Episode 34 recap: Jiang Xue Ning was abducted by the Prince of Pingnan.
Xue Yuan informed the Emperor that once Xie Wei and Yan Lin mobilize their troops and head south, the capital would be in danger. Xue Yuan suggested that the Emperor issue an edict to first charge them with treason. The Princess was concerned that once the edict was issued, Xie Wei would be forced to turn against them. She hoped that Jiang Xue Ning could persuade Xie Wei.
Jiang Xue Ning found Xie Wei and hoped that he would consider the well-being of the people and refrain from engaging in treasonous acts. Xie Wei handed a dagger to Jiang Xue Ning, urging her to kill him. Initially reluctant, Jiang Xue Ning hesitated and accidentally stabbed him in the chest.
While the Emperor was listening to Xue Shu playing the zither, Xue Yuan sought an audience to report urgent matters. Upon meeting the Emperor, Xue Yuan informed him about the restoration of the military power to the Yan family and the seriousness of the situation. He requested the Emperor to issue an edict to hold the Yan family and Xie Wei accountable for their crimes. The Emperor did not anticipate such an outcome, as he feared that issuing the edict would only push the Yan family into rebellion. Consequently, he did not follow Xue Yuan's suggestion.
The Princess was curious about why the Yan family appeared at the border. Jiang Xue Ning explained the situation regarding Xie Wei's plan to impersonate Xue Ding Fei. Concerned that Xie Wei might be charged with treason, the Princess realized his deep affection for Jiang Xue Ning, as he risked his own life to save her. She urged Jiang Xue Ning to persuade Xie Wei.
With no news from the capital for a long time, Xie Wei worried about the safety of the fake Xue Ding Fei. While contemplating his next move, Jiang Xue Ning suddenly approached him. Following the Princess's suggestion, Jiang Xue Ning asked Xie Wei about his plans—whether to return to the capital to face the charges or to gather troops at the border for self-protection. Seeing that Xie Wei remained silent, she sighed and mumbled to herself that it was no longer her concern. She intended to leave.
Upon hearing Jiang Xue Ning's intention to depart, Xie Wei angrily declared that he would not let her go. Jiang Xue Ning pleaded with him to spare her. Xie Wei was surprised that Jiang Xue Ning risked her life to save Zhang Zhe, the Princess, and others, but when it came to him, she only sought to be released. He knew that Jiang Xue Ning understood him and his feelings, but he couldn't comprehend why she wanted to escape. Jiang Xue Ning explicitly told him that she wouldn't foolishly jump into the abyss, aware of what lay ahead. Hearing her words, Xie Wei took her to the blacksmith's furnace and explained that they were both like molten iron in the furnace, destined to be refined through a thousand hardships and not live a life of mediocrity.
Xie Wei realized that Jiang Xue Ning chose to escape because she feared him. Unable to hold back, he asked her why she was afraid of him. Jiang Xue Ning blurted out her thoughts, revealing that he had once tried to kill her.
After listening to Jiang Xue Ning's words, Xie Wei took out a dagger and handed it to Jiang Xue Ning, asking her to kill him as well. In her panic, Jiang Xue Ning accidentally stabbed Xie Wei in the abdomen. Seeing Xie Wei in pain and kneeling on the ground, Jiang Xue Ning called him a lunatic and turned to leave.
As she walked and pondered, Jiang Xue Ning questioned whether she had been too harsh on Xie Wei when suddenly, the Prince of Pingnan blocked her path. Xue Shu noticed Xie Wei's injury, quickly bandaged him, and then Dao Qin entered and informed them about Jiang Xue Ning being abducted by the Prince of Pingnan. Xie Wei knew that the Prince of Pingnan was ruthless and, in order to save Jiang Xue Ning, decided to meet him alone, following the Prince of Pingnan's request.
The Prince of Pingnan brought Jiang Xue Ning to the Guiyi Villa, along with the fake Xue Ding Fei and Xiao Bao. In front of Jiang Xue Ning, he killed Xiao Bao with a single stroke and told her that whether she could live or not depended on her importance in Xie Wei's heart.
Jiang Xue Ning was locked in a room, surrounded by cliffs, and the Prince of Pingnan warned her not to entertain any thoughts of escape. Jiang Xue Ning prayed in her heart, hoping that Xie Wei wouldn't come to save her when suddenly the Prince of Pingnan called her over.
Xie Wei arrived at the Guiyi Villa. Although he was eloquent, he couldn't dispel the Prince of Pingnan's suspicions. The Prince of Pingnan wanted Xie Wei to persuade the Yan family father and son to mobilize their troops and head south. Since Xie Wei refused, the Prince of Pingnan picked up a whip and began to punish him. Jiang Xue Ning intervened to spare Xie Wei from further harm and volunteered to persuade him instead. As a result, the Prince of Pingnan locked them together.
Back in the room, Jiang Xue Ning treated Xie Wei's wound. Seeing Jiang Xue Ning's care for him, Xie Wei felt happy, thinking that the beating he received was not in vain. Jiang Xue Ning knew that Xie Wei wouldn't engage in an unprepared battle, so she asked him about his next plan. Xie Wei smiled and told her that he intended to use the Prince of Pingnan's head to appease the Emperor's anger. To achieve this goal, Xie Wei first met the fake Xue Ding Fei and then wrote a letter to Yan Mu according to the Prince of Pingnan's intentions.
After receiving Xie Wei's letter, although Yan Mu hesitated, he knew that Xie Wei must have a backup plan. Therefore, he mobilized his troops and headed south, instructing Yan Lin to persuade the garrison commander to surrender to avoid unnecessary casualties.
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