Queen Dugu Episode 33 Recap, Plot

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Yang Jian and Zheng Rong discussed the critical military situation. Murong had launched a surprise attack on the border, specifically targeting districts Deng and Ping, which were both under the guard of the Yang family. Murong had historically been neutral and would not initiate an attack unless driven by famine, which was not the case. Moreover, Murong's forces possessed siege rams, which was unusual.

General Xu, their contact in Dengzhou, also found the situation suspicious and sent a secret letter, confirming that something was amiss. Yang Jian concluded that Yuwen Hu was the mastermind behind these attacks. His goal was to instigate a war, hoping Yang Zhong would be forced to deploy troops and then for Yuwen Hu to leak military intelligence, leading to Yang Zhong's defeat or death, thereby severely weakening the Yang family's influence.

Yang Jian expressed his deep hatred for Yuwen Hu, who was willing to cause border warfare and civilian deaths for his ambition of becoming Emperor. Since General Xu's report reached them a day earlier than it would the court via their family's pigeon, Yang Jian believed Yuwen Hu was unaware that they knew the truth. Yang Jian decided that Yuwen Hu's communications with the border must have left traces, and they needed to act quickly to find evidence.

He and Zheng Rong then resolved to make a night visit to the Taishi's residence. That night, Yang Jian and Zheng Rong, disguised in black and masked, stealthily entered the Taishi's residence. Zheng Rong expressed concern about finding anything in such a large house. While searching the study, they managed to locate letters between Yuwen Hu and Murong in a hidden compartment.

As they prepared to leave, Geshu discovered them and raised the alarm, leading to a pursuit by the Taishi's soldiers. Yang Jian sustained a wound during the chase. They found refuge in a nearby woodworking shop. While outside, Geshu's men searched thoroughly but found no one. Inside the shop, the owner, Zhu Jingzong, a carpenter from the Charity House, revealed that Jialuo had established the workshop there.

He had heard the commotion outside and came out to investigate, coincidentally finding them. Yang Jian initially dismissed his wound, but Zhu Jingzong, upon closer inspection, identified it as poisonous. Yang Jian quickly succumbed to the poison and lost consciousness. Yang Jian awoke the next morning to find Jialuo by his bedside. His first thought was for the letters they had retrieved. Jialuo reassured him that she had already handled them.

She explained that while the letters did not offer direct proof of Yuwen Hu's contact with the enemy, they contained reports from border generals to the Taishi's residence about military affairs, sent even before the court's official battle reports arrived. This clearly indicated the presence of Yuwen Hu's spies. Jialuo had already sent a message via pigeon to Yang Zhong, advising him to be cautious, and had also dispatched her third brother from Yanzhou with reinforcements.

She confidently stated that if Yang Zhong could hold out for seven days, Murong would undoubtedly retreat. Yang Jian, surprised, asked how she could be so certain. Jialuo revealed she had arranged for a former tutorship colleague from the Qi kingdom, who had good relations with Murong's Khan, to mediate. She instructed her contact to match whatever bribe Yuwen Hu had paid, giving Murong's Khan double profit for feigning defeat.

She was confident this would work, as her contact also disliked conflict, and Qi's new Emperor needed peace on the border. Yang Jian was astonished by her strategic thinking, leading Jialuo to playfully chide him not to underestimate her, reminding him she grew up in the army with her father, learning from military books.

She teased him about his "slick" recovery and revealed that Geshu's sword was coated with aconite poison, for which she had foresightfully prepared an antidote due to her long-standing animosity with Yuwen Hu. Zheng Rong brought the antidote, and Jialuo personally administered it, even offering dried fruit to counter the bitter taste, treating Yang Jian like a child.

Moved by her care, and recognizing her capability, Yang Jian instructed Zheng Rong to hand over his personal seal to Jialuo for safekeeping, though she initially protested about him needing it for family funds. Geshu's extensive city-wide search for the intruders proved fruitless, much to Yuwen Hu's annoyance, who called him useless. Geshu mentioned that the porter described the intruder as not having a capital accent.

