Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Episode 11 Recap
> Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Recap
Xue Rong and Yuzhan are traveling towards Zhaozhou, with Xue Rong assuring Yuzhan that he has arranged for their trip to be discreet, ensuring no one dares to speak of what they see or hear. Yuzhan reminds him that her accompanying him to Zhaozhou is only a temporary measure. Her father has already dispatched people to find Jinzhan, and once she is located, Yuzhan will swap places with her sister.
Xue Rong shares his view of Jinzhan and Jiang Shao, seeing them as innocent and childlike, finding their youthful antics charming and precious. Yuzhan, however, suggests that once he truly witnesses Jinzhan's "methods," he might find her charming nature to be quite a headache. Xue Rong admits he has already experienced Jinzhan's unruly behavior firsthand and states that upon her return to the palace, she can no longer be indulged as before, lest she cause even greater trouble.
Yuzhan reveals her envy for Jinzhan's carefree spirit, which her doting father always indulged since her mother's passing. She explains that since the Fu family has no sons, despite their noble status, it remains a deep regret for her father. Thus, she and Jinzhan must strive to prove that Prince Wei's daughters are superior to sons. Yuzhan mentions that Jinzhan endured significant hardship learning martial arts, a fact unknown to others.
Yuzhan further elaborates on the precarious position of the Fu family; under her father's stewardship, they grew powerful and gained the late emperor's favor, wielding substantial military might. In a capital filled with ambitious officials, the Fu family constantly walked a tightrope. Yuzhan confesses that before Xue Rong's enthronement, she resolved to use the Fu family's entire strength to support him, hoping to remove them from the volatile center of court power struggles.
However, she acknowledges that even with a Fu daughter as empress, peace is not guaranteed, which forced her to mature quickly and share her father's burdens. Xue Rong expresses deep sympathy, telling her that even a frown from her causes him immense pain. He assures her that though she is currently impersonating his empress and he will not overstep, he will never abandon those he truly wishes to protect.
Yuzhan understands his sentiments but asks for more time to discern if she can fully commit to him, as that is the kind of love she seeks. Xue Rong expresses confidence that her certainty will come soon. Meanwhile, Jinzhan finds Jiang Shao at a gambling den in Dingzhou, where he has lost his house and accumulated a thousand coins in debt.
Jinzhan attempts to settle his debt, but lacking sufficient funds, she boasts that she can win back all his losses in the time it takes an incense stick to burn. However, she consistently loses to the gambling den's cheating tactics. Jiang Shao, aware of the cheating, had deliberately continued gambling to meet Zhu Xiaobei and did not want Jinzhan to get involved. To prevent her entanglement, he causes a commotion and gets himself caught.
Jinzhan, realizing the trickery, flees, leaving Jiang Shao behind. Jiang Shao is taken to the backyard, where he finds Zhu Xiaobei, who admits he gambled away his money and lured Jiang Shao with a letter claiming to have clues about his father. Zhu Xiaobei then presents Jiang Shao with a jade pendant he stole from the gambling den, confirming it came from the Jin family of Zhaozhou.
As Jiang Shao and Zhu Xiaobei prepare to leave, they hear Jinzhan outside, threatening to dismantle the gambling den if Jiang Shao isn't released. Jiang Shao, exasperated, rescues her. Jinzhan expresses concern about how he will explain his unauthorized departure to the Emperor. Jiang Shao, in turn, asks how she will explain her own actions, including leaving the palace.
He clarifies that he rushed to Dingzhou to follow a lead about his father, a quest he wouldn't abandon even if it led to nothing. Jinzhan, touched by his plight, decides to accompany him to Zhaozhou, convinced that her intelligent sister and the Emperor will handle matters in the capital. Xue Rong and Yuzhan arrive at Jin's Mansion in Zhaozhou.
Xue Rong recounts the Jin family's valiant history, noting that all male members died fighting Pengze invaders, leaving only Madam Jin, who once saved the late emperor. He respects Madam Jin greatly and deliberately leaves his guards behind, wanting to visit her like any other guest. The mansion appears unusually quiet. A young servant named Ayi opens the door. Inside, the courtyard is messy with scattered clothes, and Yuzhan notices suspicious red stains on a bamboo pole, suspecting blood.
Ayi's peculiar accent and reluctance to let Yuzhan help tidy up further raise their suspicions. The "Madam Jin" who greets them is overly friendly and insists they stay, but Xue Rong notes the lack of proper tea service and the hurried escort to their room. Yuzhan feigns having secret guards stationed outside, hinting at imperial presence.
