Legend of Zang Hai Episode 15 Recap, Plot

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> Legend of Zang Hai Recap

Cao Jingxian greatly appreciated Zang Hai and wanted to bring him under his command, but Zhuang Luyin was unwilling to let him go. Cao Jingxian grew angry and sent his adopted son Lu Jin to investigate Zang Hai's background. Master Xing Dou not only performed cosmetic surgery on Zang Hai but also fabricated his background.

Lu Jin found nothing suspicious and, fearing accountability, falsely claimed that there was an issue with Zang Hai's identity and sent a letter via pigeon post to Cao Jingxian. The letter was intercepted by a group of martial artists who killed all the imperial guards. Lu Jin barely escaped with his life thanks to his excellent martial skills. Zang Hai asked Xiang Antu to kill Lu Jin and devised a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

Zang Hai and Xiang Antu disguised themselves as Lu Jin and Zhuang Luyin, respectively, and held a secret discussion in the study overnight. Cao Jingxian mistakenly believed that Lu Jin had defected to Zhuang Luyin and went to the Marquis's residence to confront him. Zang Hai had Zhuang Zhixing lure Zhuang Luyin away and forged Lu Jin's suicide note, then had someone throw Lu Jin into the river.

Cao Jingxian found the suicide note on Lu Jin’s body and realized that Lu Jin had pretended to defect to Zhuang Luyin but was then silenced. Cao Jingxian concluded that Lu Jin had discovered Zang Hai’s secret, and Zhuang Luyin killed him to cover it up. He instructed Lu Yan to give Lu Jin a proper burial and summoned her elder brother Lu Ran.

Zhuang Luyin woke up early and learned that Cao Jingxian had come to his residence to question him. He was completely puzzled. Zang Hai seized the opportunity to sow discord between Zhuang Luyin and Cao Jingxian, pleading with Zhuang Luyin to assign someone to protect him, fearing that Cao Jingxian would cause more trouble. Zhuang Luyin agreed to ensure Zang Hai’s safety and planned to appoint him to an official position.

Zang Hai was more than happy—his ultimate goal was the Imperial Astronomical Bureau so he could investigate the treasure that Zhuang Luyin and Cao Jingxian were searching for. Zang Hai personally crafted a hairpin and gave it to Xiang Antu to thank her for her great support. Xiang Antu asked Zang Hai to accompany her for the Ghost Festival, and Zang Hai readily agreed. On the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, the sky was dotted with white clouds.

Jiang Xiang said they looked like auspicious rabbits. Zhuang Luyin asked Zang Hai for his opinion, and Zang Hai skillfully deflected. That night, Zang Hai kept his promise and came to see Xiang Antu. Xiang Antu had prepared exquisite pastries and took him on a boat ride to enjoy the riverside scenery. She had her staff release ten thousand lanterns to mourn the dead. She wished to build thousands of Zhenlou buildings to shelter more homeless people.

Zang Hai couldn’t help but see her in a new light. Xiang Antu took the opportunity to confess her feelings to Zang Hai, but he changed the subject. Xiang Antu then asked him to write the names of his deceased loved ones on a lantern to express his grief. Zang Hai held back his emotions—he had yet to avenge the deaths of his parents and sister and could not write their names truthfully. Xiang Antu didn’t press him further.

Sitting on the boat and gazing at the stars, Xiang Antu listened as Zang Hai told her the names and legends of various constellations. She was amazed and, overcome with emotion, remembered her deceased loved ones and believed they had become stars in the sky. Zang Hai noticed that Xiang Antu was troubled but chose not to ask further. The two of them chatted freely, growing more and more in tune with each other.

Chu Huaiming, using astronomical signs, predicted that long-drought-stricken Central Zhou would soon have rain. Eagerly, he asked his colleagues to report the good news to the court. The people celebrated joyfully. Zang Hai, however, observed a white rainbow crossing the sun in Central Zhou and predicted heavy flooding. He urged Zhuang Luyin to report it to the emperor and begin constructing dikes and relocating the locals.

Zhuang Luyin, not wanting to disappoint the emperor or meddle in affairs, chose to keep it quiet. Central Zhou was the territory of Governor Tan Zhisong. If a flood did occur, Zhuang Luyin could seize the opportunity to take control. Zang Hai discovered that Zhuang Zhifu was responsible for reinforcing the dikes but had embezzled funds and cut corners.

Zang Hai intended to use the flood disaster in Central Zhou to bring down both Zhuang Luyin and Chu Huaiming and replace Chu Huaiming as the chief of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Zang Hai went to the entrance of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and publicly announced the coming flood in Central Zhou. He also claimed that Chu Huaiming's prediction was wrong. The people, upon learning he was the same Zang Hai who had repaired the imperial tomb, trusted him deeply.

Word of the impending storm in Central Zhou spread rapidly. When Chu Huaiming heard about this, he was filled with hatred toward Zang Hai. Chu Huaiming went to complain to Zhuang Luyin, who harshly scolded Zang Hai. Zang Hai repeatedly insisted that he was acting in Zhuang Luyin’s best interest—if Chu Huaiming's prediction was wrong, the emperor might blame Zhuang Luyin.

Zang Hai firmly stated that Central Zhou would not only suffer a major flood, but also a general would be killed. He volunteered to take the blame in Zhuang Luyin’s stead. Zhuang Luyin ordered Zang Hai to be imprisoned and decreed that if his prediction proved false, he would be executed.

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