Luoyang Episode 33 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Wu Siyue confronted Li Beiqi, demanding to know why he was at Hanjia Granary and how he knew the Thunder was being transported there. Despite her pleas for the truth and her belief that he couldn't be a traitor, Li Beiqi resisted explaining. He feigned a willingness to talk privately, leading her aside before striking her unconscious. Meanwhile, Baili Hongyi, after days of continuous investigation, discovered that the newly constructed Heavenly Temple was shifted by 10.
8 meters southeast from its original location. Gao Bingzhu returned and arrived with Qingye, a disciple of the Four Season Clan, whom he introduced as someone who could help them due to time constraints. Baili Hongyi explained his findings, showing how the new Temple, originally built on granite, had been intentionally shifted to an area of soft ooze, making it highly susceptible to collapse if subjected to external force like the Thunder.
He warned that the empress's Ceremony of Light, scheduled for noon the next day, would be a prime target for the Four Season Clan, aiming to destroy the Temple and kill the empress without direct combat. Despite prior thorough searches by the Interior Guard Services around the Temple, no trace of the Thunder had been found. Gao Bingzhu requested the Lianshan Rhyme from Qingye, explaining that all of the Four Season Clan's plans were built upon it.
Qingye produced a parchment scroll containing the rhyme, which she had found in a secret drawer in Lady of Autumn's room. Baili Hongyi deduced that this rhyme likely indicated weak geological points in the capital. However, upon scrutinizing the 72 characters of the Lianshan Rhyme, they found it did not precisely match the current topography of the capital. Gao Bingzhu connected the Lianshan Rhyme to the Lianshan Hall and recalled that Bai Lang’s ancestors were part of its waterways branch.
He surmised that the rhyme was compiled by Yuwen Kai, the Head of Architecture from centuries past, who had personally surveyed and drawn a comprehensive waterway map of the capital during the Three-River period. He concluded that by comparing the Lianshan Rhyme with an ancient map from Yuwen Kai’s time, they could uncover its true meaning and locate the Thunder. Baili Hongyi promptly offered to find such a map. Wu Siyue gradually regained consciousness, finding herself bound to a pillar.
She pleaded with Li Beiqi to release her, but he refused, instead offering her food. She expressed her unwavering belief that he had not betrayed the Interior Guard Services, despite any evidence, and urged him to confide in her if he was in distress, offering to find a solution together. Enraged, Li Beiqi silenced her, declaring that all her questions would be answered after the Ceremony of Light.
He then passionately confessed his deep affection for her, recalling their shared past and his lifelong commitment to protect her as an orphan taken in by her brother. He bitterly lamented that her attention had completely shifted to Gao Bingzhu since his appearance, making her oblivious to his feelings. Driven by jealousy, he vowed to kill Gao Bingzhu.
Bai Lang, having rushed back from Valley Water to the capital, first went to the Interior Guard Services to find Wu Siyue, only to be turned away. He then headed to Baili Hongyi's residence, having guessed he would be there, and mentioned he heard Wu Siyue was already at the Imperial Palace on call for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Baili Hongyi meticulously searched the old maps, comparing them with the Lianshan Rhyme, but as dawn approached, he still hadn't pinpointed the exact locations of the Thunder, causing Gao Bingzhu immense anxiety. Early the next morning, Wu Youjue gathered the Interior Guard Services for deployment to the Heavenly Temple for the Ceremony of Light. Upon learning that Wu Siyue had not returned all night, he immediately dispatched men to search for her.
After continued efforts, Baili Hongyi finally deciphered the riddle, identifying Lijing Gate, Shang Shan Fang, and Li De Fang as the three suspicious locations. He explained that these areas were connected to the Heavenly Temple by underground currents, and detonating the Thunder 10. 8 meters below the surface at any one of them would cause the currents to backflow, destroying the Temple’s foundation and leading to its collapse.
The empress, resplendent in her ceremonial attire, arrived to attend the Ceremony of Light, with civil and military officials awaiting her at the palace gates. Wu Youjue personally led the Interior Guard Services and palace guards in securing the area. Noticing Wu Siyue's absence, the empress remarked on her wild nature and instructed Wu Youjue to guide her better after the ceremony. Gao Bingzhu reported to Li Yichen and volunteered to destroy the Thunder at the three locations.
