The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 44 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
Princess Ji delivered a special gift to Princess Zhao Wuguli: a Yuanyang Flagon. Princess Ji explained that the flagon's mechanism, located at its bottom, allowed Wuguli to control whether wine or poison would be poured at the upcoming banquet. Wuguli accepted, thanking Princess Ji. Later, one of Wuguli's maids inquired with Princess Ji's maid Zisu about the gift, learning it was a unique wine flagon called the Yuanyang Flagon.
Suspecting foul play, this maid sent word about the suspicious gift in the dark of night. Wuguli, however, fully intended to use the flagon. She entrusted the Yuanyang Flagon to her trusted maid, Guiyin, explaining the mechanism to her and instructing Guiyin to personally pour drinks for both Wuguli and Empress Dowager Xiao Yanyan at the family dinner the next day. Meanwhile, King Shu, Daoyin, also made his preparations. He gathered his household troops near King Zhao's Palace.
He instructed them that if Empress Dowager Xiao Yanyan were harmed, they were to storm the palace, kill Princess Zhao Wuguli, and avenge the Empress Dowager. If Xiao Yanyan remained unharmed, they were to stay put and avoid detection. The next day, Xiao Yanyan arrived at King Zhao's Palace for Wuguli's birthday celebration. The three sisters, Xiao Yanyan, Wuguli, and Hunian, sat together at the table. Wuguli toasted them, expressing her joy at their reunion.
Xiao Yanyan returned the toast, happy for the rare gathering. Hunian then suggested that they all visit their mother's tomb together, as their mother's birthday was approaching. Wuguli agreed to the plan. As the celebration continued, Wuguli ordered Guiyin to pour more wine. Guiyin's hands trembled with fear, prompting Wuguli to take the flagon herself, chiding Guiyin for her clumsiness. Wuguli then personally poured a cup for Xiao Yanyan, raising a toast to her.
Just as Xiao Yanyan was about to drink, Han Derang rushed in, stopping her and declaring the wine poisonous. Wuguli, infuriated, accused Han Derang of meddling and trying to sow discord between the sisters. To prove him wrong, she publicly drank from her own cup, asserting that both cups came from the same flagon and she would never poison her sister. Han Derang, however, saw through her deception.
He challenged Wuguli to drink the cup meant for Xiao Yanyan, promising that if she remained unharmed, he would submit to any punishment she deemed fit. Wuguli refused to drink Xiao Yanyan's cup. Han Derang then exposed the secret of the Yuanyang Flagon, revealing its dual compartments. Realizing her plot was discovered, Wuguli, in a fit of rage, stabbed Guiyin, accusing her of betrayal. She then attempted to kill Xiao Yanyan, but Han Derang quickly intervened and apprehended her.
Xiao Yanyan, still in shock that Wuguli would try to murder her, dismissed everyone, asking Han Derang to leave as well, so only the three sisters remained in the room. Xiao Yanyan confronted Wuguli, unable to comprehend her sister's cruelty. Wuguli, consumed by resentment over the deaths of Xiyin and Liulishou, expressed deep regret for saving Xiao Yanyan years ago when Xiyin had tried to harm her.
She wished she had let Xiao Yanyan fall to her death from the high platform back then. Xiao Yanyan was heartbroken, realizing Wuguli had known about Xiyin's scheme all along and had harbored such hatred despite Xiao Yanyan treating her as a dear sister. Wuguli confessed that she had wished for Xiao Yanyan's death day and night, longing to reunite with Xiyin and Liulishou.
Hunian tried to intervene, urging Wuguli to calm down, but Wuguli, driven by her madness, dismissed their sisterly bond. She even attempted to turn Hunian against Xiao Yanyan by revealing that Xiao Yanyan was the one who shot Yansage with an arrow years ago, accusing Xiao Yanyan of maintaining a false sisterhood. Seeing Wuguli's unrepentant state, Xiao Yanyan declared her no longer a sister, but the wife of the traitor Xiyin, and ordered her death.
Hunian, distraught, knelt and pleaded with Xiao Yanyan to spare Wuguli. However, Wuguli, defiant, grabbed the poisoned Yuanyang Flagon and drank from it herself. Hunian cried and embraced her dying sister. In her final moments, Wuguli warned Hunian not to trust Xiao Yanyan anymore, leaving Hunian in deep sorrow.
Upon learning that Wuguli's plot had failed and she had taken her own life, Princess Ji, back in Youzhou, quickly murdered her maid Zisu to silence her, her hatred for Han Derang intensifying. Han Derang, reflecting on Princess Zhao's case, believed that while Princess Zhao Wuguli and Princess Ji conspired, King Shu, Daoyin, was the true opportunist, seeking to profit from their schemes.
