My Heroic Husband Episode 20 Recap
> My Heroic Husband Recap
Elder Master sent household guards and armed escorts with Su Zhongkan and Su Wenxing for their journey, but Su Zhongkan refused them. He asserted that a large entourage would only slow them down and endanger Su Tan'er and Ning Yi, insisting that he and Su Wenxing would travel alone in a carriage to save time and increase their chances of a swift rescue.
The Elder Master, though hesitant, ultimately agreed, cautioning them to be careful and not to overextend themselves if they couldn't find the couple. Nie Yunzhu and Yun Jin'er, impressed by what they perceived as Su Zhongkan's selflessness and righteousness, promised that Zhu Restaurant would not let them down. Nie Yunzhu even pledged to entrust the management of Zhu Restaurant to them if they successfully brought Ning Yi back.
Both Su Zhongkan and Su Wenxing readily accepted, vowing to risk their lives for the mission. Once away from Jiangning, Su Wenxing expressed confusion about traveling to Linan, knowing it was overrun with bandits. Su Zhongkan revealed his true intentions, producing a travel sketch he had stolen from Guard Geng’s room, which outlined Ning Yi and Su Tan'er's honeymoon itinerary, featuring attractions like plum juice and hot springs.
Su Zhongkan explained their real plan: to follow this map for their own leisurely trip, enjoying the sights and comforts. He instructed Su Wenxing that if they found Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, they would bring them back for accolades and to take over Zhu Restaurant. If they failed to find them, they would simply return looking disheveled and exaggerate the hardships they faced, thus earning "hardship" credit and still laying claim to Zhu Restaurant.
Su Wenxing finally grasped his father’s clever, two-birds-with-one-stone strategy and expressed his admiration. Meanwhile, the wealthy Lou family had been seized by the bandits. Lou Jinlin, who claimed his lifetime savings were all accounted for, was beaten when the bandits found little money, while Lou Shuwan was injured attempting to protect her father. Lou Shuheng, discovered trembling under a table, desperately offered all his hidden silver to the bandits of Xuanwei Camp, begging not to be thrown into jail.
In the capital, Right Chancellor Qin, faced with an unchallengeable imperial decree, dispatched General Dong to Linan. Qin provided Dong with a battle plan to retake the city swiftly, emphasizing Linan's critical military importance to the Wu Dynasty, especially with ongoing conflicts in the north. General Dong assured the Right Chancellor he would not fail in his mission.
In the bandit camp, Ning Yi, now a "military counselor," found himself constantly monitored by four large, burly guards named "A Life For A Life." He shared watermelon with them and commented on their unusual name, joking they should be called "Repay the Debt," only to be told that group existed elsewhere. The guards explained they were adopted by Holy Master Fang Tianlei, and had followed Commander Liu Xigua since childhood.
Ning Yi found their constant surveillance, even accompanying him to the latrine, incredibly frustrating. Unable to sleep, he pretended to work on documents and threatened his guards with menial and unpleasant chores like cleaning latrines and cesspits. This tactic worked, as the guards, though still keeping him in sight, moved away to play dice. Ning Yi then joined their game, using his cunning to win all their money.
He generously returned their winnings, then encouraged them to invite other patrolling guards to join the game, turning his room into a raucous gambling den filled with drinking. The next morning, with all the guards in his room still passed out drunk, Ning Yi seized his chance to escape. His attempt was short-lived, however, as he stumbled into Chen Fan's private bathing courtyard and was immediately apprehended.
Chen Fan dragged him back, scolding the "A Life For A Life" guards for their lax watch and reiterating Liu Xigua's command that Ning Yi was not to leave until all official documents were processed. The guards, now even more vigilant and less friendly, resumed their watch, treating Ning Yi like a prisoner. Ning Yi reluctantly resigned himself to the task, lamenting having to do "homework" years after graduating.
Elsewhere, Bao Wenhan, still seething from Liu Xigua's intervention, was summoned by Holy Master Fang Tianlei. During the meeting, a subordinate reported that while most prominent families like Qian, Mu, Tang, and Chang had surrendered after the Lou family, Master Qian Xiwen remained defiant. Bao Wenhan argued for his immediate execution as a warning.
Fang Tianlei, however, cautioned against such a hasty move, citing Master Qian's high prestige and the risk of public unrest, as they had just taken the city. Bao Wenhan dismissed the concerns, insisting that anyone unwilling to submit should be killed to instill fear.
Liu Xigua sharply rebuked him, calling him a "reckless brute" and arguing that killing Master Qian would make it impossible for them to gain a foothold in Linan, which they needed to govern like a home with established rules. She further criticized Bao Wenhan's Xuanwei Camp for their rampant abuses, including looting and kidnapping women, which were turning the people against them.
Enraged by her defiance, Bao Wenhan attempted to strike Liu Xigua, but Holy Master Fang Tianlei intervened, stopping him and sternly reprimanding his conduct. Fang Tianlei then issued a clear decree: anyone who arbitrarily killed would be severely punished, even executed. As Bao Wenhan left, he was openly scorned by the public. He secretly ordered his subordinate, Zheng Biao, to discretely eliminate the ringleaders of the dissenting crowd, ensuring Fang Tianlei remained unaware.
Later, Liu Xigua expressed her discontent to Fang Tianlei, believing he hadn't sufficiently punished Bao Wenhan. Fang Tianlei patiently explained that Bao Wenhan's considerable influence within the Xuanwei Camp made a harsh punishment impractical at a time when they needed all capable hands, as it could destabilize the morale. Liu Xigua's aunt then approached, attempting to set her up for marriage, suggesting the handsome Young Master of the Dou Minzhong family.
Liu Xigua, flustered, quickly excused herself, claiming urgent matters in her camp, and hurried away, leaving her aunt and Fang Tianlei to discuss her reluctance and Chen Fan's apparent admiration for her. Liu Xigua then confronted Ning Yi in his room, questioning if his role as her military counselor felt beneath him given his escape attempt.
Ning Yi, in turn, offered sharp, unsolicited advice, urging her to accelerate repairs on the south city wall, halt the ineffective grain distribution in the eastern part of the city, and ensure Master Qian was treated with respect and care in prison, as his well-being was crucial for the populace's peace of mind. He subtly blamed Chen Fan for hindering his work and confining him.
Impressed by Ning Yi's strategic insights, Liu Xigua defended her "military counselor" and instructed Chen Fan, who was present, to return to his security duties and stop loitering around the Badao Camp. Ning Yi then requested a walk, and Liu Xigua readily permitted it, with Chen Fan unable to object. Meanwhile, Su Zhongkan and Su Wenxing’s "honeymoon" trip led them to a location on their stolen map marked "plum juice." To their dismay, it turned out to be a latrine.
Su Wenxing tried to rationalize it, suggesting it might be a local delicacy that, like stinky tofu, smelled terrible but tasted good, but Su Zhongkan was exasperated by his son's foolishness, still hoping to find the advertised plum juice within the unsavory locale.
