The Long Ballad Episode 43 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Mimi, under Yicheng’s orders, poisoned Zhixi, the leader of the Tiele Tribe. Zhixi’s death threw the other tribes into panic, and everyone unanimously pointed to Li Changge as the culprit, making them even more unwilling to heed the Northern Desert’s words and sign an alliance with the Tang Dynasty. Wei Shuyu was in charge of the case. He found the poison at the scene but did not hand it over to Li Changge.
Asher Sheer, watching from the shadows, saw the bottle and was shaken—he had seen this bottle before with Mimi. Other tribal leaders had seen Mimi deliver breakfast to Zhixi, and poison was found in her room by the Tang. Everyone believed that Li Changge had instructed Mimi to carry out the poisoning. Li Changge protected Mimi all along, while Mimi, feeling guilty, dared not speak.
Asher Sheer had feelings for Mimi, so he covered up the truth for her, claiming that he had given the poison to Zhixi to repel insects and had not expected it to cause his death. Since Asher Sheer had no reason to kill Zhixi and was determined to shield Mimi, the others dropped their suspicions and pinned Zhixi’s death on Asher Sheer. Li Leyan and Hao Dou went out to inspect agricultural production.
Seeing the people living in peace and prosperity, Li Leyan wished for lasting peace in the Tang Dynasty. Hao Dou believed that under Li Shimin’s benevolent rule, this wish would be fulfilled. The two came across an elderly man carrying a shoulder pole on his own. Seeing him struggle, Li Leyan immediately told Hao Dou to help him, and together they joyfully escorted the elder home. Yicheng learned that Asher Sheer took the blame for Mimi.
Disappointed, she couldn't believe that Asher Sheer was not of the same mind and didn’t understand her intentions. Meanwhile, Mimi couldn’t stop thinking about Asher Sheer. She asked Li Changge to help her meet him and personally cooked lamb noodles for him. Asher Sheer wasn’t the one who killed Zhixi. He took the blame because he wanted to protect Mimi. Though he knew there was no future between them, he sincerely considered Mimi a friend.
Mu Jin tried every way to sneak into Dingxiang Palace. Disguised as a guard, he reached the Great Khan. The once-spirited Great Khan was now unrecognizable due to torture. Although he could no longer speak, Mu Jin learned from him that the Asher’s Tribe had fallen under Yicheng’s control and that she was the one who had harmed the Khan.
Wei Shuyu advised Li Changge that Mimi harbored disloyalty and should not be kept close, even suggesting that Asher Sun should be kept at a distance. But Li Changge believed they were all comrades who had shared life and death and chose to trust them. The Crown Prince had secretly followed Sheng Xin to the Sifang Pavilion. Sheng Xin’s presence there was highly suspicious, but the young Crown Prince didn’t sense anything unusual.
Inside the pavilion, he ran into Li Changge, and the two exchanged barbs. Sheng Xin unexpectedly realized that the "Li" in her name referred to the Tang royal family and quickly reported it to Yicheng. Yicheng was overjoyed—heaven had aided her cause to revive the Sui Dynasty. She was determined to use Li Changge as a chess piece. Although Mimi had ulterior motives, Yicheng planned to use Buzhen to manipulate her further.
Later, Asher Sheer came to greet Yicheng and asked about her plan to revive the former Sui Dynasty. He claimed only to wish for peace by her side. Yicheng, however, said the world was cruel, and she had her own ways. There were things Asher Sheer should have known by now. Mu Jin snuck into the former Sui Crown Prince’s palace and saw Buzhen, but this revealed his identity. Lei Meng noticed and knocked him out.
Lei Meng wanted to see how Asher Sun would rescue Mu Jin. Meanwhile, Li Leyan’s wedding was approaching. Li Changge embroidered a fan for her by hand. Though her needlework was clumsy, Asher Sun saw the sincerity in it and said it was the most beautiful fan in the world. He looked forward to the day he could embroider one for Li Changge. With both her parents gone, no one could arrange her marriage.
Asher Sun promised to love her for a lifetime. Li Changge believed his sincerity but regretted that her mother would not witness her wedding. Asher Sun then formally proposed by placing a letter of proposal at Lady Jin’s memorial, pledging to love Li Changge with all his heart for the rest of his life. On the way back to the palace, Hao Dou and Li Leyan passed by a candy figurine vendor.
Hao Dou got off the carriage to buy one for her, but when he returned, she was gone. Frantically searching, he found her nearby—she had gone to buy him a small ornament but had sprained her ankle. Hao Dou carried her in his arms through the bustling market, the two seeing no one but each other. Sheng Xin, under Yicheng’s orders, used the Crown Prince’s name to invite Li Changge to go with him. Li Changge was suspicious, but Sheng Xin showed the Crown Prince’s jade token and insisted she come with him.
