insisted they were loyal to Tianyou, not Lord Cheng if he was guilty, but Earl of Qinghe cut him off and left.
This led to internal unrest, with some officers remarking that peace in the North was impossible as long as Lord Cheng, referred to as Zhu Shan, remained at large. Elsewhere, Lord Cheng and Madame Yu discussed their precarious situation, having been declared traitors by the Emperor, with anyone seeing them authorized to execute them.
They lamented that their broken engagement with Jun Jiuling had implicated her, but Lord Cheng comforted Madame Yu, reminding her that no one could have predicted these events and expressing hope that Jun Jiuling, now a Commandery Princess and renowned doctor, would overcome these challenges. Back in the capital, Chu Rang received alarming news: Earl of Qinghe had unilaterally altered the deployment, allowing Yu Chihai, Crown Prince of Beiqi, to launch a sudden attack.
The Beiqi Army had successfully penetrated their defenses, encircling Earl of Qinghe, with no word on his fate. Furthermore, half of the previously assigned reinforcements were now unaccounted for. Enraged, Chu Rang demanded to know if the enemy had been stopped, regardless of who was at fault. He was informed that the North Army had divided into three routes to intercept the Beiqi forces, with additional troops from Shandong and Shanxi en route, having reached Hebei.
Despite this, Chu Rang deduced that the enemy had not been stopped, furiously labeling his officials "a bunch of good-for-nothings." In the North, Earl of Qinghe's camp had been under siege for six days, awaiting reinforcements that should have arrived earlier. Reports then revealed that 50,000 of the 100,000 promised reinforcements had fled, leading to questions about how they could continue fighting. Soldiers speculated that such a mass desertion could only be under the secret orders of Lord Cheng.
Indeed, Lord Cheng revealed that 30,000 of his men were headed to the capital, and another 20,000 had successfully intercepted Beiqi's provisions as planned, set to rendezvous that night. He intended to lead his forces to relieve Earl of Qinghe, despite knowing he would be accused of unauthorized mobilization, acknowledging that Earl of Qinghe had caused disaster with his poor deployment and that Lord Cheng's intervention was necessary to prevent a swift defeat.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zan, Lord Cheng's son, proposed a bold counter-strategy: since Beiqi had committed most of its forces southward, their internal defenses must be weak. He suggested infiltrating enemy territory to assassinate the Beiqi emperor, aiming to decisively shift the tides of the war. Madame Yu, Zhu Zan's mother, vehemently opposed the dangerous mission. However, Lord Cheng, trusting his son's judgment and experience, reluctantly agreed, making Zhu Zan promise to return unharmed, regardless of the mission's outcome.
As Zhu Zan departed, Lord Cheng reassured Madame Yu of their son's capabilities, adding that if the assassination succeeded, he would immediately head to the capital, while she would remain in the North, hoping for their family's eventual reunion. Madame Yu pleaded for both her husband and son to return alive, to which Lord Cheng vowed they would. Separately, Zhu Zan internally reflected on Jiuling, expressing his determination to survive the perilous journey and return to her.
Surrounded, Earl of Qinghe's subordinates urged him to break through the weaker western side of the encirclement, reasoning that "where there is life, there is hope." They offered to stay and fight to cover his escape. However, Earl of Qinghe staunchly refused, declaring he would never flee from the enemy. He asserted that breaking ranks would shatter their morale, leading to a complete collapse and a direct path for the Beiqi Army to the capital.
He insisted that holding their ground offered a better chance of survival than fleeing, hoping for reinforcements to arrive for a decisive pincer attack. Just then, a report confirmed the arrival of reinforcements. Lord Cheng, identified by Earl of Qinghe as Zhu Shan, appeared and apologized for his belated arrival. Earl of Qinghe immediately accused Lord Cheng of deliberately abandoning them to prove himself a hero.
Lord Cheng's soldiers quickly explained that their commander had anticipated Beiqi's true intentions and had moved his forces to seize enemy provisions at Mount Song, intercept Beiqi's reinforcements in the north wing, and even rescue them when they were ambushed. Earl of Qinghe realized that Lord Cheng had known about his imminent ambush all along. Lord Cheng confirmed this, but swiftly refocused the conversation, revealing that 60,000 Beiqi cavalrymen had already reached the eastern capital road, directly threatening the capital.
