The Flame's Daughter Episode 44 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
Lei Jinghong, on his journey back to Jiangnan, encountered An Ye Jue before smoothly encountering a detachment from World Swordless City. The guards informed him that their Third Miss, Dao Liexiang, had ordered them to spare his life. They declared that past grudges between World Swordless City and the Thunderbolt Clique of Jiangnan were now settled, and they no longer owed each other anything.
Lei Jinghong, however, was only concerned about his wife, asking the guards about her whereabouts, but they offered no response. Back in World Swordless City, Dao Liexiang had placed heavy guard around Madam Xiang, who was heavily pregnant and close to childbirth. Madam Xiang apologized to Dao Liexiang, acknowledging her low status among the former City Leader's concubines.
Dao Liexiang, addressing her as "Sister-in-law," assured her that the child was innocent and would be the next City Leader, regardless of gender, and she would temporarily manage affairs for them. Dao Liexiang expressed her regret, feeling she owed Madam Xiang and her unborn child the most, especially since the child would be born without a father.
Madam Xiang revealed her sorrowful past, how her family perished at the hands of Japanese pirates, and how she knew the previous City Leader had conspired with them. Dao Liexiang gently told her to put aside sad thoughts for the sake of the child. After settling the household affairs, Dao Liexiang retreated to her room.
The sight of the red wedding bed adorned with fruits for good fortune brought back a flood of painful memories: her brother's death and Lei Jinghong's presence at her wedding. Overwhelmed by grief, she tore apart the wedding comforter, scattering the auspicious fruits. Beneath it, she found a letter from Lei Jinghong. In the letter, he expressed his deep remorse for the pain he caused her.
He explained that his actions were for the greater good, to combat the vast and dark forces of Dark River Palace, without which the common people would never know peace. He vowed that once Dark River Palace was annihilated, he would return to World Swordless City, bearing his blade, and kneel before her to let her take his life. Lei Jinghong finally arrived back in Jiangnan, where he was greeted by the elders of the Thunderbolt Clique.
Feng Huang questioned why he had abandoned Dao Liexiang during her most difficult time. Lei Jinghong explained that he had received secret orders from Lie Ruge. With a potential spy from Dark River Palace hidden within Flaming Manor, Lie Ruge had entrusted him with the Flaming Manor token. His mission was to recruit forces in Jiangnan under Flaming Manor’s name and, at a critical moment, use the token to help Flaming Manor eradicate the remnants of Dark River Palace.
He elaborated that Flaming Manor's Hall Leaders were under An Ye Luo's close surveillance, making covert operations impossible for them. As an outsider, Lei Jinghong was the most suitable choice. Meanwhile, in Dark River Palace, An Ye Jue was in despair over Lei Jinghong's escape. Xunyi, observing her distress, suggested blaming the woman they encountered in the woods. An Ye Jue angrily silenced her, forbidding any mention of that woman to An Ye Luo.
She instructed Xunyi to flee if An Ye Luo were to kill her. Shortly after, An Ye Jue was summoned by An Ye Luo. An Ye Luo, furious, demanded Lei Jinghong’s head. An Ye Jue falsely claimed that Yin Xue had saved Lei Jinghong. Disbelieving her, An Ye Luo began to choke her. Just then, Xunyi rushed in, asserting that Lei Jinghong’s escape was due to an old acquaintance they met.
An Ye Luo, shocked by this revelation, demanded further explanation. Xunyi recounted how An Ye Jue had become panicking upon seeing a woman in red in the forest, losing her advantage and retreating hastily. Xunyi then admitted to secretly following the woman, overhearing Yin Xue call her "Madam Zhan."
Given that only Dao Liexiang and the supposedly deceased An Ye Ming held the title of "Madam Zhan" in Flaming Manor, Xunyi concluded that the woman could only be An Ye Ming. An Ye Luo was stunned, realizing An Ye Ming might still be alive. Consumed by a desperate hope, An Ye Luo immediately took Zhan Feng to Ping'an Town, where An Ye Ming was believed to have first fled.
Xunyi tried to warn him that it was a trap, but An Ye Luo furiously dismissed her, certain that only An Ye Ming could truly harm him. Upon finding no trace of An Ye Ming in Ping'an Town, An Ye Luo became enraged, ordering his men to search every inch of land from there to Flaming Manor and Luoyang, or any place Yin Xue might have visited.
He declared that if An Ye Ming was not found, he would attack Flaming Manor. Zhan Feng, aware that this was a ruse, feigned concern for his mother's safety. He urged An Ye Luo to reconsider attacking Flaming Manor, arguing it would undo Dark River Palace's recent efforts to shed its evil reputation. An Ye Luo remained defiant, stating he cared nothing for reputation.
