Legend of Fu Yao Episode 26 Recap, Plot

> Legend of Fu Yao
> Legend of Fu Yao Recap

Fu Yao returned to Cuiliang Hall and was surprised to find the real Changsun Wuji waiting for her. Changsun Wuji explained that upon learning Qi Zhen had taken her, he immediately rushed back from Changyuan and had been discreetly following them from Duke's Mansion. He assured her that if Qi Zhen had intended to harm her, that day would have been his last. Fu Yao was deeply touched by his dedication.

Changsun Wuji, curious, asked how she distinguished him from the impostor, as the fake one looked exactly like him and even had a better voice. Fu Yao playfully asserted that she recognized him by an intuitive feeling, adding that even the most skilled impersonator could never truly replicate his "style." Changsun Wuji then pressed her, asking why she had returned to the palace.

Before she could answer, Xuanyuan Xiao's voice echoed from outside, calling for "Lian'er," a name Fu Yao had now taken on, even referring to Xuanyuan Xiao as "Mother." Startled, Fu Yao quickly pushed Changsun Wuji away, urging him to leave before Xuanyuan Xiao saw him, and went to meet her. Changsun Wuji, however, warned Fu Yao to be cautious of Xuanyuan Xiao, reminding her that Xuanyuan Xiao had once nearly taken Fu Yao's life.

Fu Yao defended Xuanyuan Xiao, calling her a pitiful person and asking Changsun Wuji not to make things difficult for her. Meanwhile, Changsun Wuji bestowed immense favor upon Lady Gui Tang Zhirong. A royal decree was issued, praising Tang Zhirong's kind and diligent nature, declaring her a model for the entire Imperial Harem of Taiyuan. Other concubines flocked to flatter Tang Zhirong, openly envying her unparalleled favor and proclaiming her the destined Queen.

Tang Zhirong accepted their praises and gifts with humble grace, but privately, she was filled with trepidation. She understood the true reason behind Changsun Wuji’s attention: he knew she had been stealing memorials for Qi Zhen and was aware that the Tang family was coerced into serving Qi Zhen. Changsun Wuji confronted her, questioning what Qi Zhen had promised that was worth her jeopardizing her own future.

Tang Zhirong admitted her family was forced to obey Qi Zhen and her father. Changsun Wuji, however, urged her to consider her own future. He revealed a letter written by her father, Tang Bonian, which indicated his intention to send her younger sister, Tang Yiguang, into the palace as well, completely disregarding Tang Zhirong's difficult position as an illegitimate daughter.

Changsun Wuji laid out the grim truth: helping Qi Zhen would lead to either her death if exposed, or a lifetime in the Cold Palace if Qi Zhen succeeded and Changsun Wuji died. Convinced that she was merely a pawn, Tang Zhirong resolved to finally live for herself. She vowed to follow Changsun Wuji's every command in exchange for his promised favor and wealth. Changsun Wuji, confident in her newfound loyalty, accepted her pledge.

News of Tang Zhirong's supreme favor reached Gao Puruo, who descended into despair and even threatened to end her life, declaring she couldn't live if she lost to a "vixen from the countryside." Her father, Gao Song, the Prince of Xiping, stormed to Duke Qi Zhen’s mansion, accusing him of deliberately promoting Tang Zhirong to be Queen. Qi Zhen vehemently denied this, explaining that the choice of Queen rested solely with Changsun Wuji.

Gao Song, unconvinced, reminded Qi Zhen of Tang Bonian's 150,000 troops, subtly questioning Tang Bonian's allegiance. He recalled how Tang Bonian, a mere "gangster" twenty years ago, had risen to power by aiding Qi Zhen in raiding Prince Wenyi's mansion, under King Shenzong's orders. Gao Song then issued a stern warning: his daughter, Gao Puruo, was destined to be Queen, and if this was jeopardized by Qi Zhen, the bond between Xiping County and Duke's Mansion would be severed.

As he departed, Gao Song sharply admonished Qi Zhen for being naive, stating that Tang Bonian was no longer the dependent figure he once was, and his military forces were not exclusively at Qi Zhen's disposal. Gao Song’s words instilled deep suspicion in Qi Zhen regarding Tang Bonian.

Coupled with Tang Zhirong's continued efforts to sow discord between him and Fu Yao, Qi Zhen began to suspect that Tang Bonian intended for Tang Zhirong to eliminate his people and usurp his position. He promptly penned a letter, instructing a messenger to deliver it personally to Tang Bonian. Qi Zhen’s every move was under Changsun Wuji's watchful eye.

He knew Qi Zhen intended for Tang Bonian to enter Kunjing alone via a hidden waterway, a cunning test of loyalty designed to expose any disloyalty. Recognizing Qi Zhen's growing suspicion, Changsun Wuji instructed Jiang Feng to find Zong Yue, confident that Zong Yue would know how to escalate this doubt. At Duke's Mansion, Qi Yun invited Zong Yue to dinner, insisting on expressing her gratitude for curing her.

