Love in Flames of War Episode 22 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Xiao Beichen returned home to find Lin Hangjing asleep in a lounge chair. She woke up, delighted to see him, and he embraced her. Lin Hangjing sensed his lingering worry, realizing he was still troubled by Mo Weiyi. She understood that Mo Weiyi would not return to the East Camp until his father, Mo Xibai's, cause of death was thoroughly investigated, as his father had raised him. Lin Hangjing reassured him that the truth would eventually come to light.
Xiao Beichen then shared that Warlord Jin would soon arrive in Beixin with Division 2 Regiment 3 for a month-long joint military exercise, after which he expected Warlord Jin to propose garrisoning Suiling. Xiao Beichen instructed his men to extend the highest standard of hospitality and ensure strict security measures, stating that they would then have to adapt to the situation as it unfolded.
Meanwhile, Kang Jingxiong recognized Warlord Jin's intentions as a "trick," believing his true objective was to gain control of the Ying Army belonging to the Xiao Family. Kang Jingxiong decided to remain an observer and watch events unfold. Lin Hangjing sent a whistle to Mo Weiyi with a message about the preciousness of true friendship. Receiving the gift, Mo Weiyi was reminded of a childhood incident where he had broken his leg while playing in the mountains.
He had blown a whistle, and Xiao Beichen and Xu Zijun had come to his rescue. Xiao Beichen, learning that Lin Hangjing had sent a special gift to Mo Weiyi, was pleased. He presented Lin Hangjing with a box of the newest rouge. Playfully, he applied it to her face, making her cheeks very red, which she found amusingly messy, before he drew her into an affectionate embrace.
Later, Editor Zhang informed Lin Hangjing that her father, Lin Tangsheng's, economic writings, which had been banned since his imprisonment by Warlord Cheng, were now approved for reprinting. He credited Zheng Fengqi with tirelessly mediating through the Ministry of Culture of the central government to achieve this. Overjoyed, Lin Hangjing rushed to share the good news with Xiao Beichen, expressing her excitement that her father would be thrilled to see his books republished upon his release.
As he held her, Xiao Beichen silently apologized. A grand welcome ball was held for Warlord Jin's arrival in Beixin. Zheng Fengqi was also in attendance, claiming to have been invited by Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing. Warlord Jin entered with his daughter, Jin Rouke, and his newly adopted godson, Mu Zizheng. Both Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing were visibly surprised by Mu Zizheng's presence but maintained their composure, pretending they were meeting him for the first time.
Zheng Fengqi, however, registered the name Mu Zizheng with keen interest. As Xiao Beichen engaged in conversation with Warlord Jin and other dignitaries, Lin Hangjing, feeling distracted and uneasy, excused herself from Madam Qi and the other esteemed ladies. Seeing Lin Hangjing leave, Xiao Beichen attempted to follow, but Jin Rouke intercepted him, requesting a dance. Unable to refuse in front of Warlord Jin, he reluctantly agreed.
Mu Zizheng led Lin Hangjing to a secluded area, demanding to know why she married Xiao Beichen—someone he believed she did not love. Lin Hangjing countered, asking him to first explain his abrupt departure from Beixin and his subsequent adoption by Warlord Jin. Mu Zizheng revealed that he had joined the YMCA three years prior, undergoing six months of secret training.
The day before they had planned to sail south, he was assigned an urgent mission that forced him to leave immediately without explanation. He mentioned asking Yong to deliver a letter, which never reached her. After spending time in a labor camp, he eventually became Warlord Jin's godson. Mu Zizheng insisted that Xiao Beichen must have coerced her into marriage, but Lin Hangjing firmly stated that no one forced her, and she married Xiao Beichen willingly.
Disbelieving, Mu Zizheng reminded her of their past closeness and offered to make amends for his sudden departure. As Lin Hangjing prepared to leave, Mu Zizheng stopped her, revealing that Xiao Beichen was behind his transfer from Beixin, orchestrating it to separate them. He warned her that Xiao Beichen was far more manipulative than she imagined. Just then, Xiao Beichen found them after finishing his dance.
Mu Zizheng defiantly held Lin Hangjing's hand, refusing to let her go, until Jin Rouke arrived and smoothly escorted Lin Hangjing away. Mu Zizheng then declared war on Xiao Beichen, swearing that no matter what "despicable means" Xiao Beichen used to marry Lin Hangjing, he would bring her back to his side and make Xiao Beichen realize who truly held Lin Hangjing's heart.
Back home, Xiao Beichen confronted Lin Hangjing, knowing she had learned the truth about his involvement in Mu Zizheng's transfer. He admitted that given a second chance, he would still make the same decision, arguing that people are selfish in love and that their plan to go south would not have saved Lin Tangsheng anyway. Lin Hangjing, however, was furious that he had made such a life-altering decision for her and had nearly cost Mu Zizheng his life.
Xiao Beichen, turning away in disappointment, expressed sadness that Mu Zizheng's return had made her so irrational. Classes at the girls' school resumed, and Lin Hangjing received a letter from Mu Zizheng requesting a meeting, but she chose to ignore it. Mu Zizheng waited for several hours at their usual meeting spot, with Jin Rouke patiently accompanying him, but Lin Hangjing never arrived.
At home, Lin Hangjing and Xiao Beichen maintained a cold silence, a wall of unspoken emotions between them. During the joint military exercise, Warlord Jin observed the troops. He questioned why Xiao Beichen's famed Tiger Regiment, known for being "ever-victorious," was not on display, suggesting a competition with his own Saber Regiment. Xiao Beichen initially tried to deflect, saying his men were no match for the Saber Regiment and he feared they would "be laughed at."
However, after Mu Zizheng provocatively suggested the Tiger Regiment was a "secret weapon," Xiao Beichen conceded, and the exercise began. Afterward, Mu Zizheng praised the Tiger Regiment's discipline and ferocity to Warlord Jin but also voiced concerns that Xiao Beichen could become a significant threat if not allied. He suggested curbing Xiao Beichen's "arrogance" before he grew too powerful.
Warlord Jin agreed with Mu Zizheng's objective assessment, concluding that to test Xiao Beichen's true loyalty, they needed to gain control of his elite troops. He revealed his intention to transfer the Tiger Regiment. At the Beixin Orphanage, Lin Hangjing and Chengyu discussed the new influx of war orphans, many of whom were severely traumatized and needed more staff and funding.
The Jiade Auction House offered to hold a charity sale, and Lin Hangjing volunteered to help organize, mobilizing female students to assist. During this time, Jin Rouke visited Lin Hangjing, recounting the horrific state in which she had found Mu Zizheng in the mountains. He was "black and blue all over," "without a shirt on," starving, freezing, and "barely breathing," desperately calling out Lin Hangjing's name.
She described how he had even cut off festering flesh from his wounds with a knife, without anesthetic, just to survive. Jin Rouke implored Lin Hangjing to meet with Mu Zizheng face-to-face, regardless of her feelings, to provide him with closure, emphasizing that Lin Hangjing was his "entire belief." Compelled by this, Lin Hangjing went to meet Mu Zizheng at the old kite shop.
They reminisced about their shared dreams, their time working at the kite shop and the news agency, and their aspirations to fight for the nation and its people. Mu Zizheng then shared a poignant childhood memory of his opium-addicted father dying, leaving him and his mother to endure a life of hardship and abuse.
