Legend of Zang Hai Episode 5 Recap, Plot

> Legend of Zang Hai
> Legend of Zang Hai Recap

Yang Zhen was Zhuang Luyin’s military adviser, as well as the head of the staff at the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence. Their job was to write and compile a book about Lu Zhanyuan—“The Zhuang Family Chronicles”—to sing praises of Zhuang Luyin. Zang Hai, relying on his superb skills in architectural geomancy, successfully deciphered the mechanisms of the underground palace and entered the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence.

He was determined to kill Zhuang Luyin to avenge his family, but he had no access to Zhuang Luyin under normal circumstances. Yang Zhen feared that once Zang Hai gained power, he would replace him. Though he claimed to value Zang Hai, he secretly sabotaged him and tried every means to drive him out of the residence. The staff were ordered to inventory and catalog all the antiques and artworks gifted by the emperor.

Yang Zhen then had Zang Hai repeat the count and stationed people outside to keep watch. If Zang Hai dared to smuggle anything out, they would arrest him on the spot. Zang Hai was left alone in the treasury to sort the items and accidentally triggered a hidden mechanism to a secret chamber. He quietly approached, but found the heavy iron door locked, so he turned back. Returning to the treasury, he saw someone rummaging through it.

He shouted to stop the intruder, only to realize it was Zhuang Zhixing, Zhuang Luyin’s second son. Zang Hai recognized him at once—years ago, he and his friends had once locked Zhuang Zhixing inside a secret passage. Now that Zang Hai had undergone plastic surgery, Zhuang Zhixing didn’t recognize him at all. Zhuang Zhixing tried to leave with a stolen golden gourd but dropped it. Zang Hai confiscated it on the spot and promised to keep it secret.

Zhuang Zhixing pulled Zang Hai away with him, and the guards at the door dared not stop them. Yang Zhen handed the inventory Zang Hai had prepared to Zhuang Luyin. Zang Hai had meticulously recorded the origins of the Changfeng Sword, which was obtained during the most glorious battle of Zhuang Luyin’s life. This impressed Zhuang Luyin, who told Yang Zhen to support Zang Hai well.

Yang Zhen and Chu Huaiming both felt threatened by Zang Hai and came up with a sinister plan to host a Hongmen Banquet for him. Yang Zhen invited Zang Hai to a banquet at the Zhen Tower and brought along Chu Huaiming and Qu Jiao as companions. Zhuang Zhixing, addicted to gambling, owed large sums to the Zhen Tower. Xiang Antu asked the manager to tally up the accounts and send someone to summon Zhuang Zhixing for settlement.

Zang Hai arrived at the tower on time, and when Xiang Antu heard Yang Zhen was hosting a banquet for Zang Hai there, she instantly recognized Zang Hai as Zhinu. Feeling something was off, she ordered someone to keep a close eye on the room. When Zang Hai entered the room, he saw Qu Jiao, Yang Zhen, and Chu Huaiming surrounded by women, drinking and making merry. Feeling out of place, he sat alone in a corner.

Chu Huaiming used Yang Zhen’s birthday as a pretext and brought in Xiao Zhi, a singer, to liven up the mood. Zhuang Zhixing hurried to the Zhen Tower and tried to repay his debt with some gold and jewels, but the proprietress refused. She demanded Dongxia’s agate instead, which Zhuang Zhixing firmly declined. The proprietress then threatened to take the IOU to the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence.

After Xiao Zhi finished her song, Yang Zhen suggested Zang Hai take her in. Zang Hai politely declined. Yang Zhen repeatedly insisted, saying he planned to promote Zang Hai to deputy. Zang Hai remained unmoved. Chu Huaiming tried to threaten and intimidate him, but Zang Hai refused to yield. Yang Zhen told him to write a resignation letter to Zhuang Luyin, saying he intended to spend three years writing a book.

Zang Hai had risked his life to enter the Marquis’s residence to avenge his parents and sister. Now that Yang Zhen was trying to drive him out, Zang Hai hastily made an excuse to leave. Qu Jiao drew his sword, and Yang Zhen shifted all the blame onto Xiao Zhi, saying she had failed to serve Zang Hai properly and must be punished. Xiao Zhi knelt and begged for mercy.

Zang Hai realized Yang Zhen was using her to force him to submit and was torn. Yang Zhen picked up a red-hot coal from the brazier and shoved it into Xiao Zhi’s mouth. Zang Hai tried to stop him, but it was too late—Xiao Zhi passed out from the pain. Gao Ming had been waiting outside the door.

Hearing Xiao Zhi’s screams, he was about to rush in to help Zang Hai when he saw Xiang Antu enter and had to retreat. Xiang Antu, under Zhuang Zhixing’s name, ordered Yang Zhen, Chu Huaiming, and Qu Jiao to leave. Zang Hai begged her to find a doctor to treat Xiao Zhi’s injuries. Her throat was badly burned, and Zang Hai pleaded with the doctor to save her.

Xiang Antu was curious about how Zang Hai had offended Yang Zhen, Chu Huaiming, and Qu Jiao, but Zang Hai couldn’t tell the truth. He asked her to temporarily shelter Xiao Zhi. Xiang Antu told Zang Hai to escort the dead-drunk Zhuang Zhixing back to the Marquis’s residence. It took all Zang Hai’s strength to carry him home. Gao Ming had been waiting for him and warned him to be cautious.

Zang Hai could tell that Yang Zhen and the others were becoming desperate—this meant Zhuang Luyin had started to notice him. It was a step closer to his plan for revenge. Zang Hai hoped to get close to Zhuang Luyin through Zhuang Zhixing. Gao Ming worried about his safety, but Zang Hai was determined. Zhuang Zhixing invited Zang Hai to bathe together to thank him, but Zang Hai declined and subtly tried to learn more about Zhuang Luyin.

Realizing Zhuang Zhixing craved his father’s attention, Zang Hai offered him suggestions. Zhuang Zhixing immediately became wary and warned him not to meddle, or he might bring death upon himself. Zang Hai shared his thoughts with Gao Ming. Gao Ming had long heard that Zhuang Zhixing was unlearned and frivolous, a typical hedonistic youth, and unlikely to win Zhuang Luyin’s favor. Still, Zang Hai wanted to try. That night, thunder rolled and torrential rain poured.

The eunuchs guarding the imperial tomb patrolled everywhere. Suddenly, one heard a banging sound coming from the late emperor’s tomb. He bravely went in and found the emperor’s coffin blocking the entrance. Terrified, he fled in panic. Upon hearing the news, Chu Huaiming went to consult Yang Zhen. They wanted Zang Hai to handle the matter—and to use the opportunity to get rid of him.

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