Episode 12 recap: Wei Zhao Stands Up for Pei Yan
In Episode 12, Pei Yan, Wei Zhao, Cui Liang, and Jiang Ci hurry to Nan Ling by horse-drawn carriage. Along the way, Jiang Ci thoughtfully prepared snacks, and the group enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere filled with conversation. Yi Fei and Tong Min rode alongside each other, quickly becoming good friends.
Upon arriving in Nan Ling, they switched to a small boat, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. However, Pei Yan and Wei Zhao were preoccupied with their thoughts and couldn’t appreciate the beauty around them. They were busy investigating a weapons case, while Jiang Ci eagerly helped a fishergirl named A Yan with her boat, even lending her cloak for warmth.
After much effort, they finally reached Pei Yan's hometown, Chang Feng Wu. A Yan gratefully returned the cloak to Jiang Ci, who smiled and insisted she keep it for warmth.
Back at home, Pei Yan hosted a banquet for his relatives, hoping to strengthen their bonds. To his surprise, the clan leader, Pei Zifang, scolded him sharply, accusing him of bringing shame to the family for a woman’s sake. Seeing this, Jiang Ci worried about Pei Yan's embarrassment and considered leaving quietly, but Wei Zhao stepped in. He defended Pei Yan and reprimanded the relatives. Recognizing Wei Zhao's influence, Pei Zifang had no choice but to apologize.
After dinner, Jiang Ci secretly added some clivia to the porridge, hoping it would give Pei Zifang and the others an upset stomach to relieve their grievances. Meanwhile, she and Cui Liang strolled through the streets, where Cui Liang bought a purse, reminiscing about a strange experience from two weeks prior. Unbeknownst to them, Wei Zhao was also following, feeling a mix of emotions.
While out, Jiang Ci accidentally spotted Wei Zhao drinking porridge and approached him to chat. He casually mentioned that Yue Luo City had special porridge ingredients, piquing her curiosity. They also discussed the secret cipher of Chang Feng Wei, but Jiang Ci firmly refused to help Wei Zhao investigate.
As expected, Pei Zifang and the others suffered from stomach issues after consuming the porridge with clivia and had to return home. Pei Yan sensed something was off and sent Tong Min to find out more.
Back at Chang Feng Wu, Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci returned, with Cui Liang arriving shortly after with his new purse. Pei Yan’s concern for Jiang Ci made Wei Zhao feel uneasy. Knowing that Wei Zhao was sent by Xie Che to keep an eye on him, Pei Yan asked Jiang Ci to stay and play along. She readily agreed. Wei Zhao’s anger intensified when he learned Jiang Ci had spent the night in Pei Yan’s room, prompting him to send Yi Fei to continue searching for the Yan Qiao Shuang sisters.
It turned out that Pei Zifang had colluded with the Nan Ling governor, He Zhenwen, to sell weapons, resulting in a shortage of supplies. He Zhenwen had resorted to cutting corners while producing a batch of weapons, which unexpectedly ended up in Qing Kang. Pei Zifang urged He Zhenwen to deal with the aftermath quickly to avoid being discovered by Pei Yan and Wei Zhao.
The next day, Pei Yan and Wei Zhao visited the governor's office, where He Zhenwen was already waiting with officials. They toured the foundry but discovered that the furnace had been severely damaged. He Zhenwen claimed it was due to the workers' negligence, which resulted in a fire and casualties. However, Wei Zhao saw through his lies and forced him to kneel in apology.
Although they found no direct evidence at the foundry, Wei Zhao suggested they appear to be sightseeing while secretly investigating. Thus, a covert battle over the weapons case was about to begin...
Comments(Episode 12)