Luoyang Episode 10 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Following the widespread news of discord between the Liu family and the Interior Guard, the empress, reflecting on the complicated informer case and Wu Siyue's unwavering determination, noted that the Hedong Liu family had long been a prominent leader among the noble clans. She expressed annoyance that the noble families, including the Zheng family from Xingyang, the Cui family from Boling, and the Du family from Jingzhao, rushed to the Palace of Immortality and knelt outside.
They claimed that if the influential Liu family could not protect themselves, then the other families would be unable to survive in the capital. Wu Youjue, who was present, apologized to the empress for the disturbance caused by his diligent work. However, the empress, seemingly unconcerned, dismissed their actions, remarking that the old nobles had nothing better to do and could continue kneeling outside.
Shen Fei reported to Baili Hongyi that a liquor seller named Bai Lang in the South Capital knew Gao Bingzhu. Baili Hongyi found Bai Lang at his store and paid a debt for one of Bai Lang's customers, surprising the liquor seller. Inside, Baili Hongyi found Gao Bingzhu eating and inquired if he had obtained the charcoal lead from Lianfang. Gao Bingzhu, in turn, told Baili Hongyi to help investigate the lead himself.
Bai Lang had previously informed Gao Bingzhu that while charcoal usage was generally normal, Princess Yongchuan's mansion, belonging to Li Lu, was an outlier with unusually high consumption, though Bai Lang claimed to not know the reason. Baili Hongyi confronted Gao Bingzhu about what Han Dongqing said or gave him before he died, but Gao Bingzhu simply instructed him to investigate the charcoal usage at Li Lu's mansion.
Liu Ran carefully planted Baili Hongyi's favorite flowers in the courtyard, hoping to please him, despite her maid Yunzhi's observation that Baili Hongyi was a "heartbreaker" who often overlooked her efforts. Baili Hongyi then approached Liu Ran, asking her opinion on giving a crafted jewelry box, embedded with a mechanism, to Princess Yongchuan.
When Yunzhi expressed dismay at his request, Liu Ran, ever eager to assist him, explained that Baili Hongyi needed to ask Princess Yongchuan for a favor and requested Liu Ran's accompaniment for the visit, which Liu Ran happily agreed to. Upon their arrival at Princess Yongchuan's mansion, Li Lu admired the intricate mechanism of the jewelry box, which Liu Ran confirmed Baili Hongyi had personally designed.
Baili Hongyi then directly inquired about the large quantity of charcoal her mansion had purchased. Li Lu clarified that she had recently sold her Linchuan mansion to Liu Xiang, the Duke of Mount Wind, suggesting that he was the one who bought the charcoal. This revelation led Baili Hongyi to suspect that Liu Xiang was using the charcoal for copper smelting.
King Dongchuan, Li Yichen, sought an audience with the empress, bringing her favorite cherries as a gesture of apology and affection. The empress, in turn, questioned if he understood the reason behind Crown Prince Li Dun's deposition. She explained that Li Dun, despite being the emperor, had sought to cede the kingdom to his father-in-law, an act she found intolerable as it treated the realm as personal property.
The empress declared her unwavering resolve not to allow anyone to jeopardize the magnificent kingdom she had painstakingly established. Frightened, Li Yichen knelt, vowing to rectify and enhance Lianfang to ensure it would serve as the empress's effective and transparent eyes and ears. Gao Bingzhu prepared to investigate the whereabouts of the copper materials at Linchuan mansion, cautioning Baili Hongyi against joining him due to the inherent dangers.
However, Baili Hongyi, determined to uncover the truth behind his father's murder and the copper theft, insisted on accompanying him, even challenging Gao Bingzhu's knowledge of metallurgy and copper smelting processes. Meanwhile, Wu Siyue, facing dead ends in her own investigation into the informer case, sought counsel from Yang Huan, a trusted confidant of the empress.
Wu Siyue expressed her frustration and guilt, feeling she had fallen short of the empress's expectations and caused concern for her brother, Wu Youjue, by using her Interior Guard Services authority. Yang Huan, recalling Wu Siyue's past tenacity in overcoming gender stereotypes, urged her to maintain focus on doing what was right, dispelling her doubts about the consequences of her actions. Upon reaching Linchuan village, Gao Bingzhu and Baili Hongyi observed a seemingly peaceful and prosperous community.
However, Gao Bingzhu quickly sensed an underlying abnormality. Despite the fertile land and wide riverbed, suitable for irrigation, no one was farming; instead, only fruit trees were cultivated, leading Gao Bingzhu to suspect that the idyllic scene was a deliberate facade. At a riverside restaurant, they noticed an old man carrying water from a distant source, bypassing the nearby river.
