Legend of the Female General Episode 17 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
After successfully tracing Chai Anxi, Feinu was still a step too late, allowing the fugitive to escape once more from his hideout. Meanwhile, at the Water God Festival, Xiao Jue and He Yan continued their pretense as the newlywed Qiao Huanqing and Wen Yuyan. During the "Plucking Spring" event, where participants vied to retrieve a winter jasmine from a high bridge, He Yan expressed interest in the grand prize: a unique Ziyu Whip.
She playfully urged Xiao Jue, as her "husband," to win it for her, and he readily complied, retrieving the whip and making her genuinely happy. Cui Yuezhi and his companions then subtly disappeared, intentionally leaving the "newlyweds" to enjoy some privacy. As they strolled through the festival, He Yan admired a dough figurine. Despite her protests about wasting money on something they couldn't take with them, Xiao Jue insisted on having one made for her.
He declared that for today, she could do anything she wished without worries, urging her to be her true self and express her likes and dislikes freely. He Yan, delighted, asked if she could truly "do as she pleased," to which he confirmed, "do as you please." While she marveled at the figurine's resemblance to her, Xiao Jue affirmed that she was, indeed, a woman.
Shortly after, Feinu reported to Xiao Jue that despite tracking Chai Anxi, he had again eluded capture. Xiao Jue ordered him to continue the search, confident that Chai Anxi could not escape Jiyang. He Yan then reminded Xiao Jue that they still needed to maintain their disguise as Qiao Huanqing and Wen Yuyan for their mission.
They soon stumbled upon the Lovers' Bridge, a series of unstable boats that, according to local legend, would ensure eternal togetherness for any couple who successfully crossed it. Cui Yuezhi enthusiastically encouraged Xiao Jue and He Yan to attempt it, noting that crossing it would also make it easier for them to visit Princess Mengji.
He Yan expressed concern about the bridge's instability and the potential damage to Xiao Jue's reputation, but he declared they should get it over with quickly to meet the princess. As the bridge swayed violently, He Yan struggled to maintain her balance and clutched Xiao Jue's collar for support. They managed to cross successfully, much to Cui Yuezhi's delight.
Following their lead, Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu also attempted the bridge, playfully bickering all the way, yet surprisingly managing to cross it together. Later, He Yan and Xiao Jue joined a masked dance event. Yan Min'er and Ling Xiu, with ill intent, suggested a lottery for the roles, hoping to embarrass He Yan.
He Yan drew the role of "Liar Fox," a notorious trickster from local legend who was forced to confess ten true secrets to an "immortal" before being imprisoned. Despite the unseemly role, He Yan accepted it gracefully. Sensing their malicious intent, Xiao Jue quickly stepped in, announcing he would play the "Immortal" instead of the person already assigned, stating, "My wife's secrets shouldn't be heard by others."
He took the immortal mask, putting it on with uncharacteristic fumbling, which He Yan teased him about, asking if he'd never worn a mask before. During this, Cui Yuezhi received a hushed report from an attendant, and his expression darkened, though he dismissed it as a "minor issue" to Xiao Jue, not wanting to spoil the festivities. On stage, He Yan, as the Liar Fox, began to reveal her ten "secrets" to Xiao Jue, the Immortal.
Her confessions ranged from the trivial, like her diminished alcohol tolerance or her favorite dish, to more revealing truths: she had memorized Wuzi's Art of War, was the top performer in the Yezhou Garrison, and had even given Cheng Lisu's jade pendant to courtesans. She openly expressed her gratitude to Xiao Jue, calling him a "good man," and admitted feeling heartbroken whenever he misunderstood her.
She then said they had met in a "former life" and, more profoundly, that she "was once a general." Xiao Jue subtly responded to each secret, showing he was listening closely. For her final secret, He Yan confessed, "I love the moon. Yet the moon doesn't know," gazing at Xiao Jue with sincerity. After the performance, they visited the beautiful Firefly Spring.
He Yan, curious about Xiao Jue's unusual kindness, asked him why he was being so good to her today. He revealed it was her birthday, surprising her. Xiao Jue remarked on her tendency to mix truths with lies, to which He Yan retorted that he was equally prone to speaking ambiguously. She then shared her philosophy on wishes, stating she had none because she believed relying on divine blessings was self-deception; she preferred to fight for whatever she desired herself.
She then confessed her discomfort at constantly playing someone else's role since coming to Yezhou Garrison, citing her impersonations of Cheng Lisu and Wen Yuyan. She admitted that after pretending to be others for so long, she feared forgetting who she truly was. He Yan then looked at Xiao Jue and earnestly expressed her hope that one day, someone would come for her, just for her—not for He Rufei, or General Feihong, but simply for He Yan. She pleaded with him to remember her name. Xiao Jue, with a calm gaze, promised, "I'll remember."
