The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 12 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Han Derang revealed his true feelings to his father, Han Kuangsi, confessing the strength of his love for Xiao Yanyan. He believed that even if their grand ambitions were to fail, Xiao Yanyan would remain by his side without complaint. Although Han Kuangsi and others favored Li Si'er as Han Derang's best match, Han Derang admitted that his feelings for Xiao Yanyan were beyond his control. Understanding his son's heart, Han Kuangsi reluctantly agreed to propose to the Xiao family.
Han Derang expressed that while he initially thought they should wait until their grand goal was achieved, the current dire state of the world, where people's lives are as fleeting as mayflies, convinced him that delaying would harm Xiao Yanyan and their relationship. He also felt that waiting wouldn't prevent misfortune, and pursuing their ambitions might indeed lead to success, challenging his father's perception that he was being selfish towards Xiao Yanyan.
He also noted that his mother's frequent matchmaking with Li Si'er had caused misunderstandings and that leaving things unresolved could hurt Xiao Yanyan. Meanwhile, South King Zhao Kuangyin led his army to attack, putting Jinyang in peril and prompting pleas for reinforcements from Liu Han. However, the current Emperor, Yelü Jing, was perpetually drunk and preoccupied with killing, causing fear among his palace maids.
When Yelü Jing eventually appeared in court, he angrily ordered his ministers to be flogged for speaking about the enemy's strength. Prime Minister Xiao Siwen, in an effort to maintain stability, suggested keeping Liu Han as a potential check on the Southern Dynasty, a suggestion Yelü Jing accepted. News of the Emperor's escalating drunken rampages and killings reached Yelv Xian, who, gazing at Xiao Yanyan's portrait, resolved to find an opportune moment to propose marriage.
He believed the wise and visionary Xiao Yanyan was the most suitable woman to accompany him in safeguarding the Liao Empire, a realm otherwise filled with bloodshed and intrigue. Oblivious to the court's turmoil, Han Derang and Xiao Yanyan enjoyed a carefree day together, strolling hand-in-hand, riding horses, and admiring flowers. Han Derang joyfully informed Xiao Yanyan that his father had agreed to propose marriage to Prime Minister Xiao Siwen, filling them both with anticipation for their future.
At the same time, Molugu knelt before his father, Lord Hugu, pleading for his help in proposing to Xiao Yanyan, whom he had admired since childhood. Despite Lord Hugu's dissatisfaction with his son's choice, he reluctantly agreed, after Molugu threatened to kneel until death. Elsewhere, the palace maid Anzhi, still shaken by the Emperor's recent murderous spree, confided her fears to Zhimo during a secret rendezvous.
Zhimo comforted Anzhi, assuring her that with the enemy at their borders, the Emperor would eventually need to deploy troops, presenting Zhimo with a chance to gain military power and ultimately reclaim the throne for himself, thereby restoring the late Emperor's prestige and ensuring Anzhi would never be bullied again. Soon after, both Han Kuangsi, representing Han Derang, and Lord Hugu, on behalf of Molugu, arrived at Prime Minister Xiao Siwen's residence to propose to Xiao Yanyan.
Han Derang earnestly declared his sincere love for Xiao Yanyan, hoping for Xiao Siwen's approval. Xiao Siwen, finding himself in a difficult position with two simultaneous proposals, decided to consult Xiao Yanyan directly about her lifelong choice. When Xiao Yanyan appeared, she unhesitatingly chose Han Derang. Xiao Siwen then politely rejected Lord Hugu.
Enraged by Xiao Siwen's decision, Lord Hugu, scornful of Han Derang's humble origins, accused Xiao Siwen of insulting him by marrying his daughter to a "slave" in front of him. Xiao Siwen firmly retorted that as the Prime Minister of Liao and a father who cherished his daughter, her choice was his choice, and he would not tolerate outsiders dictating matters in his household. Lord Hugu, fuming, departed with Molugu.
As the frontline suffered defeats, Emperor Yelü Jing continued his senseless killings rather than devising a strategy, infuriating Yelv Xian, who despaired at the Emperor's wanton destruction of Liao. Yelv Xian lamented that he hated the current situation more than anyone and feared that the Emperor's negligence would lead to the loss of the Liao Empire, leaving his own ambitions unfulfilled.
Meanwhile, Zhimo, seeking to seize military power amidst the chaos, tried to convince Xiao Siwen to recommend him to lead reinforcements to Liu Han, but Xiao Siwen directed him to King Taiping. Zhimo also secretly contacted various imperial clans, a move that reached King Taiping's ears. King Taiping reported Zhimo to Emperor Yelü Jing, but persuaded the Emperor to drop the charge of rebellion, fearing widespread discontent.
Yelv Xian also confronted Zhimo, warning him against reckless actions that could be used against him. However, Zhimo, convinced that as a descendant of Abaoji he could not stand by while the Emperor ruined Liao, dismissed Yelv Xian's concerns, asserting his intention to earn military merits. Despite Yelv Xian's unease, his "bad feeling" soon materialized when Zhimo was discovered having a secret affair with Anzhi, a palace maid, and both were arrested and dragged to Kaihuang Hall.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yelv Xian urgently sought King Taiping's help. Hulian, King Taiping's wife, also pleaded for Zhimo. Moved by Hulian's appeal, King Taiping agreed to intercede with the Emperor. At Kaihuang Hall, Zhimo defiantly confronted Emperor Yelü Jing, accusing him of usurping the throne that rightfully belonged to Zhimo's family and squandering the Liao Empire through drunkenness and incompetence.
Yelü Jing, enraged by such insolence and already prone to suspicion, furiously threw a knife, piercing Zhimo's right eye. He then ordered Zhimo to be torn apart by five horses. Yelv Xian and King Taiping rushed in, but Zhimo continued to provoke the Emperor, calling him a "bastard." Yelü Jing, thwarted from a direct killing by King Taiping's intervention, agreed to spare Zhimo's life but decreed a castration, followed by one hundred floggings ten days later.
Yelv Xian, witnessing this cruel punishment, was overcome with hatred but, knowing he could not press further without endangering Zhimo more, could only express gratitude while helplessly watching Zhimo, covered in blood and barely alive, being dragged out of Kaihuang Hall. Standing at the palace entrance, Yelv Xian saw his only brother and blood relative in such a state, his heart filled with impotent fury, and he vomited blood before collapsing at the doorway.
Unaware of the devastating events in the palace, Xiao Yanyan waited for Han Derang at a wine shop, having prepared tea for him. When he didn't arrive, she mused that he was likely delayed by state affairs. Han Derang, however, was at Yelv Xian's side. After Yelv Xian regained consciousness, he insisted on seeing Zhimo. They found Zhimo's sister, Hugudian, by his bedside.
Zhimo, castrated and half-blind, refused to eat or take medicine, convinced he was a mere living corpse with no will to live. Yelv Xian tearfully implored Zhimo to hold on, reminding him that he, Zhimo, and Hugudian were the only three blood relatives left in the world, needing to support each other. He emphasized that as long as there was life, there was hope. Seeing Zhimo's despair, Yelv Xian left Hugudian to comfort him.
He then dismissed Han Derang and Han Kuangsi, requesting to be left alone to compose himself. Han Kuangsi warned Yelv Xian that with Xiyin imprisoned and Zhimo mutilated, Yelv Xian was likely the Emperor's next target. Back at her mansion, Xiao Yanyan, upon returning home, learned the shocking news of Zhimo's blinding and castration from her attendants, realizing the enormity of what had transpired in the palace.
