The Flame's Daughter Episode 24 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
Yu Zihan returned to Flaming Manor, expressing his deep sorrow for Lie Mingjing’s passing and his own delayed arrival due to his duties as commander-in-chief against the Japanese pirates. He told Lie Ruge that her master had doted on her most, and seeing her unwell would cause him more sadness. Yu Zihan urged her to recover quickly for her master’s peace. Lie Ruge then confessed she was not truly sick, but only pretending to investigate her father’s mysterious death.
She clarified that while Zhan Feng attributed her father's death to Lei Jinghong, she did not believe Lei Jinghong was involved. She reasoned that while Lei Jinghong and his Thunderbolt Clique had grown powerful, and his late father might have harbored ambitions against Flaming Manor, with his own sect's power fractured, he would not be foolish enough to openly provoke Flaming Manor.
Lie Ruge further revealed that Ying Yi had told her An Ye Luo manipulated Zhan Feng into believing Lie Mingjing was responsible for his parents' deaths. This fabrication, she explained, caused Zhan Feng's intense hatred for her father and led to his desire to break their engagement. Yu Zihan expressed concern that if Zhan Feng was truly behind her father's death, Lie Ruge's situation in Flaming Manor was precarious.
He offered to take her back to the military camp, stressing the dangers and the internal complexities of the sect. Lie Ruge insisted on staying to uncover the truth, refusing to leave before the matter was resolved. Understanding her determination, Yu Zihan did not force her but arranged for Huang Cong, a government official from Prince Jingyuan's manor, to remain as her protector, believing Zhan Feng would not dare harm someone with such backing.
Yu Zihan then prepared to pay his respects to Lie Mingjing one last time before swiftly returning to the South Sea campaign, explaining that enemies at court were looking for any excuse to fault him. Meanwhile, Ji Jinglei learned from Bi'er that various martial arts sects, under Zhan Feng's command, had declared war on the Thunderbolt Clique, vowing to eliminate Lei Jinghong.
Ji Jinglei, unconvinced of Lei Jinghong's guilt, was surprised to hear of Yu Zihan's return and quickly went to see him. At Lie Mingjing's memorial tablet, a solemn atmosphere prevailed. Yu Zihan, deeply saddened by the sight of the ashes, was joined by Zhan Feng and Ji Jinglei. Yi Lang attempted to curry favor with Yu Zihan, who pointedly ignored both him and Zhan Feng, instead entrusting Ji Jinglei with the protection of Lie Ruge and the sect.
Zhan Feng returned to the Maple Courtyard to find Dao Liexiang waiting for him. She confronted him, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign to blame Lei Jinghong for the recent evils. Zhan Feng coldly dismissed her, reminding her that her elder brother, Dao Wuxia, was the true mastermind behind the Snap Thunder Village incident, making her an accomplice for her silence.
In frustration, Dao Liexiang vented her anger by wildly swinging her long saber amidst the fiery red maple leaves, lamenting her brother's actions. On the seventh day after Lie Mingjing's death, Zhan Feng was seen burning paper offerings for his master in the practice room. Later, Ji Jinglei and Lie Ruge accompanied Yu Zihan for his departure. Yu Zihan reminded them it was Mid-Autumn Festival and presented them with palace-made mooncakes he had specially acquired from Luoyang.
Before leaving, Yu Zihan confessed that Lie Mingjing had entrusted Lie Ruge's care to him, and had wished for them to marry upon his victorious return from fighting the Japanese pirates. Lie Ruge began to express that she had always seen him as a brother, but Yu Zihan gently interrupted, smiling, and asked her to consider his proposal during his absence. He departed, urging her to take good care of herself.
Ji Jinglei reassured Lie Ruge that she could always count on him for support. Back at Flaming Manor, Zhan Feng confronted Ji Jinglei, ordering him to lead the vanguard in the pursuit of Lei Jinghong. Ji Jinglei refused, accusing Zhan Feng of trying to isolate Lie Ruge by sending him away. Lie Ruge arrived, intervening in the heated exchange.
