Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 29 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
The Qionglin Banquet was held, and His Majesty opened Jinming Lake for the scholars. The topic for the debate, "The stability of the state lies in virtue, not in strategic terrain," was clearly aimed at Zhao Xiaoqian. Shen Zhaowen, sitting beside Zhao Xiaoqian, provocatively told Xie Xiaoman that she had invited her to the event. One scholar criticized Zhao Xiaoqian, citing the 10,000 lives lost at Baichuankou and comparing him to the "mass murderer" Gongsun Qi.
Another scholar defended the role of military strength, and Xie Xiaoman also spoke up, stating that the stability of a nation lies in "both virtue and strategic strength" and that military power serves as a deterrent. Zhao Xiaoqian then addressed the scholars, acknowledging that their criticisms were directed at him.
He quoted the "Rites of Zhou", distinguishing between those who "sit and discuss principles" (nobility and royalty) and those who "rise and act on them" (scholar-officials), challenging them on their true intentions—whether to overthrow the Zhao family or to serve the state. Finding the discussion tedious, Zhao Xiaoqian left with Shen Zhaowen.
Shen Zhaowen's brother mocked Zhao Xiaoqian's grandiosity and warned Shen Zhaowen to be wary of his marriage proposal, prompting Zhao Xiaoqian to scold him for ruining the Xiongjie Camp's reputation. The brother retorted that people called Zhao Xiaoqian a "murderer." Xie Xiaoman then arrived, insisting on seeing Zhao Xiaoqian. Zhao Xiaoqian led Xie Xiaoman away. She presented him with handmade knee guards containing medicinal herbs for his old knee injury.
Zhao Xiaoqian, noticing Shen Zhaowen nearby, deliberately threw the knee guards away. He accused Xie Xiaoman of merely wanting to know if he was a "murderer" and cruelly suggested she was trying to "climb into his bed." Hurt, Xie Xiaoman retorted, asking if this was what he had become, to which Zhao Xiaoqian coldly affirmed he liked his new self. Xie Xiaoman, saying she was unworthy, tearfully left, while Shen Zhaowen watched from a distance.
Zhong Ziyan, receiving a secret report, informed Zhao Xiaoqian that Chancellor Xu had planned an ambush in Tianshui Alley for that very night, advising him to take Tianzhu Road where Zhong Ziyan's covert guards were positioned for protection. Furious, Zhao Xiaoqian confronted Shen Zhaowen, demanding to know her true reason for inviting Xie Xiaoman.
Under pressure, Shen Zhaowen confessed that she wanted to test where Zhao Xiaoqian's heart truly lay and admitted that her servant, Zipei, had placed informants at the entrance. Realizing Xie Xiaoman was in danger, Zhao Xiaoqian quickly grabbed his sword and rushed out to find her. Xie Xiaoman was chased by ruffians into Tianshui Alley. Zhao Xiaoqian arrived just in time, swiftly dispatching them.
Seeing covert assassins on the rooftops, Zhao Xiaoqian deliberately hardened his demeanor, telling Xie Xiaoman he was back only for power and that she was "unworthy" of him, commanding her to leave. At that moment, an old man, Zhou Shixian's father, confronted Zhao Xiaoqian with a knife, accusing him of his son's death at Baichuankou.
Zhao Xiaoqian disarmed him, then recounted Zhou Shixian's heroic service as a deputy squad leader of Camp 57 who died defending Gu City, revealing that the old man was being manipulated. With assassins closing in, Zhao Xiaoqian urged the old man to leave, and then he and Xie Xiaoman boarded a boat to escape. On the boat, another assassin ambushed them, taking Xie Xiaoman hostage.
Following Zhao Xiaoqian's discreet signal, Xie Xiaoman kicked the assassin's dagger away, allowing Zhao Xiaoqian to kill him. However, Xie Xiaoman's back was grazed by the dagger during the struggle. Zhao Xiaoqian brought Xie Xiaoman to a small island for safety and tended to her wound. When she asked about his numerous enemies, Zhao Xiaoqian coldly dismissed her, suggesting she distance herself as he had accumulated too many grudges.
He denied pushing her away to protect her, claiming she now meant "nothing" to him, and his love for her was "in the past." Xie Xiaoman, heartbroken, pressed him, asking if he was marrying Shen Zhaowen and if he loved her. Zhao Xiaoqian confirmed both with a flat "Yes." Devastated, Xie Xiaoman acknowledged her foolishness for living in the past, promised to never bother him again, and wished him and Shen Zhaowen a lifetime of happiness.
Zhao Xiaoqian simply replied, "Thank you," then walked away, but secretly watched over her from behind a fence. A montage reveals that during the years he was away at war, Zhao Xiaoqian continued to receive reports about Xie Xiaoman's life in the capital—her opening a store, becoming a disciple at Wujin Academy, falling ill, and turning twenty. Before his return, he had confessed his true plan to Zhong Ziyan.
He admitted his return to the capital was fraught with extreme danger and that he might die. To thoroughly investigate Chancellor Xu's involvement in the Baichuankou provision scandal, he must first become the Prefect of Bian Capital. To do this covertly, he planned to "openly contend for power" and propose marriage to Shen Zhaowen, using this as a smokescreen to "covertly investigate the correlation between Chancellor Xu and the loss of Baichuankou's provisions."
Zhong Ziyan warned of the immense danger, but Zhao Xiaoqian felt a deep debt to the fallen soldiers, believing his life was already forfeit. He insisted that Zhong Ziyan and Xie Xiaoman must survive and instructed Zhong Ziyan to find a man named Li Guangwen in the capital, then take Xie Xiaoman and leave, never to return. If he died, Zhong Ziyan was to keep these truths from Xie Xiaoman.
The next morning, Zhong Ziyan and Shen Zhaowen arrived at the island. Zhao Xiaoqian pulled Shen Zhaowen aside and unequivocally stated that his proposal to her was "merely a measure of expediency" with no genuine feelings. He clarified that Xie Xiaoman had always been, and would always be, the only one in his heart. Zhao Xiaoqian then instructed Zhong Ziyan to inform the Xie family to pick up Xie Xiaoman.
Zhong Ziyan also showed Zhao Xiaoqian a token from the Chancellor's residence found on the assassin, confirming Chancellor Xu's involvement. Zhao Xiaoqian saw this as Chancellor Xu "shooting himself in the foot" and declared his intention to enter the imperial palace to "ask for a position." Meanwhile, Li Su found Xie Xiaoman. He reassured her about her overnight absence and proposed marriage, expressing his desire not to miss out on her again.
Zhao Xiaoqian entered the imperial palace and boldly requested the position of Prefect of Bian Capital. His Majesty, infuriated, accused him of coveting the Crown Prince's "rice bowl." Zhao Xiaoqian retorted that with the Crown Prince being young and Chancellor Xu overbearing, he, a Commandery Prince, was nearly assassinated.
He provocatively warned that if the truth of a Crown Prince and Grand Chancellor attempting to assassinate a victorious general became public, the people and the soldiers of Baichuankou would never be silent. Left with no choice, His Majesty issued an edict promoting Zhao Xiaoqian to Prefect of Bian Capital. Upon learning of Zhao Xiaoqian's explicit rejection, Shen Zhaowen, consumed by jealousy, vowed to be ruthless.
Shortly after, she falsely accused Su Chang Ji, Ming Gu's family store, of selling fake silk. Officers arrived to close the store and arrest Ming Gu's father, stating their actions were based on claims by Commandery Princess Rong'an, whom Ming Gu identified as Shen Zhaowen.
