The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 26 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
Wen Ran encountered Long Bo's associate, Yu Chang, asking about her injuries and learning they were minor. Wen Ran then confronted Long Bo, questioning why, despite his attack on the Peacekeeper Corps, the authorities were pursuing Zhang Xiaojing instead of him. Long Bo explained this as the nature of Chang'an, remarking that the operation was moving forward and that an outlaw in the city would give purpose to "hounds and vultures."
When Long Bo would not promise to help rescue Zhang Xiaojing, Wen Ran declared she would manage it herself and told him not to interfere. Yuan Zai informed Yao Runeng of Chief Ji Wen's order to supervise the Grand Watchtower. Yao Runeng was tasked with monitoring Zhang Xiaojing's location reports from other watchtowers and then issuing Chief Ji Wen's arrest warrant. Yuan Zai implicitly threatened Yao Runeng, stating that non-compliance would allow him to return to the Crown Prince's side.
Yao Runeng reluctantly agreed. Long Bo had imprisoned Li Bi with He Fu, whose eyes had been gouged out. Li Bi demanded to know the truth about the assassination plot against the Right Counselor, asking if He Fu or his teacher, He Zhizheng, was the mastermind. He Fu, unable to see, told him to ask He Zhizheng himself. When Li Bi pressed for He Zhizheng's location, Wen Ran and her associates arrived and took Li Bi away.
Long Bo instructed Wen Ran to kill Li Bi. Desperate, Li Bi claimed he was the only one who could ensure Zhang Xiaojing's survival, provided he was returned to the Peacekeeper Corps. Wen Ran hesitated, recognizing the value in his claim. Chief Ji Wen ordered all messenger martial guards to instruct city watchtowers to constantly report Zhang Xiaojing's location to the Grand Watchtower to facilitate his capture.
A watchtower near Pingkangfang then spotted Zhang Xiaojing's whereabouts and sent a smoke signal, prompting Yuan Zai to immediately lead a team to Pingkangfang to surround him. Meanwhile, Yao Runeng, observing Zhang Xiaojing's status as a fugitive and Li Bi's disappearance, and feeling sidelined by Ji Wen, became disheartened, sitting silently in the watchtower. Long Bo visited He Fu, who had written a riddle on the wall with blood from his eyes.
When Long Bo asked for its meaning, He Fu simply said it was a Lantern Festival riddle. Long Bo then had He Fu escorted to the designated ambush site. Wen Ran pleaded with Long Bo not to kill Li Bi, arguing that he could save Zhang Xiaojing. Yu Chang expressed concerns about the risks, but Long Bo agreed to Wen Ran's request, warning Yu Chang not to interfere.
He assured them Li Bi would only regain consciousness after they had departed. To evade the watchtowers, Zhang Xiaojing borrowed a large umbrella from an old courtesan from the Blossom Parlor to hide. However, a watchtower guard spotted him, and an arrow struck and killed the woman. Exposed, Zhang Xiaojing was then rescued by Fatty Luo and the Bad Gangers, who used the ruse to lead him away from immediate danger.
In a dream, Li Bi confronted He Zhizheng, recounting He Fu's alleged crimes and questioning if He Zhizheng or the Crown Prince was the true orchestrator. He Zhizheng defended He Fu, then advised Li Bi to ignore the full truth and instead focus on eliminating Lin Jiulang to protect the Crown Prince's plans and reputation. He Zhizheng emphasized that Li Bi's ambition should align with the Crown Prince's, and that "truth doesn't matter as much."
Li Bi awoke, troubled by the implications of his dream. Long Bo and his group traveled by carriage, and he instructed Yu Chang to take Wen Ran with her. Separately, General Guo Lishi sent a messenger to urge Lin Jiulang to proceed to Hua'e Xianghui Tower for the Holy Lantern ceremony, where the Emperor had significant policies to announce.
Lin Jiulang, however, sent a body double in his purple robes, ordering Gan Shoucheng to provide an escort of three hundred Right Cavalrymen. Li Sifang, analyzing the route, identified the wide junction of Shengye Street in the Eastern District as the most dangerous spot, noting it would be less guarded amidst the throngs heading to Xingqing Palace. Long Bo, meanwhile, delivered He Fu to the ambush point.
As Lin Jiulang's double journeyed with the Right Cavalry, Lin Jiulang instructed Li Sifang to prepare impeachment documents against the Crown Prince and his allies, to be presented to the Emperor immediately after the expected assassination. He believed this event would mark the end of the Crown Prince's faction. Lin Jiulang then mused that "pretending to be a coward can be rather tiresome."
Fatty Luo brought Zhang Xiaojing to his shop, where his men quickly gathered provisions and a document for Zhang Xiaojing to leave the city via Chunming Gate. Fatty Luo, lamenting Zhang Xiaojing's unrewarded service to the court, urged him to escape through a window as Yuan Zai arrived, alerted by the watchtower. Fatty Luo then rallied the Bad Gangers to hold off Yuan Zai's men, sacrificing themselves to ensure Zhang Xiaojing's escape. Overwhelmed, the Bad Gangers were killed.
Yuan Zai requested watchtower reinforcements, and the city-wide hunt for Zhang Xiaojing intensified. Distraught by the loss of his comrades, Zhang Xiaojing resolved to leave Chang'an, feeling he could no longer help. Yi Si pursued him, trying to convince him to stay and continue the investigation, mentioning Li Bi, Tan Qi, the monks, and the citizens.
But Zhang Xiaojing remained firm, declaring himself merely a death row convict, not a hero, and that Chang'an, with its "over ten thousand officers," did not need him. He continued towards the city gate. As the Right Cavalry escorted Lin Jiulang's double through the crowded Eastern District, He Fu, inside the designated carriage, lit what he believed to be the fuse of an explosive. The carriage driver released the reins, sending it speeding towards Lin Jiulang's procession.
However, the device failed to detonat—Long Bo had deliberately tampered with it, attaching the wick harmlessly to the barrel. He Fu was immediately captured. Li Bi, amidst the chaos, loudly declared that He Fu was not the true culprit and revealed his Peacekeeper Corps commissioner's token. Mistaking him for an accomplice, Gan Shoucheng ordered Li Bi's arrest for colluding with rebels. Li Bi fled, pursued by the Right Cavalry, finding refuge in a courtesan's room in Pingkang Street.
He offered her money via a letter, but she demanded immediate cash, skeptical of deferred payments from "nobles" who could become "nobodies" overnight. She snatched his token, which he quickly retrieved. When the Right Cavalry began pounding on the door, the courtesan, softening, hid Li Bi and provided a false account to send the soldiers away. Li Bi then escaped through a window.
Yi Si, still following Zhang Xiaojing, implored him to stay, reminding him of those who depended on him. But Zhang Xiaojing, burdened by the deaths of his brothers, reiterated his decision to leave, believing he could not help Chang'an and that his presence only endangered others. The watchtower then reported Zhang Xiaojing moving towards Chunming Gate, attempting to leave the city.
