Young Blood Episode 13 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
The Secret Repository's 7th Chamber was tasked by Dean Lu Guannian with relocating Chen Gong, a genius crossbow technician sought by Liao and Xia, from the Crossbow Workshop to a protected mansion in the east of the city. The plan involved Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian covertly escorting Chen Gong out of the workshop while disguised as relatives, with Xue Ying and Wei Yanei waiting with a carriage outside.
Although Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian successfully extracted Chen Gong, Wei Yanei, seeking to claim credit, secretly followed the carriage with Xue Ying, despite being instructed to return. During the transfer, the carriage was ambushed by mysterious attackers attempting to kill Chen Gong. In the ensuing chaos, Chen Gong escaped. Wei Yanei and Xue Ying, observing from a distance, intercepted the fleeing Chen Gong.
While Xue Ying initially intended to take him to the designated mansion, Wei Yanei redirected them, taking Chen Gong to Xue Ying's family noodle shop. There, Wei Yanei discreetly knocked Chen Gong unconscious and outlined his plan to Xue Ying: they would hide Chen Gong privately for a period, only revealing him when everyone else had despaired of finding him, thereby claiming significant credit. Meanwhile, Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian returned empty-handed to the mansion.
Zhao Jian wished to immediately report Chen Gong's disappearance to Dean Lu Guannian, but Yuan Zhongxin, suspecting a traitor within the Secret Repository due to the ambush, decided to locate Chen Gong first before making a report. Wei Yanei returned home to gather information, but his father, Wei Zhuoran, had already discerned his intentions.
Wei Zhuoran knew about Wei Yanei joining the Secret Repository and revealed he planned for his son to gain experience there for a few years before transferring him to the Privy Council for a legitimate position. Wei Yanei, attempting to be caring, brought his father fruit and asked about his work, noting a detailed map of Kaifeng on the desk.
Wei Zhuoran candidly stated that the Imperial Guards were searching for the Crossbow Workshop technician, the very one Wei Yanei's section had lost. Surprised his father knew about his section, Wei Yanei was further chided by Wei Zhuoran for his past failures, including the prison camp incident where Yuan Zhongxin had to create a loophole for him. His father expressed a desire for Wei Yanei to accumulate experience and secure a stable job.
Despite his father's skepticism, Wei Yanei insisted he could find Chen Gong. Meanwhile, Lu Guannian, having been informed of Chen Gong's disappearance, confronted the 7th Chamber members. He was furious about their attempt to conceal the truth. Lu Guannian stressed the critical importance of Chen Gong’s unfinished cannon design, emphasizing that if it fell into the hands of Liao or Xia, it would pose a grave danger to the Song state.
He ordered an immediate, all-out search for Chen Gong and voiced suspicions that a high-ranking traitor might have leaked information about the transfer, leading to the ambush. Following this, Zhao Jian convened a meeting for the 7th Chamber. Wei Yanei, demonstrating an unexpected insight, deduced that Chen Gong must still be within the city walls because Dean Lu had ordered a city-wide lockdown immediately after his disappearance.
Yuan Zhongxin proposed a strategic search, suggesting they focus on newly-opened shops and bustling streets where a stranger could blend in more easily, rather than temples, hotels, or brothels, which the Imperial Guards would already be scrutinizing. They divided the city into search regions. Wei Yanei was assigned the task of discreetly gathering intelligence from his father, while Xue Ying was given responsibility for the southern region, where his family's noodle shop was located.
At the noodle shop, Wei Yanei instructed Xue Ying on how to treat Chen Gong. He told Xue Ying to be kind and persuasive, urging him to finish the cannon drawing so they could claim credit. Xue Ying awkwardly attempted to smile at Chen Gong as Wei Yanei had demonstrated, much to Chen Gong's discomfort.
Chen Gong complained about feeling sleepy and getting headaches every time he ate the noodles, hinting they were drugged, but Xue Ying dismissed it as a dream. When asked about the scars on his arms, Chen Gong claimed they were from a gambling game where contestants scratched themselves for money.
Xue Ying suggested turning Chen Gong over to the authorities, but Wei Yanei vehemently argued against it, citing the pervasive threat of Xia and Liao spies and the likelihood of traitors within the Imperial Guards. He convinced Chen Gong to remain in hiding to complete the drawing, promising to fulfill any request as long as it didn't involve leaving the shop.
Chen Gong then requested to watch dancing, and Wei Yanei, eager to please, offered to arrange for dancing girls to come to the shop, a suggestion Xue Ying immediately rejected. Wei Yanei later reassured Xue Ying that his father's search efforts were concentrated elsewhere, ensuring their temporary safety at the noodle shop. Meanwhile, Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian arrived at Chen Gong's room in the Crossbow Workshop, disguised as his relatives.
They were surprised to find Wang Kuan already there, having gained entry using a fake Imperial Guard token that Yuan Zhongxin had incidentally created for a false pass previously. A brief argument ensued over Yuan Zhongxin's fabrication and Wang Kuan's pragmatic use of it. They questioned the gatekeeper, who confirmed Chen Gong was a dissolute gambler with no friends, and that Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian, posing as his relatives, had been his only recent visitors.
Inside, Wang Kuan discovered Chen Gong's gambling instructions and an "Erotica" book. Yuan Zhongxin then found a half-arrowhead hidden under Chen Gong's pillow. Wang Kuan meticulously examined it, noting its smooth, fondled surface and layers of dried blood, concluding it had been used to injure or kill someone. They surmised that finding the victim would be key to uncovering Chen Gong's secrets. Later, Wang Kuan met with Xiao Jing.
He asked her to retrace her exact steps from the day Chen Gong disappeared, believing she might have unknowingly been manipulated or questioned. After she recounted her movements, Wang Kuan found no anomalies, reinforcing his unwavering trust in her, regardless of her Bohai heritage. Zhao Jian subsequently reported to Yuan Zhongxin that she had seen Wei Yanei touching Xue Ying's face and Xue Ying smiling in response.
Though she was too far away to overhear their conversation, she found their behavior extremely peculiar. Yuan Zhongxin advised they act as if nothing was amiss and discreetly observe Wei Yanei and Xue Ying. Acting on a clue, Yuan Zhongxin found a bodice from Xiuxiang Tower in Chen Gong's room and decided to investigate there. Wang Kuan had other responsibilities and did not accompany them. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian went undercover to Xiuxiang Tower.
There, they spotted two suspicious men, whom Yuan Zhongxin identified as foreign spies. While staking out the spies, they unexpectedly saw Wei Yanei at the tower, seemingly seeking pleasure. Yuan Zhongxin found Wei Yanei's presence highly suspicious and instructed Zhao Jian to follow him, while Yuan Zhongxin continued to monitor the spies. The spies were also clearly searching for Chen Gong.
They noticed that several entertainers known to associate with Chen Gong remained quiet, but a different, unknown entertainer was called out by one of the men. The spy leader recognized this as a critical lead and traced it back to the noodle shop. That night, the spies descended upon the noodle shop, intending to kill everyone inside if Chen Gong was not there. Inside, Xue Ying suddenly sensed people lurking outside.
Meanwhile, Zhao Jian and Yuan Zhongxin were positioned on the rooftop above. Both suspected that Xue Ying and Wei Yanei were concealing something, especially given their connection to the noodle shop. They decided to remain hidden and observe the unfolding situation before taking any action.
