The Vendetta of An Episode 16 Recap
> The Vendetta of An Recap
Wuyin Ling, the secret envoy of Tiemo, traveled toward the Capital under the escort of Fang Genghui. As they reached Chen Valley—a place the Tiemo people called Mingshanzi Gorge—Wuyin looked out over the fertile land. He remarked that this territory, stretching 170 li south, once belonged to his people and suggested that if Yan Fengshan were willing to cede it, Tiemo might provide the military force needed to eliminate the Baiwenhu Army.
Fang Genghui, whose ancestors were originally from Chang’an, shared his own modest ambition: he wished only for a small residence on a sun-facing hill filled with white camellias, where his late wife was buried. Wuyin found Fang’s nostalgia poignant, noting that such stories made the long journey less tedious. The envoy insisted on stopping at an old granary in the valley.
He recalled that twenty-five years ago, a man carrying a knife had emerged from this very spot; once a Tiemo prisoner of war who survived by the most brutal means, that man, Yan Fengshan, now held the fate of the empire in his hands. While there, an agent of Yang Chuhao, the wealthiest man in Chang’an, presented a musician selected from seven hundred candidates. Wuyin noticed the girl was a slave and was moved by her grace.
He immediately granted her freedom and draped his own coat over her shoulders. When he asked her to play, her music was sharp and filled with the resonance of battle. She explained that in a place where the walls were stained with the blood of so many, she could not play decadent or light melodies. Impressed by her spirit, Wuyin invited her to join his entourage to the Capital.
Inside the imperial palace, Chancellor Gao, now a prisoner with broken legs, was forced to perform menial tasks. He spent his days on a small wooden cart, moving through the palace under the watchful eyes of the Huben Army to light candles. Despite his fall, an old eunuch pitied him, occasionally sneaking him steamed buns from the imperial kitchen. Gao maneuvered his cart to a secluded corner and dropped pieces of a bun into a drainage grate.
Hidden beneath the sewer cover was Gu Yu, barely alive and forced to hide in the darkness. Yan Fengshan had ordered a massive search for Gu Yu, never suspecting he was hiding right under the palace floor. Meanwhile, Yang Chuhao went to his usual wonton stall, only to find Xie Huaian—the "White-Haired Ghost"—waiting for him. Yang was paralyzed with fear, knowing that being seen with Xie would mean death if Yan Fengshan found out.
They moved to a private room where Xie Huaian ruthlessly reminded Yang of his past ties to the Liu family faction. Xie revealed he knew of the thirty secret letters exchanged between Yang and Xie’s father over a decade, which contained blueprints for hidden military lanes and secrets even Yan Fengshan did not know. Xie made it clear that while he had lost everything, Yang had a massive estate and a family he couldn't afford to lose.
Under this pressure, Yang admitted he had already followed instructions to plant a musician within the Tiemo envoy. Xie then demanded that Yang purchase a specific street in Huaiyuan Ward for an upcoming operation, emphasizing that the area must be kept clear of any observers. Xiao Su, Yang Chuhao’s simple-minded son, spent his days collecting rent from his father’s various properties. He had become infatuated with a woman named Shen, who ran a pharmacy.
Su tried to win her over by doing chores and sorting her ledgers, but Shen remained cold and aloof, eventually having him thrown out. When Su returned home, Yang Chuhao noticed his son’s distraction.
Learning of the girl’s high-minded nature and that she owned a shop on a street he himself owned, Yang promised to increase Su’s salary so he could save for a substantial betrothal gift, though the elder Yang remained privately burdened by the "life-debt" Xie Huaian had come to collect. Later, Xie Huaian visited Shen at her shop. She was relieved to see him, calling him "brother," and confirmed that their allies were still alive.
Xie reassured her that the envoy's secret entry into the Capital would provide the perfect opportunity to strike back at Yan Fengshan. The tension escalated when Yan Fengshan unexpectedly visited Yang Chuhao, bringing fresh spring seabass for a meal. As they ate, Yan spoke of "White Hair" (Xie Huaian) as one of the few opponents truly worthy of his respect.
He warned Yang that Xie was a vengeful man who would surely come seeking retribution and pointedly mentioned that Yang’s residence lacked sufficient guards. Yan presented Yang with a dagger for self-defense, a gesture that served as both a gift and a chilling warning. In preparation for his next move, Xie Huaian visited a general store to purchase a bundle of "Banbianku," a bitter plant used for chewing that was native to Tiemo.
The shopkeeper noted that the price had skyrocketed because of the unstable supply from the border. Xie paid the high price without hesitation, remarking that the bitter herb was intended as a gift for an old friend he hadn't seen in many years.
