The Legend of Dugu Episode 32 Recap
> The Legend of Dugu Recap
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After the sword dancing, Dugu Jialuo angrily walked away, refusing to speak with Yang Jian or even acknowledge Yuwen Yong who tried to mediate. Yang Jian, fuming, complained to Zheng Rong that Jialuo hadn't given him a chance to explain and that now the whole town believed he bullied her.
He declared he wouldn't initiate contact with Jialuo, asserting that doing so would be a sign of weakness and admitting defeat, and ordered Zheng Rong not to relay any news about her unless she sought him out first. Later, while trying to get a drink at a wine shop, Yang Jian was refused service by the waiter who accused him of mistreating his wife and neglecting Prime Minister Dugu Xin's Water and Earth Ceremony.
This unexpected news prompted Yang Jian to immediately head to the temple. At the Water and Earth Ceremony, Yang Jian observed from a distance as Yuwen Yong offered a precious Nan aloes, noting that "Jialuo" was another name for it. The public openly praised Yuwen Yong's deep affection for Jialuo, remarking that they were a natural pair and lamenting that Jialuo wasn't married to him. They criticized Yang Jian for leaving Jialuo to manage such an important event alone.
Yuwen Yong, noticing Jialuo’s weariness, expressed his guilt for bothering her, but stated he only wished her happiness, having heard that Yang Jian was treating her poorly. Jialuo, however, asked him to maintain a distance. Just then, Yang Jian made a grand entrance with extravagant offerings, including Tianzhu sandalwood, Galuo aloes, and Longyan wine. He announced he was late because he was copying scriptures for his father-in-law.
Yang Jian then confronted Yuwen Yong, telling him to be mindful of appearances, to which Yuwen Yong retorted that Yang Jian should understand the dynamics of a married couple. Queen Banuor arrived at the ceremony, concerned for Jialuo's well-being, despite her own advanced pregnancy. She praised Yang Jian's offerings and then informed Jialuo that their second sister, Mantuo, was pregnant, hoping this news would help Yang Jian move on.
Jialuo confessed to Banuor that she planned to divorce Yang Jian after Banuor gave birth to the Crown Prince. Banuor sternly rebuked her, explaining that the Dugu family and the Emperor Yuwen Yu still relied heavily on the Yang family's influence to secure the throne and their safety. She insisted that Jialuo's marriage must endure. Jialuo understood the gravity of the situation.
Banuor also advised Jialuo against causing public scenes, like the incident at the brothel, as it made Yang Jian appear weak and timid, which was detrimental to their family's standing. Jialuo then revealed her true intention for the brothel incident was to create a facade of Yang Jian being a "coward" to mislead Yuwen Hu and make him less wary.
She reiterated her desire to divorce Yang Jian not out of spite, but because she felt he was bound to her unwillingly, unable to be with Mantuo, and she wished for him to find someone he truly loved. Banuor, touched by Jialuo's maturity, still urged her to mend her relationship with Yang Jian, emphasizing that disagreements are normal in marriage and have no easy answers.
Meanwhile, Yuwen Yong visited a temple, seeking guidance from a monk on how to release an unyielding affection. The monk advised him that if he truly wished to let go, he could, and that "rather than chasing the past, it's better to cherish the present." Later, Yang Jian sought out Jialuo and apologized for his impulsive anger. He also questioned why she hadn't informed him about the ceremony.
Jialuo acknowledged their shared fault and clarified that the brothel incident was an accident due to her sudden appearance, and that the sword dance misunderstanding was also partly her fault for being impulsive. She thanked Yang Jian for providing her father's former subordinates to staff his general's court, a gesture that helped him establish his authority. Jialuo then warned Yang Jian to be cautious of Geshu, mentioning that Geshu had previously attempted to send an assassin to Queen Banuor.
Yang Jian promised to be vigilant. Jialuo also inquired about his feelings regarding Mantuo's pregnancy and offered to send him some pear blossom wine, urging him not to drown his sorrows in drink. Yang Jian, though seemingly appeased, indicated he wasn't ready to return home, citing "too many things" that weighed on him. Yang Jian soon began a campaign to consolidate his power within the royal army.
He publicly suspended several officers for poor archery skills; these men turned out to be Yuwen Hu's spies. A subordinate later reported to Geshu that the arrows had been sabotaged, suggesting Yang Jian's actions were a deliberate move to weed out disloyal elements. Geshu reported these events to Yuwen Hu, dismissing Yang Jian's actions as a mere attempt to overcome his reputation as a "cowardly" husband.
Yuwen Hu, however, warned Geshu not to underestimate Yang Jian, stating he never believed Dugu Xin would entrust his beloved daughter to a "timid and lustful man." He instructed Geshu to closely monitor Yang Jian, and also pondered the "Northwest Murong thing." During a hunting expedition, Yang Jian promoted an officer for his frankness and archery skill, subtly planning to use him as a spy against Yuwen Hu.