In their assigned room, they discuss their observations: Yuzhan first noticed the bloodstains, while Xue Rong recognized Ayi's Jincheng accent (which he knew from his past mission to assassinate Prince Cheng Liu Chengfu), and the overall unusual behavior. They conclude that the "Madam Jin" is an imposter and that the real Madam Jin is likely in danger. They realize they've walked into a trap, but the enemy hasn't attacked, likely fearing Yuzhan's bluff about hidden imperial guards.
Knowing this cover won't last, they realize time is short. Yuzhan assures Xue Rong she is not afraid with him by her side, but they express concern for the real Madam Jin's safety and the enemy's true motives. Yuzhan fakes collapsing, drawing "Madam Jin" (who is actually Madam Chen, Ayi's foster mother and accomplice) closer. Xue Rong discreetly takes a sword. As "Madam Jin" tends to Yuzhan, Yuzhan swiftly grabs her, holding her hostage.
Ayi and his cohorts appear, confronting them. Xue Rong demands their identities and motives. " Madam Jin" defiantly declares they are from Jincheng, associated with the late Prince Cheng Liu Chengfu, and their sole purpose is to kill Xue Rong. She urges Ayi to attack, saying her own life is insignificant compared to avenging his adoptive father. However, Ayi, deeply conflicted, values Madam Chen, who raised him, more than his nominal adoptive father.
Xue Rong shrewdly offers a trade: the real Madam Jin for Madam Chen. The exchange takes place, and immediately, Madam Chen, freed, incites Ayi to resume their attack. As Ayi and his men rush into the storeroom, the real Madam Jin, Xue Rong, and Yuzhan escape through a hidden passage leading to a secret room.
The real Madam Jin explains that a skilled craftsman named Mr. Lu had built this secret passage and room years ago for emergencies, a suggestion she had mocked at the time. She reveals her earlier feigned weakness was a deliberate ploy to make her captors complacent. She shares that she had received a letter from the late emperor stating Xue Rong would visit on his behalf.
However, the Jincheng rebels arrived first, killed some of her servants, kidnapped Huizhu's family, and targeted Xue Rong. She chose to stay to warn him. Ayi and Madam Chen, unable to find Xue Rong's group in the secret passage, face a moment of despair, with Ayi contemplating giving up revenge. However, Madam Chen, driven by her own conviction and the shared cause, reignites his resolve.
Back in the secret room, Madam Jin impulsively wishes to go save Huizhu's family, but Yuzhan prudently advises notifying the magistrate first to coordinate a larger rescue effort. Xue Rong agrees to this plan and decides to draw the enemies' attention by heading directly to the backyard, allowing Madam Jin and Yuzhan to escape from the mansion and alert the Zhao state magistrate. Yuzhan expresses concern for his safety, but Xue Rong is resolute.
Xue Rong confronts Ayi's group again, using the promise of disclosing Liu Chengfu's body's location to buy time and extract information about the mastermind. A flashback reveals Princess Royal and Yueying were behind the plot, instructing Ayi's group to impersonate the Jin family and ambush Xue Rong, assuming he wouldn't recognize the real Madam Jin. Just as the confrontation intensifies, the magistrate's forces, alerted by Yuzhan and Madam Jin, arrive and apprehend the Jincheng remnants.
Ayi takes full responsibility for the assassination attempt and desperately pleads with Xue Rong to spare Madam Chen, his foster mother. Moved by Ayi's devotion, Xue Rong agrees to pardon Madam Chen. Ayi, though not knowing the mastermind's identity, provides a description of her. Later, Xue Rong feigns an injury to gauge Yuzhan's concern. Yuzhan rushes to his side, admitting her worry.
Xue Rong explains his decision to spare Madam Chen, stating that Ayi's loyalty deeply moved him, and reminding Yuzhan that people from both Lingyang and Pengze are human, with emotions and families. He reiterates his ambition to be a wise emperor who prevents wars and ensures his people live good lives. He then suggests that a good emperor also requires a virtuous empress.
Yuzhan, still troubled by his existing empress, dismisses this, calling his previous marriage a "mistake" that must now be accepted. She advocates for "restraint" in their feelings. Xue Rong disagrees, arguing that emotions, whether love or dislike, should be expressed naturally, not complicated by restraint. Yuzhan counters that it is "difficult" to do so for others, but for him, she has no choice. Xue Rong asserts he cannot restrain his feelings, while Yuzhan struggles to openly express her love, hinting at continued complications in their romantic journey.
