The Legend of Dugu Episode 1 Recap, Plot

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> The Legend of Dugu Recap

In the tumultuous era of the North and South Dynasties, in the third year of Yongxi of Northern Wei, a powerful lord named Gao Huan, who had grown too arrogant, faced the wrath of Emperor Xiaowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Yuan Xiu. However, Yuan Xiu was no match for Gao Huan's formidable army and found himself suppressed in the suburbs of Luoyang. Many of his loyalists had secretly defected, leaving Yuan Xiu in a desperate situation.

He could only gather 5,000 of his personal guards and flee overnight towards Guanzhong, seeking refuge with Grand General Yuwen Tai. During their escape, the soldiers rested, only to be ambushed by pursuers. Believing he was doomed, Yuan Xiu resigned himself to death. Just then, Grand General Dugu Ruyuan and Anxi General Yang Zhong arrived with reinforcements, saving Yuan Xiu's life. After narrowly escaping, Yuan Xiu, accompanied by Dugu Ruyuan and Yang Zhong, found shelter in a dilapidated temple.

There, Yuan Xiu stumbled upon some obscure inscriptions on the ruined walls, which were part of a Guanzhong prophecy. Dugu Ruyuan explained that people would interpret bamboo stick numbers in accordance with the words on the wall to find solutions. Intrigued, Yuan Xiu half-heartedly consulted the oracle and was startled by the ominous prophecy: "Emperor's star is unclear, but Dugu's country." Frightened, he dropped his lamp.

Yuan Xiu, deciding to trust his loyal official, believed that Dugu Ruyuan's devotion would secure his reign and allow him to dominate the country, bestowing upon him a new name: Dugu Xin. The next day, Yuan Xiu led his army to Guanzhong, where Yuwen Tai, the Grand General of Guanzhong, welcomed him. After Yuan Xiu moved the capital to Chang'an, his power was firmly controlled by the Yuwen family.

In 557 AD, Yuwen Jue, the third son of Yuwen Tai, with the backing of his cousin Yuwen Hu, ascended the throne, establishing the North Zhou Dynasty. Dugu Xin, still a pillar of the nation as a Grand General, returned to the capital from the northern frontier with his family and soldiers.

He was met by Emperor Yuwen Jue and Queen Yuan, accompanied by Imperial Tutor Yuwen Hu (Yuwen Tai's nephew), Prince Ningdu Yuwen Yu (Yuwen Tai's eldest illegitimate son), and Prince Fucheng Yuwen Yong (Yuwen Tai's fourth son), and received a warm welcome. Dugu Xin greeted the Emperor and instructed his eldest daughter, Dugu Banruo, to serve Queen Yuan, while he accompanied the Emperor into the palace.

At the archery range, Yang Jian, Duke Sui's son and Dugu Xin's future son-in-law, observed the Dugu family with his follower Zheng Rong. He admitted to Zheng Rong that he was there to observe the family's character and prepare for future dealings. Yang Jian jokingly said that even if Dugu Xin knew, he wouldn't be angry with his future son-in-law.

Meanwhile, the ambitious Imperial Tutor Yuwen Hu, showing his blatant ambition, dared to aim an arrow at Emperor Yuwen Jue in public. As Yuwen Hu fiercely threatened the Emperor, Dugu Jialuo, Dugu Xin's youngest daughter, made an appearance that broke the tense atmosphere. Unexpectedly, she then fired an impressive shot, astounding everyone. Yang Jian, watching from the crowd, was captivated by Jialuo, prompting Zheng Rong to tease him about his previous reluctance regarding his engagement to Mantuo.

Dugu Xin immediately scolded Jialuo for her "naughty" behavior and urged her to apologize to the Emperor. However, Emperor Yuwen Jue was impressed by Jialuo's skill, remarking that women in the Zhou Dynasty could ride horses, conduct business, and even become officers. He asked what reward she desired. Jialuo requested an inscription for her family's charity house in Xishan, which the Emperor readily agreed to provide the next day.

After Jialuo departed, Emperor Yuwen Jue revealed to Dugu Xin his true purpose for the meeting: he found Yuwen Hu increasingly arrogant and his subordinate Geshu to be Yuwen Hu's spy. The Emperor desperately wanted to eliminate them and sought Dugu Xin's help, urging him to become Prime Minister. Dugu Xin advised the Emperor to be patient and calm for now. Dugu Xin's wife had passed away early, but he had many children, with his three daughters being particularly renowned.

Dugu Banruo, the eldest, was graceful and managed the household affairs in her father's absence. Dugu Mantuo, the second daughter, was ambitious and strong-willed, keenly aware of her status as a concubine's daughter and unwilling to be looked down upon. Dugu Jialuo, the youngest, was clever and spirited. All three were exceptionally beautiful. At the Queen's banquet, a Mrs. Zheng complimented the three Dugu sisters' beauty.

