Resumo do episódio 23 de Heart of Loyalty
> Resumos de Heart of Loyalty
Zhan Zhao helped Mo Yan hang lanterns, carefully guiding her to go along with the wind. While they were sharing a sweet moment, they saw Zhao Yu crying as she rushed out of Su Zui's room. Mo Yan immediately suspected that her sixth brother, Su Zui, had upset Zhao Yu, noting that he clearly liked the princess but wouldn't express it.
Determined to find out what happened, Mo Yan, with Zhan Zhao, confronted Su Zui, entering his room without knocking, causing Su Zui to quickly conceal a hairpin. To provoke Su Zui into action, Mo Yan emphasized the harsh realities of Princess Zhao Yu's impending marriage to Yelv Hongji.
She outlined the Liao customs for the wedding procession, including a convoy of ornate chariots and regalia, and mentioned that upon her ritual of sacrifice and ancestor veneration, Zhao Yu would be wed to Yelv Hongji and live in the palace forever after, unable to leave at will except for major rituals.
Mo Yan pressed Su Zui, asking if he truly disliked the Princess and if he intended for this to be their last meeting, warning him he would regret it for the rest of his life. Seeing Su Zui's continued silence, Zhan Zhao intervened, suggesting that Su Zui assume his identity as Yelv Pusanu to escort Princess Zhao Yu to her wedding. Su Zui, overwhelmed, simply told them to leave.
On the day of the wedding, Princess Zhao Yu donned her elaborate phoenix coronet and robes, though her heart held no joy. Earlier, Zhan Zhao had gone to find Su Zui, but Mo Yan was unaware of what they had discussed. Grand Preceptor Pang solemnly read the imperial decree, which proclaimed Yelv Hongji and Zhao Yu as a match made in heaven, wishing them a lifetime of affection and hoping for lasting alliance between Liao and Song.
After the decree, the escort ambassador, Yelv Pusanu, entered the Datong Boarding House to welcome Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu's father's voice echoed in her mind, reminding her to take care of herself in Liao and to remember her mission to preserve Song-Liao ties. She silently acknowledged that she had accomplished his mission. As Yelv Pusanu reached out to assist her, Zhao Yu recognized Su Zui’s voice beneath the mask, bringing a fleeting smile to her face.
Before stepping into the bridal carriage, she turned for one last, lingering look at Su Zui, aware that this journey marked the final connection between them. Su Zui, as Yelv Pusanu, led the bridal procession on horseback. Meanwhile, Mo Yan, Zhan Zhao, and Wu Zi Chu blended into the crowds, anticipating trouble and intercepting assassins who sought to disrupt the procession. From the rooftops, a group of assassins unleashed a volley of arrows.
Despite the efforts of a few individuals to fend them off, an arrow pierced Zhao Yu's bridal carriage. Su Zui, whose martial arts had been rendered useless, frantically tried to block the incoming arrows but failed to catch one, which struck Zhao Yu. She collapsed, injured. Su Zui rushed to her side, cradling her in his arms, as Zhao Yu found comfort in his presence.
Upon receiving news of the attack, Grand Preceptor Pang, believing his plan had succeeded, went to Yelv Hongji's palace and feigned outrage. He demanded the assassins be killed and their heads displayed on the city walls, even accusing Yelv Pusanu of being a failure. Yelv Hongji promised that he would take full responsibility and provide an explanation to Song.
Grand Preceptor Pang, however, aggressively threatened war, declaring that Song would not hesitate to fight for justice for the Princess and their nation. Ning Jin then mentioned that gunpowder had been found among the assassins, leading Yelv Hongji to suspect that the culprits were no ordinary people. Grand Preceptor Pang tried to caution against making hasty conclusions that might implicate the imperial family, but Yelv Chongguang retorted that Grand Preceptor Pang was overly worried.
At that moment, Wu Zi Chu arrived, escorting a Tibetan man involved in gunpowder trade. Ning Jin revealed that he had specifically sent Wu Zi Chu to investigate after the incident. The Tibetan man, under questioning, identified Yelv Chongguang, the Ruler of the South, as his trading partner. Ning Jin presented trade records as evidence, explicitly naming Yelv Chongguang. Cornered, Yelv Chongguang admitted to being speechless, claiming a conspiracy against him.
Yelv Hongji, convinced by the evidence, ordered his uncle, Yelv Chongguang, to be taken to prison and handed over to the Ministry of Royal Household after informing his father. Ning Jin then addressed Yelv Hongji, stating that he had helped eliminate Yelv Chongguang and now expected Yelv Hongji to return the favor by allowing Zhao Yu to return to Song once she recovered. Grand Preceptor Pang quickly objected, arguing that a marriage alliance could not simply be revoked.
The imperial physician delivered grim news: Princess Zhao Yu’s heart had been gravely injured, and she was mortally wounded. Everyone was overcome with sorrow. Xiao Guan Yin angrily demanded that the physician save the Princess, threatening to have him buried with her if he failed. When Zhao Yu regained consciousness, she sensed the sorrowful atmosphere and asked what was wrong.
Ning Jin, trying to spare her the truth, gently lied, assuring her that she was fine and would recover with rest in a year and a half. Zhao Yu expressed relief, then shared her deepest desire with Mo Yan: she no longer wished to be a princess; she simply wanted to live as Zhao Yu.
