Heart of Loyalty Episode 20 Recap
> Heart of Loyalty Recap
Mo Yan, now with her hair styled in a married woman's bun, woke to Zhan Zhao informing her of their plan. Yelv Chongguang was accompanying Prince Ning to Yanxie Town to retrieve Zhao Yu. As they arrived at a small courtyard, Zhao Yu rushed out, crying for help, claiming Xiao Xin wanted to kill them. Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan suddenly appeared, leading Xiao Xin's men to surround Yelv Chongguang. Mo Yan reassured Zhao Yu, "Your Highness, fear not.
We've come to your rescue." Prince Ning then confronted Yelv Chongguang, stating, "Yelv Chongguang, you've been exposed." He added that their testimonies, along with Prince Xiao's and the soldiers', were "enough to convict you." Yelv Chongguang realized that Prince Xiao had allied with them. Prince Ning further explained Yelv Chongguang's scheme: he had put a tiger in a cave to frame Xiao Xin and shift all blame.
Prince Ning highlighted two reasons for Xiao Xin's cooperation: they would forgive Xiao Xin for trying to harm them during the hunt, and the Xiao family owed them a favor because Zhao Yu had risked her life to save Xiao Guan Yin from falling. Yelv Chongguang then revealed he had brought more men, shouting, "Attack! All of you! Leave no survivor!" Zhan Zhao swiftly took Yelv Chongguang hostage, his sword at his neck.
Zhan Zhao urged Prince Ning, "Your Highness, take them with you. If you don't go now, none of us is going anywhere. You need to return and testify against Yelv Chongguang." Prince Ning, understanding the urgency, agreed and led Zhao Yu and the others away. Mo Yan, however, refused to leave Zhan Zhao, who was visibly weakened by poison. " Your poison has entered your bloodstream. How long more can you hang in there?" she asked.
Yelv Chongguang defiantly claimed he wouldn't care about his life for "the sake of our great cause," but Zhan Zhao countered, "It's okay. They care." Su Zui, who was among Yelv Chongguang's men but secretly working with Zhan Zhao, ordered his soldiers not to move. Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan managed to escape into the dense, miasma-filled forest. Yelv Chongguang's men halted at the forest's edge, aware that no one could survive for long within the toxic air.
Deep in the miasma forest, Zhan Zhao felt his strength failing. " Seven, I'm feeling a little tired," he admitted. He told Mo Yan to leave him and save herself, blaming himself for her predicament. Mo Yan refused adamantly, declaring, "I won't leave you here. Without you, I won't live on as well." Zhan Zhao insisted she had to "live on," but Mo Yan rejoined, "We'll both live on. I'll get you out of here."
Despite her determination, both eventually collapsed from the poison and miasma. Meanwhile, Prince Ning and Zhao Yu returned to their camp, where they were ambushed by an assassin. Xiao Guan Yin bravely intervened, saving Prince Ning and stating, "I don't owe you anything now." Yelv Hongji, informed of the events, expressed concern for Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan, promising to send more men to find them.
Zhao Yu questioned Yelv Hongji's ability to convict Yelv Chongguang, who was known for his cunning. Yelv Hongji admitted his uncle could find a scapegoat but vowed to strip him of his power. Zhao Yu empathized with Yelv Hongji's efforts to protect his family by hiding his true strength. She urged him to openly acknowledge his feelings for Xiao Guan Yin, pointing out his apparent indifference despite his clear concern for her. "
She doesn't want anything," Zhao Yu explained, "The position as the empress means nothing to her. What she really wants is for you to tell her that you like her." Overhearing their conversation, Xiao Guan Yin was moved to tears. Yelv Hongji then embraced her tightly and confessed, "I like you."
Unbeknownst to them, two brothers, who had been craftsmen for Yelv Chongguang and narrowly escaped his massacre by fleeing into the miasma forest, found and rescued the unconscious Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao. Mo Yan cooked pastries for their saviors, whom the brothers referred to as "Mrs. Zhan," and in return, the brothers explained Yelv Chongguang's cruel act. Mo Yan promised they would avenge them. Zhan Zhao eventually awoke, coughing violently and discovering he was coughing blood.
When Mo Yan entered, he reassured her he was fine, and she expressed hope that they could return home soon. Knowing his time was limited, Zhan Zhao spent his remaining days teaching Mo Yan martial arts, subtly preparing her to protect herself. One evening, as they shared a drink, Zhan Zhao intentionally got Mo Yan drunk.
He tenderly told her he was going on a "far away trip," left his Juque Sword by her side, and departed silently, believing she would be heartbroken to watch him die. Upon waking, Mo Yan discovered Zhan Zhao gone and fell into a deep illness. Prince Ning brought her back to the Song capital and then to Shuzhong. When Mo Yan finally regained consciousness after half a month, Xiao Chen delivered the devastating news of Zhan Zhao's death.
Mo Yan was heartbroken, unable to comprehend his absence, as he had promised to stay with her. Xiao Chen then revealed that Zhan Zhao had agreed to go to Liao to obtain the seven-leaf sophora flower from Zhao Yu specifically to treat Mo Yan's illness. Devastated by this hidden sacrifice, Mo Yan cried out, "Why hid it from me for so long? . . . I'll never have a chance to thank him anymore?"
She wept uncontrollably in Xiao Chen's arms. With the Juque Sword, Mo Yan returned to Bianjing City, where every familiar street and corner brought back poignant memories of Zhan Zhao. At Kaifeng City Office, his presence was even more palpable, and the others hesitated to speak his name in front of her.
Bao Zheng expressed his concern, but Mo Yan, with tears in her eyes but feigning strength, declared her resolve to become a constable and protect the peace in Zhan Zhao's stead. Bao Zheng, touched by her determination, fulfilled his earlier promise and appointed her constable. Prince Ning reported to the Emperor, assuring him that Zhao Yu was well, alleviating the Emperor's guilt. A year passed, and Mo Yan, now Constable Mo, had become exceptionally diligent.
She no longer feared dead bodies and excelled at examining them, tirelessly patrolling the streets day and night due to staffing shortages. She even lightheartedly told a subordinate whose wife was due to "make it quick" so he could return to work. Prince Ning frequently found excuses to invite Mo Yan for meals, but she, aware of his affections, politely declined, asking him not to be too kind to her.
One day, he falsely claimed to have lost a jade paperweight, insisting only she could find it. Mo Yan arrived at his residence, and as rain began to fall, she was again lost in memories of Zhan Zhao. Exhausted, she eventually dozed off in the hall. Prince Ning found her sleeping and felt a pang of sympathy.
At dinner, he suggested they travel to Liao together for Zhao Yu's upcoming wedding to Yelv Hongji, hoping it would help Mo Yan confront Zhan Zhao's death and move forward. Mo Yan refused flatly, citing her busy schedule. Prince Ning threatened to complain to Bao Zheng about her dereliction of duty, but Mo Yan remained unmoved.
