Luoyang Episode 3 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Baili Hongyi arrived at Qianji Fish Restaurant for his arranged meeting, where Liu Ran had been waiting for him. She had ordered a lavish spread. Eagerly, Baili Hongyi requested to see the "Workmen's Essentials," a legendary book he longed to study, which was described as the most amazing essence of Mo family's craftsmanship, long thought lost. Liu Ran playfully proposed that she would only allow him to see it on their wedding day.
Shen Fei, Baili Hongyi's guard, scoffed, accusing Liu Ran of trying to force the marriage. Liu Ran's maid, Yunzhi, quickly retorted, defending her mistress by asserting that Lady Liu Ran, as the eldest daughter of the esteemed Liu family from Hedong, was worthy of marrying even a prince, and certainly did not need to resort to coercion for Baili Hongyi. Liu Ran then admitted that despite having known Baili Hongyi since childhood, she never realized he disliked her so much.
She clarified that she did not hate him, confessing her deep affection and revealing she had rejected hundreds of marriage proposals for him and had already passed the conventional age for marriage, now being eighteen years old. Baili Hongyi, however, unequivocally stated that marriage held no meaning for him, and he had no desire to wed.
Liu Ran, steadfast, insisted that if he truly wished to see the invaluable "Workmen's Essentials," he would only find it in their bridal chamber on their wedding night. He then bid her farewell. Meanwhile, Gao Bingzhu secretly watched his home from outside, observing through the door crack as the Well officer, Wang Dengcheng, tenderly encouraged his mother to eat porridge, going to great lengths to cheer her up. His mother, delighted, enjoyed the meal.
Gao Bingzhu felt immense gratitude towards Wang Dengcheng for his kindness. Wang Dengcheng, sensing Gao Bingzhu's presence, called him in. Gao Bingzhu expressed his profound thanks for Wang Dengcheng's care for his mother. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted when Wu Siyue, Li Beiqi, and Pei Jian from the Interior Guard Services and the Grand Court, along with their retinue, arrived in the Unwelcome Well to apprehend Gao Bingzhu. Wang Dengcheng immediately went to greet them.
Wu Siyue announced that Gao Bingzhu was wanted for the deaths of over ten people and offered freedom from their lower social class and a way out of the Unwelcome Well to anyone who would report his whereabouts. Wang Dengcheng firmly declared the Unwelcome Well's strict rules: all conflicts within the well are resolved internally, and its residents would never betray one another, stating they would not intervene but also would not help the Interior Guard Services.
Not wishing to implicate the community, Gao Bingzhu stepped forward and revealed himself. The guards from the Interior Guard Services and the Grand Court immediately converged on him. Wu Siyue relentlessly pursued Gao Bingzhu, who expertly utilized the complex terrain of the Unwelcome Well to evade his pursuers. During the chase, he and Wu Siyue even momentarily collaborated to rescue a small girl from harm. Despite his evasions, Wu Siyue eventually cornered him.
Gao Bingzhu, however, activated a trap, snaring Wu Siyue. Wu Siyue immediately questioned if he was the killer. Gao Bingzhu sternly warned her that the Unwelcome Well was not a place for her to assert her authority, telling her she should never have provoked him or the well's inhabitants, before vanishing from sight. The Intelligence Services, known as Lianfang, operates as a clandestine organization with members subtly embedded across all walks of life.
Their operations are highly secretive, their reach pervasive, and their knowledge all-encompassing, responsible for monitoring the capital. No whisper or stir in the capital city of Luoyang escapes the watchful eyes of Lianfang's agents, known as Jianfeng and Shenzu. Jianfeng, who can be hawkers, shop owners, or even courtesans, collect information and relay it to the Shenzu, who act as messengers. The information then ascends to the Twelve Fú Tús, named after musical temperaments.
These Fú Tús each oversee nine of the capital's 109 districts, covering the entire city. All collected intelligence is then delivered to them, who then sort, report, and disseminate it to the Lianfang headquarters, specifically to the Twelve Skillful Agents within the Ten-thousand Hall. Observing the vast and intricate network of the Intelligence Services, Wu Siyue decided to seek their assistance in locating Gao Bingzhu.
Gao Bingzhu subtly made his way to the outskirts of the Baili family mansion, where he discovered the entire estate adorned with festive decorations. He intended to leverage the ongoing wedding celebrations to infiltrate the residence and uncover the secrets surrounding the hand-halberd he was investigating. He sought out Yao Niang, the owner of Ji Shan Fang, to gather information. From her, he learned that Baili Hongyi was set to marry Liu Ran.
This union was arranged by Liu Ran's uncle, Liu Xiang, the Duke of Xùnshan, as Liu Ran's father, Liu Shi, had been missing for over a decade. Yao Niang also described Baili Hongyi as exceptionally intelligent and highly skilled in various crafts, yet entirely lacking in social graces.
Meanwhile, Wu Siyue and Pei Jian were seated in a tea house, receiving a detailed report from the Intelligence Services outlining all of Gao Bingzhu's movements, including his stops at Lü Dao Fang, Xiu Xing Fang, and Ji Shan Fang. Wu Siyue deduced that Gao Bingzhu's target was the wedding itself, which was taking place at the mansion of Baili Yan, the Minister of Ministry of Works.
