Young Blood Episode 17 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Wei Yanei recalled seeing Captain Ma at his father Wei Zhuoran's study door. Captain Ma had given money to Wei Zhuoran the day before Chen Gong was to be transported. Zhao Jian speculated that Captain Ma was attempting to secure the task of escorting Chen Gong to learn the route and prepare an ambush, thus identifying him as a potential traitor. However, lacking concrete evidence, they decided against apprehending him immediately.
As Captain Ma started to leave, Zhao Jian noticed his injured right foot, an injury Yuan Zhongxin had inflicted on the Imperial Guard spy. Captain Ma denied any injury from Yuan Zhongxin. Zhao Jian then declared that Chen Gong was in their custody and that he would not be able to catch him.
Yuan Zhongxin, threatening the steamed bun shop owner's life, prompted Chen Gong to confess in desperation that the owner was his younger sister, whom he had avoided for years because she hated him. He explained that he had accidentally killed her husband with a crossbow during an experiment at home. Unable to compensate her, he left his savings and pursued a career as a crossbow technician, earning money to secretly support her.
Yuan Zhongxin realized that a half-arrowhead Chen Gong possessed was from the same incident that killed his brother-in-law. Knowing Chen Gong would soon be heavily guarded at the Privy Council and unable to see his sister, Yuan Zhongxin devised a plan to deliver Chen Gong's savings to her. He purchased a large quantity of steamed buns, giving the shop owner an excessive sum of money while implying a fictitious dispute between "masters" over property.
He also subtly threatened her shop if she refused the money. This ploy ensured she accepted the funds without realizing their true origin. Although Yuan Zhongxin encouraged Chen Gong to speak with his sister, Chen Gong declined, stating she would not want to see him. Meanwhile, Captain Ma, having received Zhao Jian's deliberately leaked information about Chen Gong's supposed location, assembled a small force to raid the Secret Repository students' residence.
He believed the students, who were officially just cataloging books, would pose no threat. He led his men through a hidden passage, only to discover his soldiers mysteriously vanishing one by one, until he was left alone. Zhao Jian, who had anticipated his arrival, learned that Captain Ma had stumbled into the territory of Dugu of Section 3, known for digging tunnels and creating illusions, and Gu Guanyin of Section 2, famed for her extraordinary strength.
Even Xue Ying had previously suffered a severe defeat against Gu Guanyin, leading Zhao Jian to conclude that Captain Ma was in grave trouble. Captain Ma and his remaining men were captured by the Secret Repository students and brought before Lu Guannian. From Captain Ma, Lu Guannian learned about Chen Gong's presence, understanding that Section 7 had intentionally divulged this information. He confronted the Section 7 members, asking why they had hidden such a serious matter from him.
Zhao Jian admitted she had deliberately lured Captain Ma to the Secret Repository. She explained that Captain Ma's unauthorized attempt to apprehend Chen Gong indicated he was acting privately, rather than under official orders from higher-ranking Imperial Guard officers who would know better than to provoke the Secret Repository. Zhao Jian argued that using the entire academy as bait was a worthwhile price if it exposed a traitor.
Lu Guannian, though displeased with Zhao Jian's unilateral decision-making, asked about Chen Gong's whereabouts, as the Privy Council had not received any news. Zhao Jian informed him that Chen Gong was already at the Privy Council, but Wang Kuan had used his father's connections to secure a discreet, unused courtyard there. Yuan Zhongxin wished to keep Chen Gong isolated to further test him, suspecting that if the Imperial Guards were compromised, Chen Gong might also be involved.
Lu Guannian found Yuan Zhongxin's method absurd, but Zhao Jian supported the caution, stressing the need to guard against all possibilities. Yuan Zhongxin and his group successfully delivered Chen Gong to the Privy Council. As they parted ways, Chen Gong discreetly handed Zhao Jian's marriage proposal card to Yuan Zhongxin, calling it a "gift for helping my sister," while also requesting his arrowhead back, which he wished to keep.
Yuan Zhongxin settled Chen Gong in a secluded courtyard, then he and Wang Kuan observed him from different vantage points, eager to see if Chen Gong would make any suspicious moves. Chen Gong, however, remained completely inactive. Later, as Yuan Zhongxin's group prepared to leave the Privy Council, Yuan Zhongxin attempted to return Zhao Jian's marriage proposal card to Wang Kuan.
But Wang Kuan, perceiving Yuan Zhongxin's nascent feelings for Zhao Jian, suggested he hold onto it for now, encouraging him to acknowledge his emotions before deciding the card's ultimate fate. With the immediate concern of Chen Gong settled, Zhao Jian remained focused on Captain Ma's case. Wang Kuan considered the troubling possibility that Captain Ma was not an isolated incident and that corruption might extend to higher echelons within the Imperial Guards.
Throughout the day, Yuan Zhongxin was noticeably distracted, pondering how to deal with Zhao Jian's marriage proposal card. He sought out the old thief at his puppet stall, who, discerning Yuan Zhongxin's unspoken affection for Zhao Jian and noting his newfound friendships, expressed his genuine happiness for him. Later, Yuan Zhongxin joined the rest of Section 7 at a soup noodle shop to celebrate the Winter Festival. During the celebration, Zhao Jian called Yuan Zhongxin aside for a private conversation.
