Siege in Fog Episode 25 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
Liang Xingbei angrily confronted Pan Jianchi, accusing him of losing his focus as a soldier due to Qin Sang and Yi Liankai, becoming distracted by insignificant childhood love. Liang Xingbei emphasized that Yi Liankai, currently in prison, was a crucial piece in their control over Jiangzuo, serving as their last strategic advantage. Pan Jianchi questioned if they were simply holding Yi Liankai, prompting Liang Xingbei to decide he should pay Yi Liankai a visit.
Inside the prison, Yi Liankai, who had been writing on the wall, subtly prepared for a confrontation. Upon hearing footsteps, he did not turn around, but instead launched a surprise attack on Liang Xingbei, whom he deduced was a leader. A fierce struggle ensued, but Yi Liankai, weakened from his recent ordeal, was eventually subdued by Liang Xingbei. Liang Xingbei questioned why Yi Liankai chose to attack him instead of the regular food server.
Yi Liankai explained his reasoning: "To catch brigands, first catch their king." He stated that escaping with the food server would only get him out of prison, but by targeting Liang Xingbei, he aimed to escape Yongnan entirely. Yi Liankai further elaborated that he deduced Liang Xingbei's importance from his utterly silent footsteps, contrasting them with the hurried steps of the food server or the heavy steps of an interrogator.
Liang Xingbei identified himself as Liang Xingbei, the Tian Meng Association's commander-in-chief of the Yongnan Operation. As they continued to converse, discussing Yi Liankai's teacher, Fan Zhiheng, and his strategic insights, Yi Liankai realized that Liang Xingbei possessed an unnerving depth of knowledge about the Yi family, even more so than himself. This realization left Yi Liankai deeply suspicious about Liang Xingbei's true identity.
Meanwhile, Zhang Linzhi reported to Yi Lianshen that the Tian Meng Association had launched a three-pronged attack, creating chaos among their infantry and cavalry units by disabling horses and causing landslides. Yi Lianshen immediately recognized that their opponent had changed and was now significantly more formidable, intimately familiar with Jiangzuo's military weaknesses. His Uncle, however, suspected that Yi Liankai had betrayed them and sided with the enemy.
Yi Lianshen vehemently denied this, asserting that his third brother had always stayed out of military and political affairs and could not possibly possess such strategic insight. His Uncle countered, reminding Yi Lianshen that Yi Liankai's teacher was Mr. Fan, who knew their military plans inside and out, implying that Yi Liankai might have gained this knowledge from him. Growing increasingly enraged by his Uncle's constant insinuations about Yi Liankai, Yi Lianshen challenged him.
He drew his military sword and asked his Uncle if he dared to cut off his own arm; if he did, Yi Lianshen promised to kill Yi Liankai if he ever saw him again. But if he refused, Yi Lianshen vowed to save his brother, driven by fraternal loyalty. His Uncle recoiled, muttering that Yi Lianshen was "soft-hearted."
At the opera house, Min Hongyu calmly watched the performance despite a servant's urgent reports that the Fu Army was nearing Yongnan and refugees were gathering at the city gates, threatening revolt. The servant urged her to pack and leave during the potential riot. Min Hongyu steadfastly refused, declaring that she needed to watch the play until the end for Li Chongnian.
She mused that only at curtain call could one see the true faces of the actors, implying a desire to observe the unfolding events until the very conclusion, regardless of the danger. Back in the prison, Liang Xingbei revealed his humble origins, having been born into a poor farming family before joining the military and then the Tian Meng Association.
Yi Liankai, testing him, claimed to know Liang Xingbei through his father, asserting that Liang Xingbei was familiar with his teacher and even more so with his father. While Liang Xingbei processed this, Yi Liankai suddenly grabbed a fork from the table, holding it to Liang Xingbei's throat and demanding his release from Yongnan. During the struggle, Liang Xingbei uttered three words: "Yun Jixue," Yi Liankai's mother's name.
Stunned, Yi Liankai momentarily faltered, allowing Liang Xingbei to reverse their positions and restrain him. Yi Liankai then realized that Liang Xingbei’s profound knowledge of his family, including his mother's name, meant he could be an old friend, an enemy, or a relative, but certainly not just an ordinary member of the Tian Meng Association. At that moment, a messenger rushed in and whispered something to Liang Xingbei.
Liang Xingbei immediately released Yi Liankai and told him he was free to go, ordering all prison doors opened. As Liang Xingbei departed, Yi Liankai urgently called out, demanding to know how he knew his mother's name, but received no answer. Fan Yanyun brought a meal of Yi Liankai’s favorite foods to Qin Sang, who was still confined. Qin Sang expressed her despair over the lack of news about Yi Liankai, remarking that "no news might actually be good news."