She concluded that Gao Bingzhu intended to infiltrate the Baili family residence, despite being a wanted man, and resolved to go there herself to apprehend him. On the day of Baili Hongyi and Liu Ran's wedding, Baili Hongyi adamantly refused to don his ceremonial robes and fetch his bride. His father, Baili Yan, exasperated, ordered the household servants to forcibly dress him.
Baili Hongyi resisted fiercely, prompting Baili Yan to raise his hand as if to strike him, only to be stopped by the intervening maids and household members. Baili Yan then dismissed everyone, and earnestly attempted to reason with his son. He explained the profound implications of the marriage, noting that just as a small error can lead to widespread disaster, his elder brother Kuan Ren suffered grave consequences for speaking rashly.
He emphasized that marrying Liu Ran would secure the influential Liu family as a powerful ally, a protective canopy for Baili Hongyi's unconventional nature, allowing him to pursue his passion for crafts or indulge in the world's culinary delights without worry. Baili Yan also acknowledged Liu Ran's deep affection, which was why he had sent the marriage proposal.
He concluded that if Baili Hongyi married Liu Ran but remained unhappy, there would be no point, and stated he would not force him further, offering to go to the Liu family to apologize for the proposed marriage. After much deliberation, Baili Hongyi reluctantly proceeded with the wedding procession. The entourage waited outside the Liu family mansion for nearly an hour before Liu Ran's uncle, Liu Xiang, the Duke of Xùnshan, finally allowed the gates to open.
Liu Xiang had heard rumors of Baili Hongyi's repeated attempts to call off the engagement. When confronted, Baili Hongyi admitted that he was only proceeding with the marriage to please his father. Enraged, Liu Xiang, visibly seething, immediately declared the engagement null and void and dismissed Baili Hongyi. However, Liu Ran, having rushed to the scene, adamantly insisted on marrying Baili Hongyi, expressing her dismay at the thought of becoming the capital's laughing stock.
Without further words, Baili Hongyi instructed his attendants to lift the palanquin and take Liu Ran away. Wu Siyue, who had grown up with Liu Ran and considered her a close friend, arrived at the Baili mansion for the wedding, accompanied by Pei Jian. Meanwhile, Yao Niang had successfully bribed Liu Zhang, the General Affairs of the Ministry of Works, to facilitate Gao Bingzhu's entry into the Baili family residence.
Gao Bingzhu claimed he was merely there to observe the festivities, and Liu Zhang cautioned him to act discreetly to avoid implicating him. As the wedding ceremony officially commenced, Liu Ran and Baili Hongyi performed all the traditional rituals. They were then escorted to the bridal chamber, while Baili Yan invited the assembled guests to join the wedding feast.
Throughout the ceremony, guests observed that the groom, Baili Hongyi, did not smile, speculating that he was likely being forced into the marriage. Later, Liu Ran dispatched her maid, Yunzhi, to summon Wu Siyue. Liu Ran warmly introduced Wu Siyue to Baili Hongyi, mentioning her prominent role as the Interior Guard's Moon Blossom Envoy. Soon after, Princess Yongchuan also arrived to congratulate Liu Ran.
Baili Hongyi, seizing an opportunity, asked Wu Siyue to speak with him privately, prompting Liu Ran to leave to greet the Princess. Baili Hongyi immediately questioned Wu Siyue about the progress of the informer case. Wu Siyue, surprised he knew, confirmed that she was indeed at the Baili mansion to apprehend Gao Bingzhu, having received intelligence that he might appear there that day. She also asked Baili Hongyi how he knew about the informers.
He revealed they had come to him, stating they were from Lianshan, and later a mysterious person told him they were dead. Wu Siyue then deduced that this mysterious person was Gao Bingzhu, who was a dangerous escaped convict. Baili Hongyi, connecting Gao Bingzhu's investigation of the informer case—which originated from Lianshan and its copper mines—to his own father, Baili Yan, suddenly realized Gao's true target. He swiftly led Wu Siyue to confront Gao Bingzhu.
As Baili Hongyi and Wu Siyue rushed to Baili Yan's room, they found Baili Yan already dead, with Gao Bingzhu standing next to his body. Both Baili Hongyi and Wu Siyue immediately concluded that Gao Bingzhu was the killer. Gao Bingzhu vehemently denied the accusation and, seizing the moment, took Baili Hongyi hostage. Left with no choice, Wu Siyue allowed Gao Bingzhu to escape with Baili Hongyi.
Gao Bingzhu led Baili Hongyi to the outskirts of the city, repeatedly explaining that he had not killed Baili Yan. He claimed that when he had gone to find Baili Yan, he discovered him already dead. Gao Bingzhu then pursued the killer, who quickly vanished. Gao Bingzhu returned to the room to search for clues, only for Baili Hongyi and Wu Siyue to arrive. Despite Baili Hongyi's demands for answers, Gao Bingzhu urged him to investigate the true culprit himself, then mounted a horse and rode away swiftly.
