Episode Summary
Episode 28 sees Zhuang Lu Yin meet his end after a confrontation with Zhuang Zhi Xing, choosing to die on Zhuang Zhi Xing's sword to protect him. Zhuang Zhi Xing is then exiled to the border. Zang Hai is promoted but remains focused on his remaining enemies. Cao Jing Xian, seeking an artifact called the Kui Xi to secure his future, falls into a deadly trap set by Zang Hai in the Marquis Pingjin's former residence and is killed. Zang Hai holds Xiang An Tu hostage, leading to new tensions, while Chu Liu prepares to leave the Capital.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of Zang Hai: Episode 28 Recap & Spoilers
The Fall of Zhuang Lu Yin
The episode opened with a tense standoff. Zhuang Zhi Xing confronted his relative, Zhuang Lu Yin, urging him to surrender and even threatening his own life to make his point. However, Zhuang Lu Yin, defiant, attacked Zhuang Zhi Xing. Zhuang Zhi Xing countered that resistance was futile, as Zhuang Lu Yin's fate was sealed. Despite Zhuang Zhi Xing’s vow to restore the Zhuang family's honor, Zhuang Lu Yin, doubting his capabilities, challenged him to a duel.
Zhuang Zhi Xing skillfully parried all of Zhuang Lu Yin’s attacks. The confrontation made Zhuang Lu Yin painfully aware of his own decline and the decimation of his forces. Realizing his cause was lost, and in a desperate bid to protect Zhuang Zhi Xing, Zhuang Lu Yin aggressively maneuvered Zhuang Zhi Xing, ultimately impaling himself on Zhuang Zhi Xing’s sword. With his dying breath, Zhuang Lu Yin urged Zhuang Zhi Xing to revive the Zhuang family. Zang Hai witnessed this tragic scene, a whirlwind of emotions stirring within him.
Following Zhuang Lu Yin's death, the Imperial Guard Commander persuaded the remaining soldiers to lay down their arms. Zhuang Zhi Xing was subsequently taken into custody by the Imperial Guard.
Shifting Fortunes and New Alliances
The Emperor assigned Cao Jing Xian to manage the fallout from the jailbreak incident involving Zhang Lang and others. While Cao Jing Xian initially suggested allowing Zhuang Zhi Xing an "intact corpse" (a less dishonorable end), the Emperor reconsidered. Instead, Zhuang Zhi Xing was dispatched to guard the borderlands.
In a significant turn of events, the Emperor promoted Zang Hai to the position of Vice Minister of Works, concurrently appointing him as the Director of the Imperial Observatory. Zang Hai, in turn, recommended Shi Quan to serve as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Observatory.
A Bittersweet Farewell and Lingering Vengeance
The Emperor ordered the seizure of the Marquis Pingjin's (Pingjin Hou) residence. Zang Hai was put in charge of the confiscation, finding the once-grand estate now deserted and in disarray.
Zhuang Zhi Xing prepared to depart for his new post at the border – the very region previously commanded by Zhuang Lu Yin. Before leaving, he paid respects at his mother's grave. Zang Hai arrived to bid him farewell. Zhuang Zhi Xing congratulated Zang Hai on his recent promotion. Zang Hai confided that two of his enemies still remained at large, and he would have to bide his time. He arranged for Shi Lei and Guan Feng to escort Zhuang Zhi Xing to the border.
The farewell between Zang Hai and Zhuang Zhi Xing was heavy with unspoken emotions. Zang Hai advised Zhuang Zhi Xing to keep moving forward without looking back. As Zhuang Zhi Xing rode off, Zang Hai watched his retreating figure, his heart a maelstrom of emotions. For the sake of his revenge, he had personally played a part in the downfall of a man as once-innocent as Zhuang Zhi Xing.
Cao Jing Xian's Schemes and the Mysterious Kui Xi
Meanwhile, Lu Ran advised Cao Jing Xian to eliminate Zhuang Zhi Xing permanently to prevent future trouble. However, Cao Jing Xian, wary of public perception, preferred for Zhuang Zhi Xing to meet his end far away at the border. Cao Jing Xian then ordered an exhaustive search of the Marquis Pingjin's residence for an artifact known as the Kui Xi, but it was nowhere to be found. Frustrated, Cao Jing Xian decided to search the premises himself.
Zang Hai was visited by his masked master, who congratulated him on the successful removal of Zhuang Lu Yin. Zang Hai, however, found little joy in this victory, burdened by the harm he felt he had caused Zhuang Zhi Xing. Zang Hai questioned Cao Jing Xian's intense desire for the Kui Xi. His master speculated that Cao Jing Xian, despite wielding immense power under the Emperor's favor, sought the Kui Xi to secure his own safety and future, fearing for his life once the current Emperor was no longer in power.
Zang Hai's Trap Springs
Zang Hai, anticipating Cao Jing Xian's move, had meticulously set a deadly trap in the cellar of the Marquis's estate, convinced that Cao Jing Xian would personally come for the Kui Xi. His master praised Zang Hai's foresight but also voiced concern that Queen Dong Xia might seek retribution against him. Zang Hai revealed he was holding Xiang An Tu as a hostage within his residence to counter this threat.
True to Zang Hai's prediction, Cao Jing Xian, accompanied by Lu Yan and Lu Ran, arrived at the treasury cellar in the Marquis's mansion. As they scoured the area, Lu Yan discovered a hidden compartment containing a booby-trapped box planted by Zang Hai. Cao Jing Xian, ever cautious, ordered Lu Yan and Lu Ran to shield him. However, Zang Hai had anticipated this, setting an additional mechanism from behind. Cao Jing Xian was fatally struck.
Loose Ends and New Tensions
Later, Zang Hai visited Xiang An Tu, who was conversing with Chu Liu. Having learned of both Zhuang Lu Yin's and Cao Jing Xian's deaths, Xiang An Tu delivered a stark warning to Zang Hai: if he dared to harm her mother, she would become his implacable foe.
In a separate interaction, Gao Ming attempted to curry favor with Chu Liu by gifting her tonics. Chu Liu, however, was preparing to leave the Capital that very night and requested Gao Ming to arrange for a heater in her carriage, signaling her departure from the city's tumultuous affairs.
