Love in Flames of War Episode 23 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Mu Zizheng revealed to Lin Hangjing his strong ambition, stating that from the time he was in the Laborers' Camp, where he "almost died" and saw "many people like me" whose "lives are mere nothing," he decided he "must stand out among people and change this unjust world." He emphasized that if they "can't control our own destiny, we'll always be trampled on freely."
He confessed that in the camp, it was "the first time in my life" he "regretted the decision I made," not because he "was not afraid to die," but because he was "afraid that I wouldn't be able to see you one last time before I die." Lin Hangjing apologized to him, saying she was sorry for what he "was going through" in the camp and that it was "Beichen's fault to transfer you away."
She apologized on Xiao Beichen's behalf. Mu Zizheng retorted, "You apologize to me on his behalf." Lin Hangjing tried to explain, recounting how when she "first came to Beixin City," she felt "at a loss" and "extremely uneasy." Mu Zizheng "protected me the first time we met," and they "became best friends" where she "could speak freely and ignore all the doctrines and rules." She affirmed that he would "always be my confidant and best friend."
However, she concluded, "But now, I'm Xiao Beichen's wife. So no matter what, we can't go back to the past." Mu Zizheng, still emotional, offered to take her away, declaring, "I'm now capable of taking you away. After completing the mission this time, I can take you away from here. We can go to Yulin. We can go anywhere, where Xiao Beichen couldn't find us." Lin Hangjing firmly refused, stating, "I can't go with you. Because I love Xiao Beichen."
Mu Zizheng found this impossible to believe, reminding her she "hated him the most." Lin Hangjing admitted she "used to hate Xiao Beichen" and "always thought he's flamboyant, domineering and liked to force others to do things." But after they "went through many things together," she "realized that I never really knew him." The "real him is kind and soft and has a sense of responsibility and affection."
She realized he "takes good care of me and protects me with his life." She initially "thought I might just feel dependent on him. But when I thought I was about to lose him, I realized that he's so important to me. In my heart, he's long been the one worthy of my lifetime trust." With that, Lin Hangjing stood up and left. Furious, Mu Zizheng smashed the kites in the room, exclaiming, "Why? I met her first!"
Jin Rouke tried to calm him, explaining, "Love knows no order of arrival." She shared her own past, how she "once loved someone deeply" and "thought I would be with him forever," even "give up everything for him, even leaving my father." But he "betrayed me," and she still didn't know why "even when he was shot by my father and died in my arms." She advised Mu Zizheng that "sometimes love won't go as we wish."
Mu Zizheng, however, refused to give up, stating, "I believe where there is a will, there is a way." When Lin Hangjing returned, Xiao Beichen asked if she "went to see Mu Zizheng," causing her to angrily accuse him, "Did you have me followed? Don't we even have the basic trust in each other?" Xiao Beichen retorted that as her husband, he had "the right to know where you go."
Disappointed, Lin Hangjing decided, "I think we both need to calm down," and went to "sleep in the guest room tonight." Later, while Jin Cheng was having breakfast, his aide, Mr. Zhou, received a phone call from Huang Gongguan about "Western antiques reserved for you." Jin Cheng then left for the venue. Mu Zizheng found the call suspicious, feeling that "they were talking about antiques, but there was something in it. Huang Gongguan is definitely questionable."
He immediately reported this to Yong Ge, suggesting a connection to Yakov. Yong Ge, after confirming Mu Zizheng had seen Lin Hangjing, cautioned him, "You're already in danger to stay with Jin Cheng. Don't get involved in trouble with Xiao Beichen and Lin Hangjing. It will put you in greater danger." Mu Zizheng assured him, "I will never kick against the pricks or do anything stupid. And I won't let my personal affairs affect the work of the YMCA."
Meanwhile, Du Heng had captured the assassin responsible for Mo Weiyi's father's death. With Xu Zijun and Mo Weiyi present, Du Heng pressed the assassin, who revealed that his "boss" was Kang Jingxiong. The assassin explained he was a retired soldier hired by Kang Jingxiong to "help him with some personal matters," and that he had "no choice" but to comply due to his family's financial struggles.
