Siege in Fog Episode 31 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
Yi Lianshen directly confronted Min Hongyu, asking her purpose for traveling to Zhishan. Min Hongyu retorted sharply that since they were not related, he had no reason to concern himself with her movements. Yi Lianshen then reminded her that she once believed he would never amount to anything, yet he now commanded the entire military power of Jiangzuo Province, questioning if her opinion remained unchanged.
Min Hongyu recounted a story about a man who pursued her but she dismissed him; he later became a head chef. When this chef presented a dish to her, he said something similar to Yi Lianshen. Yi Lianshen scoffed, remarking that he, the distinguished Marshal of the Fuyuan Army, was no different from a chef in her eyes.
Min Hongyu then explained that "ruling a large nation is like cooking a small delicacy," asserting there was no fundamental difference between a local official and a chef. Yi Lianshen, pondering her words, then asked what quality he lacked compared to his third brother, Yi Liankai. Min Hongyu explained that he lacked a certain "unrestrained spirit" – not in romance, but in being free from materialistic constraints and desires, advising him not to be too persistent in life.
Meanwhile, Zhang Linzhe led Fuyuan troops in a city-wide search for Yi Liankai. He encountered Jiang Jinyi and Gao Shaoxuan, who questioned the disruption. Zhang Linzhe claimed he was apprehending an escaped prisoner under Yi Lianshen's orders. Jiang Jinyi challenged him, pointing out that all suspects were under Governor Gao's custody and demanding an arrest warrant, which Zhang Linzhe could not produce.
Jiang Jinyi criticized Yi Lianshen's military command style, then subtly warned Zhang Linzhe that he had intelligence about someone planning to harm Yi Liankai and intended to bring that person to Yi Lianshen for punishment. Zhang Linzhe, losing the argument, reluctantly withdrew his troops. At Yi Liankai's old residence, Mama Zhu led several Yi family concubines, including Eldest Sister-in-law, in what they claimed was a mission to catch Yi Liankai with a mistress for Qin Sang.
The Sixth Concubine found empty wine glasses and small dishes, convinced that Yi Liankai had been intimately involved with Min Hongyu after drinking heavily the previous night. However, Mama Zhu located Yi Liankai sleeping upstairs. Qin Sang, informed of his presence, immediately instructed Eldest Sister-in-law to take the concubines home, dismissing their disruptive behavior as trespassing. Later, Yi Liankai, having recovered from his ordeal, was found by Qin Sang.
He told her he had dreamed of his mother and felt at peace leaving her buried in that spot. Expressing her worries, Qin Sang feared Yi Lianshen might retract his promise of their safety. Yi Liankai stated his intention to visit his Second Brother. At Zhishan, Yi Jipei convened a meeting with Murong Chen and Li Chongnian. Murong Chen deferred the lead position to Yi Jipei, acknowledging Yi Liankai's role in making the tri-party meeting possible.
Yi Lianyi highlighted Jiangzuo as a critical strategic point, noting the Tian Meng Association's growing ambition, and hinted at a plan to counter them. Murong Chen then mentioned feeling unwell due to the volatile weather, prompting Yi Jipei to reflect on the irreversible "change in power." He suggested they continue their discussions outdoors that afternoon to enjoy the mountain scenery.
Fan Yanyun escorted Pan Jianchi to her deceased father's memorial hall, indicating it would be his new quarters, as he was to become the "Political Adviser of Jiangzuo." Pan Jianchi, seeing Mr. Fan's portrait, expressed discomfort, a silent acknowledgment of his role in Mr. Fan's death. Fan Yanyun, however, insisted the residence was suitable, equating Pan Jianchi's future role with her father's past influence.
Pan Jianchi humbly demurred, stating he dared not compare himself to Mr. Fan or reside in his room. Fan Yanyun then provocatively asked if he feared her father's restless spirit. Yi Lianshen interjected, cautioning her against such talk. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Fan Yanyun lashed out, accusing both Yi Lianshen and Pan Jianchi of forgetting her father's lifelong devotion to the Yi family and the identity of his killer.
She pointed directly at Pan Jianchi, declaring him her father's murderer, and decried Yi Lianshen for treating him as a brother. When Pan Jianchi demanded evidence, Fan Yanyun ordered his arrest. Yi Lianshen intervened, instructing Pan Jianchi to remain within Yi Manor for a few days while he investigated the matter, simultaneously urging Fan Yanyun to control her impulses. Yi Liankai and Qin Sang arrived to apologize to Fan Yanyun for any past transgressions.
Qin Sang, mentioning their impending departure for Europe, hoped Fan Yanyun would let go of her grievances. Fan Yanyun responded cynically about Qin Sang's ability to manipulate. Yi Liankai tried to soothe the situation. Fan Yanyun then starkly declared her disengagement from all Yi family, Fuyuan, and Jiangzuo affairs, but Yi Liankai pressed her about their teacher's murder. Fan Yanyun revealed that Pan Jianchi was the killer. Qin Sang was visibly shaken, and Fan Yanyun asked her to leave.
