Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 33 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
In the Jincheng Palace, a coordinated assassination attempt was launched by Huku warriors. An Alchemist, whose body was like armor, engaged Fang Zhuoying. Honoring the ways of the grasslands, Fang Zhuoying challenged the Alchemist to a wrestling match. Meanwhile, a swift and elusive Wind Waker, who only became fully corporeal near Di Xu, was locked in a fierce battle with Fang Jianming. Fang Haishi arrived to aid her master, and together they defeated the Wind Waker.
At the same time, Fang Zhuoying exploited the Alchemist's overconfidence, pinning him down and fatally stabbing him through the palate with a golden hair ornament. With his last breaths, the Alchemist asked for a warrior's death, bidding Fang Zhuoying farewell until the afterlife. After the threat was neutralized, Di Xu offered rewards for their protection. However, Fang Zhuoying, revealing his true identity as Duohan of Huku, suddenly lunged at Di Xu with the golden ornament.
Fang Jianming instantly shielded the emperor, taking the blow himself. Amid the chaos, Duohan escaped through a window using a lightness skill taught by Fang Jianming and disappeared over the palace roofs. A frustrated Di Xu told Fang Jianming he no longer owed him anything for his repeated sacrifices but still commanded him to bring Duohan back, dead or alive, suggesting that Fang Haishi, as his "brother," could defeat him.
Later, a deeply troubled Fang Haishi confronted Fang Jianming, accusing him of lying about his killings and orchestrating the recent deaths of Zhe Liu and Aunt Su. She tearfully recounted how the loyal Fang Zhuoying was shattered by the death of Zhe Liu, the blind girl he loved more than his own life. Fang Jianming coldly admitted that Zhe Liu had to die to eliminate Duohan's weakness.
Heartbroken, Haishi condemned her master's heartlessness, lamenting that he had raised them only to turn them against each other like disposable pawns. Meanwhile, Duohan, learning of his allies' deaths, abandoned the idea of a personal assassination and decided to mobilize a full-scale invasion. He contacted an undercover agent left by Su Ming and allied with Lord Chang.
Their plan was for Lord Chang to stage an uprising within Tianqi City in the spring, while Duohan's army would attack Huangquan Pass from the outside. In his mansion, Lord Chang discussed the situation with his eunuch. He acknowledged that Fang Jianming had framed him for Zhe Liu's death but accepted it, as it served to harden Duohan's resolve and turn him against Dazheng, which aligned with his own rebellious goals.
He also revealed that even if Commandery Princess Fenyang had lived, he would not have allowed Di Xu to live in peace. To clear the way for their spring uprising, Lord Chang instructed his eunuch to secretly identify and eliminate Fang Jianming's operatives in the capital. Following Di Xu's order, Fang Haishi and Fu Yi pursued Duohan. The chase was arduous, and they lost several scouts before tracking him to the border of Jiaman territory.
The pursuit was part of a plan between Fang Jianming and Duohan, who had bet on Haishi's bond with him. They knew she would not deliver a fatal shot, and if she spared him, Duohan would win his freedom and the land of Hanzhou. As Duohan rode toward the Huku troops, Haishi took aim and deliberately shot him in a non-fatal area, causing him to fall from his horse. As Jiamanese soldiers closed in, Haishi rode away.
On her return to Tianqi, Haishi collapsed from her injuries and a high fever. Fu Yi took her to the nearby Chishan City and summoned a physician, who revealed to Fu Yi's shock that Haishi was a woman. Realizing the gravity of this secret, Fu Yi murdered the physician that night to ensure his silence.
He then arranged for Haishi to recover in the city under the care of a local woman named Xiaoliu, while he led the main contingent back to the capital. In the imperial court, ministers demanded Fang Jianming be punished for his failure to detect Duohan's true identity. Though Lord Chang feigned protest, Fang Jianming requested to be relieved of his duties and be assigned to guard the North Palace Gate as penance.
Later, Di Xu vented his frustration to Ti Lan about the court's schemes to isolate him. Ti Lan comforted him, promising to stay by his side until the end of time. Moved, Di Xu ordered preparations to be made for Ti Lan according to the rites for a succeeding Empress, signaling his intent to elevate her status.
Meanwhile, Fu Yi secretly met with Lord Chang and reported that Fang Haishi was a woman, providing irrefutable proof of Fang Jianming's crime of deceiving the emperor. Pleased with this leverage, Lord Chang decided to bide his time, aware that Fang Jianming was a formidable opponent who would anticipate their moves. He planned to wait for the most opportune moment to strike.
