Siege in Fog Episode 29 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
The political turmoil surrounding Yi Liankai's alleged crimes seemingly reached a resolution in the Yi family's study. Zhang Xikun and Jiang Jinyi were fiercely arguing over the fate of Third Young Master.
Jiang Jinyi accused Zhang Xikun of pushing Chief Marshal Yi Jipei to a fiery pit and intending for Second Young Marshal Yi Lianshen to kill Yi Liankai, adding that Chief Marshal himself wanted to save Yi Liankai but was forced to step back due to people like Zhang Xikun.
Zhang Xikun retorted, questioning if Chief Marshal would forgive Jiang Jinyi, whose hands were "tainted with Third Young Master's blood," and stated that Chief Marshal would prefer "one hundred loyal dogs" over an "able subject with a rebellious desire." Gao Peide was initially silent during their heated exchange, then Jiang Jinyi addressed him, remarking on his role in the verdict. Suddenly, Yi Lianshen entered, leading Yi Liankai and Qin Sang.
Yi Lianshen announced to everyone that his younger brother had decided to go to Europe for studies and would never return to Jiangzuo. He declared that this matter was now concluded, and Gao Peide expressed relief, offering to have his son help plan an itinerary for Yi Liankai. Yi Lianshen asked Gao Peide to relay to Chief Marshal Yi Jipei that the matter was closed. Later, Yi Lianshen knelt before his father-in-law's spirit tablet.
He acknowledged the heavy karma he had accumulated from killing over the years, but believed his father-in-law would surely understand him. He vowed that from then on, he would retract his drive and stop unnecessary killing, praying for the safety of Fan Yanyun and their unborn child. Meanwhile, Yi Liankai and Qin Sang, having narrowly escaped death, embraced in their bedroom.
Qin Sang lamented their constantly perilous fate, admitting she had been living worse than dying, afraid someone would assassinate Yi Liankai or that they would be separated by death. Yi Liankai confessed that his time in prison, initially fearing her interference, then fearing her absence, had been agonizing as he worried he would never see her again. He reassured her, explaining that Yi Lianshen's public declaration meant he would no longer pursue them.
He then encouraged Qin Sang to choose a country for them to start anew. Qin Sang expressed a desire to visit Germany, specifically the Neuschwanstein Castle, recounting the tale of Ludwig II, its architect, who sacrificed everything for his beloved castle. She asked Yi Liankai if he had any regrets. Yi Liankai replied that regrets are for those who fail to achieve their desires; since he had already won her heart, he had nothing to regret.
He admitted he had lost the struggle for power but won something more valuable, though the price was leaving Fuyuan forever. Qin Sang assured him that as long as he was by his side, anywhere would be home. Yi Liankai then jokingly suggested they explore Fuyuan, enjoying its cuisine and landscapes, and even admiring its beautiful women, to which Qin Sang warned him not to look too closely, or she’d get jealous.
He wanted to convert all their Fuyuan memories, both good and bad, into treasures to take to Europe. Elsewhere, Yi Lianshen confronted Fan Yanyun about her pregnancy. He questioned why she hadn't told him, and whether the child was merely a bargaining chip to save Yi Liankai. Fan Yanyun was hurt and bewildered by his distrust, explaining she had only recently found out and was hesitant to tell him due to his busy schedule, fearing it might affect him.
Yi Lianshen, though, insisted he would be very willing to be "affected" as the child's father. He expressed his wish for time to move faster on the battlefield so he could return to her sooner, and slower at home to stay longer, yet acknowledged her past resistance to his attempts to get close. Fan Yanyun, deeply moved, admitted that since her pregnancy, she felt like a changed person.
She realized that fate was something that couldn't be sought, and since they were destined to be husband and wife, she wished to live a peaceful and happy life with their child. Overjoyed, Yi Lianshen promised to stay with her and grow old together. On Zhishan, Yi Lianyi reported to his father, Yi Jipei, that Yi Liankai had confessed, and Gao Peide had swiftly closed the case.
He noted that Yi Lianshen and Yi Liankai appeared to have reached an agreement, with Yi Liankai leaving for Europe permanently. Yi Jipei accepted their decision, also inquiring about any strange movements after the trial. Yi Lianyi clarified that Gao Peide had remained secluded after the trial, and while Zhang Xikun would boast due to Yi Lianshen's victory, Jiang Jinyi, known for his temper, would likely find faults in the coming days.