When Gao Bingzhu inquired about this, the restaurant owner's daughter, Lan, innocently revealed that drinking the local river water caused stomachaches. This confirmed their suspicion: toxic waste from a copper smelting operation located upstream was polluting the river, rendering its water undrinkable for the villagers. Wu Siyue visited Liu Ran, observing her diligently organizing Baili Hongyi's study for the third time, a stark contrast to her previous demeanor.
Liu Ran, expressing deep sympathy for Baili Hongyi after his father's demise, explained her desire to care for him, even as Wu Siyue advised her to prioritize her own well-being. Sensing an underlying purpose to Wu Siyue's visit, Liu Ran was correct when Wu Siyue inquired about the relationship between Baili Hongyi and Liu Xiang, the Duke of Mount Wind. Meanwhile, Gao Bingzhu and Baili Hongyi maintained a stakeout in the village.
As night fell, Gao Bingzhu recognized a man from earlier whose heavily calloused hands indicated a long history of casting work rather than farming. Despite acknowledging that following the man might be a trap, Gao Bingzhu reasoned it was their only lead and that they couldn't leave without pursuing it. They cautiously followed the man to a secluded cave, which concealed a massive copper foundry teeming with numerous smelting pits.
As Gao Bingzhu and Baili Hongyi entered the hidden copper foundry, they were immediately ambushed by a large group of thugs. Outnumbered, they fiercely fought back. In a desperate move, Baili Hongyi grabbed a shovel and splashed scalding molten copper onto their attackers, creating an opening. They struggled to escape, but Baili Hongyi stumbled and fell, crying out in pain as the thugs closed in. Gao Bingzhu initially ran ahead, but Baili Hongyi urged him to keep going.
However, Gao Bingzhu swiftly located a horse, returned for the injured Baili Hongyi, and hoisted him onto the saddle. Together, they made a dramatic escape, riding away at full speed, leaving their pursuers behind. Gao Bingzhu inquired about Baili Hongyi's leg, reassuring him that since he had brought him there, he would certainly bring him back.
After their escape, Gao Bingzhu instructed Baili Hongyi to ride to the Interior Guard Services and inform Wu Siyue about the exposed Linchuan mansion, urging her to collect evidence. Gao Bingzhu then departed alone. Meanwhile, Wu Siyue, already concerned for Baili Hongyi's safety, had dispatched Li Beiqi to search for him, and upon learning he hadn't been found, decided to extend her search outside the city.
Baili Hongyi, riding swiftly, met Wu Siyue and Li Beiqi at Jianchun Gate, where he urgently recounted witnessing the copper foundry, explaining that while he had no tangible proof, he and Gao Bingzhu had seen it with their own eyes. Hearing this, Wu Siyue immediately sent Li Beiqi back to the Interior Guard Services to gather reinforcements.
Unaware of these events, Liu Ran, anxious over Baili Hongyi's overnight disappearance after he mentioned going to the countryside, rushed to her uncle, Liu Xiang, seeking his help. She voiced her fear that Baili Hongyi might have gone to the recently acquired Linchuan mansion. Liu Xiang, feigning calm despite his surprise, attempted to soothe Liu Ran.
He spoke of her father's decade-long mountain retreat and how he had raised Liu Ran as his own daughter, expressing regret over her marriage to Baili Hongyi. He went as far as to instruct her that if Baili Hongyi ever dared to mistreat her, she should assert the dignity of the Hedong Liu family by divorcing him. Liu Ran found her uncle's words peculiar but trusted his assurances that Baili Hongyi would be safe.
Wu Siyue and Baili Hongyi, arriving at the now-deserted copper foundry, discovered that the numerous workers they had encountered the previous night had vanished, seemingly having evacuated the premises. Inside, they found a substantial quantity of copper coins. Simultaneously, Gao Bingzhu boldly proceeded to the Liu Mansion to confront Liu Xiang, who appeared to have been anticipating his arrival.
Liu Xiang, seemingly unperturbed, offered Gao Bingzhu a cup of tea he had personally prepared, challenging his audacity to enter his home. Gao Bingzhu accepted the tea and drank it. He then declared that he had no interest in the details of the copper theft or its purpose; his sole objective was to locate the Four Season Clan. To Gao Bingzhu's direct statement, Liu Xiang, with a calm demeanor, revealed, "You have found the right person. I'm Four Season Divine."
