Luoyang Episode 17 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Wu Siyue deduced that Ruo'an, a recognizable monk from the Four Season Clan, was still hidden within the capital city. She instructed her Interior Guard Services to guard the city gates, advising them to be extra careful in their search and not to let him commit suicide or harm innocents. She was determined to find Ruo'an before Gao Bingzhu. Meanwhile, Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran continued their journey to Mount Lian.
Along the way, Liu Ran initiated various conversations with Baili Hongyi, who, unlike his usual reserved self, engaged in cheerful banter with her. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Ran gently held Baili Hongyi's hand and rested her head on his shoulder, which he did not resist. Baili Hongyi noticed Liu Ran's habit of tossing and turning during her sleep, while Liu Ran commented on the fresh, sweet air compared to the dusty capital.
Upon arriving at Mount Lian, Baili Hongyi decided not to go directly to the copper mine. He reasoned that Lin Zhong and his daughter had gone to the capital to expose misdeeds instead of reporting to local authorities, indicating the presence of moles within the mine. To avoid alerting them, he decided to visit the camp with Shen Fei instead, with Liu Ran insisting on joining them.
At the camp, Baili Hongyi inquired about Lin Zhong, but no one recognized the name of Lin Zhong or his daughter Lin Yan. Liu Ran, seeing their hardship, offered a string of coins to some hungry children, but a miner explained that money was useless there as they desperately needed food and clothes, not currency. He then provocatively suggested Liu Ran could warm his bed. Baili Hongyi quickly intervened to protect her, telling the miner to leave.
When the miner refused, Shen Fei stepped in, leading to a confrontation that drew other miners, who encircled Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran. Fortunately, Liu Chun, a miner foreman, arrived and sternly dispersed his men, advising Baili Hongyi to leave the area as the copper mine was no place for someone of his background. Unbeknownst to them, Ruo'an, disguised as a Hu nomad, attempted to slip out of the capital.
Spotting the heavily guarded city gates, he turned back, but Interior Guard Sui Xin noticed his suspicious movements and gave chase. Ruo'an fled through narrow alleys, eventually seeking refuge in Chun Hua Fang. Baili Hongyi, accompanied by Liu Chun, went to a blacksmith shop. Baili Hongyi impressed the blacksmith by offering expert advice on repairing rusty tools. Seizing the opportunity, he inquired about Lin Zhong.
Liu Chun revealed that Lin Zhong was the mine's accountant but had disappeared after his drinking buddy, Aisou, who had lodged at his home, died in an unexpected accident. Lin Zhong and his daughter subsequently vanished. Liu Chun assumed Baili Hongyi's group had come from Lianshan to report a secret, and stated he hadn't noticed any other unusual activities at the mine.
Back in the capital, Wu Siyue, informed of Ruo'an's presence in Chun Hua Fang, personally led a thorough search of people and vehicles. She inspected a carriage belonging to Yuwen Peipei, a dancer from Hong Xiao Fang, and initially found nothing amiss, allowing her to pass. However, Wu Siyue soon noticed the carriage left abnormally deep wheel marks and recalled Yuwen Peipei's unusual nervousness. Suspecting Ruo'an was hidden inside, she immediately ordered the carriage stopped.
Just as the carriage was intercepted, Gao Bingzhu dramatically appeared, rushing to apprehend Ruo'an, who was indeed hiding within. Ruo'an, in a desperate move, seized Yuwen Peipei and held her hostage with a knife, threatening to kill her if anyone approached. Wu Siyue and Gao Bingzhu were forced to watch as Ruo'an made his escape in the carriage.
As Ruo'an abandoned the carriage and continued on foot, Wu Siyue dispatched guards to pursue him, then turned to Gao Bingzhu, accusing him of interfering in an Interior Guard operation. Gao Bingzhu retorted that Ruo'an would not have escaped had he been allowed to participate earlier. Dismissing her, he quickly set off in pursuit of Ruo'an.
Wu Siyue then instructed Li Beiqi to report the incident to Wu Youjue and decided to return to Ruo'an's residence to search for overlooked clues. Meanwhile, Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran returned to Lin Zhong's house. As Liu Ran examined a basket filled with miscellaneous items, a disheveled old man suddenly attacked her. Baili Hongyi quickly knocked him to the ground. Liu Chun arrived, explaining the man was a well-known local lunatic, but usually harmless.
