Young Blood Episode 40 Recap
> Young Blood Recap
Zhou Xuan approached a severely wounded woman, only to discover it was Zhao Jian. Before he could react, Zhao Jian incapacitated him. Xue Ying and Wei Yanei similarly took down Zhou Xuan's attendants. Zhao Jian instructed Wei Yanei to transport Zhou Xuan back to the military camp. Meanwhile, Yuan Boqi, following his prearranged pursuit of the "assailants," found himself confronting Yuan Zhongxin.
Yuan Zhongxin confessed that he had deceived the Seven Sages, telling them that capturing Zhou Xuan was a secret Privy Council directive to enlist their aid. He claimed to Yuan Boqi that his intention was for the Seven Sages to bear the blame for the general's capture, a crime punishable by execution. Yuan Zhongxin stated unequivocally that friends held less importance than family. Yuan Boqi, unwilling to implicate others in a capital offense, questioned Yuan Zhongxin's motives.
The brothers then met Zhao Jian, who confirmed Zhou Xuan was secured in a carriage. When Yuan Boqi attempted to inspect the carriage, a sleeping gas was released, knocking him unconscious. Zhou Xuan later regained consciousness at the gates of the military camp, bewildered by his surroundings.
The guards informed him that Zhao Jian's friends had returned him, claiming he had simply fallen asleep and that Zhao Jian's apparent injuries were merely pig's blood from a hog slaughter, suggesting the entire incident was a prank by the royal family. Meanwhile, back at Zhao Mansion, Yuan Zhongxin and Zhao Jian arrived with the still-unconscious Yuan Boqi.
Zhao Jian expressed her surprise, as she now understood that Yuan Zhongxin's true intention all along had been to capture Yuan Boqi, not Zhou Xuan. She worried about Yuan Boqi's potential anger once he awoke. Yuan Zhongxin clarified his actions, stating that he sought to prevent his brother from committing a grave error, believing that national righteousness and his brother's welfare were equally paramount. He then requested to speak with Yuan Boqi privately.
Before departing the room, Zhao Jian assured Yuan Zhongxin that she would stand by him through any future challenges. Outside the room, the rest of the Seven Sages surreptitiously listened to the conversation, anxious about its outcome. Yuan Boqi eventually awoke. Unexpectedly, he did not express anger towards Yuan Zhongxin, but rather remarked on his brother's maturity. Despite this, Yuan Boqi remained steadfast in his vow to kill Zhou Xuan to avenge the nine thousand fallen soldiers.
Understanding the depth of Yuan Boqi's resolve, Yuan Zhongxin, unable to deter him, declared his intention to join his brother, ready to face the severe consequences of their actions, even if it meant execution. The two brothers then slipped away covertly. The Seven Sages quickly detected their absence, burst into the empty room, and immediately gave chase. Yuan Zhongxin and Yuan Boqi reached the riverbank, preparing to cross. However, Zhao Jian and her group swiftly caught up to them.
Zhao Jian confronted Yuan Zhongxin, presenting him with two choices: either remain with them or allow her to accompany him. Yuan Zhongxin, determined to shield Zhao Jian from danger, urged her and the others to let them go, stating he did not wish to involve his friends in such a perilous undertaking. Zhao Jian refused to yield. She initiated a struggle with Yuan Zhongxin to physically prevent their departure.
In a desperate act to protect Yuan Boqi, Yuan Zhongxin deliberately intercepted Zhao Jian's sword, sustaining a deep wound. Shocked, Zhao Jian dropped her weapon. At that moment, Liang Zhu arrived with a boat, revealing Yuan Boqi's pre-arranged escape plan. Yuan Zhongxin, seeing the boat, instructed Yuan Boqi to depart immediately. He then collapsed into Zhao Jian's arms, effectively halting the pursuit by the stunned Seven Sages. Yuan Zhongxin developed a high fever due to his injury.
