The Promise of Chang'an Episode 1 Recap
> The Promise of Chang'an Recap
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In the waning years of the Liang Dynasty, the nation's power waned, and its northern frontier fragmented into three kingdoms: Sheng Zhou, Xi Qi, and Yonglin. Helan Mingyu, the clever granddaughter of the Yonglin ruler, was out on the prairie, demonstrating her archery skills with her older brother, Helan Keyong.
He playfully called her the fiercest horse on the Yonglin Prairie and wondered who could ever tame her, recalling a prophecy from the High Priest that she was destined to become the "mother of the world." Helan Mingyu dismissed it as a childhood jest. Their merriment was cut short by news that envoys from Xi Qi had arrived to take Princess Helan Wanyin.
Helan Wanyin was found pleading with her grandfather, Helan Mingzhe, the King of Yonglin, not to marry her off. Helan Mingyu and Helan Keyong rushed to her side, with Helan Mingyu questioning why her gentle older sister was being forced to marry Situ Kun, the eldest prince of Xi Qi, known for his volatile and rowdy nature. King Helan Mingzhe explained with a sigh that he had no choice.
Situ Kun, having heard of Helan Wanyin and Helan Mingyu as the "two beauties of the Yonglin Prairie," had invoked an ancient marriage pact established by their ancestors with Xi Qi after a bloody war, which had guaranteed decades of peace. Helan Wanyin wept, insisting she did not want to marry, but Helan Mingzhe, unwilling to jeopardize Yonglin's tranquility, felt he had to sacrifice her happiness.
Later, in her room, Helan Wanyin, feeling doomed, expressed envy for Helan Mingyu, believing a woman's fate was inescapable. Helan Mingyu, however, refused to surrender, asserting that they must "fight a round with fate." Six years into the Tianyuan era of the Liang Dynasty, Great Liang's cavalry repeatedly encroached upon the northern regions, trapping Sheng Zhou's King Xiao Shangyuan within Yong'an City. King Xiao Shangyuan desperately awaited reinforcements from his Third Prince, but none arrived.
One night, a mysterious figure infiltrated a Great Liang army camp. Captured, the individual claimed to be a Sheng Zhou scout with crucial intelligence that could determine the battle's outcome, offering it in exchange for his life. He revealed that Sheng Zhou's Third Prince, Xiao Chengrui, had breached Liang's defenses, while the Ninth Prince, Prince of Yong'an, had located Liang's grain storage and intended to burn it.
This would force half of Liang's river ferry guards to divert to save the grain, allowing Xiao Chengrui's forces to cross. The "scout" then dramatically unmasked himself, revealing he was indeed the Ninth Prince, Xiao Chengxu. As fires erupted outside, set by his elite team, Xiao Chengxu swiftly killed the Great Liang general. Just as he fought against the remaining soldiers, Xiao Chengrui arrived with reinforcements.
Xiao Chengxu was delighted, stating that having been raised by Xiao Chengrui and taught military tactics by him, he had no fear of punishment for his independent action. The following day, King Xiao Shangyuan was rescued. He praised Xiao Chengxu for his daring infiltration and for killing the enemy commander, a feat that had become a legend. Xiao Chengxu credited his Third Brother, Xiao Chengrui, for teaching him such strategies.
Though the Fourth Prince, Xiao Chengyao, expressed some dissatisfaction, King Xiao Shangyuan was pleased and promised to reward all three princes for their merits upon their return to the capital. However, immediately after this declaration, King Xiao Shangyuan collapsed, falling unconscious. Back at the Sheng Zhou palace, the princes gathered around their father. Imperial Physician Zuo revealed that King Xiao Shangyuan had been struck by a poisoned arrow during an earlier ambush.
Xiao Chengxu, examining the arrow, deduced it was a Xi Qi imitation of a Liang arrow, noting the swallow feathers instead of goose feathers. Imperial Physician Zuo identified the poison as "Toxic Soul poison," likely concocted by Imperial Physician Lin of Xi Qi, and confessed only a ten percent chance of saving the King. He stressed that an antidote must be acquired within half a month. The princes knelt, vowing to retrieve the antidote for their father.
Xiao Chengxu wished to go to Xi Qi himself, but Xiao Chengrui, citing Xiao Chengxu's earlier insubordination, confined him to the palace. Meanwhile, Helan Wanyin was on her sorrowful journey to Xi Qi. Helan Mingyu, having ridden to catch up, bribed a guard with a jade pendant to speak privately with her sister. She proposed they swap places; Helan Mingyu would go to Xi Qi in Helan Wanyin's stead, confident she could find a way to annul the marriage.
Unbeknownst to Xiao Chengrui, Xiao Chengxu had defied his confinement and made his way to the Xi Qi border. His subordinate urged him to return, fearing Xiao Chengrui's wrath, but Xiao Chengxu was unwavering in his resolve to obtain the antidote for his father. He believed Situ Kun held the key and planned to infiltrate the well-guarded residence to capture him and force him to surrender the antidote.