Zong Yue initially tried to decline, but Yun Hen, who had just arrived, persuaded him to stay. The three sat down, and Qi Yun commented on how much Zong Yue resembled an old neighbor brother from her childhood. She recounted a tale of the mischievous brother, who used to trick her, and revealed his peculiar allergy to Qi Jin leaves, which would cause painful rashes and facial swelling.

To test Zong Yue, she served him a chicken soup she had meticulously prepared, secretly infused with Qi Jin leaves. Zong Yue drank the soup in front of her. As he attempted to leave, Qi Yun, convinced he was her long-lost brother, tried to inspect his arm. Yun Hen intervened, stopping her. To quell her insistent suspicion, Zong Yue rolled up his sleeve, revealing a perfectly unblemished arm.

Later, in the privacy of his room, Zong Yue's true condition was revealed as angry rashes erupted all over his arm. He used his inner energy to heal himself, his mind replaying vivid memories of his past with Qi Yun.

He recalled her playful childhood taunts, calling him "Yue," and how she innocently shared the story of her childhood neighbor, unaware that the entire family, including her "brother," had tragically died overnight, a past he knew they could never return to. After comforting Qi Yun, Yun Hen sought out Zong Yue, kneeling before him and addressing him as "brother" for the first time.

Yun Hen implored Zong Yue not to harm Qi Yun, emphasizing her kindness and innocence in the long-standing feud between their families. Zong Yue’s heart was heavy, shattered that Yun Hen’s first acknowledgment of him as a brother was to plead for the daughter of their enemy. He recounted the horrific night fifteen years ago when the Prince's Mansion was executed. Thanks to Mr. Qiu, who bribed the executioner, Zong Yue and Yun Hen survived.

Yun Hen, a small child, was smuggled out in a winter robe. But Zong Yue had to lie among the massacred bodies, buried alive in a mass grave, listening to his parents and relatives cry for justice. He vividly described the unbearable pain of watching his loved ones die and the unspeakable act of having to consume their flesh to survive.

For the 78 innocent lives lost, Zong Yue declared he would stop at nothing for revenge, even if it meant sacrificing himself. He warned Yun Hen that if he dared to obstruct his path of vengeance, Zong Yue would eliminate him as well. Shocked and overwhelmed, Yun Hen retreated, asserting he knew nothing of such horrors.

Zong Yue then advised Yun Hen to abandon his feelings for Qi Yun, highlighting the impossibility of their relationship due to Yun Hen’s status as a mere guard and adopted son in the Duke’s Mansion, a position Qi Zhen used to exploit him. Zong Yue then tasked Yun Hen with a mission, ordering him to leave for a few days to handle it.

The next day, Zong Yue informed Qi Zhen that Qi Yun's condition, though stable, required specific mountain herbs that were difficult to procure. He requested a skilled and trustworthy escort, as the mountains were infested with bandits, implying his own need to personally gather the herbs. Qi Zhen, believing Zong Yue’s pretense, assigned Yun Hen to accompany and protect him. Once out in the wilderness, Zong Yue revealed the true mission to Yun Hen.

He explained that Qi Zhen had secretly sent a letter to Tang Bonian in Nan Ci, ordering him to enter Kunjing alone by water as a test of loyalty and an opportunity for Qi Zhen to seize his 150,000 troops. Zong Yue instructed Yun Hen to intercept Qi Zhen’s original letter and replace it with a falsified one. The new letter would instruct Tang Bonian to bring only 50,000 troops.

Knowing Tang Bonian’s cautious nature, Zong Yue predicted he would be suspicious. Therefore, Yun Hen’s crucial role was to deliver this swapped letter as Qi Zhen’s trusted confidant, personally assuring Tang Bonian that the contents of the altered letter were indeed genuine. In the palace, Fu Yao, guided by Yuan Bao through a hidden passageway, found Changsun Wuji. She immediately confronted him, expressing her intense jealousy over his lavish favor towards Tang Zhirong, even threatening to leave the palace.

Changsun Wuji, however, confidently dismissed her threats, knowing she would not depart. He then presented her with the Xuanling True Leaf, explaining its power to draw forth and display memories. He requested her to use it on Xuanyuan Xiao to uncover the truth behind the loss of her Consort De title and the sudden, mysterious rupture of her relationship with Prince De in Tianquan Kingdom. Fu Yao, however, firmly refused.

She tossed the Xuanling True Leaf back to Changsun Wuji, stating that while Xuanyuan Xiao might appear deranged, she had treated Fu Yao with genuine kindness, making her feel loved like a mother, a feeling she had lacked since childhood. Fu Yao adamantly refused to exploit Xuanyuan Xiao's trust for information, even when Changsun Wuji reminded her that her own seal might remain unbroken if she did not cooperate.

Fu Yao remained resolute, declaring that if trust was the price for anything, she would rather forgo it. Observing her unwavering integrity, Changsun Wuji's lips subtly curved into a smile, reflecting not anger, but a quiet satisfaction.

Episode 25 Recap

Episode 27 Recap