Outside the room, Wang Kuan engaged Zhao Jian in a conversation, shedding light on Yuan Zhongxin's complex emotions. He explained that Yuan Zhongxin's hesitation to fully commit to Zhao Jian stemmed from his knowledge of Yuan Boqi's illicit contacts with the Xia people and his profound desire to protect her from the inevitable fallout.
Wang Kuan further clarified that Zhao Jian's palpable anger was not merely due to being excluded from the plan but from her profound frustration at being unable to prevent Yuan Zhongxin from embarking on a path of no return. Zhao Jian returned to Yuan Zhongxin's bedside, realizing that he had deliberately orchestrated the injury, considering the well-being of everyone but himself.
She firmly decided that this time, she would not let go of his hand, vowing to accompany him through whatever lay ahead. Later, Zhao Jian, Wang Kuan, and Xiao Jing convened to discuss their next steps. They found Liang Zhu's sudden appearance and assistance to Yuan Boqi highly suspicious, given his known animosity towards Yuan Boqi. They concluded that Yuan Boqi and Liang Zhu had been collaborating all along, and their previous rivalry was an elaborate charade.
Acknowledging the formidable alliance between the "God of War in frontier" and the "best instructor of imperial guards," the Seven Sages recognized the need for heightened vigilance. A noise from Yuan Zhongxin's room alerted them. Rushing in, they found Wei Yanei tied up and Yuan Zhongxin gone. Zhao Jian immediately set out to search for Yuan Zhongxin. Along the way, she encountered Xue Ying.
Xue Ying admitted he had intercepted Yuan Zhongxin but had been convinced to let him go, even surrendering all his money to him. Xue Ying reasoned that it was a family matter, and Yuan Zhongxin claimed that because his brother would not harm him, he was the best person to stop him and did not want his friends to be hurt. Frustrated but understanding Yuan Zhongxin's manipulative charm, Zhao Jian continued her determined pursuit.
Concurrently, Liang Zhu and Yuan Boqi finalized their plans for revenge. Yuan Boqi, recalling Ding Er's counsel, asserted that assassinating Zhou Xuan in Binzhou was impractical due to Zhou Xuan's extensive influence. Instead, Yuan Boqi proposed to carry out the assassination in Qichuan village on the upcoming anniversary of the devastating battle, transforming it into a "blood sacrifice" for the fallen soldiers.
This act, he elaborated, would also serve to remind the Xia populace that the Crown Prince Ninglingge was the victor of that battle, thereby subtly consolidating support for him against Yuan Hao's machinations. Yuan Boqi confirmed that all preparations for the Qichuan "blood sacrifice" were complete. Anticipating interference from the Seven Sages, he planned to return to the military camp and mobilize troops to apprehend them, framing it as a measure to control them.
Liang Zhu recognized that Yuan Boqi's intention to "control" the Seven Sages was, in fact, an act of protection. He understood that Yuan Boqi would face execution for killing Zhou Xuan, but by having the Seven Sages detained, they would be shielded from any official suspicion.
Despite having meticulously planned everything, Yuan Boqi revealed to Liang Zhu that he required his assistance for one final, crucial task, which was the reason he had asked Liang Zhu to escort him to this particular location. Yuan Zhongxin, after bribing local beggars for information regarding Liang Zhu's movements, discreetly followed his trail. He observed Yuan Boqi emerging from a room alone, having apparently knocked out Liang Zhu inside.
Yuan Zhongxin proceeded to set a large net as a trap, anticipating Yuan Boqi's return. However, his plan went awry when Zhao Jian, who had also utilized the beggar network to track Yuan Zhongxin out of concern, inadvertently opened the door and fell into his trap, much to Yuan Zhongxin's astonishment. He quickly clarified that the trap was intended for his brother, not for her.
He explained that he saw his brother leave without a horse and had come to check the room, finding Liang Zhu knocked out. Believing his brother would return, he had set the trap for him. Simultaneously, Ding Er had uncovered the Seven Sages' current whereabouts and dispatched assassins to eliminate them.
