The Chang'an Youth Episode 11 Recap
> The Chang'an Youth Recap
The Crown Prince, agitated that Censor Tu had begun investigating his unauthorized recruitment of private troops, quickly sought out Minister Han to discuss a countermeasure. The Crown Prince feared being exposed and facing charges of treason, similar to what happened to his uncle. However, Minister Han remained unconcerned, simply advising the Crown Prince to minimize his movements to avoid creating suspicion and giving those with ulterior motives an opportunity to find proof of their wrongdoing.
Despite Minister Han's reassurances, Censor Tu awaited the Crown Prince and confronted him about a significant discrepancy between the reported supplies and the actual number of troops in the Crown Prince's mansion, declaring it a serious offense. The Crown Prince feigned composure but was inwardly frantic, denying the accusations and claiming he was being framed. After Censor Tu departed, the Crown Prince immediately dispatched a confidential letter to Minister Han’s mansion.
However, the letter was intercepted by Censor Tu, who discovered the truth of the Crown Prince's collusion with Minister Han in planning a rebellion. Censor Tu immediately penned a memorial, determined to present it to His Majesty. Minister Han, frustrated by the Crown Prince's recklessness, along with Ning Xiang, ambushed Censor Tu outside Zhuque Gate.
Censor Tu, knowing his days were numbered, valiantly refused to surrender the evidence, vowing to deliver it to His Majesty even if it meant his death. Minister Han then struck him down, telling him to take the evidence to hell, and instructed Ning Xiang to handle the rest. Imperial Guards soon arrived, discovering Censor Tu's body. They reported the assassination to His Majesty and began a pursuit of the assassin.
As Ning Xiang attempted to flee with the memorial, she encountered Dugu Muxue. A silent moment was followed by a swift exchange of blows. During their brief fight, Dugu Muxue noticed a distinctive scar on Ning Xiang's arm. This made him freeze, realizing she was Rou, his childhood friend with whom he had practiced martial arts, remembering their playful arguments over who would protect whom. Ning Xiang, however, did not acknowledge him.
Perceiving a disadvantage, she fled, but was soon cornered by the Imperial Guards. Dugu Muxue, with his face obscured by a mask, bravely plunged into the fray, creating a diversion that allowed Ning Xiang to escape. During the skirmish, he was severely wounded in his right abdomen, bleeding profusely. The Imperial Guards tracked his blood trail, which led them to the walls of Shangyi School, causing a stir among the students who had never witnessed such a commotion.
While Tang Jiuhua, Yang Zian, and Li Xinyuan searched frantically for Shen Yiyi, she was in the bathhouse. Dugu Muxue, weakened by his injury, stumbled into the bathhouse, inadvertently seeing Shen Yiyi and realizing she was a woman disguised as a man. Meanwhile, Chief Song, finding no assassin during his initial search, stood with the students at the entrance, blocking the Imperial Guards and demanding they withdraw without a royal edict.
The Commander of the Imperial Guards soon returned, presenting His Majesty's edict, which compelled Chief Song and the others to grant them entry. The entire school was searched, but no assassin was found, except the student dormitories. Back in the dorm, Shen Yiyi, Tang Jiuhua, Yang Zian, and Li Xinyuan had found Dugu Muxue.
Dugu Muxue explained that Censor Tu had been assassinated, and the Imperial Guards mistakenly believed he was the culprit, injuring him as they pursued him to the school. Shen Yiyi observed the severity of Dugu Muxue's wound, realizing it needed immediate stitching to prevent a life-threatening situation. As the Imperial Guards approached the dorm, Dugu Muxue, feeling he was a burden, attempted to leave, but his friends stopped him. Tang Jiuhua prepared anesthetics and sterilized needle and thread.
Yang Zian and Li Xinyuan supported Dugu Muxue while Shen Yiyi, steadying herself, skillfully stitched and bandaged his wound. Dugu Muxue vowed to keep Shen Yiyi's secret of being a woman if he survived this ordeal, grateful for her trust. Seeing the Imperial Guards about to enter the students' dorm, Li Xinyuan stepped forward, revealing himself as the Second Prince to delay them.
However, Teaching Assistant Yang intervened, cautiously reminding the Commander that he possessed His Majesty’s edict and that the search should proceed to ensure the safety of the Prince and other students, implying that obstructing the search might displease His Majesty. The Imperial Guards then opened the door to find Yang Zian, Tang Jiuhua, Shen Yiyi, and Dugu Muxue pretending to be heavily intoxicated, with painted faces, gambling, and speaking gibberish.
Chief Song and the other professors were enraged by this unseemly display and stormed out. Teaching Assistant Yang, though internally frustrated, publicly scolded the four students, acknowledging Li Xinyuan's sacrifice in revealing his identity to cover for them, and issued a major offense and a deduction of fifty academic points to each. The assassin had not been apprehended. His Majesty ordered a city-wide manhunt.
Minister Han, feigning concern, offered to assist in the investigation, then returned to his mansion, curious about the masked person who had protected Ning Xiang earlier. The Shangyi School eventually returned to its usual lively atmosphere. However, everyone now knew Li Xinyuan was the Second Prince. They treated him with excessive deference and flattery, even Chief Song, which made Li Xinyuan quite uncomfortable.
When Shen Yiyi changed Dugu Muxue's dressing, he awkwardly asked Yang Zian to take over in the future. Shen Yiyi, suspecting her heavy hand might have caused him pain, was quickly reassured by Dugu Muxue that this was not the case. He sincerely thanked her, but Shen Yiyi told him to stop being so polite, asserting they were friends. Dugu Muxue, however, declared they were not just friends, but confidants for whom such immense kindness needed no words of gratitude.
Later that evening, Shen Yiyi found Tang Jiuhua, confiding that she suspected the Sinan pendant bore royal patterns and might be a royal item. She suggested asking Li Xinyuan for help, believing his royal status would make it easier to investigate. Tang Jiuhua deemed it unwise; while Li Xinyuan would undoubtedly help, the extent of the pendant's connection to the royal family was still unknown. For Shen Yiyi's safety, Tang Jiuhua believed fewer people should be aware.
Instead, he proposed they both strive to win first place at Shangyi School, which would grant them entry to the palace, allowing them to investigate personally. Shen Yiyi found this idea illuminating. Li Xinyuan continued to feel uneasy due to the sudden shift in how he was treated by his peers and even the Chief. He explained to Tang Jiuhua that the Crown Prince, being the Empress's legitimate firstborn, looked down upon him, the unfavored Second Prince.
Later, Li Xinyuan accidentally bumped into the Crown Prince, dropping a book. The Crown Prince, without a glance, simply told him to pick it up himself before walking away. Li Xinyuan reflected that in the royal family, power often superseded kinship. Tang Jiuhua jokingly warned Li Xinyuan about speaking ill of the royal family, then playfully fled when Li Xinyuan moved toward him.
