The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 3 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Xiao Hunian firmly rejected King Xiyin's sweet talk, telling him to save it for other girls. She explicitly stated she had witnessed his deceitful actions during the archery game and had no interest in hearing more from him. Despite King Xiyin's insistence on his sincerity, Xiao Hunian departed. King Xiyin then encountered Wuguli, who approached him, curious about his conversation with her elder sister.
King Xiyin quickly charmed Wuguli, claiming he was asking about her and that her sister refused to reveal her whereabouts. He presented her with elegant earrings from the South, declaring they were for the girl he had long admired, praising Wuguli as uniquely frank and lovely, shining like the moon among stars. Wuguli, flattered, questioned his sincerity, but he assured her of his affection as he placed the earrings on her.
He then invited her to dance, expressing his delight at dancing with the most beautiful woman on the steppe. Meanwhile, Xiao Hunian met with Han Derang, returning to him a jade pendant. She expressed surprise at his decision to assist King Mingyi, given His Majesty's suspicious nature, and questioned if his loyalty was his sole motivation. Han Derang clarified that his support for King Mingyi was his own deliberate choice.
He explained that King Mingyi intended to implement comprehensive Han system reforms to revitalize Liao, completing the ambitious path that Emperor Shizong had left unfinished. This was King Mingyi's vision, and Han Derang chose to align himself with it. Understanding Han Derang's conviction, Xiao Hunian conveyed her father's agreement to meet with the jade pendant's owner, for which Han Derang expressed his gratitude. Concurrently, the royal doctor Xiao Gu presented himself before His Majesty.
The Emperor recounted suffering from recurring nightmares ever since he stopped using the unique spices Xiao Gu had previously provided, which had initially given him immense pleasure. Despite the doctor's explanation that the nightmares stemmed from the Emperor's excessive dedication to state affairs and that the spices required rare ingredients from dangerous cliffs in Youzhou, risking many lives to harvest and refine, His Majesty remained unmoved.
He dismissed the loss of life as insignificant, demanding that Xiao Gu promptly supply more of the potent spices, to which the doctor reluctantly complied. Later, Xiao Yanyan confronted Han Derang, insisting on a wrestling match to definitively determine who was the better fighter, following their contested outcome at the archery competition. Han Derang, after some playful resistance and a caution from Xiuge, accepted her challenge.
During their vigorous match, Han Derang unexpectedly fell, resulting in an accidental kiss with Xiao Yanyan. A moment of stunned silence passed between them, witnessed by Dalin and Xiuge. Han Derang immediately apologized profusely, stressing it was unintentional, while a visibly shy Xiao Yanyan declared she would win next time and quickly fled the scene. That evening, Wuguli playfully teased Xiao Yanyan about thinking of a sweetheart, having heard rumors of her encounter with Han Derang.
Xiao Yanyan, embarrassed, lightly hit her sister, denying the claims, but Wuguli persisted in her playful inquiry. Their boisterous behavior eventually drew the attention of Xiao Hunian, who arrived to quiet them down, warning that their father could hear their commotion. She sent Wuguli back to her own tent, while the two younger sisters continued their whispered exchange. Xiao Hunian then brought her father, Xiao Siwen, some milk tea.
She mentioned that her sisters were likely still awake, animatedly discussing the boys they had met at the Moon Dance. Xiao Siwen expressed deep concern over the volatile political climate, characterized by infighting among Emperor Taizu's three branches and His Majesty's increasingly suspicious and murderous tendencies. He sternly reminded Xiao Hunian to diligently oversee her younger sisters. He also inquired if any young men had declared their feelings for Xiao Hunian herself during the festival.
She revealed that King Xiyin had attempted to court her, but she had rebuffed him, explaining that with all eyes on the Xiao family, she couldn't risk giving anyone an excuse to target them by making an imprudent match. Xiao Siwen empathized with her sacrifice, promising to arrange a suitable marriage for her in the future.
Xiao Hunian, ever the dutiful elder daughter of the Empress' family, accepted her fate, stating that her only wish was for her two sisters to find happiness. Xiao Siwen, remembering how she had cared for her siblings since their mother's passing, urged her to consider her own well-being and happiness, hoping she would always remain safe and joyful. Han Derang returned the jade pendant to King Mingyi, confirming Xiao Siwen's agreement to meet.
He cautioned King Mingyi against over-optimism, citing His Majesty's lingering suspicion and Han Derang's unease about King Mingyi's presence at the spring hunting. King Mingyi acknowledged the grave risks but asserted it was his only opportunity, one he had awaited for a long time. Han Derang promised to swiftly arrange the meeting.
To create an opportunity for the meeting, Imperial physician Diligu feigned an accidental spillage of the tonic sent by King Taiping for King Mingyi, leaving King Mingyi with only a single dose. King Mingyi, seizing the chance, dismissed the incident as fortunate, but sent his attendant Chubu to King Taiping's camp for more medicine, effectively removing him from his tent. King Mingyi then disguised himself as Han Derang's servant and departed.
Han Derang assured him that Xiao Hunian would create a diversion by pretending to hunt, enabling King Mingyi and Xiao Siwen to confer in peace. Po'er and Diligu were left to manage the tent in King Mingyi's absence. A servant reported King Mingyi's departure towards the Empress' family camps to King Taiping, though they could not confirm if he reached Xiao Siwen's specific tent.
At the meeting, Xiao Siwen observed King Mingyi's strong resemblance to Emperor Shizong, especially in his youthful ambition to make Liao as prosperous as the Han and Tang dynasties. He expressed regret that they were too young then to avert the Chage rebellion. King Mingyi then articulated his assessment of Liao's dire situation, facing both internal and external threats, and declared the urgent need for reform.
