The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 33 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Taiping King confined Hunian in her room, asserting he would not let her leave even if she hated him forever. He declared that today, either he or Yelv Xian would die, asking her whom she wished to survive. Hunian was speechless, and Taiping King left her locked inside, ordering the doors and windows to be sealed. Meanwhile, a celebratory imperial family banquet was held, marking the little prince's recovery.
Xige, following Nüli's instructions, had secretly poisoned the guards' refreshments to facilitate Nüli's troops entering the palace. Yelv Xian noted the absence of the Imperial Uncle, Taiping King. An official reported that Taiping King was indisposed with a cold and sent his apologies. Yelv Xian, expressing joy for his son's health, raised a toast with his ministers. Anzhi, secretly in league with Taiping King, presented wine on behalf of Zhimo, claiming they had brewed it themselves for the occasion.
After Yelv Xian and Xiao Yanyan drank the wine, they suffered intense abdominal pain, immediately realizing it was poisoned. Anzhi dropped her pretense, confessing her alliance with Taiping King. She scorned Zhimo for his lack of ambition and constant prayers, declaring she would seize power and status for them. She hoped to become the Prime Minister's wife, a position promised by Taiping King if she succeeded in killing the Emperor and Empress.
Zhimo, disgusted by her ruthlessness, stabbed her, but Anzhi mocked him as a eunuch. Enraged, Zhimo killed her. As the chaos unfolded at the banquet, Nüli and Gao Xun led their forces into the palace, only to be met and intercepted by Dalin and Xiuge, who were prepared for the assault. Taiping King, riding a warhorse, burst into Kaihuang Hall, declaring his rightful claim to the throne and prophesying the deaths of Yelv Xian and Xiao Yanyan.
Just then, Han Derang appeared with his troops, and hidden soldiers emerged, surrounding Nüli and Gao Xun's men. It was then revealed that this entire sequence was a meticulously planned trap by Yelv Xian. Han Derang had never departed for Youzhou; his feigned departure was orchestrated to hasten Taiping King's rebellion. The poisoning of Yelv Xian and Xiao Yanyan was also a ruse, designed to lure Taiping King into revealing his true, treacherous intentions.
Realizing he had been outmaneuvered, Taiping King made a desperate attempt to strike down Yelv Xian. Han Derang intervened, engaging Taiping King in a fierce duel. Throughout the palace, intense battles raged. Xiuge and Dalin cornered Nüli and Gao Xun's forces, using fire to trap them within the city walls. Nüli fell to Xiuge's flaming arrow, and Gao Xun met his end by Dalin's spear, thus concluding their lives of ambition and conspiracy in a failed rebellion.
Wuguli arrived with reinforcements at the main hall. Xiao Yanyan shot the already wounded Taiping King with an arrow. Nianmugun, with his last strength, helped Taiping King escape, urging him to flee Shangjing. However, Taiping King, still preoccupied with Hunian, insisted on returning to his residence for her. Nianmugun sacrificed himself to block Han Derang, dying by his sword to buy Taiping King time.
Taiping King managed to reach Hunian, who, upon seeing him, initially expressed concern for her sister (Xiao Yanyan), but then realized the extent of his severe injuries when he started spitting blood. Confessing his defeat, he reaffirmed his love for her, and Hunian, in turn, vowed to accompany him, renouncing all claims to power and position and wishing to travel the world with him.
Dying, Taiping King entrusted his military power, symbolized by a token to command his Guo'anlien Ouluoduo forces, to Hunian. He warned her about the lack of kinship in imperial power, cautioning that Xiao Yanyan, now the ruling empress, would prioritize her husband and son and might not reciprocate Hunian's wholehearted devotion. He urged Hunian to maintain control of her own troops to ensure her autonomy and avoid being at the mercy of others.
Hunian wept, begging him not to leave, but he expressed regret that he could not protect her forever, passing away in her arms. With Taiping King removed, stability returned to Liao. Han Derang returned a military token to Yelv Xian, revealing it to be the symbol of Yelv Xian's last remaining troops, which he had entrusted to Han Derang.
Han Derang reported that Taiping King was killed by the Empress, Gao Xun and Nüli were executed, and the Guo'anlien Ouluoduo forces had retreated. Yelv Xian expressed remorse for the fallen soldiers, but Han Derang asserted that they died to protect the empire and secure peace under Yelv Xian's reign. Yelv Xian then asked Han Derang to remain in Shangjing to help establish lasting peace for Liao, but assured him he would respect his decision if he chose to leave.
Xiao Yanyan confronted Yelv Xian, upset that he had kept Han Derang's feigned departure a secret, feeling it was a sign of distrust. Yelv Xian explained that he did not want to burden her and had given his last army to Han Derang as a contingency against Taiping King's desperate actions. He decided not to punish King Ji, allowing him and his family to continue guarding Nanjing, to preserve some lineage of the Taizong family.
He also shared the sorrowful news that Hunian had lost her child. Han Derang returned home, where Si was cleaning his armor. She reminded him of his promise to take her back to Youzhou after completing his final task in Shangjing. Han Derang paused, recalling Xiao Yanyan's earlier question about his departure, but ultimately reaffirmed his commitment to Si, promising to fulfill his word and return to Youzhou with her.
Following the events, and as promised by Xiao Yanyan earlier, King Zhao was allowed to return to the capital and was welcomed by Wuguli and their son Liulishou. He was reinstated as the Commander of Han's Army, and Xiuge took command of Nüli's former troops. Hunian was honored with the title of Imperial Consort and placed in charge of the Guo'anlien Ouluoduo. During court, Hunian was absent, as she was managing Taiping King's funeral. Xiao Yanyan, understanding Hunian's grief, ordered a generous Dianyi to be granted for Taiping King, befitting an Imperial Uncle, earning praise for the Emperor and Empress's mercy and wisdom.
