Legend of Zang Hai Episode 8 Recap, Plot

> Legend of Zang Hai
> Legend of Zang Hai Recap

Yang Zhen and Chu Huaiming had meticulously planned to put Zang Hai to death, but Zang Hai cleverly turned the tables, making Yang Zhen a burial sacrifice instead. He also had Gao Ming disguise himself as a fortune teller to hint that the one who had narrowly escaped death—himself—was Zhuang Luyin’s destined benefactor. Although Zhuang Luyin remained suspicious of Zang Hai, he still took him away, threatening to kill him.

Zang Hai had no choice but to admit that Yang Zhen had tried to kill him and that he had merely fought back. Seizing the opportunity, Zang Hai pledged his loyalty to Zhuang Luyin, vowing to serve him faithfully. Zhuang Luyin didn’t believe for a second that Zang Hai would follow him with unwavering loyalty.

Zang Hai revealed all of Yang Zhen’s deeds in detail—how Yang Zhen was jealous of the capable and eliminated all the talented advisers, keeping only useless ones. Zang Hai also reported that Qu Jiao had been committing crimes under the name of the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence. Before Zhuang Luyin could give the order, Qu Jiao had already killed Yang Zhen. Zang Hai deduced that Qu Jiao had long been prepared to do so.

Gao Ming, disguised in another identity, had been secretly trailing Zhuang Luyin’s carriage out of concern for Zang Hai’s safety. Qu Jiao rode ahead, deliberately leading the carriage to the rear courtyard of the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence. Zhuang Luyin instructed Zang Hai to get off the carriage first. Qu Jiao then handed a sword to Zhuang Luyin, urging him to kill Zang Hai. But Zhuang Luyin didn’t kill him—instead, he allowed him to return home and rest.

Qu Jiao reminded Zhuang Luyin that keeping Zang Hai alive was a huge risk. Zhuang Luyin, clearly impatient, was shocked that Qu Jiao dared to act on his behalf, confirming what Zang Hai had said. Gao Ming disguised himself as a physician to treat Zang Hai’s injuries. Zang Hai had previously discovered a small river, Xiao Cang River, upstream of the imperial tomb.

He instructed Gao Ming to station himself there and open the floodgate when the bell chimed six times, allowing water to flow through the underground channel to the tomb. When the bell chimed the ninth time, he was to close the gate, reducing the water flow and naturally stopping the Duanlong Stone. Zang Hai asked Gao Ming to light an incense stick and open the floodgate only when the incense burned out.

After emerging from the underground palace, Zang Hai persuaded Zhuang Luyin to have Yang Zhen buried with the Empress Dowager. As the water surged through the channel, the Duanlong Stone fell into place. Zang Hai had risked his life to complete the first step, but he remained vigilant—another challenge still lay ahead. Word reached Zhuang Luyin that the censors had submitted a memorial to the emperor overnight, accusing him of committing murder at the imperial tomb.

Zhuang Luyin was reluctant to hand over Qu Jiao as a scapegoat. Zhuang Zhifu suggested they kill Zang Hai, disfigure his face, and make him pose as Qu Jiao to take the fall. Zhuang Luyin said he would consider it. Zang Hai had already anticipated this move. He bet that Zhuang Luyin wouldn’t make him take the blame for Qu Jiao. The next morning, Zang Hai heard the news that Qu Jiao had died suddenly the night before.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Zhuang Luyin appointed Zang Hai as the chief secretary of the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence, relocating him from the House of Attendants to the inner garden—right next door to Zhuang Luyin. Zhuang Luyin carefully selected maidservants and servants to serve Zang Hai and even invited him to dine together. From the steward Zhuang Shan, Zang Hai learned that even Yang Zhen had never received such treatment.

As promised, Zang Hai attended the family banquet. Zhuang Zhifu feigned hospitality upon his arrival. Zhuang Luyin consulted Zang Hai on dismissing all of Yang Zhen’s selected advisers, keeping only a few elder retainers. He also asked Zang Hai to prepare for his father's memorial ceremony, to which Zang Hai readily agreed. Zhuang Zhifu remained distrustful of Zang Hai. Zhuang Luyin could see that Zang Hai was ambitious and intended for him to support Zhuang Zhifu’s entry into the cabinet.

If Zang Hai had ulterior motives, he would be eliminated. Seeing that Chu Huaiming was negligent in his duties, Zhuang Luyin reassigned part of his responsibilities to Zang Hai. Zang Hai worked diligently, not daring to slack off. Zang Hai met with Gao Ming at the bookstore to report on the situation at the Marquis of Pingjin’s residence.

Gao Ming advised him not to act rashly to avoid death, suggesting instead that they carefully plot a plan to quietly eliminate Zhuang Luyin. After buying a few books, Zang Hai went out to eat, only to find that the shop owner refused to serve him—Xiang Antu had sent someone to summon him and had instructed all street vendors not to entertain him.

Forcing himself to go to the Pillow Tower, Zang Hai found Xiang Antu and a man claiming to be the owner, Xu Ben, already waiting. Xu Ben brought out fine wine and the signature dishes of the Pillow Tower to host Zang Hai. Eager to know why Xu Ben had summoned him, Zang Hai listened as Xu Ben offered him several large chests of gold, silver, and jewels to buy him over.

Zang Hai politely declined and proposed instead to sit at the Vermilion Bird Stage to watch opera on the first and fifteenth of each month and to take back the treasures Zhuang Zhixing had lost in gambling. Xu Ben glanced at Xiang Antu before agreeing. Zang Hai had already seen through Xu Ben’s lie—he was clearly not the owner of the Pillow Tower. So he deliberately made unreasonable demands.

Xu Ben didn’t dare agree and kept sneaking glances at Xiang Antu, who had no choice but to reveal her identity, admitting that she was the true owner of the Pillow Tower. She asked to talk with Zang Hai somewhere more private.

Episode 7 Recap

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