The Double Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> The Double Recap
Xiao Heng found himself surrounded by the Longwu Army beneath the city tower. From atop the city wall, Shen Yurong commanded his archers to prepare, taunting Xiao Heng about being abandoned. Just then, Xue Fangfei rode in, declaring that she would not abandon Xiao Heng and was ready to die for Yan alongside him. She even told Shen Yurong he could kill her once more.
Shen Yurong, confused, expressed his resentment towards the powerful who had crushed them, arguing that their sacrifice for Yan would be meaningless and forgotten. He implored Xue Fangfei to kill Xiao Heng so they could return to their old life together. Xue Fangfei, however, was resolute. She refuted Shen Yurong, stating that someone would remember their sacrifices.
She loudly recounted the names of the one hundred Longwu Army soldiers who had perished in Wang City, exposing Lord Cheng's crime of abandoning the people and subsequently sacrificing the soldiers to cover it up. As Xue Fangfei called out names like Xiao Minghan, Peng Guang, Zhao Decheng, Huang Junchu, Li Licheng, and Qian Ziming, the Longwu Army soldiers present, many of whom had lost comrades and kin, were deeply moved.
Shen Yurong, unwilling to hear more, ordered his archers to prepare for battle. At that critical moment, Situ Jiuyue arrived with reinforcements from Zhao Country. Shen Yurong, brandishing the fish talisman, ordered Yang Qing to engage, threatening death for disobedience. He tried to manipulate Xiao Heng, pointing out that some Longwu soldiers were once led by Xiao Heng's father and that the Zhao Country army were his allies, questioning if Xiao Heng would truly let them fight each other.
Shen Yurong gloated that despite Xiao Heng's past triumphs, he could now protect no one. Unflinchingly, Xue Fangfei aimed her bow and shot two arrows, striking Shen Yurong’s hand and causing him to drop the fish talisman. Situ Jiuyue swiftly retrieved it and tossed it to Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng, now in possession of the fish talisman, took command of the Longwu Army, ordering them to fight their way back to the capital to avenge his father and the fallen soldiers. He instructed Situ Jiuyue to manage the rebels outside the city. Xue Fangfei told Xiao Heng that she would await his return. Meanwhile, Shen Yurong painfully pulled the arrows from his hand.
Xue Fangfei confronted him, stating that their love and hatred were long gone, and she only wished to see justice served by the law of Yan. Shen Yurong, remorseful, wished he had never pursued fame, believing a simpler life with Xue Fangfei in Huaixiang would have spared them their suffering. Xue Fangfei, looking at the moon, wished him a wealthy birth in his next life and to be a truly good person.
After her departure, Shen Yurong played a familiar tune on the city wall, then tragically leaped to his death, his blurred vision fixed on Xue Fangfei's receding figure. Xiao Heng led the Longwu Army to confront Lord Cheng. Lord Cheng attempted to use Consort Li as a human shield, reminding Xiao Heng that she was Emperor Hongxiao's favorite.
Consort Li, however, chose to sacrifice herself, impaling herself on Lord Cheng's sword to protect a secret about a palace maid from the Emperor. Enraged and capitalizing on Lord Cheng's shock, Xiao Heng swiftly struck him down, exacting revenge for his father and the innocent soldiers. In the aftermath, Lord Cheng's remaining loyalists in the north staged a rebellion. The imperial court dispatched Xiao Heng to suppress them.
Li Zhongnan and Li Jin were executed for treason, and Shen Yurong's property was confiscated, leading to the arrest of his mother and sister, Shen Ruyun. Jiang Yunxing and Yang were expelled from the Jiang family. The capital finally regained its peace. Emperor Hongxiao, upon hearing Consort Li's dying wish, was deeply moved. Xiao Heng was scheduled to depart for the northern campaign in three days.
The Emperor offered substantial forces, but Xiao Heng, wary of Lord Cheng's lingering influence in the capital, chose to lead only the Longwu Army, vowing to match his father's valor. Xue Huaiyuan's health significantly improved, and he regained full memory, recognizing everyone. Xue Fangfei was overjoyed. Xue Huaiyuan expressed his approval of Xiao Heng and supported Xue Fangfei’s path forward.
Xue Fangfei then subtly confessed her love to Xiao Heng, hinting that he should renovate his residence, implying she wished to build a future there with him. Xiao Heng, ecstatic, spent the entire day smiling. Later, they visited Jiang Li's grave. Xue Fangfei envisioned Jiang Li's spirit, who thanked her for vindicating her name. Xue Fangfei and Xiao Heng married. On their wedding night, Xue Fangfei presented him with the civet cat jade pendant.
After their marriage, they planted a wintersweet tree together. Xiao Heng promised that his triumphant return would coincide with the tree's first blossoms. Xue Fangfei, with a heavy heart, watched him depart for the northern front. Jiang Yunbai resigned from his post and moved his family to Yongzhou. Before leaving, he expressed his concern for Xue Fangfei. She assured him she would wait for Xiao Heng at the Duke's Residence, vowing to remain a widow if he did not return.
Xue Fangfei also confided her true identity to Jiang Yunbai, who revealed he had already known. While it brought him sorrow, knowing that Jiang Li had passed peacefully brought him some comfort. He asked Xue Fangfei to keep this secret, fearing it would be too much for his elderly mother to bear. After the Jiang family left, Ye Shijie offered his support to Xue Fangfei, embracing her as his sister.
Day after day, through the changing seasons, Xue Fangfei meticulously watered the wintersweet tree, patiently awaiting Xiao Heng's return. In the north, Xiao Heng valiantly fought Lord Cheng's remnants, but the Dai Country army launched a full-scale invasion. The Longwu Army suffered devastating losses; Lu Ji and Wen Ji were killed, leaving Xiao Heng alone against a relentless enemy. On the battlefield, with the jade pendant in his mouth, Xiao Heng stared defiantly at the sky, his resolve unwavering.
Finally, the wintersweet tree blossomed. Xue Fangfei, dressed in red, stood beneath its branches. The sound of a galloping horse drew her attention, and she turned to see a man in red, wearing the familiar civet cat jade pendant, riding towards her, fulfilling Xiao Heng's promise of a triumphant return.
