The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 43 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Xiao Yanyan visited Wuguli at Zhao's mansion, apologizing for her inability to save Xiyin. Wuguli acknowledged that it was the late emperor's decree and attributed Xiyin's fate to her own misfortune, lamenting that the man she loved was caught in a power struggle. Xiao Yanyan followed Wuguli into the ancestral temple, surprised to find the portraits of Emperor Taizu and Empress Dowager Shulü enshrined there. Wuguli explained that these were relics of Emperor Taizu and Empress Dowager Shulü.
She elaborated that Lihu, as the hearth keeper, should have rightfully inherited the family estate according to steppe customs. Xiao Yanyan realized this might be the reason for Lihu and his son's lifelong obsession with the throne. Recalling Empress Dowager Shulü's unfulfilled promise to Lihu, Xiao Yanyan declared her intention to fulfill it.
She then announced an imperial decree posthumously honoring Lihu as Emperor Qinshun, hoping to pacify the spirits of Emperor Taizu and Taizong, and to end the endless conflicts among the three branches of Emperor Taizu's descendants. Wuguli accepted the decree, expressing a hollow satisfaction that Xiyin and her father would be pleased, but internally scoffed at the idea that a mere posthumous title could erase years of resentment.
After Xiao Yanyan left, Wuguli knelt before the altar, tearfully vowing to seek vengeance for Xiyin and her father Lihu before joining them in death. Han Derang reported to Xiao Yanyan that Hugu and other tribal chiefs were actively obstructing the new reforms and re-enslaving freed servants. Xiao Yanyan asserted the need to suppress this opposition to prevent their years of effort from being wasted.
Han Derang suggested replacing Hugu as the leader of the Irkin clan with Xiezhen, whose grandfather was Premier Helu. He argued that Xiezhen, despite his youth, surpassed Hugu in strategy and military achievements, and should rightfully lead, while Hugu could be sent back to his clan to herd sheep. Xiao Yanyan approved this plan. Han Derang then inquired about Wuguli's reaction to the decree.
Xiao Yanyan believed Wuguli's demeanor had softened, attributing her lingering resentment to needing more time, and expressed confidence that, as sisters, Wuguli would eventually let go of her hatred. However, Han Derang remained skeptical and instructed Xinning to closely monitor Princess Zhao's activities. Xiezhen approached Hugu, questioning why he was opposing the Empress Dowager. Hugu clarified that his opposition was directed at Han Derang's rules, not the Empress Dowager.
He accused Han Derang of being too manipulative and warned Xiezhen to avoid Han Derang, Xiuge, and Dalin, branding them as traitors to their clan. Xiezhen, dismissing Hugu's narrow views, reminded him of Emperor Taizu's reliance on the southern territories to establish the Liao Dynasty. He advised Hugu to focus on his own affairs rather than being a pawn for others. Xiezhen then left, mentioning he had a "date."
When Hugu speculated if he was seeking courtesans, Xiezhen revealed he was meeting Xiao Hailan, daughter of Xiao Taogu and a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager. Hugu immediately suspected it was a "honey trap" orchestrated by Han Derang and sternly warned Xiezhen to distance himself from Xiao Hailan. Xiezhen brushed off Hugu’s concerns, declaring Hugu too old to understand the affairs of young people.
An urgent military report reached the court, detailing the Southern Dynasty's aggressive advance toward the Sixteen Prefectures. Some ministers advocated abandoning Youzhou to end the prolonged warfare, suggesting they could reclaim it later amidst the inevitable internal chaos following the aging Southern King's demise. Xiao Yanyan vehemently rejected this strategy, demanding to know where they would retreat if the Southern Dynasty advanced further into the steppe.
She condemned King Wu for advocating reliance on an enemy's internal strife and declared that any mention of surrendering the Sixteen Prefectures, the foundation of Liao, would be met with execution. She commanded all tribal clans to prepare their troops to march south with her and the young Emperor to defend the realm.
Following the assembly, Han Derang presented a plan to swiftly deliver vital provisions and funds from Xijin Mansion and Datong Mansion to Youzhou by May, regardless of cost, suggesting the use of merchants paid with salt bars. A further urgent report from the cabinet announced that Li Jiqian of the Dangxiang clan had arrived seeking asylum. Xiao Yanyan convened her advisors to discuss whether to assist him.
A minister argued for supporting Dangxiang to establish a buffer zone between Liao and the Southern Dynasty. Xiao Yanyan expressed doubts about Li Jiqian's value, given he had lost the Yin and Xia five States and arrived alone, fearing he might prove to be another ineffectual leader like Liu Jiyuan.
However, a minister praised Li Jiqian's resilience, recounting his upbringing on horseback, his appointment as Director of clan affairs at twelve, his decade-long rebellion against the South despite repeated defeats, and his brave decision to seek Liao's help even with his family held captive. The minister concluded that Li Jiqian's strong character made him worthy of support. Noting that the Southern Ambassador had already threatened war regardless of their decision, Xiao Yanyan resolved to meet Li Jiqian.
If he proved to be a capable young talent, she would arrange a marriage for him with a woman from the imperial clans, thereby securing his allegiance as Liao's son-in-law. Xiao Yanyan tasked Xiuge with recommending suitable noble women for marriage. Xiuge proposed Yelü Dian, Yelü Danhua, Yelü Ting (daughter of Yelü Xiang, Governor of Wangzizhang), and Xiao Hailan (daughter of Xiao Taogu, Commander of Nanjing).
