The Wolf Episode 41 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
On their wedding night, Ji Chong refrained from consummating his marriage with Ma Zhaixing, explaining that he wished to wait until she genuinely fell in love with him, without any other reasons motivating her to be his wife. Content with seeing her blush, he assured her they had ample time before falling asleep, allowing Ma Zhaixing to finally relax and gently cover him with a blanket.
That same night, Yao Ji attempted to convince Chu Youwen to abandon his deep affection for Ma Zhaixing, but his feelings proved too strong for her to sway. Though Chu Youwen acknowledged Yao Ji's many years of dedication to him and their profound, life-or-death bond, he remained unaware of her true motivations. He then asked Yao Ji to find an opportunity to rescue Mo Xiao, Wen Yan, and others, and also requested to see his Fourth Brother, Chu Youzhen.
Yao Ji informed him that Chu Youzhen was under house arrest in the Xun Royal Manor, surrounded by imperial guards. This was ostensibly for protection but was, in fact, an imprisonment, and no one could see Chu Youzhen without Chu Kui's decree. Understanding his plea was futile, Chu Youwen accepted a pain-relieving medicine from Yao Ji. He then pulled her back, asking why she had helped him.
Yao Ji recalled a past incident during the Night Fiends' struggle, when Chu Youwen had saved her from Chu Kui's cruel torture, sparing her immense suffering. The following day, Chu Yougui was ordered to escort Chu Youwen to the Qiannu Battalion. Yao Ji, citing a recent plague outbreak near the camp, secured permission from Chu Yougui to accompany the convoy under the guise of providing medical assistance.
Before their departure, Chu Yougui mockingly arranged for Chu Youzhen to be brought forth, separated from Chu Youwen by a prison cart. Chu Youzhen sat in a wheelchair, still feigning a stupor. Chu Youwen comforted his Fourth Brother, urging him not to be afraid and reminding him that he was now an adult who must learn to protect himself. Chu Yougui scoffed, advising Chu Youwen to worry about his own survival.
Chu Youwen, however, acknowledged his own deserved fate and expressed a hope that Chu Yougui would learn from his mistakes and not follow the same path. Chu Yougui merely sneered and began their journey. Meanwhile, the Jin army's advance on Yang was stalled at Mingzhou. Ji Chong, recognizing Chu Youwen's intimate knowledge of the Bo Troop, proposed a daring plan: to rescue Prince of Bo and enlist his aid to defeat Yang.
Ma Zhaixing initially opposed, citing Chu Youwen's inherent cruelty; even if his rebellion was provoked by Chu Kui's deception, she feared his nature would not change. If he refused to cooperate, it could jeopardize their war efforts. However, after the King of Jin's persuasive arguments, Ma Zhaixing, prioritizing the Jin Kingdom's people and global peace, agreed to Ji Chong's proposal.
She insisted on accompanying him to Qiannu Battalion, explaining that as someone deeply deceived by the Prince of Bo, she needed to personally determine if he would be an ally or a threat. The night before their departure, Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong embraced, savoring a moment of peace. Ji Chong hoped this mission would resolve all existing grievances, allowing them to leave Jin Kingdom and live freely before they grew too old.
At the Qiannu Battalion, conditions were brutal, akin to a living hell. Chu Kui, preparing to wage war against Jin, ordered an acceleration of mining to forge vast quantities of weapons. The war slaves toiled relentlessly, day and night, their physical and mental limits pushed to the breaking point. Accidents were frequent, but overseers, driven by tight deadlines, disregarded human life.
When a mine collapsed, gunpowder was used to blast it open, killing one group of slaves only to send another to their doom. Chu Youwen's arrival at Qiannu Battalion caused an immediate uproar. Many war slaves harbored intense hatred for Chu Kui, and by extension, his sons, as they had been sent to the camp by the Emperor himself. Seeing the former Prince of Bo reduced to a slave ignited their fury.
Warden Gu, who managed Qiannu Battalion, promptly greeted Chu Yougui upon his arrival with the prisoner. To further inflame the existing hatred, Chu Yougui deliberately granted Chu Youwen an exemption from the painful face-marking ritual, infuriating the other slaves and deepening their animosity towards him. Yao Ji, having been sent away by Chu Yougui under a pretext, was unable to intervene and rescue Chu Youwen.
Warden Gu, under orders, sought to further escalate the conflict between Chu Youwen and the other war slaves. Two guards brought a new prisoner into the mine, forcing him to carry explosives into a cave. A war slave, enraged by Chu Youwen's perceived privilege, confronted him, accusing him of causing others to die in his stead. Chu Youwen, dropping his stone, stepped forward and offered to take the new slave's place. But before he could act, a deafening explosion erupted from within the cave, scattering debris and forcing everyone to scatter. The unfortunate new slave was killed in the blast.
