The Wolf Episode 34 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
Ma Zhaixing's decision to hand over her military power was met with dismay by Ji Chong, who viewed it not as a solution but as a sign of being at her wit's end. Soon after, a report arrived that the Ma Family Army, led by Ma Yehan, was openly clashing with Jin's forces, specifically Li Juqi and Adjutant General Zhou, defiantly refusing the division of troops.
Ma Yehan vehemently declared that the Ma Family Army would not accept being split and integrated into the Jin military, asserting their undying loyalty to him and their Young Feudal Mistress. Despite Ma Zhaixing's pleas not to make things difficult, Ma Yehan reiterated the Ma Family Army's life-long vow of loyalty to her and the Great General, insisting they would never obey the King of Jin.
Ji Chong, observing the escalating tension, suggested that if the Ma Family Army must join the Jin forces, a trusted Jin general should lead them. He then volunteered himself, highlighting his familiarity with Jin's rules and his trust among both Jin and Ma Family Army soldiers, which he believed would prevent future conflicts. Ma Zhaixing agreed with his assessment, acknowledging the gravity of the matter and their need to seek approval from the King of Jin.
Ji Chong's seemingly spontaneous volunteering was, in fact, a calculated maneuver. He later revealed that his public conflict with Ma Yehan was an elaborate act designed to pressure the King of Jin into allowing him to oversee the integration of the Ma Family Army. Ji Chong believed this was a temporary measure for the King of Jin, who could remove him anytime without loss once the Ma Family Army's strength waned.
However, the King of Jin had anticipated Ji Chong's intentions. He readily agreed to let Ji Chong manage the joint forces and even granted him the marshal seal, stating that he intended to wait for Ji Chong to reveal his true intentions. The King of Jin knew Ji Chong would be a significant obstacle to his plan of keeping Ma Zhaixing in a ceremonial position, and he aimed to uncover Ji Chong's missteps to justify taking him down.
He saw this as a strategic move to eliminate internal obstacles, consolidate Jin's power, and prepare for a full-scale confrontation with the Prince of Bo's army, especially with the rumors of the previous dynasty's princess circulating. Meanwhile, the Yang Kingdom faced increasing instability.
Major Yang reported to Chu Kui that rumors of the previous dynasty's princess had spread across various prefectures, suggesting that her appearance had caused Prince Chu Youwen's failure to secure borrowed troops and now put Prince Chu Youzhen's life at risk. Chu Kui, enraged, questioned if he was next to suffer. Further alarming news arrived: Military Marquis Wang Rong of Zhenzhou had revolted, leading his troops to surrender to Jin.
Chu Kui questioned how this was possible, given that Wang Rong's mother was held hostage in the capital. He was then informed that she had died of illness the previous month, a truth concealed by Wang Rong's servants who had since committed suicide. Worries about the army's morale grew, but Chu Kui defiantly declared that as long as the Prince of Bo was present, no one would dare to waver their loyalty.
In the dungeon, Chu Youwen was suffering immensely from the effects of the Wolfbone Flower. Yao Ji, witnessing his violent struggle, urgently warned Zi Shen to retreat and ordered the doors to be closed. Despite having administered healing medicine, Chu Youwen remained irrational and uncontrollable.
Realizing the limitations of her current treatment, Yao Ji implored Chu Kui to allow her to leave the palace to find her foster father, hoping he possessed the knowledge to understand why the medicine was ineffective. Chu Kui, acknowledging the critical situation, not only granted her permission but also restored her status as Grand Diviner, entrusting her with managing the Grand Diviner Palace.
He sternly warned her that she must ensure the Prince of Bo's full recovery before Han Qing and other military marquises arrived in the capital, emphasizing that without the formidable Prince of Bo, the morale of his Three Armies would severely falter. Yao Ji immediately departed for her tribe's origin, a place she sorrowfully noted had been reduced to ruins and covered in snow, a stark contrast to its former prosperity.
Zi Shen questioned why her once powerful tribe now consisted only of her and her foster father; Yao Ji explained that everyone else had passed away, revealing that her tribe, known for communicating with snakes, was completely wiped out in a massacre years ago.
At the Prince of Bo Manor, Military Marquis Han Qing, having traveled a long distance, arrived with other marquises demanding to see the Prince of Bo, but they were firmly obstructed by Mo Xiao and Hai Die. They cited Chu Kui's strict orders that no one could meet the Prince during his confinement.
Han Qing expressed deep concern, stating that rumors of the previous dynasty's princess shooting Chu Youzhen and poisoning the Prince of Bo were unsettling the army's morale, and he needed to personally verify the Prince's condition. When he attempted to physically push past, Mo Xiao bravely stepped in front of Hai Die, absorbing Han Qing's slap. Mo Xiao then respectfully pleaded with Han Qing to wait one more day, advising him to seek an imperial decree from Chu Kui first.
Han Qing reluctantly agreed to the one-day delay, warning that if he couldn't see the Prince of Bo by then, it would confirm the rumors that the Prince was a "useless person," and no one would be able to save the guards. Meanwhile, Yao Ji found a cure from her home for Chu Youwen and administered it. Although his condition improved, he remained unconscious.
Chu Kui, to stabilize the military's morale and project an image of unwavering power, took Chu Youzhen to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. There, he retrieved the Red Cloud Sword, an ancient weapon believed to suppress the resentment of the deceased Bin Prince, Chu Youyu.
Addressing Chu Youyu's memorial tablet, Chu Kui revealed the true reason for his death: not at the hands of the Ma Family Army as widely believed, but because Chu Kui himself had brutally murdered his brother years ago out of fear of Chu Youyu's growing influence. Chu Kui emphasized the dire state of the Chu empire, using Chu Youzhen's life as leverage to appeal to Chu Youyu's spirit for cooperation.
