Resumo do episódio 23 de Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos
> Resumos de Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos
Xue Rong, Fu Yuzhan, Zhang Yongyao, and Princess Shou An gathered for a music session. Xue Rong subtly challenged Zhang Yongyao by asking if he knew Yuzhan’s favorite song. When Zhang Yongyao couldn’t answer, Xue Rong revealed it was "Youyuan." Zhang Yongyao then offered to play it, but Xue Rong quickly dismissed the idea, stating that Yuzhan only appreciated that particular song when it was played by a specific person, implying himself.
Sir Qingfeng then arrived and captivated everyone with his performance of "Changqing," a renowned piece by Xikang. The song, inspired by snow, evoked feelings of purity and a transcendent detachment from worldly affairs. Xue Rong, however, lamented that such immense talent was "a waste" when dedicated to a reclusive life. Yuzhan disagreed, asserting that the song, and its creator, should not be tainted or judged by mundane perspectives.
Zhang Yongyao then presented the "Duyou" zither, which he had bought from Chongren Store for Yuzhan, despite her previous disinterest, feeling it was too precious to be neglected. Princess Shou An, enthusiastic, decided to show her appreciation by throwing flowers and tried to make Xue Rong pay for the most expensive ones. Xue Rong, unwilling to support Zhang Yongyao, initially hesitated.
When Yuzhan offered to pay, Xue Rong quickly pulled out all his money, preventing Yuzhan from paying, and bought all the available expensive flowers. Zhang Yongyao began playing, dedicating the piece to a specific person present, hoping she would understand his heartfelt intentions. Xue Rong then asked for the song's title, which Yuzhan identified as "Feng Qiu Huang" (Phoenix Seeking Its Mate).
Xue Rong, clearly jealous, then cynically reinterpreted the romantic overtures of the song as a display of loyalty from a minister to his emperor, citing historical precedents like Qu Yuan. He then threw the flowers, disrupting Zhang Yongyao's performance and stating his "delight" in Zhang Yongyao's "noble character" and "loyal heart." Princess Shou An, oblivious or playing along, echoed Xue Rong's interpretation, further embarrassing the situation. Feeling uncomfortable, Yuzhan quickly excused herself and departed.
Xue Rong, also leaving abruptly, instructed Guo Fu to prepare his carriage. Princess Shou An then asked Zhang Yongyao if they could attend another music gathering the following day, but he politely declined, citing his official duties. Her spirits crushed, Princess Shou An sadly mused that her efforts to win his affection were futile if his heart belonged so completely to Yuzhan.
Jinzhan and Jiang Shao were on their way to watch the tide when they encountered a frail old man. After Jinzhan accidentally bumped into him, they quickly offered their help and took him to a doctor. The grateful old man explained that he was selling a unique crystal ball because his family’s harvest had been poor and his health was failing.
He shared that he had obtained it during his youth as a merchant sailor, a time before a leg injury forced him to become a farmer. The crystal ball, he explained, was used for divination overseas. Fascinated, Jinzhan eagerly purchased it and asked him to share more tales of his travels. The old man recounted a particularly wondrous journey where their fleet was caught in a storm, lost its way, and was blown to an unknown land.
Despite it being summer, they found themselves on an endless ice field, and even more remarkably, the sun never set, always hanging in the sky. A scholar on their ship christened this place "The Land of the Eternal Day." Captivated by this tale, Jinzhan immediately suggested that she and Jiang Shao abandon their plan to watch the tide and instead search for this mythical "Land of the Eternal Day," to which Jiang Shao lovingly agreed.
Jinzhan then asked the old man, identified as Mr. Qiao, if he remembered the route, and he said he would need some time to recall it. Princess Royal, in her ruthless pursuit of power, intended to expose a prince’s identity and eliminate two eunuchs who held dangerous knowledge about it. She dispatched Yueying and a team of assassins to track them down. However, Yueying, secretly loyal to Li Huaijin and desiring the throne for him, had her own agenda.
She deliberately undermined Princess Royal's plan, allowing one eunuch to escape and dispatching Princess Royal's own assassins. Yueying firmly believed that this was not the opportune moment for Jiang Shao's identity to be revealed, as it would interfere with her plans for Li Huaijin. Jiang Shao unexpectedly met Zhu Xiaobei, who handed him a letter from Princess Royal.
The letter revealed a critical piece of information: General Feng was not the true killer of Jiang Shao's mother; another person was responsible. Zhu Xiaobei, having traveled from Dingzhou to deliver the news after missing Jiang Shao in the capital, urged him not to get entangled in the past. He advised Jiang Shao to cherish his carefree life with Jinzhan and not to sacrifice their happiness for such "vague clues" as the letter provided almost no clear leads.
Jiang Shao, conflicted, admitted he couldn't take Jinzhan back to the capital due to her unique status, nor could he leave her behind. Zhu Xiaobei reiterated that Jinzhan must not be told about the clue and suggested Jiang Shao leave the next day before she saw him. After Zhu Xiaobei departed, a suspicious noise outside indicated someone had been eavesdropping.
The following morning, Jinzhan, rather than leading Jiang Shao toward "The Land of the Eternal Day" as planned, directed their journey toward the capital. When a surprised Jiang Shao questioned her change of heart, Jinzhan confessed that she had overheard his conversation with Zhu Xiaobei the previous night. She insisted they should first uncover the truth about his mother’s killer before continuing their adventurous travels, promising to still go to "The Land of the Eternal Day" with him afterward.