After Qin Sang departed, Yi Liankai questioned Fan Yanyun about the evidence against Pan Jianchi. Fan Yanyun pointed out Pan Jianchi's suspicious rapid rise after Mr. Fan's death, his immediate posting to Zhishan, becoming aide-de-camp to Yi Liankai, and his deep knowledge of the Yi family despite his foreign education. Yi Lianshen agreed that Pan Jianchi was indeed suspicious but stressed the lack of conclusive evidence.
He suspected Pan Jianchi's origins were intertwined with powerful interests that could destabilize the Yi family and Jiangzuo, necessitating a thorough investigation to uncover the true mastermind before avenging Mr. Fan. Before leaving, Yi Liankai asked Fan Yanyun why she still believed he possessed a conscience, given his actions. Qin Sang sought out Pan Jianchi.
She confided that she had glimpsed a figure resembling him at the train station on the day Mr. Fan was killed, a sighting she now knew was accurate. Pan Jianchi dismissed the past as irrelevant, stating his identity was compromised and their association would soon be discovered, expressing his desire to protect her. Qin Sang then pressed him for the truth: had he come to Fuyuan for the Tian Meng Association or for her?
Pan Jianchi admitted his initial motive was his mission, but while waiting for her in Yongnan, he realized his true purpose was her. He confessed that seeing her with Yi Liankai had made him want to shatter the world. Qin Sang concluded that she was the one who had abandoned him first. Pan Jianchi acknowledged that he could not compare to Yi Liankai in her heart and urged her to leave safely with Yi Liankai.
To aid Pan Jianchi, Qin Sang arranged for Huaixiu to make her a dress. During the fitting, Qin Sang subtly questioned Huaixiu, learning that Fan Yanyun had recently commissioned clothes based on a Cheng Army uniform. Qin Sang then instructed Mama Zhu to invite Gao Shaoxuan and Yi Liankai's usual companions to a farewell party for Yi Liankai, hoping to "hide the wood within the forest" to protect Pan Jianchi.
Yi Lianshen's investigation revealed that Pan Jianchi's real name was Li Wangping, and he was Qin Sang's first love. Fan Yanyun, hearing this, became convinced that Qin Sang and Pan Jianchi had conspired in her father's murder and angrily demanded revenge. Yi Lianshen calmed her, promising to avenge her father, reminding her that he had always kept his promises to her since childhood and expressing concern for her health and their unborn child.
At a stone pavilion outside Zhishan, Yi Jipei, Li Chongnian, and Murong Chen engaged in a metaphorical discussion about the political landscape using "rivers" and "fish." Murong Feng, observing from a distance, was bewildered by their conversation and asked Fu Rongcai to clarify.
Fu Rongcai explained that their discussion was indeed about politics: Yi Jipei aimed to control all of Jiangzuo; Li Chongnian sought to retain one province, with Yi Jipei offering him a share of Jiangzuo's taxes as a compromise. Murong Chen desired to dominate and remain in the North, requesting that Yi Jipei and Li Chongnian not cross the river, to which Yi Jipei agreed, establishing a territorial division by the river.
Li Chongnian also requested a place in the northern political sphere. Fu Rongcai concluded that Jiangzuo's future would unfold according to Yi Lianyi's strategic "chess game." Yi Lianyi lamented the transformation of the once vibrant "green mountains and springs" into "mountain remnants and leftover rivers," stressing the need for recuperation to prevent them from becoming barren.
Fu Rongcai then reflected on Yi Liankai's past decision to expel him from Jiangzuo, suggesting it was to prevent him from colluding with Yi Lianshen to establish a military-centric government. Yi Lianyi expressed gratitude for Yi Liankai's foresight. Qin Sang extended an invitation to Yi Lianshen for a farewell party for her and Yi Liankai, which he accepted. Fan Yanyun was furious, questioning his decision.
Yi Lianshen explained that Qin Sang's actions were intended to support Yi Liankai, and as brothers, they could not allow themselves to be mocked. He saw the party as an opportune moment to project an harmonious image of brotherhood to the public. Fan Yanyun, however, asserted that Qin Sang's true motive was not for Yi Liankai, but to create an opportunity to rescue Pan Jianchi.
Yi Lianshen countered, assuring her that Pan Jianchi, being under his custody, could not be easily saved. Yi Lianyi, overhearing the conversation, mused that the old adage "governing a large nation is like cooking a small delicacy" had proven true, and the Yongjiang river had served its purpose in their negotiations regarding federalism and Jiangzuo. He cautioned, however, that it was still too early to celebrate.
