Episode Summary
General Xu traps Gu Pingyuan in a suicide pact involving wolves and a burning shed in Ningguta, revealing Su Zixuan orchestrated the whole ordeal. Chang Si and Chang Yuer rescue Gu at the last second. Gu sends Yuer away for her safety and transports Russian weapons to Anhui. Prince Gong rewards him with a government position, and Gu begins re-establishing his influence in the tea trade while investigating his father's downfall.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of the Magnate Episode 21 Recap
A Frozen Death Trap
We pick up right in the frozen wasteland of Ningguta. General Xu has Gu Pingyuan exactly where he wants him. He plans to torture Gu to death. But Gu is a survivor. He talks Xu into a partnership to smuggle weapons instead. They trek to the Russian border and buy a cartload of munitions from a Russian commander. The officer even gifts Gu a pistol. It looks like a lucky break.
It isn't. Gu wants to sell the loot immediately. Xu refuses. He insists on hauling the weapons back to his desolate horse farm. Xu is in bad shape. The cold has wrecked his body, and he survives on opium paste. On the way back, Xu poisons some meat and leaves it for the wolves. This guy has a serious vendetta against the local wildlife.
The Madman's Last Stand
Back at the farm, Xu loses his mind. He starts howling like a wolf. Gu tries to shut him up before he attracts the pack. Gu then finds Xu’s opium stash. It’s empty. That’s when the panic sets in.
A gunshot rings out. Gu rushes outside. Xu has shot a wolf. But then Xu does something insane. He shoots the horse pulling their precious cargo. He knows the blood will bring the pack. Xu is out of opium and wants to die. He plans to take Gu with him. Gu tries to draw his new Russian pistol. Click. No bullets. Xu stole them earlier.
Xu wants to watch the wolves eat Gu. But nature intervenes. A wolf lunges at Xu. Gu grabs the rifle. He drags the dying General into the woodshed and barricades the door. The wolves slam against the wood. Bleeding out, Xu drops a bombshell. Su Zixuan is the architect of this nightmare. Su visited the farm earlier and left Xu just enough opium to keep him alive until Gu arrived. It was a trap from the start. Gu is furious.
Fire and Arrows
Gu isn't going out like this. He lights the shed on fire to scare the pack. He makes a run for it and hides under the munitions cart. He has one bullet left. He fights off the wolves with burning timber. It’s a losing battle.
Meanwhile, Chang Si and Chang Yuer are scouring the snowy plains. They can’t find anyone. Back at the cart, a wolf jumps Gu. He fires his last shot. It’s over. Suddenly, arrows fly. The Changs arrive just in time. They drop the wolves with precision archery. The pack scatters. Gu clings to Yuer. He’s finally safe.
Hard Goodbyes
The trio leaves that frozen hellhole with the weapons. Yuer asks about the Empress Dowager, but Gu only has eyes for her. She asks about his ex, Bai Yimei. Gu says he’s done with the past. He wants to head to Beijing to sell the guns. Yuer stops him. She has a message from Li Qin: stay away from Beijing. Gu realizes the Changs are the only people he can trust.
They reach the Shanxi border. It’s time to split up. Gu confesses his feelings for Yuer. He wants to be with her. But he’s broke and homeless. He can’t give her the life she deserves yet. He promises to come for her once he settles down. They part ways in tears.
The Anhui Promotion
Gu hauls the weapons to Anhui. Prince Gong and Qiao Song are thrilled with the firepower. Prince Gong offers Gu a job as the Anhui Pacification Commissioner. Gu takes it. He asks the Prince to investigate his father’s framing. The Prince hands the case to the Nine Gates Admiral.
Things in Hefei are grim. General Li Cheng is under siege. His troops are eating rats. The city is starving, but he refuses to surrender.
Later, Gu has tea with Prince Gong. He tastes "Lan Xue" tea. He realizes farmers are ripping up traditional crops to grow this trendy new leaf. It bothers him. He takes his brother, Pingwen, to the Tea Merchant Association. Old Master Hu kneels and begs for forgiveness. Gu helps him up. He’s back in the game.
