Siege in Fog Episode 30 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
Fan Yanyun learned that Yi Lianshen had initially approached Pan Jianchi but was rejected. Yi Lianshen perceived Pan Jianchi's underlying discontent, believing that with his capabilities, Pan Jianchi would not remain an adjutant for long. He anticipated Pan Jianchi would either pledge loyalty to him or find an excuse to leave Jiangzuo and join another faction. If Pan Jianchi chose the latter, Yi Lianshen intended to eliminate him before his departure.
Fan Yanyun suggested that if Yi Lianshen truly recognized Pan Jianchi's talent, he should offer him a significant position, such as chief of staff, to demonstrate sincerity and avoid future complications. When Pan Jianchi later met with Yi Lianshen, he stated his ambition was not to command armies, be a provincial governor, or a military adviser, nor to possess vast territories, but simply to achieve peace.
He believed that with Yi Lianshen's trust, peace was attainable, and his goal was to devise strategies for Yi Lianshen to accomplish remarkable achievements. Yi Lianshen understood that Pan Jianchi aspired to be the political adviser of Jiangzuo, a role Pan Jianchi confirmed, expressing a desire for everlasting remembrance rather than mere lifelong achievement. Yi Lianshen agreed to grant him this position.
Pan Jianchi then accepted the offer but set a condition: Yi Lianshen must guarantee the safety of Third Young Master Yi Liankai and his wife, Qin Sang, until they had successfully departed Fuyuan, as Yi Liankai had saved his life, and he felt compelled to repay the debt. Yi Lianshen remarked on the irony of an outsider requesting mercy for his own brother, with whom his blood ran thicker than water, but nevertheless agreed to the condition.
He then addressed Pan Jianchi as "Chief-of-Staff Pan." That night, Yi Liankai went to his mother's old manor. Following a clue about hydrangeas, he began digging under them, first unearthing his mother's earring, then her clothes. Despite Min Hongyu's pleas for him to stop, he persisted, eventually uncovering a skeleton, which, to his horror, Yi Liankai realized was his mother.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Yi Liankai furiously questioned why his mother's corpse was buried there when he was always told she rested in the Yi family's ancestral tomb. Min Hongyu attempted to calm him, suggesting that being buried in her own manor was akin to her coming home, and further disturbance would trouble her soul. Yi Liankai, distraught, kicked at the hydrangeas, accusing them of feeding on his mother's blood and flesh, blooming annually while he had lost her forever.
He recounted how he was sick when his mother was supposedly buried, and his father's wife informed him of the burial, while his father returned to the army even before the seven days of mourning had passed. He wrestled with why his stepmother, who had the opportunity to kill him when he was sick, instead saved and cherished him.
Min Hongyu advised him to stop thinking about these painful memories, but Yi Liankai vowed to uncover the truth, convinced his father held the answers. He impulsively declared his intention to go to Zhishan, but Min Hongyu restrained him, warning that such a move would turn the entire Fu army's guns on him, making his return impossible.
Yi Liankai retorted that if the person who gave him life died unknown, his own life held no purpose, and he had never received divine protection anyway. Qin Sang, preparing for her departure to Europe, chose not to inform her father, Qin Housheng, fearing he would immediately travel to Fuyuan, creating complications. Instead, she asked Mother Zhu to send him a letter assuring him of her well-being and her decision not to return.
She also expressed a wish that if her father ever tired of his official duties, Yi Lianshen could arrange for his retirement in Europe. Mother Zhu then brought up Pan Jianchi's previous disappearance during Qin Sang and Yi Liankai's visit to Yongnan. Qin Sang dismissed it with a smile, stating that Pan Jianchi had found his own path, and their destinies were no longer connected. Later, Pan Jianchi engaged in a strategic discussion with Yi Lianshen over a sand table.
Their simulated battle involved complex maneuvers, with Pan Jianchi ultimately outmaneuvering Yi Lianshen using canon soldiers and hostage tactics. Impressed, Yi Lianshen admitted his defeat. Fan Yanyun then arrived, specifically to meet Pan Jianchi. She lauded his military and tactical prowess, comparing him to her esteemed father and expressing her hope that he would assist Yi Lianshen in achieving great accomplishments.
Pan Jianchi conveyed his honor at receiving such respect from both Yi Lianshen and his wife, recalling how his talents were first recognized through Yi Liankai's help after his return from Japan. Fan Yanyun then presented Pan Jianchi with a military uniform, tailored by Miss Huaixiu, as a special gift, indicating that it represented their hopes for his service. Pan Jianchi accepted it gratefully, noting its perfect fit.
