Episode 22 recap: A Mai was rumored against.
A Mai told Shang Yi Zhi that Chen Qi informed her that the person who killed her parents was the Xuanwu Army. Shang Yi Zhi told her to wait until they returned to the palace, and he would help her investigate. Chang Yu Qing was surrounded by Jiang Cheng Yi and his men, and Vice General Jiang believed that the loss of Yuzhou was all because of Chang Yu Qing.
Shang Yi Zhi appointed A Mai as the military advisor and commanded everyone to follow her orders. Shang Yi Zhi aimed an arrow at Chen Qi from behind, warning him not to move or he would shoot. Just then, Cui Yan rushed out with a spear in a panic, and in the chaos, Shang Yi Zhi shot the arrow, hitting Cui Yan in the neck.
A Mai told Shang Yi Zhi that Chen Qi had informed her that the Xuanwu Army was responsible for killing her parents. Shang Yi Zhi told her not to worry and that he would help her investigate once they returned to the court. Chang Yu Qing looked at the fallen Cui Yan and told him that his uncle was too heartbroken, and he would take care of Cui Yan's parents and seek revenge for him. After saying that, Chang Yu Qing drank a bottle of wine, telling Cui Yan that they would be sworn brothers in the next life. Just as Chang Yu Qing was about to leave, Jiang Cheng Yi surrounded him with his men, believing that Chang Yu Qing was to blame for the loss of Yuzhou City.
Upon hearing Chen Qi's orders, Jiang Cheng Yi went to capture Chang Yu Qing and bring him back. The Emperor of the Northern Desert told the Empress Dowager that he wanted to go to war. The Empress Dowager disagreed, but the Emperor said that now they only knew Marshal Chen Qi, and no one knew him as the emperor. He wanted to personally go to war and show the world how he set an example.
The Empress Dowager ordered an investigation to find out who was spreading rumors about the emperor. Once identified, she ordered their execution. Shang Yi Zhi was very anxious, as he believed that Yuzhou City was easy to defend but hard to attack. A Mai understood his concerns, and Shang Yi Zhi told her that he was leaving. A Mai felt that she had misjudged him, realizing that Shang Yi Zhi was actually a coward.
She told Shang Yi Zhi that if he wanted to leave, then he should go, and she would defend Yuzhou City herself. Upon hearing this, Shang Yi Zhi decided not to leave, and A Mai realized that she had been played by him. Chang Yu Qing's younger brother, Yu Zong, came to meet Chen Qi. Chen Qi told him that if he wanted to join his ranks, he wouldn't say anything against it. Yu Zong met with Chang Yu Qing and asked him how he had failed this time and caused Cui Yan's injury. Yu Zong mentioned that he had married a woman from Southern Xia, and their father was furious when he heard about it.
Yu Zong told Chang Yu Qing not to worry, as he had already bought a courtyard outside the city where the woman could go for now. Chang Yu Qing told him it was unnecessary because the woman had already run away, but he promised that one day in the future, he would marry her properly. Shang Yi Zhi instructed Tang Shao Yi and the others to follow A Mai's arrangements and defend Yuzhou City, but they came to report that the Northern Desert Army had already retreated.
Shang Yi Zhi and A Mai stood together, watching the people of Yuzhou. A Mai sighed and said that every country had despicable people and lovely people. Shang Yi Zhi asked her who the lovely person was, hinting at Chang Yu Qing, but A Mai told him not to provoke her.
A Mai was going to fetch Xu Xiu Er and bring her to Yuzhou City, and Xu Jing accompanied her. As they arrived in the city, they encountered a drunken He Chao. He was about to reveal that A Mai was a woman, but Mu Bai covered his mouth. There were rumors spreading in the camp that A Mai was a woman. A Mai asked them if they were looking at her, but they denied it. She asked if they had something to say, and they quickly walked away.
A Mai prepared to leave with Xu Xiu Er when someone informed her that Zhang Shi Qiang had gotten into a fight with someone. A Mai hurried over and found out that it was Wang Qi, Er Dan, and Zhang Shi Qiang. She asked them what was going on, and Er Dan told her that they said she was a woman.
A Mai told Wang Qi and Er Dan that they had big mouths, and she couldn't control what they said. She warned them not to act impulsively in the future, or else they would face twenty lashes with a cane. Wang Qi told her that even if it hurt, they had to do it because he had to speak the truth about A Mai.
A Mai asked where they heard the rumor from, but they couldn't say. She decided to go find Tang Shao Yi. Tang Shao Yi asked A Mai what her plan was, but before they could discuss further, Shang Yi Zhi hurriedly arrived, saying that the whole camp was spreading rumors about A Mai being a woman. A Mai told him to speak louder so that the entire camp would know it was not a rumor.
A Mai informed them that she already had a plan. She intended to invite Tang Shao Yi to her tent to take a bath. He Chao wanted to expose the fact that A Mai was a woman, but A Mai revealed that she was planning to marry Xu Xiu Er.
The male protagonist's character development was poorly executed. Originally a cunning and calculating individual, he was turned into a naive and sweet character. A Mai's growth was also fragmented, with an excessive focus on emotions.
The main storyline was too simplistic, lacking sufficient motivation and resulting in internal confusion. As a result, A Mai's growth does not withstand scrutiny. His charm was not able to shine through, and instead, it created a two-dimensional portrayal of a strong woman.
Of course, I am a fan of the male secondary lead, so I may not appreciate these alterations to the plot.