Legend of the Female General Episode 27 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
By wearing a mask during the recent conflict, He Yan terrified the Wutuo forces, leading Xiao Jue to believe He Rufei would confirm her identity. He Yan, however, remained unafraid, declaring her intention to return to the capital openly and reveal herself as the true General Feihong. She suspected He Rufei and Chancellor Xu had long colluded, with crucial evidence hidden in the capital.
Eager to uncover the truth, she expressed a desire to return swiftly, and Xiao Jue readily agreed to accompany her. Meanwhile, Chu Zhao, concerned by reports of He Yan’s injuries from the Rundu battle, had prepared medicinal remedies for her. However, an unexpected incident forced him to turn back mid-journey. He pondered why people yearned for light, concluding it was for warmth, a warmth he now felt, dispelling his fear of fire.
This newfound warmth, he implied to his aide Yingxiang, stemmed from He Yan. Chu Zhao revealed that his prolonged maneuvering against his master, Chancellor Xu, was to gain the power necessary to protect what he valued. Yingxiang expressed concern over his reckless decision to come to Rundu without Chancellor Xu's permission, but Chu Zhao insisted it was his duty as an official to prioritize the Wei state over personal safety.
He asserted that Rundu was where he needed to be and that his decision was justified, as it would strengthen the Emperor's trust in him after defending the city and its people. His main purpose in Rundu was to verify a suspicion: the stark difference between the former General Feihong and the current one, He Rufei.
Yingxiang concurred, noting the former’s strategic brilliance contrasted with He Rufei’s costly victory at Huayuan and his disregard for Commander Li Kuang’s pleas for aid in Rundu. She also pointed out He Yan’s unusually strong reaction to news concerning He Rufei's actions and her deep grief over the fallen Seven Warriors, leading her to rush to Rundu to assist Commander Li Kuang.
Connecting these coincidences, Yingxiang questioned if He Rufei was an impostor and if He Yan was the real General Feihong. Chu Zhao confirmed her suspicions, stating that only in Rundu could he truly verify these doubts. He Yan's knowledge of the secret tunnel, her mastery of He Rufei's martial arts, and her uncanny impersonation of General Feihong convinced him she was the true General Feihong.
Chu Zhao, having learned from Chai Anxi that Chancellor Xu had collaborated with He Rufei even before the Mingshui Battle, recognized this was not just He Rufei's secret but also his master's. He decided against revealing his discovery to Chancellor Xu immediately, knowing his master's suspicious nature. He concluded that He Rufei's reckless actions would soon catch up to him, leaving Chancellor Xu with few allies and forcing him to rely on Chu Zhao.
Despite revering his master, Chu Zhao resolved that he could not ignore Chancellor Xu's treasonous collusion against the Wei state. He then instructed Yingxiang to prepare for their return to Yaojing the following day. The next day, as Chu Zhao prepared to depart, he visited Xiao Jue and He Yan to bid them farewell.
He Yan suggested they travel together for mutual assistance, but Chu Zhao declined, explaining he needed to return earlier to apologize to his master for defying his orders. During their conversation, He Yan noted the suspicious nature of the Jiyang, Huayuan, and Rundu battles, implying an insider's involvement in the Wutuo forces easily besieging the cities. She directly challenged Chu Zhao, knowing he was intelligent enough to identify the culprit, to prevent further wrongdoing.
Chu Zhao admitted that all evidence pointed to his master but maintained that without concrete proof, he could not abandon him, to whom he owed a debt of gratitude. Xiao Jue interjected, suggesting that even with proof, Chu Zhao might still not forsake his master, given his similar methods.
Xiao Jue then listed several suspicious events, including rumors after the Battle of Que City, a masked woman resembling Chu Zhao's maid retrieving tax ledgers in Yezhou, and the assassination of Sun Xiangfu, all seemingly connected to Chu Zhao. Xiao Jue also pointed out how Chu Zhao's uncharacteristic defiance of Chancellor Xu's orders to defend Rundu suggested his awareness of Chancellor Xu's collusion.
Chu Zhao acknowledged that officials often face difficult choices but asserted that his actions were always within his ethical boundaries. He Yan expressed her belief that Chu Zhao possessed a moral compass, urging him to not be constrained by circumstances and to always differentiate between right and wrong. Chu Zhao thanked them for their understanding before taking his leave.
Afterward, He Yan remarked to Xiao Jue that Chu Zhao was not inherently evil and that they might even cooperate with him in the future. Xiao Jue simply raised an eyebrow in response. Upon learning that his trap in Rundu had failed to kill He Yan, He Rufei was enraged, ranting about her being a persistent ghost.
