Episode 3 recap: Zi Chuan Xiu remains in the capital to serve.
When Zi Chuan Xiu was about to be executed, Si Yilin secretly led soldiers from a hidden location, intending to stop the execution after seeing the signal from Zi Chuan Xiu. Si Yilin's subordinates were instructed to hold their ground. The executioners were momentarily stunned, thinking that the newcomers were there to save Zi Chuan Xiu. However, they soon realized that these people were only there to observe the execution. Just as the executioners were about to act, the group suddenly moved forward.
Yang Ming Hua came to find Zi Chuan Shen Xing, but Zi Chuan Shen Xing refused to see him, claiming to be indisposed. Yang Ming Hua expressed his understanding of the pain experienced by someone who has lost a loved one and mentioned that he wanted to wait for news of Zi Chuan Xiu's death. Unexpectedly, someone came to rescue Zi Chuan Xiu, and upon arriving at the scene, Yang Ming Hua saw Ge Ying Xing and realized that Zi Chuan Shen Xing had avoided him for Ge Ying Xing's sake.
Yang Ming Hua knew that Ge Ying Xing wanted to intercede for Zi Chuan Xiu. He had always held onto the fact that Zi Chuan Xiu had returned to the capital without imperial orders, intending to use it as leverage to bring about Zi Chuan Xiu's demise. Ge Ying Xing directly presented the waist token he had given to Zi Chuan Xiu seven years ago, claiming that it was an order he had issued to him back then. Could it be that he, too, was an undercover agent for the Northern Tribe? Yang Ming Hua believed that Zi Chuan Xiu was his beloved disciple, and as his master, he would certainly save his disciple in such a critical situation.
Upon seeing that using the Northern Tribe princess Ka Dan as a bargaining chip was still not enough, Ge Ying Xing offered thirty thousand troops as an exchange. Yang Ming Hua was visibly taken aback by the mention of such a large army, his ambition barely concealed. Yang Ming Hua believed that Left King Zuo Jia was just a legend and that he no longer existed in the world.
Ge Ying Xing told Yang Ming Hua that Left King Zuo Jia was alive and that it was his blessing that allowed the Lin family to win this war. Bai Yu looked at Roger, who was standing and talking casually, and asked him to carry Bai Chuan on his back. Roger immediately complained about feeling pain.
Zi Chuan Ning noticed that Bai Chuan Ming Yu and others were all able to call out Zi Chuan Xiu's name. Zi Chuan Ning was delighted to see Zi Chuan Xiu and wanted to give him all the books he had treasured. Zi Chuan Ning told Zi Chuan Xiu that when he left all those years ago, the birds had built nests and their chicks had grown up.
Zi Chuan Ning was also excited to tell Zi Chuan Xiu that he had made some great clothes and wanted him to accompany her shopping. However, when she turned around, she realized that Zi Chuan Xiu had already disappeared. Zi Chuan Xiu complained that his master hadn't saved him in time, and upon hearing his master say that one can only grow up through experiencing hardships, he lamented his bitter experiences over the years.
Zi Chuan Xiu was reluctant to return to Yuanzhou as his master suggested and even asked his master to provide him with some private funds. Ge Ying Xing, in fact, couldn't bear to be without Zi Chuan Xiu and wanted him to stay in the capital to help him.
Zi Chuan Ning told Xiao Mei that even if Zi Chuan Xiu came back, she wouldn't pay attention to him, but Xiao Mei didn't believe her. When Zi Chuan Xiu returned, Zi Chuan Ning instantly became gentle, and he considerately said that Zi Chuan Xiu had something to do outside. Zi Chuan Xiu saw the gift he had given Zi Chuan Ning when they were children, which she had kept, and he couldn't help but feel touched, unsure how to face Zi Chuan Ning's feelings.
Zi Chuan Ning asked Zi Chuan Xiu to return her letters, but Zi Chuan Xiu pretended to have forgotten. Holding a piece of dogtail grass, Zi Chuan Xiu recalled how he had eaten this kind of grass when there was no food during the war. Seeing Zi Chuan Ning take out the tail of their warhorse, he reminisced about the many friends he had lost on the battlefield, as well as his own warhorse.
Zi Chuan Ning knew that the gifts Zi Chuan Xiu had given her had a lot of sentimental value. She gave Zi Chuan Xiu some leaves from her childhood that she had cherished for many years, but Zi Chuan Xiu didn't dare to respond to Zi Chuan Ning's feelings, fearing that she would also be in danger.
Lei Xun wanted to take advantage of this victory and pursue the enemy, but most people didn't support this approach. Yang Ming Hua refused even more, believing that they should be cautious in this situation. However, Ge Ying Xing felt that these people were incompetent. Yang Ming Hua wanted Ge Ying Xing to act as an envoy and negotiate with the Northern Tribe.
Finally, Zi Chuan Xiu stayed in the imperial capital and took charge of logistics. When he saw Bai Chuan and the others preparing to leave, he tried to persuade them to stay and help him. Bai Chuan and the others, who had been with Zi Chuan Xiu for a long time, knew that he wanted to ask them for money. At this moment, Zi Chuan Ning came over to give Zi Chuan Xiu money, but he didn't want to accept it.
Zi Chuan Shen Xing pretended to be unwell and avoided participating in the court debates. Yang Ming Hua tried to use this opportunity to align Zi Chuan Shen Xing with him. Zi Chuan Shen Xing pretended to be confused and evasive with Yang Ming Hua.
Xiu clearly has strong feelings for Zi Chuan Ning, but he has to hide them because of their different identities and social statuses. One is a poor boy, while the other is an heir to a family. The difference between heaven and earth, yet they both have genuine feelings for each other.
That particular scene made me cry. They truly love each other.
Zi Chuan's martial arts skills were showcased prominently in the first episode but weren't seen again later on. It seems like no one knew it was him using those skills in the first episode, except for Lord Ge who received the message from the hidden note.
Zi Chuan's return to the imperial capital was probably to give Lord Ge a reason to lead the troops back to the capital, otherwise Lord Ge would have to stay in the Far East fighting continuously.
This time, it's reasonable for him to bring Princess Ka Dan back for peace talks.