Fan Yanyun admitted to envying Qin Sang's ability to openly grieve for Yi Liankai. Qin Sang then pleaded with Fan Yanyun to send a telegram to Yi Lianshen, urging him to return. She shockingly asserted that the Tian Meng Association was unlikely to kill Yi Liankai, but Yi Lianshen was the most probable threat, questioning whether he viewed Yi Liankai as a brother or a rival, especially considering Mr. Fan's high hopes for Yi Liankai.
Qin Sang recounted that Yi Lianshen's aide-de-camp had previously attempted to assassinate Yi Liankai, and hinted that Yi Lianshen's involvement in the earlier kidnapping incident was very likely. She revealed that she had reported these suspicions to their father, which resulted in her current confinement. Fan Yanyun grew indignant, dismissing Qin Sang’s claims as baseless and accusing her of trying to sow discord in her marriage, vowing not to believe a word she said.
The Fu Army successfully breached Yongnan City. Zhang Linzhi reported that the Tian Meng Association's command center at the Cheng manor was found empty, their people having withdrawn. Yi Lianshen ordered a city-wide search for the Tian Meng Association leader and, crucially, for Yi Liankai, reiterating to Zhang Linzhi his primary intention to save his brother, contrary to his Uncle’s wishes.
At the Cheng manor, Yi Lianshen questioned Mr. Cheng about the Tian Meng Association's leader, but Mr. Cheng claimed ignorance, stating they had been held captive by the criminals. Searching the manor, Yi Lianshen discovered a partially burnt document with the character for "prison". This led him to the prison where he found Yi Liankai's handwriting on the wall, appearing calm and undisturbed.
Observing that there were no signs of struggle or forced entry, and that the handcuffs had not been tampered with, Yi Lianshen concluded that Yi Liankai had been released. Believing Yi Liankai would seek him out, he decided to return to the Cheng manor. On his way, a gunshot drew him and Zhang Linzhi to the Min residence, where they rescued Min Hongyu. After his release, Yi Liankai waited at a teahouse.
Two soldiers in Fu Army uniforms approached him, claiming Yi Lianshen was waiting for him at the Cheng manor and offering protection. However, they soon attempted to assassinate Yi Liankai, only to be thwarted by the timely arrival of Pan Jianchi. Yi Liankai expressed surprise at Pan Jianchi's presence.
Pan Jianchi explained that he had recently joined the military department, but due to his past association with Yi Liankai, Yi Lianshen's men did not give him any significant position and he was not taken along for the Yongnan attack. He rushed to Yi Liankai’s aid after hearing he was in trouble. Pan Jianchi then urged Yi Liankai to return to Fuyuan, explicitly stating that he had clearly heard that the would-be assassins were Yi Lianshen's men.
Yi Liankai, refusing to believe his second brother would do such a thing, decided to confront Yi Lianshen personally. At the Cheng manor, Yi Lianshen was overcome with emotion upon seeing Yi Liankai safe and sound. However, Yi Liankai immediately confronted him, asking directly if Yi Lianshen had sent men to kill him, recounting the assassination attempt by the Fu Army soldiers. Yi Lianshen vehemently denied this, swearing he had no part in it.
He confessed that many people had indeed urged him to eliminate Yi Liankai over the years, but he had never acted on those suggestions. He also rejected his father's intention to make Yi Liankai a "training horse" for him, asserting that he earned his position as the Fu Army's young marshal through his own capabilities. Yi Liankai, realizing his error, apologized for doubting his brother.
Yi Lianshen, acknowledging Yi Liankai's recent hardships, stressed that while Yi Liankai could suspect anyone else, he must never suspect him, because Yi Liankai was his younger brother. Back at the Yi family manor, Murong Qin joyfully informed Qin Sang that Yi Lianshen had found Yi Liankai, and they were returning immediately. Qin Sang was deeply moved and relieved by the news that Yi Liankai was alive. In Yongnan, businesses quickly resumed operations.
Mr. Cheng announced to Yi Lianshen that from then on, Yongnan’s business would also fall under the Yi family’s purview. Yi Lianshen, though not well-versed in business, affirmed that the Yi family would naturally protect the businesses in Yongnan now that an agreement had been made with his third brother.
Meanwhile, Yi Lianshen's Uncle was furious upon hearing the news of Yi Liankai's imminent return, berating Yi Lianshen for being "stupid" and warning him that Yi Liankai's return would undermine his position. He continued to suggest that Yi Lianshen should have taken advantage of Yi Liankai's disappearance and the chaos caused by the Tian Meng Association to eliminate him.
