The Long Ballad Episode 15 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Li Changge tearfully agreed to Gongsun Heng’s request—she promised she would take good care of Madam Gongsun and Yuan Niang. After giving his final instructions, Gongsun Heng asked Elder Qin and Xufeng to follow Li Changge from now on, believing that she would surely protect the people of Junzhou. His mind was made up—neither Elder Qin nor Li Changge could dissuade him. All they could do was watch helplessly as Gongsun Heng drew his sword and ended his own life.
The blood of a loyal official splattered on the delicate blossoms, and Li Changge wept uncontrollably. Madam Gongsun entered the study. Though she was heartbroken over Gongsun Heng’s passing, she also knew that this was not merely a sacrifice—this was the highest honor for a commander defending his city. Snow covered the skies over Junzhou. Madam Gongsun accompanied Gongsun Heng on his final journey.
She loved him, and since he gave his life for Junzhou, she would follow in his footsteps and accompany him to the afterlife. She would not let him walk the road to the netherworld alone. As for Yuan Niang, she admitted she was being selfish as a mother to leave her behind. The commotion in the study woke Li Changge and Elder Qin, who stood outside. Li Changge was overwhelmed with grief as she witnessed the couple’s martyrdom.
Elder Qin, however, urged her to truly consider what “home” and “nation” meant—and what her own guiding principle was. The next day, Asher Sun arrived with his troops outside Junzhou, waiting for Li Changge to surrender. He saw her alone, dressed in mourning clothes, kneeling before Gongsun Heng’s spirit tablet. As a Tang princess, she was bound to protect the safety of the Tang people with all her might.
At that moment, Hao Dou came to the governor’s manor intending to kill Li Changge. She declared bluntly that if he stood in her way, it would be tantamount to betraying Tang. She knew Hao Dou wanted her dead—everyone around her was already gone, and the land that birthed and raised her had exiled her. She felt worse than death itself. Once her mission was complete, he could kill her then.
After paying her respects to Gongsun Heng, she carried his severed head and prepared to offer the city’s surrender. Junzhou was about to fall. Fearing more chaos after the surrender, Li Changge instructed Elder Qin and Xufeng to take Yuan Niang and all of Gongsun Heng’s belongings away while Asher Sun entered the city. She would stay and defend Junzhou herself. Having lost her home, she would never lose Tang again. Alone, she brought Gongsun Heng’s head to surrender.
Though Asher Sun wore a mask, Li Changge recognized Mu Jin’s voice. Realizing his identity was exposed, Asher Sun removed his mask. Li Changge was shocked to see his real face. She held back the pain of betrayal and, after surrendering, pleaded with the Asher's Tribe to spare the people of the city. The Asher soldiers refused. Li Changge showed no fear—if they wanted the lives of the entire city, she would die with them and bring them down together.
Her words made sense, and Asher Sun agreed—but on the condition that she submit to him, serve him, and be at his command. He wanted to make her his slave, not to humiliate her, but to protect her. A traitor who had offered up a city would not survive there. Though it was a humiliation, for the sake of Junzhou’s people, Li Changge swallowed her pride and agreed. The Asher tribe entered the city.
Li Changge was tied up and paraded through the marketplace. The people of Junzhou all saw her as a traitor. She stood silently among the crowd without a single word of defense. Mu Jin publicly declared that the Asher's Tribe would not harm the citizens. A sigh of relief swept through the crowd, followed by cheers. No one remembered Li Changge’s sacrifices. She recalled Gongsun Heng’s sacrifice and felt it was all still worth it.
Asher Sun had released the people of Junzhou without authorization. Tukheshe came to settle accounts. Never before in the history of steppe warfare had soldiers and civilians been spared. Asher Sun pointed out how Tukheshe’s unauthorized actions had ruined their previous plan and forcefully suppressed his complaints. He then sent Mu Jin to put up public notices stating that Li Changge was dead, while secretly protecting her.
