Luoyang Episode 27 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
After being rescued from the poisoned gambling house by Wu Siyue, Gao Bingzhu slowly regained consciousness. Wu Siyue, greatly relieved, embraced him tightly. Gao Bingzhu then urged her to apprehend Dai Zhou quickly, suspecting that someone was trying to silence Dai Zhou, indicating he possessed crucial information. Meanwhile, Liu Ran, disguised in male attire for easier travel, set out to procure alchemy ingredients for Baili Hongyi.
Her servant, Shen Fei, showed concern for her well-being, but Liu Ran was determined to assist Baili Hongyi. She had studied Tiantong's manuscript and knew specific requirements for ingredients like bat guano, realgar, and sandalwood. Unbeknownst to them, Tiantong, who had been waiting outside Baili Mansion, secretly followed Liu Ran to a pharmacy in the South Market. There, Tiantong vocally criticized the pharmacy owner's bat guano for its poor quality, claiming it was unfit for serious alchemy.
He boasted of his own dedication to Taoist alchemy and touted Dong's Pharmacy as the best in the capital. Intrigued by his apparent expertise, Liu Ran inquired about Dong's Pharmacy's location, and Tiantong offered to accompany her. He then led her into a secluded alley and abducted her. Wu Siyue quickly apprehended Dai Zhou and pressed him for information.
Dai Zhou revealed that Tiantong, who had previously treated his illness, asked him to introduce him to the Crown Prince, knowing of the Prince's interest in alchemy. Dai Zhou initially believed Tiantong simply sought to curry favor, but later discovered his true aim was Xuanwu's Pearls.
Dai Zhou confessed that out of nearly a thousand catties of Xuanwu's Pearls obtained from caravans of the Ke Tribe, less than two hundred pounds actually reached the Crown Prince, with Tiantong secretly smuggling the rest. Dai Zhou admitted he took bribes and turned a blind eye. After further interrogation about his awareness of Tiantong's escalating power following the murders of Kang Jin and Kang Zhanbi, Dai Zhou disclosed their meeting point was a deserted house in Quan Shan Fang.
Li Beiqi then took Dai Zhou to Wu Youjue, the Commissioner of the Interior Guard. Wu Youjue reported Dai Zhou's misdeeds to Wu Shenxing, Duke Jin, detailing how Dai Zhou used his official position to amass wealth in the Crown Prince's name, even forging identity documents for a Western caravan to smuggle contraband. Wu Shenxing saw this as a significant opportunity to deal a heavy blow to the Eastern Palace.
Back at Baili Mansion, Shen Fei discovered Liu Ran was gone after checking with the pharmacy owner, who confirmed she had left without buying anything. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Shen Fei frantically searched for Liu Ran but found no trace. He then reported her disappearance to Baili Hongyi, who subsequently received an anonymous letter instructing him to come alone to "Dunhua Fang, Dingzi Road No. 7" to save Liu Ran, strictly forbidding him from reporting to authorities.
The letter was delivered by a Taoist priest. Meanwhile, Wu Siyue observed a change in Gao Bingzhu, noting he had prioritized saving people over pursuing Dai Zhou. Gao Bingzhu, eager to locate Tiantong, suggested they trace the person who had released the toxic gas, believing they were connected to Dai Zhou and the Xuanwu's Pearls. Their investigation led them to Yuncui Temple, but they found Tiantong had already destroyed his belongings and departed overnight.
A Taoist at the temple informed them that Tiantong had relocated to a house on North Mountain, outside the capital city. Following the instructions in the letter, Baili Hongyi proceeded to Dunhua Fang, only to find no such address existed. He was then forcibly taken by Tiantong's men to a villa on North Mountain, where Liu Ran was held captive. Tiantong demanded his manuscript, but Baili Hongyi insisted on Liu Ran's release first.
Tiantong refused, threatening Baili Hongyi's life by strangling him. When Baili Hongyi remained defiant, Tiantong ordered his men to harm Liu Ran. Fearing for her safety, Baili Hongyi finally admitted he possessed the manuscript. At the palace, the empress summoned Wu Shenxing. On his way, Wu Shenxing encountered the Crown Prince, and they exchanged veiled insults, with Wu Shenxing advising the Crown Prince to be more discerning about his subordinates to avoid future trouble.
The Crown Prince, angered, was then summoned by an aide to meet the empress. Back at the North Mountain villa, Baili Hongyi, realizing Tiantong had no intention of letting him live, pretended to cooperate and begged Tiantong to release Liu Ran. Tiantong, suspicious, had Liu Ran imprisoned. Baili Hongyi then claimed the manuscript was given to him by Wu Siyue of the Interior Guard Services for study, and that he was now attempting to create the Thunder Formula.
Tiantong, however, expressed disbelief that Baili Hongyi could comprehend such complex alchemy in a few days. To compel Baili Hongyi, Tiantong ordered one of Liu Ran's hands be severed. Baili Hongyi immediately intervened, offering to prove his knowledge in Tiantong's alchemy room. Simultaneously, the empress severely reprimanded the Crown Prince for the private issuance of identity documents and smuggling of contraband by his retainer, Dai Zhou.
The Crown Prince attempted to explain, claiming he sought to present an elixir for the empress's longevity at the Ceremony of Light but was deceived by Dai Zhou. The empress dismissed his excuses, also questioning a recent fire at the Eastern Palace and the supposed efficacy of his elixirs.
She condemned his misconduct and failure to control his subordinates, sentencing him to confinement in the Eastern Palace to reflect on his actions, forbidding him from seeing any outsiders before the Ceremony of Light. Afterward, Wu Shenxing sought to take credit for Wu Youjue's actions in capturing Dai Zhou, highlighting Wu Youjue's bravery and decisiveness to the empress. The empress praised Wu Youjue and asked how to reward him.
Wu Shenxing suggested appointing him Minister of War, but the empress expressed concern about Wu Youjue's delicate health. Consequently, the empress tasked Wu Shenxing with personally inspecting the Hanjia Granary to verify grain stores, sending Yang Huan along with him. Back at the villa, Tiantong led Baili Hongyi to the alchemy room, where Baili Hongyi began mixing ingredients for the Thunder Formula as Tiantong watched.
Tiantong was initially delighted by the intense fire emanating from the alchemy furnace, believing it signified success. He eagerly pressed Baili Hongyi for the ingredients he had added before the Xuanwu's Pearl. Baili Hongyi disclosed walnut lumber, willow lumber, and sandalwood, demanding Liu Ran's release before revealing anything more.
Tiantong refused, calling Baili Hongyi's bluff and ordering him confined as well, asserting that the Thunder Formula in the manuscript was incorrect and the Interior Guard Services would never uncover its secrets anyway. Liu Ran and Baili Hongyi found themselves imprisoned in adjacent cells. Liu Ran tearfully blamed herself for his predicament, but Baili Hongyi comforted her, reassuring her that he would find a way for them to escape.
As time passed, Shen Fei, unable to locate Baili Hongyi, sought help from Wu Siyue. Gao Bingzhu, Li Beiqi, and Wu Siyue, along with their team, arrived at the North Mountain villa. They observed numerous guards but were unsure of Baili Hongyi's exact location within the complex. Li Beiqi impulsively suggested a direct assault to rescue them, but Gao Bingzhu cautioned against such a reckless move, fearing it would endanger Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran. Gao Bingzhu proposed they first find a way to let Baili Hongyi know that help had arrived.
