The Legend of Dugu Episode 12 Recap, Plot

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As night fell, Yang Jian, filled with sorrow, drowned his grief in wine. He was consumed by memories of Mantuo, recalling their childhood, their engagement, and his unwavering love and patience despite her occasional childish antics. He had always hoped to give her the best life, but now, that dream felt irrevocably shattered. Meanwhile, Banruo tended to Jialuo, who was still recovering.

Seeing her sister's fragile state, Banruo chose to shield Jialuo from the truth about Mantuo's machinations, instead blaming the deceased Nanny Ma. Jialuo, however, was still deeply saddened and worried, especially upon learning that Mantuo was to marry Li Bing in three days. She lamented her father's inevitable heartache, as his beautiful daughter was now set to marry an older man. Jialuo also understood that her own engagement to Li Cheng would be cancelled, a situation she called a "mess."

When asked about Xiage, Banruo confirmed that the maid's life had been spared, but she had been sold away. Banruo urged Jialuo to focus on her own recovery and stop worrying about others. After ensuring Jialuo was asleep, Banruo went to speak with her father, Dugu Xin. He sighed heavily, expressing his dismay at Mantuo's vicious transformation and blaming himself for neglecting his daughters' education in favor of military affairs.

Banruo, however, insisted that Mantuo's twisted character was her own fault, asserting that "if the flower has a crooked root, it is impossible to make it straight." She also revealed that she had deliberately hidden the full truth from Jialuo, blaming the nanny, to prevent further damage to their family's reputation before Mantuo's wedding. Banruo then noted Nanny Ma's dying words, which implicated Yuwen Hu, thereby drawing the Duke of Longxi County closer to their family.

Banruo declared she would no longer consider Mantuo her sister and hoped she would leave the capital and never reappear. Dugu Xin, still reeling from Mantuo's heartlessness, recalled her as a "smart and obedient" child, but Banruo corrected him, calling her "tricky" and adept at manipulating others, remarking that "only those men would buy it."

She added that even Yang Jian had been captivated by Mantuo, and she expected the Duke of Longxi County, known for his fondness for pretty girls, to be easily swayed by her in the future. Yang Jian, in his drunken despair, sought out Mantuo at the Buddhist hall. Mantuo, sensing his presence, staged a tearful prayer, lamenting her difficult life and asking for blessings and safety for Yang Jian, even wishing any misfortune upon herself instead of him.

Overcome with emotion, Yang Jian embraced her, suggesting they elope to Chenliu and escape the gossip. Mantuo initially resisted, claiming she was "dirty" and unworthy, but Yang Jian insisted on her purity and his unwavering love, even offering to swear an oath to God. Mantuo stopped him, saying she trusted him, then seemingly agreed to go. As their carriage sped away, Mantuo had a change of heart.

The thought of becoming the Duchess of Longxi County was a future she was unwilling to abandon. She abruptly halted the carriage, explaining to a bewildered Yang Jian that she could not bring shame upon the Dugu family by leaving.

Yang Jian, misunderstanding her motives as selflessness, pledged to wait for her, promising to marry her once Li Bing passed away, even if it took "twenty years, thirty years," and vowing to wait until his "hair turns white, my teeth all gone." He swore a solemn oath: if he were to break his promise and marry another, his family would be shattered, and he would be killed by a loved one.

Mantuo, seemingly satisfied, responded that she would wait for him too, before returning to the Dugu residence. Back in her room, Mantuo succumbed to a fit of weeping. She bitterly reflected on her fate, lamenting how she could have married a handsome young man or even been a princess, but was now forced to marry an old man and move far away to Longxi. She felt everyone had conspired to put her in this situation.

With renewed fury, she vowed severe revenge on Dugu Banruo and Dugu Jialuo, revealing to her servant that with Yang Jian's promise, she still had "another way out." She also ordered medicine to reduce the swelling on her face before meeting the Duke. Believing Nanny Ma's dying words that Yuwen Hu was behind the plot, Yang Jian stormed into the Taishi's mansion, confronting Yuwen Hu with a sword to his throat.

Yuwen Hu, who was deep in drink and longing for Banruo, was initially confused by Yang Jian's accusations. Yang Jian accused Yuwen Hu of destroying relationships, including Banruo's marriage and the bond between Mantuo and Jialuo, all to further his ambition to dominate the court. Yuwen Hu, acknowledging Yang Jian's courage, denied involvement in the Dugu family's specific affairs, though he noted his reputation for bad deeds was widespread.

