Episode Summary
The episode sees a dramatic escalation as Liu Mo betrays Su Wen Chun to the Emperor, leading to Su's immediate arrest for sedition. This act triggers a wider rebellion, forcing Jiang Xu to rush to the capital. Meanwhile, the city of Lingzhou falls to a surprise attack led by Wen Zong, who reveals his identity as an agent from the rival state of Nanlü. Old General Feng is captured and held hostage. Ming Tan is taken prisoner by Wen Zong, who attempts to coerce her into joining him. Defiantly rejecting his offer, Ming Tan's allies manage to escape their bonds just as her brother, Ming Ting Yuan, arrives at the city walls in disguise, setting the stage for a confrontation.
Spoiler Alert
Youthful Glory Episode 28 Recap: The Rebellion Begins
The political chessboard is violently upended as long-simmering plots finally boil over, leading to a shocking betrayal, a full-blown rebellion, and a city falling to a hidden enemy.
The episode kicks off with a tense confrontation between Liu Mo and a man known as Brother Si. While Brother Si speaks of them both being pawns with no choice, Liu Mo declares they are not the same. Making his move, Liu Mo presents a token belonging to Su Wen Chun to the Emperor, offering to testify against the powerful official in exchange for a retrial to clear his own father's name. The betrayal is sealed. As Brother Si realizes what has happened, the Imperial Guards arrive, and he has nowhere to run.
Meanwhile, Su Wen Chun is enjoying music in a teahouse, oblivious to his downfall. The Imperial Guards storm in, arresting him for sedition and factionalism. He is immediately stripped of his title and taken for investigation.
In the Feng residence, a brief moment of peace is shared. Ming Tan, accompanied by Jiang Xu and Ming Ting Yuan, has a happy reunion with Old General Feng. She is overjoyed that her efforts to clear her family's name are bearing fruit. She also expresses that the door is always open for her sister, Ming Chu, should she choose to repent and return to the family. However, the peace is shattered when Jiang Xu receives urgent news: Guo Bing Mao is marching his army toward the capital, a move undoubtedly orchestrated by Su Wen Chun. Realizing a rebellion is imminent, Jiang Xu must depart for the capital at once, entrusting Ming Ting Yuan with escorting Ming Tan.
Before leaving, Jiang Xu warns that if the capital descends into chaos, Ming Ting Yuan should take Ming Tan to the safety of Jiangnan. Old General Feng worries for Ming Ting Yuan, who plans to head to the volatile Yangxi Road alone to command the troops. Despite the immense danger, Ming Ting Yuan is resolute, stating that with the nation in peril, he cannot hesitate. He leaves Ming Tan in the care of Shu Jing Ran, asking him to prevent her from becoming suspicious about the true gravity of the situation.
The next morning, as Ming Tan, Shu Jing Ran, and Yun Yi prepare to leave for the capital, their plans are violently interrupted. A sudden revolt erupts outside the walls of Lingzhou. They are caught in the chaos on the ramparts, where they witness a horrifying sight: Old General Feng has been captured and is being hung from the city wall as a hostage. Yun Yi attempts to create a path for Ming Tan to escape, only to come face-to-face with the leader of the uprising—the man they knew as Wen Zong, who reveals himself to be an agent of the rival state of Nanlü. With this shocking betrayal, the city gates are breached, and Lingzhou falls.
Back in the capital, the Empress's brother, Zhang Huai Yu, receives a secret letter from Jiang Xu that drains the color from his face. He rushes to the palace but is barred from entry by guards; a lockdown is in effect. With the Emperor away on a hunting trip and unaware of the coup, Zhang Huai Yu is forced to sneak into the palace at night to see his sister. The Empress astutely notes that Su Wen Chun's rebellion lacks legitimacy and that he will need the Empress Dowager to name a new emperor from the royal clan. She realizes the Emperor must have anticipated this, which is why the palace was fortified. Their conversation is dramatically interrupted when Zhang Huai Yu, covered in blood, bursts in crying about his injuries. The Empress, however, quickly sees his wounds are merely superficial and dismisses his theatrics, though Bai Min Min is nearly frightened to tears.
In the fallen city of Lingzhou, Ming Tan is now a prisoner of Wen Zong. He places her under house arrest, attempting to sway her with lavish gifts of rare spices. Ming Tan is unmoved, caring only for the fate of Old General Feng and his son. Wen Zong makes his terms clear: if they surrender to Nanlü, they will live. He then demands Ming Tan accompany him on an outing, hinting it could be their only chance of survival. He reveals his true desire: for Ming Tan to abandon her life in Da Xian and return with him to Nanlü.
Elsewhere, Yun Yi, Shu Jing Ran, Zhui Feng, and Zhui Yu are tied up together. After a bout of bickering, they hatch a plan.
Wen Zong takes Ming Tan atop the Lingzhou city wall. It is here that Ming Tan finally connects the dots, realizing Wen Zong is not just a traitor but the true mastermind behind the entire smuggling operation that started it all. He makes his offer plain: come with him to Nanlü, and she can remain a royal consort in his family. Ming Tan scoffs at the proposition with utter disdain. "I am already a Princess Consort of the Great Da Xian," she declares, "and my husband is the God of War, the Prince of Dingbei."
As she stands defiant, her companions put their plan into action. The four prisoners start a loud, staged argument, successfully luring their guards into the room. They skillfully use the guards' own swords to cut themselves free. At that very moment, a figure disguised as a Nanlü general appears at the foot of the city wall—it is Ming Ting Yuan, ready to fight back.
