Sword Snow Stride Episode 3 Recap
> Sword Snow Stride Recap
Upon his return, Chu Lushan rushes to greet Xu Fengnian. To curry favor, he recommends a new belle at the Zijin Brothel, renowned for her exceptional sword dance. Intrigued, Xu Fengnian decides to go, bringing Nangong Puye and Jiang Ni along. As they set out, he chooses to walk, explaining that his old horse won't let him ride and that he wants to savor the sights of North Liang after being away for three years.
Meanwhile, at a lakeside pavilion, Xu Xiao dismisses everyone, including his younger son Xu Longxiang who is fishing, to speak with Old Huang alone. He thanks Old Huang for accompanying Xu Fengnian for the past three years and offers to help him reclaim his former identity as the famed swordsman, Jian Jiuhuang. Old Huang declines, explaining that while he was once tormented by his past, traveling with the young master has brought him peace.
He asks Xu Xiao to bear witness that Jian Jiuhuang is no more; from now on, he is only Old Huang, the young master's groom. As he leaves, he reminds Xu Xiao to call him when the fish they caught are grilled. At the Zijin Brothel, Xu Fengnian meets the new belle, Yu Youwei. Aware of his identity, she offers to perform a special, "flirtatious" sword dance meant only for a lover, leading him to a private backyard.
As she performs the West Chu Sword Dance with sharpened double blades, Xu Fengnian immediately recognizes it as an assassination attempt, connecting it to a recent attack by West Chu soldiers. He confronts her, and she defiantly declares she seeks revenge for Xu Xiao’s destruction of her kingdom, recounting the slaughter of the royal family, including the beheading of the young princess.
Just as the unarmed Yu Youwei is about to commit suicide in failure, Xu Fengnian stops her and has Nangong Puye fetch Jiang Ni. When Jiang Ni arrives, Xu Fengnian has her reveal her dagger, the Divine Token of West Chu royalty. Yu Youwei, the daughter of a Chu official, recognizes it instantly.
Xu Fengnian explains that the rumor of the princess's death was a lie spread by Xu Xiao and that the true princess, Jiang Ni, stands before her, a fact confirmed by Jiang Ni's striking resemblance to the late empress. Returning to the mansion, Xu Fengnian orders a servant to prepare a courtyard for Yu Youwei and then calls for his python whip to punish Chu Lushan for leading him into an ambush.
He has Chu Lushan publicly whipped in the courtyard. Chu Lushan accepts the punishment but maintains his ignorance of the plot. News of the whipping spreads, and many military generals gather outside the mansion to plead for Chu Lushan, but Xu Xiao forbids anyone from interfering, allowing the punishment to continue despite concerns that Chu Lushan might not survive. Jiang Ni explains the truth of West Chu's fall to Yu Youwei.
While Xu Xiao's army conquered the capital, it was the dignitaries of the Liyang Empire who intended to seize the royal women. To protect their honor, Xu Xiao sealed the palace, allowing the emperor and his court to die with dignity as they wished. At the Chu Emperor's request, Xu Xiao saved the young princess, raising her as Jiang Ni.
Yu Youwei asks if Jiang Ni seeks revenge, but Jiang Ni says she only remembers her father telling her to live. Yu Youwei cautiously asks if she is one of Xu Fengnian's concubines, but Jiang Ni clarifies that despite having over twenty maids, Xu Fengnian has never touched any of them, contrary to the rumors of his debauchery.
Later, Yu Youwei tells Jiang Ni that she was held captive for years by unknown people and taught only the sword dance to assassinate Xu Fengnian, with no knowledge of a larger plot or any accomplices. Jiang Ni deduces that the scheme is more complex, as her handlers illogically taught her a dance rather than combat skills.
Yu Youwei expresses her concern for Jiang Ni's safety, which Jiang Ni brushes off before leaving to do the chore of airing Xu Fengnian's books. As the whipping continues, Ning Emei, a military general, confronts Xu Fengnian, arguing that punishing Chu Lushan without proof is against the law and will demoralize the army. Feigning anger at being challenged, Xu Fengnian orders Ning Emei imprisoned.
He then sends a message to the generals kneeling outside: anyone else who wishes to plead for Chu Lushan can come inside directly. Soon after, Chen Zhibao, North Liang's most respected general, arrives. As he approaches, a comment is made on the irony that he is the "Hope of North Liang" while Xu Fengnian is its "Shame." Xu Fengnian asks if Chen Zhibao is also there to plead for Chu Lushan.
Chen Zhibao expresses his disdain for Chu Lushan but questions if Xu Fengnian truly intends to kill him. He then presents the severed head of a military officer, identifying him as the mole who arranged the assassination. Chen Zhibao reveals he has seen through Xu Fengnian's plan: the whipping is a ruse.
Knowing Chu Lushan's fierce loyalty, Xu Fengnian staged the punishment as a "bitter-flesh" ploy to bait the true masterminds, who would likely try to recruit a seemingly resentful Chu Lushan. Chen Zhibao notes that Chu Lushan himself agreed to be the "bait." Speaking privately, Chen Zhibao advises Xu Fengnian to kill Yu Youwei and use the officer's head to publicly close the case, warning that the plot was designed to sow discord in the army.
Xu Fengnian questions sacrificing the officer for a superficial resolution, but Chen Zhibao insists it's necessary to maintain stability in North Liang. Declaring himself the state's "backbone," Chen Zhibao asserts that chaos cannot be tolerated. However, Xu Fengnian playfully refuses to kill the "beautiful" Yu Youwei, leaving the matter unresolved.
