Episode Summary
During Zhuang Lu Yin's birthday, Xiang An Tu and Cao Jing Xian attempt to steal the Gui Xi. Zang Hai uses the ensuing chaos, which includes Cao Jing Xian publicly shaming Zhuang Lu Yin and a violent confrontation, to further his own plans. He confronts Xiang An Tu in the treasury cellar, discovering her identity and believing her to be his third enemy. After a fiery confrontation, Zang Hai escapes with an unconscious Xiang An Tu. Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhi Xing intervenes to save the Zhuang family from Cao Jing Xian's forces, though Cao Jing Xian escapes with Lu Yan's help. The episode ends with Zhuang Lu Yin suspecting Zang Hai's involvement and Zang Hai advising him to take the blame for his son's actions to appease the Emperor.
Spoiler Alert
"Legend of Zang Hai" Episode 24 Recap & Spoilers
Today marks Zhuang Lu Yin's birthday, and Xiang An Tu and Cao Jing Xian are plotting to steal the Gui Xi (a type of seal) from the Hou's mansion. Xiang An Tu, not wanting to involve Zang Hai, arranges to meet him that night, intending to reveal all her secrets. Zang Hai, however, plans to use the conflict between Cao Jing Xian and Zhuang Lu Yin to find his third enemy. He sends Guan Feng to the meeting in his stead.
Zang Hai attends Zhuang Lu Yin's birthday banquet. While civil and military officials gather to congratulate him, Zhuang Lu Yin is far from happy. His son, Zhuang Zhi Fu, is being held by Cao Jing Xian, causing him great distress. The officials, anxious for Zhuang Lu Yin, offer various strategies. Jiang Xiang seizes the opportunity to complain to the officials about Cao Jing Xian's tyrannical power and the oppression they all suffer. Zhuang Lu Yin then rallies everyone to impeach Cao Jing Xian the next day. Xu Dai Shan and Qi Ming are the first to sign the petition, and Zhuang Lu Yin then asks Lord Lü to sign.
Cao Jing Xian barges into the Hou's mansion with his men, presenting Zhuang Lu Yin with a Luomo sword as a birthday gift. Zhuang Lu Yin has no choice but to invite him to sit. Cao Jing Xian snatches the petition from Lord Lü's grasp and burns it to ashes on the spot. The officials try to excuse themselves, claiming urgent matters at home, but Cao Jing Xian forbids anyone from leaving. He then has the badly injured Zhuang Zhi Fu brought in.
Jiang Xiang is heartbroken to learn that Zhuang Zhi Fu's kneecaps have been gouged out. Cao Jing Xian, invoking the Emperor's authority, produces a confession allegedly from Zhuang Zhi Fu detailing his crimes. Cao Jing Xian demands Zhuang Lu Yin kneel and admit his faults in exchange for sparing Zhuang Zhi Fu's life. Enraged, Zhuang Lu Yin draws his sword to fight Cao Jing Xian. Cao Jing Xian then stabs his own arm with his sword, stumbles outside, and loudly accuses Zhuang Lu Yin of trying to kill him. During the chaos, Zang Hai secretly makes his way to the treasury cellar.
Cao Jing Xian falsely accuses Zhuang Lu Yin of privately maintaining troops and plotting a rebellion, demanding he hand over the Gui Xi. Zhuang Lu Yin, who claims to have never seen the Gui Xi, furiously curses Cao Jing Xian. Cao Jing Xian orders a thorough search of the Hou's mansion. Zhuang Lu Yin, incensed, attacks the guards of the Supervisory Office (Duwei Fu). Meanwhile, Lu Yan leads her people to the treasury, assisting Xiang An Tu in her attempt to steal the Gui Xi from the cellar. Guan Feng arrives at the appointed meeting place on time, but Xiang An Tu is late; Feng Liu meets Guan Feng in Xiang An Tu's place.
Lu Yan provides cover for Xiang An Tu to enter the treasury cellar. As Xiang An Tu searches everywhere, Zang Hai suddenly appears. He has doused the cellar with oil and set up traps. Xiang An Tu is masked, and Zang Hai doesn't recognize her. When Xiang An Tu attempts to flee, Zang Hai shoots her in the leg with an arrow. Zang Hai then removes her mask and is stunned to discover that the Dong Xia hostage is Xiang An Tu.
Zang Hai now believes Xiang An Tu is the third enemy he has been desperately searching for. Xiang An Tu insists she only wants to retrieve the Gui Xi that belongs to Dong Xia. Zang Hai reveals his true identity as Zhi Nu, the son of Kuai Duo, and explains he has spent the last ten years searching for those who massacred his entire family. Zang Hai vows to kill Xiang An Tu to avenge his parents and sister.
Zang Hai kowtows before the human-skin effigies of his parents and then sets the cellar on fire. He carries the unconscious Xiang An Tu out of the burning cellar and hands her over to Shi Lei. Lu Yan arrives at the treasury to find the cellar engulfed in flames and Xiang An Tu gone. Lu Ran takes Zhuang Zhi Fu and Jiang Xiang hostage, as Cao Jing Xian continues to pressure Zhuang Lu Yin to surrender the Gui Xi. Zhuang Lu Yin adamantly refuses.
Zhuang Zhi Xing arrives in the nick of time with his men. They are unstoppable and quickly annihilate the Supervisory Office guards. Seeing the tide has turned, Cao Jing Xian attempts to slip away in the confusion. Zhuang Zhi Xing lunges at Cao Jing Xian with his sword. Lu Yan steps forward to stand with Zhuang Zhi Xing, but Zhuang Zhi Xing is unfortunately injured. Lu Yan desperately protects Cao Jing Xian, allowing him to escape.
Zhuang Lu Yin suspects Zang Hai of orchestrating the chaos, believing Cao Jing Xian wouldn't have caused such a disturbance otherwise. He is relieved he had removed the "Tong Yu" (copper fish) from the cellar beforehand. Zang Hai reveals that Zhuang Zhi Fu stole the blueprints for the Gui Xi, and suspects Zhuang Zhi Fu informed on them to Cao Jing Xian. Zhuang Lu Yin also suspects Zang Hai called Zhuang Zhi Xing for rescue, which Zang Hai denies. Worried that the Emperor will believe Cao Jing Xian's one-sided account and punish him, Zhuang Lu Yin is advised by Zang Hai to take the blame for Zhuang Zhi Fu's actions to seek the Emperor's pardon.
Zhuang Zhi Fu develops a high fever due to his infected wounds and is delirious. Jiang Xiang weeps inconsolably. The physician can do nothing more, and Zhuang Lu Yin, deeply pained, implores the physician to save Zhuang Zhi Fu's life. Zhuang Lu Yin then visits Zhuang Zhi Xing, entrusting him with the great responsibility of revitalizing the Zhuang family.
