Episode 17 recap: "Lin An Jing: Wang Jialuo's Heart-to-Heart Talk."
On the side of Beiyang, Zhong Haichao finally learned about the secret of the Pure Land's hidden treasures and Prince Qi's conspiracy. He finally understood that he had been manipulated all along, and he was extremely angry. In the night, Lin An Jing gently comforted Wang Di Bao in the carriage, which deeply moved Wang Di Bao. He recounted his own journey from being a scholar to becoming a constable, as well as his past as a disciple of the eccentric old madman who taught him martial arts.
Later on, the two of them opened up to each other after drinking. Wang Di Bao insisted that a strong nation does not need reforms, but rather the key is to mobilize the hearts of the people and to do their respective duties for the country's well-being. This innocent and naive perspective made Lin An Jing both find it laughable and couldn't help but be moved. The jurisdiction of the Forty Associations is in Shanxi. Once they leave Shanxi, they will be exercising jurisdiction beyond their boundaries. General Longchi is away on official business and not with the army, so Ding Yu must wait for permission before leading troops to Fujian. Wang Jialuo follows Mu Qing alone to Fujian.
Mu Qing sees Wang Jialuo with Lin An Jing and learns that Lin An Jing is the aggrieved party in the Daguxian case. He also realizes that Mu Qing has feelings for Lin An Jing. Mu Qing did not arrange for someone to watch Liu Lin on the train. He deduced that Liu Lin knows some secrets that they do not know, but he also knows that Liu Lin will not tell him. He knows that Liu Lin will not jump out of the window, but he also knows that members of their alliance are truly willing to sacrifice themselves for a just cause.
While Mu Qing and Liu Lin were talking, someone eavesdropped on their conversation from the top of the train. Mu Qing sensed the movement and went to investigate but did not find the eavesdropper. Qing Yixin received a message from Yu Huanjie and learned that they were heading to Anhui's Anhui Temple. The next clue is there. However, a letter from Lin An Jing informed Qing Yixin that Zhuo Bufan and his group had already headed to Anhui's Anhui Temple, which is the true destination.
Wang Jialuo and Lin An Jing talked about the past. Lin An Jing learned that Wang Jialuo originally planned to take the imperial examination, but the examination system was abolished after his parents passed away and he finished mourning. In order to make a living, he applied for a position at the county office, but accidentally became a constable. Wang Jialuo has always hated the abolition of the examination system, which deprived him of the opportunity to take the exam. But more importantly, the reform movement endangered the court and harmed the country.
He believed that a strong nation does not need reforms; what needs to change is not the system but the people. He made every effort to chase after the culprit for thousands of miles, not only to uphold the law of the court but also to maintain his aspiration. Wang Jialuo insisted that a strong nation does not need reforms, but rather the key is to mobilize the hearts of the people and to do their respective duties for the country's well-being. This innocent and naive perspective made Lin An Jing both find it laughable and couldn't help but be moved.
Mu Qing arrived in Jiangnan and discovered that it was filled with refugees everywhere. Upon inquiring, he learned that more than a dozen counties here had suffered from floods. The silver allocated by the court for building river embankments had been embezzled layer by layer, resulting in shoddy construction of the embankments, which couldn't withstand the rising water. The officials reported the dereliction of duty regarding the embankment repairs, but they could only conceal the extent of the disaster. The government offices couldn't provide funds, so they forced the merchants to pay taxes in advance, even for the next several decades.
Mu Qing and Getai felt sorry for the flood victims. They deliberately had the local officials prepare a sumptuous feast, and Getai even bought all the buns in the inn to provide relief for the victims.
Liu Lin saw the displaced victims and angrily criticized the corrupt court, stating that the court was beyond salvation and only by pushing for reconstruction could it rise again. Mu Qing understood this in his heart but also warned Liu Lin not to speak such words in front of him again.
Cun Qing came to Jiangnan to provide disaster relief, and Mu Qing went to meet him. Mu Qing asked Cun Qing if he had confirmed that Prince Qi was the traitor. Cun Qing confirmed that Prince Qi was indeed the traitor, but he was unsure how to handle the situation after capturing him. Cun Qing had previously warned Prince Qi not to kill the dragon, but Prince Qi, being resourceful, quickly gave him a carved feather fan as a reminder to be mindful of the situation.
Cun Qing knew that the Qing Dynasty was in a mess and that finding the hidden treasures of the Pure Land was the only way to save it, regardless of who found them. He hoped that the Cabinet could obtain this treasure to preserve the court, but he also did not want Prince Qi to lose, as the court still needed his service. Mu Qing asked Cun Qing why he hadn't opened the granaries to distribute food yet. Cun Qing said that the timing was not right, and if they opened the granaries now, the common people would only blame the court. It was only when millions of people died that they would be grateful to the court.
Mu Qing witnessed a refugee named He Fugui begging the court for four taels of silver to survive the difficult times, but Cun Qing outright refused. He Fugui accused the court of forcing the people to rebel and was subsequently ordered to be taken away. Cun Qing instructed Mu Qing to carry out his duties quickly. Along the way, Mu Qing saw starving refugees everywhere, and to his surprise, he saw He Fugui's lifeless body. Mu Qing took out four taels of silver and had his subordinates deliver it to He Fugui's family.
Liu Lin believed that four taels of silver couldn't save He Fugui, let alone the beggars in the city. Four taels of silver could save He Fugui's child, but it couldn't save the countless other children. The Qing court was critically ill and needed to be uprooted entirely to address the root cause. Liu Lin knew that Mu Qing had personally experienced the reforms and understood their significance.
Previous attempts at reform had all failed, but Sun Yat-sen was dedicated to building a brand new world, a world built on the principles of the nation, the rights of the people, and their livelihoods. Sun Yat-sen's ideal was to end the feudal imperial system that had persisted for thousands of years. Liu Lin knew that Mu Qing could understand their actions, and while she couldn't guarantee whether Sun Yat-sen's ideals would be realized, she could promise that they would strive towards that goal.
Mu Qing expressed that he didn't consider reform and change to be treasonous acts, as he had himself spent twelve years in prison for it. So even though Liu Lin was a repeat offender in rebellion, Mu Qing couldn't bear to punish her and had never used torture against her. However, he asked her not to mention a single word about revolutionary republican ideals in front of him again.
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