The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 2 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Xiao Yanyan questioned her father, Xiao Siwen, about the events at Mount Xianggu. She revealed that Han Derang had advised her, should anyone ask about his presence, to say he was there for horse money, as it would be beneficial for both her and the Xiao family. Yanyan then probed further about Mount Xianggu, suggesting it might be connected to her or her mother's past, which angered Xiao Siwen, who sternly told her not to make wild guesses.
Her sisters, Xiao Hunian and Wuguli, entered upon hearing the commotion. Despite her father's growing irritation, Xiao Yanyan persisted in her desire to participate in the upcoming archery competition, prompting Wuguli to quickly lead her away. Xiao Hunian then asked her father about Han Derang's visit. Xiao Siwen revealed that Han Derang was sent by King Mingyi (Yelv Xian) to gauge his stance.
He confided in Hunian about his difficult choice: the well-being of the people or risking his family's destruction by getting entangled in the power struggles among Emperor Taizu's three branches. Given Emperor Yelv Jing's suspicious nature, Xiao Siwen feared even a minor misstep could lead to the demise of the Xiao clan. He acknowledged that the Xiao family's fate was insignificant compared to the stability of Liao.
After careful consideration, Xiao Siwen instructed Xiao Hunian, who had known Han Derang since childhood, to return the jade pendant to him and inform him that he was willing to meet its owner. At the archery competition, many skilled young men took the field. The finalists were announced: Xiao Dalin, Yelv Zhimo, Yelv Xiuge, Yelv Xiyin, Yelv Dilie, and Molugu. Yanyan, watching with her sisters, dismissed Molugu as a "waste of an entry" and secretly wished Han Derang were participating.
When she spotted Han Derang, she beamed, impressed by his skill. Wuguli teased Yanyan about her feelings for Han Derang, to Yanyan's denial. Wuguli, on the other hand, cheered enthusiastically for their clan's Dalin, also remarking on Yelv Xiyin's valiant appearance. Dalin approached the sisters, acknowledging Xiuge and Han Derang as formidable opponents. Emperor Yelv Jing and his brother Yansage conversed, with Yelv Jing noting that King Mingyi (Yelv Xian) had fainted again and could therefore rest at home.
Yansage dismissed Yelv Xiyin, one of the finalists, as a "lousy loser" and assured the Emperor that the Lihu family, led by the aging Imperial Uncle, posed no threat. However, Yelv Jing, seeing Yelv Xiyin's name on the list, remained wary and cautioned Yansage not to underestimate them, asking him to keep a close eye on the family. Yansage intended to visit his nephew, Yelv Xian, after the competition.
As the competition was about to begin, Xiao Hunian and Wuguli realized both Xiao Yanyan and Molugu were missing. The rules were announced: seven willow branches represented the seven contestants, each had to shoot and catch their corresponding colored branch before it hit the ground. The winner would lead the royal troops and receive a blade directly from Emperor Yelv Jing. To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yanyan, riding Cloud Snow and holding Molugu's token, charged into the arena.
Yansage questioned Emperor Yelv Jing about removing her, but the Emperor, amused, allowed her to stay, as he had never seen a girl participate in such a competition. The competition intensified, with several contestants, including Yelv Dilie, Yelv Zhimo, Yelv Xiuge (whose saddle had been tampered with), and Dalin, falling out. Eventually, only Xiao Yanyan and Han Derang remained.
Despite having fallen earlier, Yelv Xiyin surreptitiously shot an arrow at Xiao Yanyan's horse, causing it to startle and nearly unseat her. Han Derang swiftly intervened to help Xiao Yanyan, preventing her from falling. However, in the process, he managed to grab the willow branch first, securing his victory as the champion. Xiao Yanyan was indignant about losing, convinced she would have won if not for the sabotage.
Han Derang urged her to leave, warning that her actions constituted deceiving the Emperor, but Yanyan defiantly refused to concede. Emperor Yelv Jing then summoned both Han Derang and Xiao Yanyan. Worried about Yanyan's unpredictable fate, Xiao Hunian hurried to inform their father, while Wuguli advised patience. Upon their arrival, Emperor Yelv Jing personally bestowed a blade upon Han Derang, appointing him commander of Liao's royal clan troops.
As Yelv Jing turned to Xiao Yanyan, a dazed Molugu awakened, shouting about an assassin who stole his token, causing the suspicious Emperor to panic. Xiao Siwen quickly stepped forward to protect his youngest daughter, identifying her as Xiao Yanyan and taking full responsibility for her actions. Xiao Hunian and Wuguli also pleaded for mercy, offering to bear the blame. Xiao Yanyan, however, boldly rose and took sole responsibility, confessing to knocking out Molugu and taking his token.
She passionately explained that her actions, inspired by Empress Dowager Shulü's teachings, were out of loyalty to Liao and a desire to prove that women could also lead armies. She vowed to continue competing until she won and could then fully serve Liao and the Emperor. Impressed by her spirit, Yelv Jing compared her to the late First Princess and expressed his admiration, then ordered wine to be given to her.
