Episode Summary
Zang Hai's attempt to use the Gui Xi to find his family's third killer backfires when Shi Quan and Cao Jingxian steal it, revealing Shi Quan is Cao's adopted son. Mingyu Suti dies heroically protecting Zang Hai, implicating Xiang Antu. The Emperor orders Xiang Antu's arrest after incriminating letters are found. Zang Hai, convinced of her innocence, tries to see her in prison and then confesses to the Emperor about stealing the Gui Xi. This leads to a revelation: Zang Hai is the son of the Emperor's late close friend, Kuai Duo. The Emperor then recounts his history with Kuai Duo, including how Kuai Duo found the Gui Xi, which the Emperor now intends to use for conquest despite Kuai Duo's warnings.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of Zang Hai: Episode 33 Recap & Spoilers
The episode kicks off with Zang Hai’s bold move to use the coveted Gui Xi seal to expose the third assassin responsible for his family's slaughter. He manages to sneak into the heavily guarded Han Zhang Hall within the Imperial Palace and retrieve the Gui Xi. However, his success is short-lived as Shi Quan and Cao Jingxian appear, forcibly taking the seal. This confrontation reveals a startling truth to Zang Hai: Shi Quan is Cao Jingxian's adopted son. Just as tensions escalate, Mingyu Suti and Xiang Antu arrive to aid Zang Hai, leading to a fierce battle. Tragically, Mingyu Suti is struck by an arrow while shielding Zang Hai and Xiang Antu. With her dying breath, she heroically impales Cao Jingxian with her sword.
Upon learning of the Gui Xi's theft and Mingyu Suti's sudden demise, the Emperor immediately suspects Mingyu Suti. He issues an order to surround the Pillow Tower and the Zhi Palace, where Xiang Antu resides. Zang Hai, consumed with worry for Xiang Antu, wants to intervene and clear her name. Gao Ming strongly advises against it, citing the Emperor's explicit decree. Nevertheless, Zang Hai’s concern for Xiang Antu is too strong, and he resolves to check on her.
Xiang Antu, clad in mourning attire, escorts her mother Mingyu Suti’s funeral procession out of the city. As she watches the cortege recede, an overwhelming wave of grief washes over her. Zang Hai observes this poignant scene from a distance, a heavy guilt weighing on him; he knows his quest for vengeance indirectly caused Mingyu Suti's death. Meanwhile, Cao Jingxian, critically injured and aware his end is near, summons a mysterious figure. He entrusts this person with both the Gui Xi and a distinctive copper fish.
Returning to the Zhi Palace, Xiang Antu finds it completely blockaded by the Imperial Guard. Eighth Master (Ba Gongzi), unable to reach Xiang Antu, grows increasingly distressed and turns to Zang Hai for help. Zang Hai himself is uncertain about the best course of action. Eighth Master considers seeking aid from her father, Zhao Bingwen, but Zang Hai counsels patience, vowing to protect Xiang Antu at any cost.
Mingyu Suti's body is transported back to her homeland of Dong Xia. There, her other daughter, Mingyan Yinshu, ascends to the throne as the new Queen of Dong Xia. One of her first acts is to revoke Xiang Antu's title of Junzhu (Princess), effectively leaving her to the mercy of the Da Yong Emperor. During a search of the Pillow Tower, Imperial Guards discover incriminating letters. These correspondences, allegedly between Xiang Antu and the new Queen of Dong Xia, reveal Xiang Antu's dissatisfaction with the Da Yong Empire and suggest she has been leaking intelligence to Dong Xia. Guan Feng and Shi Lei, Zang Hai's loyal followers, witness Imperial Guards moving towards the Zhi Palace and rush to alert him. Zang Hai arrives, but it's too late – he can only watch in despair as Xiang Antu is arrested.
Zang Hai is convinced the letters are forgeries, a malicious plot by Cao Jingxian. However, he refrains from a rash attempt to rescue Xiang Antu from the imperial prison, fearing it would only worsen her plight and lead to her execution. Unable to abandon her, Zang Hai instructs Gao Ming to forge an official warrant from the Ministry of Justice (Xing Ke Jia Tie) to gain access to her. Gao Ming initially objects, fearing Zang Hai will be ensnared in the process, but Zang Hai's unwavering determination forces him to comply.
