Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 13 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
The army traveled north and halted at Qiyue Pass to rest. The Gobi Desert stretched vast and desolate before them, with no sight of Leizhou merchants or nomadic tribes, an unusual stillness that aroused Zhang Chengqian's suspicion. He noted that typically, before the mountain roads became impassable due to heavy snow in October, merchants would rush to transport goods into Jiaman.
With 130,000 troops expected to winter at Huangquan Pass, the route should have been bustling, yet it remained eerily quiet. As they discussed this, snow began to fall, an unseasonably early phenomenon for late September. As the snow thickened, Fu Yi conjectured that the Huku grasslands might have been buried under snow since late August. He deduced that this "once-in-decades" severe cold had frozen the floating mountain glacier solid, transforming it into an ideal, albeit treacherous, passage.
Unlike previous years when the glacier was unstable due to melting, the extreme cold rendered it firm. This route, combined with the rugged terrain that offered excellent concealment for troops, made it highly probable that the Huku forces had used the glacier to bypass more conventional routes. The nearest settlement to the glacier was Well Town, a crucial supply hub for traveling merchants, defended by fewer than two thousand soldiers and a similar number of civilians.
Fang Haishi concluded that Well Town was likely on the verge of falling. The main army was responsible for transporting winter provisions for 130,000 people and was still a significant distance from the town. Despite Zhang Chengqian's suggestion to prioritize the provisions and send reinforcements from the main camp, Fang Haishi argued that any delay would be too late.
Insisting that the town could not be abandoned lest it damage the army's morale, she resolved to lead a rescue mission herself. Two vice-generals, Li and Zheng, were then ordered to take two thousand men and follow her command to Well Town. Meanwhile, in the Fabric Office in Tianqi, Fang Jianming sought out Chief Stewardess Ju. He reminded her that with his father's passing, she was no longer his retainer but a colleague from the Secret Force.
He then addressed the old marriage agreement between their parents, stating clearly that he had sworn an oath after his mother's death to neither accumulate personal wealth nor marry, but to devote himself entirely to the nation. He emphasized that while their parents had made a pact, he and Chief Stewardess Ju had no such agreement, hoping she would not waste her time on this matter.
Chief Stewardess Ju, though appearing to understand, later confessed to her maid Zhe Liu that she had always regarded Fang Jianming as a big brother. After Fang Jianming departed, Chief Stewardess Ju's composure crumbled. Overwhelmed with sorrow, she ordered Zhe Liu to bring a brazier. She then took out a meticulously embroidered wedding gown, cut it into pieces, and cast them into the flames, symbolizing the demise of her long-held hopes.
Simultaneously, Fang Jianming had Fang Haishi’s belongings moved from Jifeng Pavilion to Zhaoming Palace, with instructions to arrange them as they were in her previous quarters. Fang Zhuoying, who was overseeing the relocation, expressed confusion to Fang Jianming. He recounted Fang Haishi's assumption that she was kept in her old residence to facilitate Fang Jianming's wedding, only to be told later her services were not required. Now all her things were being moved to his palace.
Fang Jianming dismissed Fang Zhuoying’s questions, stating that Fang Haishi "likes to make assumptions" and that "many of those words I have never actually said," leaving his true intentions shrouded in ambiguity. The next evening, the main Dazheng army, along with the winter provisions, safely arrived at the Huangquan Battalion camp. General Tang Qianzi, upon learning that Well Town was under attack, was debating his course of action when a group of riders galloped towards the camp, carrying Dazheng banners.
It was Fang Haishi, leading her detachment back. She reported that over three thousand two hundred Huku invaders had attacked Well Town. While more than half had fled, the rest, who refused to surrender, were captured, with over twenty taken alive. She explained that the Well Town garrison was now digging trenches at the glacier's exit but needed more men for defense.
Fang Haishi offered to return, but General Tang Qianzi decided to keep her at the main camp, asserting that Vice General Lu and Vice General Chen were sufficient to reinforce the garrison, and that her skills were needed at Huangquan Pass. Although the battle at Well Town was a success, the Dazheng garrison sustained significant casualties, with many soldiers, including Wu Yang, suffering injuries.
