Legend of the Female General Episode 1 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
For years, a young woman known as He Yan lived disguised as a boy, forced to wear a mask and assume the identity of He Rufei, the He family's eldest son. She yearned to know who she truly was, shaped by the cold mask that both stifled her identity and forged her purpose. Fighting through the smoke of war and seas of blood, she rose from a nameless foot soldier to the invincible General Feihong.
Despite her triumphs, she was haunted by the question, "Who is General Feihong? And who am I?" In the 20th year of Wei's Qingyuan era, the Wutuo people invaded once more. Emperor Chengping commanded the renowned General Xiao Zhongwu, who had defeated the Wutuo five years prior, to lead the Xiao Army against the enemy. However, during the decisive battle at Mingshui, 30,000 of his troops fell into a devastating ambush.
Despite Xiao Zhongwu's fervent belief that He Rufei's Fuyue Army would arrive, the reinforcements came too late, and he was tragically killed in battle. His son, Xiao Jue, consumed by grief and resentment, confronted the newly arrived He Yan, still disguised as He Rufei. He seized the Qinglang Sword from her, declaring her unworthy of the blade his father had gifted her years ago as a symbol of his hope for Wei's future military leaders.
Upon her triumphant return to the capital, He Yan was summoned to her father's study. There, he informed her it was time to shed her male disguise and live as a woman, as her family's honor would now be upheld by a man. He then introduced her to the real He Rufei, her elder brother, whom she had never met.
Her father explained that due to congenital frailty, He Rufei had been secretly recuperating at Yuhua Temple since childhood, forcing He Yan to take his place. Now that her brother was well, he would assume his rightful identity as He Rufei, along with the title of General Feihong. He Yan was distraught, protesting that she had sought military glory to honor her family and emulate heroes like General Xiao Zhongwu.
Refusing to believe Xiao Zhongwu was a traitor, she vowed to appeal to the Emperor for justice, even if it meant sacrificing her military honors. However, before she could act, her father and brother conspired to drug her, rendering her unconscious. At the Imperial Palace, Emperor Chengping held Xiao Zhongwu responsible for the loss of 30,000 soldiers, ordering him to be buried as a commoner and stripping the Xiao family of their military command.
Xiao Jue, also known as General Fengyun, knelt before the throne, pleading his father's innocence. He argued that their ambushes had been systematically discovered and destroyed, suggesting an intelligence leak, and begged the Emperor to reopen the case. When General Feihong was summoned, the real He Rufei entered. He falsely testified that the defeat was solely due to Xiao Zhongwu's reckless pursuit of glory and his failure to request timely aid.
Enraged by the lies that sealed his father's fate, Xiao Jue accused the imposter of twisting the truth. When He Rufei mockingly questioned his loyalty to a "sinner," Xiao Jue, overcome with fury, drew his sword and shattered the mask, revealing the imposter's true face to the court. For his breach of court etiquette, Xiao Jue was sentenced to twenty strokes and forced to kneel outside until dawn.
After enduring the punishment, he admitted his fault for the outburst and volunteered to lead troops to Que City to reclaim lost territory. Emperor Chengping granted his request but stipulated that the court would provide no soldiers. Xiao Jue accepted, determined to clear his father's name, even if it meant facing ruin. Meanwhile, a now-blinded He Yan was sent to Yuhua Temple. Her brother, fearing she remained a threat, dispatched his guard, Ding Yi, to kill her.
Ding Yi tried to stage an accidental drowning by moving the rose bushes to misdirect her path to the pond, but Xiao Jue, visiting the temple, unexpectedly intervened and saved her. Undeterred, He Rufei allowed He Yan to "escape" the temple, only for Ding Yi to ambush her on a hidden mountain path. Despite her superior martial arts, He Yan's blindness left her vulnerable. Ding Yi's sword pierced her chest, sending her tumbling off a cliff into the water below.
Against all odds, He Yan survived. She was rescued by her master, Liu Buwang, who not only saved her life but also healed her poisoned eyes. With her sight restored, He Yan removed the mask for good, severing all ties with the He family. She was no longer anyone's substitute, but simply He Yan, free to forge her own destiny.
Vowing to never forget her brother's treachery—stealing her identity, attempting to murder her, and destroying her reputation—she resolved to re-enter the military and honorably reclaim everything that was rightfully hers. As Xiao Jue began recruiting soldiers, He Yan, once again donning male attire, rode towards the recruitment site, ready to begin her journey anew.
