The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 30 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Yansage, holding a secret against Princess Puge, threatened her into harming the little Prince. Princess Puge adamantly refused, declaring she couldn't commit such an act. However, Yansage pressured her, asking if she preferred to spend her life in the deserted palace or remain a palace master. Princess Puge, tearfully pleading for a simple, peaceful life, questioned why he wouldn't leave her alone. Yansage chillingly replied that if he left her alone, no one would leave him alone.
Meanwhile, Wuguli, having learned of Xiyin's exile, confronted Xiao Yanyan. Xiao Yanyan directly asked Wuguli if she knew why the little Prince fell at the bathing ceremony. When Wuguli denied knowledge and accused Xiao Yanyan of blaming Xiyin for all misfortunes, Xiao Yanyan questioned her about their father's death. Wuguli initially blamed Haizhi and Haili, but Xiao Yanyan explained they were mere puppets, with a mastermind behind them. She revealed that Xiyin had inadvertently exposed himself, leading to the truth.
Unable to believe it, Wuguli ran out of the palace in tears. She encountered Xiao Hunian, who was on her way to see Xiao Yanyan. After speaking with Xiao Yanyan, Xiao Hunian learned the full story and comforted her sister. Xiao Yanyan expressed guilt for betraying their sisterly oath, but Xiao Hunian reminded her that as the Empress of Liao, she had to prioritize the greater good, and Wuguli would eventually understand.
Wuguli returned to her mansion and questioned a drunken Xiyin about their father's murder. Xiyin vehemently denied involvement, swearing an oath to Tengri that if he were guilty, he would welcome death by ghost arrows. He insisted that as a descendant of Emperor Taizu, he only sought to rule Liao and would never harm Xiao Siwen, even without his support. Believing him, Wuguli pledged her unwavering support, declaring their unity as husband and wife.
Prevented from seeing Xiao Yanyan or the Emperor, Wuguli sought Han Derang’s help, explaining Xiyin's plight and his fear of being harmed on the way to exile. Han Derang, showing compassion, agreed to meet Xiyin. Upon Wuguli's return to the mansion, she found Xiyin in a furious rage. She informed him that Han Derang had agreed to help, but Xiyin was dismissive, blaming Han Derang and Wuguli's sisters, Xiao Yanyan and Xiao Hunian, for his downfall.
As Han Derang entered, Xiyin, still enraged, ordered him to leave. Wuguli intervened, reminding Xiyin that Han Derang was his only hope. Han Derang then questioned Xiyin about setting traps, trying to steal the little Prince, and plotting to assassinate Yelv Xian during the Lushan hunt. Xiyin admitted to some accusations but vehemently denied the assassination plot, arguing that Yansage would have seized the opportunity to kill him if he had.
He also confessed that his collusion with Gao Xun and Nüli was to blackmail them, as he had discovered their involvement in Xiao Siwen’s murder. Han Derang promised to help Xiyin prove his innocence and ensure the well-being of Wuguli and Liulishou. Xiyin, feeling utterly trapped by the elaborate scheme, expressed his despair at being unable to prove his innocence. The next day, Xiyin was exiled to Zuzhou.
Wuguli, holding their son Liulishou, bid him a sorrowful farewell, vowing to make Gao Xun and Nüli pay for their actions and to find a way to bring him back. Xiyin, resigned, told her that arrogant people like Gao Xun and Nüli would meet their ends soon enough. Meanwhile, Han Derang received a confession from Xiyin’s confidant, Salan, confirming Xiyin’s earlier claims.
Xinning, Han Derang’s subordinate, reported finding torn letters at the home of Pangqi, a spy Xiyin had placed in Xiao Siwen's residence. The restored fragments revealed the name Nianmugun. Han Derang realized that Yansage was the true mastermind, having meticulously planned the entire scheme from the moment he sought to return to the capital. He decided to report this to the Emperor immediately, but advised Xinning to keep it quiet for now.
