Song of Youth Episode 35 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
At the Li family's estate, a somber funeral for the eldest son is underway. Mrs. Li, though comforted by Shen Shi, is soon embroiled in scandal. During an outing in the garden with Shen Shi, Lin Shaochun, and Sun Youde, Mrs. Li boasts about Li Ying's exceptional embroidery. However, a man suddenly crashes the gathering, claiming to be Li Ying's lover and presenting her exquisitely embroidered undergarment as proof.
Mrs. Li recognizes the embroidery as Li Ying's, but Li Ying denies knowing the man. Deeply embarrassed, Mrs. Li has the man driven away. The strange incident leaves Mrs. Li unsettled, and while Lin Shaochun advises caution, Sun Youde suspects a hidden hand at play. Meanwhile, Mocheng faces a bandit crisis. Sun Junhao prepares for a dangerous mission to gather reinforcements, with Yao Dizhu's full support.
Before leaving, he entrusts Yao Dizhu's protection to Guye, sternly warning him not to harm her. Guye, however, harbors a secret agenda. He is actually Jia Yunpeng, the younger brother of Jia Fengyuan. Their father, Jia Zhen, was framed and died, leading to the brothers' separation and their family's ruin. Jia Fengyuan, now a high official, has meticulously planned revenge against Sun Xun, Sun Junhao's father, believing him responsible for their tragedy.
Guye, adopted by a bandit leader and later becoming the powerful "Wild Wolf," reconnects with Jia Fengyuan. Jia Fengyuan manipulates Guye, urging him to continue as a bandit leader and orchestrate Sun Junhao's death to make Sun Xun suffer. Guye initially gains Sun Junhao's trust, especially through Yao Dizhu. Jia Fengyuan and Guye plot to assassinate Sun Junhao. They ambush him while he is traveling alone, believing they have successfully killed him.
However, Sun Junhao, protected by special imperial armor filled with blood, faked his death. He later leads a surprise attack on the bandit stronghold, forcing a wounded Jia Fengyuan and Guye to escape. Jia Fengyuan then orders Guye to kill Yao Dizhu. Guye refuses, admitting his feelings for her, but Jia Fengyuan insists that revenge must take precedence. Yao Dizhu, having been warned by Sun Junhao and given a powerful poison, safflower powder, already knows Guye's true identity.
She had poisoned Guye but withheld the antidote, desperately trying to persuade him to abandon his path of vengeance. Guye, however, remains resolute. As Sun Junhao and his troops arrive, Guye tells Yao Dizhu to learn from his example and not trust easily. During the ensuing battle, Guye thanks Yao Dizhu, wishes her and Sun Junhao happiness, and then commits suicide. The masked bandits with him also take poison and die.
A distraught Yao Dizhu reveals she hadn't intended for Guye to die and had hoped to save him. Guye dies without revealing his accomplices. Overcome with grief, Yao Dizhu is comforted by Sun Junhao, who promises they will marry soon. Though offered a mission by the prefect to suppress bandits in Liyang, Sun Junhao prioritizes his wedding, declining the request. Sun Junhao and Yao Dizhu celebrate a grand wedding.
On their wedding night, Yao Dizhu presents Sun Junhao with a resignation letter, encouraging him to fulfill his duty to the court and assuring him she will wait for his return. Meanwhile, Jia Fengyuan, though saddened by Guye's death, is forced to depart for Lingnan, where pirates are rampant.
