The Wolf Episode 9 Recap
> The Wolf Recap
Concerned about the Prince of Bo's safety after he brazenly entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple to rescue her, Ma Zhaixing prepared to seek clemency in the palace. However, Wen Yan arrived, conveying an invitation from the Prince to meet at his adjacent courtyard. This unusual care puzzled Ma Zhaixing, as well as Mo Xiao and Hai Die. Wen Yan also revealed he had kept a broken inkstone the Prince had once ordered thrown away, sensing its significance.
Wen Yan explained that the Prince escaping unharmed was not the main issue; rather, it was how Ma Zhaixing viewed the Lin Guang case. Ma Zhaixing deduced that Lin Guang was not an assassin but had sacrificed himself to protect someone. She declared the case closed, like "a rock dropped in the sea," accepting that some truths should not be pursued. When asked if she would accept the invitation, Ma Zhaixing declared she would be there without fail.
That evening, Ma Zhaixing dressed meticulously and nervously made her way to the adjacent courtyard. Inside, she discovered a breathtaking sight: countless fireflies creating a star-like panorama. As Ma Zhaixing recited a poem, the Prince of Bo appeared behind her, completing the lines of "The Song of Everlasting Regret" she had started. He discussed the poem's themes of resentment, but she countered with verses emphasizing that with a firm heart, two people could meet anywhere.
The Prince revealed that the iron tree in his courtyard had bloomed, signifying his change in attitude, and that she was the first person ever allowed into his forbidden sanctuary. He confessed his previous prejudice, believing their betrothal was for her self-gain, but he now saw her unwavering kindness. He then invited her to a feast he had prepared.
Over drinks, Ma Zhaixing tearfully recounted her painful separation from Wolf Boy, her profound guilt over deceiving him, and her deep longing to hear him call her "Xing'er" again. She described how foods they once shared, like meat buns and candied hawthorns, had lost their flavor since he disappeared. The Prince of Bo listened, then gently embraced her and kissed her forehead. He assured her that her actions were to protect Wolf Boy and that he would have understood.
The Prince urged her to release her long-held guilt, reminding her that she had also suffered greatly, and tenderly advised her to let go of the past, as Wolf Boy could not return. The next morning, Ma Zhaixing awoke beside the Prince of Bo, startled and questioning if the previous night's kiss was real. Embarrassed, she slipped away, unaware that he was feigning sleep. Back at her residence, Ma Jing playfully teased her about spending the night with the Prince.
Flustered, Ma Zhaixing insisted she was drunk and mistook him for Wolf Boy. Ma Jing reminded her of her status as the Prince's betrothed, and Ma Zhaixing resolved not to confuse the two again. Meanwhile, the Prince of Bo, in a complete change of character, agonized over which clothes to wear, frustrating Wen Yan and Mo Xiao with cryptic questions about strategy until Wen Yan realized he was simply trying to impress Ma Zhaixing.
The Prince then ordered Wen Yan to stop monitoring Ma Zhaixing like a criminal and instead protect her at all costs, noting that as his future consort, she was a vulnerable target for his political enemies. He also inquired about a special gift he had commissioned for her. Following the Prince of Bo's instructions, Hai Die brought Ma Zhaixing and Ma Jing to the training field. The Prince, typically reserved, conspicuously showcased his prowess by swiftly defeating Mo Xiao.
Shyly observing from behind a pillar, Ma Zhaixing found him strikingly handsome. After his display, the Prince offered to teach her martial arts for self-defense and to aid her leg's recovery. He advised against long weapons and presented her with a special "Wolf Bow" he had commissioned three years prior. Ma Zhaixing admired its beautiful totem and accepted the gift. As the Prince patiently instructed her, Wen Yan privately noted that his teaching appeared more akin to courting.
Ma Zhaixing quickly showed talent, crediting her "good teacher." After their training, the Prince of Bo had an imperial physician examine Ma Zhaixing's leg. Witnessing her discomfort, he tenderly warned the physician to be gentle. The physician confirmed the old injury had led to chronic weakness and that a full recovery was impossible, but daily activities would be unaffected.
He commended the Prince for preventing her from kneeling for too long, which could have caused permanent damage, and prescribed medicine, cautioning against strenuous activities like horse riding. Moved by the Prince's unwavering concern, Ma Zhaixing asked why he was so kind. He replied that it was his duty, given their betrothal. Touched, she promised to be a competent Princess Consort of Bo. Their shared meal was cut short when the Prince was urgently summoned by Emperor Chu Kui.
In the imperial study, Lord Yun, Chu Yougui, was already present. Chu Yougui attempted an apology for the Lin Guang case, but the Prince remained cold, stating he would have sought justice if Ma Zhaixing had been harmed. The Emperor revealed that ministers had petitioned for Chu Yougui to atone by assisting the Prince in receiving a foreign envoy. The visitor was not an emissary but Princess Bao Na of Qitan, whom both brothers knew.
Chu Yougui noted her influence over the Qitan King, believing a good reception would aid their plea for troops. The Emperor commanded the Prince to treat her with utmost respect to ensure the success of their mission. Upon his return, the Prince of Bo's grim expression puzzled Ma Zhaixing.
Chu Yougui soon arrived and explained the cause: years ago, the young princess had fallen in love with the Prince of Bo at first sight and sought to marry him, a union prevented only by a Qitan custom forbidding princesses from marrying abroad.
