The Wolf Episode 36 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
The scouts reported that Prince of Bo had deployed his troops, exactly as the King of Jin had predicted. The King of Jin had foreseen that Chu Kui, with his volatile personality, would be enraged and attack with all his forces if the Jin Kingdom struck first and won a battle. Now, Prince of Bo, Chu Youwen, was executing his orders, using his best soldiers to conquer Boxiang City.
However, the Jin forces, led by Ji Chong, had already positioned their elite troops, including General Wang Rong and the Ma Family Army, around Boxiang City. Boxiang was easy to defend but hard to attack, making the battle destined to be an endurance one. Ji Chong believed that as long as they held out, the King of Jin, who was securing supplies and intelligence in the rear, would be their ultimate support.
He envisioned that Chu Kui would be humiliated by the difficulty of conquering a mere city and, in his frustration, would commit all his troops, at which point the King of Jin would lead a large army to surround Chu Kui from behind. Ji Chong expressed admiration for the King of Jin’s precise understanding of Chu Kui’s character and tactics. Suddenly, news arrived that the Bo Troop had reached the city gates, surprising Ji Chong with their speed.
Chu Youwen sent a messenger to request a meeting with Ma Zhaixing outside the city gates the next morning, stating the matter concerned the welfare of all under Heaven and promising her safe return. He added that if she was too timid to meet him alone, he would personally lead his army to attack the city at the appointed time. Ji Chong vehemently opposed Ma Zhaixing going alone, considering it entering the lion's den.
Ma Zhaixing, however, believed Chu Youwen intended to persuade her to surrender and break her resolve, rather than resorting to foul play. To address Ji Chong’s concerns, she suggested he accompany her as her personal guard. Ji Chong reluctantly agreed, keen to see Chu Youwen’s intentions. Later, Ji Chong confided in his loyal pet, Zhuiri, admitting that he had become completely devoted to Ma Zhaixing, no longer the carefree wanderer he once was.
He acknowledged that love came with the price of no longer being whimsical, but he was willing to pay it, vowing to stay by her side and fulfill her every wish. Ma Zhaixing, who had overheard him, subtly interrupted, feigning ignorance of his emotional confession. Shifting to strategy, she discussed Chu Youwen’s likely intent to intimidate her into understanding the horrors of war and the potential casualties, hoping to break her will.
Ma Zhaixing revealed her plan to delay Chu Youwen’s attack for two days, allowing enough time for the "Wolfbone Flower" to be fully prepared, which she believed could significantly reduce casualties. She then asked Ji Chong to prepare butterflies as her "first gift" in return to Chu Youwen. Meanwhile, Chu Kui rejoiced upon hearing that Military Marquis Liu Shouguang’s 30,000-heavy cavalry had arrived, believing that with this reinforcement and Prince of Bo’s understanding of Ma Zhaixing’s weaknesses, victory was assured.
Separately, Yao Ji noticed a slight movement in Chu Youzhen's fingers, despite his supposed locked-in state. Suspecting something amiss, she instructed Zi Shen to discreetly observe Major Yang Hou, Chu Youzhen’s cousin, who frequently visited him. Yao Ji stressed the importance of knowing Yang Hou's activities, especially with the impending battle, to prevent any complications. At the front-line meeting, Chu Youwen first taunted Ji Chong’s martial arts progress.
Then, he threw several scabbards belonging to the Ma Family Army on the ground, revealing he had personally captured several of their soldiers that morning, implying they were spies. Ji Chong reminded Ma Zhaixing to remain calm as they were only there to observe Chu Youwen's tricks. Chu Youwen continued to mock them for sending "weaker" spies.
Enraged by the news of captured soldiers, Ji Chong drew his sword, but Chu Youwen reminded him of their agreement not to fight, threatening him if he broke it. Ma Zhaixing confronted Chu Youwen, accusing him of causing her family’s demise and asking when he had become so sentimental, calling his sympathy "crocodile tears." Ji Chong then accused Chu Youwen of simply trying to shake Ma Zhaixing's resolve and decided to leave with her.
Chu Youwen stopped them, explicitly threatening to make annihilating the Ma Family Army the top priority of the Bo Troop if Ma Zhaixing remained selfish and ignored their lives. He directly demanded that Jin surrender and yield the city, promising in return that his forces would not invade Jin territory.
He set a deadline of noon, warning that after that, his Bo Troop would spare no Ma Family Army soldier, even if it meant mutual destruction, specifically naming Ma Yehan and Ma Jing. Ma Zhaixing asked for two days to consider, which Chu Youwen questioned, implying the King of Jin might not be in the city.
