Legend of the Female General Episode 18 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
He Yan woke up on the sampan, realizing she had slept on Xiao Jue's arm all night, making it numb. Though Xiao Jue dismissed it as "nothing," He Yan playfully suggested that if word got out about the "Qiao couple" spending the night on a sampan, it would become a romantic tale. As dawn broke, they decided to leave conspicuously amidst the growing crowds. On the street, He Yan eagerly ordered two flatbreads and a pot of hot tea.
Xiao Jue, however, declined, stating he wasn't hungry. He Yan noted his lack of interest, finding it "unlike a Wei man." While drinking tea, Xiao Jue observed another man adding salt, ginger, and pepper to his tea, a unique custom of the Wutuo people, used to combat the cold climate. Recognizing this, Xiao Jue and He Yan discreetly followed the man, discovering he had several accomplices attempting to leave the city.
He Yan noticed one of the accomplices, an old woman, gripping a coughing little girl's hand tightly, showing no concern for the child's discomfort, which raised her suspicions. As Xiao Jue decided they needed to intercept the old woman, a Wutuo spy disguised as the old woman threatened to kill the girl if she couldn't take her. Just then, He Yan's master, Liu Buwang, intervened, swiftly eliminating the Wutuo spy and rescuing the little girl.
Liu Buwang explained to He Yan that the old woman was a Wutuo spy who had infiltrated Jiyang, and the child was King Mengji's daughter, whom the spies had nearly abducted. Upon hearing this, Xiao Jue connected the events to Cui Yuezhi's sudden distress the previous night, realizing why Cui Yuezhi had been so frantic.
Xiao Jue decided to return immediately to report the discovery of the princess and the Wutuo spies to Cui Yuezhi, instructing He Yan to accompany Liu Buwang and escort the little princess to safety. Meanwhile, Chu Zhao and Yingxiang were diligently searching various apothecaries in Jiyang to find the injured Wutuo man who had attempted to assassinate Chu Zhao earlier. After much searching, they finally spotted him.
Chu Zhao, recalling that the assassin had ceased his attack upon seeing his Xu family token, deduced that the Wutuo people were likely connected to Chancellor Xu, possibly even acting under his orders. He suspected they were in Jiyang to find Chai Anxi, fearing that their presence would bring turmoil to the city. Liu Buwang brought the little princess, who had been drugged, to Cloudbird Manor to prepare an antidote.
While waiting for the antidote, He Yan asked Liu Buwang about Xiao Jue and why she had to switch back to women's clothes. She explained that Xiao Jue was General Fengyun, the Right Army Commander, and she was merely his soldier, there for official business, and her female disguise was for secrecy. Liu Buwang, observing He Yan's protective demeanor towards Xiao Jue, asked if she harbored feelings for him.
He Yan admitted to a shared past but felt their paths were too different for a future together. Liu Buwang then offered to divine their fate, casting the Kan hexagram, which signifies peril. He Yan worried this meant disaster, but Liu Buwang reassured her that while it represented danger, water was adaptable, implying they could navigate through the perils and overcome their fate, as "human conquers fate."
As Liu Buwang played his qin, the little princess recognized the melody as "Slow Passing Years," a song her mother often played. This revelation made He Yan realize the deep connection between her master and Princess Mengji. Xiao Jue brought Cui Yuezhi to Cloudbird Manor, where Cui Yuezhi expressed his immense gratitude to Liu Buwang for saving the little princess. Liu Buwang, humble, suggested they return the princess to her elders quickly.
Cui Yuezhi extended an invitation for Liu Buwang to accompany them to Mengji Mansion, promising a generous reward from Princess Mengji, but Liu Buwang, being a recluse, politely declined. As Cui Yuezhi escorted the little princess, Xiao Jue asked He Yan to join them and be cautious. On the way, He Yan, curious about her master's connection to the princess, confided in Xiao Jue that Liu Buwang rarely spoke of his past but harbored deep regrets and sorrow.
She avoided pressing him, not wanting to see him sad. Upon arriving at Mengji Mansion, while waiting for Princess Mengji's summons, He Yan (still disguised as Yuyan) asked Cui Yuezhi to tell them about the Princess, hoping to avoid any social gaffes. Cui Yuezhi recounted how Princess Mengji, after her elder brother's untimely death, had married a high-ranking official's son to stabilize the volatile Mengji Mansion.
After her husband's passing, she took charge, quelled internal strife, and restored stability to Jiyang. When Princess Mengji, Mu Hongjin, finally appeared, she immediately saw through Xiao Jue's disguise, revealing his true identity as the Right Army Commander and scolding Cui Yuezhi for being so easily deceived. Xiao Jue apologized for his deception, explaining he was in Jiyang to find Chai Anxi, his father's former subordinate who went missing during the Mingshui Battle.
He then warned Princess Mengji that Jiyang had been infiltrated by a significant number of Wutuo spies. Princess Mengji initially expressed skepticism about her "impenetrable" city. Xiao Jue then explained that the Wutuo agents had already ambushed the little princess, likely to blackmail her, emphasizing the severity of the infiltration. Soon after, Chu Zhao, the Military Inspector, requested an audience.
Though Princess Mengji initially questioned his presence, Chu Zhao confirmed Xiao Jue's warning, stating he had tracked an injured Wutuo spy with a wolf-head tattoo to a group of over a dozen other Wutuo agents. Despite this corroboration, Princess Mengji remained firm, insisting that Jiyang's affairs would be handled by Jiyang itself. She then instructed them to be accommodated in the mansion for the night. Privately, however, Princess Mengji acknowledged Xiao Jue's military acumen.
She ordered Cui Yuezhi to strengthen city patrols and drills, stockpile medicine, keep Xiao Jue's presence confidential, and help him search for Chai Anxi. Later, He Yan heard the familiar melody of "Slow Passing Years" within the mansion and followed the sound to find Mu Hongjin playing the qin. Recognizing He Yan as Liu Buwang's disciple, Mu Hongjin asked if her master was well, then quickly retracted, claiming not to care.
Sensing a deeper history, He Yan bravely asked if Mu Hongjin and her master were old acquaintances. Mu Hongjin then recounted her past: years ago, to escape an arranged marriage, she fled the mansion. She was chased by ruffians and fell into a trap, hanging suspended in a net. A white-clad swordsman carrying a zither, Liu Buwang, rescued her. Mu Hongjin, instantly smitten, followed him relentlessly, feigning a sprained ankle to stay by his side.
She recounted their month-long journey, where she playfully teased him, demanding treats and even trying to get him to buy her a pair of "Joyful Hearts" bracelets, said to bind lovers for a lifetime. Though Liu Buwang initially maintained his distance, he eventually started to care for her. However, as soldiers began searching for her, Mu Hongjin confessed her true identity as King Mengji's daughter.
Liu Buwang promised to return to Qiyun Mountain to inform his master and find a solution, asking her to wait for him at an inn for two days. But Mu Hongjin recounted how she waited endlessly, until the last peach blossom withered, but Liu Buwang never returned.
She expressed her longing for closure, wishing to know if she ever held a place in his heart, lamenting that fate had been cruel and describing him as cowardly for not having the courage to end things properly. He Yan, however, defended her master, insisting he was not like that and must have had his reasons.
