My Heroic Husband Episode 29 Recap
> My Heroic Husband Recap
Ning Yi was summoned by Fang Tianlei, and nervously approached him. Fang Tianlei offered to let Ning Yi's family leave the city, but only if Ning Yi helped him with a task. If Ning Yi failed, Fang Tianlei threatened to kill his entire family. With no other choice, Ning Yi agreed. Ning Yi was then taken to Master Qian, whom Fang Tianlei wanted him to persuade to surrender. Ning Yi pretended to offer psychological counseling.
As he sat down, he discreetly wrote "Someone’s listening" on the table with water, making Master Qian narrow his eyes in curiosity. While feigning meditation and a calming demeanor, Ning Yi subtly informed Master Qian about the city's true situation. He revealed that he had managed to bring food into the city, alleviating the hunger of the populace, and that discontent against Fang Tianlei was growing. He assured Master Qian that Lin'an would eventually be recaptured.
Impressed by Ning Yi's capability, Master Qian decided to take a gamble and feign surrender to Fang Tianlei. Ning Yi reported back to Fang Tianlei, claiming that Master Qian had agreed to surrender in front of the entire city after a session of "meditation," which involved entering the deepest parts of his consciousness to help him sort out his thoughts. Fang Tianlei was intrigued and offered Ning Yi a position as his strategist.
However, Ning Yi respectfully declined, stating that he owed Liu Xigua a debt of gratitude and preferred to remain as a strategist in Badao Camp. Fang Tianlei, recognizing Ning Yi's sense of loyalty, agreed and reaffirmed his promise to let Ning Yi's family leave the city. Before Ning Yi departed, Fang Tianlei called him back, asking how he managed to procure five hundred "shi" of provisions from three nearby counties overnight.
Ning Yi smiled and openly revealed his identity, stating that he was a matrilocal husband of the wealthy Su family in Jiangning, and that his monthly allowance alone was enough to purchase such a large quantity of provisions several times over. He explained that he had kept his wealth a secret for his own protection, especially with Commander Bao looting rich merchants in the city, but felt comfortable being honest with a "generous" leader like Fang Tianlei.
Fang Tianlei, somewhat appeased, allowed him to leave. The next day, Master Qian was brought before the citizens, as promised. However, instead of surrendering, he delivered a defiant and inspiring speech to the public, urging them not to yield but to stand firm and defend their country's dignity, even if it meant sacrificing their lives. He reminded them that while sages' words were often recited, true heroism lay in action during times of crisis.
His powerful words ignited outrage among the people against the bandits. Enraged, Fang Tianlei had Master Qian executed on the spot. Master Qian's unyielding sacrifice deeply impacted Ning Yi. As he, Su Tan'er, and their companions prepared to leave the city, they witnessed countless refugees suffering from starvation. Overwhelmed by the plight of the common folk, Su Tan'er expressed her anguish, asking Ning Yi what would become of these people.
Ning Yi, though internally conflicted, decided they must still try to leave for the sake of his family. Only one carriage was available initially, and the Su family's second branch father and son eagerly volunteered to go first, bidding a quick farewell to Ning Yi and Chen Fan. However, as they ventured outside the city gates, they found an eerie silence.
Suddenly, a volley of arrows rained down upon them, forcing them to scramble back into the city, barely escaping with their lives. The main army under General Dong Daofu had already approached the city gates, preparing for an assault. Simultaneously, General Lin led a detachment through a secret passage, provided by Right Chancellor Qin, directly into the powder magazine behind Lin'an's west gate.
General Dong Daofu had strategically encircled three sides of Lin'an, leaving only the southern gate open, where he also placed an ambush. He had sent three of his most capable deputy generals—Lin Yun, Wang Bin, and Liu Haitian—through various secret passages to infiltrate the city, intending a coordinated inside-outside attack. With the city under siege, Ning Yi and his family were forced to return to Badao Camp. Chen Fan was instructed to strengthen defenses, particularly at the city gates.
