The Long Ballad Episode 8 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
The ink and silk used in the edict Li Changge had given were of inferior quality, revealing to Li Ai that the edict was fake. Wang Junkuo then arrived with soldiers and captured Li Changge, trying to get the seal from her. Asher Sun knew A Dou had the seal and told him to wait outside the city while he found a way to rescue Li Changge.
From Wang Junkuo’s words in the shadows, Asher Sun learned that Li Changge was actually Princess Yongning. Now that Wang Junkuo was closely guarding her, he couldn’t act by force and had to rescue her by wit. Wang Junkuo tortured Wei Shuyu, using his life to threaten Li Changge. She couldn’t bear to see Wei Shuyu die and was given time to think.
Locked up together, Li Changge learned from Wei Shuyu that Hao Dou was with him and they had arranged to meet at the city gate. An idea struck her—she asked to see Li Ai, dragging out time until the meeting. She claimed the seal was with her attendant and asked to go with Wei Shuyu to meet him. Hao Dou, clever as always, saw Li Changge at the gate.
Realizing she was being followed, he told Li Leyan to stay in the carriage while he went to retrieve her. Wang Junkuo was no match for Hao Dou. Li Changge used the opportunity to escape but was still captured by Hao Dou. Just then, Asher Sun arrived, holding Li Leyan hostage. He demanded Hao Dou release Li Changge. Though unwilling, Hao Dou couldn’t risk harm to Li Leyan.
At her tearful pleading, he let go of Li Changge and watched as she left with Asher Sun. Asher Sun now knew who Li Changge was, and she also guessed his connection to the grasslands. She advised him to leave Youzhou as soon as possible and not meddle in her affairs. Asher Sun mentioned the unrest in Youzhou, hoping she would leave too, but she rejected his goodwill.
This was the Tang Empire—she would never allow people of Asher’s Tribe to harm it. Hearing this, Asher Sun didn’t insist and only left his treasured sword with her for protection. Li Changge went to Hao Dou, informing him that Wang Junkuo had conspired with the Young Khan of the Asher Tribe. With Wei Shuyu imprisoned and Youzhou on the brink of collapse, she asked Hao Dou to cooperate with her to save it.
But Hao Dou’s priority was taking her and Li Leyan back to Chang’an. He refused to intervene. Angrily, Li Changge rebuked him—how could an imperial official ignore Youzhou’s safety? She declared it a disgrace that Du Ruhui had such a foster son. No matter how she scolded, Hao Dou was firm in completing his mission. He tied her up and left the city before Wang Junkuo could seal the gates.
Li Leyan couldn’t understand why capturing Li Changge mattered more than Wei Shuyu’s life or the safety of Youzhou’s people. Hao Dou explained that signaling the court with beacon fire was the most effective solution—they alone could not save Wei Shuyu. Locked in an inn, Li Changge was found by A Dou, who cleverly located her and returned the seal. She met briefly with Li Leyan, who shared that their grandfather had arranged her marriage alliance with Asher’s Tribe.
Li Changge urged her to obey Li Shimin’s order and return to Luoyang, while she would seek reinforcements to save Youzhou. At night, Li Changge disguised herself as Wei Shuyu to request reinforcements from Commander Shen, who doubted her until the beacon fires in Youzhou were lit by Hao Dou. Realizing the severity of the situation, Shen immediately mobilized troops to aid Youzhou.
The news of Tang reinforcements reached the Young Khan, who began evacuating Youzhou’s treasury and prepared to leave. Asher Sun intervened in secret, shooting an arrow at the horse to draw Commander Shen’s army toward the Young Khan. To avoid exposing himself, the Young Khan abandoned the treasure and fled. Spotting Asher Sun in the shadows, his hatred deepened. Meanwhile, Li Leyan was alone at the inn, awaiting Li Changge’s return with Wei Shuyu. Her beauty caught the eye of criminals. With Hao Dou not nearby, she was secretly drugged and lost consciousness.
