The Song of Glory Episode 35 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
Lu Yuan’s subordinates report their failure to find Liu Yikang in Jiufeng Mountain, noting the difficult terrain and numerous traps. Lu Yuan, infuriated, orders them to set the entire mountain ablaze, declaring that Liu Yikang must not escape alive. Concealed within the burning mountain, Liu Yikang notices that the "Wei Army" soldiers they encountered were actually Lu Yuan’s own men, distinguishable by their black steel weapons.
Shen Lige, recovering from a minor injury, expresses deep worry for her father, General Shen Tingzhang, in Matou, a concern Liu Yikang shares. Mei Qi, the Pangu chief’s daughter, observes their interaction. Still believing Shen Lige, who is in a male disguise, to be a man, she comments on Great Song’s "friendly land of ceremony and propriety" and expresses her gratitude to the "great swordsman" for saving her people, promising to pray for him.
Shen Lige, maintaining her disguise, humbly states she was merely "exercising justice" and introduces herself using her brother's name, Shen Feng. Liu Yikang, needing a clandestine exit from the mountain, asks Mei Qi if she knows of any other paths. Mei Qi confirms she does and agrees to guide "Brother Shen Feng" out. As the fire intensifies, threatening the Pangu people, Mei Qi panics.
Liu Yikang reassures her he will find a way to save them, understanding that Lu Yuan's forces will not retreat without capturing him. To create a diversion, Liu Yikang suggests they split up. Shen Lige, accompanied by Mei Qi, will draw the enemy's attention, while Liu Yikang will remain to execute a critical deception.
He places his unique golden soft armor on the body of Mei Ya, the recently deceased deputy leader whose face he burns beyond recognition, fabricating the illusion that Prince Peng Cheng has died in the flames. Upon discovering the body clad in the golden soft armor, Lu Yuan is convinced it is Liu Yikang, declaring victory.
He orders his subordinate, Xue Qiu, to take advantage of the weary Wei Army, seize Matou City, and falsely claim to be avenging Prince Peng Cheng. However, a subordinate informs Lu Yuan that Prince Jing Ling, Liu Yixuan, has already issued an order appointing Lu Yuan as Vanguard General, specifically tasking him with protecting Prince Peng Cheng and decreeing the death penalty for failure.
Realizing Liu Yixuan's shrewdness and suspicion, Lu Yuan decides to transport Liu Yikang's "body" back to Jiankang immediately, before the official order reaches him. He instructs Lieutenant General Du to secretly gather their troops and set up camp outside Jiankang. Observing Lu Yuan's retreating forces, Shen Lige declares her intent to prevent his deceit from succeeding. With Liu Yikang urging caution, she departs to intercept Lu Yuan's men.
En route, she encounters Huo Yun, who explains that Prince Jing Ling had dispatched him to Matou, but his army was ambushed and delayed in Xuyi County. Approaching Matou, he heard false reports of Prince Peng Cheng's demise. Shen Lige quickly assures him that Liu Yikang is alive. She then entrusts Huo Yun with her token of authority, ordering him to immediately lead Lu Yuan's army to Matou to reinforce the crucial northern defense line.
Huo Yun accepts the mission, urging Shen Lige to be careful. Back in Jiufeng Mountain, Liu Yikang apologizes to the Pangu people for the danger caused by the fire. Mei Qi, however, expresses deep gratitude to Liu Yikang and "Brother Shen Feng" for liberating them from Mei Ya's tyranny, calling them saviors. Liu Yikang proposes an alliance between Great Song and the Pangu tribe, welcoming them to Jiankang after the war.
Mei Qi, delighted, agrees and playfully expresses a desire to marry "Brother Shen Feng," only to learn he has already departed. Liu Yikang suggests she can find him in Jiankang. As Liu Yikang prepares to leave for Matou, Mei Qi, adhering to her principle of repaying kindness, offers a contingent of her brave Pangu warriors to assist him, which he gratefully accepts. Shen Lige returns, informing Liu Yikang that she has dispatched Huo Yun to Matou.
