Episode Summary
He Yan and Xiao Jue survive an assassination attempt from a desperate He Rufei and arrive in the capital, where Xiao Jue invites her to live with his family. Chu Zhao is forced to endure Xu Pinting's company, who discovers his portrait of He Yan. He Rufei's rage escalates, leading him to plan a bold public attack on He Yan.
Spoiler Alert
Recap: Legend of the Female General, Episode 28
First up, we have Chu Zhao, who's finally getting some payback. You know how his mom was shamed for having him and he was bullied by his aunt and uncle his whole life? Well, the tables have turned. Now that he's got some power, he makes them kneel and repent in front of his mother's memorial tablet. It’s a heavy moment, but you can't say they didn't have it coming. Just as he's dealing with this family drama, Xu Pinting shows up. He's clearly not interested and tries to use "paperwork" as an excuse to get rid of her.
This is where it gets nasty. Xu Pinting starts picking on Chu Zhao's attendant, Yingxiang, over a cup of tea. First, it's too cold, then it's too hot, and she even "accidentally" spills the scalding tea on Yingxiang's hand. Yingxiang takes all the insults quietly until Xu Pinting crosses a line and criticizes Chu Zhao. That's when Yingxiang, cool as a cucumber, claps back with a few choice words that leave Xu Pinting fuming. Of course, Xu Pinting runs home crying to her daddy, Xu Jingfu. Later, daddy dearest has a "chat" with Chu Zhao, dropping some not-so-subtle threats about how "lowly people are like ants." Chu Zhao gets the message loud and clear and is forced to back down for now.
Meanwhile, the guy who stole He Yan's life, He Rufei, is getting super anxious because he knows she's on her way back to the capital. We get a flashback to how he, being the sickly brother, was hidden away while He Yan took his identity and became the celebrated General Feihong.It was Xu Jingfu who orchestrated the whole switcheroo, helping He Rufei take her place. He Rufei's own father warns him that he's just a pawn for Xu Jingfu in his power struggle against the Xiao Family Army and that if things go wrong, Xu Jingfu will throw him under the bus without a second thought. But He Rufei is arrogant, thinking he's too valuable to be discarded. Plus, he has his own ambitions.
On the road, He Yan and Xiao Jue are nearing the capital, Yaojing. In a hilariously awkward moment, Xiao Jue basically forces his attendant, Fei Nu, to invite He Yan to stay at the Xiao family mansion, since she doesn't have a place to go. It's clear he wants her there.But the peace doesn't last. Assassins, sent by He Rufei, attack them at the inn. They pretend to be after Xiao Jue, but one of them makes a beeline for He Yan, revealing their true target. These guys are "dead soldiers," and when they realize they've failed, they all commit suicide by taking poison hidden in their teeth. He Yan knows exactly who sent them without even needing to check.
Back in the capital, Chu Zhao is stuck painting with Xu Pinting. When he steps away to change his clothes, she snoops around and finds a portrait he painted of He Yan. The plot thickens!
Finally, He Yan arrives at the Xiao residence and gets a warm welcome from Xiao Jue's older brother, Xiao Jing, and his wife. The first thing Xiao Jue does is go to the ancestral hall to pay respects, telling his parents he's found the most important person in his life. It’s incredibly sweet. Later, when He Yan goes out to buy gifts, she senses she's being followed. She easily catches the spy and sends a message back to He Rufei. This pushes him over the edge, and he starts plotting to kill her right in the middle of the street.