Using the forged warrant, Zang Hai successfully enters the prison. Xiang Antu, anxious not to involve him further, implores him to leave. But Zang Hai, having endured the loss of too many loved ones, declares he cannot lose her too. He promises to devise a plan for her rescue and urges her to hold on. That same night, Zang Hai proceeds to the Imperial Palace, seeking an urgent audience with the Emperor through the Chief Eunuch, Sun Defang. After some persistence, Sun Defang grants his request.
Before heading to see the Emperor, Zang Hai leaves a letter for Gao Ming. In it, he reveals his intention to confess everything. He instructs Gao Ming that if he and Xiang Antu do not return safely by dawn, Gao Ming should flee the Capital (Jing Cheng) with Guan Feng and Shi Lei. Sun Defang then leads Zang Hai into the Han Zhang Hall. Zang Hai kneels, prepared to confess his actions. However, just as he is about to speak, the Emperor orders him to be bound and dismisses all the Imperial Guards from the hall.
Alone with the Emperor, Zang Hai truthfully recounts how he infiltrated Han Zhang Hall to steal the Gui Xi, only for Cao Jingxian to ambush him and seize it. The Emperor is initially disbelieving. Zang Hai then mentions observing specific carvings within the hall – a deer and a wild goose – which he now understands symbolize the Emperor and his own father, Kuai Duo. This revelation makes Zang Hai realize the deep, personal connection his father shared with the Emperor. Learning that Zang Hai is none other than Kuai Duo’s son, Zhi Nu, the Emperor is visibly moved and greatly relieved. He immediately orders Zang Hai to be unbound and instructs Sun Defang to lead a search of Cao Jingxian's residence, sealing it off completely.
Zang Hai proceeds to detail the horrific massacre of his entire family. He explains his investigation has revealed two of the three assassins: Zhuang Luyin, who is now dead, and Cao Jingxian, who is barely alive. The identity of the third perpetrator remains unknown. The Emperor admonishes Zang Hai for his recklessness in stealing the Gui Xi, which ultimately fell into Cao Jingxian's possession. Zang Hai counters, arguing that if the Emperor had publicly declared the Gui Xi was in the palace, his parents and sister might have been spared their tragic fate.
The Emperor responds with a cold laugh, stating that the truth is far more convoluted than Zang Hai imagines. He then begins to share the long and complex history of his relationship with Kuai Duo. Decades ago, when the Emperor was still a prince, Kuai Duo was his appointed study companion. They forged a close bond, united by a shared passion for woodworking. When the prince was later designated Crown Prince, Kuai Duo left the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor recounts numerous attempts on his life, occasions where he was saved only by Kuai Duo's intervention. Fearing for his safety, the Emperor had Sun Defang summon Xue Zhao with military forces for protection, while Kuai Duo personally commanded the Imperial Guard to secure Han Zhang Hall. When the previous Emperor passed away, his final edict named the current Emperor as his successor. The Emperor expresses his profound gratitude for Kuai Duo’s unwavering loyalty and protection during those turbulent times.
The late Emperor, on his deathbed, entrusted the current Emperor with a critical mission: to locate the Gui Xi. The state of Dong Xia had previously utilized the seal's power to defeat Da Yong. Consequently, the Emperor dispatched Zhuang Luyin to attack Dong Xia, while Kuai Duo was sent to Dong Xia under the guise of constructing the Fengshan Terrace (Fengshan Tai), a mission that also served as a cover for his search for the Gui Xi. After three arduous years, Kuai Duo successfully found the Gui Xi and presented it to the Emperor, who was ecstatic. Kuai Duo, however, implored the Emperor not to use the Gui Xi to wage war, warning of the catastrophic suffering it would inflict upon the populace. But the Emperor, consumed by his ambition to dominate the world, turned a deaf ear to Kuai Duo's counsel.
