Episode 4 recap: Ding Bao Zhen accidentally ignited the Three-legged Flag, facing the risk of being implicated along with his family.
Ande Hai swaggered down from the Taiping ship with a grand demeanor, defying the rules by sitting in a sedan chair carried by eight bearers. Ding Bao Zhen noticed this and instructed Guo Zhong to continue monitoring secretly. Ding Bao Zhen discovered that there were musketeers on the Taiping ship and proposed to capture the leader first. At this moment, Guo Zhong reported that Ande Hai intended to redeem the Yanyang Pavilion women, and the situation was about to change. Ding Bao Zhen ordered the capture of the Yanyang Pavilion.
Li Pei Rong disguised himself as a wealthy merchant to meet Ande Hai, but the guards took the bribe without fulfilling their duty, so Pei Rong could only plan to strike at the Yanyang Pavilion instead. Ande Hai suddenly expressed his desire to have a dish, which he learned was in Taian, so he immediately sent someone to Taian. Ande Hai hurriedly went to the pier in a sedan chair, accompanied by numerous guards, while Li Pei Rong had only a few men, so he had to return and report to Ding Bao Zhen. Ding Bao Zhen ordered them to find other important figures to come and support them, ensuring that Ande Hai would not be able to leave Dezhou.
Ande Hai embraced a courtesan and got into the sedan chair, while Guo Zhong secretly followed them. Seeing that Ande Hai was about to escape, Guo Zhong intentionally intercepted the sedan chair to delay their time. Guo Zhong was discovered following the sedan chair from behind, and a fight broke out between the two sides, but they were clearly no match for Ande Hai. Ding Bao Zhen arrived at the pier with a large number of troops, but Ande Hai's ship had already left. They rode downstream and intercepted Ande Hai's ship upon learning of its location. Upon being intercepted, Ande Hai raised the Three-legged Flag and falsely claimed that there was the dragon robe on the ship.
Ding Bao Zhen instructed Li Pei Rong to inform Li Yun Fei and emphasized that they must not let the road be blocked and the flag should not be moved. Ande Hai took a tough stance, and a fight broke out between the two sides. Ding Bao Zhen led the remaining personnel to catch up with the ship. However, some members of the navy, fearing the Three-legged Flag, did not dare to engage in battle and fled. Ding Bao Zhen had not yet reached the ship when he saw the Three-legged Flag fall from a distance. Realizing that things were not going well, Ding Bao Zhen ordered the road to be cleared.
Afterwards, there were significant casualties in the navy. Chen Yun Fei took the blame and voluntarily assumed responsibility because the fire was too intense and he had to explode the flag in order to save people. Ding Bao Zhen stated that he alone should bear the responsibility for exploding the flag, and it had nothing to do with others. Ande Hai deliberately exaggerated the incident of the flag explosion in his report to the Empress Dowager. Prince Gong, upon learning of Ding Bao Zhen's capture of Ande Hai, admired his achievements, while other figures suggested using this incident to win over Ding Bao Zhen. Prince Gong believed it was too early to take advantage of the situation.
The Ding family learned that their involvement in the flag explosion had provoked the court, and the servants of the Ding family began to flee. Even the loyal guard, Baoquan, had to leave. He confessed to his wife that Mr. Ding had harmed a sacred object, which would result in the punishment of the entire family, so escaping was the top priority.
Ding Bao Zhen returned to the city, but the people's attitudes had changed, and they avoided him. Madame Zhong asked Ding Bao Zhen if the flag explosion incident was true. Ding Bao Zhen said that it was reasonable for people to leave and that it was for their own good. Madame Zhong agreed and felt it was a good thing not to be implicated.
Madame Zhong asked Ding Bao Zhen if he had a plan to deal with Ande Hai and what his intentions were. Ding Bao Zhen still insisted on saving the women and was waiting for the right opportunity. Madame Zhong was willing to stand by his side and suggested that their son help him. She also mentioned that when she passed away, she wanted Ding Bao Zhen to marry her sister, Chunlan.
Ande Hai speculated that the letter had reached the Empress Dowager and imagined Ding Bao Zhen being arrested, taking pleasure in his misfortune. At that moment, a woman covered in wounds was dragged out. Ding Bao Zhen went to the market to buy konjac, as it was expensive due to being an out-of-town specialty. Qi Gongzi accused the vendor of being a swindler, selling it at a higher price to outsiders. Qi Gongzi argued that even if there were price differences, the konjac should be displayed in separate sections.
Ding Bao Zhen made the spicy diced chicken again, but no one had the appetite to eat. After some persuasion from Ding Bao Zhen, they reluctantly started eating. Chunlan mentioned that they owed the success of the konjac to Qisongru. His intelligence and courage were deeply appreciated by Ding Bao Zhen. Qisongru returned home to find his elderly mother sitting in the courtyard surrounded by excrement. It turned out to be the doing of debt collectors.
Qisongru expressed his intention to seek refuge with Governor Ding Bao Zhen. He was forced to do so earlier than planned. Qisongru brought a jade pendant as a token and met Ding Bao Zhen. Ding Bao Zhen recognized the pendant as his friend's and realized that Qisongru had approached him intentionally when they met at the market. At a time when everyone was avoiding him, Qisongru chose to seek refuge voluntarily. Qisongru stated that one should have a clear conscience and was willing to start as a menial servant. However, Ding Bao Zhen appointed him as his aide at his residence.
The Empress Dowager received Ande Hai's letter and was ready to take action against Ding Bao Zhen, but fortunately, Encheng intervened and persuaded her otherwise. Encheng sought out Yan, who was Ding Bao Zhen's classmate and teacher, to vouch for Ding Bao Zhen's character.
Encheng admitted that Ding Bao Zhen had caused a great disaster this time and handed a letter to Yan. He embarked on a journey to Shandong with the letter that same night. Outside Jinan City, Ding Bao Zhen personally welcomed his friend Dan Chu, and they discussed their strategy. Ding Bao Zhen was surprised to find that the letter was written by the Empress Dowager.
This drama should have started with Ding Bao Zhen serving as the Governor of Shandong. At that time, he would have been around 48 years old, which is around the 1860s. When I saw him holding his granddaughter in his arms, with a loving expression on his face, a strong sense of sadness welled up in my heart.
She was born in an era where for the next 80 years, our country would be divided, oppressed, and enslaved by foreign powers. It was an era where one couldn't stand tall from birth to death.
I hope to see how the Qing Dynasty gradually declined in this drama. As we know from history, despite experiencing the Second Opium War and the Taiping Rebellion, the Qing court still had a strong foundation.
They even initiated the Self-Strengthening Movement and embarked on the path of industrialization. However, in the past thirty years of reforms, instead of rejuvenation, they have taken a sharp downward turn.