The Legend of Xiao Chuo Episode 7 Recap
> The Legend of Xiao Chuo Recap
With the Southern Lord's troops retreated, His Majesty and Xiao Siwen returned to the capital. One day, a drunken His Majesty held court, where Yansage, the Taiping King, presented a list of conspirators. His Majesty ordered that all conspirators be sentenced to death, extending the punishment to their relatives and close associates. Although both Xiao Siwen and Yansage pleaded for mercy for those indirectly involved, His Majesty remained unyielding.
In prison, Li Hu, knowing his time was short, told Wuguli that her father, Xiao Siwen, had returned and would surely find a way to save her. He expressed his hope that Wuguli and Xiyin could escape and "regain your life" to preserve his bloodline. Wuguli, deeply in love, assured him that if she were freed, she would never abandon Xiyin.
Li Hu then urged Xiyin to "take up the power for our family," to which Xiyin solemnly promised that if he survived, his life would be dedicated to that cause. Wuguli further vowed to Xiyin that she would "always be with you and accompany you to do all the things you want to do." Yansage arrived to oversee Li Hu's execution. Xiyin fiercely tried to protect his father, but was restrained. Yansage offered Li Hu a cup of poisoned wine.
Li Hu's only condition was that Yansage spare Xiyin, to which Yansage agreed. Li Hu then, with a final warning to Yansage that he would be next, drank the poisoned wine and died, urging Xiyin one last time not to forget his promise. Xiyin and Wuguli were heartbroken. Wuguli comforted a sobbing Xiyin, declaring that what his father could not achieve, they would, and if they failed, their descendants surely would.
After Li Hu's death, Yansage's servant, Gaoliu, questioned releasing Xiyin, fearing future trouble. Yansage dismissed Xiyin as a "callow youth" who was "nothing without Lihu's protection." However, Gaoliu pointed out Wuguli's affection for Xiyin and worried that if Xiyin married her, Prime Minister Siwen might side with him. Yansage, already intending to propose to Hunian, explained his cunning plan: by allowing Xiyin to propose to Wuguli first, then Yansage could propose to Hunian.
This would make it difficult for Xiao Siwen to refuse his marriage proposal for Hunian, ensuring he could marry the beauty. Xiao Siwen received word from Yansage that Wuguli could be picked up from prison. Hunian was surprised Yansage kept his word. Xiao Yanyan, eager to see her sister, asked to go along with Hunian. Meanwhile, Yelv Xian, hearing of Xiyin and Wuguli's survival, suspected Yansage's motives, deducing that Yansage had "a crush on Prime Minister Siwen's eldest daughter," Hunian.
At the prison, Xiao Yanyan joyfully greeted Wuguli, but Wuguli refused to return home, insisting on going with Xiyin, revealing that they had "pledged their lives to each other in the prison." Hunian was furious, but Xiyin intervened, promising Wuguli that he would "come and propose by myself and I'll marry you with dignity," urging her to return home with her sisters for now. Back home, Wuguli tearfully knelt before Xiao Siwen, confessing her fear during imprisonment.
Xiao Siwen promised to grant her "whatever you want to do," but explicitly excluding marriage to Xiyin, as he held Xiyin responsible for Wuguli's suffering. Wuguli pleaded, arguing that Xiyin's plight made her want to stay by his side. Xiao Siwen remained firm, stating, "you are my daughter and I'm responsible for your life," and ordered Hunian to take Wuguli back to her room. Xiao Yanyan stayed to comfort her father and subtly asked his opinion of Han Derang.
Xiao Siwen, sensing her intent, explained that as members of the Empress' clan, their three daughters' marriages were predetermined for the three branches of Emperor Taizu's descendants, a matter of "responsibility. . . and the differentiation of power" that no one could change. He added that if both Hunian and Wuguli married into the royal family, Xiao Yanyan might then have "the freedom to choose the one you like."
At the Han household, preparations were underway to celebrate Han Kuangsi's ennoblement as King of Yan. Han Kuangsi, however, felt a poignant irony. He had hoped to serve the Liao Dynasty with his talent and gain "ennoblement for wife and children" through political achievements, not to be crowned "because of my medical skills due to the fatuous emperor's favor," finding it "pathetic and ridiculous."
Han Derang urged his father not to worry, seeing the kingship as beneficial for "stabilizing our position" for their future plans, as it would grant them more power to better influence court affairs, and allow them to expand their "military prefectures under command" and "shelter more people." Unbeknownst to Yansage, Han Derang and Yelv Xian had already unraveled his marriage scheme.
They planned to use Nüli to inform His Majesty about Xiyin and Wuguli's secret tryst and Yansage's concealment of it, aiming to "turn the two brothers against each other." Yelv Xian reflected on a past encounter where Xiao Yanyan, the youngest daughter of Prime Minister Siwen, had saved him, musing on the limited choices available to noble women like her, especially those of the Empress' clan.
He questioned Han Derang whether he would choose "the great cause and emotions," to which Han Derang unequivocally prioritized "the great cause," stating, "How could you fall in love when the great cause has not been accomplished?" Yelv Xian agreed, lamenting, "The great cause has not been accomplished, how could we build our home?"
Nüli then reported to His Majesty, revealing that Xiyin had known about Li Hu's rebellion, but Yansage, the Taiping King, had concealed it because he was enamored with Hunian, Prime Minister Siwen's eldest daughter. Enraged, His Majesty accused Yansage of being "driven by passion" and acting "bold to bend the law." He ordered Yansage to be flogged twenty times and stripped of his position as Commander of the Household Troops, appointing Yelv Xian in his stead.
Although pleased, Yelv Xian sought Han Derang's counsel. Han Derang advised extreme caution, pointing out the suspicious timing of such a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" given His Majesty's "suspicious" nature. He suggested Yelv Xian "submit a letter of resignation," explaining that if His Majesty truly trusted him, he would reaffirm the appointment. If it was a test, accepting it would be a dangerous trap. Yelv Xian understood, acknowledging his "inconsiderate" thinking that nearly led to "failure," and decided to decline the position.
Han Derang internally praised Yelv Xian's growth. Yelv Xian then reflected that he couldn't always rely on Han Derang to cover for his mistakes and needed to learn to take responsibility independently. Meanwhile, Hunian, hearing of Yansage's flogging and demotion, felt sympathy. She had a carriage prepared and, despite Xiao Yanyan's protest and confusion about her absence from Han Kuangsi's celebration, went to visit Yansage.
At Yansage's palace, Dilie King was attempting to "comfort" him, though Yansage saw through it as mockery. Dilie King even offered two "excellent slave girls" for Yansage's service. However, upon hearing of Hunian's arrival, Yansage, feigning anger and pain, hastily dismissed Dilie King and the slave girls through a back door, frantically tidying the room to avoid Hunian's misunderstanding.
His servant then exaggerated Yansage's suffering to Hunian, noting he "refused to take his medicine" due to his grief over His Majesty's punishment. Hunian offered him the "best medicine in my house" that she had brought.
