Heart of Loyalty Episode 12 Recap
> Heart of Loyalty Recap
Zhan Zhao confronted Zhang Feng, who, in a fit of rage, declared his life had been over since he left the Imperial City and challenged Zhan Zhao to a speed contest. Zhang Feng then defiantly stated that the Kaifeng City Office could "dream on" if they hoped to investigate the case. In a swift move, Zhan Zhao pierced Zhang Feng's heart with his sword. Simultaneously, Zhang Feng, using a porcelain shard, fatally cut Qin Wei Wei’s artery.
As Qin Wei Wei gasped her last breaths, she whispered that she couldn't bear to leave Ma Han, whose anguished cries echoed from the dungeon. The sight of their bodies caused Mo Yan to collapse. Zhan Zhao spent the night by Mo Yan's side, watching over her.
When she awoke, Mo Yan expressed concern that Zhan Zhao might be troubled by Zhang Feng's death, but he asserted that while Zhang Feng deserved to die, his punishment should have been carried out according to the Laws of Song. A wave of impeachments against Bao Zheng by numerous court officials led to Ning Jin arriving at the Kaifeng City Office with an imperial decree. Mo Yan attempted to intercede with Ning Jin, but Bao Zheng stopped her.
The decree stripped Bao Zheng of his position as Kaifeng City Office head, demoting him to Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue, and ordered him to hand over all evidence related to the corruption case. Zhan Zhao was also relieved of his duties as a fourth-rank Imperial Sworded Bodyguard and temporarily detained in the dungeon of the Kaifeng City Office to await trial. Mo Yan, distraught that the truth was so close, knelt on the ground.
She wanted to confront the Emperor, feeling that they were always one step behind due to rigid rules and lamenting that they should have killed Zhang Feng when he was caught to prevent further deaths. However, Bao Zheng explained that Zhang Feng's death meant the loss of crucial leads, making their inability to solve the case a failure of the Kaifeng City Office. He declared that he was responsible for the demotion.
Worried about Zhan Zhao’s indefinite imprisonment, Bao Zheng decided to seek an audience with the Emperor. During the Empress's birthday celebrations, a defiant Bao Zheng presented his official robes, accepting his demotion but firmly stating his refusal to abandon the investigation or surrender any evidence. He declared he would see the case through.
The Emperor, enraged, smashed a tea bowl and personally instructed Ning Jin to lead men to the Kaifeng City Office to retrieve all physical evidence and transfer it to the Ministry of Justice. Meanwhile, Ma Han, preparing food for Zhan Zhao, was lost in bittersweet memories of Qin Wei Wei, his eyes welling with tears. Mo Yan noticed his profound sadness. Later, Mo Yan visited Zhan Zhao in the dungeon.
He reassured her, saying the imperial decree was fine and urged her not to be upset. Mo Yan, however, felt frustrated that adherence to official rules consistently put them a step behind, lamenting that they should have killed Zhang Feng when he was caught to prevent further deaths. Zhan Zhao then shared his personal story, explaining how he transitioned from a wandering martial artist to an Imperial Sworded Bodyguard.
Years ago, he rescued a family of four from mountain bandits, and the young son expressed admiration for Zhan Zhao, wanting to be a hero like him. Zhan Zhao left the family at a village, but upon returning days later, he found the entire village massacred by the very same bandits he had spared, and the young boy had been drowned in the river, leaving Zhan Zhao with a deep fear of water.
Consumed by anger, Zhan Zhao single-handedly annihilated the bandit sect, but recognized that his private vengeance could not undo the tragedy. It was this realization, coupled with Bao Zheng’s guidance, that led him to join the Kaifeng City Office. He sought to use the power of the law to uphold justice, believing that only by following regulations and bringing the true masterminds to justice could lasting peace be achieved.
Mo Yan, understanding his resolve, declared her commitment to pursuing the investigation. As Ning Jin prepared to collect the evidence, Mo Yan intervened, insisting that the Jianxian Rock remain at the Kaifeng City Office. Ning Jin argued that taking the rock was precisely to prevent the Kaifeng City Office from becoming a target. Mo Yan proposed that the Kaifeng City Office personally escort the Jianxian Rock to the Ministry of Justice.
