Luoyang Episode 34 Recap
> Luoyang Recap
Gao Bingzhu considered the possibility that the Light Ceremony was merely a distraction for a more significant conspiracy. His thoughts were confirmed when news broke that Hanjia Granary had been extensively damaged by a powerful explosion, causing widespread destruction and a massive fire. A high-ranking official reported the extent of the damage, stating that most grain reserves would be lost and nearly a hundred granaries by the river had sustained damage.
Casualties were being tallied as various imperial forces worked to rescue the injured and contain the blaze, which threatened to spread into the city. Li Yichen expressed deep concern that Luoyang faced a major crisis due to the destruction of its main grain supply. Wu Shenxing and Wu Youjue reported the devastating incident to the empress. Wu Youjue explained the extent of the damage and the difficulties in counting casualties due to the large number of personnel involved.
The empress, enraged, dismissed their excuses, asserting her authority and issuing immediate commands. She ordered grain boats to gather for transportation, and supervising officials across regions to collect and ship new grain to Huiluo Granary within ten days to maintain public order. She declared that as long as she was alive, Luoyang would be secure, scoffing at the perpetrators who thought they could destroy her and the city.
She then tasked Wu Youjue with swiftly uncovering who was behind this act. After the audience, King of Jin (Wu Shenxing) and Lord Gao (Gao Sheng), the head of the Grand Court, discussed the lack of intelligence from the Intelligence Services regarding such a major event. Lord Gao then informed the King of Jin that intelligence indicated Gao Bingzhu and Baili Hongyi had been seen near locations where the Thunder was hidden just before the explosion, marking them as suspicious.
Simultaneously, the Interior Guard Services located Wu Siyue, who had been at Hanjia Granary, prompting Wu Youjue to rush to the scene. Meanwhile, An Baidan informed Gao Bingzhu that Wu Siyue was at Hanjia Granary, prompting Gao Bingzhu to rush there to rescue her. He arrived at the devastated Hanjia Granary, a scene of widespread destruction and countless casualties, and desperately searched for Wu Siyue amidst the chaos, but could not find her.
Elsewhere, the Lady of Autumn confronted the Lord of Spring, furious that Hanjia Granary had been bombed and other Thunder locations compromised. She accused him of revealing their positions to Gao Bingzhu, which he vehemently denied, asserting he didn't even know their locations himself. He called her vision narrow, stating that merely killing the empress at the Light Ceremony was not his ultimate objective. He revealed that Hanjia Granary was just the beginning of a larger scheme.
When the Lady of Autumn ordered her subordinates to seize him, they turned against her, forcing her to surrender. Back at his residence, Baili Hongyi brought back Shen Fei’s body, causing great sorrow to Yunzhi and Liu Ran. Overcome with grief, Baili Hongyi refused to eat or drink. Liu Ran, concerned for his well-being, asked Uncle Wu to prepare calming herbs for him.
Wu Siyue, having already freed herself from her bonds using a hairpin, was engaged in a fierce fight with Li Beiqi when Interior Guard Services reinforcements arrived. They killed Li Beiqi on the spot. Wu Youjue arrived shortly after, finding Li Beiqi dead, a sight that caused him profound distress. As Baili Hongyi sat in sorrow, the Lord of Spring unexpectedly appeared.
Baili Hongyi recognized him as his older brother, Baili Kuanren, but refused to acknowledge him, accusing him of orchestrating their father Baili Yan’s death. Baili Kuanren denied the accusation, asserting he had no interest in killing. Baili Hongyi then pressed him to explain why Hanjia Granary was targeted instead of the Heavenly Temple, when all evidence pointed to the latter.
Baili Kuanren, dismissing the question, began to recount his past, including his meeting with Lord Freedom and his subsequent decision to join the Four Season Clan. He urged Baili Hongyi to join him in their grand endeavor, explaining that those who died and Hanjia Granary were merely pieces in a larger game. Baili Hongyi then realized his brother’s ambition extended far beyond Luoyang, aiming for control of the entire world.
Baili Kuanren then had the captured Lady of Autumn brought before Baili Hongyi, challenging him to avenge their father by killing her. When Baili Hongyi hesitated, unable to act, Baili Kuanren swiftly killed the Lady of Autumn himself. After this, Wu Youjue tearfully confronted Baili Kuanren, expressing his profound grief over Li Beiqi’s betrayal and death, recounting how he had taken Li Beiqi in as a child and raised him as his own.
Wu Siyue, having witnessed her former comrade’s demise, was also overcome with sorrow. Gao Bingzhu continued his desperate search through the ruins of Hanjia Granary until Wu Siyue suddenly appeared before him, safe. Overjoyed, he spontaneously embraced her, a moment that visibly moved even Wu Youjue. Just then, Pei Jian arrived, sent by Lord Gao to apprehend Gao Bingzhu for questioning.
However, Wu Youjue intervened, defending Gao Bingzhu and dismissing Pei Jian, stating there was no concrete evidence linking Gao Bingzhu to the Four Season Clan. Wu Siyue expressed her desire to remain at Hanjia Granary to search for clues. Wu Youjue, while cautioning her about the unstable ruins, assigned Li Chun and several guards to protect her.
Wu Siyue then tearfully confided in Gao Bingzhu about Li Beiqi’s betrayal and his involvement with the Four Season Clan, and Gao Bingzhu offered her comfort. Later, the empress severely reprimanded officials Yang Huan and Wu Shenxing for their incompetence in identifying the culprits behind the Hanjia Granary explosion. Wu Shenxing then blamed Li Yichen, also known as Lord Chu of the Intelligence Services, for the lack of foresight.
He seized the opportunity to recommend Wu Youjue, citing his loyalty and capabilities, to replace Lord Chu as the new head of the Intelligence Services. The empress agreed, summoning Wu Youjue to officially assign him the weighty responsibility.
