Episode 12 recap: A Mai wants to join the military.
Xu Xiu Er heard Tang Shao Yi say that A Mai was leaving. A Mai asked her to stay here and take care of herself, and she asked Tang Shao Yi to take care of Xu Xiu Er. A Mai wants to join the military, but Shang Yi Zhi disagrees.A Mai asked him why he doesn't agree with her joining the military, and Shang Yi Zhi said it's not allowed by the law for women. A Mai told him that she's not afraid. A Mai is preparing to leave for the North Desert, and she came to bid farewell to Shang Yi Zhi. Shang Yi Zhi asked her to stop and explained that she couldn't leave today.
Shang Yi Zhi felt that she had arranged everything for others, but what about herself? A Mai told him that not everything revolves around him. Shang Yi Zhi got angry and thought A Mai was a liar. A Mai asked him what she lied to him about, and Shang Yi Zhi said that now, whether he opens or closes his eyes, he sees A Mai. She took away his heart.
A Mai told him that not everyone in this world has everything handed to them. Shang Yi Zhi was still very angry and didn't listen to what A Mai said. A Mai had no choice but to tell him her true identity. Her real name is Han Mai Sui. A Mai recalled the night her parents were killed, as she lay on her mother's lap with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the door. A Mai's father told her and her mother to hide while he went to check the situation. A Mai's father was killed by his own adopted son, Chen Qi, just after he went out. A Mai witnessed her parents being killed by her own brother, whom she had grown up with.
She was very sad. That's why A Mai is determined to find Chen Qi. After listening to A Mai's story, Shang Yi Zhi burst into laughter, thinking that A Mai could even make up such a tragic story. A Mai was already very sad, and Shang Yi Zhi's words hurt her even more. A Mai told him to believe it or not, it's up to him.
Xu Xiu Er learned about A Mai's departure and came to say goodbye to her. A Mai told her to rely on Tang Shao Yi to take care of her and that she would come back to see her once everything is settled. Jingyang Pass has fallen into the hands of the Northern Desert people, and the Marshal of the Northern Desert told them to rest here today and start heading south tomorrow morning.
As soon as the day broke, A Mai prepared to leave, and Shang Yi Zhi was waiting at her doorstep. He asked A Mai if she wasn't leaving with Mu Bai, why was she leaving so early?
A Mai told him that she didn't want to bother them and asked Shang Yi Zhi why he was here. A Mai looked at Shang Yi Zhi, who had set up a lot of things at the door, and asked if he intended to set up a stall. Shang Yi Zhi told her that he had prepared all these things for her and explained their uses to A Mai. A Mai looked at all the things and at the thoughtful Shang Yi Zhi, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.
Shang Yi Zhi apologized to A Mai, knowing that he shouldn't have acted that way towards her yesterday. After apologizing, Shang Yi Zhi said that he hadn't slept last night and needed to go back to sleep. A Mai asked him to wait for a moment and walked up to Shang Yi Zhi, giving him a deep and affectionate kiss.
Xu Jing told Shang Yi Zhi that General Chen Qi of the Northern Desert Army had breached Jingyang Pass, and they were preparing to head south. On her way out, A Mai coincidentally learned that Chen Qi had led his troops to capture Jingyang Pass. Upon hearing this, A Mai immediately expressed her desire to join the military.
Shang Yi Zhi disagreed with A Mai joining the military, knowing that she was a woman and it was not allowed by law. A Mai told him that she must join the military. She had been waiting for so long and finally received news about Chen Qi. She was determined to avenge her parents. Despite Shang Yi Zhi's reluctance, A Mai persistently pleaded with him, and in the end, Shang Yi Zhi agreed to let A Mai join the military.
The Emperor learned about Shang Yi Zhi saving the Crown Prince, but before he could speak, the Grand Marshal came to report that Jingyang City had fallen. Just as A Mai arrived at the army camp, she met a comrade named Zhang Er Dan. Because both of them were short in stature, they faced discrimination from others in the unit.
Lu Gang asked the newly enlisted soldiers of the Seventh Battalion to step forward and told them that if they couldn't endure hardship, they could leave now. Tang Shao Yi also arrived at the Qingzhou Army and was teaching the soldiers how to become qualified cavalrymen. The two brothers who were once in Yinfu City also sought refuge with Tang Shao Yi and coincidentally encountered Mu Bai, who informed them about A Mai's decision to join the military.
In heavy pouring rain, A Mai and her comrades practiced martial arts, with A Mai mistakenly imagining her opponent as Chen Qi, almost injuring her fellow soldier.
What makes "A Mai's Enlistment" appealing is the growth of the female lead, rather than giving the male lead a cheat to know that she's disguised as a man.
Even though nobody else knows A Mai's true identity, the second male lead and the female lead engage in a fierce and understanding battle of differing positions.
The third male lead and the female lead share a sincere and loyal bond, facing hardships together. Xiu'er and the female lead experience a fateful and unfortunate love that is destined to be missed.