Young Blood Episode 28 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Upon Wei Yanei's departure from Xiaohua's room, Yun Ni revealed to Xiaohua that she had already overheard their conversation and was fully aware of Yuan Zhongxin and his companions' plans. She instructed Xiaohua to feign compliance to mislead them. Yun Ni explained that the hat tassel assassination attempt was merely a diversion, a "gecko cutting off its tail," as her true method of assassination was entirely different.
She clarified that Han Duanzhang had forced her into this act, and she was willing to sacrifice her life to save Prince Yun'an, showing no regard for her own safety. On the day of the Empress's birthday banquet, Yun Ni and Xiaohua prepared to leave the courier hostel. Inside their carriage, Yun Ni placed a sleeping incense in the censer.
She confessed to Xiaohua that she had already notified the Court of State Ceremonials that her performance would be a solo dance. Yun Ni intended to perform this final solo dance alone, ensuring Xiaohua and the others would survive. Meanwhile, backstage at the banquet, Jing, disguised as Princess Yun Ni, was incredibly nervous. Wang Kuan approached her to offer reassurance and encouragement, hoping she would successfully complete the dance.
He told her not to worry about being recognized, as other Liao people would not be present at the Empress's birthday banquet, and praised her two days of practice. Yun Ni awoke in the carriage, bewildered as to why she had fallen asleep despite taking an antidote. She quickly realized the carriage was not heading to the imperial palace. Yuan Zhongxin then appeared behind her, apologizing.
He revealed that Zhao Jian had suspected the hat tassel assassination was a ruse all along. Therefore, they had secretly replaced the incense in Yun Ni's carriage, executing a strategy of "removing the firewood from under the cauldron" and "substituting one thing for another" to prevent her from reaching the banquet. Wei Yanei's connections among the imperial guards allowed them to arrange the swap. Now that the birthday banquet had concluded, Yun Ni had no remaining options.
She wept in shock and despair. Yuan Zhongxin apologized again, explaining they were unable to save Prince Yun'an, but they had to prevent the conflict between Liao and Song. He intended to send Yun Ni back to the hostel, suggesting that if she returned to Liao promptly, Prince Yun'an might still have a slim chance of survival.
Even if Prince Yun'an were to meet an unfortunate end, Yuan Zhongxin urged Yun Ni to live, avenge her brother, and find a way to defeat Han Duanzhang. Later, Lu Guannian questioned Zhao Jian about Seven-Pillars' private mobilization of the imperial guards and Jing's impersonation of the Liao princess. She revealed they had caught Huo Yuguang, who had implicated Han Duanzhang in the assassination plot. Lu Guannian dismissed the claim, stating Han Duanzhang was imprisoned.
Zhao Jian, however, found Lu Guannian's calm reaction to the assassination's failure unsettling, suspecting that everything was within his expectations. She also found it suspicious that the Court of State Ceremonials staff who had met Yun Ni were suddenly transferred from the banquet. Zhao Jian openly expressed her suspicions of Lu Guannian, who vehemently denied any collusion and asserted that all his actions were for the good of the Song Dynasty.
Separately, Han Duanzhang, speaking with Lu Guannian, also found the students' actions "extraordinary" and sensed a powerful figure was secretly aiding them. Meanwhile, Wei Yanei and Jing met with Lu Jian. They informed him about Jing's impersonation of the princess. Wei Yanei explained they hadn't sought Lu Guannian's help, implying a lack of trust. Lu Jian, impressed by their "stunning idea," agreed to help cover up the impersonation with the Court of State Ceremonials.
He then instructed them to keep a close watch on Yun Ni until she left for Liao, ensuring no further incidents occurred. Yun Ni was preparing to return to Liao. Yuan Zhongxin released Huo Yuguang, tasking him with accompanying Yun Ni back to Liao. Huo Yuguang understood Yuan Zhongxin's intention was to prevent Yun Ni from harming herself within Song territory. He agreed to report Han Duanzhang's conspiratorial actions upon their return.
Inspired by Yuan Zhongxin's words, Yun Ni also resolved to live and seek revenge for Prince Yun'an if he were truly dead. Unbeknownst to them, Han Duanzhang sent a secret message to Liao, ordering the disposition of Prince Yun'an. He told Lu Guannian that the failure of the assassination was anticipated and marked the beginning of his "second move." He warned Lu Guannian that if Seven-Pillars interfered again, he would personally eliminate them.
As Yun Ni, Xiaohua, Huo Yuguang, Yuan Zhongxin, Zhao Jian, Jing, and Wei Yanei departed, they stopped for the night at an inn. Yuan Zhongxin instructed the imperial guard, Tian Hu, to keep a close watch on Huo Yuguang, revealing his true identity as a Liao secret agent who could not be allowed to escape. Later that night, Yuan Zhongxin found Zhao Jian and reported the arrival of a new group of people and imperial guards.
They soon recognized Liu Sheng from Section 5. Liu Sheng ordered everyone to return to their rooms, announcing he would conduct a search. Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian, immediately suspicious that Liu Sheng's presence was connected to Lu Guannian, decided Zhao Jian would check on Yun Ni and Jing while Yuan Zhongxin went to find Huo Yuguang, fearing for their safety. Yuan Zhongxin entered Huo Yuguang's room to find both Huo Yuguang and Tian Hu murdered.
Liu Sheng arrived on the scene and immediately accused Yuan Zhongxin. Simultaneously, a guard reported that Yun Ni and Xiaohua had fled. Liu Sheng swiftly dispatched his men to pursue them. Shortly after, Liu Sheng returned with Yun Ni and Xiaohua, once again pointing the finger at Yuan Zhongxin as the killer.
Liu Sheng declared that due to the murders, Yun Ni could not return to Liao as planned but would be taken to Kaifeng for questioning, along with Yuan Zhongxin, who he intended to interrogate thoroughly for the murders. Yun Ni later informed Zhao Jian that she and Xiaohua had witnessed Liu Sheng killing Huo Yuguang and Tian Hu.
They had fled in fear, believing Liu Sheng was an agent of Han Duanzhang, sent to ensure Yun Ni did not return to Liao and would be killed. Zhao Jian and Yuan Zhongxin discussed this new development, realizing that if Liu Sheng was not acting on Han Duanzhang's orders, he must be working for Lu Guannian. Zhao Jian decided she and Jing would remain with Yun Ni to protect her.
As Liu Sheng attempted to arrest Yuan Zhongxin, Wang Kuan intervened, arguing that only the Dali Temple could determine Yuan Zhongxin's guilt, not Liu Sheng. Though Liu Sheng was forced to back down, he still kept Yuan Zhongxin under detention, muttering that Yuan Zhongxin was unfit for the Secret Repository. Yuan Zhongxin understood that resisting would only further implicate him.
