Legend of the Female General Episode 31 Recap
> Legend of the Female General Recap
He Yan confronts her brother He Rufei and their father in the He Mansion. She calmly informs them they will soon have more to regret. Enraged, He Rufei draws his sword, boasting that since he killed her once, he can do it again. With disdain, He Yan effortlessly disarms him and turns his own blade against him, remarking that a man like him isn't worth dirtying her sword.
She reminds them how she, as the family's eldest, brought them glory as General Feihong, only to be betrayed and nearly killed by her own brother. Seizing the moment, she uses a powder given to her by Song Taotao to knock both men unconscious and ties them up. While the He household is distracted, He Yan slips into her old study and retrieves the Linglong Box, a gift from the Emperor.
A newly awakened He Rufei soon orders the mansion sealed and a search for her. As He Yan tries to escape, she encounters her stepmother in a small shrine. The stepmother, the only person in the family who truly cared for her, had set up a memorial tablet and was praying for her soul. The stepmother creates a diversion, allowing He Yan to make her getaway. He Yan successfully gets away and hands the Linglong Box to Feinu.
Furious at her escape, He Rufei confronts his stepmother, smashing He Yan's memorial tablet in a rage when he realizes she helped her. Meanwhile, Xiao Jue visits Chancellor Xu Jingfu, boldly accusing him of being the mastermind behind the recent turmoil. Xu scoffs, demanding proof. On cue, Feinu arrives and presents the Linglong Box.
Xu immediately recognizes the distinctive box and grows visibly anxious as Xiao Jue explains its intricate design is perfect for concealing vital secrets, implying it holds evidence of Xu's treason. Panicked, Xu angrily dismisses them. The Linglong Box is, in fact, empty. This was He Yan’s plan all along, a psychological ploy designed to sow discord. She knew Xu's paranoid nature would lead him to assume the worst, shattering any remaining trust between him and He Rufei.
Her plan works perfectly; when He Rufei later tries to reassure the Chancellor that no evidence was stolen, a deeply suspicious Xu demands to see the incriminating letters. He Rufei refuses, proving he doesn't trust Xu either and confirming the letters are his only leverage. Later, while out with Xiao Jue, He Yan has a brief, emotional reunion with her stepmother, who had taken a long detour just to see if she was safe.
Acknowledging the danger of being seen together in public, they share a few words of concern before parting ways, with the stepmother urging He Yan to take care of herself. At the morning court session, Xu Jingfu formally proposes an alliance with Wutuo, which includes opening a trade market at Mingshui. He Yan and Xiao Jue lead the military officials in fierce opposition.
He Yan declares the proposal an insult, as Mingshui is the hallowed ground where 30,000 soldiers of the Xiao Army fell. Xiao Jue's impassioned argument against trusting the Wutuo and repeating past mistakes infuriates the Emperor, who orders him to be confined to his home for reflection. The session ends without a resolution, leaving Xu unsettled by the realization that his influence over the Emperor is weakening. The pressure on Xu mounts as several events unfold.
Li Kuang, an old acquaintance of General Feihong, arrives in the capital with great fanfare. The owner of the Ganming Pavilion, a known Wutuo contact point, is arrested as a spy. In prison, a condemned man named Sun Ling publicly claims to have an account book that proves Xu’s corruption. Playing a double game, Chu Zhao visits Xu and earns his gratitude by claiming to have suppressed Sun Ling’s accusation.
He then casually mentions the arrest of the Ganming Pavilion owner, a piece of news that causes Xu’s hand to tremble. The Emperor sends a final message to Xu, officially rejecting the Wutuo alliance. Pushed to the brink, Xu plays a game of Go with Chu Zhao, who subtly suggests that only a desperate, all-or-nothing move can break the current stalemate.
Just then, He Rufei arrives with an urgent message: the Wutuo envoy has set the night of the banquet as the final deadline. After Chu Zhao departs, Xu sweeps the game pieces from the board and makes a chilling decision. He tells He Rufei that if the Emperor will not approve their plan, they will replace him with a ruler who will. As evening falls, He Yan dons her male armor, preparing for the decisive night.
Outside her room, Xiao Jue, Song Taotao, and her other friends have gathered to offer their silent support. When she asks Xiao Jue if he has anything to say, he simply tells her he will wait for her triumphant return. He Yan, resolute, promises them that tonight, everything will finally be settled, and she will reclaim everything that is rightfully hers.