A messenger from Maningbu, the Wutuo Chancellor, arrived, conveying Wutuo’s anger over their losses in Rundu and Jiyang and demanding an explanation from Chancellor Xu. Maningbu suspected He Rufei had colluded with Xiao Jue to mock Wutuo. He Rufei, outplayed and desperate, apologized to Maningbu through the messenger, asserting his genuine desire for cooperation and promising to convey Wutuo's demand for a reasonable explanation to Chancellor Xu.
News of Xiao Jue and He Yan requesting permission to return to the capital terrified He Rufei. He immediately rushed to Chancellor Xu, begging for help and fearing their return meant revenge for his attempt on Xiao Jue’s life in Rundu and a re-investigation of the Mingshui Battle. Chancellor Xu was furious, chastising He Rufei for concealing He Yan's survival and his failed attempt to kill Xiao Jue in Rundu.
He pointed out the grave consequences: the costly victory at Huayuan and the real General Feihong's failure to rescue Rundu had already reached the Emperor's ears, leading to inevitable investigations into past battles. He warned He Rufei that his concealment had put them both in deep trouble with both the Emperor and Wutuo. He Rufei, trembling, swore to keep no more secrets and pleaded for Chancellor Xu's help.
Chancellor Xu, appeased by He Rufei's newfound transparency, promised to pacify Wutuo and shift blame onto them before the Emperor. He then revealed his prediction that Xiao Jue and He Yan would exploit the scandal of He Rufei's family swapping their identities to expose him. To prevent this, Chancellor Xu concluded, they could not allow Xiao Jue and He Yan to reach the capital alive.
Before Xiao Jue and He Yan departed for the capital, Qi Luo and the rescued women came to bid them farewell. Qi Luo shared their plan to establish a weaving workshop in Rundu, aiming to promote Rundu's brocade weaving throughout Wei. He Yan encouraged them, emphasizing that all honest work was honorable and that gradual efforts would bring change. Commander Li Kuang, who was also present, praised He Yan, acknowledging her popularity and noting how her resilience inspired others.
He remarked that her selfless courage in defending others, even in life-threatening situations, made her truly resemble the former General Feihong. Upon his return to the capital, Chu Zhao reported to the Emperor on Xiao Jue and He Yan's significant contributions in Rundu, particularly praising He Yan as a promising general with unwavering loyalty and courage.
The Emperor expressed his disappointment with He Rufei’s performance in the costly Huayuan battle, feeling He Rufei did not live up to the title of General Feihong. Chu Zhao cautiously defended He Rufei, attributing the heavy losses to the enemy's numerical advantage, but also expressed his personal doubts. He then downplayed his own contributions in Rundu, stating he simply aimed to serve the Emperor.
Pleased with Chu Zhao's humility and integrity, especially given his close ties to Chancellor Xu yet his willingness to speak favorably of Xiao Jue, the Emperor decreed Chu Zhao's appointment as Fourth-Rank Vice Minister of War, recognizing him as a true pillar of Wei. After leaving the palace, Chu Zhao immediately went to Chancellor Xu’s residence to apologize for his unauthorized trip to Rundu.
Chancellor Xu, pleased with Chu Zhao’s promotion, dismissed the apology, highlighting that Chu Zhao’s rising status would make him even more useful. Chancellor Xu then pressed Chu Zhao for his assessment of He Rufei's standing with the Emperor. Chu Zhao confirmed the Emperor’s displeasure with He Rufei’s performance but noted he had subtly defended him.
Chu Zhao then revealed his own astute deductions: he believed the Rundu battle was a trap set by He Rufei for Xiao Jue, and He Rufei deliberately sustained heavy losses in Huayuan to justify not reinforcing Rundu. However, Xiao Jue's unexpected summoning of General Yan He thwarted He Rufei’s plan. Chancellor Xu acknowledged Chu Zhao's sharp insight. During this visit, Chancellor Xu's daughter, Xu Pingting, attempted to engage Chu Zhao, but he politely excused himself, citing busy schedules.
Later, Chu Zhao’s uncle and aunt, whose attitudes had dramatically shifted due to his recent promotion, enthusiastically welcomed him with a feast. Seizing the opportunity, Chu Zhao expressed his long-held desire for his deceased mother to be enshrined in the Chu family ancestral hall. His uncle and aunt, eager to please, immediately agreed to his request and promised to regularly offer incense to his mother.
Standing before the ancestral hall, Chu Zhao emotionally told his mother’s spirit that he was bringing her home, vowing that no one would ever insult her again. He shared that he had found "that light" and would one day bring "her" to meet his mother.