King Shu had long been ambitious, eyeing Princess Zhao's Ouluoduo, but Han Derang's early deployment of troops near King Zhao's Palace had prevented him from acting rashly. Han Derang understood the urgency of reporting King Shu's ambition to Xiao Yanyan but worried about her state of mind after Wuguli's death. Xiao Yanyan spent a sleepless night, overwhelmed by Wuguli's betrayal. The next day, Han Derang came to see her, comforting her and assuring her that the fault was not hers.
He explained that Wuguli had been consumed by her own inner demons and hatred, much like Princess Ji. When Xiao Yanyan despaired, wondering whom she could still trust and who would remain unchanged, Han Derang solemnly promised, "I won't." Reassured, Xiao Yanyan listened as Han Derang reported his suspicions about King Shu, Daoyin, being the mastermind behind the recent events.
Han Derang noted that King Shu was known for stirring up trouble through others and then feigning illness when danger arose. Given that Princess Ji had fled to Youzhou, Han Derang urged preventing King Shu from escaping back to his fief, lest he cause further unrest. Xiao Yanyan, already aware of King Shu's feigned illness, decided to dispatch imperial doctors to his residence.
Her instruction was that he could not leave Shangjing City until his "illness" was cured, effectively keeping him confined. Meanwhile, Hunian refused to see Xiao Yanyan, and Xiao Yanyan herself found it impossible to face Wuguli's coffin. Han Derang visited Hunian at the coffin to offer his condolences. Hunian, however, accused both Han Derang and Xiao Yanyan of forcing Wuguli to her death.
Han Derang did not defend himself, stating that he would tolerate no one who sought to harm Xiao Yanyan. He reminded Hunian that Xiao Yanyan was also her sister and that if Wuguli's plot had succeeded, it would be Xiao Yanyan who was dead. Hunian wept, lamenting how the three sisters had come to such a tragic pass.
She confessed to Han Derang that she had long sensed something was amiss with Wuguli but had held onto hope that she would change her mind. Now, tired of power struggles and feeling she had no home in Shangjing City, Hunian decided to return to the northern border. Han Derang tried to dissuade her, citing Xiao Yanyan's grief and how Hunian's departure would devastate her further.
Hunian, however, pointed out that as Empress Dowager, Xiao Yanyan had many people to care for her, while her own pain went unnoticed. She handed Han Derang a petition addressed to the Empress Dowager, requesting permission to return north. Xiao Yanyan received Hunian's petition, which stated that with all her relatives gone, she felt homeless in Shangjing and wished to defend the northern border. Xiao Yanyan was saddened, understanding Hunian's resolute decision.
Han Derang advised her that Hunian's departure might be beneficial, as there were indeed disturbances in the north, and she could be recalled once her heart healed. Xiao Yanyan, although wishing to keep Hunian close, reluctantly agreed to let her go. She personally went to bid Hunian farewell. The sisters, estranged by tragedy, shared a somber goodbye, knowing their intimate bond was lost forever. Later, Xiao Yanyan consulted Premier Xiuge about the fate of Princess Ji and King Shu, Daoyin.
Premier Xiuge, emphasizing the importance of stability, urged caution to prevent further turmoil within the royal family. However, Xiao Yanyan firmly stated that she would not tolerate malicious acts. She declared that those who disregarded the nation's stability and the people's suffering, and who harbored ambition and engaged in intrigues, must pay the price. Xiao Yanyan then personally visited King Shu, Daoyin, who was still feigning illness. After ensuring his wife left them, Xiao Yanyan confronted him.
She revealed her knowledge of his secret meetings with Princess Zhao Wuguli and Princess Ji—six times with Princess Zhao and eight times with Princess Ji, all through secret passages while he was supposedly ill. She further exposed his mobilization of troops into Shangjing City the day before Princess Zhao's attempted murder. King Shu denied everything, claiming he was being framed and emphasizing his status as an imperial uncle.
Xiao Yanyan, however, reminded him of his sons and grandsons, subtly threatening their future if he did not take responsibility for his actions. She asserted that while she did not kill easily, she would not hesitate to do so if provoked, just like the late Emperor. She reminded King Shu that her sister, Wuguli, was dead, and someone had to pay with their life.
Implying the penalty for his involvement, she left him a bottle of poison, urging him to consider his descendants' well-being. Recognizing the grave threat to his family, King Shu, terrified, acknowledged his mistake and accepted his fate.