He outlined his plan to reintroduce the Han system, revamp the Northern and Southern Privy Councils, decentralize the military power held by various kings and clans to strengthen the monarchy, and eventually restore the imperial examination system to recruit talents regardless of their origin. Xiao Siwen voiced concerns about repeating Emperor Shizong's fate, who faced fierce opposition from the eight clans. King Mingyi countered that the times had changed, and those past opponents were now gone.
He emphasized the unyielding necessity of reform, even if it meant great sacrifice, but firmly stated he would not ask Xiao Siwen to risk his life for this cause. Ultimately, Xiao Siwen agreed to assist, finding King Mingyi more composed and trustworthy than his father. As Han Derang and Xiao Hunian maintained their vigil outside, they noticed a rapidly approaching cavalry, signaling potential trouble. Han Derang quickly instructed Xiao Hunian to stall King Taiping's forces while he warned King Mingyi.
When King Taiping arrived at the Xiao family's camps, Xiao Hunian met him, attempting to delay him by claiming her father was out hunting and inviting King Taiping for milk tea. King Taiping, suspicious of her evasiveness, declined, insisting on finding Xiao Siwen first. He eventually found Xiao Siwen in his tent, who claimed to have been hunting. However, a servant reported two suspicious individuals had just fled the back of the tent.
King Taiping immediately ordered his men to pursue them. Meanwhile, Xiao Yanyan, who had been riding on the steppe, observed Han Derang and King Mingyi being pursued and recognized their distress. Thinking quickly, she released a herd of horses, creating a stampede that scattered the pursuers and allowed Han Derang and King Mingyi to escape in separate directions. Xiao Yanyan soon found a weakened King Mingyi, still unaware of his true identity.
She offered him a ride on her horse Cloud Snow, and despite his initial hesitation, he accepted. During their ride, she commented on the speed of her horse, and observing that he was heading towards the royal tent, she innocently questioned if he was a member of the royal family. King Mingyi discreetly denied this, claiming he was simply meeting friends there.
He asked for her name, but she left without revealing it, unknowingly dropping a small item which King Mingyi picked up. Han Derang, who had been anxiously searching for King Mingyi, was found by Xiao Yanyan, who playfully teased him about being "sneaky" and searching for someone. When he pressed her about how she knew of King Mingyi's whereabouts and her involvement, she proudly admitted to safely delivering him to the royal tent.
She chided Han Derang for his solemn attitude despite her help, prompting him to apologize and express sincere gratitude. Xiao Yanyan, however, demanded more than just thanks, insisting he owed her a favor. Han Derang readily agreed, promising to fulfill any request as long as it adhered to principles of righteousness. Xiao Yanyan, seizing the opportunity, declared she would now call him "Brother Derang" and would decide on her specific request later.
King Taiping, still hunting for King Mingyi, found him in His Majesty's tent. He subtly tried to corner King Mingyi by asking about his unusual excursions that day and if he had visited Prime Minister Siwen's camp. King Mingyi deftly denied these accusations, attributing his presence to concern for His Majesty's headache. His Majesty, though outwardly dismissive of the discussion, advised King Mingyi to spend less time reading and more time hunting and drinking like a true Khitan man.
After King Mingyi departed, King Taiping voiced his suspicions to His Majesty, suggesting King Mingyi had indeed visited Xiao Siwen, but the chaos caused by the "rampage horses" prevented his men from confirming it. His Majesty, preferring not to alert King Mingyi, instructed King Taiping to discreetly investigate the matter. He declared that upon their return to Shangjing the next day, if King Mingyi were found to harbor any disloyal intentions, King Taiping should deal with him accordingly.
Away from the political machinations, King Xiyin deepened his hold on Wuguli's heart. He confessed he had been too excited to sleep the previous night, longing to see her, and that she consumed his thoughts. He made grand promises of protection and offered her all the world's treasures, even the Empress' throne. Though Wuguli initially dismissed his words as "nonsense," he passionately reaffirmed his earnest love and desire for her to be his queen.
Convinced, Wuguli succumbed to his ardent declaration, and they shared a kiss on the open steppe. King Taiping, ever attentive to Xiao Hunian, inquired if she had packed for their return to Shangjing and offered her a gift of jewels or silk. Xiao Hunian, however, dismissed these, stating she was not a "southern girl" who desired such finery and observed that many Shangjing girls were adopting southern customs and demure mannerisms, but she was not among them.
When King Taiping offered traditional Khitan gifts like a horse, blade, or bow and arrow, she replied that she already possessed all of those and suggested he hold onto his gift until she thought of something specific. King Taiping reiterated that his palace doors were always open for her, and he would fulfill any request. He noted her infrequent visits to the palace since her mother's death and urged her to call upon His Majesty more often.
Commenting on her beauty and likely numerous suitors, he encouraged her to think of her own future happiness, reminding her that her sisters were grown and would soon marry, and she should not exclusively focus on their care. He vowed to return later for her promised milk tea. On the steppe, Han Derang and Xiao Yanyan shared a casual conversation.
Xiao Yanyan remarked on how docile her fierce horse, Cloud Snow, became with her, playfully suggesting she might be kinder to Han Derang so he wouldn't always appear so serious. He inquired about her worries. She then surprised him with her deep concerns about His Majesty's violent nature, the constant power struggles among Emperor Taizu's three branches, and the widespread fear among commoners and officials, asserting that Liao was in dire need of reform. Han Derang, astonished by her political insight at such a young age, then asked her how she envisioned such a reform.