Knowing the empress had already departed the Imperial Palace, Li Yichen instructed An Baitan to assist Gao Bingzhu. As the empress's grand palanquin procession moved through the capital, citizens cheered, creating an exceptionally lively scene. The empress observed her people living in peace and prosperity, feeling deeply comforted. At the same time, Gao Bingzhu met with An Baitan, Bai Lang, and Qingye.
They split into teams to search the identified locations, meticulously checking all underground spots such as wells, vegetable cellars, and wine cellars. Still held captive, Wu Siyue managed to dislodge a hairpin from her head, attempting to use it to pick her bonds. At the Chunrong Bar near Lijing Gate, Bai Lang and An Baitan attempted to access the wine cellar, but the shop owner adamantly refused, claiming he had no cellar despite his large monthly wine imports.
Assassins, ambushed within the bar, then attacked them. Bai Lang and An Baitan fought back fiercely, ultimately gaining control of the shop owner. Simultaneously, near Li De Fang, Gao Bingzhu and Qingye discovered Four Season Clan members preparing to ignite the Thunder. They rushed forward to intervene, and as an assassin lit the fuse, Gao Bingzhu, without hesitation, plunged into the cellar entrance and swiftly extinguished it. Baili Hongyi was restless, anxiously awaiting news from Gao Bingzhu and the others.
Liu Ran came to visit him and idly picked up the Lianshan Rhyme parchment. As she read, "Dragons and snakes slither around. Mountains overlook the crowd," Baili Hongyi had a sudden epiphany. He realized the character for "Chao" (朝) had two pronunciations and that in this context, it referred to "morning" or "sunrise," not "the crowd."
He then understood that the rhyme was not pointing to a place where "authorities and the public meet," but rather to an area "east of sunrise." Drawing a line on his map from the east of the Imperial Palace to the nearest mountain, he identified Longguang Gate as the true third location. With no time to notify Gao Bingzhu, Baili Hongyi immediately departed with Shen Fei for Longguang Gate.
Upon hearing Baili Hongyi's discovery from Liu Ran, Gao Bingzhu and Qingye immediately rushed to Longguang Gate to provide backup. Meanwhile, Bai Lang and An Baitan had coerced the shop owner into a secret room, where they discovered numerous copper boxes filled with the Thunder. The shop owner seized a moment of distraction to light a fuse and hurl it towards the boxes.
Fortunately, Bai Lang reacted instantly, catching the lit fuse before it could reach the explosives, much to An Baitan's relief. Baili Hongyi and Shen Fei arrived at Longguang Gate and quickly pinpointed Jingnian Bookstore as the suspicious location. As they entered to investigate, they were attacked by the shop owner and other assassins. Baili Hongyi watched in horror as a fuse was lit. He grabbed a dipper of water to extinguish it, but was relentlessly attacked by assassins.
He fought desperately to break free, then used all his might to pull and cut the fuse in the cellar, successfully extinguishing it. Suddenly, archers appeared, aiming at Baili Hongyi. Shen Fei, without hesitation, shielded Baili Hongyi, taking an arrow through his body. Gong Yan and Ruo'an, accompanied by Four Season Clan assassins, arrived and surrounded Baili Hongyi, declaring that the Thunder would lead to their demise.
Gao Bingzhu and Qingye promptly arrived, and a fierce battle ensued between the two sides. In the distance, a deafening explosion ripped through the air. Gong Yan, unwilling to prolong the fight, immediately ordered her assassins to retreat. Gao Bingzhu pursued and killed Ruo'an, who had lagged behind. Hearing the distant explosion, Gao Bingzhu suddenly realized he had been deceived.
He understood that Qingye had deliberately led him to obtain the Lianshan Rhyme and then intentionally helped him search for suspicious locations near the Heavenly Temple, all to delay him. Gao Bingzhu immediately reported his suspicions to Li Yichen, stating his belief that the Ceremony of Light was merely a diversion, concealing a far greater conspiracy. His fears were confirmed when An Baitan returned with shocking news: Hanjia Granary had been bombed, leaving Li Yichen stunned.