Helan Mingyu, attempting to make herself appear unappealing, had painted rashes on her face. As she was about to wash them off, Xiao Chengxu burst into her room, seeking refuge from patrolling guards. She quickly covered for him, claiming a "wild cat" had entered and knocked over a candle, to which Xiao Chengxu cleverly added a meow.
He quickly discerned her identity as the princess for the arranged marriage, remarking on her unfortunate fate and the futility of her painted disguise. He learned that Situ Kun had not personally come to escort her. Helan Mingyu advised Xiao Chengxu against impersonating a royal guard, as Xi Qi's guards were all royal family retainers, but suggested he take the place of her stableman.
In return, Xiao Chengxu offered a more potent method for inducing rashes: crushing "Cat's Eyes" wild grass and applying it to the face, advising her to be "more ruthless" if she truly wished to escape the marriage. After Xiao Chengxu left, Helan Mingyu felt the scent on him was strangely familiar. The following day, Ling Zhen'er was shocked by the realistic rashes on Helan Mingyu's face, now caused by the "Cat's Eyes" herb.
Concealed by a veil, Helan Mingyu smiled, seeing Xiao Chengxu among the escort party. In Xi Qi, Helan Mingyu, disguised as Helan Wanyin, presented a handmade sachet to Situ Kun, who was carousing with dancers. Situ Kun demanded she remove her veil. When she refused, he, in his characteristic hot temper, forcefully pulled it off, revealing her rash-covered face. Enraged by her appearance, he immediately declared his intention to annul the marriage.
However, the Grand Master intervened, reminding him that the marriage had been personally appointed by the King of Xi Qi, and any annulment would have to await the King's return. At the same time, Xiao Chengxu, attempting to covertly acquire the antidote, was discovered. Having washed off her rashes, Helan Mingyu expressed frustration that the Grand Master's intervention had prevented her immediate return to Yonglin.
As palace guards searched extensively for the assassin, Xiao Chengxu hastily fled into Helan Mingyu's room and hid in a bathtub behind a screen. When guards stormed in, Helan Mingyu, with her hair disheveled, defiantly warned them against taking another step, threatening them with beheading. She then began to undress, forcing the guards to retreat in embarrassment. Xiao Chengxu emerged, having deduced her true identity.
He remarked that he had heard of the "two beauties of Yonglin," one gentle and the other bold and unrestrained, and she was clearly the latter. Helan Mingyu, in turn, recognized him as a Sheng Zhou prince, confirming it by the precious ambergris scent on him and his domineering demeanor, which was far from that of a lowly attendant. She then instructed Ling Zhen'er to provide him with a Xi Qi guard uniform.
Ling Zhen'er then approached Imperial Physician Lin, feigning concern about Helan Mingyu's worsening rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea, suggesting she might have an "epidemic disease." When Imperial Physician Lin arrived to examine Helan Mingyu, Xiao Chengxu ambushed and captured him. He then poisoned Lin with his own "Toxic Soul poison," demanding the antidote for King Xiao Shangyuan. Helan Mingyu emerged from behind a screen, telling Lin that since he knew their secret, he knew what was expected.
Lin claimed the antidote was in the Imperial Medical Court, with some restricted herbs that only he could access. Helan Mingyu and Xiao Chengxu, disguised as guards, accompanied Lin to the Imperial Medical Court. Lin subtly tried to betray them by requesting two specific herbs, "Gui Ci" and "Zhi Ke," whose combined names were meant to sound like "ci ke," meaning "assassin." Helan Mingyu realized his ploy and quickly incapacitated the attendant he was speaking to.
Enraged, Xiao Chengxu moved to kill Lin, but Lin quickly revealed a hidden compartment containing the antidote. After securing the antidote, Xiao Chengxu forced Lin to ingest the "Five Poisons," warning him he would die in three days without the antidote. He then coerced Lin into returning to Sheng Zhou with them, promising him the antidote only if King Xiao Shangyuan was cured.
Xiao Chengxu also instructed Lin to report to Situ Kun that the princess was gravely ill and unsuitable for marriage. Helan Mingyu added that Lin must further claim she had an epidemic disease that had spread to the Imperial Medical Court and that she must be promptly sent back to Yonglin.
Helan Mingyu explained to Xiao Chengxu that she was helping him because she understood the principle of mutual dependence, and King Xiao Shangyuan's efforts in defending the northern border against the Liang Dynasty were vital for Yonglin's security. Soon after, Situ Kun received the report that Imperial Physician Lin and his subordinate had left the palace to avoid the spreading epidemic after being in contact with Helan Mingyu.
Upon hearing of the "epidemic disease," Situ Kun adamantly refused to proceed with the marriage. He immediately discarded the sachet Helan Mingyu had given him and ordered a marriage withdrawal letter to be written. The Grand Master attempted to calm him, but Situ Kun was resolute, fearing the disease would spread throughout the palace. When Helan Mingyu, in her guise as Princess Wanyin, came seeking an explanation, Situ Kun ordered her sent away and insisted on the immediate annulment of the marriage.
