Siege in Fog Episode 42 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
Qin Sang asked Yi Jipei if the rumor was true, wondering if Yi Lianshen was Yi Shoucheng's son. Yi Jipei, who had suffered a stroke, could not speak but his eyes were fixed on Qin Sang's earrings. Qin Sang removed them and placed them in his hand, reassuring him that Yi Liankai was safe and would return to save them, judging by the cannon sounds outside. A noise outside prompted Qin Sang to hide in a corner.
Zhang Xikun entered, confronting Yi Jipei. He taunted Yi Jipei, saying that if he had just yielded his position to Yi Lianshen earlier, things wouldn't have come to this. Zhang Xikun acknowledged Yi Jipei's lifelong ambition, remarking on his current helpless state. He also mentioned that Yi Lianshen, despite his "womanly heart," still considered their father-son relationship and didn't wish to kill him, but Zhang Xikun felt he had to, to prevent future problems if Yi Jipei recovered.
Zhang Xikun then told Yi Jipei that since they had known each other for 30 years, killing him made him uneasy as well, but he had no choice. He added that he knew Yi Jipei loved his Third Wife the most, so he would ensure Yi Jipei died the same way, sending him to the same level of hell to meet her again. He then choked Yi Jipei.
Alarmed, Qin Sang grabbed a nearby vase and struck Zhang Xikun, yelling that he shouldn't treat Yi Jipei this way, fearing Yi Lianshen's retaliation. Zhang Xikun scoffed, stating that Yi Jipei wouldn't live to see Yi Lianshen again, and challenged Qin Sang to scream for help, knowing his men were outside. As Zhang Xikun, now enraged, seized the vase to retaliate against Qin Sang, Pan Jianchi burst in, throwing the vase back at Zhang Xikun.
Injured and outnumbered, Zhang Xikun retreated. Pan Jianchi urged Qin Sang to leave immediately, warning that Zhang Xikun would soon return. Qin Sang refused, explaining that she couldn't abandon Yi Jipei as Zhang Xikun would surely return to kill him. Pan Jianchi insisted he had to take her, asserting that he would not leave her alone again, regardless of the danger.
Yi Liankai analyzed Yi Lianshen's recent cannon attacks, explaining that while they appeared to be a heavy offensive, they were actually a distraction to make them neglect the enemy's infantry. He ordered Commander Yao to immediately mobilize two battalions to move back 50 "li" and envelop Yi Lianshen's foot soldiers. Chen Pei expressed doubts, citing his past experience fighting Yi Lianshen, who often used forceful attacks.
Another officer added that their forces were already limited, and moving two battalions would make the frontline situation worse. Yi Liankai acknowledged that everyone had fought Yi Lianshen and knew his strong offensive style, recalling battles like Zhishan and Yongnan where Yi Lianshen had used cannons as a decoy for infantry charges.
Despite the officers' continued skepticism about his inexperience and the unpredictable nature of war, Yi Liankai remained confident, stating that his strategy was unique and unknown to Yi Lianshen. He revealed that he had already planted a "doubtful cloud" in a specific area, knowing Yi Lianshen's suspicious nature would lead him to investigate it, ensuring their victory once the "flag joins." Convinced, Commander Yao agreed and gave the order.
Meanwhile, Zhang Linzhi reported to Yi Lianshen that Jiang Jinyi's advance troops had reached their designated location before nightfall and would be fully assembled soon. Yi Lianshen, anticipating a difficult night for Yi Liankai, ordered Zhang Linzhi to instruct Jiang Jinyi to move his cannon squad behind the enemy lines. He then specifically emphasized, as an order, that Jiang Jinyi must not harm Yi Liankai.
Pan Jianchi pulled Qin Sang from the Yi family mansion, but they were quickly pursued by Zhang Xikun's men, who were ordered to open fire to kill them on sight. They soon encountered Tian Xuan, who angrily confronted Pan Jianchi, calling him a traitor. Tian Xuan accused Pan Jianchi of abandoning the ideals instilled by Mr. Liang—to help Yi Lianshen for a greater cause—all for the sake of Qin Sang.
He lamented the widespread gunfire and suffering of refugees, contrasting it with their original dream, and asked if Pan Jianchi had forgotten his promise. Pan Jianchi retorted that his initial dream was to ensure Qin Sang's happiness and admitted he had betrayed his promise, challenging Tian Xuan to kill him. Tian Xuan drew a short knife, asking Pan Jianchi to prove he was still his brother.