He urged Earl of Qinghe to immediately dispatch aid to the capital and coordinate with the forces from Suning Pass. Earl of Qinghe was stunned, comprehending that Beiqi's primary objective had always been the capital, not the North, and feared its impending fall. Lord Cheng, however, maintained that the capital would not fall, explaining that he had already dispatched troops from Suning Pass to the capital earlier, hoping they could hold out until further reinforcements arrived.
He then questioned how the government troops along the way allowed Beiqi to march so far south unhindered. In the capital, Prime Minister Huang, having received grim frontline reports, feigned a desire to negotiate with Beiqi on behalf of Chu Rang. He also requested permission to lead the army in the eastern capital road to defend the city, with another official suggesting reinforcement of the west road. Chu Rang approved these measures.
Meanwhile, Lord Ning, recalling Lord Cheng's long experience with Beiqi, believed he possessed the expertise to save the capital from its impending fall. He earnestly implored Chu Rang to revoke his decree and reinstate Lord Cheng to lead the defense. Infuriated, Chu Rang refused, threatening to punish Lord Ning for his audacity. Fortunately, Ning Yunzhao intervened just in time, deftly deflecting Chu Rang's anger and saving Lord Ning from severe repercussions.
Simultaneously, Jin Shiba, a subordinate from the Arm Moral Department, was brought back to the department critically wounded after being ambushed by Beiqi forces, his life hanging by a thread. Distraught by Jin Shiba's severe injuries, Lu Yunqi insisted on taking Chu Jiuling away from the perilous capital. He warned her that the Beiqi Army was attacking, possibly having infiltrated the city by bribing officials, and that Earl of Qinghe was attempting to frame Lord Cheng.
He explained that Beiqi's tactics had weakened all defenses, making the city's fall imminent. However, Chu Jiuling resolutely refused to leave, declaring her intent to protect her father's state and uphold his vow to prosper the nation and safeguard its people. Lu Yunqi, admitting he had suspected her true identity as Commandery Princess Jiuling since her time in prison, confessed he had missed his chance to help her then but would not now.
He revealed his past actions, including marrying Princess Jiuli and rising to power within the Arm Moral Department, were all to protect those he cared about, including Jiuli, Jiurong, and now, her. He dismissed public scorn, asserting that his only concern was Chu Jiuling's well-being. Yet, Chu Jiuling stood firm, emphasizing that life was about distinguishing right from wrong, not merely survival.
She chose to follow her father's ambition and defend the people, even unto death, refusing to abandon Tianyou in its turbulent state. She urged Lu Yunqi to support her by letting her stay and fulfill her duty. Understanding her conviction, Lu Yunqi conceded that he had been mistaken in thinking she was safest by his side. He promised to look after Jiuli and Jiurong for her, accepting his past errors and stating he now knew his true path.
He then handed her a token, signifying the Arm Moral Department's protection would still be hers. After leaving Lu Yunqi, Chu Jiuling observed the unsuspecting calm of the capital's populace, who remained oblivious to the imminent Beiqi invasion. This deception fueled her hatred for Chu Rang, whom she scorned as a "fatuous ruler" for his disregard for his people's lives and his selfish intent to flee.
Inside the palace, Chu Rang ordered Eunuch Yuan to pack valuables for an immediate escape. As Ning Yunzhao assisted Eunuch Yuan, he subtly stole the imperial jade seal, an act witnessed by Lu Yunqi, who, however, feigned ignorance and continued his duties. Chu Rang shamelessly declared his willingness to abandon the capital and its vast population. The next morning, when the imperial court awaited Chu Rang in vain, officials discovered he had indeed fled overnight.
Upon her return to the Jiuling Drugstore, Chu Jiuling found Fang Jinxiu, Shopkeeper Liu, and Chen Qi there. She urgently informed them that the Beiqi Army, having breached the eastern and western roads, would reach the capital by tomorrow at the latest. She revealed Chu Rang's cowardly flight, leaving the city and its people abandoned. Recognizing the dire need for leadership, she decided to seek out Prince Xian.