Jiang Shao, touched by her understanding, expressed his gratitude. Upon their return to Jiang Shao’s mansion, they observed Chai Zhenzhen leaving, having meticulously cleaned the house. Jinzhan, noticing Zhenzhen had a key, questioned it, and Jiang Shao explained he had forgotten his own key and hadn't expected her to continue returning. Jinzhan also probed if Jiang Shao felt any lingering emotions for Zhenzhen, which he denied.
Concerned about Jinzhan's safety so close to the palace and Zhenzhen's persistent presence, Jiang Shao suggested they find a new, more secluded and private residence. He also decided against taking his clothes, believing that leaving them would prevent Zhenzhen from realizing they had moved and potentially growing suspicious. A broker led Jinzhan and Jiang Shao to a courtyard house, highlighting its spaciousness and profound quietness, assuring them they would be undisturbed.
Jinzhan found the peace appealing and readily agreed to rent it, despite Jiang Shao's concerns about its "shabby" appearance. After Jinzhan signed the documents and they received the keys, they entered the house, only to discover its true state: it was covered in thick dust, the doors were rickety and fell easily, and a bed collapsed under Jiang Shao's weight. Despite Jiang Shao's light reprimand for her hasty decision, Jinzhan remained unfazed.
She insisted she could manage the cleaning herself and urged Jiang Shao to go immediately to search for clues regarding his mother’s killer. Jiang Shao, seeking answers about his mother’s killer, went to Princess Royal’s Mansion only to find it draped in white, signifying mourning. A servant confirmed that Princess Royal had passed away. Disturbed, Jiang Shao sought an audience with Xue Rong, who, after questioning Jiang Shao's unexpected return, recounted the events of the past five days.
Xue Rong explained that Eunuch Li Fang had come to him with another eunuch, accusing Princess Fuqing (Princess Royal) of murdering the late emperor. Li Fang described how he and two junior eunuchs witnessed Princess Royal verifying the late emperor's death, prompting him to hide the two eunuchs in a rumored haunted house for their safety. Princess Royal later confronted and threatened Li Fang, but he managed to save his life by using the hidden eunuchs as leverage.
He confessed that his silence until now was due to Princess Royal holding his only living relative hostage. Li Fang swore his testimony was true, even willing to die if he lied. Xue Rong, though initially disbelieving that his aunt would harm his father, appointed Zhang Yongyao to investigate the grave allegations. Zhang Yongyao’s findings revealed disturbing facts: all palace staff who had been in contact with the late emperor after his illness had mysteriously died.
This raised Xue Rong's suspicions, leading him to summon Princess Royal to the Ministry of Justice to "assist" with the investigation. There, Zhang Yongyao confronted her with evidence of her past assistance to a Dr. Chen, who had sworn his life to her. Princess Royal admitted helping Dr. Chen but dismissed it as irrelevant, challenging Zhang Yongyao to find concrete proof of her guilt.
Xue Rong also shared that Li Huaijin, Princess Royal’s son, seemed genuinely ignorant of any foul play, believing his father died of natural causes. Xue Rong vouched for Huaijin's loyalty. With no direct confession, Xue Rong imposed a strict three-day deadline on Zhang Yongyao to solve the case, threatening dismissal.
Princess Shou An, concerned for Zhang Yongyao, implored Yuzhan to ask Xue Rong for an extension, but Yuzhan firmly refused, arguing it would undermine the emperor’s authority and Zhang Yongyao's competence. Later, Yuzhan, having obtained all the crucial information from Princess Shou An, met with a troubled Zhang Yongyao. She proposed a strategy: instead of seeking direct evidence, they should create a situation that would force Princess Royal to expose the truth herself. This plan was swiftly put into action.
Shortly after, Princess Royal was seen frantically rushing out, desperately calling for Li Huaijin, who was being apprehended by officials from the Ministry of Justice under the emperor's direct order. Enraged and confused, Princess Royal berated her servants as "idiots" for not understanding the situation and demanded they find out what had happened to her son.
Separately, Xue Rong, still irked by his rivalry with Zhang Yongyao, decided to take zither lessons from Sir Qingfeng, hoping to surpass Zhang Yongyao through diligence. He initially planned to dedicate three hours daily, but Guo Fu wisely advised him that as emperor, his strengths lay in governance and martial arts, not necessarily outcompeting Zhang Yongyao in zither. This realization enlightened Xue Rong, and he joyfully abandoned his zither lessons, acknowledging his own strengths.
Meanwhile, Fu Yanxin formally adopted Chai Zhenzhen as his daughter, officially placing her in the Fu family’s genealogy. Xue Rong, present at the ceremony, entrusted Yuzhan with Zhenzhen's care, highlighting her recent misfortunes and need for affection, which Yuzhan readily promised. Later, Xue Rong again confronted Yuzhan, asking if she was upset about his interruption of Zhang Yongyao's "Feng Qiu Huang" (Phoenix Seeking Its Mate). Yuzhan, however, offered no direct response, instead asserting that whether she would have accepted Zhang Yongyao was a matter solely between them, and had nothing to do with Xue Rong.