Yuwen Hu was more concerned about the lost letters, specifically two written by Chen Si of Anzhou, fearing they had fallen into the hands of the Dugu or Yang families. Geshu suggested observing reactions in court to identify the spy. Just then, an urgent military report arrived about Murong's attack on Deng district, prompting Yuwen Hu to attend court.

In the imperial court, Yuwen Yu, the Emperor, announced his decision to appoint Yang Zhong as the general to lead the forces against Murong. He then proposed promoting Yang Jian to marshal, entrusting him with the military strategy of the north. Yuwen Hu, initially, voiced no objection. However, upon reflection after court, Yuwen Hu realized the situation was unfolding too smoothly and that Yuwen Yu's actions seemed to favor the Yang family.

He was particularly suspicious of Yang Jian's unexplained absence from court that day. He connected this to the night raid on his residence and concluded that Yang Jian was likely the injured intruder he had fought. Determined to confirm his suspicions, Yuwen Hu, accompanied by his soldiers, immediately proceeded to the Yang residence. Jialuo, having anticipated Yuwen Hu's visit due to Yang Jian's absence from court, discussed strategy with Yang Jian.

Yang Jian rejected her initial idea of feigning drunkenness, fearing Yuwen Hu might physically check him, revealing his injury, and that Jialuo's unexpected presence would seem suspicious. They quickly devised a new plan to stage a loud, public argument. When Yuwen Hu arrived, a servant attempted to inform him that Yang Jian was ill. Yuwen Hu, however, insisted on seeing Yang Jian, who then appeared, engaged in a heated dispute with Jialuo.

They loudly bickered and pushed each other, with Jialuo accusing Yang Jian of visiting prostitutes. Yang Jian, playing his part, responded by insulting Jialuo’s looks and boasting about choosing pretty prostitutes. Convinced by the chaotic scene that Yang Jian was merely a philandering husband, and seeing him seemingly uninjured, Yuwen Hu offered a perfunctory comment about Yang Zhong’s appointment and left, no longer suspicious.

Once Yuwen Hu and his men departed, Jialuo gently tended to Yang Jian’s wound, which had reopened during their "fight." He then requested her to stay at the Yang house for two days to maintain the appearance of their fabricated quarrel, to which Jialuo agreed. News of Murong's swift retreat and Yang Zhong's decisive victory reached Yuwen Yu, who was overjoyed.

Yang Zhong received Jialuo’s secret message, which had restored his hope, and Murong’s Khan, swayed by Jialuo's equally lucrative bribe, decided to withdraw his forces, claiming inability to defeat the imperial army. Yuwen Yu, grateful for the victory, decided to lavish honors upon the Yang family. He promoted Yang Zhong, already a major general Duke, to the esteemed title of Grand Duke of Sui, granting him tax from 10,000 families.

Geshu attempted to object, but Yuwen Yu, to appease Yuwen Hu, also promoted Yuwen Hu to Grand Duke of Jin, with a similar fiefdom, and conferred the title of Duke of Chongye County upon Yuwen Hu's son, Yuwen Xun. Furthermore, Yang Jian, for his indispensable contribution as a frontline marshal, was elevated to Duke of Daxing County and given command of the strategically vital Xishan Camp. Yuwen Hu and Geshu, though outwardly accepting, were inwardly seething.

Yuwen Hu believed they had done the work, only for the Yang family to reap the rewards. He scoffed at Murong's incompetence but then recognized Yuwen Yu's political maneuver, promoting Yang Jian to Xishan Camp. He realized Banruo, the Queen, likely saw Yang Jian as more reliable than other Dugu men. Yuwen Hu vowed that as long as he lived, Duke of Daxing County would be Yang Jian’s highest title, resenting Yuwen Yu for challenging his authority.

Meanwhile, Jialuo, now Duchess of Daxing County, found herself the target of jealous noblewomen at a gathering. They openly gossiped, comparing her to her sister Mantuo, the Duchess of Longxi County. They mocked Yang Jian as a drunkard who frequented brothels and labeled him as someone who "feared his wife," criticizing their father for choosing such sons-in-law. Yang Jian, however, arrived and fiercely defended Jialuo.

