The Promise of Chang'an Episode 2 Recap, Plot

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> The Promise of Chang'an Recap

After Helan Mingyu and Ling Zhen'er successfully helped Xiao Chengxu and Imperial Physician Lin escape the Xi Qi palace by hiding them in crates, Ling Zhen'er recounted how the fragrant sachet containing "Cat's Eyes" had truly frightened the Prince of Xi Qi, Situ Kun, making him believe he was infected. Xiao Chengxu, upon realizing he had been used by Mingyu to facilitate her breaking off the engagement, confronted her. Mingyu coolly responded that he had been a willing participant.

Chengxu then asked Mingyu when she would invite him to Yonglin, a place he had never visited. She dismissed him, stating they were mere acquaintances. When he tried to invoke kinship, reminding her that his third brother married her older sister, Helan Yunqi, Mingyu remained indifferent, wishing for them to go their separate ways. As she was leaving, Chengxu called her back, asking if all Yonglin women were as feisty as she was, leaving Mingyu annoyed but speechless.

Meanwhile, Helan Wanyin worried for Mingyu, who had been gone for three days with no news. Xiangqin tried to reassure her, reminding Wanyin of Mingyu's plan to swap identities and appear disfigured to deter the Xi Qi prince. Suddenly, a cavalcade bearing Xi Qi flags approached, forcing Wanyin and Xiangqin to hide. It turned out to be a Xi Qi hunting party, led by the young Prince Situ Cheng, pursuing a white fox in their direction.

To protect Wanyin, Xiangqin bravely drew the hunters away, but Wanyin accidentally fell into a trap pit. Situ Cheng found Wanyin and almost assaulted her, but was stopped by the timely arrival of Xiao Chengrui and his men. Chengrui's subordinate noted that the ambush had been planned upon learning of Situ Cheng's hunting trip. Chengrui captured Situ Cheng and sent a message to the King of Xi Qi, demanding an antidote in exchange for his son within twenty-four hours.

Xiangqin, returning from her distraction, rushed to Wanyin's side. When asked about Wanyin's identity, Xiangqin deliberately identified her as Princess Mingyu of Yonglin. Realizing she was a Yonglin princess, Chengrui dismounted, helped her out of the pit, and covered her torn clothes with his cape, assigning two guards to escort her back to Yonglin. Back in the Sheng Zhou palace, Xiao Chengrui discovered that Imperial Physician Lin, captured by Xiao Chengxu, had already detoxified their father, Xiao Shangyuan.

Xiao Shangyuan expressed great satisfaction, declaring Chengxu the most dependable among his sons, which subtly displeased Chengrui. Consort Mu later warned Chengxu not to be completely trusting of Chengrui, as they were not full brothers. Chengxu, however, dismissed her concerns, citing Chengrui's role in raising and training him since childhood. Consort Mu reiterated her advice not to easily trust anyone. In Yonglin, Helan Mingzhe was furious to learn that Mingyu and Wanyin had privately swapped identities to infiltrate Xi Qi.

Helan Keyong pleaded for Mingyu, emphasizing that she had successfully brought back the marriage withdrawal letter, thus saving Wanyin from the undesirable marriage. Mingzhe then questioned Ling Zhen'er, reminding her of her promise when Mingyu begged him to let her stay. Ling Zhen'er recounted how her home, Muqing State, was destroyed by Xi Qi, and her father, the prime minister, was murdered.

Mingyu had rescued her from being captured and had helped her through the pain of losing her home and family. Zhen'er had sworn to stay by Mingyu's side forever to protect her. Mingzhe expressed disappointment in Zhen'er for not stopping Mingyu. Both Mingyu and Keyong interceded, with Mingyu taking full responsibility. Mingzhe then punished Mingyu by ordering her to transcribe Buddhist scriptures one hundred times and forbade her from leaving the palace until finished.

Mingyu complained about the task's tediousness, prompting Ling Zhen'er to secretly offer to help, risking charges of deceiving His Majesty. Wanyin soon arrived to thank Mingyu for her harrowing efforts in breaking off the engagement. Wanyin recounted her own rescue in the forest, and Mingyu teased her, accurately guessing that Wanyin was deeply grateful and infatuated with her heroic rescuer.

Helan Keyong then informed them that Helan Yunqi and Xiao Chengrui were returning to Yonglin for a visit, delighting the sisters. Given Yonglin's strategic location, rich copper mines, and excellent warhorses, it was coveted by Great Sheng, Xi Qi, and Great Liang. However, Yonglin was sparsely populated, and Helan Mingzhe was wary of competing with the three powers.

