Siege in Fog Episode 16 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
While exploring the streets, Qin Sang inquired with a kite vendor about conditions in Yongnan, specifically the pier and boat rental services. Her conversation was overheard by Min Hongyu, who was inside a nearby shop. Qin Housheng, having learned that Qin Sang would be traveling to Yongnan in a couple of days, brought her favorite osmanthus cakes for the journey. Qin Sang instructed her father to return to Qianping immediately after she departed.
That evening, Yi Jipei hosted a family dinner to see off Yi Liankai and Qin Sang. Qin Housheng took this opportunity to announce his own departure. Yi Jipei tried to persuade him to stay longer, but Qin Housheng politely declined, so Yi Jipei arranged for local Fuyuan specialties to be prepared for his journey back to Qianping. Shortly after dinner, Fan Yanyun knelt before her father's portrait, making two vows.
First, she promised to live well with Yi Lianshen, ensuring her father could rest in peace, knowing they would act as one. Second, and most importantly, she revealed she had found clues regarding her father's murderer. She lamented that the Yi family, still consumed by power struggles, cared little for her pain. While others might forget, she could not, and vowed to avenge her father.
Though she wished not to live in hatred, she stated she would find no peace until the killer was found, asserting this was the Fan family’s matter, not the Yi family’s. Yi Jipei confided in Huaixiu that laughter had been rare since Mr. Fan's passing. He expressed relief that Yi Lianshen had been accompanying Fan Yanyun, alleviating his guilt towards Mr. Fan.
He then instructed Huaixiu to prepare two identical sets of clothing for Yi Lianshen and Yi Liankai, adding cryptically that only one of them would be able to wear it, depending on their capabilities. Yi Jipei revealed his personal desire to keep Yi Liankai out of politics, feeling a deep debt to Yi Liankai’s birth mother.
He confessed his favoritism, preferring Yi Liankai to remain an ordinary man, staying peacefully at home to fulfill his filial duties, rather than achieving greatness. Late that night, Min Hongyu arrived at the Yi residence to meet Yi Liankai, bringing with her a "Jiu Ren" kite. She explained that in her hometown of Yongnan, kites served as witnesses for both business and marriage, with the "Jiu Ren" being the finest.
Presenting such a kite to an elder, she suggested, would surely win his favor and make Yi Liankai's mission much easier. Yi Liankai questioned her motive for helping him. Min Hongyu candidly stated that she had debts to collect in Yongnan and needed him as her protector, especially as she was just a woman. She flirted, suggesting this would fulfill rumors of their affection.
When Yi Liankai pressed for his benefit, she leaned in and whispered a secret: "That Third Young Mistress of yours is about to spread her wings and fly away, I'm afraid." Meanwhile, Pan Jianchi reported to Tianshu via telephone that his integration into the Yi family was proceeding smoothly. Yi Liankai had formally recommended him to Yi Jipei, who had tested him with a five-year-old map of Jiangzuo's territories, queries about defeating Li Chongnian, and the future development of Jiangzuo.
Pan Jianchi assured Tianshu that he had successfully passed these tests, having memorized ten years of Jiangzuo's battles as instructed, leaving no room for doubt. Tianshu cautioned Pan Jianchi to remain vigilant, emphasizing the next critical step was to earn Yi Jipei's trust. He warned that while Yi Jipei valued talent, he was also deeply suspicious, comparing him to Cao Cao.
Tianshu stressed that Pan Jianchi must overcome this barrier with flawless execution to gain leverage over Yi Jipei, reiterating that Yi Jipei was a cunning and ruthless individual who should never be underestimated. Before their departure, Yi Liankai tended to his father, washing his feet. The two reminisced about childhood memories of fishing in the river.
Yi Jipei then spoke gravely of the family's situation, noting that while outsiders saw the Yi family as a formidable fortress, unseen internal cracks posed a grave threat. He emphasized the importance of Old Master Cheng's true intentions for his upcoming birthday, instructing Yi Liankai to handle the situation appropriately if Old Master Cheng harbored any ulterior motives. Yi Liankai and Qin Sang departed from the Yi family home after receiving final instructions from their fathers.
At the Fuyuan train station, Yi Liankai handed Qin Sang a train ticket along with two ferry tickets from Yongnan. He explicitly told her that once in Yongnan, she should meet whomever she intended to see and then leave immediately on the ferry. He added that he had brought her on this trip solely to let her go, claiming she was an "eyesore" by his side. On the train, a silent tension hung between Yi Liankai and Qin Sang.
Yi Liankai then invited Min Hongyu to sit next to him, which provoked Qin Sang to accuse him of doing it on purpose before she left in a huff. Min Hongyu confronted Yi Liankai, deducing that in such chaotic times, allowing Qin Sang to travel alone could only mean he had found a safer place for her. Yi Liankai complimented Min Hongyu on her perception but criticized her for speaking too quickly.
He explained that after Qin Sang's previous kidnapping, he realized she was in danger by his side, leading him to let her go. Min Hongyu gazed at Yi Liankai, likening him to a child flying a kite—holding it when he should let it go, and letting go when he should hold onto it, only to be left with broken strings. Upon arriving in Yongnan, Yi Liankai bade Qin Sang a cold farewell and drove off with Min Hongyu.
While he stopped to buy some snacks, he spotted Qin Sang leaving in a car with a man. Yi Liankai immediately gave chase, eventually cutting them off and pulling the man from the car, punching him. Qin Sang quickly intervened, explaining that the man was Mr. Li, a friend of Deng Yulin, and apologized profusely to Mr. Li. After this altercation, Yi Liankai changed his mind and tried to prevent Qin Sang from leaving, pulling her into a tight embrace.
However, Qin Sang tearfully told him that being by his side brought her nothing but "pain and suffering," and Yi Liankai, in anguish, reluctantly released her. Yi Liankai soon arrived at the Cheng residence with his gift, only to be followed by Fu Rongcai, leading to an immediate argument between the two. Cheng Yunzhi, Old Master Cheng's son, diplomatically led them to separate guest rooms, stating his father would decide which gift to accept after resting.
Meanwhile, Pan Jianchi went to a street stall to buy a kite, intending to meet Qin Sang as they had planned. The kite vendor, a contact from his organization, made a subtle remark about the rapidly changing weather, which caused Pan Jianchi's expression to harden. Despite Qin Sang's hopeful arrival at the designated flower field, it remained empty. Min Hongyu intercepted Qin Sang, asking her about her next steps.
Qin Sang, filled with self-pity, declared she wanted to die, expressing profound disappointment with everything. Min Hongyu questioned why Qin Sang would choose death for someone who abandoned her, especially when she had a man who "deeply loves" her. Qin Sang found Min Hongyu's words mocking. Min Hongyu then threatened that if Qin Sang left, she would inform Yi Jipei that Qin Sang had eloped, which would bring serious trouble upon Qin Housheng.
She urged Qin Sang to return to Yi Liankai, forget her futile endeavors, and rely on her own strength to live. Qin Sang eventually returned to Yi Liankai. Just then, a Cheng family servant announced that Old Master Cheng was available to see both Yi Liankai and Fu Rongcai. Hearing Fu Rongcai's name, Qin Sang became visibly agitated, accusing him of deceiving her father and causing her mother's death. Overwhelmed by a desire for revenge, she lunged towards him.
Yi Liankai held her back, trying to calm her, but Qin Sang seized the opportunity to snatch his gun from his waist and held it to her own head, threatening him to stay back.