He proudly declared that his wife, the daughter of the prime minister, sister of the Queen, daughter-in-law of a Grand Duke, and now a Duchess, was supremely honorable and deserved to be spoiled. He praised her unparalleled beauty and intelligence, asserting it was his good fortune to marry her. He dismissed the women's gossip as ignorance of "bedroom fun."

Though Jialuo was initially embarrassed by his words, Yang Jian insisted he was willing to say it, asserting his right to speak of himself in that manner. Later, while they were outside, a falling kite startled a horse. Yang Jian instantly reassured Jialuo that he would protect her. As they flew a kite together, Yang Jian playfully teased her for struggling and then questioned why she hadn't retaliated against the gossiping noblewomen.

Jialuo explained that the woman's husband was an officer in the Taishi’s house, and given the Yang family's recent promotions and wealth, she felt it prudent to act humbly to avoid drawing Yuwen Hu's further attention. Yang Jian dismissed her concerns, believing Yuwen Hu would remain suspicious regardless and likely regretted not eliminating him sooner. He affirmed that taking control of Xishan Camp made all their efforts worthwhile.

He also reminded Jialuo that she now had a husband to face any challenges, boasting about his past military conquests to underscore his strength. Jialuo, however, confessed that she could never be a traditional "good wife." She explained that she and her sister were raised like sons, learning war tactics, swordsmanship, business, and even commanding the Jici Army.

She believed he needed a partner who could help him "hold up half of the sky" in this turbulent world, rather than a wife who only understood the confines of the harem. Yang Jian agreed, entrusting her with the responsibility of managing their household while he was at Xishan Camp. They sealed their understanding with a promise.

At the Longxi County Duke’s residence, a doctor informed Mantuo that her pulse was strong and smooth, indicating she was likely carrying a boy. Mantuo was ecstatic, rewarding the doctor and having him promise to keep the news a secret. However, her joy was tinged with anxiety when she received congratulatory gifts from the Yang family, which reminded her of Yang Jian.

Qiucai suggested that Yang Jian might have personally chosen the gifts, noting the rumors of discord between Yang Jian and Jialuo, and Jialuo's absence from the Yang residence. Mantuo instructed Qiucai to prepare a return gift, insisting on including a mandragora flower, despite Qiucai's reservations. Qiucai urged Mantuo to move on from Yang Jian and focus on her life with Li Bing, who was kind to her. Mantuo, however, adamantly refused to let go of Yang Jian.

She declared that her son must become the future Duke of Longxi County, and for that, she would utilize every available resource, including maintaining her connection with Yang Jian, seeing only advantages in doing so. When Qiucai voiced concern about Mantuo’s intentions regarding the heir, Li Cheng, Mantuo justified her animosity by reminding Qiucai that she wouldn't be in her current situation if Li Cheng hadn't mistakenly entered her room, causing her to marry Li Bing.

She assured Qiucai she wouldn't seek Li Cheng's death, but promised that his future would be "worse than death." Later that evening, during dinner, Mantuo feigned a strong craving for sour food. Li Bing, doting on her, immediately went to the front yard to pick persimmons. There, he nearly tripped over some soybeans scattered on the ground. Wang Shi quickly intervened, attributing it to careless maids and promising to punish them, deftly redirecting Li Bing's suspicion away from anything malicious.

After Mantuo had gone to bed, Li Bing overheard Wang Shi subtly scolding a servant, making it sound as if she was reprimanding them for the soybeans. However, her true intent was to plant seeds of suspicion in Li Bing’s mind, making him believe Mantuo was being targeted but was too compassionate to accuse anyone directly.

The servant, under pressure, eventually revealed to Li Bing that Mantuo had been experiencing several strange "accidents" since her pregnancy, such as a pearl placed on a ladder and a swing rope being cut.

The servant also confided that while Mantuo and Wang Shi tried to keep these incidents secret to maintain peace in the household, many suspected that Li Cheng, or those close to him, were behind these attempts to harm Mantuo and her unborn child to secure Li Cheng's position as heir. Li Bing, disturbed by these revelations, ordered an immediate investigation to determine the truth.

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