Love in Flames of War Episode 13 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Mu Zizheng awakened and immediately apologized to Yong Ge for the failed assassination attempt. Yong Ge, understanding Kang Jingxiong's cunning, did not blame him. He informed Mu Zizheng that Xiao Beichen had searched his former home, but fortunately, Mu Zizheng's mother had been safely relocated. Upon learning that Lin Hangjing had been arrested by Kang Jingxiong, Mu Zizheng impulsively tried to rush to her aid.
Yong Ge restrained him, emphasizing that in his current condition, he would be useless, especially if even Xiao Haishan couldn't secure her release. Meanwhile, Xiao Beichen urged Lin Hangjing to reveal the assassin's name and identity, assuring her that his father could then protect her. However, Lin Hangjing steadfastly refused to speak, determined to shield Mu Zizheng and take full responsibility herself, unwilling to further implicate the Xiao family.
Xiao Beichen, frustrated, threatened to harm Mu Zizheng as he had before, but Lin Hangjing, confident he would not, challenged him, stating he would have killed Mu Zizheng on the spot earlier if that was his true intention. At the Beixin Court, the judge declared that although there was no direct evidence linking Lin Hangjing to Kang Jingxiong's assassination, the sudden disappearance of a painter and bloodstains on her clothes indicated she was harboring a criminal.
As the judge prepared to deliver the verdict, Xiao Beichen dramatically interrupted, announcing he was there to vouch for Lin Hangjing. When questioned by Kang Jingxiong about his standing to do so, Xiao Beichen declared Lin Hangjing his fiancée, citing a childhood marriage arranged by their fathers, and further announced their intention to marry within a month. This revelation stunned those present. Lin Hangjing, understanding this was Xiao Beichen's desperate attempt to save her, confirmed the relationship to the judge.
Seeing no objection from Kang Jingxiong, the judge granted Lin Hangjing bail, with Xiao Beichen taking full responsibility as her guarantor. Before the court proceedings, Xiao Beichen had already met with Kang Jingxiong. Knowing Kang Jingxiong's true motives for visiting Beixin, Xiao Beichen agreed to permit his goods to pass through his territory in exchange for Lin Hangjing's freedom. Kang Jingxiong also demanded the public clarification of their relationship in court.
Xiao Beichen accepted, emphasizing that protecting his fiancée was crucial for his reputation and leadership within the Ying Army. Kang Jingxiong's aide noted how well Xiao Beichen had cooperated in the courtroom charade. Kang Jingxiong, indifferent to the truth of the engagement, saw an opportunity to thwart Zheng, who wished to marry his daughter Zheng Fengqi to Xiao Beichen, and to test Zheng's loyalty to the Xiao family.
Back at the Xiao family headquarters, an adjutant expressed confusion to Xiao Haishan about Kang Jingxiong's unexpected concession given their prior refusal to his demands. Soon after, Zheng confronted Xiao Haishan about the engagement, expressing his dismay. Xiao Haishan, equally surprised, assured Zheng that it was likely a temporary tactic Xiao Beichen used to protect Lin Hangjing, promising to get a clear answer from his son.
However, news then arrived that Xiao Beichen had allowed a Japanese opium shipment to pass through. The report had been intentionally delayed by two hours, ensuring the opium was beyond their jurisdiction. Enraged, Xiao Haishan ordered Xiao Beichen to kneel, questioning his disregard for national, military, and family laws. Xiao Beichen remained silent, offering himself for military punishment.
Xiao Haishan, lamenting that his son had dishonored the Xiao family by facilitating the opium trade, declared he wished he could kill him, stating they now appeared "inhuman and unjust." Upon Lin Hangjing's return to the Xiao estate, Xiao Shuyi angrily confronted her, blaming her for Xiao Beichen's troubles. Lin Hangjing learned about Xiao Beichen's deal to permit the opium to save her, leading to deep self-reproach.
Aunt Qi tried to comfort Lin Hangjing, assuring her that Xiao Beichen was sensible and that Xiao Haishan would manage the situation. Meanwhile, Xiao Beichen continued his punishment, kneeling under the rain at the East Camp. Unbeknownst to the family, the Japanese opium shipment was ambushed and burned by bandits in Ridge Qingge after passing through the Xiao family's territory.
Mo Weiyi later explained to Xiao Haishan that Xiao Beichen had orchestrated the entire plan, anticipating his father's principles and secretly ensuring the opium's destruction. Realizing his son's clever strategy, Xiao Haishan called him to his feet, acknowledging his shrewdness in avoiding a greater mistake. Nevertheless, he warned Xiao Beichen that Kang Jingxiong, having been outmaneuvered, would seek further revenge.
At his own residence, Kang Jingxiong was furious at Xiao Beichen's deception, scoffing at his plausible deniability regarding the opium's destruction. He recognized Xiao Beichen's genuine feelings for Lin Hangjing, given the elaborate lengths he went to protect her. Kang Jingxiong then recalled that Lin Hangjing's father, Lin Tangsheng, imprisoned by Warlord Cheng, was due for release soon.
