Siege in Fog Episode 9 Recap
> Siege in Fog Recap
Qin Sang sat with her father, Qin Housheng, in the courtyard. Qin Housheng observed that Qin Sang seemed unhappy and lamented that if it weren't for the lawsuit years ago, Qin Sang's mother wouldn't have forced her to marry into the Yi family on her deathbed. Qin Sang, however, insisted that Yi Liankai treated her well. Qin Housheng then brought up Li Wangping, expressing his hope that Qin Sang could move past her old feelings and treat Yi Liankai better.
Qin Sang coldly recalled that her heart had died when Li Wangping left, and she believed she and Yi Liankai were fated to be together yet without destiny. In her eyes, Yi Liankai was merely a familiar stranger. Unbeknownst to Qin Sang, Yi Liankai was listening from behind the rock garden. Later, perhaps out of guilt, Qin Sang personally prepared a lavish breakfast. However, Yi Liankai was still upset from their previous argument.
He not only refused to appreciate her effort but also sarcastically remarked on her rare enthusiasm, questioning if she needed another favor from him. Qin Sang asserted that in her two years of marriage to the Yi family, she had maintained her decorum, and her only request, regarding Pan Jianchi, wasn't even for herself. She couldn't understand why Yi Liankai remained dissatisfied.
Yi Liankai, however, accused her of seeing him merely as a ladder for her own ambitions, which only escalated their argument. Qin Sang felt wronged; it was her first time cooking, and he showed no appreciation. Yi Liankai retorted that precisely because it was her first time cooking, he wouldn't dare eat it. Qin Sang angrily brought up Min Hongyu and Second Young Mistress Fan Yanyun, which only infuriated Yi Liankai further.
He blurted out that when he dined with them, they would at least try to please him, but Qin Sang's icy face made him lose his appetite. The two parted ways in anger, with Qin Sang vowing never to cook for him again after throwing the porridge to the floor. Yi Liankai, feeling dispirited, went to the old residence to stare at his mother's embroidered portrait.
Min Hongyu, observing his mood, remarked that he and Qin Sang seemed destined to torture each other, comparing them to rocks hitting each other, causing mutual pain. Yi Liankai, wanting to be left alone, asked her to let him speak to his mother in peace. He confided in his deceased mother, knowing that Qin Sang was using him but feeling helpless.
He had hoped that after marriage, Qin Sang would slowly come to love him, but he realized her heart belonged to someone else. He questioned how he could possibly stop loving her. Meanwhile, Yi Jipei was practicing fencing and, noticing Qin Sang's interest, invited her to join him. After a match, Yi Jipei was impressed, praising Qin Sang's aggressive and decisive style, noting her masculine temperament.
Qin Sang took the opportunity to discuss her views on current politics, much to Yi Jipei's surprise. She expressed her admiration for leaders like Louis XIV and Bismarck, who demonstrated strategic thinking and clear objectives, stating her preference for fencing over dancing for its intellectual and physical challenge. Later, over tea and snacks, Yi Jipei discussed Yi Liankai and Qin Sang's morning argument with Yi Lianyi.
He mused on his own ability to manage his six wives peacefully, contrasting it with his third son's inability to control his own household, despite Yi Liankai's reputation for being surrounded by women. Yi Lianyi agreed that Yi Liankai was the primary issue, as he failed to appreciate Qin Sang's rare attempt at reconciliation. Yi Jipei was also surprised by the quality of the desserts Qin Sang had made, noting that she usually seemed averse to household chores.
He reflected that he had initially considered Qin Sang an ignorant woman, but after her trip to Zhishan and her timely recommendation of Qin Housheng, he realized she was not simple. He further expressed his admiration for her strategic mind and foresight, evident in their fencing match and conversation, finding her traits more fitting of a military strategist if she were a man, given her lineage from the Wu clan of Yangtze River naval commanders.
Yi Jipei concluded that while Yi Liankai might appear uneducated, he had a discerning eye for women, and Qin Sang's strong character could complement his impulsive nature. After being rebuffed at the Yi residence, Fu Rongcai arrived at Li Chongnian's manor, audaciously proclaiming himself a "military sage" who could help Li Chongnian conquer the country. Chen Pei, an aide, observed Fu Rongcai's demeanor and advised Li Chongnian that this man was not ordinary. Li Chongnian invited him in.
