Episode Summary
Following accusations from Cao Jingxian and Jiang Xiang, Zhuang Luyin is imprisoned and his family's estate raided. Overcome by despair at the family's ruin and Zhuang Zhifu's catatonia, Jiang Xiang orchestrates a tragic suicide pact, resulting in her death along with Zhuang Zhifu and his wife, Yuerou; only Zhuang Zhixing survives. The Emperor demotes Zhuang Luyin to a commoner. Enraged, Zhuang Luyin attempts to coerce Cao Jingxian by sending a blood letter revealing Zang Hai's true parentage, but Zang Hai intercepts it. Cao Jingxian, aiming to destroy Zhuang Luyin, forges a different letter to Zhuang Luyin's loyalist, Zhang Lang, tricking him into a doomed rescue attempt. This "rebellion" is part of Cao Jingxian's plan to frame Zhuang Luyin for treason. Zhang Lang mobilizes his forces, leading to chaos and fighting in the Capital. Zang Hai, after an emotional moment reflecting on his past, actively works against Zhuang Luyin's forces. Zhuang Luyin, escaping prison, gathers his men and launches an attack on the Imperial City. During the siege, Zang Hai wounds Zhuang Luyin. The confrontation culminates with Zhuang Zhixing's return, urging his father to surrender, but the grief-stricken and vengeful Zhuang Luyin attacks his own son.
Spoiler Alert
"Legend of Zang Hai" Episode 27 Recap & Spoilers
The episode opens with Cao Jingxian leveling accusations against Zhuang Luyin and Zhuang Zhifu. Adding to the pressure, Jiang Xiang, leveraging her status as a First-Rank Titled Lady, also reports Zhuang Luyin. Consequently, Zhuang Luyin is thrown into prison. By imperial decree, his home, the Marquis's Mansion, is raided. His family members are confined within the mansion to await their fate, while all the servants are sentenced to military exile.
Witnessing the utter chaos in the Marquis's Mansion and Zhuang Zhifu's descent into a catatonic, helpless state, Jiang Xiang is overcome with despair and resolves to end her life and those of her close family. She poisons a teapot, instructing Zhuang Zhifu's wife, Yuerou, to deliver it to Zhuang Zhixing. Jiang Xiang then prepares a bowl of poisoned ginger tea, which she gives to Zhuang Zhifu, who drinks it and dies. Jiang Xiang consumes her own poisoned portion. Just as Yuerou returns (presumably from her errand to Zhuang Zhixing), the dying Jiang Xiang compels Yuerou to drink the last bowl of poison. Thus, Jiang Xiang, Zhuang Zhifu, and Yuerou all perish. Zhuang Zhixing, deeply consumed by grief, had not touched the tea intended for him and miraculously survives the tragic event.
Upon hearing that Zhuang Luyin's family members died by suicide, the Emperor heaps further charges upon Zhuang Luyin, ultimately stripping him of his rank and demoting him to a commoner. When Zhuang Luyin learns of the deaths of Zhuang Zhifu, Yuerou, and Jiang Xiang, he is consumed by a furious rage. He coerces a terrified jailer into delivering a blood letter to Cao Jingxian.
The nervous jailer is spotted loitering near Cao Jingxian's residence by Shilei and Guan Feng. Mistaking them for agents of the Chang Wei (imperial secret police), the panicked jailer hands over Zhuang Luyin's blood letter. Shilei and Guan Feng immediately deliver it to Gao Ming. In the letter, Zhuang Luyin reveals a critical secret to Cao Jingxian: Zang Hai is the son of Kuai Duo. He threatens to expose the true circumstances of Kuai Duo's death to the Emperor unless Cao Jingxian arranges his release. However, Zang Hai had anticipated Zhuang Luyin's move and had already positioned Shilei and Guan Feng outside Cao Jingxian's home, successfully intercepting the desperate message.
Zang Hai then arranges for the blood letter (or a version of it) to be sent to Cao Jingxian. Cao Jingxian, who has long desired Zhuang Luyin's demise, seizes this as the perfect opportunity. He instructs Lu Ran to forge a new blood letter in Zhuang Luyin's handwriting, addressed to Zhuang Luyin's trusted subordinate, Zhang Lang. Upon receiving the forged letter, Zhang Lang misinterprets it as a genuine plea from Zhuang Luyin for a rescue attempt that very night, at the Zi hour (approximately 11 PM to 1 AM). Zhang Lang mobilizes his forces: Zhang Mao is to lead fifty disguised soldiers to break Zhuang Luyin out of prison, Lan Yongji is to provide support within the city with eighty men, and Zhang Lang himself will wait outside the city walls with three hundred men, using fireworks as their signal. To ensure secrecy, Zhang Lang kills the jailer who delivered the letter.
