Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 16 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
Upon his late-night arrival at Huangquan Pass, Fang Jianming, known as Lord Qinghai, immediately confers with General Tang Qianzi. He learns that while Huku's Left Tribe was defeated at Xiping Port, the Right Tribe exploited the opportunity to occupy Lanzi in Jiaman. Staff Officer Fang Haishi is currently trapped in Lanzi's Governor's Mansion while attempting to rescue Jiaman refugees, and Commander Zhang, sent to rescue her, is also missing.
General Tang expresses concern about the high risks of a rescue operation, but Fang Jianming insists that state affairs must come first, deferring the discussion. Despite his stoic demeanor, Fang Jianming’s attendants note that his old wound has reopened, a sign of his deep worry for Fang Haishi. A message from Haishi soon arrives, confirming her location in the Governor's Mansion and revealing that Lanzi's West Gate is weakly defended, signaling her readiness for a coordinated attack.
Shortly after, soldiers loyal to Fang Haishi plead with Fang Jianming to save their "Brother." Salia, the leader of the Jiamanese who helped relay Haishi's message, is then granted an audience. Salia explains that the Jiamanese are uniquely positioned to launch a rescue, as Lanzi is their home, brutally taken by the Huku who killed her father, mother, and elder brother.
She credits Fang Haishi with saving many of her people from the massacre and vows that her tribe would rather die fighting than surrender. Salia offers the full cooperation of the Jiamanese, confident they can retake their home and rescue Haishi if Fang Jianming leads them. In response to the Right Pudun King's announcement of his marriage to a new consort, Huangquan Pass dispatches an envoy to Lanzi City with congratulatory gifts.
The envoy subtly provokes the King by highlighting Dazheng's military strength and the recent defeat of Huku's Left Pudun King. Suspicious, the Right Pudun King inspects the gifts for hidden messages before sending them to Fang Haishi to win her favor. Upon receiving them, Haishi notices a bloodstain on a thumb ring, immediately worrying that her Master is injured and nearby.
Her suspicions are confirmed when she discovers the box is filled with items specifically for the Xiayuan Festival, deducing that her Master intends to act that very night. In Tianqi, Emperor Xu is pleased by the news of the victory at Xiping Port but grows furious upon learning that Fang Jianming went to Huangquan Pass without reporting to him. Fang Zhuoying defends his Master, arguing that such a hurried departure must indicate a critical situation.
The Emperor dismisses this, believing Fang Jianming's actions are solely for his beloved disciple, Fang Haishi, and cautions Fang Zhuoying against emulating his Master's perceived soft-heartedness. Meanwhile, at the Fabric Office, Princess Ti Lan flies a kite toward her homeland before deliberately cutting its string, symbolically setting it free. The kite drifts and lands near Emperor Xu. Zhe Liu, searching for her own lost kite, mistakes it for hers and becomes flustered.
Having been impressed by Zhe Liu's gentle care for his rabbit in a previous encounter, the Emperor is amused. Intrigued by the poem on the kite, he offers Zhe Liu a reward in exchange for it. Salia, with her people and disguised soldiers, enters Lanzi City and makes contact with the captured Commander Zhang. Inside, Fang Haishi negotiates with the Right Pudun King, claiming a change of heart.
She offers to help him defeat Fang Jianming and seize Huangquan Pass in exchange for being named his Davana, or queen. Impressed by her ambition, the King agrees and promises a grand wedding. Haishi seizes the opportunity, proposing the wedding be held that night, the Xiayuan Festival, an auspicious day in Dazheng. He consents, and she requests to visit the prison one last time to bid farewell to her comrades.
In the prison, Fang Haishi makes eye contact with Commander Zhang and announces her impending marriage. She declares that the fireworks outside the Governor's Mansion will signify her wedding, which is the pre-arranged signal: "Move tonight. Fireworks are the signal." Commander Zhang and the others understand, using celebratory whistles to relay the command. Nearby beggars interpret the whistles and scatter to transmit the message. Simultaneously, Salia poisons the city's well.
Though his generals remain suspicious of Haishi, the Right Pudun King is convinced of her loyalty after she visits the prison without incident. However, Chief Stewardess Ju delivers new intelligence revealing that Fang Haishi is Fang Jianming's lover and a spy for Dazheng. Enraged, the King orders Haishi's seizure, the summoning of his general Luerdan, and for the prisoners to be guarded strictly, with any who make a move to be executed.
As he confronts and admonishes Haishi for her deception, the signal fireworks erupt. Seizing the distraction, Haishi leaps from a window and escapes. Fang Jianming arrives just in time to catch her. They escape on horseback as the knockout drugs planted by the Jiamanese begin to affect the Huku soldiers. Watching the fireworks, Haishi asks if his own wedding was as splendid.
He replies that he has never married and would never marry someone he does not love, causing her to joyfully embrace him. The Right Pudun King, partially recovered, gives chase with his soldiers. Haishi manages to shoot and injure him with an arrow. The King then captures Salia, demanding Haishi in exchange. As the trade is about to happen, the King signals to kill Fang Jianming. Haishi shoves her master aside, taking the fatal blow herself.
As Huangquan Battalion reinforcements arrive, the outnumbered Right Pudun King retreats. Fang Jianming carries the severely wounded Haishi back to camp, calling for the best physicians and assigning Salia to care for her. He learns that the King knew of the raid in advance, confirming his suspicion of a leak. He orders an investigation into the city for clues about the spy. In Tianqi, Emperor Xu also suspects an insider is behind Huku's repeated, unannounced attacks. He orders the captured spy, who is severely injured and en route from Lanzi, to be brought to Tianqi for interrogation, tasking Minister Su Ming with sending an escort.