As the sword was retrieved, a rare astrological phenomenon, the "five stars reunite," occurred, which Yao Ji interpreted as a positive omen for Chu Kui, signifying his victory over Jin and Ma Zhaixing. Shortly after, a eunuch reported that Han Qing, after being denied access to the Prince of Bo, was secretly meeting with Minister Cui, who was known for advocating peaceful negotiations, raising suspicions of a plot to delay the army's deployment.
In response, Chu Kui immediately ordered a grand review of the Bo Army at the drill ground, declaring he would personally meet the marquises and ministers, regardless of the Prince of Bo's state. Having pledged allegiance to Jin, Wang Rong was cordially welcomed by the King of Jin.
A straightforward and honest man, Wang Rong wasted no time in directly questioning the King of Jin's sincerity, asking if he truly intended to treat Ma Zhaixing as a legitimate princess or merely use her for political gain. He warned that if the King's intentions were not genuine, his call for justice would be nothing more than a deceitful facade, no different from Chu Kui's tyranny.
The King of Jin assured him, affirming his disdain for Chu Kui and his commitment to loyalty, promising never to engage in such duplicity. Convinced by the King's words, Wang Rong then pledged his allegiance, offering to join forces in conquering their enemies. Ma Zhaixing accompanied Ji Chong to a desolate Orphan and Widow Village, a place where all the adult men had perished, leaving behind only the elderly, women, and children.
Ji Chong revealed that these men were his loyal deputy generals and brothers-in-arms. Seven years prior, while he was serving as Young Marshal on the battlefield, he received news of his mother's critical illness, causing him immense distress. His deputy generals, observing his grief, orchestrated a plan: they got him drunk and secretly sent him back to Taiyuan, promising to win the battle in his stead and meet him there after their victory.
However, upon waking in Taiyuan, Ji Chong learned of his mother's passing and received devastating news that the Chuanlong Army had been ambushed, resulting in thousands of casualties. The King of Jin, furious at the insubordination and defeat, ordered the execution of all the deputy generals who had defied military orders to send Ji Chong away.
Ji Chong recounted how he desperately pleaded with his Royal Father, arguing that their crime did not warrant death, but the King of Jin remained unyielding, emphasizing the countless soldiers who died due to their actions. This tragic event irrevocably severed Ji Chong's relationship with the King of Jin.
In the years that followed, he devoted himself to earning money as a bounty hunter, using his earnings to provide food and necessities for the families of his fallen comrades, though many still harbored resentment and refused to forgive him, even after seven years. The King of Jin's calculated strategy soon bore fruit.
Li Juqi reported that Ji Chong was indeed playing tricks: he had secretly contacted old subordinates of the Chuanlong Army and forged military orders using the marshal seal to reassign them from the fortification team, aiming to expand his influence. Furthermore, Ji Chong had been spreading rumors of the previous dynasty's princess's appearance to rally public support.
Recognizing that the moment he had been waiting for had arrived, the King of Jin immediately ordered Li Juqi to lead his troops and apprehend Ji Chong. The gravity of forging military orders left Ma Zhaixing in a state of deep concern for Ji Chong and his allies.
General Wang Rong approached her with a bold proposition: to leverage their combined forces, including his own army, the Ma Family Army, and Ji Chong's Chuanlong troops, to march on the King of Jin and compel him to formally enthrone Ma Zhaixing as the true Princess, thus restoring the imperial power. Wang Rong argued that the King of Jin could not be trusted and that Ma Zhaixing needed to act swiftly to protect her loyalists.
However, Ma Zhaixing, after careful consideration, declined the suggestion. She asserted that in the face of a common enemy, Jin must remain united, and that Ji Chong's actions, though driven by loyalty to her, were a clear violation of military law. Upholding strict military discipline was paramount for future victories. She expressed that her personal feelings for Ji Chong, though strong, must be controlled for the greater good, as the stability of the realm outweighed her own status.
At that moment, the King of Jin himself appeared, commending Ma Zhaixing for her wisdom and self-restraint. He revealed that Wang Rong's proposition had been an elaborate test orchestrated by him, designed to assess whether Ma Zhaixing would allow her emotions to compromise the larger mission of restoring the previous dynasty. He apologized for the deception, explaining that every event since her return to the city had been a part of this trial.
The King then candidly explained his complex relationship with Ji Chong, describing him as a compassionate soul who, despite his seemingly arrogant demeanor, was deeply afraid of those around him suffering. He recalled how Ji Chong, as a boy, would bravely cling to his leg but would beg for mercy only if his companions were threatened. He admitted that Ji Chong's intense desire to win every battle was driven by a fear of losing his men.
The King acknowledged that his decision to punish Ji Chong's deputy generals seven years ago was meant to teach him to be stern as a commander, yet as a father, he valued his son's empathy. He ultimately let Ji Chong leave, unwilling to see him become emotionally numb.
The King concluded by emphasizing that Ma Zhaixing, unlike Ji Chong, had no choice but to face her destiny of national and familial vengeance, and thus, he needed to confirm her unwavering resolve. If she had failed the test, he would have continued to rule until peace was restored, then abdicate. Ma Zhaixing questioned if his actions during their trip to Qitan were also part of his test and not genuine attempts to use or abandon her.
The King confirmed this, stating he had contingency plans and had secretly instructed Liu Xin to seek his help, rather than flee, if danger arose. He then made a final plea, asking Ma Zhaixing to maintain Ji Chong's misunderstanding of him, as it was his way of protecting his son and ensuring he stayed away from the harsh realities of this chaotic world. However, Ma Zhaixing refused to agree to this final request.
