Queen Dugu Episode 44 Recap, Plot

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Upon receiving Yuwen Hu's order for Yang Jian to go to Turk and escort the princess, the Yang household was filled with apprehension. It was well-known that the Turkic princess was difficult to retrieve; Qi had sent 5,000 men and failed. Yang Jian, however, viewed the mission differently, believing Yuwen Hu intended to subtly inform Jialuo that Yuwen Yong would soon take a queen.

Jialuo remained serious, reminding Yang Jian that Yuwen Hu was untrustworthy and the journey would be dangerous. She advised him to prepare more money, stating that "only money can beat fist in this world." She also planned to write to Duke Tang, Li Bing, and her sister Mantuo in Longxi, as the region was close to Turk and could offer aid.

Yang Jian, still lighthearted, asked if she wasn't afraid of him rekindling his past romance with Mantuo, but Jialuo firmly told him to be serious. He assured her he would be fine and would not end up like her father or sister. After Yang Jian's departure, Jialuo was restless with worry. Lu Zhen, noticing her distress, offered comfort, drawing parallels to her own experiences when her husband, Zhan, was away.

Jialuo expressed her intention to learn from Lu Zhen but also questioned why she was being taught subjects like the promotion of officials and tax levying, which seemed meant for those in higher positions. Lu Zhen then turned serious, asking Jialuo if she understood why her father, Dugu Xin, was forced to commit suicide, while Yang Zhong, also a major general, remained highly respected.

Jialuo attributed it to Dugu Xin's involvement in the late emperor's dispute with Yuwen Hu, but Lu Zhen corrected her. She explained that Dugu Xin, despite his power, had no armies, and "no armies, no influence." She contrasted this with General Yang and Duke of Longxi County, who retained their positions and Yuwen Hu's respect because they commanded troops. Lu Zhen emphasized that in a chaotic world, kindness and fame alone were insufficient.

She revealed that Yuwen Hu had noticed Suizhou precisely because of its exceptional management. She urged Jialuo to continue governing Suizhou effectively, stressing that only by having both military and political power could they hope to oppose Yuwen Hu and avenge Dugu Xin and Banruo. Jialuo, struck by the wisdom, resolved to study harder. Meanwhile, in Longxi, Mantuo deliberately avoided Yang Jian, retreating to a mountain temple.

She was still consumed by bitterness, fueled by Yang Jian and Jialuo's happy life with children, contrasting with her own childless state. She recalled the difficult period after her return and how she had cleverly managed to secure her position by "making Li Bing stay sick in bed." She blamed Yang Jian and Jialuo for all her misfortunes. At the Longxi mansion, Li Bing received Yang Jian warmly and agreed to assist with the mission's aftermath.

He requested Yang Jian take his son, Li Cheng, as a vice envoy, hoping the experience would help Li Cheng gain an official position by successfully bringing back the queen. Li Bing also warned Yang Jian about Mantuo, explaining that she had used money left by the late empress to invest in salt and copper mines, expanding her private army to such an extent that "even when I see her, I have to recoil."

Li Bing admitted he didn't even dare let Li Cheng step into Anzhou due to his ongoing conflicts with Mantuo. Yang Jian, observing the changes, mused that "time is really a magical thing. It can make familiar people become strangers," and wondered if he had ever truly known Mantuo at all.

An urgent military report arrived at the Suizhou Yang Mansion: Khan Ashina had accepted lavish gifts from Qi, reneging on his agreement with Zhou, and had handed Yang Jian and the envoy mission to Qi. While Yang Jian had helped Li Cheng break through, his own fate remained unknown. Jialuo, though deeply worried, remained composed. She instructed officials to maintain their duties and entrusted the Suizhou seal to Lu Zhen, announcing her intention to personally rescue Yang Jian.

