Legend of the Female General Episode 10 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
Chu Zhao, a man who stops at nothing to achieve his goals, considers compassion irrelevant. He discusses the demise of Ding Yi, a right-hand man of He Rufei, clarifying that his objective is to obtain ledgers for the Chancellor. He acknowledges the brutality of Sun Xiangfu and his son, Sun Ling, who abducted, assaulted, and murdered women.
However, Chu Zhao states that bringing justice to these victims is Xiao Jue's responsibility, while he prefers to exploit the chaos for his own gain. He Yan, however, passionately demands justice for the wronged women. She highlights numerous missing person posters and connects them to the bodies found buried in a forbidden shrine, which, according to the deceased Ding Yi, was meant to suppress the vengeful spirits of the victims.
He Yan argues that these women, often disregarded by society, deserve attention. Xiao Jue dismisses her concerns, prioritizing military provisions and funds, and coldly tells her not to question his methods. The next morning, He Yan discovers medicine left by Xiao Jue and resolves to seek justice on her own. Meanwhile, Feinu informs Xiao Jue that he encountered He Yan while gathering information on the missing women.
They also discuss He Rufei's persistent attempts to curry favor with Xu Jingfu in the capital. Xiao Jue suspects that He Rufei's delayed arrival during the Mingshui Battle indicates an earlier collusion with Xu Jingfu, and that the recent assassination attempt on him was He Rufei's way of pledging allegiance. Chu Zhao instructs Yingxiang to closely monitor Sun Xiangfu, predicting that Ding Yi's disappearance has made him anxious about the ledgers.
At a lavish banquet hosted by Sun Xiangfu, He Yan, still disguised as Cheng Lisu, reveals she had recovered from her eye injury the night it occurred, admitting she only feigned blindness. Xiao Jue plays along, apologizing for his "wayward" nephew's antics. He then questions the extravagance of Sun Xiangfu's feasts, given Yezhou's poor harvest, and demands Sun Xiangfu produce the tax ledger to identify delinquent merchants, citing the garrison's urgent need for funds.
Chu Zhao subtly supports Xiao Jue's demand, compelling Sun Xiangfu to agree. Afterward, Xiao Jue asks He Yan why she revealed her deception. She explains it was a calculated move to intimidate Sun Xiangfu and his son, preparing the ground for Xiao Jue's plan. Trusting him, she reveals her true identity as He Yan and thanks him for seeking justice for the victims.
Yingxiang confirms to Chu Zhao that she has observed how Sun Xiangfu opens the hidden cabinet where the ledgers are kept. Chu Zhao, aware of guards near Sun Ling's room, assures Yingxiang that Xiao Jue's imminent "show" will create the perfect distraction for her to retrieve the ledgers. Xiao Jue then invites the assembled merchants to a "unique scenic spot" within the Sun Mansion, which turns out to be the forbidden shrine where the victims were buried.
Some of the merchants, recognizing their daughters, break down in grief. Sun Xiangfu and Sun Ling vehemently deny responsibility, accusing Xiao Jue and Cheng Lisu of fabricating evidence. Chu Zhao, maintaining a neutral stance, insists on solid evidence for a conviction. At that moment, Feinu introduces Song Taotao, daughter of the Chief Imperial Physician, who testifies that Sun Ling abducted her upon her arrival in Yezhou, a claim corroborated by the inn staff.
Sun Xiangfu and Sun Ling continue to deny any involvement, dismissing the twelve deity statues found near the bodies as mere coincidence. He Yan then suggests summoning the craftsmen who made the statues to verify their creation dates against the times the women went missing. Cornered, Sun Xiangfu blows a whistle, signaling for his guards. Simultaneously, Yingxiang enters the secret room and retrieves the ledger. However, a masked Feinu appears and confronts her.
Realizing she is outmatched, Yingxiang cunningly creates a distraction, swaps the genuine ledger with a fake one, and escapes with the real one. Instead of Sun Xiangfu's expected guards, Xiao Jue's own men arrive and subdue the incoming forces. Xiao Jue interrogates Sun Xiangfu about the missing military funds. As Sun Xiangfu begins to confess in exchange for his life, he is assassinated by an arrow from an unseen attacker.
Xiao Jue deduces that the assassin is connected to Chu Zhao, as he is the only other person highly interested in Xu Jingfu and the item Sun Xiangfu guarded. His suspicion is bolstered when Feinu reports that a highly skilled operative stole the ledger from the secret room during the chaos.
Later, inspired by He Yan's words, Xiao Jue orders the three unidentified victims to be buried at Chengfeng, a high platform, so they can "roam freely with the wind, at peace with the mountains and rivers." He Yan reflects on societal expectations, emphasizing that women should cultivate their own strength rather than relying on men. Moved by Xiao Jue's actions, the people of Yezhou collectively gather provisions and money for the Yezhou Garrison.
Before departing for the capital, Chu Zhao praises He Yan's exceptional sword dance, comparing her to a celestial. He subtly reveals his knowledge of her true identity as a woman and promises to keep her secret, which He Yan confirms. Xiao Jue and He Yan return to the Yezhou Garrison with Song Taotao. The real Cheng Lisu greets them, stating that with the Suns exposed, his parents can no longer force him to marry the "venomous woman."
Enraged by the epithet, Song Taotao chases him. As Xiao Jue observes the scene, Chu Zhao separately ponders why He Rufei would try to assassinate Xiao Jue, suspecting a deeper, unknown conflict between them.
