The Flame's Daughter Episode 33 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
Yin Xue returned to Flower Tasting Brothel, which was preparing for its reopening. Madam Hua expressed her gratitude to Yin Xue for his efforts and then requested him to play a zither song for the celebration. Yin Xue remarked that the last time he played was in Ping'an Town a year prior. Outside, Youqin Hong formally announced that the Flower Tasting Brothel would officially reopen on the fifteenth of the month.
He told the gathered crowd that the zither music they heard earlier was played by "Mr. Youqin" and explained his white hair as a result of his intense dedication to mastering the zither. Amidst the bustling crowd, Youqin Hong noticed Ying Yi and brought her to see Lie Ruge. At Flower Tasting Brothel, Lie Ruge questioned Ying Yi about why she wasn't in seclusion as instructed.
Ying Yi admitted she hadn't returned to Dark River Palace because she couldn't let go of Zhan Feng, and had been quietly watching him. She revealed that Zhan Feng had left Dark River Palace after hearing of Lie Ruge's supposed death. Instead of returning to Flaming Manor, he had come to Luoyang, where he spent his days drinking and gambling, rapidly depleting the money Lie Ruge had given her.
Ying Yi had come to Flower Tasting Brothel to ask Lie Ruge to see Zhan Feng. That night, Lie Ruge accompanied Ying Yi to a gambling den. Ying Yi explained that Zhan Feng was usually kicked out after losing all his money around this time. Soon, Zhan Feng stumbled out, clutching a wine bottle, completely inebriated. He mumbled Lie Ruge's name, crying out in anguish, blaming himself as a "useless" man who failed to protect his Junior Sister.
Lie Ruge watched the drunken, desolate man, the one she once deeply loved, now consumed by despair over her presumed death. In his blurry vision, Zhan Feng saw Lie Ruge, mistaking her for her spirit come to take him away. He crawled towards her, pleading with her not to abandon him, before collapsing into unconsciousness. Lie Ruge brought Zhan Feng back to Flower Tasting Brothel.
Yin Xue, observing Lie Ruge's distress, sat on the cold floor beside her, saying it helped him think less. He even offered her a sweet plantain herb soup, joking about "Powder Taken Cold" to lighten her mood. When Zhan Feng awoke, he was overjoyed to find Lie Ruge alive. Lie Ruge immediately confronted him, demanding to know why he killed her father, Lie Mingjing.
Zhan Feng remained silent, simply begging Lie Ruge to kill him quickly, stating that living was far more painful than dying. He made only one request: to have his body buried in the lotus pond at Flaming Manor. Lie Ruge raised her sword, her eyes red, recalling how much Lie Mingjing had loved Zhan Feng, yet Zhan Feng had been so cold-hearted. Yin Xue swiftly grabbed the blade, desperately stopping Lie Ruge.
He urged Ying Yi to take Zhan Feng away, insisting that Lie Mingjing would not want to see them kill each other. Lie Ruge resisted, but Yin Xue's words about her father's peace made her eventually yield, and she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Ying Yi led Zhan Feng away from Flower Tasting Brothel, telling him she would be back shortly with money and clothes. After Ying Yi departed, Yi Lang and his subordinates appeared and took Zhan Feng away.
After Zhan Feng's departure, Yin Xue gently comforted Lie Ruge, telling her not to hate him for letting Zhan Feng go and reminding her of the deep affection her father had for Zhan Feng. Lie Ruge, however, lamented that despite her father's love, Zhan Feng had hated him so much. Yin Xue's hand, cut from grabbing Lie Ruge's sword, continued to bleed, worrying Lie Ruge, but he playfully assured her it was fine.
Lie Ruge expressed her confusion about the current complex situation, mentioning Lei Jinghong and Ji Jinglei's disappearance, and Dark River Palace's re-emergence. She decided to send a letter to her senior brother, Yu Zihan, via Youqin Hong the next day to discuss their next steps. Meanwhile, Bi'er meticulously crafted an eye mask for Ji Jinglei. Feng Huang, observing Bi'er's care, probed her feelings for Ji Jinglei.
She questioned why Bi'er, with her martial arts skills and affections, didn't simply abduct Ji Jinglei and live a secluded, idyllic life rather than watch him suffer for another woman. Bi'er retorted by asking if Feng Huang harbored similar thoughts about Lei Jinghong. Unbeknownst to the two women, Lei Jinghong and Ji Jinglei were listening from outside the room. Later, Lei Jinghong approached Feng Huang, offering to fulfill any wish of hers, apart from marriage.
