Siege in Fog Episode 21 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
Yi Jipei formally reinstated Yi Lianshen to his former position before leaving the assembly. Yi Lianshen then addressed his officers, stating that the situation in Yongnan was urgent and they had no time for pleasantries. He described Yongnan as a lake for the Tian Meng Association, with water coming from all directions, but stressed that a lake can never become an ocean. He believed the Tian Meng Association was currently incapable of launching attacks.
Yi Lianshen outlined two immediate tasks: first, proactive defense against Li Chongnian, whom he called an "old fox" who wouldn't miss this opportunity. He assigned Commander He three additional troops to restrain Li Chongnian and instructed Commander He's army in Jianzhou not to transfer or cut down any soldiers without his command. Second, a proactive offense, ordering Commander Sun to lock down all docks and train stations leading to Yongnan, preventing any Tian Meng Association members from entering or leaving.
He authorized lethal force if necessary and instructed Commander Sun's nineteenth brigade to be stationed in Jianzhou, ready to take over. Additionally, Yi Lianshen instructed Commander Yu to prepare his ninth brigade to search Yongnan for Yi Liankai and his wife, expecting news in two days at the north camp in Wangzhou. An uncle figure questioned if this was "hitting the grass to scare the snake," but Yi Lianshen retorted, "How can I catch the snake without scaring it?"
Yi Jipei, listening from behind the door, was pleased with Yi Lianshen's tactical deployment. Meanwhile, Yi Liankai and Qin Sang were evading Tian Meng Association forces in Yongnan. With the city gates sealed, they found refuge in a dilapidated temple. Yi Liankai tried to lighten the mood, telling Qin Sang that with her by his side, he would have no regrets even if they were caught. He confided that Yongnan was under total lockdown, making escape difficult.
He had bribed a businessman who agreed to take one person out with his delivery. Yi Liankai planned for Qin Sang to go, insisting he had his own ways to follow. Fan Yanyun was deeply worried upon learning Yi Lianshen intended to go to Yongnan himself, despite having already sent Commander Yu ahead. She urged him to be careful and ensure the rescue of Yi Liankai and Qin Sang.
Yi Lianshen assured her his main purpose was indeed to rescue them both, acknowledging that they had lost all intelligence in Yongnan and had no idea about the Tian Meng Association's setup. As Yi Lianshen prepared to depart with his troops, his uncle advised him to seize the opportunity presented by the chaos in Yongnan, which had been taken over by the Tian Meng Association.
He hinted that Yi Jipei would soon decide on his heir, and this was a crucial moment for a "royal family" power struggle. The uncle suggested that if Yi Liankai were to die on the battlefield, it would benefit Yi Lianshen. However, Yi Lianshen sternly rejected the notion, stating that brothers can compete and contend, but never harm each other. He told his uncle to pretend he never said those words and never to speak of such things again.
From a temple window, Qin Sang saw a kite, a signal from Li Wangping. Tears welling, she whispered to the sleeping Yi Liankai that Li Wangping was there to save her, and this chance to escape should be for Yi Liankai. Qin Sang then left the temple alone, attempting to find Li Wangping, but the streets were swarming with armed Tian Meng Association members.
When she was spotted and tried to flee, Yi Liankai, who had woken to find her gone, rushed out and pulled her into a corner, narrowly escaping their pursuers. During their escape, Yi Liankai was shot in the arm while protecting Qin Sang. Back at the temple, Qin Sang was distraught, blaming herself for leading Yi Liankai into a trap and causing his injury.
Yi Liankai, his face pale from the wound, asked if she had been trying to find the man who flew the kite. He then said he had hoped she would get what she wanted. He poured out his heart, revealing the profound loneliness he felt despite his playful exterior. He longed to cry loudly, hoping someone would save him and bring his deceased mother back, but he knew such a cry would be futile.
He confessed his deep love for Qin Sang, explaining that his past coldness was merely a clumsy way to express affection. He suggested that perhaps it was because they might not live through the night that he finally dared to speak his true feelings. Moved by his confession, Qin Sang, weeping, kissed him for the first time, admitting she had always seen their marriage as a transaction, which prevented her from loving him fully, fearing it would betray her soul.