Later, Xiezhen confronted Xiuge, accusing him of intentionally including Xiao Hailan, whom he considered his intended. Xiuge retorted that Hailan was not "his" simply because he desired her and noted her apparent lack of interest in him. Xiezhen passionately declared he would marry no one but Hailan. Xiuge reminded Xiezhen that his duty was to recommend candidates, but the final decision lay with the Empress Dowager.
He encouraged Xiezhen, as the distinguished King of Southern Courtyard, to fight for the woman he loved. Xiao Yanyan invited several noble women to the palace for tea and archery, secretly to select a bride for Li Jiqian. Among them, Yelü Ting conversed with Xiao Hailan. Hailan mentioned Xiezhen's past search for brothels in Youzhou.
Yelü Ting revealed that Xiezhen had once severely punished a clan member for boasting about a courtesan, implying his actions were a display of sincerity for Hailan, a fact Hailan was unaware of. Yelü Ting also shared her own plight, explaining that her stepmother intended to marry her to her nephew to seize her inheritance. Unwilling to yield, Yelü Ting saw the marriage to Li Jiqian as an opportunity to control her own destiny.
While observing the girls, Xiao Yanyan and Hunian noticed Yelü Ting calmly attempting to remedy a burnt pot of milk tea by adding fried rice and salt, a method she learned from studying Tang history, inspired by Princess Wencheng's influence in Tibet. Xiao Yanyan was impressed by Yelü Ting's quick thinking and knowledge, recognizing her resilience honed by domestic hardship.
When Xiao Yanyan inquired about the unique milk tea, Xiao Hailan attempted to take responsibility, but Yelü Ting humbly confessed it was her creation. Impressed, Xiao Yanyan invited Yelü Ting to stay in the palace. Xiao Hailan requested to stay with Yelü Ting, which Xiao Yanyan granted. Upon learning that Xiao Hailan was staying in the palace, Xiezhen, fearing she had been chosen for Li Jiqian, boldly stormed into the palace, demanding to see Xiao Yanyan.
He vehemently opposed marrying Hailan to Li Jiqian, disparaging Li Jiqian as old, ugly, and treacherous, and offered a military pledge to secure Liao's victory against the Southern army if granted marriage to Hailan. Xiao Hailan, emerging from her room, publicly rejected Xiezhen, calling him a "rake" and accusing him of speaking nonsense. Xiao Yanyan, feigning anger at Xiezhen's transgression and public outburst, ordered him to be severely punished with eighty lashes.
Distraught, Xiao Hailan intervened, tearfully admitting her true feelings and willingness to marry Xiezhen. Having elicited their mutual affection, Xiao Yanyan granted them marriage, and the happy couple departed. Xiao Yanyan then kept Yelü Ting, confirming her intelligence and decisiveness. She asked Yelü Ting one final time if she was truly willing to leave Liao and marry Li Jiqian.
Yelü Ting, affirming her Yelü lineage, bravely assented, offering to serve Liao by moderating the Dangxiang clan in the Yin and Xia five States. Xiao Yanyan accepted her sacrifice. Xiao Yanyan formally bestowed upon Li Jiqian the titles of Governor of Dingnan Army and King of Xia, and granted him Princess Yicheng (Yelü Ting) in marriage, with a dowry of 3,000 soldiers. Li Jiqian expressed profound gratitude to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, vowing unwavering loyalty to Liao.
As preparations for the Youzhou campaign intensified, and Xiao Yanyan personally led the Youzhou campaign, Dalin analyzed the Southern army's formidable advance. He concluded that despite their aggression, they were "not to be feared," citing the Southern King's absurd motivation—underestimating Liao's young Emperor and reigning Empress Dowager—and significant internal discord, including distrust between the king and his generals, who were compelled to accept incompetent inspectors. Xiao Yanyan recognized these "mistakes" as Liao's opportunities but urged caution.
She strategized to avoid the enemy's initial thrust before launching a decisive counter-attack. Dalin proposed concentrating forces to first break Cao Bin's eastern flank, then turning to engage Pan Mei. Xiao Yanyan agreed, ordering Xiuge and Xiezhen to attack Cao Bin. After their victory, Xiezhen was to lead the main army to West Anding to encircle He Lingtu, Prefect of Xiongzhou, while the Clan Five troops simultaneously attacked Weizhou and Huanzhou to crush Pan Mei's western army.
The campaign proved successful, forcing the Southern army to withdraw. Xiao Yanyan observed that the Southern generals, Pan Mei and Cao Bin, had fought in an uncharacteristic manner, suggesting they had lost control of their troops to misguided orders from distant, incompetent commanders. She concluded that if the Southern King failed to learn from this defeat, the military fortunes of the Southern Dynasty would inevitably decline. Xiezhen and Xiao Hailan later came to thank Xiao Yanyan for their granted marriage.
Xiao Yanyan advised Xiezhen to be more prudent as a husband and urged Xiao Hailan to temper her minor quirks. Xiezhen playfully defended Hailan's temper, declaring his affection for it, leading to a light-hearted rebuke from Hailan. Xiao Yanyan then sent them to the Emperor to receive their wedding gifts. Subsequently, Xiao Yanyan received a congratulatory message from Princess Zhao (Wuguli), inviting her to a family banquet for her upcoming birthday.
Xiao Yanyan expressed surprise at this "rare" gesture, believing Wuguli was finally letting go of her resentment, and confirmed her attendance. Unbeknownst to Xiao Yanyan, Wuguli had instructed her staff to report her as ill and refuse all visitors, stating that her actions were for the future of her descendants and that she intended to observe the "tricks" of the other women.
The day before the banquet, Ji Princess visited Wuguli, presenting a wine pot as an early birthday gift before mentioning her need to return to Youzhou. She then requested a private discussion with Wuguli, hinting at further conspiratorial plans.
