Episode Summary
The Emperor attempts to force He Yan into a marriage with Chu Zhao, but she defies the order, choosing a life of solitude over a loveless union.Following a tragic incident that results in the death of Chu Zhao's attendant, He Yan and Xiao Jue reaffirm their love, deciding to be life partners without a formal marriage. Their moment of peace is cut short by the sudden news of a two-front invasion, calling them back to duty.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of the Female General: Episode 35
Episode 35 of Legend of the Female General begins with Xiao Jue facing a tough reality. He knows he can't give up his life as a general, but he also refuses to be the one to clip He Yan's wings. Realizing they might never be able to marry, he resigns himself to a life of solitude. The Emperor, however, has other plans, intending to drive a wedge between them for good. He summons Xiao Jue to the palace and hands him a decree.
Meanwhile, at the Xiao Mansion, He Yan is dressed in her beautiful wedding gown, joyfully waiting to marry the love of her life. The mood shifts when Xiao Jue returns, not with wedding bells, but with two imperial edicts. With a heavy heart, he is forced to read them aloud while He Yan kneels to receive the orders.
The first edict is a reward, granting He Yan her own mansion and the official title of "General Feihong." But the second one is a crushing blow: it's a royal marriage decree, ordering He Yan to marry the Vice Minister of the Secretariat, Chu Zhao, on an auspicious day.The Emperor's move is incredibly cruel, not only tearing the couple apart but forcing Xiao Jue to be the messenger of this heartbreaking news. Xiao Jue had refused, willing to accept any punishment, but the Emperor threatened the entire Xiao family, leaving him with no choice but to obey.
Bound by duty, He Yan accepts the decree. Xiao Jue's hands tremble as he passes her the scroll, unable to let it go. Later, He Yan goes to the palace to plead with the Emperor to take back his command. Chu Zhao is also present and promises he will treat her well, but she isn't having it. He Yan makes it clear: she can follow the order not to marry Xiao Jue, but she will absolutely not settle for Chu Zhao. If she can't be with the man she loves, she would rather spend her life alone.Remembering Xiao Jue's own desperate pleas, the Emperor grants her this choice, allowing her to remain single.
He Yan confronts Chu Zhao directly, accusing him of using his supposed feelings for her as a smokescreen for his own ambition and telling him he's turning into another Xu Jingfu.She smashes a tassel he once gave her, breaking ties with him for good.
The news of the arranged marriage devastates Xu Pinting. When she later hears from Chu Zhao himself that the wedding is off, she mocks him for his schemes failing to get him what he wanted. Chu Zhao retorts with a cruel jab of his own. In a fit of rage, Xu Pinting lunges at him with a hairpin to kill him, but his loyal attendant, Ying Xiang, jumps in front and takes the fatal blow. As Ying Xiang dies, Xu Pinting laughs hysterically, telling Chu Zhao this is his karma: the woman he desires wants nothing to do with him, and the only person who truly loved him is now dead because of him.
Later, encouraged by his brother Xiao Jing, Xiao Jue rushes to the new General Feihong mansion to find He Yan. They reconcile, with Xiao Jue declaring that she is his one and only wife, with or without a marriage certificate. They decide their love for each other is all that matters, beyond any formal ceremonies.
The episode then shifts to the joyous wedding of their friends, Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu, a major event in the city. He Yan helps the bride get ready, offering her a piece of wisdom: "Whether you become a wife or a mother, never forget that you are, first and foremost, yourself." Watching the happy couple, He Yan can't help but feel a pang of envy and loss, and Xiao Jue, noticing this, tenderly takes her hand.
Just as they find a moment of peace, eating lamb hot pot together at the Xiao Mansion, the urgent sound of beacon drums echoes through the city. Fei Nu rushes in with a report: the Wutuo tribe is launching a simultaneous attack on two fronts, Mingshui and Huayuan. Without hesitation, He Yan and Xiao Jue know what they must do and decide to head to the palace immediately.
