The Wind Blows From Longxi Episode 9 Recap
> The Wind Blows From Longxi Recap
Feng Ying was arrested and interrogated, along with Sun Ling, who was brutally tortured but refused to falsely accuse Feng Ying. Meanwhile, Yin Ji advised Gao Tangbing that Siwencao Intelligence was in ruins and they should abandon Feng Ying and align themselves with Li Miao, emphasizing that "wise men suit their actions to time." Gao Tangbing expressed reluctance, acknowledging Feng Ying's past kindness, but Yin Ji stressed the need to adapt.
Xun Xu's subordinate found the Siwencao Intelligence patrol schedule suspicious, suggesting the evidence chain was too rigorous, almost pre-arranged, and wondered if Zhulong was involved. Xun Xu dismissed the idea, stating that Baidi's code-cracking plates held no value for Zhulong, making such a risk illogical. He concluded the theft was a cover by an internal Siwencao Intelligence member, with a different motive.
Despite having signed the initial investigation report, Xun Xu did not believe Feng Ying was the killer and was determined to find the true culprit. Investigating Liao Hui's murder, Ma Sheng noted the fatal stab to the heart, suggesting an acquaintance killed him without a struggle. However, Hu Zhong's men had already compromised the crime scene, making further evidence collection difficult. Xun Xu questioned a guard about entries and exits from Siwencao Intelligence.
He learned that only Feng Ying was registered to have entered or exited after lockup, and that the area was heavily guarded, making a clandestine entry impossible. However, the guard also mentioned that heavy rain caused a mudslide at Dang Brook outside the West Gate, completely destroying the bridle roads to Yue City, requiring at least ten days for repairs. This meant any travel to Yue City would necessitate a three-day detour via Qingshi Valley.
This piece of information sparked a new line of thought for Xun Xu, who then requested a copy of all entry and exit records for the past two days. Inside Wuxian Sect, during a tour, Zhai Yue discreetly warned Chen Gong about the previous night's banquet, confirming it was a perilous trap set by Huang Yu.
She explained that Huang Yu had invested heavily in the scheme, even sacrificing two elders who were kept in the dark, but the trap's flaws necessitated their elimination. Chen Gong revealed he knew it was a test and had been alerted by Zhai Yue's use of their "Compass" secret code, which involved breaking a piece of acorus calamus in a specific direction – a private method he had taught her to signal danger.
He confirmed that had he tried to escape, he would have been killed by Huang Yu's men who were waiting both inside and outside the cave. Chen Gong explained that his presence at Wuxian Sect was a private mission, undertaken without Siwencao Intelligence's official sanction, and planned secretly with Xun Xu. He sought to expose Zhulong, a Wei spy who had infiltrated Siwencao Intelligence, fabricated intelligence, framed him in the Jieting case, and orchestrated his downfall as a "traitor."
Zhulong's ability to swap his intelligence implied access to the code-cracking plates, which put Feng Ying in danger. Chen Gong believed his identity as Baidi was now exposed due to the Jieting case being settled. His ultimate goal was to capture Zhulong, who he anticipated would personally appear to steal crossbow secrets for Wuxian Sect as part of the Qingping Plan.
Zhai Yue, who had been in the sect for over two years, admitted Zhulong was highly elusive, and all communications with Huang Yu were typically read and immediately burned. She offered to watch for any clues, but Chen Gong urged caution, reminding her that they must be wary at all times, preventing them from even approaching each other despite their long separation.
Chen Gong took out the peace charm he wore close to him, and Zhai Yue smiled contentedly, encouraging him to succeed. Later, Huang Yu's subordinate assured him of Chen Gong's skills and identity, but noted Chen Gong's mid-journey return was suspicious, advising continued vigilance. Huang Yu emphasized that Zhulong's intelligence on the head office of the Military Technology Department was due in two days, and no errors could be tolerated for the Qingping Plan.
Xun Xu and Pei Xu visited Liao Hui's grave, lamenting that the orphan, who had suffered much, died at the hands of a villain. Xun Xu revealed to Pei Xu that Ma Sheng had lied about visiting his father-in-law in Yue City, as the mudslides had made the roads impassable for days, a journey that should have taken three days longer than he claimed. This lie, Xun Xu noted, was the key suspicious point, predicting that more evidence would follow.