Inside, Fu Rongcai, who had appeared arrogant outside, became subservient, explaining he merely wanted an opportunity to prove his worth and gain Li Chongnian's respect. He proposed a strategy against Yi Jipei, suggesting they sow internal discord within the Yi family, allowing Li Chongnian to reap the benefits.
To illustrate his point, Fu Rongcai demonstrated how two walnuts could be easily broken by pressing them against each other, suggesting a similar tactic for the Yi family: instigating internal strife to break their unity. Yi Jipei received news of Fu Rongcai defecting to Li Chongnian in Yizhou. He found it perplexing that Fu Rongcai, who had long coveted the Yi family's chief strategist position, would now willingly abandon it after Mr. Fan's passing.
Yi Jipei immediately ordered Yi Lianyi to investigate the reasons behind Fu Rongcai's betrayal, fearing severe future consequences if they remained ignorant. Yi Lianyi suggested calling Yi Lianshen and Yi Liankai for a joint discussion. Yi Liankai, drinking heavily outside due to his distress, was summoned back home. In the study, Yi Jipei asked his three sons to discuss Fu Rongcai's defection. A drunken Yi Liankai bluntly stated they should ask Fu Rongcai himself.
Yi Jipei was enraged by his attitude. Yi Lianshen then reminded everyone that Yi Liankai was the only one who saw Fu Rongcai when he visited the house. Yi Liankai, losing his temper, admitted he had disliked Fu Rongcai and had simply driven him away. Yi Jipei exploded, accusing Yi Liankai of wanting to ruin the family. Yi Liankai retorted that Fu Rongcai was an incompetent theorist, a two-faced individual whom even their teacher had distrusted.
He asserted that the Yi family could continue to dominate Jiangzuo without such a person. Yi Jipei, furious, declared that the decision to keep or kill Fu Rongcai was his alone, not Yi Liankai's, and accused him of withholding critical information. Yi Lianshen interceded, arguing that it was a good outcome as it revealed Fu Rongcai's true nature, essentially making Yi Liankai a "touchstone" for their father.
Yi Lianyi agreed, viewing it as an unintentional mistake but advised Yi Liankai to inform them of such matters in the future to prevent exploitation and familial strife. Later, a fuming Yi Liankai returned to his room, where he saw Qin Sang embroidering. He tried to make conversation, asking what she was sewing. Qin Sang dismissively replied he wouldn't understand. Yi Liankai, fueled by alcohol, pressed her, demanding to know the identity of the person in her heart.
When she remained silent, he lashed out, proclaiming himself blind for marrying a woman who didn't love him and accusing her of feigning virtue while harboring someone else in her heart. Qin Sang responded by slapping him hard across the face. Enraged, Yi Liankai tackled her onto the bed and tried to kiss her forcefully. Qin Sang cried out that she didn't love him, which made Yi Liankai freeze and stop his advances.
He then stated that her lack of love didn't matter; she was his wife, and he would never let her go, vowing to take her with him even to his grave. With Mr. Fan's funeral approaching, Wu Ji instructed Pan Jianchi to create a disturbance during the procession to weaken Yi Lianshen's influence.
Pan Jianchi expressed concerns about the potential sacrifices involved, but Wu Ji declared their mission was a "lord offering his head" strategy, where they would all act as Fan Yuqi to deliver Jing Ke to Emperor Qin. Meanwhile, Fan Yanyun confronted Yi Liankai, who had been avoiding her. She questioned if he intended to sever their past connection, to which Yi Liankai coldly replied they had no affection or fate between them.
Fan Yanyun then requested his help with a task, stating it was her father's dying wish that Yi Liankai personally organize his belongings. While Yi Liankai was sorting through his mentor's possessions, Fan Yanyun asked if he drove Fu Rongcai away because of Qin Sang. She revealed that Qin Housheng, before becoming the head of the cultural affairs department, had been the head of the finance department.
Years prior, Fu Rongcai had used political influence to impeach the president and had then employed a divisive scheme to frame Qin Housheng, leading to his downfall, imprisonment, and complete ruin of his reputation, affecting many officials involved.
