Luoyang Episode 19 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Wu Siyue and Baili Hongyi meticulously planned to lure out the Spring and Autumn Dao. However, their operation was suddenly jeopardized when Wu Youjue issued an urgent order, requiring all field agents of the Interior Guard Services to return before daybreak to protect the King of Jin, who was scheduled to travel. Despite her reluctance to abandon the plan, Wu Siyue had no choice but to withdraw the Interior Guard Services agents from their ambush positions at Liubai Building.
Li Beiqi suggested informing Baili Hongyi to postpone the action, but Wu Siyue firmly refused, fearing that any change in plans would alert the Spring and Autumn Dao. When Li Beiqi offered to seek Gao Bingzhu's help, she again declined. Unwilling to leave Wu Siyue in such a dangerous situation, Li Beiqi defied orders and stayed behind with her.
That very night, Wu Siyue went to Lord Pei of the Grand Court, asking for his assistance and the help of his officers to apprehend the assassins from the Spring and Autumn Dao, emphasizing the urgency and the Interior Guard Services' temporary reassignment. Meanwhile, at the Intelligence Services, An Baitan presented Gao Bingzhu's list of suspects to Li Yichen, expressing outrage that names like He Jiliang, a long-serving agent, and even her own were included.
She accused Gao Bingzhu of deliberately causing chaos and fabricating charges within the Intelligence Services. Li Yichen, however, reminded An Baitan that her father had saved his and his father's lives, and that he trusted her completely. Despite his trust, he urged her to cooperate with Gao Bingzhu's investigation, stating that if she was innocent, she had nothing to fear. Baili Hongyi, following the planned route, arrived at Liubai Building.
He noticed the absence of the tea stall Wu Siyue had promised to set up near the bridge. Upon entering, he saw only Wu Siyue and no other Interior Guard Services agents, immediately raising his suspicions about the situation. Concerned for Baili Hongyi, Liu Ran sent Yunzhi to Shen Fei to inquire about her husband's whereabouts. Shen Fei feigned heavy intoxication, despite Yunzhi's attempts to ply him with fine wine, to avoid revealing Baili Hongyi's dangerous mission.
Frustrated, Liu Ran later confronted Shen Fei directly about new, unfamiliar staff members in the mansion. When he remained evasive, she threatened to report the matter to the authorities. Under pressure, Shen Fei finally confessed that Baili Hongyi was at Liubai Building, acting as bait. In another part of the Intelligence Services, Gao Bingzhu had worked tirelessly through the night with several senior agents, compiling a list of over thirty suspects.
However, when the agents discovered their own names on the list, they became indignant, accusing Gao Bingzhu of fabricating charges and declaring their refusal to continue the investigation, then left. Gao Bingzhu challenged their retreat, questioning their integrity and reminding them of Agent Han Dongqing's mysterious death, urging them to help uncover the mole and seek justice.
Back at Liubai Building, Baili Hongyi observed that the "waiters" were actually Lord Pei and Grand Court officers in disguise, realizing that Wu Siyue had indeed sought their assistance. Gao Bingzhu convened all thirty suspects at the Hall of Skills for an interrogation. During questioning, it was revealed that Agent Han Dongqing had sent a sealed secret letter to Wu Siyue before his death.
Another agent, a middleman, also confirmed that Agent Han had brought other Intelligence Services middlemen, disguised as monks, to Fashan Temple for a mission involving encrypted information. When Gao Bingzhu questioned An Baitan, she was defiant and uncooperative. Suddenly, Liu Ran, veiled, arrived at Liubai Building looking for Baili Hongyi.
He tried to dismiss her, claiming urgent business, but she saw through his lie, understanding he was trying to protect her from danger, especially after their perilous experience at Mount Lian and the strange occurrences back home. She insisted on staying by his side as his wife. In a desperate attempt to drive her away, Baili Hongyi spoke harshly, blaming her presence for hindering his investigation at Mount Lian and indirectly linking her uncle to his father's death.
Just then, officials from the Ministry of Works arrived. Baili Hongyi quickly pretended to have mistaken them for someone else and rushed off, with the assassin known as The 16th Night secretly pursuing him. An Baitan, having been questioned, went to complain to Li Yichen, who then appeared before Gao Bingzhu wearing a mask. Gao Bingzhu proposed immediately detaining and interrogating all thirty suspects, a suggestion that met with strong protest from the other agents present.
Gao Bingzhu then dramatically declared that An Baitan was the true mole. An Baitan furiously denied the accusation, while Huangzhong and other agents vehemently defended her, accusing Gao Bingzhu of baseless fabrications and warning Li Yichen that trusting him would plunge the Intelligence Services into chaos.
Gao Bingzhu systematically laid out his evidence against An Baitan: her unblemished record, her access to all confidential files, her intimate knowledge of the Intelligence Services' operations, and her childhood training in musical temperament, which would have allowed her to decipher Agent Han Dongqing's ciphers that were based on musical theory. An Baitan vehemently refuted his claims. Li Yichen demanded concrete proof, but Gao Bingzhu insisted on detaining An Baitan pending a thorough investigation.
Li Yichen reluctantly agreed to her temporary detention. The other agents expressed their dismay and sorrow for An Baitan. Gao Bingzhu, however, challenged them, stating that if anyone could find decisive evidence, they would be promoted to replace Agent Han. The agents interpreted this as an invitation to betray their colleague and dispersed in anger. Baili Hongyi deliberately led The 16th Night into a narrow alley.
Wu Siyue arrived just in time to assist him, engaging The 16th Night in a fierce fight. Realizing he was losing, The 16th Night lunged at Baili Hongyi's throat with his hand-halberd. Wu Siyue pressed her attack, forcing the assassin to release Baili Hongyi. Li Beiqi and Lord Pei arrived with reinforcements, prompting The 16th Night to flee. Wu Siyue angrily rebuked Baili Hongyi for his reckless departure from Liubai Building.
He explained his actions were to protect Liu Ran and stated his belief that The 16th Night would try again, offering to remain as bait until they could capture the assassin alive. Wu Siyue, exasperated by his increasingly reckless and "Gao Bingzhu-like" behavior, ordered Li Beiqi to escort him back to the Interior Guard Services.
That night, Agent Yize stealthily entered An Baitan's room and placed Agent Han Dongqing's cipher reference book under her bed, only to be caught in the act. Li Yichen, An Baitan, and Gao Bingzhu quickly arrived. Realizing he had been trapped, Agent Yize attempted to commit suicide with a poison pill hidden in his collar, but Gao Bingzhu intervened and stopped him.
Gao Bingzhu then revealed his elaborate scheme: his public accusation of An Baitan was a calculated ruse designed to provoke the true mole, Agent Yize, into attempting to frame her, thereby exposing himself. Li Yichen immediately ordered Agent Yize's detention and severe interrogation. Agent Yize vehemently protested his innocence, claiming he was being framed, but Li Yichen warned him that he would not be allowed to die easily after killing an executive agent and attempting to destroy the Intelligence Services.
Meanwhile, at the Interior Guard Services, Xu Yuan guarded Baili Hongyi, ensuring his safety but allowing him to choose food from outside and move freely within non-confidential areas, provided he stayed within sight. Agent Yize continued to assert his innocence while being interrogated.