Mo Yan promised to support her in this, offering to spend time with her, to which Zhao Yu happily agreed, though she noted Mo Yan's unhappiness, commenting that it wasn't as if she were going to die. Seeing Su Zui arrive, Mo Yan gracefully created an opportunity for him and Zhao Yu to be alone. Su Zui, filled with guilt, confessed that he had failed to protect her.
Zhao Yu, however, assured him that she never blamed him and still wanted to hear his stories, asking him not to skimp on them next time. Su Zui promised her many stories. Zhao Yu then asked him to remove his mask, revealing his scarred face. She playfully called him ugly but then softly admitted that she still liked him, wondering aloud how wonderful it would be if he liked her too.
She spoke of her hopes for recovery, wanting to visit his homeland of Shuzhong and see its legendary Six Evils. As she spoke, her hand, reaching out to him, fell lifelessly. Mo Yan, from outside the room, cried out that the Princess had passed away. Overhearing this, Ning Jin’s eyes welled with tears. He declared that he would personally escort Zhao Yu’s body back to Song, marking the beginning of war between Liao and Song.
As the grand funeral procession for Princess Zhao Yu prepared to depart, Mo Yan advised Zhan Zhao to continue his covert operations, reminding him that in Grand Preceptor Pang’s eyes, he was already dead. Zhan Zhao agreed, explaining that he could not return to Song with the procession as Grand Preceptor Pang would surely have the Kaifeng City Office monitored.
This situation, he reasoned, allowed Mo Yan to move freely out of sight while he himself remained in Liao to work undetected, emphasizing that they must seize this moment. Mo Yan reassured him that she would not act recklessly. Meanwhile, Su Zui went to the prison to visit Yelv Chongguang. Yelv Chongguang, recognizing Su Zui's true identity, defiantly offered him a drink and challenged him to kill him.
Su Zui demanded to know why Yelv Chongguang had to kill the Princess. Yelv Chongguang coolly replied that action needed no reason; he simply felt it was appropriate. He lamented how his many years of plotting had led him to such a plight, regretting not keeping his gyrfalcon as a companion.
Yelv Chongguang then revealed that he had given the tiger tally, which allowed for the mobilization of a private army, to Grand Preceptor Pang, questioning if Su Zui and his allies could contend with such power. Su Zui accused him of continuing to aid evil.
Yelv Chongguang then questioned Su Zui, asking why, after being raised by him for so many years and being from Song, he hadn't used his identity as Yelv Pusanu and Yelv Chongguang's resources to destroy Liao. Su Zui, despite his hatred for Yelv Chongguang’s actions against Zhao Yu, calmly asserted that the innocent lives of the people, whether in Liao or Song, should not be involved.
He stated that he would not allow Song’s foundation to be built upon a sea of blood, highlighting this fundamental difference between them. Yelv Chongguang acknowledged his words, then declared that from that day forward, both Yelv Chongguang and Yelv Pusanu would die together, urging Su Zui to act. Su Zui, however, refused to kill him and instead left his Yelv Pusanu mask behind.
Yelv Chongguang, left alone, clutched the mask, remarking, "From now on, only you will be with me." Upon the return of Princess Zhao Yu's coffin to the capital, Bianjing, high officials donned mourning attire, and the Empress was so distraught she fainted. Su Zui, back from his mission in Liao, tried to purchase wine but was refused, as the entire city was observing a period of mourning for the Princess. As he persisted, a tavern owner offered him lees instead.
Soon after, Su Zui overheard a group of men disrespectfully discussing Princess Zhao Yu, insulting her memory. Enraged, Su Zui confronted them, but, having lost his martial arts and being intoxicated, he was easily beaten. Mo Yan tended to his injuries, but Su Zui remained consumed by grief, immediately seeking more alcohol upon waking. Mo Yan warned him that further drinking would be fatal, as the alcohol poisoned his heart.
Su Zui, however, felt he deserved to die, lamenting that he should have taken the arrow for Zhao Yu. Zhan Zhao urged him to recover and focus on his mission, reminding him of his past self—a noble hero who would face any adversity for his country. He pointed out that while Grand Preceptor Pang was plotting a rebellion, Su Zui was drowning his sorrows. Su Zui despairingly retorted that his martial arts were gone, leaving him useless as a hero.
Zhan Zhao highlighted that Princess Zhao Yu, despite her lack of martial arts, had also shown heroism by bravely going to a foreign land for the sake of peace. He implored Su Zui to pull himself together and complete his mission. Su Zui, torn, asked Zhan Zhao how one should choose between their beloved and their country, regretting that his mission for Song had cost him the only person who cared for him.
Meanwhile, Prince Ning Jin played chess with Bao Zheng, discussing the Emperor’s worsening cold and the increasingly tense military situation along the border. Prince Ning expressed his frustration, stating that both he and the Emperor had been marginalized by Grand Preceptor Pang, to which Bao Zheng offered no response. Grand Preceptor Pang, now in possession of the complete tiger tally, received a report from his subordinate, who had been spying on Prince Ning.
The subordinate informed him that while the Kaifeng City Office had been quiet, Prince Ning had visited Bao Zheng at his villa to play Go. The subordinate recounted that Prince Ning had sought Bao Zheng’s advice to prevent war between the two countries, but it seemed Bao Zheng had not devised any solutions. Grand Preceptor Pang's forces were ready outside Kaifeng City, awaiting his command. Grand Preceptor Pang then received a message via carrier pigeon. Reading it, he declared, "The time has come."
