Legend of the Female General Episode 22 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
On a boat, Yang Mingzhi lamented that he was seen as an oath-breaker. He recounted how he had promised Xiao Jue that he would persuade his father to advocate for Xiao Zhongwu in court, but his father not only failed to help but actively harmed Xiao Zhongwu, creating a deep rift between him and Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue and the others remained silent. Suddenly, the sounds of silk and bamboo music drifted towards them.
They looked outside to see a boat approaching, with Hua Youxian elegantly playing the zither at its bow. Recognizing her as the former star of Ruyun House, renowned throughout Yaojing, the onlookers marveled at her presence in Chonghuai and praised her graceful charm and heavenly voice. Hua Youxian greeted the gentlemen, noting that she had once received a love letter from one of them from Xianchang Academy. Cheng Lisu immediately denied it, admitting his poor writing skills.
Others then pointed to Xiao Jue, given his academic prowess, and interpreted his silence as an admission. Xiao Jue calmly accepted a penalty drink, much to everyone's surprise at his romantic side. The local magistrate, Yang Mingzhi, announced his intention to host a banquet for General Fengyun. Xiao Jue then playfully asked Hua Youxian if she would like to drink with him, which she agreed to. Yang Mingzhi's expression immediately turned grim, and he rose to leave.
Seeing his reaction, Hua Youxian slowly revealed her story. She recounted how she had met a gentleman, believing him to be her lifelong partner, and had bought her freedom to marry him. However, her judgment had failed, and they had eventually divorced. She reflected on her decision to marry at the peak of her fame, driven by deep affection, believing even a fleeting moment of warmth was worth chasing, only for the affection to dissipate.
She expressed no regrets for her past or present choices, living freely and joyfully. Xiao Jue, feigning ignorance, offered to introduce her to suitable young men from the Yezhou Garrison. Yang Mingzhi immediately panicked and questioned Xiao Jue's intentions. Seeing his reaction, Xiao Jue stated he was merely trying to play matchmaker for two unmarried individuals. Yang Mingzhi erupted, asserting that her marriage was none of Xiao Jue’s concern, and vehemently opposed the idea.
At this, someone pointed out that Hua Youxian's former husband and the sender of the love letter were both Yang Mingzhi himself. Yang Mingzhi, overcome with regret, began to apologize to Hua Youxian, recalling his past proposal to buy her freedom and marry her despite his father’s vehement opposition to him marrying a courtesan. He had chosen to follow her, but their affection had dissipated, leading Hua Youxian to declare their divorce, stating she wished never to see him again.
Song Taotao then sharply criticized Yang Mingzhi for his failures towards both Xiao Jue’s family and Hua Youxian, emphasizing that complete indifference was more damaging than any physical harm. Xiao Jue, while acknowledging his past resentment towards Yang Mingzhi for his words regarding his father’s wrongful conviction, urged him to take action rather than wallow in self-pity, as escapism and despair were useless. He affirmed his determination to uncover the truth and clear his father's name and the Xiao Army.
Meanwhile, He Yan, who had been drinking heavily, confessed to being a deserter and questioned her right to criticize Yang Mingzhi, feeling ridiculous. Yang Mingzhi continued to plead with Hua Youxian for a chance to return to her side and atone for the hurt he caused, but she coldly replied it was none of her concern.
He Yan then became disoriented by drink, trying to tell Xiao Jue something important but passing out before she could finish, only managing to murmur, "Will you hate me?" Later, He Yan sent Xiao Jue a letter, requesting a meeting by the riverside pavilion. As Xiao Jue prepared to leave, Hua Youxian approached him to express her gratitude for his efforts in mediating her situation with Yang Mingzhi.
She then casually mentioned that someone had accompanied Xiao Jue to Ruyun House years ago, describing them as delicate, determined, wearing a mask, and reluctant to reveal their identity. Xiao Jue tried to dismiss it, but Hua Youxian, noticing his evasiveness, pressed on, stating unequivocally that the person had worn a chest binder and exhibited such nervous and shy behavior that they could only have been a young lady, whose eyes, she asserted, never deceived her.
She then added, almost as an afterthought, that He Rufei's sister was also named He Yan. This revelation, coupled with Xiao Jue's existing suspicions about He Yan's behavior and the hidden story behind her joining the Yezhou Garrison, intensified his doubt about her true identity. Xiao Jue met He Yan by the lake as requested.
As a test, he blindfolded her, and when she used the Qinglang Sword Style, known only to the Xiao family and one other person, he knew. He confronted her, demanding to know if she was He Yan, the He family's eldest daughter, or He Rufei, the one who once feared to show his true face, and why she had seemingly abandoned them in their direst hour. He Yan, unable to conceal the truth any longer, admitted it all.
She revealed that she was indeed the one formerly known as He Rufei. Her true name was He Yan, and she was the non-blood-related stepsister of the current He Rufei. From her earliest memories, their identities were swapped to preserve the He family’s noble title, as it was believed her stepbrother would not live long. Refusing to succumb to this fate, she left the He family and joined the Fuyue Army, earning military merits and becoming the renowned General Feihong.
However, her stepbrother, who had survived, returned, poisoned her, blinding her, and then stole her identity as General Feihong and all her military achievements, even attempting to kill her. She believed fate had given her a second chance, allowing her to become the He Yan of today, dedicated to exposing her stepbrother’s lies and reclaiming what was rightfully hers. She apologized for deceiving Xiao Jue, admitting she hadn’t known how to face him.
Xiao Jue's expression hardened as he pressed her on one crucial detail: whether she was the one whose reinforcements were delayed during the Mingshui Battle. He Yan admitted she was, and tried to explain that there was a conspiracy behind the battle, but Xiao Jue, enraged by her long deception and the death of 30,000 Xiao Army soldiers and his parents, refused to listen to her one-sided claims.
Feinu, furious, tried to kill He Yan, but Xiao Jue intervened, ordering He Yan to remain confined to the Yezhou Garrison until the full truth was uncovered. The group departed from Chonghuai and returned to Yezhou Garrison. Song Taotao, noticing the obvious strain between Xiao Jue and He Yan, quietly instructed Cheng Lisu to refrain from commenting. Upon their return, He Yan was seen with numerous items, each connected to Xiao Jue in some way.
She often found herself lost in thought, recalling Xiao Jue's past words encouraging her to "do as she pleased" and to be her true self. She opened a box containing a set of women's clothes, remembering the day she wore them and Xiao Jue's compliment on her appearance. With a sigh, she carefully placed the clothes and the box back into a larger chest, the once intimate connection between them now severely strained by her secret.
As she closed the chest, He Yan seemed to solidify a resolve. On the training grounds, He Yan dedicated herself to rigorous daily drills, steadily enhancing her martial prowess. Her friends worried about the toll such intense training would take on her body. Xiao Jue, during a routine inspection of the military camp, passed by He Yan. She offered a polite salute, and he, without a word, continued on his way.