Yi Lianyi also mentioned the joyful news of Fan Yanyun's pregnancy. Yi Jipei was delighted, viewing it as a tremendous blessing. He looked to the sky and spoke to "Old Fan," expressing joy that his daughter finally bore a child for the Yi family. Pan Jianchi received a phone call from Manager Li of Fuyuan Bank, informing him that someone wanted to open his safety deposit box number 185 and he needed to come in person.
Upon meeting Northern Pole, Pan Jianchi questioned his audacity in calling the military, fearing exposure. Northern Pole calmly replied that he wouldn't be discovered if he dared to call. Pan Jianchi stated their plan had failed, as Yi Liankai intended to leave Fuyuan. Northern Pole instructed Pan Jianchi to stay and observe the situation, to which Pan Jianchi pleaded with Northern Pole not to harm Qin Sang.
Northern Pole revealed that the trial was merely a setup by Yi Jipei, not just to try a case but to 'decide on the human heart,' gauging the prevailing sentiments. He noted that while the outcome appeared to make Yi Lianshen the public choice, Yi Jipei surely had other plans, using the trial to confine all Fuyuan's power holders while he ascended Zhishan to devise a grander scheme.
Yi Jipei and Murong Chen met on Zhishan, enjoying a game of golf. They reminisced about their past as enemies and how Zhishan had transformed. Murong Chen inquired if Yi Jipei had invited Li Chongnian to the mountain. Yi Jipei admitted that Li Chongnian was a constant threat in Yizhou, and after years of conflict, he was tired and considered joint governance.
Before, he felt compelled to seize territory, but now in his old age, he realized the futility of trying to control everything and preferred joint governance. Murong Chen, however, believed Li Chongnian, still driven by ambition like Yi Jipei once was, would never come. Yi Jipei countered that if they could "devour" Li Chongnian in one swift move, they would gain another place for recreation. Murong Chen was intrigued but doubted how they could conquer Yizhou, a formidable challenge.
Yi Jipei smiled, revealing their plan involved another relative: Cheng Yunzhi, whom he introduced to Murong Chen as his in-law. At Li Manor, a subordinate urgently reported a merchant riot, with the merchants threatening to storm the mansion. Chen Pei ordered his men to open fire and suppress them, but Fu Rongcai disagreed, attributing the unrest to the Cheng family.
He explained that although Old Master Cheng was gone, the family's influence and connections remained strong, and Cheng Yunzhi's words would still be believed, which would be detrimental to them. Li Chongnian had assumed that even if the Cheng family refused cooperation, they wouldn't openly break ties, realizing Cheng Yunzhi's intentions differed from his father's.
Fu Rongcai cautioned that if they engaged the merchants, Yi Jipei and Cheng Yunzhi could use it as an excuse to attack Yizhou, cutting off their supply lines from Jiangzuo and Yongnan. Realizing Yi Jipei was using this to force a negotiation, Li Chongnian decided to go to Zhishan. On the street, Pan Jianchi was blindfolded by Fu Army soldiers and taken to the Yi family study.
Upon seeing Yi Lianshen, Pan Jianchi immediately realized that Third Young Master was beyond saving. Yi Lianshen openly invited Pan Jianchi to serve him, citing his talent. Pan Jianchi refused, explaining he was merely an overseas student whom Yi Liankai had rescued from prison, thus he owed Yi Liankai a debt of gratitude and would not betray him.
Yi Lianshen, respecting his stance, allowed him to leave but then subtly inquired about a steel pen Pan Jianchi had previously mentioned, claiming he had never seen anyone use it. Pan Jianchi offered to gift the pen to Yi Lianshen, attributing Yi Lianshen's unfamiliarity to his constant campaigns. Yi Lianshen politely declined, quoting a poem about black geese seeking a place to settle, urging Pan Jianchi to reconsider his loyalties.
Afterward, Pan Jianchi met with Northern Pole and questioned how their plan could proceed now that Yi Liankai had withdrawn from the succession. Northern Pole commended his rejection of Yi Lianshen as a display of loyalty and advised him to approach Yi Lianshen again, reiterating his loyalty.