Around the same time, Xiao Hunian experienced nausea, leading Yansage to suspect she was pregnant. Overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a father, Yansage decided to accelerate his plans. He was informed by Nianmugun that Han Derang's investigation was closing in on their spy network. Yansage, unconcerned about exposure, declared that with Hunian possibly pregnant, they would move forward with their plan.
The first step was to spread rumors in the capital, claiming an affair between Xiao Yanyan and Han Derang. Han Derang then went to the palace to confess his shortcomings to Yelv Xian. He revealed that the Lushan assassination and Xiyin's actions were all part of Yansage's elaborate scheme, deploying everything from afar and deliberately planting misleading evidence.
Yelv Xian acknowledged Yansage's ambition but noted that since Yansage had just been officially appeased, a legitimate reason was needed to act against him. Han Derang promised to uncover further proof. News of the rumors reached Han Derang through Xiuge and Dalin, who were concerned about the damage to the royal family's reputation. Han Derang, recognizing his position as the focal point of the rumors, knew that direct self-defense would only escalate the issue.
He urged Xiuge and Dalin to protect Xiao Yanyan in court the following day from potential attacks. In the palace, Xiao Yanyan, though aware of the rumors, remained resolute, stating that as long as Yelv Xian trusted her, she feared nothing, as her conscience was clear. She ordered strict punishment for anyone in the palace caught spreading the rumors.
Simultaneously, Xige attempted to poison Yelv Xian’s mind by slandering Xiao Yanyan and suggesting her conduct brought shame to the royal family. Yelv Xian, furious, silenced Xige and threatened to cut out her tongue if she spread rumors again, before dismissing her. While Yelv Xian expressed his trust in both Han Derang and Xiao Yanyan, he admitted feeling a deep discomfort in his heart.
Meanwhile, Gao Xun and Nüli, meeting over drinks, discussed capitalizing on the widespread rumors to pressure Yelv Xian into deposing Xiao Yanyan and having Xige raise the little Prince. They agreed that Yansage had effectively muddled the waters, and they knew how to proceed in court the next day. During the morning court session, Nüli openly challenged Xiao Yanyan about the rumors of her affair with Han Derang.
Xiuge promptly defended the Empress, dismissing the rumors as nonsense and subtly mocking Nüli by questioning his role and suggesting he was acting like a "gossip". Nüli, undeterred, insisted on a thorough investigation, starting with Han Derang. He then escalated his demands, formally requesting Han Derang’s exile, deeming the rumors a capital crime. Xiao Yanyan, enraged, called his suggestion ridiculous.
As the tension mounted, Yelv Xian unexpectedly arrived, effectively defusing the situation with a few pointed remarks, reminding the ministers to cooperate and not engage in internal strife, thereby silencing Nüli. After the court adjourned, Xiao Yanyan expressed her frustration to Yelv Xian, feeling that his sudden appearance had undermined her efforts to corner Nüli. She believed she could have forced Nüli to lose his temper and then taken him down.
Yelv Xian, however, gently chided her for her naivete in court politics. He explained that Nüli was merely a pawn for Yansage, and taking him down prematurely would have played right into Yansage's hands, allowing him to portray Xiao Yanyan as unjust and further spread false accusations. Yelv Xian reassured her that Yansage was becoming restless and would soon expose a weakness, advising patience.
Separately, Han Kuangsi, concerned by the increasingly dangerous political climate, urged his son Han Derang to leave the capital. Han Derang, however, remained determined to see Xiao Siwen’s murder case to its true conclusion, convinced that Xiyin's capture was merely a diversion. To aid him, Han Kuangsi entrusted his son with his private network of informants and forces. Later, Yelv Xian summoned Han Kuangsi, indirectly expressing his personal unease despite his trust in Han Derang.
He subtly suggested that Han Derang should marry soon, implying it would help restore stability and ease the Emperor's mind. That night, Han Derang, alone, held his bow and arrow, pondering his vows of selfless service, yet deeply aware of his unspoken feelings for Xiao Yanyan.