Feng Huang scoffed, declaring that as a "king among birds," she would only marry royalty or nobility, and told Lei Jinghong that if he truly wished to repay her, he should focus on rebuilding the Thunderbolt Clique, where she intended to be the second-in-command. Lei Jinghong was both happy and moved by her words. Suddenly, loud gongs announced the complete victory in the war against the Japanese pirates in the South Sea. Bi'er confirmed the good news.
Lei Jinghong was greatly pleased and decided they should travel to Luoyang the next day to meet Yu Zihan before formulating a plan. He instructed Feng Huang to clear their current location to leave no traces. By the sea, Yu Zihan sat in his wheelchair, gazing at the rolling waves, lost in thought.
After a moment, to Xuan Huang's shock and profound joy, he slowly removed his shoes and socks and, for the first time in his life, stood up from his wheelchair. Yu Zihan felt the sand beneath his bare feet, marveling at the sensation of being able to walk and go wherever he pleased. He then walked into the gentle waves, wanting to feel the ocean embrace his feet.
Rumors spread that Yu Zihan's legs had miraculously healed as a divine reward for his victory against the Japanese pirates, a testament to his benevolent actions. However, in truth, An Ye Luo had temporarily restored Yu Zihan's health to give him a taste of being a healthy man, intending to make him consider his terms before responding. Back at the military camp, Huang Cong rushed in like a bird, crying tears of joy upon seeing Yu Zihan standing.
She delivered a letter from Youqin Hong, conveying Lie Ruge's invitation for Yu Zihan to meet her at Flower Tasting Brothel. Yu Zihan, having read the letter, instructed Huang Cong to find a craftsman to create a beautiful wind chime for him, a request Huang Cong understood was for Lie Ruge, and she promptly left to fulfill it. Yu Zihan walked out of his tent, and soldiers immediately knelt to congratulate him on the recovery of his legs.
He then met with the captured Japanese pirate leader, inquiring about any royal involvement in the Japanese pirate war. Yu Zihan promised to ensure the leader's ashes were returned to his homeland if he confessed everything truthfully to the Emperor. Meanwhile, Prince Jingxiang was enraged upon hearing of Yu Zihan's victorious return. Fearing Yu Zihan's newfound strength and popularity, he ordered Minister Liu Shangshu to kill all the Japanese war prisoners without exception.
At Flower Tasting Brothel, Madam Hua informed Yin Xue about Dark River Palace's vast expansion. She noted that during the past year when their brothel was closed, two other brothels in Luoyang City, both owned by Dark River Palace, had taken in their former clientele. Madam Hua further revealed that Dark River Palace's enterprises now spanned across eight northern provinces, encompassing banks, restaurants, brothels, salt farms, pharmacies, and even escort services, demonstrating a financial power far exceeding their previous estimations.
Yin Xue then stated that An Ye Luo's ambition had always extended beyond the martial arts world, reaching into the Imperial court. He revealed that Prince Jingxiang had been colluding with An Ye Luo for many years, and the court was already riddled with An Ye Luo's spies. Yin Xue concluded that it was only a matter of time before An Ye Luo would seek out Yu Zihan.
Filled with anticipation, Yu Zihan, accompanied by Xuan Huang and Huang Cong, rode swiftly towards Flower Tasting Brothel in Luoyang. Xuan Huang noticed Yu Zihan's unusual anxiety, which she attributed to a lover's apprehension before a reunion after a life-and-death separation. Along the way, people in the streets and at Flower Tasting Brothel expressed amazement at seeing Prince Yu Zihan, who was widely known to be paralyzed, now walking. Madam Hua personally guided Yu Zihan to Lie Ruge.
Upon seeing him, Lie Ruge joyfully ran towards Yu Zihan and embraced him tightly. Yu Zihan then asked her if she had made a decision about marrying him. Lie Ruge, however, confessed that she and Yin Xue had already made a pact to withdraw from the martial arts world once the affairs of Flaming Manor were settled.
She explained that she hadn't told him before he left for battle because she wanted him to have something to look forward to, but she could no longer hide the truth from him now, effectively stating that they could not marry.
