Love in Flames of War Episode 14 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Xiao Beichen, aiming to save Lin Tangsheng, met with Warlord Cheng. Warlord Cheng initially found Xiao Beichen's noble words disingenuous, believing his true motive was simply to rescue Lin Tangsheng. Xiao Beichen acknowledged this but insisted his every word was from the heart. He presented Warlord Cheng with a miniascape, using it to illustrate the principle that "a nation unstable means a family insecure." He emphasized that regardless of personal ambition, national stability was paramount.
Xiao Beichen shrewdly pointed out that despite their differing political views, Warlord Cheng had refrained from killing Lin Tangsheng because he recognized Lin Tangsheng's talent and was waiting for a time of national stability when such individuals would be indispensable. Warlord Cheng, surprised by Xiao Beichen's understanding, admitted, "We have never met, but you understand me." He then told Xiao Beichen to bring a new plant next time, and Xiao Beichen promised him a kaffir lily.
Warlord Cheng told Xiao Beichen and his companions to wait a few days without giving a definitive answer. Unsure if Lin Tangsheng would truly be saved, Xiao Beichen cautioned Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun to keep the matter quiet. Meanwhile, Lin Hangjing was distraught over her father's plight, lamenting that even Xiao Haishan couldn't help.
She felt she couldn't passively wait and decided to return to Yulin, her hometown in the South, to seek help from her father's friends or even beg Warlord Cheng herself. Mu Zizheng, having heard the news, found Lin Hangjing and offered to accompany her, stating he also had influential friends in the South and together they might find a solution. Despite Lin Hangjing's concerns for his mother, Mu Zizheng was resolute, promising he was as determined as she was.
However, at the ticket office, they discovered that due to severe flooding in the South, sea travel was limited, and no tickets were available until the day after tomorrow. Road travel was also impossible, as only military vehicles were permitted. They resigned themselves to waiting and preparing for their departure. Upon returning to the East Camp, Xiao Beichen was immediately apprehended by Mr. Guo.
Xiao Haishan confronted him, aware that he had secretly gone to meet Warlord Cheng, which violated military discipline. His aides also worried about him using military provisions. Xiao Beichen vehemently denied using military provisions, challenging them to check the warehouse. A flashback revealed that Xiao Beichen had indeed ordered 30,000 catties of provisions to be temporarily transferred to Warlord Cheng, but quickly arranged for new supplies from other granaries to replace them before it was discovered.
As a result, the provisions were all accounted for. However, Xiao Haishan still found him guilty of interfering in southern affairs without authorization and sentenced him to thirty lashes and confinement. After Xiao Beichen's visit, Warlord Cheng adopted a colder stance towards Kang Jingxiong. Recognizing Xiao Beichen's unexpected persuasive abilities, Kang Jingxiong called Warlord Jin to subtly hint about Xiao Beichen's supposed engagement to Lin Hangjing, hoping to stir trouble.
Released from confinement, looking weary from his punishment, Xiao Beichen hurried back to the Xiao Family residence, eager to check on Lin Hangjing. Unbeknownst to him, Lin Hangjing was discussing her plans to leave with Jin Xiang. Lin Hangjing confided that if Madam Qi knew, she wouldn't let her go. She reassured Jin Xiang that Mu Zizheng would accompany her, and they would meet at the pier the following morning.
Jin Xiang also mentioned that Xiao Beichen had been placed in confinement. Overhearing this, Xiao Beichen was heartbroken, muttering to himself, "Lin Hangjing, is Mu Zizheng the only one in your heart? He is the person you trust and depend on the most, isn't he?" Meanwhile, Xiao Haishan visited Warlord Jin, intending to apologize for Xiao Beichen's unauthorized meeting with Warlord Cheng.
To his surprise, Warlord Jin did not scold him but instead kept pressing about Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing's marriage. Xiao Haishan understood Warlord Jin's suspicious nature; if the marriage were proven false, it would confirm suspicions that the Xiao Family was harboring Lin Hangjing, jeopardizing their political standing. Unable to force Lin Hangjing into marriage, Xiao Haishan decided to stall, hoping to resolve Lin Tangsheng's situation first. That evening, Mu Zizheng was summoned by Yong for an urgent mission.
Yong revealed that the organization had discovered Kang Jingxiong was transporting large numbers of laborers to southern Liaoning and needed Mu Zizheng to infiltrate and secretly gather information due to his drawing skills. Mu Zizheng initially hesitated, explaining his promise to accompany Lin Hangjing. To persuade him, Yong assured him that Lin Tangsheng was no longer in mortal danger.
