My Heroic Husband Episode 31 Recap
> My Heroic Husband Recap
Ning Yi sat by Guard Geng’s newly made grave, gently burying the last handfuls of soil. He expressed his gratitude for Guard Geng’s lifelong protection of the Su family and acknowledged Guard Geng's unfulfilled desire to become a knight and travel the world. Now, Ning Yi told him, he could finally rest in peace without worry. Taking out a novel Guard Geng had written, Ning Yi regretted not reading it while Guard Geng was alive.
The book, titled "Geng Zhi," began ten years ago in Bafeng Village, introducing a twenty-year-old Geng Zhi who, restless with rural life, decided to seek his fortune in Jiangning. One night, while waiting outside Jiangning’s city gate, he encountered a young woman named Yang. She was a singer, encouraged by Madame Liang to pursue her dream of becoming the most popular performer in Jiangning's largest sing-song house.
Geng Zhi was immediately captivated by her singing, even though she never truly noticed him, her eyes fixed on her ambitious future. Geng Zhi tried to join an escort agency, boasting his martial arts skills. The recruiter, unimpressed, still offered to introduce him to the leader for a fee. Thus, Geng Zhi became a guard at the Su Mansion, faithfully protecting the family for decades.
In his free time, he ceaselessly searched for Miss Yang among Jiangning’s various sing-song houses (Mingyu, Xiangle, Siyin), imagining her dazzling on stage, adored by countless admirers yet loving none. He longed to find her and confess his feelings. Years passed, and he began to doubt if she was even still in Jiangning, or if his memories of her were even real. Finally, he found her at Xinmen Brothel, but she was now Procuress Yang.
Their paths had diverged; he hadn't become a traveling escort, and she wasn't a renowned singer. Despite the passage of nine years, Geng Zhi's love persisted. He knew they were ordinary people, yet he was determined to try for her. He started living frugally, hoping to save enough money to propose. His meager monthly salary, however, was a pittance, prompting him to ask his manager, Li, for a raise, claiming a family emergency.
His only solace was reading chivalrous novels, envisioning a future where he could marry Miss Yang and they would travel the world together. To catch a glimpse of her, he would often visit the brothel, ordering the busiest singer, sometimes waiting all day. Procuress Yang was too busy to truly notice him, but he found happiness just observing her from afar. It wasn't until Ning Yi caused a commotion that she finally seemed to register his presence.
Driven by his desire to marry her, Geng Zhi tentatively asked Ning Yi if he could join his business. To his surprise, Ning Yi agreed, even appointing him as the manager of the Lin'an branch. That night, Geng Zhi was sleepless with excitement, imagining that with this new opportunity, he could finally earn enough money to marry Miss Yang and give her the happy life he always dreamed of.
Reading this, Ning Yi was struck by the irony that such a "chivalrous" man enjoyed romance novels. He remembered promising Geng Zhi a comfortable life and telling him he looked forward to hearing the rest of his story. With a heavy heart, Ning Yi burned the novel, a final tribute to Guard Geng, vowing to return to his grave after Lin'an’s troubles were settled.
Meanwhile, Fang Tianlei debated with his wife and sister whether Liu Xigua’s public declaration for Ning Yi was genuine affection or merely a protective gesture. His wife firmly believed it was true love, noting Liu Xigua’s unwavering refusal of all previous marriage proposals and her never having acted this way for anyone else.
While Fang Tianlei still suspected Ning Yi, especially after the gunpowder magazine incident, his wife countered, arguing that Lin'an had become significantly more stable since Ning Yi became their strategist. As Liu Xigua’s aunt, who had raised her like her own daughter, she insisted on supporting Liu Xigua’s first true affection. Fang Tianlei then devised a plan: he would arrange a marriage between Liu Xigua and Ning Yi and send invitations to all eight camps.
This grand wedding would serve as a test. If Ning Yi was indeed a spy, he would exploit the resulting lax city defenses to signal General Dong Daofu to attack, leading them into a trap at the gunpowder magazine. If no attack occurred, Ning Yi would be proven innocent, and a genuine marriage would be celebrated. Ning Yi was summoned before Fang Tianlei, who enumerated his offenses: hurting his men, disrupting supply lines, and killing Bao Wenhan.
Ning Yi, however, refused to confess guilt, asserting that his actions were based on his personal principles, his "bottom line," which he believed everyone, including Fang Tianlei, possessed. Impressed by Ning Yi’s bravery, Fang Tianlei then inquired about his birth details and family. Ning Yi provided his birth date, February 11th, though he couldn't recall the specific year. He stated that he was a matrilocal son-in-law to the Su family in Jiangning, married to Su Tan'er, and had no children.