While Liu Yikang wishes to prioritize the foreign threat, Shen Lige insists on first rescuing her father, Shen Tingzhang. Liu Yikang assents, stressing the importance of extracting him safely. With the aid of the Pangu warriors, she successfully infiltrates the Wei Army camp and rescues her father. They share a brief, emotional reunion, and Shen Lige tends to her father, acknowledging his hardships. Knowing they must soon part, she offers to comb his hair.
Shen Tingzhang is profoundly moved, remarking on the unexpected tenderness after a lifetime of military service, and expresses immense pride in his daughter. Shen Lige tells her father that Lu Yuan has retreated to Jiankang and she must return to prevent instability. Shen Tingzhang reveals that Liu Yikang has already rushed to Matou and instructs Shen Lige to join him there, vowing to drive the Wei Army from the northern border. They part ways, with Shen Tingzhang heading towards Matou.
Concurrently, in Jiankang, Princess Consort Xie Yunzhi covertly overhears a conversation between the Grand Consort and Xie Hao. She discovers their collusion with Lu Yuan to intercept military reports, placing Prince Peng Cheng in grave danger. Horrified, Xie Yunzhi attempts to rush to Prince Jing Ling, but her brother, Xie Hao, intercepts and confines her. Xie Yunzhi confronts him, accusing him of complicity in treason and ruining the Xie family's reputation.
Xie Hao defends his actions, claiming the Xie family must secure the nobility's advantages, as he fears Prince Peng Cheng's new policies threaten their interests. Xie Yunzhi counters that times have changed and "all the people are its real foundation." Xie Hao dismisses her, reiterating that the nobility is the unchangeable foundation and that he must stop Prince Peng Cheng. Xie Yunzhi warns that Prince Peng Cheng is her husband, and she will show no mercy if he is harmed.
Unperturbed, Xie Hao orders her confined. Meanwhile, Shen Feng arrives at Matou City with 8,000 elite troops, joining his brother Shen Zhi and the Suiyuan Army. Though his reinforcements offer hope, they are ultimately overwhelmed by Wan Jingsheng’s Wei Army, which captures many, including Shen Zhi, Shen Feng, and Shen Zhi's beloved, Zijin. Wan Jingsheng, surprised by Matou's easy capture, taunts the captured soldiers.
Li Chengxun, a Suiyuan Army general, defiantly tells Wan Jingsheng to kill them rather than talk nonsense. Wan Jingsheng offers Shen Zhi and Shen Feng a chance to surrender, threatening the civilians. Both refuse, and Li Chengxun proclaims their vow to fight until death. Enraged, Wan Jingsheng orders Li Chengxun's execution. As Wan Jingsheng then moves to execute Shen Zhi, Zijin rushes forward, wishing to die with him.
As Shen Zhi and Zijin embrace, awaiting death, Liu Yikang and Shen Tingzhang dramatically arrive with their forces. After a fierce battle, Liu Yikang defeats and kills Wan Jingsheng, turning the tide. In the aftermath, Shen Tingzhang is consumed by grief for the fallen Li Chengxun. Shen Feng approaches his distressed father, tearfully confessing the agonizing pain of knowing his father was in danger and being unable to intervene.
Shen Tingzhang commends his son's restraint, explaining that impulsiveness on the battlefield leads to pointless sacrifice. Shen Feng, having experienced the battlefield firsthand, now understands the profound responsibility of a general. He vows to diligently study military texts to become a formidable Suiyuan Army leader. Back in Jiankang, Xue Qiu transports a coffin purportedly carrying Prince Peng Cheng's body, causing shockwaves through the court. Liu Yixuan, seeing the coffin, is overcome with grief, repeatedly uttering "Impossible."
He demands to know the circumstances of his brother's death. Lu Yuan, feigning deep sorrow, fabricates a tale: the Wei Army encircled Matou, forcing Prince Peng Cheng into Jiufeng Mountain, where they were outnumbered. He claims Prince Peng Cheng tragically perished in a fire set by the Wei Army, and he himself was injured trying to save him.
As an official begins to thank Lu Yuan, Liu Yixuan interjects, his voice cold with fury, reminding Lu Yuan of the explicit order: failure to ensure Prince Peng Cheng’s safety would result in beheading.
