One and Only Episode 21 Recap
> One and Only Recap
Liu Zixing kept coughing, so Cui Shiyi had to help Liu Zixing go rest first. However, Liu Zixing just held Cui Shiyi's hand tightly, unwilling to let her leave. Cui Shiyi stayed with Liu Zixing the whole time. She fell asleep by the bed. When she woke up and saw that Liu Zixing was fine, she just saluted him and left. Cui Shizhong came to see Liu Zixing.
Liu Zixing planned to spread the news of the Emperor's death to Zhongzhou within three days. Cui Shizhong believed that Zhou Shengchen was a major threat and must be eliminated. At this time, Zhou Shengchen had pursued them outside the city. He mistakenly thought that both Liu Zizhen and the Empress Dowager had been drowned in the lake and that there must have been a change in the palace.
While he was grieving for Liu Zizhen's death, he also asked Hong Xiaoyu to lead a team of scouts to enter Zhongzhou first. Consort Jin came to see Liu Zixing. She warned Liu Zixing that the Jin family's army was fighting for Liu Zixing at the front line.
As long as Liu Zixing had not ascended to the throne and she had not ascended to the position of Empress, Liu Zixing could not be husband and wife with Cui Shiyi for a single day. Forced by the Jin family's army fighting for him, Liu Zixing had no choice but to agree to Consort Jin. Afterward, Liu Zixing came to see Cui Shiyi. He told Cui Shiyi the news that Liu Zizhen was dead.
Cui Shizhong wanted him to ascend the throne as Emperor, and he wanted to hear Cui Shiyi's opinion. Cui Shiyi believed that Liu Zixing was not suitable to ascend the throne. Because of this, Liu Zixing said a few harsh words to Cui Shiyi. He believed that all Cui Shiyi cared about was only Zhou Shengchen, so he decided to temporarily postpone their marriage. The Qi clan suffered heavy punishment. Cui Sanniang and Liu Zixing saved Xinghua.
Xinghua was unwilling to see her family suffer, so she came to beg Liu Zixing, hoping he could spare her family. Liu Zixing was unwilling to see Xinghua. He could not save the Qi clan members, only Xinghua alone. Xinghua cried bitterly with tears, realizing that Liu Zixing wanted to pave his way to the throne with the blood of the Qi clan. But those were her parents, how could she ignore them?
However, the downfall of the Qi clan was already a foregone conclusion, and Xinghua's strength alone could not save her entire family. Zhou Shengchen conquered Taiyuan Commandery, and a victory report returned. The King's army was stationed outside Zhongzhou City. Feng Qiao missed Cui Shiyi. She talked to Xie Chen about Cui Shiyi's marriage fortune-telling. Xie Chen only said that his fortune-telling was not accurate and that the reading showed Cui Shiyi had no fate of marriage.
The news of the King's army returning with victory reached Cui Shiyi's ears. Cui Shiyi was greatly delighted. Prince Ping Qin brought his troops to Zhongzhou City, but instead went around to the city gate to humiliate the imperial guards, and then returned to the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army's camp. This time, Prince Ping Qin heard that Cui Shiyi was getting married.
He looked at Zhou Shengchen with disappointment, truly not understanding why Zhou Shengchen would just hand Cui Shiyi over to someone else. He couldn't understand why Zhou Shengchen, having already given up his royal surname, would still make concessions for the imperial family. Zhou Shengchen was not only his sworn brother but also his mentor. He didn't want Zhou Shengchen to have any regrets in this life. Zhou Shengchen's King's army was to set off first.
He wanted Prince Ping Qin to stay and guard the city. At the same time, he also summoned the allied armies of feudal lords from various regions to Zhongzhou City, making all preparations for the campaign. This expedition was full of dangers. Prince Ping Qin asked Zhou Shengchen to come and see Cui Shiyi. As their identities made it inconvenient for them to meet alone now, Prince Ping Qin brought Feng Qiao and Xiao Yan with him.
The four of them came to see Cui Shiyi together, using this opportunity for Cui Shiyi and Zhou Shengchen to also meet. After meeting, Cui Shiyi watched Zhou Shengchen and his group leave, just like she had watched Zhou Shengchen set off from Xizhou back then. For this journey, her only wish was for Zhou Shengchen and his disciples/senior and junior siblings to return victoriously and safely.
Zhou Shengchen led his troops out of the city amidst the farewells of the common people. Cui Shiyi went to White Horse Temple to pray for blessings. Consort Jin also came to see Cui Shiyi. She wanted to know who would win this war. Cui Shiyi was absolutely certain that the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army had never been defeated. And indeed, this was the case.
Since Jin Rong raised troops, the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army had not suffered a single defeat, and Zhou Tianxing had also woken up, but there had been no news from Cui Feng. Jin Rong was defeated. Liu Zixing came to see Consort Jin. He wanted to send Consort Jin to Taiyuan Commandery to persuade Jin Rong to surrender. Consort Jin knew well that her father would rather die than surrender.
Liu Zixing only said that only by surrendering could there be a way to survive. In Taiyuan Commandery, Jin Rong secretly ambushed Cui Feng who was returning to the capital. He wanted to use Cui Feng to force Zhou Shengchen to retreat. This time, it was Hong Xiaoyu who was leading the troops at the front line. Hong Xiaoyu heard that Cui Feng was with Jin Rong, so she only brought a team of scouts forward. Jin Rong's intention this time was precisely to use Cui Feng to force Hong Xiaoyu to retreat.
