Love in Flames of War Episode 43 (Ending) Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Xiao Beichen revisited Luminous Jade, which now lay in desolate ruins, a stark contrast to its former splendor. He donned an opera costume for a poignant farewell, and in that moment, he, along with Lin Hangjing, Mo Weiyi, and Xu Zijun, who were quietly present, seemed to see the spectral figures of Zhao Banzhu and the fallen troupe in their mind's eye as he sang from the stage.
On February 17, 1933, the Japanese Kwantung Army headquarters officially issued a combat order to attack Rehe. At the Beixin border, the Kwantung Army reinforced its forces with two brigades, launching a fierce assault on the Ying Army from both east and south. Gunfire licked the heavens as the offensive raged. The Ying Army fiercely resisted the Japanese invaders in Yujiajie, Miaodian, and Sanwantang, areas outside Beixin City, with the confrontation lasting until March.
The battlefield was now a mere thirty li from Beixin City, signifying that Beixin was under siege. Lin Hangjing joined Xiao Beichen, moving into the frontline command post. She was pregnant but kept the news to herself to avoid distracting him from the war. A soldier reported to Xiao Beichen that Huang Fu in Peking was preparing to negotiate a truce with the Japanese.
Xiao Beichen reacted with outrage, asking if the Nanjing Government intended for them to surrender their positions and questioning their patriotism. He vehemently declared that he and his forces were irreconcilable with the Japanese. He asserted that they must fight, vowing to defend their motherland even if only one soldier of the Ying Army remained. He then ordered Mo Weiyi to accompany him to Sanwantang the next day. Lin Hangjing, pregnant, peeled lotus seeds to make porridge.
Xiao Beichen joined her, trying to help but only creating more work, prompting Lin Hangjing to playfully scold him and send him away, their interactions resembling those of an old married couple. She had bought the out-of-season lotus seeds from an old woman on the roadside, believing that "people always have to survive."
Later, she overheard a soldier explaining that the Commander-in-Chief had personally announced to all troops and generals that they would "fight the Japanese army to the end, and live and die together with Beixin." This news filled Lin Hangjing with worry. She brought the lotus seed porridge to Xiao Beichen, who had fallen asleep at his desk from exhaustion. As he ate, she took his military uniform to iron.
She told him that if Beixin City were to fall, he must shoot her first. If he couldn't, she would drown herself in the river, like Qu Yuan. Hearing her words, Xiao Beichen was deeply saddened. He confessed that sometimes he wished she still hated him as she once did. He reflected on their past, recalling how her pride and his stubbornness had kept them apart for so many years.
Xu Zijun oversaw the evacuation of civilians, including Xiao Shuyi and the orphanage children. He expressed his sorrow, telling Xiao Shuyi he had once sworn to protect her forever, never leaving her side, a promise he could not now keep as he was heading to the battlefield. He embraced her tightly, asking her to promise to be his younger sister for life.
Xiao Shuyi, having fallen in love with him, stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, urging him to come back alive. As her truck departed, she continued to shout, "Xu Zijun, listen carefully. I want you to come back alive. All of you!" Xiao Beichen led Lin Hangjing to a peach tree he had planted after she left years ago, recalling how she once spoke of peach trees blooming and bearing fruit.
He confessed that he had watched it bloom and fade each year, always hoping she would return. He lamented the many years they had missed and expressed his desire not to miss "this year's bloom," drawing a parallel to spring flowers awaiting the geese's return, symbolizing their eventual victory. Back inside, Lin Hangjing prepared simple noodles, as it was all she could find in the kitchen.
Xiao Beichen, touched by her gesture, asked her to have a drink with him as a farewell. Lin Hangjing initially refused due to her pregnancy, but relented when he insisted on just one drink as a "farewell drink." As they drank, he reminded her of their first drink together at their wedding. He then presented her with a pair of white jade pendant earrings, revealing that he had entrusted all his years of longing for her to them.
After he gently put the earrings on her, Lin Hangjing began to tell him about her pregnancy, but suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed in his arms, realizing he had drugged her. He confessed his fear that if he saw her, he would be reluctant to die, and declared that she was the only person he had ever loved in his life, and that he still needed her to leave.
Lin Hangjing awoke on a ship bound for London, realizing she had been sent away for her safety. A soldier informed her that Commander-in-Chief Xiao had arranged everything in London, and Chengyu would be there to accompany her. She gazed back towards Beixin, her heart heavy with reluctance, still concealing her pregnancy. Meanwhile, Xiao Beichen rushed to Beixin's last line of defense, vowing to live and die with the city. Du Heng confronted him, urging him to leave.
When a soldier reported the imminent fall of the city gate's southwest corner, Du Heng insisted Xiao Beichen go for reinforcements to lead the support troops still in the city who only followed his command. He also mentioned that he had contacted Situ Jianping of the Communist Party, who was bringing reinforcements.
Despite Xiao Beichen's reluctance to abandon them, Du Heng asserted his authority as Xiao Beichen's former instructor, ordering him to leave, reminding him that as Commander-in-Chief of the Ying Army and master of Beixin City, he "must go." Xiao Beichen saluted his former teacher and reluctantly departed. Du Heng, now leading the fight, was shot and fell. As Japanese vehicles advanced towards him, he detonated the explosives strapped to his body, sacrificing himself while whispering, "China will never perish."
Amidst the fierce artillery bombardment, Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun shared a moment of grim camaraderie. Mo Weiyi, despite being injured and having his glasses askew, told "Doofus Xu" that though he found him unreliable, he cherished their brotherhood with him and Xiao Beichen, hoping it would continue in the next life. Xu Zijun, in turn, declared that one lifetime was not enough.
As an enemy grenade landed near them, Mo Weiyi, without hesitation, pushed Xu Zijun out of the way, taking the full impact himself. Xu Zijun watched, heartbroken, as his brother died, pleading with him not to leave. Overwhelmed by grief, Xu Zijun wiped away his tears, picked up his rifle, and charged towards the enemy. Despite his bravery, he was outnumbered and ultimately fell to a Japanese bayonet, unable to fulfill his promise to Xiao Shuyi to return alive.
Three days later, the entire Ying Army had perished, and the Japanese Kwantung Army successfully invaded Beixin City. Six years passed. In London, England, Chengyu, sent by Xiao Beichen before his disappearance, served as Lin Hangjing's companion. Though Chengyu gently urged her to move on after six years, Lin Hangjing held firm to her belief that Xiao Beichen was still alive and would eventually meet their son, Nangui.
One day, while looking at a newspaper featuring news of the May Fourth Movement, Lin Hangjing’s eyes widened. Despite the crowd in the accompanying photograph, she instantly recognized Xiao Beichen among them. Nangui, seeing his mother cry, rushed to her side. Lin Hangjing pointed to the image and, with tearful joy, told her son, "Nangui, look. This is your dad." Resolved to find her husband, Lin Hangjing boarded a ship with Nangui, confident that they would be reunited with him.
