Episode 16 recap: Huang Bei Shuang Recognized by the Ma Sui Envoy
In Episode 16, Huo Qing Yun tears off the skin disguise and rescues Elder Rong right under the watchful eyes of the Zhan guards. Huang Bei Shuang uses the face-swapping technique she learned from the herbalist and forges a command token resembling General Wu's. She informs Huo Qing Yun about Zhan's fondness for playing chess at night, urging him to rescue Elder Rong within the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense. They agree to signal their success with fireworks.
When Elder Rong sees that Huo Qing Yun is alive, he feels sorry for the hardships Huo has endured over the years. He warns Huo that he is not a match for Zhan at the moment. Huo Qing Yun presents a letter from a weak tribe in the Yunpei border town addressed to Tiandu, which outlines Zhan's tyranny. He hopes Elder Rong can help him uncover the true edict written by Na Qida, as a way to hold Zhan accountable to the people of the desert.
Elder Rong reveals that only his older brother, Ruo Bo, knows about it, but Ruo Bo has been missing for fifteen years. General Wu captures soldiers to question them, and they plead for Zhan's mercy, claiming they were unaware someone was impersonating General Wu. In a fit of rage, Zhan kills one of them and orders General Wu to lock the city gates and eliminate anyone who knows the secret. Just then, Lord Zhu dashes in with news that Ma Sui has sent a distress signal.
Zhan immediately burns the letter, stating that he has already helped them in the past and that they must now fend for themselves, refusing to send reinforcements. Ruo Wen leads the Huang Tian Kuang Brigade to attack outside Ma Sui, successfully capturing the area. He rallies his troops, declaring his intention to establish his own city-state and urging his brothers to follow him south to conquer Ma Sui.
Ge Er Jin Qian learns that Ruo Wen has reached the city outskirts and that there has been no sign of rescue from Yunpei. Unsure of what to do, he consults his ministers. Some suggest sending someone to Yunpei to unite with Zhan's Red Riders, but the dangers outside the city make it uncertain who should go. Zhan Bie volunteers to head to Yunpei alone to seek help. Others propose pretending to ally with Ruo Wen by sending General Hua Yu's two daughters to eliminate him.
After arranging for Elder Rong's safety, Huo Qing Yun returns to Yunfang Pavilion and playfully teases Huang Bei Shuang about her feelings for him, asking if she would leave with him. Huang Bei Shuang shakes her head, knowing she has unfinished business and decides to stay by Zhan's side.
Huo Qing Yun expresses concern that Zhan might become suspicious of her, urging her to leave with him and promising to find her an oasis. However, Huang Bei Shuang believes that saving E Na Qi is her mission and does not want to push Huo Qing Yun into opposition against Yunpei.
Zhan learns from a portrait that the real Qiu is actually Ruo Wen. Believing that the person who took Elder Rong is still in the residence, he orders General Wu to continue the interrogation.
Zhan Bie earnestly requests Zhan to send troops to assist Ma Sui, hoping to intimidate Huang Tian Kuang. Zhan politely declines, stating that while he cannot ignore those in peril, he needs to consider the matter carefully. Feeling disheartened, Zhan Bie encounters Huang Bei Shuang in the pavilion and recognizes her as the Ninth Princess of Ma Sui. Calmly, Huang Bei Shuang responds that she is E Na Qi Na Xiu.
However, Zhan Bie insists he cannot be mistaken and informs her about the situation in Ma Sui. Their conversation is overheard by Xiao Lian, who relays the information to Zhen Qu You Jia. Zhen Qu You Jia intentionally gets close to Zhan Bie and suggests that Zhen Qiu could send troops to help Ma Sui, but only if Zhan Bie publicly reveals Huang Bei Shuang's identity as the Ninth Princess during the Jiyi Festival.
Zhan Bie worries that Huang Bei Shuang might face punishment due to his actions, while also being concerned for the safety of the people of Ma Sui. The Ma Sui envoy presents Hua Jiao and Hua Ting to Ruo Wen, but Ge Xin Wei is dissatisfied and instructs the envoy to take them back. Ruo Wen, however, insists that they stay.
Taking advantage of Ruo Wen's sleep, the two attempt to act, but Ruo Wen has already anticipated this and captures them. Ge Xin Wei inadvertently mentions her identity as the Ninth Princess, revealing that General Hua Yu's entire family is waiting for her return. Hua Ting explains that they intentionally fell out with their father, pretending to ally with Ge Er Jin Qian. Ge Xin Wei sees this as a good opportunity to have them assist Ruo Wen in attacking Ma Sui.
At the Jiyi Festival, Xiao Lian secretly collaborates with Guo Er, instructing her to expose Huang Bei Shuang's identity in the main hall. Huang Bei Shuang remains composed and has Ye Pei and Lian Huan confront Guo Er. Guo Er then calls Zhan Bie forward, claiming he knows the Ninth Princess of Ma Sui.
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