Shadow Love Episode 2 Recap
> Shadow Love Recap
The Taijin Emperor expressed his severe displeasure with Li Wei and Li Shuang after the Changfeng Army's night raid on Lucheng was met with a precise ambush by the Yao Army. He accused Li Wei of either commanding poorly or having a spy in his ranks, and chastised Li Shuang for her reckless charge, stating that if Lucheng had fallen, executing them all would not suffice to appease public anger.
Li Wei humbly admitted his guilt but defended his daughter, explaining that her actions were an authorized, desperate measure taken in a moment of crisis. Crown Prince Su Muyang also spoke in defense of General Li, highlighting his years of service to the Changfeng Army, his countless victories, and the fact that Lucheng had been successfully defended.
However, Prince Su Muli countered, pointing out that five thousand soldiers had perished, questioning whether it could truly be called a victory, and insinuating that the Crown Prince was showing favoritism to the Li family due to old ties. A senior minister also interceded, acknowledging the heavy losses but emphasizing General Li's long-standing dedication to defending Taijin's borders. The Emperor, swayed by these pleas and Li Wei's service, decided to let the matter rest for now.
He ordered Li Wei to remain under house arrest in the capital and tasked Li Shuang with investigating the spy within the army, giving her a deadline of half a month. Li Wei vowed to accept full responsibility if she failed. Li Shuang's investigation into the movements of soldiers' families revealed that only one, Deputy General Huo Du's family, had fled the capital and gone missing.
She noted that Huo Du had feigned illness to avoid the Battle of Lucheng, which struck her as too coincidental given the Yao Army's preparedness. With the half-month deadline looming, Li Shuang felt a pressing urgency to unmask the traitor to ensure her father's safety. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Su Muyang, cautious of the Emperor's suspicions towards the Li family, arranged for Li Ting to be discreetly escorted out of the capital in a carriage.
When stopped by guards, Su Muyang's identity allowed them to pass. Li Ting was going to Lucheng to visit Li Shuang. Su Muyang brought Li Shuang's favorite biography scrolls, asking Li Ting to deliver them, suggesting he felt unworthy to meet her himself. Late that night in the Changfeng Army camp, Jin An, whose "thousand-mile ear" allowed him to hear things from afar, suddenly noticed the sound of flying birds, which he had never heard before in the camp.
He then overheard a spy's transaction, realizing that Li Shuang's previous wariness of him was due to the actual presence of a spy in the Changfeng Army. Li Shuang's subordinate, who had been following Huo Du and lost track of him in the dense forest, later reported seeing Jin An return with Huo Du, immediately suspecting Jin An.
However, Jin An came to Li Shuang with irrefutable evidence of Huo Du's treason and collusion with the Yao, wanting to prove that keeping him by her side was the right decision. Li Shuang ordered Huo Du's arrest, but he had already escaped after stealing valuables. Just as they were pursuing Huo Du, news arrived that Li Ting had been abducted by bandits on his way to the camp.
Li Shuang immediately decided to go alone to rescue Li Ting, despite Jin An's insistence on joining her, as she deemed it too dangerous for him, a child. Li Ting had been captured by bandits led by chieftain Ouyang Jun. Huo Du had allied with Ouyang Jun and was using Li Ting as a hostage to force Li Shuang to appear.
When Li Shuang arrived, she declared that she was Li Wei's adopted daughter and had no blood relation to Li Ting, greatly shocking him. To the bandits' surprise, Li Shuang then shot an arrow into Li Ting's chest. Using the distraction, she swiftly pulled him over with a rope, ordered her accompanying soldiers to escort him back to the residence, and prepared to fight the bandits alone.
Meanwhile, back in the camp, Jin An seemed to sense Li Shuang was in danger and once again experienced a surge of immense power, which he had previously gained after an accidental impact to his "Lingxu acupoint." As Li Shuang struggled against the overwhelming numbers, Li Ting, who had been sent back, miraculously reappeared in his adult form and saved her, driving away the bandits with mysterious and powerful abilities.
Li Shuang looked at him, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity, unsure of his true identity. The two hid in a room as arrows continued to rain down. Jin An, who had secretly followed Li Shuang, watched her bleeding from a wound on her lip and felt a sudden, inexplicable craving for her blood. Jin An suggested they leave, but Li Shuang refused, determined not to let Huo Du escape.
Jin An then helped Li Shuang capture Huo Du, telling him to follow a certain path to the Changfeng Army camp. Li Shuang became suspicious of Jin An's knowledge of the path and questioned his true identity. Unexpectedly, Jin An lost control again, covering Li Shuang's mouth as his craving for her blood intensified. After Jin An fled in his uncontrolled state, Li Shuang returned to the Changfeng Army camp.
Her first action was to check on Jin An, only to find him transformed back into his child's appearance. Li Shuang noticed that the distinct pattern on Jin An's back was identical to the mysterious man who had saved her earlier. Observing their similar features, she wondered if the man might be Jin An's father. Jin An quickly denied knowing the man.
Soon after, Li Ting, who had been safely returned to the camp, began to complain fiercely about Li Shuang's actions earlier. Li Shuang explained that shooting him was merely a desperate measure, an "expedient." She only dared to do so because she saw he was wearing a protective mirror. Jin An, hearing their argument, came to check on them.
He shared his insight that while Li Ting understood Li Shuang's intentions, words are often harder to express between the closest of loved ones. Suddenly, Jin An collapsed, his body limp. Li Shuang checked him and found he had a high fever, immediately calling for the military doctor.
