Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin Episode 5 Recap
> Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin Recap
Xiao Pingzhang lay on the couch, examining a map to deduce strategy. Meng Qianxue impatiently held up the map, complaining that if he was so worried about his younger brother, he should send more people to meet him. Xiao Pingzhang calculated that his younger brother's campsite on the last night before entering the capital should be at Qizhuxi. Ji Chen, as expected, also chose Qizhuxi.
They had four hundred elite soldiers, so the enemy would not dare to launch a frontal assault, only a surprise attack. Qizhuxi had cliffs on two sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even if facing a Langya master as the vanguard, the opponent would find it hard to break through. Xiao Pingjing, however, only expressed regret that he couldn't capture Duan Tongzhou before entering the capital. After the army settled down, Magistrate Zhang still remained silent.
Ji Chen ordered several carriages to be covered with black cloth to confuse perception and prevent an ambush by masters. Xiao Pingjing asked Uncle Yuan to rest, saying he would be responsible for the night watch. However, before night deepened, Duan Tongzhou arrived, stepping on bamboo, like a night eagle in the air, seeing the four hundred elite soldiers as nothing in his quest to kill one person.
Despite the black cloth covering, he accurately pounced on the prison cart where Magistrate Zhang was located. His unique silver needle hidden weapons rained down, piercing into the black cloth prison cart. The person inside the cart must have been riddled with them. When Duan Tongzhou landed, he was surrounded by many soldiers but showed no fear, still chatting and laughing.
He was certain that Magistrate Zhang was dead and chuckled, saying that the Second Young Master Changlin, Xiao Pingjing, probably hadn't expected it. Xiao Pingjing confidently declared that he had actually already thought of it, then uncovered the black cloth, only to find the prison cart empty. Ji Chen was greatly surprised; he hadn't known when Xiao Pingjing had moved the person.
Xiao Pingjing frankly stated that he had figured out why Duan Tongzhou had killed Qian Canling first at that time: because Qian Canling had no family background, was alone, was difficult to control, and was one of only two people who knew the identity of the mastermind. Once caught, he would certainly expose the mastermind. But Magistrate Zhang's family had already been controlled.
To protect his family, he would certainly not confess immediately, which was why he was left alive by Duan Tongzhou to be handled by his accomplice, and that accomplice was General Ji Chen. Ji Chen did not defend himself against Xiao Pingjing's accusation, merely believing that his actions were flawless and not understanding when Xiao Pingjing had seen through him.
Xiao Pingjing had originally had deep trust in Ji Chen, only deducing his identity through many details, such as Ji Chen's deliberate inquiries about whether Magistrate Zhang had confessed. The witness had not been given a chance to be harmed because of Uncle Yuan's close protection throughout the journey. Seeing the matter exposed, Ji Chen simply decided to kill everyone to silence them.
It was then that Xiao Pingjing realized why Ji Chen would collude with Duan Tongzhou: because Qizhou was deep within Daliang territory. If Ganzhou had fallen at that time, there would have been no more fortresses to defend, and the Dayu army would inevitably have driven straight into Qizhou.
By then, the Dayu army would have been at the end of their tether, while Ji Chen, a good commander, and the Liuying forces, which had good combat strength, could have then emerged victoriously, utterly defeating the Dayu army and protecting Daliang. Ji Chen could then seize a great deal of military merit and instantly become a hero of Daliang.
Xiao Yuanqi angrily exclaimed that the land of Wuzhou, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and common people, were merely pawns in Ji Chen's eyes, scolding him for being utterly insane. Uncle Yuan also stepped forward and said that Prince Changlin and the Heir Apparent had long seen through Ji Chen's scheme. Ji Chen, however, showed no remorse, stating bluntly that a true man, while alive, should strive for great achievements.
Xiao Pingjing angrily declared that the Changlin Prince's Manor protected the northern border not just for "achievements." Seeing that the situation had come to this, Ji Chen intended to join forces with Duan Tongzhou to kill everyone and silence them. However, Duan Tongzhou had his own plans. His martial arts were exceptionally high, and he could leave whenever he wished, unwilling to fight fiercely with others here.
