The Long Ballad Episode 34 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Li Shimin’s people-first policy finally dispelled the hatred in Changge’s heart. Now that the Tang borders were at peace and her identity made it unsuitable for her to stay in Luoyang, she decided to journey through the desert. Upon hearing this, Asher Sun immediately volunteered to accompany her. Master Qin arranged identities for them and reminded them to refer to each other as siblings in public. Just as they left, they encountered Sun Simiao and Situ Langlang.
Sun Simiao had been summoned to the palace and was preparing to leave. He didn’t want to be tied to the Imperial Medical Bureau forever, so meeting Changge again by chance served as their farewell. Hao Du and Li Leyan began their journey back to Chang’an. Through this experience, Leyan finally understood the saying Li Shimin often repeated: “The people’s livelihood is hard—how can one stand by idly?”
As a Tang princess, she realized she had to grow up quickly. She only wished that Changge, wandering in the outside world, would be safe and well. Meanwhile, Li Jing came to the outskirts to bid farewell to Asher Sun and met Changge again. He said he would leave for Chang’an with Du Ruhui in a few days. He already knew Asher Sun was from the grasslands.
The scroll of General Wei’s military strategies had been a ruse to test him. Asher Sun, who stayed true to his heart, earned Li Jing’s respect. True military strategy lies not in scrolls but in the heart and the tactician. Li Jing passed on his knowledge to Asher Sun, who took it to heart and vowed to remember it when they next met on the battlefield.
An epidemic broke out in the Eagle Division, and even the High Priest was at a loss. Mimi realized the disease spread from the child she had rescued. Unwilling to let the whole division fall ill, she planned to take the child away. But the child begged for her help, reminding her of her younger brother, who was still in Yicheng’s hands. Overwhelmed with grief, Mimi didn’t know what to do.
Back in Chang’an, Du Ruhui reported to Li Shimin that Li Changge was still alive and had left with the people of Asher’s Tribe. Hearing about her deeds in Luoyang, Li Shimin was deeply gratified. Someone with Changge’s unyielding character would never betray her principles, no matter who she befriended. As long as she lived, that was enough. He believed she would never betray Tang. Li Leyan and her group rested at a relay station.
Still angry at Hao Du, she ignored him and refused to eat what he brought. Wei Shuyu, seeing them sulking, delivered the food to Leyan’s room and told her Hao Du had saved Changge by letting her go at Liuyun Temple. He only told her this so she wouldn’t reject Hao Du’s protection—Hao Du was a trustworthy bodyguard. Changge and her group reached the grassland’s edge, where Ya Luo informed them of the epidemic in the Eagle Division.
Asher Sun and Changge decided to go there, with Master Qin accompanying them. Sun Simiao, who had just left on a donkey cart, hadn’t gone far. Changge asked Master Qin to send someone to retrieve him, believing Sun Simiao’s exceptional medical skills could cure the disease. On the grassland, the child Mimi had saved opened his eyes, barely alive. With his final breath, he told Mimi he was glad to have an older sister before dying.
Mimi wept uncontrollably, then went to fetch water to wash his face and give him a proper farewell. But people from the Eagle Division discovered him. The High Priest accused the child of being cursed and claimed Mimi had brought the curse. Despite being in close contact, Mimi remained unharmed. The people insisted she be executed. Mu Jin tried to protect her, but the crowd grew hostile and even attempted to burn her alive.
Just in time, Asher Sun arrived and saved her with an arrow, ordering everyone to disperse and forbidding any internal killing within the Eagle Division. Asher Sun used his authority to quell the mob. Once they left, Mu Jin let go of Mimi, who clung to Changge in tears. Changge had examined the sick tribespeople and diagnosed it as a plague. After comforting Mimi, she asked about the child. Mimi called him Buzhen but refused to say more.
Changge respected her silence. The plague had taken many lives. A grieving mother blamed Mimi and tried to stab her. Mu Jin shielded Mimi, taking the blade himself—and caught the plague. Li Leyan and the Crown Prince arrived in Chang’an. Li Shimin was impressed by Leyan’s growth—both proud and heartbroken. Sun Simiao arrived at the grassland. After examining the patients, he identified a cure and wrote a prescription. One key herb, "desert gromwell," wasn’t available in the Eagle Division. Ya Luo decided to go to the Khan’s tent to request the herb in hopes of saving everyone.
