The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 11 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
Zhang Xiaojing instructed Cui Qi to borrow a skilled hound from the Court of Palace Attendants, hoping it would track Wen Ran by scent. Cui Qi, knowing the inner palace managed the facility, reluctantly agreed to seek help from his contacts. Meanwhile, Tan Qi transmitted news via the watchtowers that Cao Poyan, the Wolven Squad leader, was still at large.
Li Bi was greatly alarmed, fearing Cao Poyan might escalate the situation by setting Chang'an ablaze, leading to disaster for its citizens. He immediately ordered a thorough search for all flammable substances. Jing'an Si was given fifteen minutes to track down all unverified items. Cao Poyan and Ma Ge Er, accompanied by Wen Ran, remained in hiding, intending to strike during the Lantern Festival. Wen Ran revealed You Cha's true intentions, stating that he had betrayed the Wolven Squad.
She described You Cha's lavish life in Chang'an, having purchased three manors and four women from Pingkang Street, along with a dozen servants. Wen Ran claimed You Cha had accepted a large sum of money to lure the Wolven Squad to Chang'an on a suicide mission, after which he planned to emerge from hiding and enjoy his life in the city.
Cao Poyan refused to believe her, but Ma Ge Er was deeply affected, recalling their forty-seven fallen brothers, the last warriors of their homeland. Wen Ran, however, expressed gratitude for their arrival in Chang'an, as it led to Zhang Xiaojing's release from the death cell.
She then challenged them, asking if they had the courage to meet the true Flaming Demon, and offered to take them to him, also intending to use the opportunity to destroy Chang'an, a city she deeply hated. Xu Bin presented a list of hundreds of items imported daily into Chang'an, many of which were flammable, highlighting the impossibility of tracking all combustible materials within fifteen minutes.
He suggested focusing on finding the Wolven Squad first to protect the Crown Prince from the Emperor's wrath should anything go wrong. Li Bi accused Xu Bin of trying to obstruct the investigation, splashing ink on him and asserting that the Wolven Squad wouldn't openly transport large quantities of flammable materials, but rather raw ingredients to be processed locally. Xu Bin, though disagreeing, could only reply that he was merely sharing his thoughts.
Cui Qi's friend delivered a hound named Tiny from the Court of Palace Attendants, known for its exceptional sense of smell, capable of distinguishing nine different scents, and its relentless pursuit once on a scent. However, Tiny was also stubborn and didn't readily obey strangers. Zhang Xiaojing introduced himself to Tiny and then set out with Cui Qi to find Wen Ran.
As they followed Tiny through the bustling streets of Chang'an, the dog’s keen sense of smell was disrupted when a passing Taoist priest's heavily spiced incense bag was accidentally dropped. Zhang Xiaojing cleaned the dog and ordered Cui Qi to buy some meat, which Cui Qi, despite his grievances, surprisingly followed, feeling a strange compulsion to obey Zhang Xiaojing. Meanwhile, Wen Ran led Cao Poyan and Ma Ge Er to Long Bo.
Yu Chang expressed concern that Wen Ran might lead pursuers to their location, but Long Bo recognized the value of the two remaining Wolven Squad members and allowed all three to stay. Yu Chang then offered Wen Ran a change of clothes and subtly tried to extract information about Long Bo, but Wen Ran remained tight-lipped.
Later, Yu Chang identified a distinctive scent on Wen Ran as "Holy Rue Incense," which Wen Ran claimed was her father's secret recipe, used only by herself. Yu Chang noted she had smelled the same scent on Long Bo about six months prior, a comment Wen Ran chose not to address.
Long Bo, displaying an intimate knowledge of Cao Poyan's past as a slave and warrior who fled to save his daughter, earned the loyalty of both Cao Poyan and Ma Ge Er. Long Bo promised Cao Poyan freedom from his slave status, bringing them into his service. General Guo Lishi, accompanied by the eunuch Gao Quan, arrived at Jing'an Si to deliver an imperial decree.
The Emperor praised Li Bi's loyalty and devotion to the Tang people, acknowledging the "humiliation" he had endured. Li Bi initially interpreted this as genuine imperial concern. Guo Lishi, however, dismissed Gao Quan and privately explained the Emperor's true, veiled message. He cautioned Li Bi that the Emperor was fully aware of everything, including the escape of two Wolven Squad members, due to a likely mole within Jing'an Si.
Guo Lishi warned that if the Wolven Squad succeeded in their plans during the Lantern Festival, preventing the Emperor from lighting the Grand Holy Lantern, it would be interpreted as Li Bi conspiring with the Crown Prince against the Emperor. Li Bi appealed to Guo Lishi to intercede for the Crown Prince, but Guo Lishi revealed his own diminished standing with the Emperor. He explained that someone had spread false rumors accusing him of stealing royal treasures.
When the Emperor saw Yan Taizhen using a broken teacup (which was likely a setup), his anger over the rumors, coupled with the teacup incident, caused him to lose all trust in Guo Lishi. From that moment, the Emperor ceased to summon Guo Lishi, and even this recent message was conveyed through an intermediary. Guo Lishi advised Li Bi to be extremely careful and to return to Jing'an Si to manage the situation.
Li Bi then secretly met with the Crown Prince, informing him of the mole in Jing'an Si and urging him to leave. The Crown Prince confirmed he already knew of Guo Lishi's failed attempt to persuade the Emperor.
He expressed less concern for his own safety than for the fate of the tax reforms and military governance laws, which he, the Left Counselor, Wei Jian, and Huangfu Weiming had spent years drafting, fearing they would never be implemented if he fell.
The Crown Prince, recognizing the dire situation of many citizens struggling under heavy taxes, declared his intention to make a decisive move at the night's palace banquet and advised Li Bi to simply focus on capturing the two escaped Wolven Squad members without seeking further credit. He also stressed the importance of keeping their secret meeting place hidden. At the Jinggong Street Polo Court, Prince Yong celebrated scoring the first goal in the spring tournament.
Tan Qi approached him and, after some initial resistance, conveyed Zhang Xiaojing's message: "Let go of Zhang Xiaojing's man." To her surprise, Prince Yong immediately agreed. Curious about Zhang Xiaojing's past, Tan Qi pressed Prince Yong for details, but he cryptically advised her that it was better not to know.