Meanwhile, Zang Hai visits Xiang Antu in a hidden underground chamber. Sitting beside her, he is overcome with emotion as memories of his deceased parents and sister flood his mind, and tears stream down his face. Zang Hai knows that by the end of the night, his first major enemy, Zhuang Luyin, will be dealt with. Xiang Antu, unsure how to console him, simply remains by his side in silent support.
Cao Jingxian finalizes his arrangements, anticipating Zhang Lang's attempt to free Zhuang Luyin, which will serve to frame Zhuang Luyin for treason. Zhang Mao and his men infiltrate the Capital. Lu Ran immediately reports this to Cao Jingxian, who then orders Lu Ran to lure Zhuang Zhixing out, intending to eliminate both Zhuang Luyin and Zhuang Zhixing in the ensuing chaos. Lu Ran storms the Marquis's Mansion, attacking indiscriminately, prompting Zhuang Zhixing to give chase.
Inside the prison, Zhuang Luyin anxiously awaits Cao Jingxian's help, only to be met by Zhang Mao. It is then that Zhuang Luyin realizes he has walked into Cao Jingxian's elaborate trap. Refusing to accept defeat passively, he decides to join forces with Zhang Lang and then turn on Cao Jingxian to exact revenge. Zhuang Luyin and Zhang Mao fight their way out of the prison, meeting Lan Yongji on the streets. Zhuang Luyin orders Lan Yongji to set off the fireworks, signaling Zhang Lang.
Seeing the signal fireworks from within the city, Zhang Lang leads his troops charging into the Capital. Just as Zhuang Luyin is about to rendezvous with Zhang Lang, they are intercepted by Imperial Guards, and a fierce battle erupts. Zhuang Luyin, desperate, orders his men to kill all the Imperial Guards, leaving no survivors. Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhixing, still in pursuit of Lu Ran, encounters Zhang Lang, who tries to persuade Zhuang Zhixing to join them. Zang Hai arrives at that critical moment, intervening to stop Zhuang Zhixing. He warns Zhuang Zhixing to flee the Capital at once, telling him he will die if he stays. Taking heed, Zhuang Zhixing gallops out of the Capital on horseback.
Zhang Lang and his forces finally meet up with Zhuang Luyin. Zhuang Luyin rallies his men, declaring his intention to storm the Imperial City and "Qing Jun Ce" (an idiom meaning to "cleanse the monarch's side" by removing allegedly corrupt officials, often a pretext for rebellion). His army arrives at the Imperial City, where they are confronted by Imperial Guards emerging from within. A tense standoff ensues. Zhuang Luyin claims he only wishes to report his grievances to the Emperor, but the commander of the Imperial Guards dismisses this, accusing him of outright rebellion. At Zhuang Luyin's command, his forces attack the city. A brutal battle follows, with the Imperial Guards fighting a tactical retreat before finally sealing the city gates.
The Emperor, informed that Zhuang Luyin is leading an assault on the Imperial City, remains remarkably composed, calmly continuing with his woodworking hobby. Outside, Zhuang Luyin relentlessly orders his men to breach the city walls. From a concealed position, Zang Hai uses his archery skills to pick off the attacking soldiers. Zhuang Luyin, leading the charge himself, commands his men to use a battering ram. Zang Hai manages to shoot Zhuang Luyin in the arm. Zang Hai then lets out a loud cry. Zhuang Luyin, wounded but undeterred, breaks through the surrounding soldiers and advances towards Zang Hai, who levels a crossbow directly at him.
Zhuang Luyin furiously vows to kill Zang Hai. Just then, Zhuang Zhixing returns, dramatically arriving with Lan Yongji's severed head. He implores Zhuang Luyin to surrender, warning that if he doesn't, the entire Zhuang family will be branded as traitors who attempted to usurp the throne. However, Zhuang Luyin, blinded by hatred and a thirst for revenge, flatly refuses. In a fit of rage, he draws his sword and lunges at Zhuang Zhixing.
