Episode 25 recap: Wei Zhao's Vow to Protect Moonfall
In this episode, Hong Jie falls head over heels for Yu Lian and boldly confesses his feelings at a gathering. However, Yu Lian shows no interest in him, leading Hong Jie to relentlessly pursue her, causing her distress. In an attempt to shake off Hong Jie, Yu Lian casually mentions that she likes men like Wei Zhao when she unexpectedly encounters him and Jiang Ci.
Determined to win Yu Lian's affection, Hong Jie vows to surpass Wei Zhao. After Hong Jie leaves, Yu Lian confides in Wei Zhao that she has no interest in romantic relationships. Meanwhile, Jiang Ci decides to embark on a journey to find precious spirit flower seeds at the Lonely Star Peak. Upon learning this, Wei Zhao crafts a practical tool for her.
Jiang Ci sets off on her own, facing numerous challenges, but eventually finds the seeds. Filled with hope, she plants them by the river, eagerly anticipating their bloom. At this moment, Uncle Ping proposes a plan to Wei Zhao: use Jiang Ci to draw out the Yan Qiao Shuang sisters and clear Xiao Haitian's name. After careful consideration, Wei Zhao agrees to the plan. He spreads the word that Jiang Ci is in Moonfall and discreetly places a small clay cat in her room as a signal.
Meanwhile, Lu Yu is busy preparing for a military operation. He requests grain support from Xie Che, who, despite reservations, provides the needed supplies. Lu Yu decides to lead an attack on Moonfall and meticulously plans the operation. Meanwhile, Jiang Ci returns home and unexpectedly finds the lost clay cat, only to realize it has been switched by Wei Zhao. He explains that he did it to keep her close. Although surprised, Jiang Ci doesn’t press the matter further.
Lu Yu quickly assembles the Zhenyuan Army for the expedition. Pei Yan tries to dissuade him but fails to change his mind. Concerned for Jiang Ci's safety, Pei Yan decides to join the army and secretly arranges for An Cheng to enter the city to protect her. Lu Yu sends Wang Lang and his troops disguised as Moonfall locals to infiltrate from the rear.
Under the cover of night, Jiang Ci leaves Wei Zhao's home to find her master. On her way, she encounters a suspicious group posing as "commoners," which she realizes are actually disguised Zhenyuan soldiers. Meanwhile, Elder Hong and Hong Jie come to inform Wei Zhao of Lu Yu's attack plan, prompting Moonfall to enter a state of emergency.
On the bridge, Jiang Ci cleverly hints to Wei Zhao about the ambush. He promptly orders a retreat. However, Wang Lang seizes the opportunity to shoot at Jiang Ci. Wei Zhao rushes to protect her and commands Hong Jie to cut the bridge to block the enemy. In the ensuing chaos, Wei Zhao is gravely injured, and both he and Jiang Ci fall into the water.
Hong Jie successfully halted the Zhenyuan Army's pursuit, forcing Lu Yu to retreat. Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao struggle to survive in the water, eventually swimming to safety. Jiang Ci tends to Wei Zhao's wounds, but he is in critical condition due to excessive blood loss.
Desperate to keep him alive, Jiang Ci searches for food. Meanwhile, Lu Yu continues his relentless assault on Moonfall, leaving the townspeople displaced. Elder Hong and Hong Jie rally their kin to resist fiercely, but they are ultimately outnumbered and forced to retreat. They help the civilians into the city for refuge and close the gates in preparation for a final showdown.
An Cheng is unable to locate Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao and returns to report to Pei Yan. Anxious, Pei Yan decides to enter the city personally to search for them. At this moment, Wei Zhao awakens, insisting on returning to Moonfall to continue fighting. Jiang Ci stays by his side, ready to face the impending challenges together.
Elder Hong stays behind to engage in a desperate battle against the Zhenyuan Army. When Pei Yan arrives at the city gate, he finds Elder Hong gravely injured. Wei Zhao arrives just in time to help Elder Hong onto a horse, while Jiang Ci leads the horse into the city. Wei Zhao remains behind to confront Pei Yan, ready for a fierce battle.
Seeing this, Lu Yu orders his men to shoot arrows, but Tong Min intervenes. Ultimately, Wei Zhao manages to enter the city, but Elder Hong succumbs to his injuries. Lu Yu’s army fights fiercely for a day, suffering heavy losses without breaching Moonfall.
When Pei Yan reports back to Lu Yu, Lu Yu shifts the blame for the defeat onto Pei Yan and Jiang Ci. Pei Yan understands Lu Yu's intentions but does not argue. This battle tests everyone's courage and intelligence while revealing the complexities and unpredictability of human nature.
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