He then warned Yang Jian that attempting to kill him would only bring disaster upon the Yang family. Just as the situation escalated, Yuwen Yong arrived, having received a letter from Jialuo, who anticipated Yang Jian's rash actions. Yuwen Yong intervened, delivering Jialuo's message that Mantuo's incident was an internal Dugu family matter and Yang Jian should not trust rumors.

Yuwen Hu mused that both Yang Jian and himself were "trapped by the woman" and concluded that Yang Jian was "not destined to be with her." Yang Jian, still feeling wronged, unwillingly left the mansion. As preparations for Mantuo's wedding began, Jialuo, still recovering, decided to stay at a charity house for a few days, wishing to avoid the awkwardness of encountering Li Bing and Li Cheng.

She informed her father, Dugu Xin, of her decision and arranged for him to give a pair of jade bracelets to Mantuo as a wedding gift, stating she would not attend the ceremony. Dugu Xin, understanding her delicate situation, instructed the housekeeper to escort her. En route to the charity house, Jialuo encountered Yuwen Yong. She confided in him, revealing her belief that Mantuo was the true culprit behind the framing, rather than the nanny.

However, she explained that Banruo had chosen to cover it up for the sake of family unity, as "siblings of Dugu family must be united." Meanwhile, Banruo, speaking with her maid Chunshi, acknowledged Jialuo's intelligence, knowing she likely understood the truth and must be deeply hurt by her sister's repeated betrayals. During this conversation, Chunshi raised concerns about public opinion regarding Jialuo's cancelled marriage and Mantuo marrying her former fiancé's father.

Banruo also admitted uncertainty about Nanny Ma's dying accusation, noting Yuwen Hu's "crazy character" and previous offense during her own wedding made his involvement "understandable." Separately, Li Bing continued his efforts to charm Mantuo, frequently visiting her at the Dugu residence. He reassured her about the incident and her stepson Li Cheng, promising her a respected position as the matriarch of the Li family.

Mantuo, flattered and shy, received his affections, recognizing the importance of securing his heart to cement her position as Duchess. Li Bing reminded her of their intimacy that night, despite his drunkenness, praising her "fair and soft body." Meanwhile, Geshu, Yuwen Hu's loyal subordinate, bravely confronted Banruo at the Ningdu Prince's residence, begging her to visit Yuwen Hu, who had succumbed to drink and despair, surrounding himself with courtesans dressed like Banruo. Geshu warned that Yuwen Hu was risking ruin.

Banruo, despite having severed ties with Yuwen Hu since her marriage, was visibly conflicted. She reluctantly agreed to go, finding him lost in a drunken haze, mistaking courtesans for her. He sang a melancholic song of enduring love and memory, clinging to the belief that she would return. Banruo questioned his degradation, asking if this was how he pursued his grand ambitions.

Yuwen Hu, in his anguish, declared that his world was meaningless without her, as "the world belongs to Dugu." He pointed to the courtesans, admitting he dressed them like her, and invited Banruo to laugh at his pathetic state. Banruo, however, asserted that she was the one who would do anything for ambition, and denied any resemblance to the courtesans.

She concluded that despite their deep love, they were simply "a couple without fate," to which Yuwen Hu could only lament, "Must you treat me like this?" On Mantuo's wedding day, street gossip was rampant, with people discussing how Mantuo had framed Jialuo, leading to Xia Ge's cruel fate, and how Mantuo's strangely quiet wedding contrasted with Banruo's grand affair.

Inside the Dugu residence, Dugu Xin confronted Mantuo, warning her to "find her own path" and behave well in her new life, stating he would forget the past and wished her to "make a change." Mantuo, surprised and disappointed by his lack of warmth, tearfully questioned his coldness. Dugu Xin simply stated he had doubled her dowry since she was marrying far away, then instructed the housekeeper to send her off, claiming he was unwell and would not accompany her.

Mantuo, enraged by the lack of ceremonial grandeur and the absence of her brothers, indignantly compared her "shabby" wedding to Banruo's, demanding to know why she only had two fans while Banruo had six. Dugu Xin, exasperated by her continued focus on such trivial matters even at this critical moment, sternly ordered her to be sent away.

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