Love in Flames of War Episode 5 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Madam Qi and a few other ladies were engaged in a game of mahjong. Mrs. Xu mentioned that her son, Zijun, was beaten by Commander Xiao, which made her too ashamed to visit. Madam Qi, however, dismissed it as a minor incident for a boy. Another lady then shared a detail about her daughter, Zheng Fengqi, who had sent a telegram from Paris, France, with twenty-five words, twenty of which inquired about Xiao Beichen's injury.
Madam Qi expressed frustration that Zheng Fengqi insisted on studying abroad instead of focusing on finding a good husband, despite her excellent family background, beauty, and worldly experience. She then called Lin Hangjing to copy the Diamond Sutra for her, noting Lin Hangjing’s beautiful handwriting and telling her to stay a bit further away to protect her eyes.
The other madams praised Madam Qi for treating Lin Hangjing like her own daughter, to which Madam Qi demurred, saying she couldn't have such an outstanding daughter. She playfully mused that if her own sons, Beiyi and Beiwang, were older, she would want one of them to marry Lin Hangjing, wondering who would be lucky enough to have her as a wife. Meanwhile, Xiao Beichen, wrestling with the difficulty of apologizing, followed Lin Hangjing to the Beixin Orphanage.
The children there were overjoyed to see her, eagerly gathering around. Lin Hangjing sang them "Farewell," a song by Li Shutong, filling the orphanage with warmth and laughter. After leaving the orphanage, Xiao Beichen confronted Lin Hangjing, attempting to apologize for the courtesan house incident. Lin Hangjing, however, was resolute in her desire to put the past behind them.
She declared that from now on, they would merely acknowledge each other with a nod within the mansion, but outside, they should act as strangers. Xiao Beichen, though trying to explain his intentions, was met with Lin Hangjing's firm statement that while they needn't be enemies, they could certainly never be friends. Their conversation was cut short when an official from the mansion rushed to them, urgently instructing them to return.
Xiao Beichen tried to usher Lin Hangjing into the front car, but she resisted, opting for the car behind. He reluctantly followed her into the second vehicle, a choice that would soon prove fortuitous. On their way back to the mansion, their convoy was ambushed. A person suddenly appeared, detonating a bomb, followed by a flurry of gunfire. The front car, which Lin Hangjing and Xiao Beichen had avoided, was hit directly.
Xiao Beichen quickly grabbed a gun to defend them, pulling Lin Hangjing to a safer spot. As they tried to recover, Lin Hangjing spotted someone aiming a gun at Xiao Beichen from behind. Without a moment's hesitation, she threw herself in front of him, taking the bullet in her arm and collapsing unconscious. At the hospital, everyone anxiously waited outside the operating room. Dr. Huang soon emerged, informing them that the bullet had been successfully removed and the wound treated.
Lin Hangjing would regain consciousness once the anesthetic wore off. Xiao Haishan received a report that the seven assassins were family members of rebels he had executed at Warlord Jin's command. He strongly suspected they were instigated by someone more powerful and ordered a thorough investigation. Across town, Kang Jingxiong, discussing the failed assassination attempt with his subordinate, acknowledged that the Xiao family would now be on high alert. He advised his subordinate to lie low for the time being.
They then discussed Yang Gongcheng of the Cheng Army, who had taken Haitian Town and Donggu Town and was moving forces towards Huyang Pass, indicating a serious intent to seize the Qingshan Iron Mine. Kang Jingxiong understood that the iron mine was merely a pretense; Yang Gongcheng’s true ambition was the entire Zhibei region. Kang Jingxiong hoped the Warlord would send Xiao Haishan to confront the Cheng Army, as this would significantly weaken the Xiao Army’s strength.
He believed the "seed of doubt" they had planted in the Warlord’s mind regarding Xiao Haishan’s growing influence would soon "sprout." Back in the hospital, Xiao Beichen insisted on staying by Lin Hangjing's side until she awoke, even when others offered to stay. He observed her, noting how she subtly turned her head away from him even in her sleep, which made him feel a pang of sadness.
The next day, when Lin Hangjing finally opened her eyes, Xiao Beichen immediately rushed to call the doctor. Upon discharge, Xiao Beichen carried Lin Hangjing back into the Xiao Family mansion in a "princess carry." Madam Qi doted on Lin Hangjing, bringing her squab stew and expressing relief that she had survived the calamity, implying that she was now "destined for good fortune."
She then gently chided Xiao Beichen, reminding him to clean himself up after days in the hospital before caring for his "sister." Xiao Beichen, realizing he had an odor, quickly went to refresh himself. Xiao Haishan's investigation into the assassination hit a wall when the captured rebel family member committed suicide, cutting off the gun supply chain. He suspected Kang Jingxiong but lacked concrete evidence.