He confirmed it was Kang Jingxiong who asked him to kill Chief Mo, and that Kang Jingxiong "is suspicious by nature." Hearing this, Mo Weiyi became enraged, attempting to kill the assassin immediately. Du Heng and Xu Zijun restrained him, reminding him, "Your real enemy is Kang Jingxiong. Killing him is to kill a witness for Kang Jingxiong." Jin Cheng, after inspecting East Camp, praised Xiao Beichen for managing it "in perfect order" and expressed admiration for the Tiger Regiment.
He proposed a military exercise between the Tiger Regiment and Saber Regiment, suggesting they "enter Suiling together next month." Xiao Beichen attempted to decline, explaining that the "Tiger Regiment is a sharp unit suitable for making sudden attacks" and "better at fighting tough battles." He suggested "Division 1 Regiment 2 is better" for guarding the borders. Jin Cheng then stated his intention "to let Tiger Regiment to set an example for mine and Jingxiong's troops."
When Xiao Beichen's response was hesitant, Jin Cheng reminded him of his father's loyalty, saying, "Do you know why I've valued your father these years? Because he is loyal. He has never said no to my orders." He added that while "the ability of a man is important, but loyalty is more important to me." He concluded, "If someone is very capable but not loyal enough, he might be a future trouble."
Recognizing the implicit threat, Xiao Beichen replied, "My father is loyal and faithful. And I will keep that in mind." Jin Cheng then declared, "You're a clever man, so there is no need for me to say more. Then it's settled." Xiao Beichen could only agree. Later, news arrived that Xiao Haishan's "surgery was a success," bringing joy to the family.
That evening, Xiao Beichen sent word that he would not be coming for dinner as he was having a meeting at the west hall. His aunt, Madam Qi, wondered what was so important, and an aide overheard that "Warlord Jin wants to dispatch Young Master's Tiger Regiment away," and that "Young Master and Young Master Xu are really upset about it now."
At the west hall, Xu Zijun voiced his frustration to Xiao Beichen and Du Heng, saying, "I feel really angry about it." He explained that the Tiger Regiment's "backbone members are buddies from the same training session with us" and that it "would take at least three to five years to build such a force" again.
He further elaborated that by stationing the collation troops in Suiling, Jin Cheng would "control the key points of the three border regions, and cut us off from the western region," effectively "holding a gun to our throats." Du Heng confirmed that "Warlord Jin uses power to suppress Beichen" and "it's not easy to turn the table."
Accepting the reality, Xiao Beichen declared, "If there is really no choice, we have to hand over Tiger Regiment," adding that with his father "not at the East Camp," he didn't "want any trouble to happen." Just then, Lin Hangjing arrived, conveying Madam Qi's message that Xiao Haishan's "surgery was a success." Xiao Beichen, hoping for more, asked if she "want to say anything else to me?"
but she simply replied, "No." Mu Zizheng, acting provocatively, confronted Xiao Beichen, announcing that the "Tiger Regiment" handover was now "my responsibility" and that "I'll take over it in two days." He sarcastically noted that Xiao Beichen "must be reluctant for this," seeing his "loyal elite unit" no longer his. He reminded Xiao Beichen that "Warlord Jin is your father's superior," implying Xiao Beichen had no choice.
Then, with a sneer, he stated, "I know what it feels like to have your love taken away from someone else. Mr. Xiao, you've finally felt it now." Xiao Beichen warned him, "I suggest you not to play with fire," and threatened to expose his identity, asking what Warlord Jin "would he think" if he knew his godson "is a member of the YMCA."
Mu Zizheng retorted with his own threat, saying if his "identity is exposed, Hangjing and your entire family would be implicated." Xiao Beichen condemned him, "Mu Zizheng, you've become despicable." Mu Zizheng, unperturbed, responded, "It's the law of the jungle. Mr. Xiao, you taught me that. Besides, you used to point a gun at my head at your will."
