Under the Power Episode 52 Recap, Plot

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When Lu Yi's ally, Lan Qingxuan, learned that Lu Yi had exchanged evidence of Yan Shaoqiong's corruption for Yuan Jinxia's life, he was displeased, warning Lu Yi that Yan Shifan had found his weakness and would exploit it. Lu Yi, however, asserted that Jinxia was both his soft spot and his armor, giving him the power to fight even if she was the reason he sometimes had to yield.

He explained that while desperation to save Jinxia initially clouded his judgment, he later found Yan Shifan's actions strange. Yan Shifan had known about Lu Yi's feelings for Jinxia for some time but had held back, saving this leverage for a more critical moment. Lu Yi was surprised Yan Shifan would play such a valuable card for a minor figure like Yan Shaoqiong.

He deduced that Yan Shaoqiong must possess dangerous information against Yan Shifan—likely evidence of his collusion with Japanese pirates under the alias Sima Chang'an—which forced Yan Shifan’s hand. Yuan Jinxia regained enough strength to get out of bed, and Mr. Beggar's wounds also healed. The ordeal had changed Lin Ling's perspective; she now believed Jinxia's well-being was paramount. She planned to take Jinxia, Mr. Beggar, and Jinxia's mother to Fuzhou to escape the capital's turmoil.

Jinxia sighed, troubled by what Yan Shifan had told her. Meanwhile, Lu Yi, pained by the memory of Jinxia's suffering, resolved to accelerate his plans to eliminate Yan Shifan. He instructed Cen Fu to watch Yan Shaoqiong closely, convinced he held critical evidence that Lu Yi needed. As Jinxia's health improved, Yang Chengwan visited her. Jinxia directly asked him if Lu Ting had been the one who forced Qiu Cheng to frame her grandfather.

Under persistent questioning from both Jinxia and Lin Ling, Yang Chengwan reluctantly confirmed the truth. Years ago, Jinxia's grandfather, Xia Ran, had irrefutable evidence to impeach Lu Ting. Lu Ting begged Xia Ran to withdraw it, and the soft-hearted Xia Ran relented. However, the arrogant Lu Ting couldn't bear the humiliation and held a deep grudge. Jinxia was stunned to learn that the Lu family was also her enemy, and Lu Yi was the son of her foe.

Furious that Yang had kept this secret, Lin Ling declared that Jinxia must stay away from Lu Yi. At that moment, Lu Yi arrived. Jinxia confronted him, asking if he had known all along. Enraged, Lin Ling drew her blade to attack Lu Yi, proclaiming a son must pay his father's debts. Jinxia immediately shielded Lu Yi, unable to watch him be harmed despite her desire for revenge. She knelt and tearfully begged Lin Ling to let him go.

Heartbroken, Lin Ling relented but asked Jinxia if this was fair to the hundreds of lives lost from the Xia and Lin families. Trembling, Jinxia removed the wrist strap Lu Yi had given her and, wiping her tears, returned it to him, telling him never to seek her out again. Lu Ting summoned Jinxia to his residence. He observed that her features strongly resembled her grandfather, confirming he knew her identity.

Lu Ting claimed that Xia Ran's stubbornness would have led to his downfall regardless of his actions. Jinxia retorted that her grandfather was an upright official. Lu Ting confessed that he had once knelt and wept before Xia Ran to stop an impeachment, and his shame later turned to resentment. He admitted he was truly kneeling to his own ambition, and by the time he felt remorse, it was too late.

Offering Jinxia a knife, he said he would not resist if she sought vengeance. Jinxia refused, stating that true regret would be to clear her grandfather's name. In response, Lu Ting produced a scroll with the documents needed for Xia Ran's rehabilitation. He cautioned her that the current Emperor was too proud to admit error, advising her to wait for a new emperor to ascend the throne before presenting it. Just then, Lu Yi rushed in.

Lu Ting instructed Cen Fu to escort Jinxia out. Lu Yi managed to ask Jinxia if she was well, but she responded coldly and left. As Lu Ting began to scold Lu Yi for secretly visiting Jinxia's home at night, he collapsed. Lu Yi then learned his father was gravely ill with little time left. Jinxia showed the rehabilitation scroll to Yang Chengwan and Lin Ling, who stressed the need to keep it secret from Yan Shifan.

Yang Chengwan later visited Lu Ting, acknowledging his remorse. They spoke of the past; Yang recalled how Lu Ting had crippled him but spared his life, leaving him to live with guilt, while Lu Ting admitted to his own torment. They both lamented the cruel fate that had befallen Lu Yi and Jinxia. Later, as Jinxia pondered why Lu Ting had kept the scroll for so long, she sensed a presence outside.

Rushing out, she saw only Lu Yi's retreating back. She instinctively wanted to call out but was stopped by the deep-seated hatred between their families. Lu Ting gave Lu Yi a detailed blueprint, the culmination of a years-long plan to trap the Yan family, urging his son to wait for the right moment to present it to the Emperor. He confessed to understanding Lu Yi's resentment over his mother's death, admitting he had chosen his career over family.

As his cough worsened, Lu Ting expressed his regret that he would not live to see the Yan family's downfall. Before a doctor could arrive, he passed away. While on a case, Jinxia was informed by Yang Yue that Lu Ting had died. She froze, and though she worried for Lu Yi, she knew their future together was impossible. At the Lu mansion, Lu Yi wandered in a grief-stricken daze.

Jinxia came secretly to see him, her eyes filling with tears at his sorrow, but she instructed Cen Fu not to reveal her visit. Lu Yi reflected on his past, finally understanding that his father's apparent appeasement of the Yan family was a decade-long strategy to gather evidence for their destruction. He silently vowed to complete the mission his father had entrusted to him.

Episode 51 Recap

Episode 53 Recap