Luoyang Episode 15 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Wu Siyue returned home feeling burdened but was summoned to the Eastern Palace by a palace maid. Prince Li Dun confessed to Wu Siyue that the very lives of everyone in the Eastern Palace now depended on her. He explained that the empress had tasked the King of Jin with overseeing the Song Liang case, and knowing the King of Jin's longstanding animosity towards the Eastern Palace, Li Dun feared he would exploit this major rebellion case to implicate him.
Li Dun clarified that he was not involved in Song Liang's rebellion and swore to God about his innocence. He expressed concern that Song Liang, who had gone mad in prison, was slandering people, even falsely claiming a close friendship with Li Dun. While evidence might be lacking, Li Dun worried the King of Jin would seize on this as an opportunity to frame the Eastern Palace.
He urged Wu Siyue, as an Interior Guard favored by the empress, to speak on his behalf, believing the empress would listen. Wu Siyue understood Li Dun’s clear conscience and promised to verify Song Liang’s statements, ensuring no one was falsely accused. Li Dun then admitted his past connection with Song Liang, explaining that five years prior, while traveling from Fan Prefecture back to the capital with his family, they were ambushed by assassins from the Four Season Clan.
Song Liang, then the Deputy Minister of War, led the Capital Battalion to their rescue. Song Liang subsequently tracked and killed hundreds of the Four Season Clan members and captured their leader, Lord Freedom, within ten days, leading to his swift promotion to Minister of War. Wu Siyue, however, expressed doubt that the ruthless Four Season Clan could have been so easily eradicated by Song Liang alone, especially since she learned Song Liang had only eliminated Lord Freedom's confidantes.
She then inquired about Lord Freedom's current whereabouts. Meanwhile, Wu Youjue reported to the King of Jin, who was angered by Gao Sheng's incompetence in allowing Gao Bingzhu to escape. Wu Youjue acknowledged Wu Siyue's involvement in Wang Dengcheng's capture, describing her as young, naive, and reckless, and sought mercy for his sister. He then suggested to the King of Jin that, in his humble opinion, this situation could actually be beneficial.
He reasoned that Gao Bingzhu's connection to the Crown Prince was tenuous at best, and if reported to the empress, she might question the King of Jin's impartiality. Instead, Wu Youjue advised the King of Jin to report the capture of Wang Dengcheng, the "real murderer," as a demonstration of his impartiality and commitment. As for Gao Bingzhu, Wu Youjue suggested letting the matter go for now to avoid drawing further attention.
The King of Jin, having no better solution, agreed and expressed his high regard for Wu Youjue and Wu Siyue, urging them not to disappoint him. Separately, Baili Hongyi sought to find Liu Ran. He knew she frequently used skincare products, especially those with isinglass. He dispatched Shen Fei to check all eighteen cosmetic stores in the capital, eventually finding a record of Liu Ran's purchase, which led him to her location. Upon arrival, he found Liu Ran distraught.
He explained that her maid, Yunzhi, had confirmed the need to purchase isinglass from a store, making her whereabouts easily traceable. He brought her freshly made lamb soup and insisted she return home with him, much to her emotional relief. Wu Siyue pressed Li Beiqi for information on Lord Freedom's confinement. Li Beiqi initially hesitated, explaining that Lord Freedom was an imperial prisoner, requiring even Wu Youjue to obtain the empress's written order to see him.
Wu Siyue then produced the Empress' Behest, compelling Li Beiqi to lead her to the secret prison. There, Lord Freedom was heavily chained and gagged. After Li Beiqi removed the gag, Lord Freedom spoke wildly, identifying Wu Siyue as "the 27th" and mocking her presence as a female Interior Guard. He boasted about the "almighty Clan's great cause," claiming ordinary people could not comprehend it, like a frog in a well unable to see the vast world.
When Wu Siyue challenged him about the Clan's indiscriminate killings, Lord Freedom responded with cryptic pronouncements about "lowly weeds thriving" and "precious plants being undeservedly humiliated," suggesting they needed to be "burned to ash." Wu Siyue deduced from his words that the Four Season Clan had not been eradicated five years ago but had been dormant, awaiting an opportunity for a comeback.
When she inquired about an assassin skilled with a hand-halberd, Lord Freedom's demeanor changed, and he admitted that person "was still alive" before uttering "The 16th Night." He then cryptically added, "When the Hidden Phoenix shows up, the world will collapse," and questioned whether he or "they" (implying another faction) were mistaken in their quest for the greater good.
Wu Siyue pressed him further about The 16th Night's whereabouts, but Lord Freedom became deliberately uncooperative, prompting Li Beiqi to advise Wu Siyue not to trust the "lunatic." Liu Ran gently advised her father, Liu Shi, not to be upset with Baili Hongyi, emphasizing Baili Hongyi’s good nature. Liu Shi, in turn, recalled the Liu family's past offense against the empress, which led him to live in seclusion for years as a gesture of submission.