At that moment, Ma Yehan, as pre-arranged by Ma Zhaixing, intervened, explaining that the princess was concerned about the impending battle disturbing butterflies during their metamorphosis season, hence her request for a ceasefire. Chu Youwen, recalling Ma Zhaixing's fondness for butterflies from their time on Langshou Mountain, granted the two-day extension. He admitted that the butterflies were once dear to him too, and that he constantly relived memories of Langshou Mountain, though upon opening his eyes, nothing remained.
After Chu Youwen departed, Ma Zhaixing expressed relief to Ma Yehan, praising his acting and confirming that the butterfly ruse had successfully bought them two days, which was enough time for the Wolfbone Flower to be fully prepared. She confided that she learned such cunning tactics from a cruel person who taught her that in war, one must be shrewd and deceive the enemy. Ma Zhaixing resolved that this time, she would not yield to her emotions.
Chu Youwen then sent a letter to Chu Kui, boasting that Ma Zhaixing was merely an "empty shell" whose resolve he had easily shaken. He suggested that Chu Kui personally come to the front lines to boost the troops' morale and ensure a swift victory. Yang Hou, when consulted by Chu Kui, enthusiastically supported the idea.
Chu Kui decided to go and, at Yang Hou's fabricated suggestion that Chu Youzhen's condition was improving, agreed to bring Chu Youzhen along, planning to execute Ma Zhaixing in front of him. Yang Hou later met with Chu Youzhen in secret, confirming their plan to move to the front and their embedded trusted men within the Yang Troop, ready to act on Chu Youzhen’s signal.
Chu Youzhen confirmed his feigned illness was for avenging his elder brother, Bin Wang Chu Youyu, and they both recognized this battle as their last chance to strike against Chu Kui, as his focus on the external war would loosen his internal guard. Upon Chu Kui's arrival at Boxiang City, he was met by Chu Youwen and brought 30,000 heavily armored cavalry. Chu Youwen vowed to avenge Chu Youzhen at any cost, which pleased Chu Kui.
Chu Kui then ordered Chu Youwen to lead the three armies the next morning, coordinating with their embedded internal agents for a simultaneous assault to raze Boxiang City. Meanwhile, Ji Chong and Ma Zhaixing realized that Chu Kui's presence and reinforcements meant a full assault was imminent. Ma Zhaixing revealed their new objective: to capture Chu Kui himself, now that he was within reach.
She tasked Juyao with leading an elite force to swiftly attack Chu Kui’s camp during the main battle, aiming to capture him alive. Ji Chong expressed strong reservations about leaving Ma Zhaixing, vowing not to leave her side before the war ended, as her safety was paramount to him. However, Ma Zhaixing explained that Juyao was the only suitable person for the crucial mission, given others' specialties.
Juyao, despite his reluctance, accepted the mission after Ma Zhaixing reminded him of his promise and expressed her faith in him and in everyone taking care of her. Late that night, Yao Ji visited Chu Youwen, urging him not to falter in the upcoming battle. She subtly hinted that Chu Youzhen might soon awaken, implying this would give Chu Youwen even more reason to press on.
Later, Yao Ji appeared before Chu Kui, declaring that she deserved to die, though the specifics of her confession remained unclear as the scene shifted. On the day of the battle, Chu Youwen arrived at the city gates, demanding Ma Zhaixing’s final answer. Ma Zhaixing responded by shooting an arrow, signaling her refusal to surrender. Simultaneously, Yang Hou prepared to initiate the internal uprising, checking the time to ensure Chu Youzhen was taking his medicine as planned.
Inside Chu Kui’s camp, Chu Youzhen confronted Chu Kui with a dagger, demanding the imperial jade seal, explaining that his awakening at the ancestral temple revealed the truth and set him on a path to avenge his elder brother. Chu Kui, realizing the treachery, ordered his men to seize Chu Youzhen and Yang Hou. Under duress, Yang Hou revealed Prince of Bo, Chu Youwen, as a co-conspirator.
Chu Kui, believing he had been lured to the front lines by Chu Youwen to be killed, was warned by an officer that advancing further would put him in the enemy's archers' range as Chu Youwen approached the gates. Amidst the chaos, Chu Youzhen vehemently denied Chu Youwen's involvement in this specific betrayal, asserting that his third brother was not a despicable traitor and that Chu Kui’s constant suspicion had led to his downfall.