Unexpectedly, Fang Tianlei rode out alone to General Dong Daofu's camp. He confronted Dong Daofu, boasting about his control over the imperial powder magazine and presenting the severed heads of Dong Daofu's three deputy generals, who had been ambushed after entering the city. Fang Tianlei threatened to detonate the entire city and the powder magazine if Dong Daofu made any aggressive moves. Dong Daofu, furious but constrained by the gravity of the situation, could only suppress his anger.
He questioned who was behind Fang Tianlei's precise knowledge of his internal plans. Unbeknownst to Right Chancellor Qin, his own guard, Hao Jinhan, had betrayed them, leaking vital information, including the secret passages to the powder magazine, to Grand Tutor He.
Grand Tutor He had orchestrated a meticulous plot; not only was the southern front now difficult to reclaim, but the northern campaign also suffered a devastating ambush, with heavy losses, leaving only the main generals Wang Bing and Yang Shike to break through. Incensed by this treachery, Left Chancellor Li stormed into Grand Tutor He's mansion, publicly accusing him of treason. In his fury, he inadvertently insulted the Emperor, who was present, and was immediately arrested and thrown into prison.
Right Chancellor Qin visited Left Chancellor Li in jail, discussing their bleak prospects. With their forces dwindling, Qin suggested activating Ning Yi, leveraging his insider position to coordinate with General Dong Daofu and suppress the bandits. Ning Yi received a message via carrier pigeon outlining this new mission, but he was deeply disheartened. He had only wished to return to Jiangning and live a peaceful life with his family, now his tranquility was shattered.
In frustration, he threw away the token dagger from Qin Siyuan, declaring an end to their ties. When the pigeon refused to leave, Ning Yi angrily threatened to stew it for soup. Su Tan'er found Ning Yi upset and gently reminded him that no one could escape the chaos of a troubled era. She warned that if the war was not resolved, their own family would suffer the same fate as the Lou family.
She then handed him the dagger that Lu Hongti had recovered, saying that while the Secret Investigation Department had many pigeons to spare, Qin Siyuan's dagger was unique and should not be discarded again. Ning Yi fell silent, pondering her words. Ning Yi understood everything. He hadn’t actually stewed the pigeon; the soup in the bowl was chicken soup. He shared it with Guard Geng and Chan, encouraging everyone to nourish themselves.
Guard Geng suddenly brought up the Su family's second branch father and son. He noted that while he, Chan, and Su Tan'er were willing to stay and face the impending battle, the second branch father and son might not be. Ning Yi went to check on them, offering them good food and drinks.
However, they were so terrified by their earlier escape that they emphatically declared they would not leave Lin'an until the conflict subsided, saving Ning Yi the trouble of convincing them. Right Chancellor Qin's message had given Ning Yi seven days to recapture Lin'an and the powder magazine with General Dong Daofu, or the hope for the northern campaign would be lost. Ning Yi realized that he and Lu Hongti alone couldn’t achieve this.
Their only hope lay in using the emblem on the dagger to locate scattered members of the Secret Investigation Department and Wude Camp within Lin'an. To gather these hidden allies, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er reopened the Lou Family Cloth Store. Chen Fan was perplexed by this business venture amidst a siege, but Ning Yi explained that ensuring people's basic needs like clothing, food, shelter, and transportation was key to winning their hearts.
The emblem, he explained to Chen Fan, was their "business emblem." Ning Yi’s strategy proved effective, bringing many Secret Investigation Department agents out of hiding in Lin'an. Even Yuan Dingqi, the Commander in Chief of the Secret Investigation Department’s Second Department and Wude Camp, arrived after hearing the news. Meanwhile, Lou Shuwan was consolidating her power within Bao Wenhan’s camp. She provided food to the women trapped under Bao Wenhan's control, encouraging them to survive and become her loyal followers.
She also shrewdly distributed the gold and jewelry sent to her by Bao Wenhan to various officers' wives and troops, thereby earning their loyalty. Shortly after, she discovered the emblem on the cloth being distributed by Ning Yi's associates and quickly led a group of bandits to the Lou Family Cloth Store. As Su Tan'er nervously confronted them, Lou Shuwan stepped forward and calmly stated, "It’s me."