Mrs. Yao then tried to embarrass Mantuo by suggesting she play music, referencing her mother's musical talent. Mantuo, quick-witted, deflected the challenge by suggesting Mrs. Yao dance instead, detailing the revealing Persian Waist Bell dance. Mrs. Yao, unwilling to dance, then proposed a poetry contest. Mantuo gracefully offered a poem praising Jialuo's spirited nature and predicting a good marriage for her.

Later, during a horse racing and polo match, Dugu Jialuo's fifth brother, Dugu Shun, was intentionally pushed off his horse by a Mr. Wang and injured his leg. Jialuo and Mantuo immediately confronted Mr. Wang, who callously blamed Dugu Shun's incompetence. Banruo, maintaining a cold composure, intervened by calmly stabbing Mr. Wang's horse in the neck with a knife, causing it to collapse and throw him to the ground. She then tossed her earring to him as "compensation."

Yuwen Hu, observing from afar, chuckled at Banruo's decisive action. That night, Yuwen Hu met Banruo in her room. Banruo reminded him of her ambition to be empress and declared that only she could help him become emperor. Yuwen Hu, though amused by her arrogance, acknowledged her unique ambition, stating she was the only woman worthy of him.

Banruo also confessed that she never forgot the former Emperor's prophecy: "Emperor's star is unclear, Dugu's country," believing herself to be a woman of destiny and that the future emperor would bear Dugu blood. Yuwen Hu agreed, asserting that with her by his side, the world would be his. He then urged Banruo to persuade her father not to accept the Prime Minister's position, warning that anyone who did would become his enemy.

Banruo fiercely warned him against harming her family, vowing to make him regret it. Yuwen Hu then playfully accused her of flirting with Yuwen Yu, trying to divert the conversation. Banruo advised her father, Dugu Xin, not to involve himself in court politics. She reminded him of his promise to their late mother to always protect their children and highlighted the dangers of confronting Yuwen Hu, especially with her brothers being so young and her and her sisters still unmarried.

Dugu Xin reassured her that he would not easily accept the Prime Minister's role, but admitted he was concerned about his daughters' marriages. He asked Banruo if she had someone in mind, which caused her to blush. She quickly changed the subject, mentioning that Yang Jian was expected to arrive in the capital soon. Dugu Xin spoke highly of Yang Jian, praising his intellect and martial skills, and declared his intention to arrange Mantuo's marriage to him.

Banruo was surprised, noting that Dugu Xin usually favored Jialuo, and had expected Jialuo to receive such a good match. Dugu Xin clarified that he treated all three daughters equally and that the marriage would ensure Mantuo was not underestimated. However, Mantuo, upon learning of the proposed engagement from her wet nurse, Madam Ma, was displeased.

She felt Yang Jian, merely a general's son, was beneath her aspirations of marrying a prince like Yuwen Yu or Yuwen Yong, reflecting her insecurity about being a concubine's daughter. Later, Banruo chastised Jialuo for provoking Yuwen Hu at the hunting ground, stressing the need for caution. Jialuo retorted that she wouldn't stand by while their family was bullied and cited Banruo's own decisive action with the horse as an example.

Banruo called her "stupid," explaining that Yuwen Hu was not easily dealt with and ordered Jialuo to embroider three pieces within five days as punishment, rejecting Jialuo's plea for a spanking instead. The next day, Emperor Yuwen Jue secretly met Dugu Xin again, reiterating his fear of Yuwen Hu, recounting how Yuwen Hu openly defied him and even poisoned his wine. He pleaded with Dugu Xin to accept the Prime Minister's seal and save him.

Dugu Xin expressed his reluctance due to his age, but the Emperor reminded him of Yuwen Tai's dying wish to protect his son, urging him to accept. Dugu Xin asked for more time to consider. As Dugu Xin left the meeting, he encountered Yuwen Hu, who implied he knew of the Emperor's plea. Yuwen Hu, feigning respect, warned Dugu Xin not to be "used by others" against him.

He stressed the Emperor's weakness and instability, highlighting the external threats from Qi and Liang. Yuwen Hu offered Dugu Xin an unparalleled position if he remained neutral and refused the Prime Minister's post, promising a stronger alliance between their families. Dugu Xin, valuing his self-earned merits from battles, dismissed Yuwen Hu's offer and his talk of the Dugu prophecy as mere superstition. Yuwen Hu, frustrated by Dugu Xin's stubbornness, issued a veiled threat to be "smarter."

After Dugu Xin departed, Yuwen Hu instructed his subordinate Geshu not to harm Dugu Xin yet, as he had not accepted the Prime Ministership. Yuwen Hu then turned his attention to Yang Zhong, noting that the "old fox" sent his son, Yang Jian, to the capital under the pretext of illness. He ordered immediate surveillance on Yang Jian upon his arrival.

Episode 2 Recap