The Long Ballad Episode 23 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Li Changge was captured by soldiers of Asher's Tribe. Just as she was about to be in danger, an old woman named Ayi'er saved her. Ayi'er served the Khatun, who was once Princess Yicheng, a princess from the Sui Dynasty sent to the grasslands in a political marriage. Ayi'er brought Li Changge to meet Yicheng. Yicheng had long seen from Changge’s appearance and attire that she was a woman.
Knowing that Changge wanted to rescue Luo Yi, Yicheng treated her openly as a fellow person from the Central Plains, hoping to lower Changge's guard. The two of them prepared to work together to rescue Luo Yi. Leyan and Xiao Wu were hurrying to Luoyang. Their relationship had grown deeper. Leyan encouraged Xiao Wu to persevere, saying that once they arrived in Luoyang, everything would be better, and they would no longer need to live a life of wandering.
During this period, she had come to understand the hardship Li Shimin endured daily. All she wished for was peace for the people and a prosperous nation. Asher Sun risked sneaking out to see Li Changge. He noticed that someone had changed her dressing, and Li Changge admitted it was Princess Yicheng who had come to treat her wounds and had also brought her some food. Asher Sun was deeply worried for Changge’s safety.
He warned her that in this royal court, she could trust no one except him. With the Kurultai approaching, Asher Sun planned to find a way to take Changge away. However, Changge refused to leave because General Luo Yi was still there. She wanted to take the risk to rescue Luo Yi and hoped Asher Sun wouldn’t stop her.
Asher Sun pulled Changge into his arms, telling her to live well—nothing in the world was more important to him than she was. The Khan’s most beloved consort, Jinse, arrived at the royal court. Her charm had long captured the Khan’s heart. For her sake, the Khan even ordered Yicheng to personally pour wine for Jinse. Yicheng endured the humiliation and stepped forward to pour the wine, but Jinse was still unsatisfied and intentionally framed Yicheng for not pouring properly.
The Khan, in anger, hurt Yicheng. Years of humiliation and a life without dignity pushed Yicheng to the brink. She summoned Li Changge and revealed the painful life she had lived being married to successive Khans. She decided to help Changge rescue Luo Yi. When Changge learned of Yicheng’s plan, she was shocked to find out that Sheer was Yicheng’s biological son. However, the Khan had once made Sheer swear an oath never to secretly meet with Yicheng.
Yicheng planned to execute the rescue during the Kurultai, when the Khan and the tribal leaders would be out hunting. As Li Changge stepped out of the tent, Sheer saw her. He seized her by the neck, demanding to know why she was getting close to Yicheng. As she struggled, Sheer realized she was a woman. Delighted that Mimi’s feelings for Changge were not romantic, he then used Asher Sun to threaten Changge, forcing her to follow his orders.
At the Kurultai feast, Changge appeared with Sheer to meet the Khan. She wore the attire of Asher’s Tribe, her face veiled. Under Sheer’s command, she poured him wine. Sheer provoked Asher Sun, ignoring his sharp gaze, and demanded Changge pour wine for Asher Sun as well. Finally, Asher Sun could not hold back. He drew his sword and requested to duel Sheer before the Khan.
If he won, Sheer would give him Changge; if Sheer won, Asher Sun would hand over Mimi to Sheer. The two were both top warriors personally trained by the Khan. The Khan watched the duel with interest. Both fought with all their might. Asher Sun gritted his teeth and won the match, successfully winning Changge back and preparing to take her to the Eagle Division.
Sheer, son of Shule Khan, was supposed to be the Wolf God of the grasslands, but now he had lost publicly to Asher Sun. The Khan rebuked Sheer for his failure at the Kurultai. As Asher Sun was leading Changge back to the Eagle Division, Changge suddenly broke free from his grasp. She begged the Khan not to make her leave the royal court. Sheer laughed mockingly, saying that even a slave now refused to follow Asher Sun. The Khan ordered that Changge be tied up and sent to the Eagle Division, but Asher Sun refused, unwilling to take her back.