Pan Jianchi expressed confusion, asking why Northern Pole hadn't instructed him to approach Yi Lianshen from the start, speculating that Yi Lianshen could have saved him from prison instead of Yi Liankai if he had waited. Pan Jianchi then confronted Northern Pole, stating that only someone with intimate knowledge of the Yi family could have orchestrated such an elaborate scheme.
He explained that Northern Pole's intricate planning, seemingly perilous yet executed with ease, suggested deep knowledge of the Yi family, acquired potentially from years in war, family power struggles, and even imprisonment. Pan Jianchi then deduced that Northern Pole was none other than Yi Shoucheng, the Yi family's Sixth Uncle, formerly known as Jiangzuo's military adviser, a fact Northern Pole did not deny. Qin Sang and Yi Liankai went for a stroll in Fuyuan.
Qin Sang blamed herself for holding Yi Liankai back, believing he could have become a powerful figure in Jiangzuo. Yi Liankai dismissed the notion, explaining that power came with a lifetime of cunning and plotting, and he preferred to leave with the woman he loved. Qin Sang then suggested he visit Min Hongyu.
Yi Liankai quickly clarified there was nothing between them, to which Qin Sang smiled and explained she meant he should visit his mother's old villa to make peace with his past. Yi Liankai kissed her forehead and asked her to go home and wait for him, with Qin Sang jokingly telling him to return quickly, or she would be jealous. Yi Liankai visited his mother's old villa.
Standing before a tapestry, he confided that he had let go of his mother's desire for revenge and his years of hatred for the Yi family. His resentment towards his father also vanished the moment he decided to leave Jiangzuo with Qin Sang for Europe. He suddenly felt exhausted from years of carrying burdens, admitting that perhaps his only regret was failing his master, Mr. Fan, by not having the courage to become the next Great Marshal.
He concluded that the living shouldn't be bound by the deceased. He was there to bid his mother a final farewell, acknowledging it might be their last. Min Hongyu appeared and expressed her disappointment, believing she had misjudged Yi Liankai. She had seen him as an ambitious man, but his decade of hidden aspirations had been undone by love. She also stated her conviction that if he were to return, he could claim all of Jiangzuo within three years.
Yi Liankai countered that perhaps in ten or twenty years, when the country had changed and was no longer fractured by warlords, he might return to live as a peaceful citizen. Min Hongyu then asked if she could continue living in the old house. Yi Liankai confirmed she could, but noted that the house deed was lost, meaning she might eventually be forced to leave.
Min Hongyu mused that the tapestry, which represented their mothers, was her most cherished possession and easily transportable, but she would regret leaving the blue hydrangeas in the backyard. Yi Liankai chuckled, correcting her that the hydrangeas were red, not blue. Min Hongyu refused to believe him, claiming she might be wrong about people but never about a flower's color, and challenged him to a bet to go see for themselves.
Earlier, Fan Yanyun picked up a custom-made military uniform from Huaixiu, asking her to sew on shoulder patches, noting she had found the person to wear it. Now, looking at the uniform, she murmured about its striking resemblance and expressed her suspicion that if Pan Jianchi was her father's murderer, she had already laid numerous traps to ensure he would not escape. She also discussed with Yi Lianshen that Pan Jianchi had rejected his offer of service.
Yi Lianshen admitted he could tell Pan Jianchi was unwilling to give up and wouldn't remain a mere adjutant for long. He believed Pan Jianchi would have two choices once Yi Liankai left: serve him or leave Jiangzuo to serve someone else, in which case Yi Lianshen would have to eliminate him before he could depart.
Fan Yanyun argued that since Yi Lianshen recognized Pan Jianchi's talent, he should offer him a suitable, high-ranking position, suggesting a Chief of Staff role. She urged him to act immediately to show sincerity and prevent complications. As Yi Liankai and Min Hongyu went to the backyard, they indeed found blue hydrangeas, just as Min Hongyu had said.
Yi Liankai, surprised, recalled his mother once saying that hydrangeas planted over metal items would turn from red to blue, and immediately decided to dig. Later, as Pan Jianchi was writing, Yi Lianshen entered his room. Pan Jianchi correctly assumed Yi Lianshen had returned with a new offer. Yi Lianshen handed him a notebook, asking if he recognized it. He then stated that he valued Pan Jianchi's strategic intelligence, not just his combat skills, and offered him any position he desired within his command.