Pan Jianchi, after a reassuring look to Qin Sang, took the knife and, without hesitation, plunged it into his own chest, thereby regaining Tian Xuan's trust. They fled to a hidden spot, where Qin Sang expressed regret, telling Pan Jianchi he didn't need to do such a thing for her and urged him to escape on his own, as she felt she couldn't escape.
Pan Jianchi steadfastly replied that he wanted his actions to demonstrate to both her and himself that he was no longer a coward, acknowledging that in such tumultuous times, no one could truly control their direction and could only go with the flow. Zhang Linzhi informed Yi Lianshen that their reconnaissance company had located Li Chongnian's infantry.
Yi Lianshen smugly remarked that Yi Liankai had underestimated the battlefield, thinking that destroying his artillery positions would expose his command base and lead to an easy victory, a strategy too simplistic for real warfare. However, a soldier then reported via telegram that Jiang Jinyi's troops had reached their designated location but had failed to act despite receiving the attack order, requesting further instructions from Yi Lianshen. This news caused Yi Lianshen's heart to sink.
As Yi Liankai studied a map of Jiangzhou, Min Hongyu entered. He mused that the letters they had sent to people close to Jiang Jinyi had been effective, preventing his forces from attacking. Min Hongyu observed that Jiang Jinyi was an "old sly fox," strategically waiting for a clear victor between the two brothers, unwilling to aid the losing side but eager to align with the winner.
Yi Liankai elaborated that Jiang Jinyi, despite disliking Yi Lianshen, wouldn't act prematurely; he sought to benefit from their conflict, either by having a plan if both brothers were weakened, or by becoming a "meritorious soldier" if Yi Liankai won. Min Hongyu agreed that Jiang Jinyi had calculated well, but pointed out that the current situation was disadvantageous for them, with Yi Lianshen still holding an advantage. Yi Liankai concluded that he could only pressure Jiang Jinyi further.
As Yi Lianshen's artillery continued their assault and Jiang Jinyi remained stubbornly inactive, Commander Yao and Chen Pei urged Yi Liankai to devise a solution, fearing they would all perish. Min Hongyu expressed concern that Jiang Jinyi would perceive their imminent defeat and side with Yi Lianshen. After careful consideration, Yi Liankai issued a startling command: bombard Jiang Jinyi's forces.
Chen Pei and Min Hongyu were shocked, deeming it an act of madness that would lead to mutual destruction, and suggested withdrawing instead. Yi Liankai, however, declared he was betting on a miracle, a rare occurrence in life, and asked Commander Yao if he was willing to take that gamble with him again.
Recalling their previous life-or-death bet in Zhishan and being intrigued by Yi Liankai's tactical intelligence, Commander Yao, also referring to Yi Liankai as his "future son-in-law," agreed to stake his life. He immediately relayed the order to fire cannons south, targeting Jiang Jinyi. On the receiving end, Jiang Jinyi's troops were suddenly attacked by Yi Liankai's forces. Initially confused, Jiang Jinyi soon realized Yi Liankai was forcing his hand.
He then ordered all his cannons to target Yi Lianshen's Fuyuan City and his infantry to advance towards Yi Lianshen's camp. Jiang Jinyi's sudden betrayal caught Yi Lianshen completely unprepared. His soldiers quickly reported that the unit sent for a sneak attack had been entirely annihilated by Jiang Jinyi's troops, and the front line had been breached. Yi Lianshen, visibly stunned, remained silent. As dawn broke and the cannon fire subsided, Qin Sang noticed Pan Jianchi was burning with fever.
Tian Xuan then appeared, informing them that Yi Lianshen had lost the battle outside the city and was retreating his large army back to the Yi Manor, where Qin Sang and other family members would inevitably become hostages. He offered to take both of them to escape immediately. Qin Sang insisted that Tian Xuan take the ailing Pan Jianchi first, as she had other crucial matters to attend to.
As Tian Xuan began to lead him away, Pan Jianchi resisted, protesting that Qin Sang returning alone was too dangerous and suicidal, stating that if anything happened to her, there would be no point in his own survival. Defeated, Yi Lianshen ordered Zhang Linzhi to initiate a full retreat.