Fan Yanyun stressed that by wearing the uniform, he should not disappoint Yi Lianshen's expectations. At Zhishan, Yi Lianyi reported to his father, Yi Jipei, on Li Chongnian's recent setback. He attributed this to Cheng Yunzhi's successful efforts in convincing Yizhou merchants to halt trade, leveraging their existing dissatisfaction with Li Chongnian's heavy taxation and demands for resources.
Yi Jipei acknowledged that without the Cheng family's influential push, their attempts to incite the Yizhou merchants would not have been as effective, highlighting the Cheng family's "illustrious reputation" and global connections. He lamented that their initial plan to collaborate with Old Master Cheng through Yi Liankai had failed, leaving them with Cheng Yunzhi. Despite Cheng Yunzhi agreeing to work with them, Yi Jipei was skeptical of his capabilities compared to his predecessor.
He instructed Yi Lianyi to closely monitor Cheng Yunzhi, cautioning that individuals who frequently emphasize morality often possess the most calculating minds. Meanwhile, Li Chongnian, en route to Zhishan, questioned Fu Rongcai about Yi Jipei's intentions for their meeting. Fu Rongcai predicted that the Yi family would assert control over Yizhou but would leave Li Chongnian a "bottom line" to avoid forcing him into rebellion.
Li Chongnian admitted that his main concern wasn't Yi Jipei or Murong Chen individually, but rather their potential alliance to annex his territory, which would necessitate their military intervention. He revealed that his expansion in Yizhou had relied on their reluctance to deploy troops. He expressed surprise that the Cheng family, specifically "a single girl," had managed to unite Murong Chen and Yi Jipei.
Despite recognizing the inherent danger, Li Chongnian resolved to proceed to Zhishan, describing his decision as knowingly walking into a tiger's den to watch the "tigers fighting." Yi Jipei and Murong Chen played golf and then engaged in conversation. Murong Chen praised Yi Jipei's sons, initially praising his son-in-law, Yi Lianyi, despite his injury, and Yi Lianshen's strategic prowess.
He then shifted his focus to Yi Liankai, first joking about his love for enjoyment, then highlighting Zhishan as a testament to his unique blend of Chinese and Western aesthetics and one of Asia's finest golf courses. Yi Jipei dismissed these achievements as mere "fun and games," but Murong Chen argued they represented "knowledge and wisdom," asserting that without Yi Liankai's "weird tricks and talents," their current tripartite meeting at Zhishan would not have been possible.
Murong Chen further declared Yi Liankai the most remarkable of Yi Jipei's sons, attributing this to his "brand new" thought process, distinct from their own "former generations" thinking. He emphasized that Yi Liankai, having been taught by Mr. Fan, was never indoctrinated with outdated "emperor-subject" principles. He credited Yi Liankai's intelligence and ability to leverage human relationships for transforming Zhishan into a "fengshui haven" that facilitated their gathering.
Yi Jipei, after thanking Murong Chen on behalf of his third son, expressed sorrow that he would not see Yi Liankai upon his return to Fuyuan, as Yi Liankai was scheduled to depart for Europe and "won't be returning." He lamented not being able to bid his son farewell.
Murong Chen accurately inferred that Yi Liankai's departure was a consequence of the succession struggle, then remarked on Yi Liankai's striking resemblance to his late mother, Lady Yun, particularly his eyes, a sentiment Yi Jipei confirmed. Just then, a subordinate announced Li Chongnian's arrival. Li Chongnian exchanged pleasantries and attempted to flatter Yi Jipei by stating he only recognized him as "Yi Young Marshal" and found Yi Lianshen's methods inferior.
Yi Jipei quickly pointed out that Li Chongnian had lost to Yi Lianshen. Li Chongnian, however, distinguished between losing and being "justly defeated," suggesting Yi Lianshen's victory lacked a certain decisiveness. Murong Chen interjected, advising that in battle, victory is unpredictable, and losers should accept their fate. The conversation then shifted to past military campaigns, with Yi Jipei recounting Yi Lianyi's early achievements, including capturing Changye.
Li Chongnian acknowledged Yi Lianyi's talent but recalled a specific battle where Yi Lianyi, despite having an advantage, was forced to withdraw by his superior to preserve strength. Li Chongnian then contrasted his own rise to power as a warlord over seven years with Yi Lianyi's current "pitiful state" as a "disabled person," implying his own "results" made him wiser.
Yi Lianyi, however, countered that Li Chongnian's magnanimity in gracefully accepting his physical limitations was more admirable than mere talent or intelligence. With their departure imminent, Qin Sang grew anxious as Yi Liankai had not returned home all night. Mother Zhu speculated that Min Hongyu might be keeping him, expressing regret that Qin Sang hadn't "dragged" him back the previous evening.