He stated he would not have returned had his younger brother, Liu Xiang, not "lost his mind." Liu Shi stressed that while the Liu family had declined, it had not yet fallen, and that Liu Xiang deserved his fate, but with his death, the past grievances were settled, and the family no longer needed to live in fear.
He asserted that he had tolerated much over the years to preserve the Liu family, but if he continued to endure, their standing would truly collapse. Liu Ran was deeply moved, realizing the immense sacrifices her father had made for their family. Liu Shi then revealed his awareness that Baili Hongyi had searched all eighteen cosmetic stores in the capital for Liu Ran, concluding that Baili Hongyi genuinely cared for her, which delighted Liu Ran.
Shen Fei reported to Baili Hongyi that his extensive search for Gao Bingzhu had yielded no results. He did, however, share news from a Grand Court officer that Song Liang was slandering numerous nobles in prison, causing widespread panic among the capital's elite who wished to distance themselves from him. Baili Hongyi found Song Liang's situation perplexing.
He recalled his visit to the arsenal, where he felt something was amiss: while a large number of weapons were forged, the narrow and winding tunnels of the Unwelcome Well suggested a limited number of rebel forces could be concealed. Yet, Song Liang, a seemingly intelligent man, claimed "the greater good was about to be achieved," leading Baili Hongyi to suspect Song Liang had another, hidden agenda beyond the rebellion itself.
Shen Fei advised him to put his investigation aside for the night and focus on comforting Liu Ran, noting her father, Liu Shi, was still visiting. Meanwhile, Wu Siyue visited the Interior Guard Services' Archive, asking Fan Changling if he had heard of "Hidden Phoenix." Fan Changling had not, but Wu Siyue expressed concern that the Four Season Clan was planning a major operation, even if she lacked concrete evidence.
Just then, she received news from the Grand Court: Wang Dengcheng had died in prison. Liu Ran and Baili Hongyi’s relationship deepened, much to the relief of Liu Shi, who then departed. While helping Baili Hongyi tidy his room, Liu Ran accidentally knocked over his meticulously crafted pine model of a pagoda.
She was distraught and profusely apologized, but Baili Hongyi reassured her, explaining that pine wood was an unsuitable material as it easily warped and damaged when damp, and that it was not her fault. It was at this moment that Baili Hongyi recalled Song Liang's sword, which had been easily broken, and it triggered a crucial realization about the quality of materials.
Baili Hongyi, feigning interest in an official position, arranged to inspect weapons seized from the Unwelcome Well arsenal with Li Beiqi. As they examined the collection, Baili Hongyi noted that while one sword appeared to be made of copper from Mount Lian, the poor quality of the weapons, which showed easy cracking and numerous impurities, led him to conclude that the bulk of these weapons were definitely not crafted from genuine Mount Lian copper.
He resolved to personally investigate the copper's true destination by traveling to Mount Lian. Concurrently, Wu Siyue visited Pei Jian at the Grand Court, suspecting foul play in Wang Dengcheng’s death. Pei Jian countered that Wang Dengcheng had suffered a fatal heart attack due to anxiety after his imprisonment, citing multiple autopsies that found no fatal injuries or signs of poisoning, ruling out murder.
He also affirmed the impossibility of an assailant entering the Grand Court prison to commit such an act, adding that Wang Dengcheng had confessed all his crimes before dying. Later, Liu Ran cheerfully approached Wu Siyue, who was preoccupied with her thoughts. Liu Ran observed that Wu Siyue seemed troubled about how to explain Wang Dengcheng's death to Gao Bingzhu, correctly deducing that Wu Siyue cared deeply for him.
She encouraged Wu Siyue to act on her guilt by doing something tangible, reminding her of her own past advice to "try everything to achieve" a goal. Liu Ran also reflected on how much she had grown since marrying Baili Hongyi, expressing that despite common perceptions, she saw Baili Hongyi’s true good nature. Upon returning home, Liu Ran found Shen Fei preparing for a journey, which she initially believed to be just an outing for Baili Hongyi.
However, observing the extensive preparations and a complex map of Luo Prefecture, she suspected a more serious purpose. Baili Hongyi then revealed his true intention: he needed to go to Mount Lian to investigate the copper mine, as all the recent events had stemmed from the Mount Lian copper.
Concerned for his safety, Liu Ran insisted on accompanying him, arguing that her father-in-law's death and her uncle's suicide were linked to the copper, and that her peace of mind and their relationship depended on her understanding the truth. Baili Hongyi initially refused to let her join such a dangerous venture. Undeterred, Liu Ran secretly hid herself in the carriage.
Baili Hongyi soon discovered her and instructed Shen Fei to arrange a separate carriage for her return to the capital from the next station. Liu Ran continued to plead, asserting her ability to assist with the investigation. Shen Fei, recognizing her stubbornness and the approaching late hour and potential rain, suggested it might be safer to take her along. He revealed that Mount Lian was official land, but warned that entering it unannounced could be a "one-way trip." Seeing Liu Ran's determination to follow, Baili Hongyi eventually relented and invited her into the carriage.