He reminded Zhan Feng of the Lie family's debt to his mother and insisted it must be paid. Zhan Feng then conceded, saying he didn't want Lie Ruge to be harmed. An Ye Luo assured him that Lie Ruge would still be his even if Flaming Manor fell.
As An Ye Luo left, Zhan Feng discreetly sent a message to Zhongli Wulei, instructing him to secure Flaming Manor's gates and protect Yu Zihan (referred to as Young Master Ji by the messenger). To deepen An Ye Luo’s delusion and fully convince him that An Ye Ming was alive, Yin Xue and Lie Ruge staged a dramatic escape to Luoyang, making it appear very realistic.
Yin Xue explained to Lie Ruge that by exposing An Ye Luo's true nature, they could undermine his attempts to gain public support. Lie Ruge, fearing she was bringing calamity wherever she went, expressed her concern, but Yin Xue reassured her. While in Luoyang, Lie Ruge secretly met Yu Zihan at Flower Tasting Brothel. She updated him on Lei Jinghong's success in exposing the conspiracies between World Swordless City and Dark River Palace to the various sects.
She then informed him that An Ye Luo now believed An Ye Ming was alive, and their next move was to lure An Ye Luo into their trap. Soon after, An Ye Luo and Zhan Feng arrived at Flower Tasting Brothel. An Ye Luo fiercely interrogated Madam Hua about Yin Xue's whereabouts and who he brought with him. Zhan Feng stepped in, subtly pressing Madam Hua about his mother.
Madam Hua, appearing flustered, confirmed Zhan Feng's identity and said she and Yin Xue had been protecting his mother. She claimed An Ye Ming had already left for the forest to commemorate Zhan Feitian’s death anniversary. An Ye Luo, recognizing the date, immediately rushed to the forest with Zhan Feng. In the forest, by the cenotaphs for Zhan Feitian and An Ye Ming, Lie Ruge performed a sword dance.
She had been informed that the bodies of her parents had been moved by Lie Mingjing to prevent An Ye Luo from desecrating them. An Ye Luo watched, transfixed, recognizing the familiar movements and the way Lie Ruge wiped sweat from her brow, which reminded him of his senior sister, An Ye Ming, from their childhood. Delusional, he charged towards her, shouting "Ming'er!"
Yin Xue intercepted him, engaging An Ye Luo in a fierce battle, but with only 70% of his power restored, Yin Xue was unable to match An Ye Luo's strength. Seeing Yin Xue struggling, Lie Ruge rushed to his aid. When Zhan Feng saw Lie Ruge in danger, he too joined the fight. As An Ye Luo, consumed by his obsession, tried to embrace Lie Ruge, she desperately cried out, "Let go! I am Lie Ruge, An Ye Ming's daughter!"
The revelation momentarily stunned An Ye Luo, realizing she was An Ye Ming’s daughter. Despite this, all three were ultimately defeated, with Zhan Feng and Yin Xue suffering severe injuries. An Ye Luo ordered his men to take them all back to Dark River Palace. On the carriage ride to Dark River Palace, An Ye Luo taunted Lie Ruge, claiming he had known Yin Xue's entire plan in advance because someone she deeply trusted had betrayed them.
Lie Ruge, acupunctured and unable to move, defiantly retorted that such betrayal was impossible and that An Ye Luo's inability to trust anyone made him lonely. An Ye Luo, however, pressed on, listing details of their ambush, Zhan Feng’s "betrayal," and Yin Xue’s weakened state, asking if she wasn’t curious who the traitor might be—perhaps a friend, a hall leader, or a senior brother.
Though Lie Ruge continued to deny it, An Ye Luo observed that she was starting to waver. He then described his macabre plan to preserve her body in a crystal coffin filled with flowers, to admire her perpetually without needing her consent. An Ye Luo then personally carried Lie Ruge into Dark River Palace.
Upon arriving at Dark River Palace, An Ye Luo ordered a powerful "confusing defense" to be set up around the palace gates, creating a ten-mile fog that would kill anyone who dared to trespass. He then presented Lie Ruge to his subordinates as his "long-lost family," Anye Ruge, instructing them all to refer to her as "First Miss."
Meanwhile, at Prince Jingyuan's Mansion, Zhongli Wulei relayed Lie Ruge's instructions to Yu Zihan: to secure Flaming Manor’s gates and protect Yu Zihan himself (referred to as Young Master Ji by the messenger). An Ye Jue then unexpectedly arrived. Zhongli Wulei quickly departed. An Ye Jue informed Yu Zihan that Lie Ruge's assassination attempt had failed and she had been captured and taken to Dark River Palace. She then delivered An Ye Luo's demand that Yu Zihan accompany her to Dark River Palace, but without bringing any guards.
