The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 19 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Han Derang knelt before his father, lamenting that he dared not go against his wishes, but Xiao Yanyan was the love of his life, and he could not bear to lose her. His father, Han Kuangsi, helped him up, acknowledging the profound love between Han Derang and Xiao Yanyan, a rare true love where they would die for each other.
However, he emphasized that living offered hope, opportunities for mutual achievement despite the missions that prevented their lifelong union, and the possibility of watching over each other from afar, which was another form of happiness. Han Kuangsi urged his son to look to the future and live well, believing Xiao Yanyan would wish the same for him, and that their deep love for each other was enough, even if they could not be together.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yanyan refused to eat, stating that if Han Derang couldn't survive his injuries, she didn't want to live either. She vowed to spit out anything she was forced to eat. Her maid tried to persuade her, reminding her that Han Derang would not want to see her so haggard.
Hulian, Xiao Yanyan's elder sister, reflected on whether her actions were too cruel, but her maid reassured her that it was better to end the entanglement now than to prolong a situation that would destroy them both. Xiao Yanyan's maid then informed her that Han Derang would visit her that night, which prompted Xiao Yanyan to finally eat a small amount, not wanting Han Derang to see her in a weakened state.
Later that night, Han Derang, still recovering and using a wheelchair, arrived to see Xiao Yanyan in the courtyard. They embraced tightly. Xiao Yanyan expressed her terror, admitting she couldn't sleep for fear of seeing him covered in blood, saying goodbye.
She regretted they hadn't died together on Yanyun Terrace and declared that if death was the only way for them to be together, they should reunite in the next life, and she would wear her wedding gown to die with him when the time came for her to be taken to the palace. Han Derang gently chided her, reminding her of her youth and the beautiful future awaiting her.
He acknowledged his own failing, realizing that his single-minded pursuit of helping the new Emperor ascend the throne had inadvertently destroyed their promise of a lifetime together. He asked her to live on, promising to watch over and protect her from a distance, assuring her that their love would never fade as long as they held each other in their hearts. He also reminded her that they had responsibilities to their families beyond their personal affections.
Xiao Yanyan tearfully agreed to live well. Han Derang then presented her with a wind chime, keeping a matching one for himself, explaining that the sound of the bells would signify his thoughts of her. He also fulfilled her earlier request for a Han name, bestowing upon her the name "Chuo," inspired by a line from the "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" that described a graceful fairy, a fitting reflection of her unique beauty.
Xiao Yanyan, deeply moved, recited the famous lines from the same poem about two lovebirds flying wing to wing and two trees with twined branches, ending with the sorrowful "this vow unfulfilled will be regretted for aye." Despite her promise to Han Derang, Xiao Yanyan remained melancholic and continued to refuse food. Her father, Xiao Siwen, visited her, bringing her favorite mugwort cake and reminiscing about her childhood.
He knew she harbored resentment and hatred, even wishing to defy the imperial edict. He praised her spirit but gently reminded her that as a daughter of the Empress' family, she carried greater responsibilities from birth. He emphasized that Yelv Xian was an Emperor who would revitalize the country, and her being chosen by him was both a duty and destiny, leaving her with no other choice.
As her wedding day approached, he urged her to bury her youthful romantic affections deep in her heart. Xiao Yanyan went to the stables to see Cloud Snow. As she looked at the horse, she recalled the day she first met Han Derang, when he had given the horse its name. With a heavy heart, she instructed her attendants to return Cloud Snow to Han Derang, knowing the horse could not accompany her into the palace.
Meanwhile, Han Derang remained withdrawn and sorrowful. His mother, concerned, wanted to invite Li Si to persuade him. Han Kuangsi dismissed the idea as foolish, insisting that a man should prioritize national affairs over personal feelings. Han's mother retorted angrily, arguing that their son was dying of heartbreak, and it was cruel to lecture him about duty at such a time. When Li Si arrived at the Han mansion, she observed Han Derang's desolate state.
She wisely concluded that he neither needed nor would accept her comfort at this moment. She realized that trying to force her way into his heart during his profound heartbreak over Xiao Yanyan would only lead to him looking down on her, thus preventing her from ever truly winning his affection. She decided it was best to wait patiently for him to recover before making her presence known. Han Derang then informed his father of his decision to leave Shangjing.
Han Kuangsi tried to dissuade him, reminding him that Yelv Xian, as the Emperor, had repeatedly shown his desire for Han Derang to stay. Han Derang countered that the ruler he served had taken the woman he loved, and the man he considered a brother had betrayed their trust. He questioned how he could ever again trust or pledge allegiance to Yelv Xian.
He also reasoned that even if he stayed, Yelv Xian's guilt would only fuel his suspicions over time, never resolving them. Han Derang acknowledged his family's responsibility to promote the Han system for the peace of the people.
However, he expressed deep doubt that a man who betrayed friendship could uphold promises to his subjects, fearing Yelv Xian (Mingyi) might abandon the reforms for self-preservation if faced with strong opposition from powerful clans and nobles, risking a fate similar to Emperor Shizong. He asserted that Yelv Xian would not be the one to bear the brunt of the inevitable conflict and bloodshed required for such reforms.
Han Derang declared that he would continue his family's work in promoting the Han system, but his relationship with Yelv Xian would be strictly that of ruler and subject, following the principle of "the ruler commands, the subject acts according to intent." He expressed a desire to travel across the land, to truly understand how people lived and what they aspired to, believing that one must comprehend the world before attempting to change it.
Seeing his son's unwavering resolve, Han Kuangsi urged him to take care of himself. Han Derang, in turn, apologized for his unfilial conduct. Later, Han's mother found Han Derang in the stables and joined him for a drink. She gently told him that his deep love for Xiao Yanyan, for whom he had fought and who had bled for him, was enough; he had been true to both her and himself.
She encouraged him to live well, to live like a true man, and to promise her that by the next morning, he would forget all the past sorrows and start anew. On the day of the grand wedding, the Xiao family mansion was adorned with festive decorations, yet Xiao Yanyan's face remained devoid of joy as she wore the crimson wedding dress and empress' crown. Zhimo, serving as the imperial messenger, arrived to escort her.
Xiao Yanyan departed silently, not even glancing at her father, Xiao Siwen. The sounds of celebration and the vibrant red decorations seemed to mock her internal sorrow as she meticulously performed all the required rituals, a single tear escaping her eye unnoticed. At the same moment, Han Derang rode out of Shangjing.
As he traversed the places he had once shared with Xiao Yanyan, he reflected on how, in those days, he had been consumed by his grand ambitions for the state. Now, having lost her, he realized that those ambitions were merely fleeting illusions, and Xiao Yanyan was truly the most important thing in his life, a painful truth he grasped only after losing her forever.
The agony of her absence was far greater than he had ever anticipated, and in every familiar place, he felt her presence still lingering beside him. Meanwhile, during the wedding ceremony, Yelv Xian received a sacred wine, offering prayers for the eternal harmony of the Imperial and Empress' families, and for the perpetual prosperity of their country. With all rituals completed, the grand ceremony concluded.
