Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Episode 17 Recap
> Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Recap
Empress Jinzhan and Yuzhan arrived to join the Emperor's convoy, just in time for Xue Rong's meal. Jinzhan explained that Stewardess Song had advised her to accompany the Emperor, who was personally delivering relief supplies to Xingzhou, to inspire the disaster victims and showcase the imperial couple's affection, thereby garnering more popular support. Xue Rong acknowledged her thoughtfulness and invited them to eat.
Yuzhan mentioned that Prince Wei had increased the Tianxiong Army, and that the convoy, traveling day and night since the tenth, had already covered half the distance in just two days. At an inn where the group stopped, a suspicious waiter delivered a letter discreetly hidden under a plate. Xue Rong recognized the waiter but opened the letter despite a servant's concerns about poison.
The letter, from his biological Chai Family in Luocheng, stated that his mother was gravely ill and wished to see him one last time. Xue Rong, deeply conflicted, explained to Yuzhan that he could not go. He recounted how he was adopted by the Xue family, and the late emperor had decreed that the Chai family was forever barred from entering the capital, holding office, engaging in commerce, or joining the military.
Furthermore, a Privy Council was established in Lingyang specifically to prevent him from changing the dynasty's name if he ascended the throne. Xue Rong emphasized that he had sworn off any connection to the Chai family, as any contact could lead to impeachment by officials and potentially cost him his position. He expressed his gratitude to the late emperor but agonized over being unable to see his dying parents.
He also noted that the Chai family was under constant surveillance, and news of his mother's illness would have certainly reached those monitoring them, leading to increased scrutiny in Luocheng. With his public journey to Xingzhou already known and only five days until their arrival, there was no time to divert to Luocheng. Yuzhan proposed a daring plan: Xue Rong could travel in disguise to Luocheng, maintaining a low profile.
They could travel lightly and quickly, saving a day or two compared to the main convoy laden with supplies. If needed, Jinzhan, as the empress, could delay the convoy. The challenge remained who would impersonate the Emperor in the main convoy. Jinzhan, upon learning that Commandant Jiang had gone on an errand for His Majesty, then arranged for a physician to announce that the Emperor had a cold and needed to remain in his carriage for several days, undisturbed.
With the convoy now moving again, Jinzhan instructed Jiang Shao, who was impersonating Xue Rong, to stay hidden and continue feigning illness. Jinzhan also made arrangements to meet Xue Rong at a courier station outside Xingzhou in three days, stating that if he didn't arrive by then, she and Jiang Shao would proceed to Xingzhou to placate the populace. Meanwhile, Jiang Shao, impersonating Xue Rong, and Jinzhan had a strained relationship.
Jinzhan recounted how she had used the Emperor’s supposed illness to justify the convoy’s rest stop and wondered when the real Emperor would return. Jiang Shao, contemplating his role, suggested he switch back to his own identity to meet Li Huaijin and then return to impersonate the Emperor if Xue Rong was still delayed. Jinzhan agreed.
She also commented to Li Huaijin on Jiang Shao’s uninhibited nature, which she found endearing, but teasingly warned Li Huaijin not to praise him further. She then asked Li Huaijin to buy some chestnuts she had noticed earlier. Jiang Shao, in his own clothes, was on his way to buy chestnuts for the Empress when he encountered Li Huaijin, who was drinking.
Li Huaijin offered Jiang Shao the chestnuts he had already bought, claiming he no longer wanted them, and asked Jiang Shao not to tell Jinzhan they were from him, fearing she wouldn’t eat them. Li Huaijin also advised Jiang Shao to keep his distance from the Empress, as she seemed not to favor him. Back at the inn, Jinzhan was surprised by the quick return of the chestnuts.
She peeled them herself and shared them with Li Huaijin, reminiscing about their childhood. Jiang Shao, now standing guard, was pointedly ignored by Jinzhan, who refused to share the chestnuts with him and insisted Li Huaijin eat them all as an imperial command. Xue Rong and Yuzhan arrived in Luocheng, noting the city’s tight security and the numerous spies monitoring the Chai Mansion. They spotted Chai Zhenzhen, the girl who delivered the letter, leaving the mansion and being followed.
Yuzhan discreetly followed Zhenzhen to a pharmacy, where, under the guise of buying medicine, she informed Zhenzhen that Xue Rong had arrived but could not reveal his presence due to the tight security. Yuzhan instructed Zhenzhen to arrange for Mr. Chai to bring Mrs. Chai to that very clinic. To facilitate this, Yuzhan generously paid for other poor patients at the clinic, providing them with lodging and hot soup, earning their profound gratitude.