He further added that if anyone saw their confrontation, they might think Xiao Beichen "is dissatisfied with Warlord Jin's order and are deliberately embarrassing me?" Xiao Beichen defiantly told him, "I dare you. Just try." Mu Zizheng declared, "I'll go to the East Camp in two days to complete all handover formalities. Let's try it then." Meanwhile, President Sato continued sending flower baskets to Zheng Fengqi, along with notes hinting at "interesting things" and "old affection."
This time, Zheng Fengqi instructed her subordinate to call him back and arrange a dinner. On the day of the handover, Mu Zizheng arrived at the East Camp to take command. However, the soldiers, in a defiant act, aimed their guns at themselves, declaring, "No righteous man can serve two masters. If Warlord Jin insists on taking Tiger Regiment away, we would rather die here." Jin Cheng then arrived, demanding to know "What's going on?"
and furiously asking if this was "the military discipline they learned at the East Camp?" He threatened, "Anyone disobeying orders will be executed." Xiao Beichen stepped forward to "take the punishment" for his soldiers. As Jin Cheng aimed his gun at Xiao Beichen, Mo Weiyi rushed in, declaring, "I'm also chief of Tiger Regiment. They can't leave the East Camp because of my order."
He presented "death warrants" signed by each soldier, explaining, "I privately ordered each of them to sign a death warrant." He took full responsibility, acknowledging it was "a violation of military discipline" and that he "didn't tell this to Deputy Commander Xiao." Jin Cheng then aimed his gun at Mo Weiyi, stating that such an offense "can be executed right on the spot."
Xiao Beichen, along with Xu Zijun and the soldiers, knelt and pleaded, "Weiyi has followed me and made countless battle achievements. This is his first-time offense. Please give him one more chance." Seeing their unwavering loyalty, Jin Cheng fired his gun into the air, announcing that he was there "to reward him."
However, he still punished Mo Weiyi, saying, "I'll spare your life today for Xiao Beichen's sake," but warned that "this won't happen again" and he would "punish him by forfeiting three months' pay and deprive him of his honors as a warning." Mo Weiyi accepted. Xiao Beichen then offered to "transfer Division 1 Regiment 2 to your military region immediately" to ensure the "joint military exercise" proceeded, which Jin Cheng accepted, stating, "I trust you in leading the troops."
Afterward, Jin Cheng discussed the situation with Mu Zizheng, lamenting, "I didn't expect that Xiao Beichen's soldiers are so tough. And Mo Weiyi stood out for him, which ruined our plan." He also worried that "Xiao Beichen's men are willing to die for him. That's what worries me the most." Despite failing to seize the Tiger Regiment, Jin Cheng instructed Mu Zizheng to proceed with the three-month military exercise "to maintain my reputation."
Later, Mo Weiyi met Xiao Beichen at a familiar childhood spot where they used to "speak from the heart" during arguments. Xiao Beichen sincerely thanked Mo Weiyi, acknowledging, "Today, you risked your life to protect me." Mo Weiyi, in turn, apologized for "wronging you for so long" due to his father's affair. Xiao Beichen reassured him that his father "was the one you love the most."
Mo Weiyi then reflected on Xiao Beichen's past, saying, "You looked cynical, but you always protected me and Zijun. Every time we ran into trouble, you would take the consequences for us." He concluded by pledging their brotherhood, asserting, "No matter how many difficulties and obstacles we will face, Zijun and I will always be there for you. The three of us will always be of one mind."
Upon hearing from Jin Xiang that "Your husband has not only kept his men but also reconciled with Young Master Mo," Lin Hangjing finally smiled. Jin Xiang, noticing this, playfully remarked it was the "first time for me to see you smile" and encouraged her to "reconcile with him." Although Lin Hangjing remained outwardly stubborn, telling Jin Xiang, "you don't understand," Jin Xiang insisted, "you care about him very much."