Xiao Pingjing, seeing him about to escape, quickly chased after him, but he alone could not stop Duan Tongzhou from leaving. The Heir Apparent's Consort, Meng Qianxue, arrived in time. With the two of them working together in an entangled fight, Duan Tongzhou could not gain an advantage and was forced back to his original position. Meng Qianxue led the army to completely surround Qizhuxi. Holding the Changlin token, she ordered Ji Chen's arrest.
Seeing that the tide had turned, Ji Chen threw down his sword, admitted defeat, and surrendered. Duan Tongzhou was still unwilling, but it was just futile resistance. Xiao Pingjing became unhappy again, because all of this was within his father and elder brother's calculations.
It was only because they weren't sure if Ji Chen was truly involved and didn't want to jump to conclusions that they specifically sent him here to test him, having already devised a way to deal with it. He complained that his father and elder brother always tested his abilities, making him very unhappy. The Heir Apparent's Consort, Meng Qianxue, noticed Xiao Pingjing and Lin Xi often chatting and laughing together, secretly discerning a hint of something between the two.
After Xiao Pingjing returned home, Xiao Tingsheng, who had always been strict with him, gave him another good lecture. Fortunately, Xiao Pingzhang came to his rescue, ending the torment. Xiao Pingjing complained about his father, saying he gave not a single word of praise, only endless lectures, which made Xiao Tingsheng angry and leave. Xiao Pingzhang invited his younger brother to eat together in the evening. Xiao Yuanqi also returned to his manor.
His mother, hearing about Xiao Yuanqi's experiences and actions along the way, angrily rebuked him for not listening to her teachings and advised him that since he couldn't match the capabilities of the Changlin Prince's Manor, it was best to act prudently to protect himself. Xiao Yuanqi reluctantly agreed. Lin Xi arrived at the Jifeng Hall branch in the Imperial Capital, eager to see her master.
However, Old Hall Master Li had just left the Capital City two days prior, only leaving a message instructing Lin Xi to manage the Capital branch and also telling her to visit the Changlin Prince's Manor often to look after Xiao Pingzhang's injuries. Song Fu knew his power was gone, so he tidied his appearance, sat upright in the hall, and waited for the Imperial Edict to arrive.
The Grand Court of Judicial Review came with the edict to arrest him. He neither resisted nor panicked, simply calmly blew out the candle, removed his official hat, and entered the prison. It was considered somewhat dignified. He and Duan Tongzhou met in prison, exchanged a look, and remained silent. After the Crown Prince recovered from his illness, he regained his lively boyish nature. He was clamoring to play with his Elder Brother Pingjing.
Xiao Pingjing was currently in Xiao Pingzhang's room enjoying delicious food. Xiao Pingzhang was worried about the outcome of Song Fu's trial tomorrow. Seeing that his injuries had not yet healed, Xiao Pingjing mentioned that Lin Xi had returned to the capital with him. Xiao Pingzhang chuckled, saying he had only learned frivolousness at Langya Pavilion.
He, in turn, accused his elder brother, who had gone to the Emperor at fourteen to propose marriage to Meng Qianxue, of being even more frivolous, and was immediately besieged by his elder brother and sister-in-law. Grand Master Pu Yangying reported to Empress Xun that the prayer ritual was already prepared.
He brought up the major case stirred up by the Changlin Prince's Manor, reminding Empress Xun that Grand Secretary Xun Baishui had many protégés and former subordinates, and it would be best not to get him implicated. In court, Grand Commandant Wu reported to the Emperor that Song Fu had confessed to the Datong Shipwreck Case but vehemently denied colluding with Ji Chen to seize military merits.
Ji Chen, on the other hand, claimed that everything was orchestrated by Song Fu. There were still contradictions between the two parties. Grand Commandant Wu intended to first question Duan Tongzhou, who had assumed the alias Master Qin, to roughly clarify the situation before having the two confront each other. At the same time, he produced a list of accomplices confessed by Song Fu, and Xun Baishui's expression changed unpredictably as he looked at the list.