She expressed her hope for a prosperous Lingyang where everyone could receive care and food. That night, Mr. Chai carried his ailing wife to the clinic, but the Magistrate of Luocheng attempted to block their entry. Mr. Chai passionately argued for his wife's critical condition and threatened to inform the Emperor if they were denied access, which compelled the Magistrate to yield. Still suspicious, the Magistrate ordered all patients' identities to be verified.
Yuzhan ingeniously claimed her husband had a disfiguring facial boil and could not be seen; a subsequent check by a guard confirmed it was not the Emperor. Despite this, the Magistrate stationed guards to closely monitor the room. Inside, Xue Rong, hidden behind a screen, finally reunited with his parents. His mother, in her last moments, did not fully recognize him, her memory clinging to him as a seven-year-old boy.
Xue Rong, heartbroken, tearfully affirmed his identity and his safety, but his mother, in her final act, urged him to leave, fearing for his well-being. She passed away in his arms. Overcome with grief, Xue Rong expressed profound regret for causing his mother distress and feeling as though he had done nothing for her, but his father assured him that her only concern was his safety. Shortly after, the Magistrate of Luocheng returned, having recognized Xue Rong's retreating figure.
He declared that he could not conceal the Emperor's presence in Luocheng, citing the late emperor's decree and the watchful eyes of court officials. To protect his son, Mr. Chai, with a hidden knife, fatally stabbed the Magistrate. He then instructed Zhenzhen to lead Xue Rong and Yuzhan out of the city immediately, asserting that no one in Luocheng should know the Emperor's identity.
As Mr. Chai then set the mansion ablaze, intending to die with his wife and ensure the Emperor's plausible deniability, Zhenzhen, distraught, attempted to rush back inside to save her father. Xue Rong and Yuzhan forcibly pulled her away, emphasizing the danger from the spreading fire and the arriving guards, making immediate escape essential. Outside the city walls, Zhenzhen collapsed in grief, accusing Xue Rong of being a detached emperor who had destroyed her family.
Xue Rong, in a moment of raw emotion, revealed himself as her long-lost older brother, adopted by the late emperor, and explained his perilous journey to Luocheng. He acknowledged his transformation into an emperor who prioritized grand schemes over personal ties, a "monster" as Zhenzhen called him, admitting his coldness and the agonizing truth that he could not intervene to save their father.
Zhenzhen, overwhelmed, fainted, cradled by a heartbroken Xue Rong, who yearned to change the tragic outcome and protect his family but admitted his powerlessness to do so. Back in Xingzhou, the streets were desolate, with most residents having fled. The remaining disaster victims huddled at porridge tents, desperately waiting for food. Jinzhan and Qingge set out privately to inspect the porridge distribution, while Jiang Shao and Li Huaijin proceeded to the government office to handle the relief supplies.
At the porridge tent, Jinzhan witnessed a chaotic scene: meager porridge with barely any rice, and desperate people fighting over it, causing the tent to collapse. Jinzhan, caught in the melee, managed to stand up with only an injured hand. Meanwhile, at the government office, Magistrate Wu claimed to have established four porridge tents and provided housing for victims.
Li Huaijin, however, expressed skepticism and announced that the Imperial Guards would soon take over food distribution, warning Wu about his deception regarding the disaster. Just then, Qingge rushed in, reporting the collapse of the east gate porridge tent and Jinzhan's disappearance. Jiang Shao, quickly reverting to his own identity, frantically searched for and found Jinzhan, expressing immense relief that she was largely unharmed. Jinzhan, however, wryly questioned whether he was worried about her or merely the Empress.
As more victims recognized Jinzhan, they pleaded for help. Jinzhan reassured them that the Emperor was already en route with relief food, promising that they would soon be fed. Just as the crowd expressed doubt about the Emperor's presence, Xue Rong arrived on horseback, declaring his anger at the situation. He was informed that Magistrate Wu had deliberately withheld aid until the Emperor's arrival, leading to the stampede and injuries.
Xue Rong addressed the assembled victims, pledging that every person in Xingzhou would receive food. He publicly ordered the arrest and imprisonment of Magistrate Wu Yang for concealing the disaster, vowing to personally interrogate him and ensure justice for the people of Xingzhou.