He explained to his deputy that taking action now against Kang Jingxiong, who had strong ties with the Warlord, would be detrimental and could lead to grave consequences for the entire family. He ordered increased security around the residence, emphasizing that no mistakes could be made. Xiao Beichen confronted his father, expressing his fury that the assassins were seeking revenge because Xiao Haishan had killed their families.
He angrily wished he had died in the ambush, accusing his father of being a heartless killer. Xiao Haishan argued that the rebels were traitors and deserved their fate. Xiao Beichen retorted, asking what fault he or the families had in this, and why he should become a "killer." He brought up his mother’s death ten years prior, asking if she too died with such an "awareness."
He vividly recounted his mother's journey from Shengjing to Beixin, eager to reunite with Xiao Haishan after five years apart, only for her last performance to be met not by her husband, but by an enemy's bullet. He blamed his father for her death and for destroying their family through constant warfare, claiming his own family was "long gone." Xiao Haishan tried to rationalize, stating that a general must not be too emotionally attached to succeed.
Xiao Beichen countered that a person who doesn't value life and emotions could never be a true general. Xiao Haishan, frustrated, challenged Xiao Beichen to demonstrate what he would learn in military school. Later, Madam Qi tried to bridge the chasm between father and son. She told Xiao Beichen that on the day of his mother's last performance, Xiao Haishan had indeed planned to be there.
But less than a year after he and the Warlord took Beixin City, the former general returned, forcing Xiao Haishan to lead his troops into battle to stabilize the situation. Though victorious, he was ambushed and injured on his way back. By the time he awoke in the hospital, his wife, Huilan, had already passed away.
Madam Qi revealed that Xiao Haishan had never forgiven himself for Huilan's death and refused to make excuses, carrying the guilt as a lifelong burden. She hoped that one day, Xiao Beichen would understand the immense burden his father bore in his position. Xiao Beichen, however, remained resolute, saying that perhaps if he ever sat in his father’s position, he might understand, but for now, it was "impossible."
Xu Zijun, determined to help Xiao Beichen, gently pushed Xiao Shuyi into Lin Hangjing's room, urging her to talk. Xiao Shuyi, after some hesitation, confessed that it was she, not Xiao Beichen, who had sent Lin Hangjing to the courtesan house. She apologized, explaining she hadn't known what kind of place it was, and asked Lin Hangjing to stop blaming Xiao Beichen. Xiao Beichen sat in the courtyard, lost in thought, remembering his mother.
He recalled her deep love for opera and her decision to perform one last time in Beixin before settling down to a normal family life. He relived the horrifying moment when she shielded him from gunfire, dying before his eyes, a sacrifice he attributed to his father's absence. Lin Hangjing found him there, and Madam Qi explained he was grieving for his mother, suggesting that if Lin Hangjing tried to understand him, she would find they were quite similar.
In the market, a storyteller captivated a crowd with tales of Commander Xiao Haishan’s Ying Army, praising their victories and their care for the common people, calling them a "benevolent army." Warlord Jin Cheng, overhearing this, expressed his pride, feeling that it brought him great honor. Xiao Beichen had booked a theater for a performance. Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun joined him, teasing him about his newfound desire for solitude when he typically enjoyed crowds.
They discussed his impending enrollment in military school after the New Year and suggested the upcoming Lingxi Lantern Festival, a day for lovers, as a perfect opportunity to formalize his relationship with Lin Hangjing. Xiao Beichen dismissed the idea, stating Lin Hangjing would never agree to go with him, and vehemently denied any romantic interest in her.
His friends, however, insisted that Lin Hangjing secretly liked him, interpreting her apparent aversion as shyness and citing her recent act of taking a bullet for him as irrefutable proof of her true feelings. They decided they would arrange for her to attend the festival, believing it would lead to a natural progression of their relationship. Xiao Beichen, still skeptical, told them not to waste their efforts, as she "definitely won't go."
Undeterred, Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun approached Lin Hangjing directly, inviting her to attend the Lingxi Lantern Festival with Xiao Beichen, describing it as a major, beautiful event in Beixin City. Lin Hangjing inquired if the invitation came from Xiao Beichen himself, to which they quickly clarified it was their idea. Citing her recent injury and discomfort with crowds, she declined. They assured her of her safety with Xiao Beichen.
When she tried to leave, they revealed they had intercepted her father's letter from the south. They offered to "temporarily keep" the letter, promising to return it "intact" only if she appeared at the Lingxi Lantern Festival "in all her glory." Lin Hangjing condemned their "despicable" tactic, but they simply called it "being mature" and "negotiation." She questioned why she was chosen, given Xiao Beichen's numerous female admirers.
Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun then revealed that despite his reputation, Xiao Beichen had never actually been on a private date with a girl, and Lin Hangjing would be his "first." They departed, confidently telling her they would see her at the festival and not to be late.