When Ning Jin hesitated, citing the danger, Ma Han stepped forward, offering to be the escort and declaring his intent to avenge Qin Wei Wei and act as bait. Ning Jin, seeing their determination, reluctantly left without the evidence. Back at the palace, the Emperor was furious at Ning Jin’s failure to bring back the evidence and ordered him confined to his residence.
Qing Yi visited Zhan Zhao in his cell, informing him of Mo Yan’s plan to use the Jianxian Rock as bait to lure out the culprits. She also mentioned that Official Bao seemed to have his own separate plan. Worried for Mo Yan, Zhan Zhao seized an opportunity to escape. Ma Han openly transported the Jianxian Rock, serving as the bait, with Mo Yan providing hidden protection.
Zhan Zhao suddenly appeared, causing Mo Yan concern that his escape would worsen his situation. Soon after, a group of armed men ambushed Ma Han, stealing the Jianxian Rock. Thanks to his armor, Ma Han sustained only superficial wounds. Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao quickly pursued the robbers to a dye workshop. Mo Yan, with her keen eye, immediately identified some of the assailants, and Zhan Zhao recognized them as notorious figures from various martial arts sects.
Realizing they were exposed, the men attacked. After a fierce skirmish, Mo Yan managed to capture one of the leaders. She pressed him for the mastermind’s identity, and the man, fearing for his life, agreed to lead them to the Baiyi Pavilion for a meeting with the mastermind. Before they departed, Zhan Zhao discreetly left a note, instructing Qing Yi to inform Official Bao to come quickly to the Baiyi Pavilion.
Qing Yi delivered Zhan Zhao's note to Bao Zheng, who promptly mobilized the Kaifeng City Office to converge on the Baiyi Pavilion. Inside, Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan found themselves surrounded. The captured assailant handed the Jianxian Rock to a figure in the shadows. Mo Yan noticed a distinctive jade ring on the mastermind's hand. Zhan Zhao fought off the attackers. Just then, Bao Zheng and his forces arrived, sealing off the Baiyi Pavilion.
As Mo Yan urged Bao Zheng to search the premises, Grand Preceptor Pang emerged from within, a corrupt official whom Bao Zheng had long sought to expose but without sufficient evidence. Grand Preceptor Pang calmly stated he was at the pavilion to take precepts when he encountered the "villain" who tried to threaten him, leading his men to kill the intruder. He then "discovered" the Jianxian Rock on the body.
Mo Yan immediately recognized the jade ring on Grand Preceptor Pang's hand, confirming his identity as the mastermind. To further obfuscate his involvement and eliminate the evidence, Grand Preceptor Pang dramatically smashed the Jianxian Rock in front of everyone, declaring it a harmful item that should be destroyed for the sake of the people. Grand Preceptor Pang made a grand exit. Mo Yan, enraged by his impunity, tried to pursue and kill him to avenge Li Xu.
Zhan Zhao restrained her, reminding her not to succumb to personal vengeance. Overwhelmed by exhaustion and grief, Mo Yan fainted. Bao Zheng later visited Mo Yan, revealing that his demotion and argument with the Emperor were all part of an elaborate plan to lure out the true mastermind. He explained that Grand Preceptor Pang, fearing exposure, had manipulated the Liao delegation into proposing marriage to Princess Zhao Yu during the Empress's birthday celebrations.
Unwilling to marry into Liao, Princess Zhao Yu had subsequently fled the palace. Bao Zheng tasked Zhan Zhao with immediately finding the missing princess. At Qin Wei Wei's memorial, a somber atmosphere prevailed. Deeply moved, Mo Yan vowed to become a dedicated detective, committed to protecting the innocent. Zhan Zhao stood silently behind her, offering his unwavering support.
As Qing Yi and her husband prepared to depart, Qing Yi subtly commented on Zhan Zhao’s feelings for Mo Yan, advising him not to miss his chance. When Mo Yan asked when they would meet again, Qing Yi playfully remarked that she would return for their wedding, causing Mo Yan to blush and smile shyly. Later, Mo Yan painstakingly reassembled the shattered Jianxian Rock, discovering that it was hollow inside. Zhan Zhao theorized that Grand Preceptor Pang must have hidden something valuable within, which he had likely already retrieved before publicly destroying the rock.