Soon after, both Yang Jian and Yuwen Yong simultaneously shot a white fox. Yuwen Yong claimed the fox, intending to make a scarf for Jialuo. Yang Jian, asserting Jialuo as his wife, declared she didn't need Yuwen Yong's care. Their argument escalated into a physical fight, with Yang Jian forcefully punching Yuwen Yong, who then coughed up blood and collapsed. Yang Jian defiantly stated that Yuwen Yong could only have Jialuo over his dead body.
Yang Jian returned home with the white fox, intending to make Jialuo a hat. Jialuo, having heard from a guard that Yuwen Yong was seriously injured, became distraught. Yang Jian tried to dismiss it as a mere scuffle, even boasting about punching Yuwen Yong, but Jialuo, realizing the severity due to Yuwen Yong's known frail health, rushed to his side.
Yang Jian tried to prevent her, reminding her of his status as her husband and the gossip surrounding her affection for Yuwen Yong, but Jialuo insisted, fearing for Yuwen Yong's life as he was the Emperor's brother. At Yuwen Yong's residence, the royal doctor diagnosed severe internal lung injuries requiring fresh bear gallbladder. Yang Jian then appeared, offering a precious family heirloom, the "Bear Gallbladder Pill," a potent and rare medicine, which he clarified was from Duke Chen Liu's family.
He apologized for not knowing about Yuwen Yong's old injuries and his excessive force, offering to plead guilty to the Emperor. Yuwen Yong dismissed the idea of a crime, acknowledging it as a fair martial arts contest where he was simply outmatched. Yang Jian, however, used the opportunity to clearly state his reasons for the attack: he shot the fox first, and no man would tolerate another's obsession with his wife. He then left without regret.
Witnessing this, Jialuo realized that despite Yuwen Yong's unwavering affection and their shared history, their path together was truly over. She apologized to Yang Jian, clarifying her initial anger stemmed from believing he had gravely injured Yuwen Yong. She asked Yang Jian to trust her, asserting that her relationship with Yuwen Yong, like his with Mantuo, was now "history."
Recalling her father's wisdom about living well in troubled times, she proposed that even if they couldn't be soulmates, they could strive for mutual respect in their forced marriage. Yang Jian agreed, on the condition that she would no longer speak of divorce after the Queen gave birth. Jialuo accepted, and they returned home together, Yang Jian jokingly complaining about his own injuries.
Recognizing the ongoing entanglement between the three, Queen Banuor and Emperor Yuwen Yu decided to definitively sever Yuwen Yong's ties to Jialuo. Yuwen Yu arranged for a palace maid, Li Ezi, to be sent to Yuwen Yong, along with an aphrodisiac. Yuwen Yong, accustomed to consuming various medicines, quickly discerned the plot. He questioned Li Ezi, who revealed herself as the daughter of a former Liang Kingdom general, forced into servitude after her father's defeat.
Though he did not consummate the arrangement, Yuwen Yong decided to proceed with the pretense. The next morning, he declared Li Ezi his wife, explaining to his aide that he understood the Emperor's need for the Yang family's support and the Queen's desire to keep him and Jialuo apart. He acknowledged Dugu Xin's death as an insurmountable barrier between him and Jialuo.
Fearing his unchecked feelings might harm Jialuo, himself, Yang Jian, Yuwen Yu, and even the entire Zhou dynasty, he resolved to sever all possibilities between them. He made Li Ezi his wife not just to appease the Emperor, but also to prevent her from suffering the same fate as his own mother, who, though of humble origin, was ill-treated after becoming his father’s concubine.
Banuor later introduced Li Ezi to Jialuo, subtly praising Li Ezi's elegance and implying Yuwen Yong's eagerness to make her his wife. She rewarded Li Ezi and expressed hopes for her to bear royal children. After Li Ezi departed, Banuor explained to Jialuo that this arrangement, though initiated by her and the Emperor, was ultimately Yuwen Yong's decision to name Li Ezi his wife.
She reiterated her hope for Jialuo to now live peacefully with Yang Jian, as Yuwen Yong had someone to care for him. Jialuo, though deeply saddened, tearfully accepted this new reality. Yang Jian, upon hearing the news, reacted with unexpected fury, calling Yuwen Yong a "douchbag" and threatening to beat him again for breaking his promise to Jialuo. Jialuo, however, remained calm, stating she was merely sad, not angry.
She pragmatically observed that both Yuwen Yong and Mantuo had made the "appropriate decision at the appropriate time." Publicly, Yang Jian maintained a facade of idleness, spending his days playing music and feeding birds, which led his subordinates and ministers to believe he was neglecting his duties and not serious about state affairs. He would openly dismiss their concerns, telling his trusted aide to handle important matters. However, in secret, Yang Jian was diligently monitoring military intelligence.
He received a secret report about a sudden attack by the Murong clan on Dengzhou. Yang Jian, knowing Murong's historical neutrality and the absence of famine or harvest season, deduced that the attack was likely orchestrated by Yuwen Hu, especially after noting the unexpected presence of siege engines.