Xiao Shangyuan, understanding Yonglin's importance for unifying the northern territories, asked Xiao Chengxu if he was confident in bringing Yonglin under Sheng Zhou's influence. Chengxu demurred, suggesting Chengrui was more suitable due to his marriage alliance with Yonglin. Xiao Shangyuan sighed, asking Chengxu why, out of all his sons, he placed the most trust in him. Meanwhile, Helan Yunqi prepared gifts for her family visit, acknowledging Chengrui's true objective: to persuade Yonglin to ally with Great Sheng.

She pledged her full support to help him achieve his goal. Xiao Chengxu requested to join them on the trip to Yonglin, expressing his desire to see the beautiful landscape. Chengrui reluctantly agreed but warned him against causing trouble. Chengrui, however, harbored suspicions about Chengxu's true intentions, wondering if he, too, aimed to influence the alliance. Yunqi dismissed this, believing Chengxu to be simply childish. Chengxu, recalling his previous encounter with Mingyu, eagerly anticipated their reunion.

On the Yonglin prairie, Mingyu and Chengxu unexpectedly encountered each other. Chengxu, spotting Mingyu, galloped after her and snatched her red flower, a traditional gesture of proposal in Yonglin. Mingyu indignantly warned him that by taking her flower, he was proposing marriage. Chengxu retorted that he preferred a gentle and virtuous wife, unlike her "feisty" self, and tossed the flower back, further irritating Mingyu.

Xiao Chengrui presented Helan Mingzhe with a newly drawn map of Great Sheng, emphasizing the changing political landscape and the inevitability of unification. He argued that Yonglin, while strong in defense, lacked the manpower for conquest and should align with a powerful ally like Great Sheng, boasting of Sheng Zhou's formidable Twelve Great Xiao Battalions and wise leadership. Back in Sheng Zhou, despite having taken the antidote, Xiao Shangyuan's health remained fragile.

Consort Mu suggested he recuperate at a separate estate, utilizing the healing properties of hot springs, which he agreed to. Xiao Chengyao, disturbed by his father's slow recovery, confronted Imperial Physician Lin in his prison cell, suspecting foul play with the medicine. In Yonglin, Helan Yunqi reunited with Mingyu and Wanyin. Mingyu expressed her delight at seeing her older sister again, while Wanyin, though equally happy, was more reserved.

Yunqi presented them with gifts, Mingyu's clearly chosen with more personal thought, which made Wanyin feel a pang of sadness, thinking her quiet nature made her easily overlooked. However, Wanyin's spirits lifted when she spotted Xiao Chengrui passing by and recognized him as the benefactor who had saved her in the forest. Xiao Chengxu sought out Helan Yunqi, who informed him Chengrui was with Helan Keyong. He then asked if she was worried about the alliance with Yonglin.

Yunqi explained Yonglin's long-standing neutrality was key to its survival, and an alliance would irrevocably change its fate, making her understand Helan Mingzhe's hesitation. Having witnessed Sheng Zhou's prosperity firsthand, she feared Mingzhe might regret not allying. Chengxu advised her to appeal to Mingzhe's familial affection, arguing that as his granddaughter, her words about Sheng Zhou's prosperity would be more trusted than Chengrui's political arguments.

That evening, Yunqi spoke to Mingzhe, sharing her positive experiences in Sheng Zhou, detailing its thriving economy, strong military, and wise leadership, while emphasizing her continued devotion to Yonglin's well-being. Mingzhe acknowledged her sentiments. Later, Helan Wanyin tearfully confided in Mingyu that her rescuer was none other than Xiao Chengrui, their brother-in-law. Heartbroken, she begged Mingyu to keep it a secret, pretending it never happened.

Mingyu, observing Wanyin's subsequent seclusion and deep sadness, was vexed by her sister’s profound infatuation after just one meeting. She then found herself musing over Wanyin's predicament, but a subtle smile played on her lips as she recalled Chengxu's striking appearance. Chengxu then suddenly appeared by the water, commenting on her refined hobby, which startled Mingyu, leaving her flustered. The alliance between Yonglin and Sheng Zhou was successfully established.

Xiao Chengrui credited Yunqi, who in turn acknowledged Xiao Chengxu's advice to use emotional persuasion on Helan Mingzhe. Upon learning of the alliance, Situ Yin, the King of Xi Qi, was enraged, with Situ Kun advocating for immediate military action. However, Situ Yin rebuked his son for the initial blunder of breaking the engagement and cautioned against hasty military action, as it would only solidify Yonglin's ties with Sheng Zhou. He prioritized breaking the alliance.

Amidst these developments, Xiao Chengrui received an urgent message: despite the antidote, Xiao Shangyuan's prolonged poisoning had severely damaged his heart and organs, leaving him with limited time. Chengrui immediately ordered his return to Sheng Zhou, but asked Yunqi and Chengxu to stay longer in Yonglin, citing urgent military matters that required his personal attention.

Episode 1 Recap

Episode 3 Recap