Qin Sang, however, stated she would be more at ease if he were with Min Hongyu, but feared "another kind of mishap" or that Yi Lianshen might go back on his promise. Mother Zhu dismissed these concerns, asserting that Yi Lianshen and Fan Yanyun were too preoccupied with courting Pan Jianchi to bother with them. Qin Sang, nevertheless, worried that even if Yi Lianshen didn't act directly, his subordinates might, and blamed herself for letting Yi Liankai leave alone.
Soon after, Fan Yanyun appeared and offered Qin Sang a photograph of her and Yi Liankai, suggesting she take it as a "remembrance" for their impending departure to Europe. Mother Zhu questioned what Yi Jipei and Yi Lianyi would think upon discovering Qin Sang and the photograph gone. Fan Yanyun coolly replied that they would simply pretend the "matter has never happened," deeming it "better for everyone."
Qin Sang calmly accepted this, stating that the Zhishan case was closed, and despite the injustices she and Yi Liankai felt, they had willingly withdrawn. She acknowledged Yi Lianshen as the Yi family heir and Fan Yanyun as the mistress of the house, accepting their loss and its consequences. However, Qin Sang then directly accused Fan Yanyun and Yi Lianshen of being responsible for Yi Liankai's overnight absence.
Fan Yanyun reacted vehemently, reminding Qin Sang of Yi Lianshen's repeated tolerance during the Zhishan case, where he endured her "false accusations" and chose not to pursue her after the truth was revealed. She challenged Qin Sang to find Yi Liankai herself instead of making Yi Lianshen a "scapegoat," scoffing at Qin Sang's promise to apologize if she found Yi Liankai and found no involvement from Fan Yanyun and Yi Lianshen.
Pan Jianchi donned the military uniform gifted by Fan Yanyun. In his mind, he reaffirmed his mission, reminding himself that with Qin Sang's departure, no one else should become an obstacle. When he met Yi Lianshen, he complimented how well the uniform suited him. Pan Jianchi then went to thank Fan Yanyun, confirming that the uniform fit him perfectly, as if custom-made. Fan Yanyun, pleased it fit, advised him not to disappoint her husband's expectations.
As she observed him, a chilling realization crossed her mind: the uniform had been made according to the measurements of the one worn by her father's killer, reinforcing her suspicion that Pan Jianchi was indeed the murderer. A subordinate rushed to inform Yi Lianshen and Fan Yanyun that Yi Liankai was missing and Qin Sang had driven off on her own to find him. Yi Lianshen was alarmed.
Pan Jianchi, assuring him not to be anxious, asked if Yi Lianshen's earlier promise to ensure Yi Liankai and Qin Sang's safety still held. Upon receiving Yi Lianshen's affirmation, Pan Jianchi immediately advised sealing all train stations and crucial transportation routes, guarding Fuyuan's four city gates, strictly limiting entry and exit, imposing a city-wide curfew, and launching a comprehensive search for Yi Liankai.
Simultaneously, in the dining room, Mother Zhu frantically reported to the Eldest Young Mistress and others that Qin Sang had gone to "catch her husband's mistress," explaining that Yi Liankai had gone to Min Hongyu's mansion the previous night and not returned. Mother Zhu accused Min Hongyu of ensnaring him. The Eldest Young Mistress, however, suggested Yi Liankai might have gone to his birth mother's former residence, now occupied by Min Hongyu, to pay respects.
Dismissing this, Mother Zhu insisted Min Hongyu was conspiring against Qin Sang. Determined not to let Qin Sang suffer, the Eldest Young Mistress decided to go to the old manor. Separately, a high-ranking military official, referred to as Father, informed his son, Young Master Gao, that Yi Liankai had escaped.
He ordered his son to immediately lead men to search the entire city, including all of Yi Liankai's known haunts, to "eliminate the grass by its roots" and prevent future trouble. When Young Master Gao reminded him of Yi Lianshen's order not to harm Yi Liankai, his father instructed him to fabricate a story of Yi Liankai "stubbornly resisting" and being "misfired at."
Pan Jianchi accompanied Yi Lianshen to Fuyuan train station, where the Fu army had established a heavy perimeter. A commander reported no sign of Yi Liankai among the passengers. Yi Lianshen, learning the last train to Changye was departing in 30 minutes, ordered that no passengers or suspicious individuals be allowed to board. He and Pan Jianchi decided to wait. Soon after, Min Hongyu arrived at the station, her driver apprehended by Yi Lianshen's men.
Yi Lianshen questioned her about Yi Liankai's whereabouts, to which she retorted why he was asking her about his own brother. Min Hongyu then informed him she was traveling to Changye and then to Zhishan. She recounted her conversation with Yi Liankai the previous night, revealing that if he was determined to uncover the truth, she would go to Zhishan on his behalf, trusting Yi Lianshen to show her leniency. She spoke of her profound connection to Yi Liankai, having known him even before his birth, and expressed her shared desire to uncover the truth he sought.