Lu Zhen accepted, giving Jialuo her "private record," which might be useful in Qi, and implored Jialuo to return safely, especially for their children, Lihua and Yong, warning that "children without parents will be bullied." In Longxi, a wounded Li Cheng returned, desperately pleading with his father, Li Bing, to send troops to rescue Yang Jian. Li Bing, however, refused, citing his poor health and the futility of sending a small force against the combined strength of Turk and Qi.

He argued that engaging now would be "seeking our doom" and had only sent a message to Yang Zhong in the capital. Mantuo then entered, coolly declaring that she would go to save Yang Jian. Li Bing scoffed, suggesting it was due to lingering affection, but Mantuo sharply rebuked him. She stated her motive was to save the entire Li family.

She argued that Li Bing's decision to make Li Cheng a vice envoy without her knowledge, combined with Yang Jian's capture while Li Cheng escaped, would surely incur the court's wrath. She warned that if Yang Jian died, Yuwen Yong would marry Jialuo, who would then seek revenge against Li Bing.

Mantuo disparaged Li Bing as old and incapable of planning or scheming, adding that the household no longer listened to him, otherwise "your good son and you will be killed by your foolish ideas." Enraged by her words, Li Bing collapsed, spitting blood. Despite her earlier strong words of hatred for Yang Jian, Mantuo, accompanied by Qiuci and her troops, set off to rescue him, hinting at a deep-seated, complex care. Yang Jian, meanwhile, was being severely tortured.

Mantuo's plan to rescue him involved subtlety. She had Qiuci, disguised as a beauty, lure and capture a Turkic prince. Using the prince as leverage, Mantuo confronted the Qi envoy. To her surprise, the person being held was Zheng Rong, who had been impersonating Yang Jian to allow the real Yang Jian to escape. Realizing the larger objective, Mantuo quickly rescued Zheng Rong.

Elsewhere, Jialuo, disguised as a "Murong's porcelain merchant," attempted to negotiate with Khan Ashina for Yang Jian's release. The Khan informed her that Yang Jian had already escaped. Undeterred, Jialuo continued her search within the city, believing Yang Jian would seek a business caravan or horses for escape. She used specific "marks" to track his movements.

Yang Jian, for his part, had disguised himself as a female lute player in a traveling opera troupe, hoping to slip out of the city with them. Jialuo and Yang Jian eventually encountered each other in the market, recognizing each other despite their disguises. To deflect suspicion from nearby soldiers, Yang Jian quickly embraced Jialuo, claiming she was his "sweetheart" who had been "sold" by his "jealous wife" while he was away.

However, a patrolling officer grew suspicious of the aloeswood fragrance Jialuo wore, a court tribute, and ordered Yang Jian's arrest. Yang Jian grabbed Jialuo and fled. During their frantic escape, Jialuo, breathless, revealed that she was three months pregnant. Overjoyed, Yang Jian swept her into his arms, carrying her to a safe spot before joining his companions in a fierce battle against the pursuing Qi troops.

Just as the situation became dire, Mantuo arrived with her forces, saving Jialuo from the enemy soldiers. She then led Jialuo through the fray to reunite with Yang Jian. Yang Jian, however, focused solely on Jialuo, seemingly oblivious to Mantuo's presence. As they rode in a carriage, Jialuo leaned into Mantuo, feeling a warmth she hadn't experienced in years.

She expressed a heartfelt wish for them to forget their past grievances and return to the sisterly bond they shared in childhood. Mantuo gently patted Jialuo's shoulder, stating that despite her past hatred, she couldn't stand by and watch her own sister die. Jialuo, having endured the ordeal and suffered significant blood loss, gradually lost consciousness. Mantuo remained by her side in the carriage, awaiting the arrival of reinforcements and medical aid.

A doctor later examined Jialuo, confirming heavy blood loss, but stated the baby was currently fine, though the future remained uncertain. He advised finding a more skilled gynecologist. Yang Jian, seeing Mantuo after the dust settled, expressed concern for her injuries. Mantuo, still harboring resentment, pointed out his immediate concern for Jialuo and his previous disregard for her. Finally, reinforcements arrived, signaling their departure.

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