The Flame's Daughter Episode 1 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
At the perilous peak of Kunlun Mountain, amidst swirling snow, Yin Xue, renowned as the world's most beautiful and a master of the zither, carried a severely wounded Lie Ruge, the heir to Flaming Manor and daughter of the martial arts alliance leader. Despite his own past betrayal and expulsion from the Ethereality academy, he brought her there, desperately begging his Teacher to save her life.
He offered to kneel for ten years at the Summit of Ethereality, pleading for his Teacher's help. However, his Teacher emerged from the healing cave to deliver the devastating news: Lie Ruge was dead. Before she passed, she left a message for Yin Xue, urging him to abandon diabolism and return to cultivating Ethereal Immortality. Deeply affected by her last words, Yin Xue requested to rejoin the academy.
His Teacher warned him of the immense sacrifice required: one hundred years of extreme cold to transform his body, to let ice become his bones and snow become his flesh, the disposal of all his martial arts skills, and the possibility of suffering Heaven's retribution if he continued to harbor earthly feelings, despite even then, he might not be able to control fate. Yin Xue, undeterred, declared himself willing to endure all the pain.
Meanwhile, in the bustling capital of Luoyang, Lie Ruge arrived at the renowned Flower Tasting Brothel. She found it to be an elegant and disciplined establishment, distinct from common brothels, with its bamboo railings, flowing curtains, and antique incense burners. The women there were dedicated to various arts, from painting to tea ceremony. During the selection process for new maids, Madam Hua, the brothel's proprietor, questioned the applicants about their intentions. Many shared tales of poverty and hardship.
When Madam Hua turned to Lie Ruge, noticing her unblemished appearance, pure eyes, and innocent charm that showed no sign of hardship, she asked about her purpose. Lie Ruge, with a radiant smile, explained that she came out of reverence for the brothel’s world-renowned reputation and a desire to learn from its success in Jianghu over the past ten years.
She then impressed Madam Hua by demonstrating her keen knowledge of tea and chinaware, accurately identifying a Jianyao chinaware tea set's origin and the characteristics of Yacca tea leaves harvested before the third month's rain, as well as the rare Agrimony of early spring. Madam Hua, pleased, accepted her and gave her the new name "Ge'er." Ge'er then intervened for a crying girl named Xiang'er, who was heartbroken and penniless after her mother's death.
Ge'er argued that Xiang'er was both pretty and loyal, and her mood would improve once her mother was buried. Madam Hua relented and accepted Xiang'er as well, assigning Ge'er to Feng Huang and Xiang'er to Feng Xixi. Ge'er, in a selfless act, gave her own "selling-self" money to Xiang'er so she could properly bury her mother. However, Feng Xixi, disliking Xiang'er's tear-stained face, quickly arranged to swap maids with Feng Huang, taking Ge'er for herself.
Back in Feng Xixi's room, she confessed her ambition: to enter the top three of the "Stunning Beauty Roll" next month. To achieve this, Ge'er was tasked with helping her win the favor of Dao Wuxia, the Young Master of World Swordless City. Ge'er accepted the challenge, stating she would help as long as no harm was involved. When Feng Xixi asked why she was trying so hard to help, Ge'er simply replied, "Because. . . you're pretty!"
To gather intelligence on Dao Wuxia, Ge'er sent a carrier pigeon to her Senior Brother, Yu Zihan, Prince of Jingyuan. Yu Zihan, an imperial prince known for his gentle and refined character, a smile as clear as distant mountains, and his perpetually kind, calm, and wise demeanor (though smiling, he was awe-inspiring without anger), was deaf and unable to walk due to a past palace struggle.
He soon replied, describing Dao Wuxia as outwardly modest and polite, often considered upright, but warned Ge'er to be cautious as this was only on the surface. His true weakness, Yu Zihan revealed, was his extreme concern for reputation, and his hobby was women, having already accumulated seventeen wives. Upon learning that Dao Wuxia would be visiting the Flower Tasting Brothel in Luoyang, Yu Zihan decided to travel there himself, both to find Ge'er and to meet Dao Wuxia.
Later, Ge'er wandered into the brothel's backyard and heard the exquisite zither playing of Youqin Hong. She devised a plan for him to accompany Feng Xixi's performance, believing this unique accompaniment would elevate Feng Xixi's elegance and ensure her success. When she approached Youqin Hong, he initially refused her request for a performance. Undeterred, Ge'er played a piece called "A Homesick Traveler's Dream" on a seven-string zither outside his door, a piece believed to have been lost for centuries.
This intrigued Youqin Hong, and Ge'er offered him the priceless music score in exchange for his accompaniment of Feng Xixi. Understanding the importance of this to Ge'er, Youqin Hong eventually agreed.
On the first day of the month, Dao Wuxia, the esteemed Young Master of World Swordless City, a top-tier martial artist, and a man of unblemished reputation, arrived at the Flower Tasting Brothel, accompanied by his younger brother Dao Wuhen and his spirited younger sister Dao Liexiang, the only daughter of the World Swordless City Lord, who, despite being a pampered princess, possessed a brave and heroic aura rather than delicate femininity.
Madam Hua announced the evening's rules, where ladies would perform in a random order to win the guests' favor. Feng Huang was the first to perform a graceful dance. To give Feng Xixi an advantage, Ge'er subtly tossed a small glass marble, causing Feng Huang to slip. Dao Wuxia, ever concerned with appearances, quickly caught her.
Dao Liexiang, observing the scene, accused Feng Huang of feigning the fall, leading to a heated exchange with Feng Huang, who also spoke without restraint. Suddenly, Xuan Huang, a guard from Flaming Manor, intervened, stopping Dao Liexiang. To Ge'er’s surprise, her Senior Brother, Yu Zihan, was also present, having arrived earlier to observe, accompanied by Xuan Huang and Huang Cong, who also served the Prince.
The crowd recognized Yu Zihan as the Prince of Jingyuan, noting his condition as deaf and mute. Dao Wuxia respectfully greeted Yu Zihan, who gracefully urged Dao Liexiang to exercise restraint. Feng Huang then continued her performance, attempting a dangerous whip trick using Xiang'er as a human target, placing a candle on her head to be extinguished by the whip's gust.
The audience gasped in concern at the cruelty, but Feng Huang arrogantly retorted that since Xiang'er was her maid, there was no need for pity. Just as Feng Huang was about to strike, Dao Wuxia interrupted, announcing his intention to buy Xiang'er. The declaration stunned everyone, as the acclaimed young master chose an unassuming maid over the brothel's most alluring beauties. Witnessing this unexpected turn of events, Youqin Hong silently rose and left, his zither in hand.
In a lush bamboo forest, a white-robed man played the zither, his white attire as pure as snow, his aura exceptionally refined. A group of assassins descended from above, but the man, channeling his inner energy into willow leaves, swiftly defeated them all.