As Yi Lianshen's forces withdrew, Yi Liankai's soldiers reported his retreat, prompting Yi Liankai to order an immediate advance into the city, fearing that any delay would put the Yi family members in greater danger as potential hostages. In her room, Fan Yanyun was startled awake. Noticing the silence of the cannons, she realized that one side had definitively lost the battle. Concurrently, Yi Lianyuan also recognized that Yi Liankai was entering the city.
Soldiers led Yi Lianyuan into the courtyard, where he reunited with Murong Qian, and they expressed their relief and concern for each other's well-being. Back at the Yi family mansion, Qin Sang was brought before Yi Lianshen. He was voraciously eating, explaining that he hadn't had time to eat during the prolonged battle and quoted a soldier's saying: "Dying with a full stomach is way better than dying hungry."
Qin Sang inferred that Yi Lianshen was preparing for a desperate, self-destructive final stand. She questioned his unwillingness to reconcile, arguing that paternal strictness often signified deep importance rather than a lack of love, and that Yi Jipei was still his father. Yi Lianshen, visibly pained, then confessed that he was not Yi Jipei's biological son but an illegitimate child of his mother and Yi Shoucheng. Qin Sang, however, was not surprised.
She calmly asserted that the bond between a father and son transcended mere blood relations, and firmly believed that Yi Jipei harbored a strong desire to protect him. Yi Lianshen, skeptical, claimed his father must hate him now and, given his inability to speak, questioned how Qin Sang could possibly prove her assertion. Qin Sang then proposed a bet: a bet on fate.
Qin Sang and Yi Lianshen proceeded to Yi Jipei's room, where Qin Sang instructed Yi Lianshen to wait by the door. Inside, she addressed Yi Jipei, explaining she would ask him a few important questions. He was to blink once for "yes" and twice for "no." She began by asking if the rumor was true that Yi Lianshen was Yi Shoucheng's son and not his own. Yi Jipei blinked twice, confirming Yi Lianshen was not his biological son.
Qin Sang then asked if Yi Jipei was simply stricter with Yi Lianshen because he cared more, to which Yi Jipei blinked once, indicating yes. Finally, she asked if Yi Lianshen, as an unfilial son who caused his stroke, should be killed. Yi Jipei blinked twice, signifying no. Qin Sang concluded that, despite everything, Yi Jipei still regarded Yi Lianshen as his son in his heart, a fact confirmed by Yi Jipei's single blink.
Yi Lianshen, heartbroken yet moved by this revelation, silently departed, making his way to Fan Yanyun's room. Yi Lianshen stood outside Fan Yanyun's door, speaking aloud to himself rather than knocking. He declared he was leaving to become a fugitive, unable to take her with him. He explained this was because he believed her heart belonged to Yi Liankai, and she was carrying Yi Liankai's child. He assured her that the Yi family would not trouble her in his absence.
He vowed to return for her if he could ever make a comeback, but if he died along the way, he would marry her in the next lifetime, and the one after. Inside, Fan Yanyun, sensing his presence, repeatedly called out "Yunxi" and tried to open the locked door. She tearfully conveyed that she knew he was there and was leaving, pleading with him to take her, as he was her only reliance.
She insisted she didn't desire a life of glory and splendor, only to live with him. After his silent farewell, Yi Lianshen commanded his remaining men to put down their weapons and release the family members they were holding. He then departed silently. Qin Sang entered Fan Yanyun's room. Fan Yanyun initially mistook her for Yi Lianshen but was then visibly heartbroken to see Qin Sang and realize Yi Lianshen had indeed left.
Despite her sorrow, Fan Yanyun, aware that Yi Liankai's army had entered the city, attempted to provoke Qin Sang. She claimed that Yi Lianshen had left her without hesitation because he knew the child in her womb was Yi Liankai's, and that Yi Liankai would naturally care for her and the baby upon his return. Qin Sang calmly advised Fan Yanyun not to resort to such words to "overpower" her, stating that she understood the pain in Fan Yanyun's heart.
Fan Yanyun gave a bitter laugh, surprised that Qin Sang believed her claim when Yi Lianshen himself hadn't. Qin Sang clarified that her belief was not in Fan Yanyun, but in Yi Liankai, trusting that he would never commit such an act or intentionally harm either Yi Lianshen or Fan Yanyun.
