Episode Summary
Gu Pingyuan orchestrates a complex escape plan involving a fake wedding, a salt caravan, and smuggled war horses to save his friends and the Su family from a corrupt official. He succeeds in getting everyone out of Ningguta but stays behind as a decoy. The episode ends with Gu taking an arrow to the back and falling off a cliff while being pursued by General Xu.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of the Magnate Episode 2 Recap: Guns, Gamblers, and a Cliffhanger
We pick up right where things got messy. Li Qin is having a terrible night. He gambles away his cash, gets stripped naked, and is tossed out into the freezing Ningguta streets. He’s shivering like a leaf until Gu Pingyuan steps in. Gu gives him a coat and drags him back to the casino. It turns out the guy who fleeced Li is a local villain, but Gu isn't the one who takes him down.
Don’t Mess With Su Zixuan
Enter Su Zixuan. She challenges the villain to a bet and wipes the floor with him. Naturally, the bad guy tries to welch on the deal. He claims "border rules" mean he keeps the cash. He clearly underestimates Su because she’s a woman. Big mistake.
Su pulls a gun. The guy still runs his mouth, so she fires a warning shot. He hits the floor but keeps yapping. She cocks the hammer again. That shuts him up. He runs for his life. Su spots Li Qin in the crowd and decides she needs a chat with him.
The Shakedown
While the casino drama unfolds, General Xu is busy being the worst person in Ningguta. He raids the Su family home looking for ginseng money. He arrests Su’s wife and her son, Su Xiaohu. He even orders his men to dig up the family grave. The guy has zero morals.
Later, a Shanxi merchant named Chang Si rolls into town with a caravan of salt. He tries to bribe Xu for safe passage. Xu hears "Shanxi" and sees dollar signs. He demands way more money. He then forces Gu Pingyuan to do his dirty work. He tells Gu to squeeze more cash out of the merchant and find the Su family’s hidden money. Gu plays along, but he’s already plotting.
The Master Plan
Su Zixuan reveals her hand to Gu and Li Qin. She bought 300 horses. These aren’t farm animals; they are war horses for a revolution. She needs to move them south. Gu realizes she’s likely a revolutionary. He agrees to help, but only if he can smuggle Su Xiaohu out with the horses.
We also get a moment with Chang Yu'er, the merchant's daughter. She’s got a crush on Gu. She asks about his past. We finally learn the truth. Five years ago, Gu was a top scholar. Someone tricked him into leaving an exam by claiming his mother was dying. Then they framed him for "roaring at the exam hall." He got fifteen years of exile. He knows he was set up.
The Wedding Distraction
Gu needs a cover story to move everyone out at once. He drags Li Qin to the local brothel, Manchun Courtyard. A girl named Zhaojun clings to Li. Gu sees an opportunity. He tells them to get married right now. It’s a fake wedding to create chaos and noise. The whole town comes out to watch.
While everyone is distracted by the festivities, Gu goes to General Xu. He lies and says the Su family gave up the money. He gets Xu drunk, ties him up, and steals the official exit pass.
The Getaway
Morning comes. The plan goes into motion.
- Chang Si leaves with his salt caravan.
- Li Qin leaves with his "bride" and the Su family hidden in the procession.
- Su Zixuan moves her war horses.
They all make it out. Gu meets them at the rendezvous point. Su Zixuan tries to convince Gu to come south with her. He refuses. He needs to clear his name and find out who framed him five years ago. He gives the Su family to Li Qin for safekeeping and turns his horse around.
The Fall
Gu rides back to act as a decoy. General Xu breaks free and chases him down. Gu leads the soldiers in the opposite direction to buy his friends time. It works, but the cost is high. Xu shoots Gu in the back with an arrow. Gu keeps riding until he hits a cliff edge. With nowhere left to go, he disappears over the side.
