Episode Summary
In episode 20, the Wutuo army lays siege to Jiyang. He Yan and Xiao Jue devise a daring plan where He Yan, in disguise, lures the enemy commander, Huyate, into a trap and kills him, securing a major victory for Jiyang.The triumph is bittersweet, however, as their friend Liu Buwang is killed while defending a secret passage from spies. The episode ends with the characters mourning their loss, a tender moment of care from Xiao Jue towards a grieving He Yan, and a new political intrigue emerging around a captured enemy figure, Chai Anxi.
Spoiler Alert
With the Wutuo army at the gates, their commander, Huyate, orders the attack on Jiyang city, and the fires of war are instantly ignited. Inspired by He Yan, the women within the city walls grab anything they can use as a weapon, ready to defend their homes. The Wutuo forces are ferocious, using a massive battering ram to assault the gates, but the Jiyang army stands united, desperately holding them back. Elsewhere, Liu Buwang lies in wait outside a secret tunnel, successfully ambushing a group of Wutuo spies trying to infiltrate the city. He fights valiantly, taking on ten enemies at once in a fierce struggle.
Xiao Jue lays out his strategy: he will lead an elite squad to draw away Huyate and his heavily armored soldiers, leaving the rest of the Wutuo army without a leader. He Yan volunteers for the most dangerous part of the mission—disguised as Mu Hongjin, she will lead her own elite team to lure Huyate away, using the Wutuo's known hatred for the princess as bait.Xiao Jue agrees, with one simple demand: that she comes back alive. He Yan insists that Xiao Jue, as the commander, must remain with the main army to lead the defense effectively.
Meanwhile, atop the city walls, Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu are tending to the wounded soldiers. Song Taotao notices a change in Cheng Lisu, who seems to have shed his usual carefree demeanor for a newfound seriousness. The Jiyang defenders manage to crush the Wutuo battering ram with large stones, and Xiao Jue seizes the moment to lead his soldiers out of the city and charge into the enemy ranks. He carves a path through the battlefield, prompting a desperate Huyate to offer a huge reward for his capture, dead or alive.
He Yan's ruse is successful. She lures Huyate and his heavy cavalry to a shallow beach outside the city.The armored soldiers, accustomed to fighting on land, are at a severe disadvantage in the water. It is a risky but brilliant maneuver. On the main battlefield, Xiao Jue briefly spots Chai Anxi but loses sight of him in the chaos; he immediately orders Fei Nu to find him at all costs.
The climax of the battle sees He Yan confronting Huyate directly. She manages to impale him with her spear, lifting him into the air and killing him over the water.However, in his final moments, Huyate kicks her violently, sending her flying into the water. Xiao Jue arrives just in time to pull her from the depths, giving her air mouth-to-mouth to revive her. As she comes to, He Yan hears the triumphant cheers of the Jiyang soldiers and citizens in the distance, knowing they have won the battle.
Later, the memory of Xiao Jue saving her life—and the way he did it—leaves He Yan with a whirlwind of emotions. But victory is tainted by tragedy. News arrives that Liu Buwang, after being poisoned, fought to his last breath against the Wutuo spies and has died. Mu Hongjin stumbles in shock, and He Yan cannot believe the devastating news. It was Mu Hongjin who had told Liu Buwang about that secret tunnel years ago. In his hands, he clutched a pair of silver bracelets until the very end, a final sign to Mu Hongjin that he had never forgotten her.
The loss of Liu Buwang, one of the few people who had always been kind to her, leaves He Yan heartbroken. She weeps alone in her room, and Xiao Jue, hearing her cries, stands guard outside her door, choosing not to intrude on her grief. That night, following a Jiyang custom, a meal is prepared for the deceased. Mu Hongjin joins He Yan and confesses that her deepest regret is not meeting with Liu Buwang that one last time. She advises He Yan that finding someone you truly connect with is rare, and when you do, you must cherish them and never let go.
Knowing He Yan wouldn't have eaten while preparing the ritual meal for Liu Buwang, Xiao Jue thoughtfully brings her food. In another part of the city, Chai Anxi has been found by Fei Nu and is being treated by Cheng Lisu at the royal mansion. Chu Zhao seems particularly interested in the captive, noting Xu Jingfu's unusual concern for him and deciding to investigate further. After Chu Zhao visits the captive, Xiao Jue, sensing a new threat, orders Fei Nu to increase the guards around the courtyard to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation.
