The Chang'an Youth Episode 6 Recap
> The Chang'an Youth Recap
The lacrosse match between Shangyi School and Imperial College began with intense rivalry. Yang Zixu had secretly conspired with Imperial College students, aiming to undermine the confidence of Yang Zian and Shen Dieyi. Throughout the game, Imperial College players deliberately targeted Yang Zian and Shen Dieyi. Shen Dieyi, after an aggressive play from Imperial College, fell and was injured. Yang Zian urged her to be careful and avoid direct confrontations.
Despite the tough competition, Shangyi School persevered, with scores tied at three-all as time dwindled. Ultimately, Shangyi School secured a hard-won victory. Amidst the jubilant celebrations, Shen Dieyi collapsed, her leg heavily bleeding, her pants stuck to the wound. When the medic attempted to cut her pants for treatment, both Shen Dieyi and Tang Jiuhua vehemently refused. The medic noted significant bleeding from her thigh, admitting he was unable to proceed.
Shen Dieyi whispered to Tang Jiuhua, who immediately concocted a story about knowing an "exotic doctor" possessing a secret ancestral styptic requiring privacy during application, insisting everyone leave the room. Soon after, Li Xinyuan, carrying palace secret hemostatic medicine, arrived at Shen Dieyi's room. He overheard Shen Dieyi and Tang Jiuhua discussing her menstrual period and how she had almost been discovered as a girl during the match.
Realizing Shen Dieyi was a woman disguised as a man, Li Xinyuan was deeply shocked and unsure how to act. He confided in Dugu Muxue, asking for advice on how to react to a friend who turned out to be different than perceived. Dugu Muxue wisely stated that everyone has their secrets and that a person being different from one's imagination is not their fault.
Li Xinyuan, who had always admired Shen Dieyi's upright and straightforward character, found clarity and, now aware of her true gender, felt a growing affection for her, vowing to protect her. Han Yu'er, having learned of Shen Dieyi's serious injury in the lacrosse match, secretly came to visit her by scaling the school wall. She confessed her feelings in a letter and offered to apply medicine.
Shen Dieyi, desperate to protect her identity, rejected Han Yu'er, claiming she already had a crush on someone else. She dramatically pointed to Yang Zian, declaring her love for him and stating she could not accept anyone else, even if their relationship was "doomed love." A heartbroken Han Yu'er cried and left.
Shen Dieyi then quickly explained to her friends, Tang Jiuhua and Li Xinyuan, that Han Yu'er was "pestering" her, and she had no choice but to use such a ploy. Tang Jiuhua, clearly upset, questioned why she didn't choose him as a shield instead, emphasizing their close relationship and that he should have been her choice. Consequently, other students, misunderstanding the situation, began to gossip and mistakenly believed Shen Dieyi was homosexual.
The news of Shen Dieyi's public declaration of love for Yang Zian spread rapidly throughout Shangyi School, with students openly gossiping about her and even avoiding her. Feeling guilty for the rumors and fearing she was implicating Yang Zian, Shen Dieyi offered to withdraw from school. Yang Zian, still unaware of her true gender, encouraged her to face the difficulties, asserting, "What we used to be will be what we are now. From now on, nothing will change."
He grappled with his own confusing feelings for "Shen Dieyi," wondering if his thoughts were inappropriate for a fellow male student. Meanwhile, Li Xinyuan, playing chess with a distracted Yang Zian, reaffirmed his internal vow to protect Dieyi, now knowing she was a girl. Later, Shen Dieyi, along with Dugu Muxue and Li Xinyuan, discussed her plan to open a restaurant.
She proposed they collaborate to create a unique blend of wine, humorously suggesting they name themselves the "Team of Three Drunkards." Despite Li Xinyuan's initial reservations about the name being unrefined, he ultimately agreed to join, inspired by Shen Dieyi's free spirit. During roll call, Dr. Wu noticed Shen Dieyi's absence. Tang Jiuhua, Li Xinyuan, and Dugu Muxue attempted to cover for her, but Dr. Wu saw through their deception.
Other students murmured about Yang Zian's apparent absence and Dr. Wu's perceived favoritism. Meanwhile, Shen Dieyi, having skipped class to discuss her wine business with a stall-keeper, learned that the curfew time had been extended due to new laws. She then spotted Yang Zian also at the market, talking to stall-keepers. She realized he was there for similar reasons, checking on the welfare of the common people.
Yang Zian, in turn, expressed his concern for the stall-keepers, noting how "cold, rigid laws" couldn't solve all problems and that "people have feelings." He shared his belief that mutual help and care were crucial. As they discussed the importance of facing challenges bravely and helping others, Shen Dieyi's heart began to beat faster. Upon their return to school through a back entrance, thinking they had evaded detection, Dr. Wu intercepted Shen Dieyi and Yang Zian.
Dr. Wu announced the penalties: a 20-credit deduction for Shen Dieyi for truancy and a 10-credit deduction each for Tang Jiuhua, Li Xinyuan, and Dugu Muxue for their attempts to cover it up. Tang Jiuhua argued that Yang Zian was also absent but unpunished, accusing Dr. Wu of partiality.
Dr. Wu explained that Yang Zian had obtained prior leave to present a political essay, which led to the emperor's approval of new laws, including the extended curfew and the establishment of local fairs. Yang Zian, in a move to protect Shen Dieyi, revealed that he had met her at the market, where she was also inquiring about the curfew.
He suggested that since their purpose was similar, their punishment should be the same, even offering to have his own credits deducted. After confirming with Shen Dieyi that she was indeed at the market for similar reasons, Dr. Wu, taking into account the practical application of their studies, decided to let them off without any credit deductions, stating that their merits offset their faults. Shen Dieyi, surprisingly, appeared disappointed by this outcome.
Observing Shen Dieyi's reaction and her continued closeness with Yang Zian, Tang Jiuhua was annoyed and accused her of having "made peace" with Yang Zian. Reiterating his feelings for her, he said, "After all, you are my future wife," before she dismissed him, saying she didn't want to talk to him anymore. Learning of these events, Yang Zixu, determined to assert his authority and exact revenge, summoned the "Five Scholars of Shangyi School" to Wenxuan Hall.
Yang Zian protested, pointing out that Dr. Wu had already passed judgment. Yang Zixu countered that Dr. Wu's decision was academic, while his own authority as Teaching Assistant encompassed student discipline. He accused Yang Zian and Shen Dieyi of truancy and the others as accomplices. When Yang Zian accused him of abusing his power, Yang Zixu, unabashed, brought up past incidents such as the pornographic picture in Yang Zian's poetry and the sneezing sachet, hinting at his involvement.
He openly threatened Yang Zian, demanding he "shrink back from difficulties and get out of Shangyi School" to avoid shaming the Yang family. Shen Dieyi defiantly challenged him to provide proof. In response to their defiance, Yang Zixu assigned Tang Jiuhua, Dugu Muxue, and Li Xinyuan to copy the "Students' Rules" ten times, and increased the punishment for Yang Zian and Shen Dieyi to twenty copies.
When Shen Dieyi talked back, Yang Zixu further punished her by ordering her to kneel and hold a water bucket for one hour, while Yang Zian was given half an hour. Yang Zian, suppressing his friends' urge to protest, advised them to accept the punishment gracefully to avoid giving Yang Zixu further ammunition. Yang Zixu watched gleefully as attendants added more water to their buckets, prolonging their suffering.