He then challenged Fang Tianlei to simply kill him if that was his intention, rather than delve into such details. Fang Tianlei, however, decreed that since Liu Xigua had long admired Ning Yi and their elders approved, Ning Yi must divorce Su Tan'er and marry Liu Xigua the day after tomorrow. Upon seeing the Badao Camp adorned with wedding decorations, the Su Second Master and his son learned of Liu Xigua's impending marriage to Ning Yi.
They immediately protested, intending to defend their niece's husband. However, Fang Tianlei had issued a terrifying edict: anyone who opposed the marriage would be killed. Faced with this threat, they reluctantly offered congratulations. Liu Xigua confronted Fang Tianlei and her aunt, furious about the forced marriage, with Chen Fan supporting her stance. She insisted it was her personal matter and demanded they stop pressuring her.
Fang Tianlei retorted that since she had publicly declared her affection for Ning Yi, she, as the esteemed Commander of Badao Camp, must uphold her honor by marrying him. He then threatened that if she did not marry Ning Yi, he would no longer protect him from the Xuanwei Camp, who sought revenge for Bao Wenhan's death.
Chen Fan reminded them that Ning Yi was already married, but Liu Xigua’s aunt dismissed this, stating Ning Yi could simply divorce Su Tan'er, as their Liu Xigua would never share a husband. Liu Xigua reiterated that while she liked Ning Yi, she had no intention of breaking up his loving relationship with Su Tan'er. Her aunt scoffed, telling her if Ning Yi could love Su Tan'er, he could love Liu Xigua too, and urged her to be more confident.
Unable to sway them, Liu Xigua retreated. Lu Hongti later reported to Ning Yi that the Secret Investigation Department had suffered severe casualties after the failed gunpowder magazine raid and needed time to recover. She noted they only had three days left and suspected the gunpowder had already been moved. With insufficient forces for a coordinated attack with General Dong, they would need to create an opportunity, striking when the enemy’s defenses were weakest.
Ning Yi, deep in thought, assured her he would find a solution and asked her to tell Master Qin not to worry, as he would handle the situation in Lin’an. Liu Xigua found Ning Yi, regretfully informing him that the forced marriage was unavoidable. She explained that after this "interlude," everything would revert to normal: he would be himself, she would be herself, and Su Tan'er would still be his wife.
She clarified that her public declaration of affection was solely to protect him and urged him to explain the situation clearly to his wife. Ning Yi, feeling a pang of guilt, apologized. Liu Xigua dismissed it as a "debt between brothers" and left. Later that night, Ning Yi returned to his room, where Su Tan'er was waiting, playfully confronting him with a pair of scissors about his upcoming marriage to Liu Xigua.
She jokingly asked if he planned to divorce her or keep both wives. Startled, Ning Yi quickly explained it was all an act, part of a larger plan. Su Tan'er, no longer teasing, listened intently as he revealed the details, which required her cooperation. She feigned indignation, accusing him of desiring two wives, but then patiently listened to his full strategy.
The Su Second Master and his son, outraged that Ning Yi, their matrilocal son-in-law, dared to remarry, confronted Su Tan'er. She calmly assured them that she and Ning Yi had their own arrangements and they shouldn't worry. Her composure, and a subtle smile, baffled them, making them wonder if she had lost her mind. They then secretly reveled in the thought that with Ning Yi gone, they could finally seize the family fortune.
Their joy was quickly tempered by the realization that they were still trapped in Lin'an. Meanwhile, Chen Fan led his subordinates outside the city to construct a makeshift shelter, intending to disrupt the wedding. However, they were discovered by Fang Tianlei. Realizing Chen Fan’s affection for Liu Xigua and fearing he might disrupt the wedding, Fang Tianlei had him imprisoned until after the ceremony. Inside the camp, Liu Xigua’s aunt oversaw the bustling wedding preparations.
She instructed her subordinates to send invitations to all eight camps, specifically excluding Ning Yi's former wife and family, making sure no one was overlooked. At the Lou Cloth Store, Su Tan'er gathered her staff, instructing them to work quickly on an urgent order of clothing. The day before the wedding, her aunt visited Liu Xigua and found her polishing her sword, a clear sign of nervousness.
Although it was a forced marriage, Liu Xigua admitted to her aunt a hint of anticipation. As invitations filled the eight camps, a festive atmosphere spread throughout Badao Camp. Oblivious to the true situation, the Su Second Master and his son, not invited to the wedding, continued to fantasize about becoming the richest family in Jiangning once they returned home. With a newfound swagger, they confidently ordered fifteen steamed buns from a street vendor.
Then, attempting to buy them on credit, they grandiosely declared themselves the wealthy managers of the Jiangning Su family, boasting they could even buy the vendor a shop. The bewildered vendor watched them stride away, shaking his head.