Mu Zizheng wanted to immediately share this good news with Lin Hangjing, but Yong insisted he had to leave at once to catch the current batch of laborers, as the next opportunity wouldn't be for two weeks. Accepting the mission, Mu Zizheng asked Yong to deliver a letter to Lin Hangjing, hoping to prevent her from worrying about him. The next morning, at the pier, Lin Hangjing waited for Mu Zizheng, but he never appeared.
As the boat was about to depart, she prepared to board alone when Mo Weiyi arrived, informing her that Xiao Beichen wanted her to return. Back at the Xiao Family, Xiao Beichen confronted Lin Hangjing about her plan to return to the South to save her father. He offered to rescue Lin Tangsheng himself, but only if she agreed to marry him.
Lin Hangjing vehemently refused, reiterating that she did not love him and questioning the meaning of such a marriage. Xiao Beichen, unwavering, responded that he was simply a person who always had to win his bets, referencing a five-year-old promise. He coldly asked if she had any other choice but to trust him, implying that even Xiao Haishan couldn't resolve the situation. He then told her to take her time considering his proposal.
Jin Xiang found Lin Hangjing returning with her luggage and asked about Mu Zizheng. A sudden realization prompted Lin Hangjing to rush to the kite shop, where the owner confirmed Mu Zizheng had left Beixin City and had not specified his destination. Shortly after, Warlord Jin's aide, Mr. Zhou, arrived at the Xiao Family, delivering lavish wedding gifts and openly pressing for a swift marriage between Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing.
Xiao Haishan realized that Warlord Jin was determined to see them marry, and the news had spread throughout Beixin City. Xiao Shuyi, furious, confronted Lin Hangjing, accusing her of ruining Xiao Beichen's impending marriage to Zheng Fengqi and dragging the Xiao Family into trouble. Madam Qi, however, comforted Lin Hangjing, telling her not to worry about the military politics and assuring her that the Xiao Family would never force her, as they regarded her as their own beloved daughter.
Overwhelmed by the situation and unwilling to cause more trouble for the Xiao Family, Lin Hangjing made a difficult decision. She found Xiao Beichen, who, seeing her hesitation, tried to ease her burden by saying his proposal was just a joke. However, Lin Hangjing firmly declared that she would marry him. She explained that Warlord Jin's public display of support had forced Xiao Haishan's hand, and she felt responsible for the turmoil she had caused.
She stated that only by marrying Xiao Beichen could all problems be resolved and the Xiao Family's reputation protected. She then presented her condition: a two-year contract marriage, nominal only, with no intimacy, and a planned divorce on the grounds of her supposed defiance of wifely virtues, ensuring no damage to the Xiao Family's honor. Despite his anger at her calculated terms, Xiao Beichen agreed, emphasizing that they must play their parts convincingly to deceive Kang Jingxiong.
They established their agreement: publicly affectionate, privately separate. Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing then announced their decision to Xiao Haishan and Madam Qi. Xiao Haishan, concerned that Lin Hangjing was sacrificing her happiness, initially expressed reservations. Lin Hangjing, however, insisted she was marrying Xiao Beichen willingly, claiming she had come to appreciate his unwavering affection for her over the years, realizing he was a trustworthy man worthy of her life.
Seeing their apparent sincerity, Xiao Haishan and Madam Qi gave their blessing, deeming it a mutually beneficial outcome. Word of the engagement quickly reached Zheng's father, who stormed into the Xiao Family residence, furiously confronting Xiao Haishan.
He accused Xiao Haishan of betraying their long-standing alliance, reminding him that the previous announcement of an engagement between Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing was merely a "makeshift" plan, and that Xiao Beichen was meant to marry his daughter, Zheng Fengqi, who had dedicated herself to him. He then threatened Xiao Haishan with his army, asserting that the Zheng and Xiao families' bond was broken, and he would seek justice for his daughter, ensuring the Xiao Family regretted their actions.
Mo Weiyi's father and Xu Zijun's father attempted to mediate, urging Zheng's father to calm down and pointing out that love couldn't be forced, but he was consumed by anger, recalling how he saved Xiao Haishan's life in the Shanhai Pass battle and reiterating his resolve to make the Xiao Family suffer.
Soon after, good news arrived: Lin Tangsheng had been granted bail, and his corruption charges were found to be lacking sufficient evidence, leading to a commuted sentence of one year. Everyone in the Xiao Family rejoiced, recognizing that this fortunate turn of events was Xiao Beichen's doing. Lin Hangjing received a letter from her father, Lin Tangsheng, who expressed his profound gratitude to the Xiao Family for sheltering and caring for her like their own daughter.
He also highly praised Xiao Beichen as a young, talented hero worthy of her trust, finding solace in the knowledge that she was safe under their protection, though he admitted to a deep heartache at being unable to keep her by his side.
