The Legend of Dugu Episode 48 Recap, Plot

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Yuwen Yong had Mantuo brought before the Queen, where He Quan, under Yuwen Yong's command, placed a white silk sash around Mantuo's neck, threatening her life. The Queen, thinking Mantuo was being unjustly punished, pleaded for her release, citing Mantuo’s pregnancy. She questioned Yuwen Yong, suspecting he was hiding something that occurred in Qian'an Hall and accusing him of guilt. The Queen even threatened to return to her father, the Khan, if Mantuo wasn't released.

Yuwen Yong, already aware that the Queen had come to "catch adultery," ordered He Quan to clarify the events. He Quan explained that Yuwen Yong, Yang Jian, Jialuo, and their children were simply playing with the prince in Qian'an Hall. After this clarification, the Queen was left speechless. Still unconvinced, the Queen insisted she had heard Lihua call Yuwen Yong "father" and noticed a joy in his eyes when looking at Jialuo that she had never seen directed at herself.

Yuwen Yong patiently explained that Lihua had grown up with him and was betrothed to his son, so calling him "father" was natural. He affirmed his deep friendship with the Yang family. He then sternly warned the Queen not to pry into his affairs or be instigated by others, and certainly not to threaten to return to the grasslands.

He reminded her of the dangers of such a journey and the Great Zhou's power, also cautioning her attendants to ensure she behaved. The Queen, trembling from his fury, left. Yuwen Yong then exposed Mantuo's true nature, revealing her as a deceitful and promiscuous woman who had tried to seduce him multiple times before the Queen's arrival. He accused her of retaliating against him and now abetting the Queen.

Yuwen Yong, initially intending to kill Mantuo, ordered her body to be sent back and framed for Li Cheng's death, telling the Duke of Tang to report her death as an illness. Mantuo desperately begged for mercy, eventually threatening to become a vengeful ghost and cause Jialuo and her baby to suffer the same fate. Yuwen Yong, though acknowledging her Dugu lineage and her pregnancy, and for Jialuo's sake, spared her immediate death.

He declared he was not as merciful as Yang Jian and commanded her to return to Longxi Anzhou with the Duke of Tang, forbidding her from ever returning to the capital without his express permission. He warned her of severe consequences if she caused any further trouble or rumors. A terrified Mantuo scrambled away from the palace. Shortly after, Yang Zhong fell ill and passed away.

Yuwen Yong declared a period of mourning and personally visited the Yang residence to offer condolences, bestowing upon Yang Jian the inherited title of Duke and fief, as well as the position of General of thirteen provinces and Governor of Tongzhou. Yuwen Hu soon arrived, also offering his condolences. He suggested Yang Jian assume his father's former duties as governor of six provinces.

However, Yang Jian firmly declined, stating his father's dying wish was for him to return to their hometown to mourn for three years. Yuwen Hu insisted that Yang Jian's military responsibilities were crucial given the impending war with Qi. But Yang Jian, determined to honor his father's last wish and show filial piety, humbly presented the official seals and military tallies for six provinces to Yuwen Yong.

Yuwen Yong accepted them without hesitation and granted Yang Jian permission to return home for mourning, further honoring his filial piety by conferring titles upon his sons: Yang Guang was named Marquis of Boping, and Yang Yong, Count of Yanmen. This transfer of power gave Yuwen Yong significant initiative, putting Yuwen Hu at a disadvantage. Yuwen Yong promised to see Yang Jian off after the initial seven days of mourning.

Yuwen Hu's aide, Geshun, noted that Yang Jian's transfer of power to Yuwen Yong, particularly the military seals of the six provinces (composed of former Dugu Xin and Zhao Gui troops), placed them at a disadvantage. Yuwen Hu acknowledged that while Yang Jian had given them over publicly under the guise of filial piety, making it difficult for him to reclaim them, he found it suspicious. He recalled that Yang Jian and Jialuo had kept Lihua from him earlier.

