Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 27 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
On Chinese New Year's Eve, Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the commandery Prince's mansion, only to hear Princess Consort Pu declare that if he remained obstinate, he would end up with nothing. Zhao Xiaoqian confronted her, asserting that her noble status, glory, and riches, admired by all, were obtained at the cost of human lives. He then ordered all servants to leave the room. He accused his mother of having lost her sense of judgment from committing too many bad deeds.
Angrily, Princess Consort Pu claimed she did not understand what he was talking about. Zhao Xiaoqian revealed that he had found Fuweng and uncovered the truth about his brother's death, accusing his mother of sacrificing her own son's life for her personal glory and status. He sarcastically commented on their family's supposed "tender mother and filial sons, upright in conduct."
Princess Consort Pu tearfully stated that she had not wanted to send him to the imperial palace, that she had pleaded with the Emperor and Empress but was powerless against imperial authority, and could only resign to fate, lamenting that they were simply "not destined to be mother and son."
Zhao Xiaoqian retorted that she had already caused the death of one son and now intended to kill him too, stating that she always prioritized her own benefits and never considered his feelings. He informed her of his decision to go to the battlefield with General Xu to Baichuankou. Princess Consort Pu was shocked, asking why he would risk the future of the entire Prince Pu's Mansion.
Zhao Xiaoqian explained that returning to the capital would be "making himself the opponent's prey," and going to war was his only chance to survive and escape manipulation. He affirmed his decision, declaring that even if he were to die, it would be at Baichuankou. Afterwards, Zhao Xiaoqian accused Hongsu of being his mother's spy and mercilessly ordered her to be sold to the southern region.
He then wandered alone to the Lotus Garden, the place Xie Xiaoman had once inhabited, gazing at the pot of soil used to pray for a child, filled with longing for her. Meanwhile, the Su and Xie families gathered for their reunion dinner. The Su family planned to move after the New Year.
A servant delivered a pot of soil from the Lotus Garden and a letter to Xie Xiaoman, noting that the pot was the one Zhao Xiaoqian had used to pray for a child. Xie Xiaoman immediately recognized Zhao Xiaoqian standing at the door. He had come to bid her farewell, informing her that he was going to the battlefield. Xie Xiaoman responded that "Serving the nation is quite good."
She shared her plans to move to the capital after the New Year, to help her aunt with the new Su Chang Chi shop and to teach at Teacher Liu's academy, becoming a teacher herself. Zhao Xiaoqian expressed his admiration for her spirit, embracing her and telling her to "live on and never admit defeat."
As the first snow began to fall, Zhao Xiaoqian repeatedly apologized to her, asking her to remember that "there's only one Zhao Xiaoqian in this world, and he cherishes you like his own life." He then left without looking back. Xie Xiaoman watched him go, wishing him "keep going further and further, press forward with indomitable will, best of luck," and a Happy New Year.
Outside the city gates, Zhong Ziyan caught up with Zhao Xiaoqian, offering to join him on the battlefield as his "foot soldier," having abandoned his path to imperial examinations. Elsewhere, Yan Boyang knelt in the snow, pleading with his father to let him attend the Imperial College in the capital, promising to earn honor for the family. His father, seeing his resolve, nodded in agreement.
As the Su and Xie families prepared for their journey to the capital, Yan Boyang rushed to meet them, declaring he would join them on their journey and attend the Imperial College there, so they could look out for each other. Minggu warned him that if he went, it must be to earn glory and not to continue his frivolous ways, or she would not acknowledge him. Yan Boyang promised to mature and take responsibility for his choices and future.
In the capital, the newly reopened Su Chang Chi shop was bustling with customers. Xie Xiaoman began teaching at Teacher Liu's academy, and Yan Boyang diligently pursued his studies at the Imperial College, with everyone slowly settling into their new routines. At Baichuankou, Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhong Ziyan discussed the ongoing war. Baibao Stronghold and Taozhou had been successfully recaptured, and General Xu had sent a report confirming the capture of Linzhou City, with all bandits surrendering.
A soldier suggested that by simply holding Baichuankou, they might return victoriously to the capital by early spring. Zhao Xiaoqian warned against underestimating the enemy and inquired about the scouts sent out days ago, who had not yet returned. Soon after, a soldier reported that enemy forces were exploiting Baichuankou's weak defenses and advancing, while their own army was critically short of provisions and might not last a few more days.
Zhao Xiaoqian proposed attacking Yao Camp, the enemy's primary provision storage, as it was their only hope for resupply. He ordered double the amount of firewood for daily cooking and double the flags at each station to create the illusion of a larger army, deterring the enemy from reckless attacks. He forbade direct combat outside the camp, citing their disadvantage against the enemy's cavalry with their predominantly infantry forces, and ordered "truce signs" to be hung in every camp.
Anyone who engaged the enemy due to provocation, regardless of the outcome, would face execution. Zhao Xiaoqian tasked Shen Yan to accompany him with 200 soldiers that night to ambush the enemy's provision route. He dispatched a homing pigeon to General Xu, informing him that in five days, at midnight, their army would attack the enemy camp, and if General Xu did not send reinforcements, Baichuankou would fall, and they would fight to the last man.
Zhao Xiaoqian led the charge and was struck by an enemy arrow but was saved by the timely arrival of General Xu and his reinforcements. After three grueling years of combat, the battle of Baichuankou concluded, leaving many soldiers, including Huang Liu, dead. In the capital, rumors spread wildly that General Zhao, also known as Hanchen, was a "Living King Yama" who disregarded human lives for military achievements.
These rumors reached the Emperor, and the Crown Prince echoed sentiments from ancient texts, stating that "a bad year follows the war" and that a wise ruler should use "benevolence to make all the regions surrender" to avoid war. The Emperor sternly rebuked the Crown Prince, reminding him that as Crown Prince, he was not a mere literati or sage.
He declared that if the generals who had fought for three long years to protect the nation were to return only to hear such words, the Crown Prince might as well forfeit his position. At Baichuankou, Zhao Xiaoqian presided over a solemn memorial for the fallen soldiers.
He learned that Scout Huang Liu, a former deserter and a local gangster from Wujiang Prefecture whom Zhao Xiaoqian had once inspired to serve, had tragically died protecting the last batch of provisions for the city. A wounded soldier confronted Zhao Xiaoqian, questioning if their comrades had died in vain, for aspiring for the great and serving the nation, only for the nation to fail in providing adequate provisions. Zhao Xiaoqian promised the soldiers that he would personally ensure an accounting for the provision shortage and instructed them to wash up and return home.