General Tang Qianzi personally visited the wounded, where Fang Haishi's loyal comrades enthusiastically praised her bravery and clever tactics, particularly her strategy of attacking the enemy from three sides while leaving one escape route, which forced the Huku to flee. One soldier, Wu Yang, described the events so vividly that General Tang Qianzi, amused, commented he should be a storyteller rather than a soldier.
Later, General Tang Qianzi hosted a simple but heartfelt welcoming feast for the triumphant troops, offering millet, mutton, and wine. He commended Fang Haishi's decisive action, though she humbly expressed her sorrow over the casualties. Tang Qianzi remarked that when he first met "Young Master Haishi," her appearance was so refined he mistook her for a counselor, not a general. However, witnessing her fierce bravery in battle had utterly changed his perception.
He noted that she possessed the distinguished "traits of the Fang Family of Liushang," recalling Fang Jianming's legendary feats at fourteen, where he led armies and forced enemy generals to "break the arrow" in surrender. He expressed his surprise and relief that Lord Qinghai, Fang Jianming, was still alive. As Tang Qianzi spoke, Fang Haishi recalled the chilling instructions Fang Jianming had given her before her departure.
With a calm demeanor, Fang Jianming had commanded her to protect Tang Qianzi with the same diligence she would protect him. He then added a grave, specific order: should she ever receive a letter from him from the capital, regardless of its content, she was to immediately kill Tang Qianzi. Meanwhile, the Huku forces, led by the Lord of Left Pudun, had successfully infiltrated the area near Huangquan Pass, a strategy suggested by Duoluo.
The three thousand Huku soldiers attacking Well Town had served as a crucial diversion, allowing the main Left Tribe of Huku to sneak in undetected, with Huangquan Pass as their ultimate target. Back in the capital, Fang Jianming discovered that someone had deliberately cut off the intelligence network from Huku, indicating the presence of a mole.
He instructed Fang Zhuoying to outwardly work on renewing the intelligence network in Hanzhou, but in truth, to covertly plant other informants who would operate on separate, single lines. This meticulous plan was designed to lure the enemy out when the time was right. Upon hearing of Fang Haishi's triumph and that she was unharmed, Ti Lan was overjoyed.
She and her maid went to Shuangping Lake to release water lanterns, praying for the safety of "Zhenchu" (Fang Jianming) and Young Master Haishi. While they were there, a heavily intoxicated Di Xu stumbled upon them. In his drunken stupor, he tragically mistook Ti Lan for his deceased empress, Zizan, and lunged forward to embrace her. Ti Lan instinctively pushed him away but then, feeling a pang of empathy, reached out to him.
In the ensuing struggle, both fell into the lake. Di Xu, who had a deep fear of water, immediately lost consciousness. Ti Lan struggled desperately and eventually managed to pull him to safety. After being brought to his chambers, Di Xu remained unconscious, murmuring Zizan's name, a sight that caused Ti Lan great pain. She stayed by his side through the night.
The next morning, Di Xu awoke, surprised to find Ti Lan there, and stated that he had never asked her to stay. Nevertheless, he acknowledged her meritorious act of saving him and offered her any reward she desired, determined not to owe her. Ti Lan, however, declined, stating that she was content. Insisting on expressing his gratitude, Di Xu ordered that Xiaoguai, the rabbit he had forbidden her from keeping, be sent back to her in Yu’an Palace.
Soon after, Fang Jianming sought an audience with Di Xu to discuss the Hanzhou spy network and the deployment at Huangquan Pass. Di Xu, having received General Tang Qianzi's report that heavily praised Fang Haishi, jokingly asked if Fang Jianming was there to advocate for his disciple. Fang Jianming, however, expressed his deep concern that the Huku attack on Well Town indicated a larger strategic threat.
Di Xu then pressed Fang Jianming about his personal life, urging him to marry Chief Stewardess Ju. Fang Jianming firmly refused, reiterating his oath and emphasizing the critical national affairs at hand. As a supposed compromise and compensation for the broken promise, Di Xu declared that Chief Stewardess Ju would be given full authority over the renewal of the Huku spy network.
He dismissed Fang Jianming's objections, including concerns about a potential mole and Chief Stewardess Ju's eye condition, stating that he was too burdened to be involved and ordering him to hand over the work.