Yuwen Hu decided that despite the physiognomist's prediction that Yang Jian would only be a Prime Minister, a disobedient major general was better off dead. Geshun reminded him that keeping Jialuo alive would honor his promise to Banruo. Yuwen Hu agreed and, deciding to personally oversee the matter, ordered Geshun to arrange Yang Jian's assassination at Xinfeng post station.

Meanwhile, Yang Jian confided in Jialuo, claiming his decision to relinquish power was for their children's safety, aspiring to a peaceful life as a farmer. However, Zheng Rong, Yang Jian's loyal attendant, saw through the pretense. He believed Yang Jian intended to preserve the Yang family's strength, waiting for Yuwen Yong and Yuwen Hu to exhaust each other before seizing power. Zheng Rong questioned Yang Jian about a previous encounter with a mysterious man.

Yang Jian admitted the man was a physiognomist who had shared a "strange prophecy," and he intended to "give it a try" to see if he truly had the destiny of an emperor. That night, at the Xinfeng post station, Yang Jian and Jialuo had a private conversation.

Yang Jian, still grappling with his ambitions, mused about the impermanence of imperial surnames and his own potential to unite the realm, referencing the "Dugu's country" prophecy and even comparing himself to Cao Cao. Jialuo firmly rejected such notions, reminding him of the immense cost in human lives that such power struggles incurred. She recalled her own father's sacrifice, choosing death over fighting Yuwen Hu to prevent further suffering, and cited Banruo's hope that he would bring quick peace.

Yang Jian tried to dismiss his words as mere musings, but Jialuo insisted he abandon such dangerous thoughts. As they talked, Yuwen Hu's men, led by Geshun, surrounded the station. Yang Jian quickly ordered Zheng Rong to escort Jialuo and their children to safety while he faced the attackers alone. Despite his valiant efforts, he was gravely wounded by Geshun. Suddenly, Lihua rushed back, crying and shielding Yang Jian.

Her eyes turned a clear blue, a sight that stunned Yuwen Hu. Jialuo also returned, confronting Yuwen Hu and warning him of the widespread rebellion that would erupt if they were killed, emphasizing the power of the Dugu family (Jialuo's seven brothers) and the Yang family (Yang Jian's four younger brothers, and their 100,000 troops). Yuwen Hu, seeing Lihua’s blue eyes, was overwhelmed, realizing she was his and Banruo's daughter. He tearfully demanded to know why Jialuo had hidden her.

Jialuo retorted that Banruo had hated him until her death for destroying her family (killing her father, husband, and herself), and asked if he now intended to harm her sister and daughter. Overcome with guilt for Banruo's memory, Yuwen Hu, against Geshun’s protests, ordered his men to let Yang Jian's family go. Jialuo rushed Yang Jian to Huayin, where doctors struggled to treat his severe injuries and high fever.

Desperate, Jialuo learned of a nearby pharmacist temple outside the city to the west. Barefoot, despite the cold, she walked one mile to the temple, adhering to a military custom to pray for an injured soldier's recovery. Inside, she knelt and vowed to trade twenty years of her life for Yang Jian's survival. When no sign appeared, she made an even greater vow: if Yang Jian recovered, she would avoid medicine for the rest of her life.

As her heartfelt pledge left her lips, a bell chimed. Later, Yuwen Hu returned to the deserted post station at Xinfeng, longing to see Lihua. He found her sitting on the steps outside, holding a small branch. Wary of him, Lihua avoided his touch. He gently inquired about her parents, and Lihua confirmed that Yang Jian and Jialuo treated her "the best." Yuwen Hu advised her to always cherish and be filial to them.

He then mused that Lihua reminded him of someone he knew, an "amazing woman" (Banruo) burdened with many responsibilities. As he turned to leave, Lihua unexpectedly embraced him from behind, her voice trembling as she whispered, "I know who you are. I can recognize your eyes. You are the one who wanted to kill my parents." Yuwen Hu, tears streaming down his face, asked if she was afraid of him, to which she bravely replied, "I'm not afraid of you." At that moment, both father and daughter's eyes turned blue, their shared gaze filled with unspoken emotion.

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