She immediately assigned tasks: Fang Jinxiu and Shopkeeper Liu were to use all available funds from Deshengchang to purchase every weapon in the capital; Chen Qi was tasked with distributing these weapons and acquiring materials for further weapon production; and Liu'er was to secure grain reserves from major firms under the Jiuling Drugstore's name before nightfall to prevent price gouging and starvation during the impending siege.
Chu Jiuling rallied everyone, urging them to stand together, fearless and resolute, in the face of shared peril. Prince Xian was understandably shocked by the news of Chu Rang's desertion and the capital's vulnerability, noting the stark imbalance between the city's few thousand defenders and the tens of thousands of attacking forces. Chu Jiuling, however, countered that the hundreds of thousands of citizens could join the resistance, and that hope remained with the Northern reinforcements.
When Prince Xian expressed concern about his lack of imperial authority to mobilize the city's public security, Chu Jiuling firmly insisted he must adopt a decisive stance, reminding him that he was the only one capable of leading and that the lives of millions rested in his hands. She evoked his past words about defending the people and driving away the Beiqi forces.
When he questioned how she knew such personal details, Chu Jiuling revealed her true identity: "Because I am Jiuling, Chu Jiuling. I didn't die in that fire." Overwhelmed with emotion, Prince Xian recalled intimate memories of their shared past, like making osmanthus cakes for her birthdays. Chu Jiuling assured him that the procurement of weapons and provisions was already underway through the Jiuling Drugstore and Deshengchang.
Prince Xian, deeply moved, praised her courage, stating she would have been a top-tier talent in national defense had she been a man. He then pledged to mobilize the city public security and, if they resisted, would use his own mansion guards to barricade the city gates at dawn. They agreed to meet at the East Gate the following morning.
Before leaving, Chu Jiuling inquired about the whereabouts of Lord Cheng and Zhu Zan, but Prince Xian had no news since their escape from the capital. At the border, Zhu Zan and his companions finalized their plan to assassinate the Beiqi emperor, who was scheduled to reward his army the following day. Despite the high risks posed by heavy security and the daytime operation, they deemed it their only chance and opted for a small, covert team to avoid detection.
They received news that the Beiqi Army, having breached the eastern and western capital roads, was now closing in on the capital, intensifying the urgency of their mission. Zhu Zan affirmed their absolute need for success the next day, dispatching someone to scout the route, and privately thinking of Jiuling, asking her to wait for him. Following the assassination attempt, Zhu Zan was severely wounded.
Li Sanbing and Zhang Baotang, his companions, managed to bring him out of Beiqi territory and located Fang Chengyu, who had been hiding in the suburbs. Zhang Baotang explained that Zhu Zan had been critically injured while attempting to assassinate the Beiqi emperor to relieve their army's plight. Due to the active arrest warrant, they couldn't risk a public clinic and implored Fang Chengyu to find a reliable doctor.
Fang Chengyu agreed, arranging for them to be taken back and vowing to secure a trustworthy physician for Zhu Zan's treatment. Back at Lord Ning's mansion, his wife was distraught, but he calmly reassured her, praising Prince Xian for stepping up to lead and defending Ning Yunzhao's actions.
Lord Ning declared his unwavering commitment to national duty, asserting that despite the emperor's abandonment, he must go out to defend the city for the "principles of saints, the mission of the heaven and earth, and the people." He instructed his wife and children to seek refuge at home, while his household members pledged to follow him to defend the capital. Later, a crucial defense meeting convened, led by Prince Xian and Lord Ning.
Lord Ning emphasized the importance of proper defense and avoiding panic, outlining a plan to assign duties and fully mobilize all available resources. He took charge of arranging the defense deployment. He also proposed selecting able-bodied men from the populace to reinforce all four city gates and walls, particularly the North Gate due to its lower height and likelihood of being a primary attack point.
He decreed that drumbeats would signal concentrated defense, and the fight would continue as long as the drums sounded. Chen Qi was assigned to lead these civilian volunteers to Deshengchang for weapons, while Fang Jinxiu and Liu'er were tasked with organizing the willing citizens and ensuring a steady supply of provisions. Lord Ning expressed his gratitude to Prince Xian for his timely commitment, stating that "it'll never be late as long as you come."
