Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 2 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
"""[Recap]""" Upon regaining consciousness, Grand General Lu Tong summoned Lu Lingfeng. Lu Tong tested Lu Lingfeng’s resolve, and Lu Lingfeng firmly stated that he would never let personal grievances interfere with public duty or harbor resentment towards the Emperor. His loyalty remained steadfast to the Tang Empire. Satisfied, Lu Tong, despite his injuries, declared his intention to immediately recommend Lu Lingfeng as his successor for the Grand General of the Right Imperial Guard.
Meanwhile, outside, Fei Yingjun, also known as Master Ji, was enjoying some golden peaches. He was suddenly attacked by a giant raptor and fell, sustaining multiple fractures to his ribs and leg bones. Though severely injured, he was not fatally wounded. During the attack, he managed to pluck a feather from the raptor, intending it for Lu Lingfeng to examine. When Lu Lingfeng arrived, he found Fei Yingjun being tended to by Xijun.
Fei Yingjun admitted to eating the peaches, explaining he assumed Lu Lingfeng and the Emperor had already partaken and couldn't resist the exquisite taste of the "tribute from the Kang Kingdom." He even blamed the peaches for his greed. However, Xijun's observation that "they've all had the peaches" sparked a realization in Lu Lingfeng.
Connecting the attack on Fei Yingjun to the Emperor's prior incident and his own near miss, Lu Lingfeng deduced that the raptor specifically targeted those who had recently consumed the golden peaches. He rushed to the palace to warn the Emperor. The Emperor confirmed he had not yet eaten the peaches but revealed that, as per custom, the tribute golden peaches had already been distributed to the Retired Emperor, the Grand Princess, and various high-ranking officials and nobles.
Lu Lingfeng urged the Emperor to recall all the peaches. The Emperor decided to personally warn the Retired Emperor, while Lu Lingfeng hurried to the Grand Princess's mansion. At her mansion, the Grand Princess was already enjoying a golden peach, reminiscing about tasting them as a child during Emperor Gaozong's grand fruit banquet, where she was praised and hinted to be a future ruler. Lu Lingfeng arrived and desperately pleaded with her not to eat the peaches, explaining the danger.
She dismissed his concerns as naive and easily manipulated, believing the story of the raptor was a fabrication by the Emperor's inner circle to mislead him. Defiantly, she ordered a grand "golden peach banquet" to be held in her back garden. Upon learning of this, the Emperor expressed concern for his aunt, who was known to love peaches, fearing Lu Lingfeng wouldn't be able to dissuade her.
Lu Lingfeng, despite her dismissiveness, discreetly ordered Cen Zhi to place guards with strong bows and arrows around the mansion to defend against aerial attacks. During the lavish banquet, the Grand Princess openly enjoyed the peaches and even distributed them along with fine wine to her soldiers. She expressed her filial appreciation to Lu Lingfeng for his concern, but reiterated her disbelief in his warnings, claiming that no "fierce bird or evil bird" would dare enter her residence.
She asserted her conviction that only she could lead the Tang Empire to glory, hinting at her ambition to become an empress, just like her father, mother, brothers, and nephew had been emperors. Looking directly at Lu Lingfeng, she praised his talents and selfless nature, offering to pass the Tang Empire to him in the future if he adopted her surname, Li. Chancellor Cui and Cen Zhi departed after the banquet.
The entire event passed without any sign of the raptor. Later that night, as Cen Zhi was returning home from the banquet, he was ambushed by the giant raptor. The creature's sharp talons brutally tore at him, lifting him into the air and repeatedly dropping him until he was disemboweled and died.
A eunuch reported Cen Zhi's gruesome death to the Emperor, noting that Cen Zhi was the only one attacked after leaving the Princess's residence, implying the bird was controlled by the Princess's Mansion and wouldn't attack on its own grounds. The Emperor, however, dismissed this as "nonsense," refusing to believe the Grand Princess would resort to such methods.
When the Grand Princess learned of Cen Zhi's death, she was enraged, believing the Emperor had forced him to betray her by holding his family hostage. She tested Chancellor Cui's loyalty, who swore his unwavering allegiance and dedication to her ambition of becoming a new empress to lead a stronger Tang Empire. The Grand Princess promised not to disappoint him.
Meanwhile, a masked man (the Ever-changing Master) questioned Liu XVII, asking why the giant raptor had not been deployed at the Grand Princess's golden peach banquet. Liu XVII claimed the raptor was wild and difficult to control, refusing to be driven. He then assured the masked man that he would personally infiltrate the Princess's residence to complete their unfinished plan.
In Gantang County prison, Liu XIX, in a fit of rage, attempted to harm a jailer but was quickly subdued by Chu Yingtao and Su Wuming. Su Wuming learned from Sheriff Xu that Liu XIX had been on a hunger strike and behaving erratically ever since his twin brother, Liu XVII, was executed. Surprisingly, their other brother, Liu XVIII, appeared indifferent to Liu XIX's plight, even helping distribute food to other prisoners. Su Wuming confronted Liu XVIII, chastising his callousness.
He explained that Liu XIX's madness stemmed from the profound grief of losing his twin, a basic human emotion. Su Wuming urged Liu XVIII to recognize that as Liu XIX's last remaining family, his indifference was slowly killing his brother. Recalling Master Di Renjie's resilience in the face of despair, Su Wuming emphasized the importance of survival, telling Liu XVIII, "Only by staying alive can you live better."
Moved by these words, Liu XVIII repeated the phrase, growing louder with each repetition, until Liu XIX responded in kind, and the two brothers reconciled with an embrace. The following day, Su Wuming and Sheriff Xu proceeded to open Liu XVII's coffin, which was part of Sheriff Xu's new initiative to bury executed criminals with dignity. To their horror, they discovered a headless body inside. Mr. Ma, the officer responsible for the burial, was terrified and confessed.
He admitted that he was deeply indebted to gambling debts and had sold Liu XVII's head to an "yin-yang merchant" known as the Ever-changing Master. Simultaneously, in Chang'an, a merchant named Mr. Qu, infatuated with a dancer, was enticed by the Ever-changing Master to kill the dancer and take her face to transplant onto his own wife. The dancer was subsequently murdered.
Soon after, rumors began to circulate throughout Chang'an that the current Emperor was not the legitimate eldest son of the Retired Emperor and was therefore unfit to rule the Tang Empire. The Grand Princess was greatly pleased by these developments. She remarked to Chancellor Cui that even if Lu Tong, now a broken man, retained the seal of the Grand General of the Right Imperial Guard, his military authority was effectively meaningless.
The Emperor visited Lu Tong, who was still recovering from his injuries. Lu Tong once again recommended Lu Lingfeng for the Grand General position. However, the Emperor refused, stating that the position was too crucial to be filled hastily, as any premature move could lead to unforeseen complications. Lu Tong then pleaded for Lu Lingfeng's original official rank to be restored, allowing him to temporarily command the Imperial Guards as a Middle Commander.
The Emperor again denied the request, instead appointing General Li Feng to temporarily take charge of the military power until Lu Tong fully recovered. Lu Lingfeng, who was standing just outside the door, overheard the entire conversation and quietly departed.