Baili Hongyi then inspected the basket and discovered a burnt, incomplete parchment scroll. On it, two lines were faintly visible: "Dragons and snakes slither around. Mountains overlook the crowd." Baili Hongyi pondered the lines, unable to decipher their meaning, but speculated that the full scroll, if undamaged, would contain a significant secret appealing to many craftsmen. Baili Hongyi then instructed Liu Ran to give Liu Chun some money to buy food and care for the old man.
Considering the sudden disappearance of Lin Zhong and his daughter, Baili Hongyi deduced that the secret they sought to reveal in the capital might not be related to the copper mine itself. He decided to return to the capital. At Ruo'an's residence, Wu Siyue found Gao Bingzhu already there, meticulously searching for clues. She confronted him, questioning why he had joined the Intelligence Services without informing her, especially after all they had been through together.
She accused him of being a lone wolf who disregarded her feelings. Gao Bingzhu simply stated he was now part of the Intelligence Services and would be held accountable by Lord Chu if he made mistakes, declining to explain further. A carrier pigeon suddenly flew into Ruo'an's house. Gao Bingzhu quickly retrieved a message from its leg, revealing Baili Hongyi's travel details: "Baili Hongyi. Qingzhou to Huai'an. Between noon to evening on the 7th."
Realizing Baili Hongyi was in danger, Gao Bingzhu and Wu Siyue immediately set out on horseback, riding day and night to intercept him. Shen Fei, driving the carriage carrying Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran through a forest, spotted a person lying on the ground with scattered belongings, presuming it was a robbery. Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran dismounted to investigate, only for the person to spring up and attack Baili Hongyi. Shen Fei bravely intervened but was wounded.
Two more masked assassins emerged from the trees, pressing in on Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran. In the struggle, the parchment scroll Baili Hongyi found at Lin Zhong's house fell to the ground. As he tried to retrieve it, the assassins closed in. Fortunately, Gao Bingzhu and Wu Siyue arrived just in time, fighting off the three assailants. Gao Bingzhu assured Baili Hongyi that he had memorized the scroll's contents before telling him to retreat.
Back in the capital, Wu Shenxing, King of Jin, hosted Wu Youjue. Wu Youjue suffered a coughing fit due to a recurring illness, and Wu Shenxing offered him rice wine, expressing concern about his overwork at the Interior Guard Services. Wu Shenxing then revealed Gao Bingzhu had joined the Intelligence Services, admitting his frustration at being unable to act against Gao Bingzhu due to the empress's high regard for the Intelligence Services.
He also mentioned that Song Liang, the only remaining leader of the rebellion, had gone insane and was a burden. Wu Youjue thoughtfully suggested transferring Song Liang to the Interior Guard Services' secret prison. Impressed by his astuteness, Wu Shenxing confessed his intention to help Wu Youjue secure a higher position, promising to strongly recommend him for Minister of War before the empress in a few days.
Separately, Baili Hongyi recounted the two lines from the parchment scroll to Gao Bingzhu. Gao Bingzhu identified them as a geographical description of the capital and suggested their connection to the Four Season Clan's conspiracy. Gao Bingzhu sternly advised Baili Hongyi to stay out of the investigation, reminding him that he wouldn't always be so lucky as to be rescued, and that investigating was not his responsibility.
Later, in the carriage, Wu Siyue comforted a surprisingly calm Liu Ran, who astutely deduced that their rescuers, Gao Bingzhu and Wu Siyue, wouldn't have traveled from the capital merely for common robbers. Wu Siyue acknowledged Liu Ran's insight, promising to explain the complex situation once they returned to the capital. As Gao Bingzhu rode away, Wu Siyue informed Baili Hongyi that Gao Bingzhu had joined the Intelligence Services.
Baili Hongyi speculated that Gao Bingzhu must have had a compelling reason to cut off all ties. Baili Hongyi then shared the two lines from the parchment scroll with Wu Siyue, explaining that they related to the capital's geography and that he suspected the assassins had targeted him for them. He suspected Lin Zhong and his daughter had also died because of these lines, though he lacked definitive proof.
Despite the danger he would face in the capital, Baili Hongyi declared his unwavering resolve to return and uncover the truth behind his father's death and the Four Season Clan, even if it meant risking his own life. Wu Siyue expressed concern about his willingness to use himself as bait and questioned who would look after Liu Ran.