Meanwhile, Yansage, visibly taken with Xiao Hunian, stepped forward to help her rise. Back in his imperial hall, Emperor Yelv Jing was consumed by paranoia, convinced that countless individuals were plotting to assassinate him. He speculated that the three branches of Emperor Taizu were all vying to usurp his throne. He then issued a chilling order to Yansage: kill anyone found gathering without reason.
Han Derang, now confident with his new title as commander, met with King Mingyi (Yelv Xian) to discuss their plans, noting that his new position would make their actions much easier. He suggested they should prepare to "welcome His Majesty." Their conversation was abruptly cut short by the arrival of Emperor Yelv Jing himself, prompting Han Derang to quickly conceal himself while Yelv Xian greeted his Imperial Uncle.
Yelv Jing remarked on his infrequent visits and immediately questioned Yelv Xian about any recent unusual activities among the royal clans or the Empress' family. He expressed his concern that the upcoming spring Nabo, which meant leaving the palace's protection, presented a prime opportunity for those plotting against him. He then directly asked Yelv Xian if he intended to kill him and usurp his throne.
Yelv Xian humbly deflected, reminding Yelv Jing of his past oath made before their ancestors to protect him, Zhimo, and Hugudian after the rebellion of Chage. Yelv Jing dismissed his question as a joke, reassuring Yelv Xian of his trust. Yelv Jing also noted Yelv Xian's interest in southern books, recalling that the late emperor's promotion of the Han system had led to clan rebellion.
He emphasized that he had adopted Yelv Xian after Emperor Shizong's death and, having no children of his own, suggested that the Liao throne would eventually be Yelv Xian's. Yelv Xian, however, maintained his pretense of frailty, stating he spent months sick in bed and only wished to live a few more years. Yelv Jing dismissed this as disheartening talk.
Yansage, accompanied by Zhimo, brought a decoction for Yelv Xian, claiming it was specially prepared by Emperor Yelv Jing due to Yelv Xian's recent fainting spells. Yelv Xian tried to decline, stating he had taken the medicine for years without improvement, believing his condition was destined. Zhimo, however, became agitated, reminding Yelv Xian that their lives were saved by Emperor Yelv Jing and warned him against disrespect.
With pressure from both Yansage and Zhimo, who mentioned that King Taiping (Yansage) added some tonics, Yelv Xian was forced to drink the medicine. As Yelv Jing prepared to leave, he praised Han Kuangsi for his care of Yelv Xian and offered him a reward. Han Kuangsi humbly declined any reward, expressing contentment in serving His Majesty and the royal family. Yelv Jing then assigned him responsibility for the upcoming spring Nabo.
Yansage suggested Yelv Xian stay in the palace, but Han Kuangsi argued that the cold and dark Yongxing Palace was not good for Yelv Xian's health, and that participating in the Nabo might be beneficial. Yelv Jing agreed, hoping it would prevent Yelv Xian from "overthinking things." Just then, a noise from inside the room startled Yelv Jing, who demanded to know who was there.
Han Kuangsi quickly entered, found his son, Han Derang, concealed, and quickly fabricated a lie, attributing the noise to the wind blowing open a window, thus deflecting Yelv Jing's suspicion. Once Yelv Jing departed, Han Derang urged Yelv Xian to expel the poison he had just ingested. Yelv Xian, however, reassured him that with Han Kuangsi's expertise, he would be fine, recalling that Han Kuangsi had once saved his life at Mount Xianggu.
Han Derang questioned Zhimo's unsettling behavior and his apparent ignorance of his true parentage as the son of the late emperor and Empress Zhen. Yelv Xian explained that he had deliberately withheld the truth about Mount Xianggu from Zhimo to protect him from Emperor Yelv Jing's volatile and suspicious nature.
Han Derang expressed outrage at Zhimo being allowed to acknowledge his father's killer as his parent, but Yelv Xian insisted that the time was not yet right to reveal the full truth, stating they must continue to bide their time in silence.
The narrative explained the Khitan practice of Nabo: while they had largely adopted a settled, agricultural lifestyle since Emperor Taizu's reforms, the Emperor maintained the nomadic tradition of relocating his temporary palace with the changing seasons, governing and strategizing from horseback or within carriage tents. For young people, the most anticipated event during the Nabo migration was the Moon Dance, a festive gathering where young men and women could meet freely.
Xiao Yanyan apologized to her sisters for causing them worry at the archery competition. Wuguli cautioned her against such recklessness in the future, warning of disastrous consequences should Emperor Yelv Jing's anger truly be roused. Although Yanyan felt remorse and vowed to apologize to her father, she declined Wuguli's invitation to the upcoming Moon Dance, fearing she might cause more trouble. Meanwhile, Emperor Yelv Jing's volatile temper led him to kill a maid, terrifying another servant, Anzhi, who fled outside.
She encountered Yelv Xiyin and desperately pleaded with him for salvation, wishing to serve him even as a lowly slave rather than remain near the unpredictable Emperor. Yelv Xiyin reassured her and promised to help. Later at the Moon Dance, recalling his father's explicit instruction to win over Xiao Siwen by influencing his three daughters, Yelv Xiyin attempted to charm Xiao Hunian with sweet talk. However, Xiao Hunian remained entirely unmoved, coolly deflecting his advances and subtly referencing his "dirty moves" during the recent archery competition, indicating her disdain.