When they went to confront Ma Sheng, they found him dead, clearly murdered, with his last words clutched in a wooden box, implicating a deeper conspiracy. Xun Xu realized that what began as a hunt for Zhulong had devolved into a treacherous political power struggle. Later, Xun Xu secretly met Feng Ying in prison under the pretense of questioning him.
He informed Feng Ying about Ma Sheng's last words, which detailed Li Miao's intricate plot: Li Miao had first manipulated Xun Xu into releasing Baidi's code-cracking plates, then instructed Ma Sheng to hide inside Siwencao Intelligence, murder Liao Hui, steal the plates, and finally leave unnoticed by hiding in a supply cart. This elaborate scheme aimed to frame Feng Ying, the only person registered to have entered or exited the Agency that night.
However, Xun Xu pointed out the critical flaw in Li Miao's plan: the unforeseen mudslides meant Ma Sheng could not have returned to Nanzheng at the time he claimed. Feng Ying acknowledged Li Miao's ruthlessness and understood that Ma Sheng had written his last words as a precaution, only to be silenced before he could leverage his knowledge. Xun Xu then revealed his true purpose: to clear Baidi's name, explaining that Zhulong had replaced Baidi's intelligence during the Jieting campaign.
He urged Feng Ying to cooperate fully in investigating the Zhulong case. Feng Ying agreed, but on condition that Xun Xu report all findings and clues about Zhulong directly to him. Hu Zhong presented Li Miao's meticulously prepared case against Feng Ying to General Li Yan, suggesting it could be a powerful weapon to impeach Zhuge Liang and Yang Yi.
Li Yan initially expressed strong reservations, dismissing false evidence as unsustainable and fearing a backlash if Yang Yi had a contingency plan. However, after further persuasion, he cautiously accepted the plan, emphasizing that he must remain completely dissociated from it. Meanwhile, Xun Xu discussed Li Miao's transgressions with Feng Ying, agreeing that such calculated murder and political framing were unforgivable. Xun Xu proposed orchestrating Feng Ying's escape and going directly to Chengdu to inform the Prime Minister.
Feng Ying rejected this, deeming it too risky, as Li Miao, being desperate, would undoubtedly set ambushes, leading to their certain deaths and subsequent framing. Instead, Feng Ying suggested they operate separately, devising a new, covert plan. At Wuxian Sect, Chen Gong worked on the Bamboo Kites, a flying mechanism he had originally designed.
He explained to Huang Yu that Governor Guo had foresightedly arranged for him (as Mi Chong) to learn how to restore it from the original designer, Chen Gong, in case anything went wrong. Chen Gong, volunteering to personally test the device, proposed using a location in Mount Micang that bore a striking resemblance to the heavily fortified head office of the Military Technology Department.
Huang Yu, confident in Zhulong's detailed intelligence on the head office's internal layout, routes, and timings, stressed that the Qingping Plan must proceed without a single error. Taking advantage of a moment of distraction, Zhai Yue, disguised as the Saint Lady, visited Huang Yu's quarters. While delivering a mended cloak, she stealthily searched his brazier and managed to retrieve a small, unburnt fragment of a bamboo slip, likely containing Zhulong's intelligence.
Shortly after, a frantic report reached Li Miao: Feng Ying had escaped from prison. Enraged and panicked, Li Miao summoned Xun Xu, questioning his unauthorized solo interrogation. Xun Xu feigned anxiety, claiming he needed to urgently verify a detail about Feng Ying's return in the rain, and admitted to a lapse in judgment for violating regulations.
He subtly reiterated his doubts about Feng Ying's guilt by mentioning Ma Sheng's suspicious death and unverified travel, hinting at a need for further investigation, despite Li Miao's insistence on respecting the Nanzheng County Government's official conclusion. Unbeknownst to them, Yin Ji was eavesdropping.
Believing Xun Xu would continue investigating Ma Sheng, Yin Ji reassured Li Miao that Ma Sheng had left no incriminating evidence and that Feng Ying, still presumed to be within the city, could be silenced to solidify his guilt. Subsequently, Li Miao ordered Feng Ying's escape to be reported to General Li Yan in Chengdu.