She urged Ji Jinglei to accept the mission, explaining that he could use the official duty as a pretext to meet Lei Jinghong and arrange a secret meeting with her. This, she believed, would allow her to gather evidence to prove the Thunderbolt Clique's innocence and ultimately uncover the true cause of her father's death.
Ji Jinglei worried that Lei Jinghong would not readily endanger himself to meet with him, but Lie Ruge assured him she would devise a way to secure the meeting. In the Plum Courtyard, Lie Ruge discussed with Die Yi and Xun Yi how to gain Lei Jinghong's trust. Die Yi drew the Thunderbolt Clique's distinctive symbol on a piece of paper, instructing Lie Ruge to give it to Ji Jinglei, as Lei Jinghong would undoubtedly trust him upon seeing it.
The night before Ji Jinglei's departure, Bi'er revealed her true identity as Bi Haiqiu, the Third Hall Leader of the Azure Dragon Hall. She explained that she was secretly appointed by the late Old Sect Leader to protect Ji Jinglei and prevent the Azure Dragon Hall from falling into the wrong hands. She also revealed her ability to remove Yi Lang from his current position as Hall Leader. Delighted by this revelation, Ji Jinglei accepted her as a traveling companion.
The following morning, Zhan Feng watched as Ji Jinglei and his company departed, reiterating his order for Ji Jinglei to lead the mission against Lei Jinghong, despite Lie Ruge's feigned illness preventing her from seeing them off. Observing Lie Ruge's prolonged "illness," Zhan Feng took a new, more involved approach to her care. He dismissed the current doctor, arranged for a new one, and personally began preparing her medicine.
In the Maple Courtyard, with vibrant maple leaves surrounding him, Zhan Feng patiently fanned the medicine stove, seemingly oblivious to the heat. Dao Liexiang, passing by, noticed the medicinal aroma and Zhan Feng's meticulous, sweat-drenched efforts, finding him a peculiar individual. Lie Ruge, meanwhile, continued her pretense of illness, cautiously avoiding drinking the medicine Zhan Feng prepared, despite his thoughtful addition of her favorite winter green plums to counter the bitterness.
She reassured her attendants that she would discard the medicine when no one was watching. Yi Lang, observing Zhan Feng's attentiveness towards Lie Ruge, subtly mocked him, suggesting his actions were a clever way to gain popular support and quell rumors of discord within the sect. He then subtly accused Zhan Feng of involvement in Lie Ruge's "illness," reminding him of Lie Mingjing's fate. Zhan Feng reacted with a resolute silence.
Separately, Yu Qinhong desperately used his internal energy to extract the cold poison from Yin Xue, slowly depleting his own essence and causing his hair to turn white. As the Double Ninth Festival approached, Xun Yi decorated the doorframe with medicinal cornels. Lie Ruge, lost in thought of Yin Xue, decided to visit the Pear Courtyard alone. She recalled her childhood, when the Pear Courtyard, with its legendary pear blossoms blooming year-round, was a forbidden yet fascinating place.
Now, barely two months after Lie Mingjing's death, the once flourishing courtyard was desolate. There, she encountered Dao Liexiang, who expressed concern for her health. Lie Ruge admitted she was merely feigning illness, thanking Dao Liexiang for previously informing her of Yu Zihan's cold spell.
Dao Liexiang lamented the fleeting nature of life, reminiscing about her carefree past in World Swordless City and even her audacious attempt to "buy" Yin Xue at the Flower Tasting Brothel, an act she now found laughable. Lie Ruge then pressed Dao Liexiang for the truth about the Snap Thunder Village incident, emphasizing her promise to clear the victims' names. Dao Liexiang solemnly replied that with no one left from Snap Thunder Village, the truth no longer seemed to matter.
