Episode Summary
Zang Hai and Xiang An Tu finally confess their love for each other after Xiang An Tu performs a symbolic puppet show. Ming Yu Su Ti reveals the truth about her past with Zang Hai's father, Kuai Duo, and the history of the powerful artifact, Gui Xi, which caused Kuai Duo's family massacre. She tasks Zang Hai with finding the Gui Xi, providing a special compass. Zang Hai, with Xiang An Tu's support, chooses to pursue both revenge and his love. The compass leads Zang Hai to the Imperial Palace's Han Zhang Hall, leading him to suspect the Emperor's involvement. Meanwhile, Cao Jing Xian learns of the Gui Xi's location. Zang Hai plans to use the Gui Xi to draw out his third enemy, despite concerns from his allies.
Spoiler Alert
"Legend of Zang Hai" Episode 31 Recap & Spoilers
Following the defeat of Dong Xia, a young Xiang An Tu was sent to Da Yong as a political hostage. She endured ten years of living under someone else's roof until she met Zang Hai, with whom she gradually fell in love. Now, reunited with her mother, Ming Yu Su Ti, whom she longed for day and night, Xiang An Tu pours out the hardships of her past years and her deep affection for Zang Hai. Ming Yu Su Ti also holds Zang Hai in high regard but worries that with his great vendetta yet unfulfilled, Zang Hai might not prioritize Xiang An Tu.
Zhuang Zhi Xing learns from Zhuang Lu Yin that the third person responsible for the massacre of Zang Hai's family was the Queen of Dong Xia. Zang Hai sets a deadly trap intending to kill Ming Yu Su Ti. However, Xiang An Tu arrives just in time, and Ming Yu Su Ti reveals the truth to Zang Hai. He then learns that not only did Ming Yu Su Ti not kill his father, Kuai Duo, but she also shared a significant past with him. Zang Hai is puzzled as to why Zhuang Lu Yin would deceive Zhuang Zhi Xing and struggles to guess the identity of the true third enemy.
Eighth Master visits Xiang An Tu, who confides in him about her inner conflict. Although the misunderstanding between Zang Hai and her mother, Ming Yu Su Ti, has been resolved, both still harbor deep-seated hatred from their family feuds, preventing them from being together. Eighth Master can only offer words of comfort. Later, Xiang An Tu sends a message to Zang Hai, asking to meet him at the Pillow Tower. Zang Hai arrives on time. Xiang An Tu performs a shadow puppet show for him, telling a story of a little goldfish (representing Zang Hai) and a little swan (representing herself). Through this play, Xiang An Tu expresses her feelings for Zang Hai. Deeply moved and unwilling to let down Xiang An Tu's devotion any longer, Zang Hai opens his heart to her. The two lovers finally get together.
Xiang An Tu clings to Zang Hai tightly, afraid he might leave. They share their deepest thoughts, with endless things to say to each other. Zang Hai promises to never leave Xiang An Tu. Overcome with emotion, Xiang An Tu kisses him, eager to know what Zang Hai has experienced all these years. Zang Hai recounts half of his story before Xiang An Tu falls asleep, resting on him. Zang Hai experiences an unprecedented sense of happiness.
Ming Yu Su Ti gives Zang Hai the blueprints for the Gui Xi and tells him its story. Many years ago, a female general found the Gui Xi and used it to summon "Yin Soldiers" – spectral warriors that possessed living people to fight, making them invincible. This general expanded her territory and founded Dong Xia, becoming its first Queen, Fu Xian. However, Fu Xian's body suffered a backlash from the Gui Xi. Before her death, she sealed the Gui Xi completely within her tomb, warning her descendants never to open it.
Three hundred years later, Ming Yu Su Ti's mother, Queen Ming Lu Hu Da, had the Gui Xi unsealed using three copper fish as keys. Queen Ming Lu Hu Da used the Gui Xi to defeat Da Yong but paid a terrible price. Before her death, she hid the Gui Xi in a place known to only five people. Kuai Duo eventually found the Gui Xi, which led to the annihilation of his entire family.
Ming Yu Su Ti, fearing the catastrophic disaster the Gui Xi could unleash if it reappeared, entrusts Zang Hai with the task of finding it. She promises that if he succeeds, she will help him find his third enemy. Zang Hai readily agrees. Ming Yu Su Ti reveals a compass she painstakingly created over many years. By placing the copper fish on the compass, it can locate the Gui Xi. She then presents Zang Hai with a choice: if he chooses Xiang An Tu, he must give up his revenge. Zang Hai flatly refuses. Xiang An Tu immediately declares her full support for Zang Hai's quest for vengeance, leaving Ming Yu Su Ti to concede.
Zang Hai places the copper fish on the compass and follows its pointing needle. His search eventually leads him to the Imperial Palace. Under the guise of inspecting the construction progress of Han Zhang Hall, Zang Hai continues his search with the compass. He reaches Han Zhang Hall in the Emperor's rear palace but is stopped by the imperial guards. Stunned, Zang Hai immediately returns to consult with Gao Ming. Zang Hai suspects that the Emperor tasked Kuai Duo with finding the Gui Xi.
Cao Jing Xian is gradually recovering from his injuries. He orders Lu Ran to keep a close watch on Zang Hai. When Lu Ran informs him that Zang Hai was investigating in the Imperial Palace, Cao Jing Xian bursts into laughter; he had entered Han Zhang Hall countless times, never imagining the Gui Xi was hidden there. Meanwhile, Ming Yu Su Ti expresses a wish to visit the place where Kuai Duo worked. Zang Hai takes her to the Qin Tian Jian (Imperial Astronomical Bureau). Standing in Kuai Duo's room, memories of their time together flood Ming Yu Su Ti's mind, filling her with mixed emotions. She advises Zang Hai to cherish the person in front of him.
Zang Hai confirms that the Gui Xi is located in Han Zhang Hall within the Imperial Palace. Ming Yu Su Ti worries that the Emperor of Da Yong will use the Gui Xi to dominate the world. Zang Hai believes his father, Kuai Duo, didn't hand over the copper fish to the Emperor precisely because he feared such a day. Zang Hai plans to use the Gui Xi to lure out his third enemy. After killing that person, he intends to explain everything to the Emperor. Both Gao Ming and Zang Hai's masked master disagree with Zang Hai taking such a risk, but Zang Hai is unwilling to miss this opportunity, forcing them to relent.
