The Long Ballad Episode 17 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Li Shimin received a letter from Gaodu and learned that Changge had died at the hands of Asher's Tribe. He couldn't help but weep in sorrow. He had treated Changge like a daughter since she was young—how could he be heartless? In Yunzhou City, the mistress of the embroidery workshop asked Leyan to leave after finishing her meal. Leyan begged to stay for a few more days, asking for no wages, only shelter.
She promised to repay the mistress once she returned to Chang’an. The mistress, being kind-hearted, saw that Leyan truly had nowhere else to go and agreed to take her in, allowing her to work and learn at the embroidery workshop. Changge's fighting spirit was completely reignited by Asher Sun. She chose to live and came to negotiate with him. After the battle at Junzhou City, Changge understood that Asher Sun’s status on the grasslands wasn’t as glorious as it seemed.
She was willing to serve as his military advisor and help him devise strategies. However, she demanded that he never commit immoral acts or do anything harmful to the Tang Empire. After fulfilling three tasks for him, Asher Sun must let her go. Asher Sun was overjoyed to see the light return to Changge’s eyes and agreed without hesitation—Changge would be his advisor from now on. Whether she could survive on the grasslands depended on her own ability.
The Great Khan brought the young Khan, Sheer, to the Eagle Division camp. The Great Khan rarely appeared in person, which meant this visit likely bore ill intentions. Changge sensed the subtle tension and questioned Mu Jin. That’s when she learned that sparing Junzhou City was entirely Asher Sun’s decision—he had paid a heavy price for it. Even the arrow shot from the city wall had been intentionally misfired by Asher Sun. His feelings for her ran deep.
Asher Sun welcomed the Great Khan respectfully. Sheer also came into the Eagle Division’s tent. He was Asher Sun’s sworn enemy, and his every word was meant to stir suspicion in the Great Khan’s heart. Asher Sun presented all the battle records, Gongsun Heng’s head, and the letter Gongsun Heng had written to defect. He was gambling on the Great Khan’s trust. After much hesitation, the Great Khan chose to believe him.
However, the Great Khan hadn’t come just for this issue. He came because Sheer accused Asher Sun of colluding with the Tang army and causing the failure of the Wolf Army’s plan. Sheer had even brought a witness—Wang Junkuo. The Great Khan wanted to know if Asher Sun had truly done such a thing. Asher Sun hadn’t expected this move from Sheer, but he remained calm and denied the accusation.
Changge knew that the Great Khan’s personal visit couldn’t be so simple. Unexpectedly, she saw Wang Junkuo among Sheer’s men. She turned to Nu Er for help and devised a plan. They made Wang Junkuo believe that Sheer intended to pin the embezzlement of the treasury funds on him. As a result, when Wang Junkuo saw the Great Khan, he accused Sheer. He begged for mercy but was killed by Sheer.
The Great Khan was shocked by Sheer’s private embezzlement and scowled at him on the spot, rewarding Asher Sun handsomely. After this incident, Nu Er fully admired Changge, and their relationship rapidly deepened. Asher Sun noticed and felt a pang of jealousy. He immediately asked Mu Jin to arrange a private tent for Changge. At the county yamen, Shuyu got drunk and clung to Gaodu. He knew Gaodu looked down on him—and so did Changge.
Otherwise, why would she remain unaware of his feelings for so many years? Now that Leyan’s life or death was uncertain, Shuyu was still thinking of Changge. Gaodu furiously rebuked him. Shuyu was in deep pain—Changge was dead, Leyan was still missing, and he was riddled with guilt and self-loathing. Shuyu mocked Gaodu, saying he was nothing more than Du Ruhui’s puppet. Gaodu didn’t argue.
Though cold on the outside, he softened upon seeing Shuyu drunk and helped him back to his room. Li Shimin ascended the throne as emperor and summoned Wei Zheng to ask about the situation in Jingzhou. Luo Yi had led the Tianji Army in rebellion there. Though Li Shimin was reluctant to act against Jingzhou, Wei Zheng feared a repeat of the chaos at the end of the Sui dynasty.
As long as Luo Yi remained, he would be a threat. Wei Zheng advised the emperor to act decisively. Li Shimin accepted his counsel and inquired about Shuyu. Though Shuyu hadn’t found Leyan, Li Shimin didn’t blame him. Instead, he asked Wei Zheng to recall Shuyu and appointed him as Censorate Inspector. At the embroidery workshop, Leyan was working on her embroidery, but she was slow and unskilled.
She begged the other embroiderers to give her more time, explaining that she had never done this kind of work in the palace. Hearing this, the embroiderers mocked her, thinking her palace dreams were nothing but fantasies. At Asher’s Tribe, the Great Khan rewarded Asher Sun with many slaves. One of the women was exceptionally beautiful and drew the attention of some soldiers. She struggled fiercely, and the noise woke Changge from a nightmare.