Aware of Warlord Cheng's desperate need for military provisions due to recent floods, Kang Jingxiong began to formulate a new scheme to leverage this situation and further his own agenda. During dinner at the Xiao residence, Xiao Beichen, after only a few bites, excused himself to his study, citing military duties. Aunt Qi worried about his knees and ordered nourishing soup for him. Lin Hangjing later followed him, privately thanking him for saving her and enabling Mu Zizheng's escape.
She expressed remorse for bringing so much trouble to the Xiao family, especially with her own father's impending release. Xiao Beichen, hurt by the implication that she would soon leave, responded coldly, telling her she was free to do as she pleased, then closed the door, hiding his lingering pain. Lin Hangjing, left alone, reiterated her regret. Later, Mu Zizheng, concerned for Lin Hangjing, waited outside the Xiao residence and met her as she returned.
Lin Hangjing pressed him for his true identity and his reasons for trying to kill Kang Jingxiong, as well as who he was working for. Mu Zizheng apologized for implicating her and the Xiao family, admitting his regret for keeping secrets from her. He justified his assassination attempt by detailing Kang Jingxiong's illicit opium trade with the Japanese, profiting from national suffering, and the brutal exploitation of laborers in his mines.
While confirming his actions were righteous and aligned with his conscience, he refused to disclose his affiliation, asking only for her trust. Unbeknownst to them, they were under surveillance. Xiao Beichen's men tracked Mu Zizheng to a folk house, discovering it was a YMCA meeting place. Xiao Beichen was surprised by this revelation, acknowledging it explained Mu Zizheng's motive to assassinate Kang Jingxiong. His aide questioned why Xiao Haishan had tolerated the growing influence of the YMCA in the north.
Xiao Beichen explained that the YMCA, being a patriotic organization of passionate youth, had generally maintained a non-interference policy with the Ying Army despite their anti-warlord activities. Nevertheless, he ordered continuous close monitoring of Mu Zizheng. Separately, Mu Zizheng reassured his mother about their recent move, explaining that the new house was affordable through a scholar friend and provided escape from a difficult landlord, promising her safety and discouraging her worries about his activities.
News then broke that Lin Tangsheng, Lin Hangjing's father, faced new charges of false accounting, potentially leading to a death sentence, just as he was due for release. Lin Hangjing, distressed by the newspaper report, pleaded with Xiao Haishan to save her father. Xiao Haishan expressed his fear that Warlord Cheng genuinely intended to execute Lin Tangsheng.
Xiao Beichen found the timing suspicious, noting Warlord Cheng had spared Lin Tangsheng's life during a previous incident, making this sudden demand for a death sentence highly unusual. Xiao Haishan, determined, promised to personally intervene with Warlord Cheng to secure Lin Tangsheng's life.
Desperate, Lin Hangjing attempted to call former associates of her father, including a Mr. Zhang and an "Uncle Zhao," but found no one willing or able to help, as the Police Department refused to cooperate and others pleaded busyness. Xiao Haishan then contacted Warlord Cheng by phone, arguing that Lin Tangsheng's character made the false accounting charges unbelievable.
Warlord Cheng stressed the importance of law in the military but softened when Xiao Haishan appealed to their deep brotherhood, asking for any room to maneuver. Warlord Cheng offered a compromise: if Xiao Haishan could resolve his urgent military supply shortage, Lin Tangsheng's case could be re-evaluated. He then demanded an exorbitant 100,000 catties of army provisions within five days. Xiao Haishan immediately ordered his aide to expedite the procurement, sending supplies in batches.
However, their secret efforts were compromised when Warlord Jin sent a telegram, revealing his knowledge of Xiao Haishan's plan to aid Warlord Cheng. Faced with this new obstacle and tight deadline, Xiao Haishan instructed his aide to sell all his personal landed property to secretly buy grain from Xiping, emphasizing the urgency.
Learning that Kang Jingxiong had secretly visited Warlord Cheng's mansion just before Lin Tangsheng's case was reopened, Xiao Beichen deduced that Kang Jingxiong was orchestrating this as retaliation for the burned opium. Realizing that his father was now politically constrained by Warlord Jin's intervention, Xiao Beichen decided to take direct action, believing he could handle matters that his father could not openly address. Despite his aide's concerns, Xiao Beichen proceeded alone to Warlord Cheng's barracks.
There, Warlord Cheng confronted Xiao Beichen about the incomplete delivery of army provisions, questioning his commitment to saving Lin Tangsheng. Xiao Beichen apologized for the shortfall, acknowledging the difficulty of acquiring 100,000 catties in five days. He directly told Warlord Cheng that he believed he didn't truly intend to kill Lin Tangsheng, implying Warlord Cheng was being coerced.
Xiao Beichen then proposed that an anonymous informer had exposed Xiao Haishan's secret grain efforts to Warlord Jin, aiming to deprive Warlord Cheng of supplies and to sever ties between the Cheng and Xiao families in a "two birds with one stone" plot. He advised Warlord Cheng against befriending those with malicious intentions.
As a gesture of goodwill and friendship, Xiao Beichen offered the already delivered 30,000 catties as a gift to address Warlord Cheng's immediate needs, promising to deliver the remaining provisions in batches. Warlord Cheng, taken aback by Xiao Beichen's astute analysis and bold offer, admitted he found Xiao Beichen inscrutable.
