The Autumn Ballad Episode 10 Recap
> The Autumn Ballad Recap
Liang Yi found himself suffocating, trapped with the Grand Preceptor in the Grand Preceptor's alchemy room. The Grand Preceptor, complaining bitterly about Lingzheng's betrayal, lamented his fate, while Liang Yi asked if there was any secret passage out. The Grand Preceptor confirmed there was only one exit, and it could only be opened from the outside. Liang Yi's arm was injured, and the Grand Preceptor even offered them wine.
Meanwhile, people at the Firewood Office were concerned about Liang Yi's disappearance, while Song Jin was frantically searching for him and Qiu Yan at Wanyan House. Despite the Grand Preceptor's despair, Qiu Yan refused to give up, believing they could dig through the stone wall. Liang Yi, noting her persistent efforts, teased her, asking if she was doing all this just to marry Qin Xuan. Qiu Yan refuted this, stating her true desire was to choose her own path.
She explained her long-standing interest in unusual cases, stemming from her childhood when her mother encouraged her to read crime stories like "Great Suo Strange Case Records." Through these stories, she learned characters and developed a deep wish for women to one day enjoy the same freedoms as men – to study, become officials, conduct business, and choose their own lives. Liang Yi, seeing her determination, quietly reflected on his own past.
He had once dreamed of using his pen as a sword, like his father, to expose injustice, but his father's death had changed him, pushing him towards a path of power and authority, becoming known as a government hawk. With their lives at stake, Liang Yi revealed his plan: to create black powder using sulfur, niter, and carbon powder.
He then guided them to a specific cold, damp section of the wall, deducing that it was thin and backed by the sacred lake of the Imperial Park, based on their entry route. Realizing they lacked a fuse, Qiu Yan ingeniously suggested soaking a rope in strong alcohol to use as an igniter. With a thunderous explosion, lake water burst through the wall, flooding the alchemy room and allowing them to escape into the water.
Lingzheng, alerted by the blast, rushed to the scene. He saw Liang Yi, Qiu Yan, and the Grand Preceptor swimming through the water. Liang Yi secured himself and Qiu Yan with a pair of unique Tocharian Golden Handcuffs to prevent them from being swept away by the current. When Qiu Yan began to lose consciousness, Liang Yi performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, saving her.
Once safely on shore, Qiu Yan thanked Liang Yi, urging him not to disclose what had transpired between them. As she fumbled with the handcuffs, Lingzheng's disciples approached, causing her to accidentally drop the key into the water. Outnumbered, the trio fled to a nearby pavilion. Thinking quickly, Liang Yi cut the bridge ropes, temporarily halting their pursuers. From the pavilion, Liang Yi sent a signal, but they remained trapped.
Lingzheng ordered his men to gather firewood, intending to set the pavilion ablaze. Meanwhile, Song Jin, still searching for Liang Yi and Qiu Yan at Wanyan House, spotted the red smoke signal. Accompanied by Qin Xuan, he rushed to their aid. Song Jin arrived just in time, rescuing Liang Yi, Qiu Yan, and the Grand Preceptor. Lingzheng was struck down by an arrow, and his remaining accomplices were apprehended.
As they prepared to leave, a rogue assassin lunged at Qiu Yan. Liang Yi swiftly intervened, taking a minor injury to protect her, while Qin Xuan, in a critical moment, killed the assailant. Qiu Yan noted that this assassin used a right-hand crossbow, confirming he was not the left-handed killer of Xiao Tie. Imperial Commander Yan arrived at the Imperial Park, sent by the Emperor to investigate the unrest.
He requested the Grand Preceptor accompany him to the palace to explain the incident. Before leaving, the Grand Preceptor expressed his profound gratitude to Liang Yi for saving his life. Shortly after, Song Jin informed Liang Yi that while he found the Wanyan House treasury, the crucial transaction ledger was still missing. Ping'er, who was with them, then recalled seeing a small book with names and dates at her "father's" residence, along with some unused fake silver notes.
Liang Yi and Qiu Yan went with Ping'er to her "father's" dwelling. Inside, Ping'er's "father" greeted them warmly. However, Ping'er suddenly attacked Liang Yi with a knife. Qiu Yan, sensing her ill intent, pulled Liang Yi out of the way, causing Ping'er to accidentally stab her "father." Overcome with grief, Ping'er revealed her true identity as Dou Ying's daughter, accusing Liang Yi of framing her real father for embezzlement, which led to her family's ruin.
She claimed the man she had just killed was not her true father but a bodyguard who had rescued her after her family's downfall. This bodyguard, skilled with a left-hand crossbow, had been working for Lingzheng after Lingzheng caught Ping'er forging fake notes, and he was, in fact, the assassin who had killed Xiao Tie. Liang Yi observed that the bodyguard had simply wished to be Ping'er's father, as evidenced by his care for her.
He also clarified that Dou Ying had indeed been guilty of widespread corruption, including bribery and embezzlement, but Liang Yi had previously chosen to spare Ping'er and the bodyguard due to their vulnerability. Qiu Yan, recalling her sister Qiu Min's love for expensive Liuxiang Perfumery pouches, had noticed Ping'er wearing one, which had clued her into Ping'er's deceptive poverty claim and thus her ulterior motive. The crisis resolved, Liang Yi and Qiu Yan rode back to the Firewood Office.
Liang Yi calmly explained the truth of Dou Ying's crimes, noting how children often see only the good in their parents. On their journey, they passed by a wonton stall and saw Yao Gai, who appeared to have reformed, which brought them a moment of satisfaction. As the sun set, Qiu Yan recalled a peaceful memory of riding horses on the beach with Liang Yi six years prior. Meanwhile, the Grand Preceptor informed the Emperor of Lingzheng's rebellion and demise.
The Emperor, viewing this as divine judgment, decided against further punishment, instead instructing the Grand Preceptor to focus on his alchemy to avoid incurring divine wrath upon the populace. Back at the Firewood Office, Liang Yi used tools to break the chain connecting the unique Tocharian Golden Handcuffs. He explained that their intricate design meant the key could not be replicated, and opening them by force would cause injury.
A new key would require a specialized Tocharian blacksmith, a journey that would take over two months. Qin Xuan expressed his annoyance at this delay. Just then, Song Jin arrived with news: the Emperor had transferred both the fake notes case and the Imperial Park incident to the Main Administrative Office.
Liang Yi, understanding that Song Jin's forceful entry into the Imperial Park was a serious offense, was not surprised by this decision, instructing Song Jin to transfer all evidence found at Wanyan House's treasury. However, Qiu Yan quickly interjected, requesting to review the evidence first, hoping to find clues about an internal thief in her own family who might have purchased fake notes, as the transaction ledger was still missing.
As they were discussing this, Yuan Lang, the principal of the Main Administrative Office, arrived at the Firewood Office, under imperial decree, to collect all evidence related to the Wanyan House case.
