Episode 14 recap: Zi Chuan Xiu found out the truth about Ge Ying Xing's death.
Siyi Lin was very worried about Di Lin, and Di Lin knew that he would not be framed for something he didn't do and would not be forced to confess. Zi Chuan Xiu's mood was complicated, and he didn't want to get close to Di Lin. Siyi Lin couldn't understand why there were people around Ge Ying Xing who were associated with Di Lin. Di Lin openly admitted to Siyi Lin that he was involved in the matter. It seemed that all the important figures in the capital had their own people around them. Although this went against common sense in terms of the law, there was no way around it for supervision and intelligence work.
Siyi Lin knew that Luo Ming Hai and Di Lin were like this, and Zi Chuan Shen Xing couldn't intervene, so only Luo Ming Hai could handle it. Now Luo Ming Hai firmly believed that Di Lin was the murderer of Ge Ying Xing, and the case had entered an unsolvable process.
Siyi Lin asked Zi Chuan Xiu if there were any other options. When Zi Chuan Xiu didn't answer, Siyi Lin, who was usually good-tempered, became angry. However, Di Lin believed that Zi Chuan Xiu should do his job and that there were some things that couldn't be helped. He asked Siyi Lin to find someone for him.
Before leaving, Di Lin asked Zi Chuan Xiu and Siyi Lin to go to his home to help Lin Xiu Jia plant flowers and told them that he had promised to do it together with her. He also asked his brothers to pass on a message for him and return later. Di Lin sincerely thanked Zi Chuan Xiu and Siyi Lin, which made Zi Chuan Xiu feel uncomfortable.
When Zi Chuan Xiu came out, he told Siyi Lin that Di Lin had been subjected to severe torture and that time was pressing. Ming Yu told Zi Chuan Xiu that Wei Ming might know about Ge Ying Xing's death. Zi Chuan Xiu informed Siyi Lin that he would find Wei Ming and left the rest to Siyi Lin before hurriedly leaving.
Siyi Lin told Zi Chuan Ning that he had to leave in a hurry, and Zi Chuan Ning asked him to talk to Ka Dan while she went to accompany Lin Xiu Jia in planting flowers. Lin Xiu Jia knew that Zi Chuan Ning was afraid of making her sad, but she still believed that Di Lin would overcome the danger.
Zi Chuan Xiu arrived too late. Wei Ming was seriously injured and told Zi Chuan Xiu that Ge Ying Xing wanted him to prioritize Zi Chuan and said that Ge Ying Xing sacrificed himself generously and had no connection with Luo Ming Hai or Lei Hong.
Zi Chuan Xiu realized that it was Zi Chuan Shen Xing who was behind this. He knew it was Zi Chuan Shen Xing who forced Ge Ying Xing to die. Zi Chuan Xiu confronted Zi Chuan Shen Xing and asked him to release Di Lin. He also said that he had no intention of getting involved in court affairs and would go to a distant state to inherit Ge Ying Xing's legacy.
Zi Chuan Xiu listened to Zi Chuan Shen Xing's serious tone as he claimed to find the culprit who killed Ge Ying Xing, and he found it laughable. He could tell that Zi Chuan Shen Xing wanted to use Zi Chuan Ning as a threat against him, but Zi Chuan Xiu was determined to go to the distant state.
Zi Chuan Shen Xing promoted everyone involved in the coup, except for demoting Zi Chuan Xiu to a remote area. Zi Chuan Ning also felt that Zi Chuan Xiu was in a bad mood due to the demotion. Everyone could see that Zi Chuan Xiu was going through a difficult time, but Zi Chuan Xiu actually welcomed it.
Zi Chuan Xiu went back to how things were before, and Zi Chuan Ning was angry that Zi Chuan Xiu ignored her. As Zi Chuan Ning walked away, Zi Chuan Xiu knew the responsibility he carried. Di Lin believed that foreign enemies were about to invade, and Zi Chuan Shen Xing intended to make Di Lin relinquish his power.
Siyi Lin realized that Zi Chuan Xiu was aware of the severity of the rebellion in the distant state. Di Lin and Zi Chuan Xiu did not reconcile over certain matters, but they used Siyi Lin as a messenger. Di Lin knew Zi Chuan Xiu well and intentionally or unintentionally revealed the military vulnerabilities when describing the terrain.
Zi Chuan Shen Xing was furious upon hearing that the dispatched army suffered a disastrous defeat, leaving him with little hope of victory. Luo Ming Hai knew that it was his own misjudgment that had caused such a big mistake. Zi Chuan Shen Xing wanted Di Lin to accept the mess, and he realized that this battle was no ordinary one.
Siyi Lin felt a bit uneasy facing Ka Dan. He hesitantly told Ka Dan that he was going to the distant state to fight and might not come back, urging Ka Dan to take care of herself. Ka Dan looked at Siyi Lin seriously and asked him to prioritize his safety. Siyi Lin asked Ka Dan not to forget about him. Before Ka Dan could respond, Siyi Lin hurriedly left.
The estrangement among the three brothers is a stereotype; their relationship is actually very good. When Di Lin is about to kill someone, you could say he's forced to do so out of necessity, but the most important goal is to save Zi Chuan Xiu.
Otherwise, Cen Xing might think that Xiu deliberately wanted to win over the military and would find a way to get rid of him. This part is the first touching moment for me in the book. "My Xiu," Di Lin says next to his ear.
I wonder if they'll portray it in the drama today.
Cen Xing doesn't come from a military background, so it's unlikely that he would have his own people. His own people are more like Luo Ming Hai, who only knows how to sow discord and lacks any strategic vision in warfare. So, later on, Xiu should see through this and, combined with what his master told him about putting Zi Chuan first, he will find a new balance with Zi Chuan.
He's not one to rule through violence or manipulate power. However, many years later, there may still be a loss of balance because long-lasting equilibrium is difficult to achieve when driven by self-interest.
To speak or not to speak, the first time I encountered Xiuning. It was their first time facing difficulties together, and whether it was the bridge effect or not, they should have become closer after today.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. After the betrayal overnight, they are now standing in different positions. The chessboard of Zichuan has been reset, and everyone will embark on different destinies.
Let me point out one thing: The position of Di Lin not only does not weaken military power but actually strengthens it. This position is responsible not only for military law and local supervision of various military forces but also for intelligence work both domestically and internationally.
It can be understood as an enhanced version of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In terms of rank, this position is higher than the average commander and only slightly lower than the President's position held by Luo Ming Hai.
It is not part of a structured system, which creates the perfect opportunity for Luo and Di Lin to clash with each other.