Yet, she confessed, seeing him with Min Hongyu drove her nearly mad with jealousy. Yi Liankai pulled her into a tight embrace, assuring her there was nothing between him and Min Hongyu, and that he only loved Qin Sang. Qin Sang admitted her jealousy of Min Hongyu's freedom, envying her ability to openly pursue who she liked without lying to herself.
Yi Liankai lamented his inability to express his love properly, regretting how he had forced his will upon her and how his love had become a "kind suffering" and a humiliation. Qin Sang, still crying, suggested that since they might not survive the night and might never have another chance, she would express her love. She then lovingly touched his face and began to unbutton her dress, asking if he truly accepted her. Yi Liankai, overwhelmed, passionately kissed her.
Later, sitting together in the temple courtyard under the full moon, they savored a moment of peace. Qin Sang shared her romantic dream of sharing the moonlit moment with a handsome man she loved, a dream she now realized with him. Yi Liankai asked if she remembered their first meeting. Qin Sang, embarrassed, said she didn't want to recall it, thinking she was ugly then. Yi Liankai disagreed, saying she was "unrealistically beautiful, like an angel."
Their tender moment was interrupted by the sound of Tian Meng Association members searching outside. A subordinate asked Pan Jianchi if they should search the temple, but Pan Jianchi paused, then decided against it, ordering them to leave. Yi Liankai, resolved not to wait for death, prepared to escape with Qin Sang. Realizing they couldn't leave together due to the many Tian Meng Association soldiers, he decided to create a diversion.
He told Qin Sang that if she was in danger, she should find Min Hongyu for help. Despite Qin Sang's pleas to stay together, he insisted he would distract them and return. He quickly took a jeep from a group of relaxed soldiers and sped away, drawing the attention of the pursuers. Pan Jianchi was informed that only Yi Liankai was in the stolen jeep and realized he was driving alone to distract them and protect Qin Sang.
He surmised that Yi Liankai wouldn't have abandoned Qin Sang unless forced to risk his life. Yi Liankai was chased relentlessly and eventually drove the jeep into a river. Back at his residence, Yi Jipei believed Yi Liankai was likely lost. He lamented that with the "old champion" (likely referring to the retired finance minister whose support the Yi family relied on) gone, Jiangzuo had lost its financial backbone, and the Tian Meng Association had completely disrupted Jiangzuo's established order.
He expressed a tragic sentiment: as a father, his primary concern was not his son's safety, but the stability of his own domain. Meanwhile, Fu Rongcai reported to Li Chongnian that Yongnan was under the control of the Tian Meng Association, led by someone named Liang Xingbei, whose background was unknown. Fu Rongcai suggested that Min Hongyu could be tasked with uncovering Liang Xingbei's true identity.
Pan Jianchi confronted "Beiji" (Northern Pole), accusing him of forcing Yi Liankai to his death. He questioned why he was initially instructed to help Yi Liankai become the Yi family's heir if this was the intended outcome. " Beiji" furiously challenged Pan Jianchi, asking if his questions stemmed from concern for Yi Liankai or for Qin Sang, and reminded him to remember his mission as his most prized student. "
Beiji" then informed Pan Jianchi that the car was found in the river, but Yi Liankai's body was not. He asserted that as long as no bodies were found, neither Yi Liankai nor Qin Sang could be considered dead. Qin Sang, disoriented and exhausted, stumbled to Min Hongyu's residence and fainted upon entering. She woke from a dream of Yi Liankai driving into the river, hearing music. Opening the door, she found Min Hongyu dancing.
Qin Sang, anxious about Yi Liankai's fate, pleaded for Min Hongyu's help. Min Hongyu advised Qin Sang to get close to Liang Xingbei, the leader of the Tian Meng Association, the one who had driven the "old champion" away. She hinted that Qin Sang likely didn't know the origin of her own nickname, "Wise Eyes Hongyu."
