Episode Summary
In "Youthful Glory" Episode 27, Zhang Huaiyu makes a dramatic return, saving Bai Minmin from thugs and vowing to marry her. Meanwhile, Ming Tan and Jiang Xu share a romantic Mid-Autumn Festival. The central conspiracy deepens as the arrested official, Liu Mo, is revealed to be the son of a disgraced scout. The Emperor visits Liu Mo in prison, revealing that his father was likely framed, pointing to Su Wenchun as the true villain. Finally, Su Wenchun sends an assassin, whom Liu Mo recognizes as his childhood benefactor, to silence him permanently.
Spoiler Alert
Youthful Glory Episode 27 Recap & Spoilers: Vows, Revelations, and a Poisoned Past
This episode masterfully weaves together long-awaited romantic reunions with the dark, unfolding consequences of a conspiracy years in the making. As one couple finds their way back to each other, a carefully placed pawn in a political game learns the devastating truth behind his life's mission.
A Fiery Reunion and a Promise of Forever
The episode kicks off with Su Wenchun flying into a rage upon learning that his daughter, Su Erong, has been captured and is being escorted to the capital.Despite their father-daughter connection, they are legally estranged, a calculated move by Su Wenchun to insulate himself from her dealings.Though furious, he has other pressing matters to attend to.
Meanwhile, at Wentao Pavilion, trouble finds Bai Minmin when Gao Chen and his cronies arrive to cause a scene.They verbally abuse her and even get physical. Just as things escalate, Zhang Huaiyu makes a stunning return, swiftly kicking the thugs out and leaving a stunned Gao Chen to be carried away by his servants.
The reunion is anything but smooth. A tearful Bai Minmin confronts Zhang Huaiyu, her voice trembling with hurt and frustration. Since the news of his supposed death, she has anxiously guarded Wentao Pavilion for him, living in constant fear without so much as a single letter for comfort.Zhang Huaiyu quickly explains his silence; he wrote dozens of letters, but his subordinates prevented him from sending them to avoid exposing his location.He was also seriously injured and had to remain hidden to recover.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Zhang Huaiyu pulls Bai Minmin into a fierce embrace, promising to spend the rest of his life with her. He declares his intention to visit the Duke of Changguo's residence the very next day, dressed in his imperially bestowed robes, to formally ask for her hand in marriage. Though she calls him shameless, her heart is clearly won over.
A Mid-Autumn Night's Dream
In a much quieter, more romantic storyline, Ming Tan has planned a special Mid-Autumn Festival surprise for Jiang Xu. Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Xu already learned of her plans from his spies and has prepared a surprise of his own: a masterfully crafted qin.Ming Tan plays a beautiful melody she composed for him two years prior, a moment of pure bliss for the couple.
As they share the evening, Shu Jingran and Yun Yi light the fireworks Ming Tan arranged, illuminating the night sky. Watching the dazzling display, Shu Jingran asks Yun Yi if she ever dreams of the future. She replies that she doesn't need to, because the present moment is the most perfect it could be.
This is the first Mid-Autumn Festival Ming Tan has spent with Jiang Xu, and she tenderly acknowledges that he must miss his parents. Her only wish is for him to be happy. Jiang Xu is deeply moved; while others have been kind to him over the years, Ming Tan is the only one who has ever simply wanted him to find happiness.
Following a night of passion, Jiang Xu must depart early to handle official matters, leaving a reluctant Ming Tan to see him off with a plea for his swift return.
The Fall Guy and a Royal Secret
The investigation into the widespread bribery case reaches a turning point. The arrested officials confess that the mastermind is Liu Mo, the Assistant Minister of Revenue, who promptly admits his guilt and is jailed.When the Emperor learns of Liu Mo's background, a deeper plot is revealed: Liu Mo is the son of the scout whose actions led to the death of Prince Mincong years ago.
Sensing there is more to the story, the Emperor visits Liu Mo in his cell late at night.He urges Liu Mo not to take the fall for someone else, revealing that his father's case was not so clear-cut. While delaying a military order was a capital offense, his father had testified that he mysteriously fell into a deep sleep at a relay station, causing the delay. The Emperor believes someone else intentionally orchestrated the situation, but the trail went cold.Hearing this, Liu Mo is overcome with emotion, finally realizing the true architect of his family's tragedy and his own life's path is Su Wenchun.
A Final, Deadly Meeting
From his cell, Liu Mo sends a message requesting to see Su Wenchun. Instead, Su Wenchun sends his trusted subordinate, a man Liu Mo knows as "Brother Si." It's a reunion fraught with dark history. Liu Mo recognizes Brother Si as the benefactor from his youth who gave him the food and money that allowed him to study and train.
Brother Si admits that he helped him back then under orders, just as he is now under orders to "see him off"—a clear threat. Despite the grim circumstances, Liu Mo expresses his gratitude. But a horrifying realization dawns on him, and he correctly guesses that Brother Si was not just his benefactor, but also the man who murdered his father to silence him.
