Young Blood Episode 20 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Zhao Jian awoke, her pulse steady and temperature lowered, confirming the antidote was genuine. She remarked on her survival, to which Yuan Zhongxin responded that even fate dared not take her life. As she recovered, Zhao Jian recalled her confession to Yuan Zhongxin the previous night, where she'd expressed a newfound affection for him, an "accident" to her lifelong vow of freedom. Wishing to clarify their relationship, she repeatedly asked Yuan Zhongxin what she had said while near death.
Yuan Zhongxin, however, skillfully dodged her questions, attributing fabricated praises to her and even claiming she "told on Junior Wei secretly." Frustrated, Zhao Jian directly asked about "their relationship." Yuan Zhongxin simply stated they were "colleagues." Disappointed, Zhao Jian told him to forget everything she'd said, treating it as a dream, and reiterated her ambition to achieve prominence in the Secret Repository, adding pointedly that she would "never marry" him.
Meanwhile, Jing informed Zhao Jian that Wei Yanei had obtained the antidote from his father, Wei Zhuoran, and Zhao Jian expressed concern for Wang Kuan's whereabouts, sensing trouble. Indeed, Wei Yanei was confined, demanding release. When Wei Zhuoran appeared, Wei Yanei pleaded for Wang Kuan's freedom. Wei Zhuoran countered that Wang Kuan had contacted suspects privately, justifying his arrest.
He revealed he had allowed Jing to take the antidote but insisted on detaining one person in exchange for Wang Kuan's release, specifically demanding Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian. Wei Yanei, frustrated, offered himself up alongside Wang Kuan. Wei Zhuoran, however, was determined to see how far Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian would go for Wei Yanei. Yuan Zhongxin arrived at Wei Mansion, requesting to collect Wang Kuan.
After a series of sharp exchanges with Wei Zhuoran, Yuan Zhongxin confirmed Zhao Jian’s recovery and then offered himself in exchange for Wang Kuan’s freedom. Wei Yanei was astonished by Yuan Zhongxin’s actions. Wei Zhuoran agreed to release both Wang Kuan and Yuan Zhongxin, but on one condition: Wei Yanei must sever all ties with Section 7 and its members. Yuan Zhongxin accepted without hesitation.
As he embraced Wei Yanei, he secretly conveyed that Section 7 was a united front, and they would face all fortunes and misfortunes together. With Wang Kuan now free, Yuan Zhongxin left the mansion. Later, Yuan Zhongxin explained their purpose for hiding in Wei Mansion to Wei Yanei and Zhao Jian: to investigate Chen Gong's death, which they believed was connected to a high-ranking official within the imperial guards due to the Privy Council's strict security.
They used Wei Yanei's identity to gain access and observe officials. Wei Yanei warned them to be cautious of his father. A servant then reported Wei Zhuoran's imminent arrival, causing a scramble to avoid detection. Concurrently, Wang Kuan, Xue Ying, and Jing were investigating Yun's Tavern from a nearby teahouse. Xue Ying reported that Yunniang, the tavern owner, appeared to be a reputable Kaifeng native, unlikely to be a secret agent.
However, Yunniang later confessed that she and Xifeng Yun were indeed Xia agents. Wang Kuan considered two possibilities for Yunniang: either she was unknowingly used by Xia agents, or she had been coerced, preferring the former. They had discerned that the Xia agents used a specific communication method involving the tavern door and a jar visible from the teahouse across the street. Following this lead, Wang Kuan and Xue Ying captured Xifeng Yun from the teahouse.
Xue Ying administered a fast-acting poison to Xifeng Yun, preventing him from committing suicide by biting his tongue. From Xifeng Yun's reaction, Wang Kuan deduced that the seller of the wheeled cannon drawing had appeared in Kaifeng, offering a high price, and it was likely Lieutenant Liu, or a larger mastermind behind him. Wang Kuan proceeded to interrogate Xifeng Yun, revealing his knowledge of Xifeng Yun's esteemed clan history and its current subjugation by the Tuoba clan in Xia.
He cleverly played on Xifeng Yun's pride and loyalty to his clan, arguing that Song could covertly support the Xifeng clan to overthrow the Tuoba regime, thereby offering an opportunity for the Xifeng clan's revival. Under Wang Kuan's persuasion, Xifeng Yun agreed to cooperate with Song and become a Song agent, returning to Xia to revive his clan. With Lu Guannian's support, Wang Kuan provided Xifeng Yun with a travel permit and funds, promising Song's backing for his mission.
Xifeng Yun requested to take Yunniang with him, and Wang Kuan agreed, asking them to reveal the identity of the Song traitor. Xifeng Yun, being cautious, stipulated that he would disclose all the truth only after he was safely escorted out of the city, to which Wang Kuan readily agreed. Back at a safe house, Wang Kuan discussed his suspicions with Jing and Xue Ying.
He pointed out that Ma Shan, an imperial guard captain they had previously captured, and Liu, the black-armor guard who provided the false antidote, were both Wei Zhuoran's trusted subordinates. This suggested that if there was a mastermind, it was likely Wei Zhuoran himself. He also noted Xifeng Yun's reaction when Liu was mentioned, further strengthening his theory.
Wang Kuan emphasized that they must not reveal their suspicions to Wei Yanei, as it would complicate their relationship if his father proved to be the culprit. Jing expressed concern about Wei Yanei's well-being if his father was indeed the traitor. In Wei Mansion's study, Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian found evidence of financial irregularities, specifically large, unexplained money transfers by Wei Zhuoran that had nearly depleted his funds.
The next day, Wei Yanei delivered snacks to Wang Kuan as instructed by Yuan Zhongxin. Wang Kuan discovered a hidden note within the pastries, detailing Wei Zhuoran's recent suspicious money transfers, indicating he was nearly penniless. Wang Kuan reasoned that if Wei Zhuoran was short on money, selling the wheeled cannon drawing would provide a clear motive for Chen Gong's death and the theft of the plans.
Unbeknownst to Wang Kuan's group, Wei Yanei had overheard their conversation about suspecting his father. He confronted Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian, questioning why they had hidden their true intentions from him. Yuan Zhongxin admitted that based on their current findings, Wei Zhuoran was the primary suspect, and they had no choice but to investigate him. They asked for Wei Yanei's help to quickly uncover the truth and clear his father's name.
Wei Yanei agreed to assist them but vowed to use his own methods to investigate. He declared that if his father was proven to be a traitor, he would prioritize righteousness over familial loyalty and then commit suicide. Zhao Jian, hearing his grim promise, worried that Wei Yanei might actually take his life if his father turned out to be guilty. Separately, Wei Yanei encountered Ma Shan at an inn and was surprised that Ma Shan had not been imprisoned.
When Wei Yanei questioned him, Ma Shan revealed that Wei Zhuoran had lost a significant amount of money in investments in Yan Yun Sixteen Prefectures, leading to the Wei family's financial struggles. Wei Yanei was shocked to learn of his family's poverty. He also inquired about Lieutenant Liu, only to be told by Ma Shan that Liu was dead, with the cause of death unknown.
Later, Yuan Zhongxin brought up Ma Shan's case with Zhao Jian, where he was supposedly imprisoned but merely transferred, hinting at further complexities within the imperial guards that they needed to investigate.
