Xiao Jue (肖珏) stands frozen, his blade trembling as its point rests near the throat of the woman he cherished. He knows everything now. The revelation crashes over him: He Yan (禾晏) wasn't merely a victim of circumstance when she assumed the identity of He Rufei (何如非); her delayed arrival at the Battle of Ming Shui directly caused the catastrophic loss that claimed his father and thirty thousand comrades. This truth, sharp as the steel he holds, cuts deeper than any battlefield wound.
The woman before him, her eyes reflecting the same devastation he feels, embodies the source of his deepest grief and the most profound betrayal. Yet, tangled within the fury is a thread of agonizing confusion – could there be more to this tragedy than he yet understands?
Broken Trust
He Yan sees the finality in Xiao Jue's eyes. Explanations die on her lips; words are useless against the mountain of his pain and anger. She understands her deception, born of necessity during her time disguised as a man studying at Xianchang Academy, is unforgivable in his eyes. The revelation, inadvertently triggered by her friend Hua Youxian, shattered the fragile trust they had built.
Now, a chilling distance separates them, colder than any winter storm. He Yan retreats into punishing solitude, pushing her body relentlessly in training, seeking penance through exhaustion. Each bruise, each drop of sweat, is a silent apology he refuses to hear. Xiao Jue watches this self-flagellation, his own heart lacerated anew. Her pain mirrors his, a cruel reminder of their shattered bond. He cannot absolve her, not yet, but the sight of her suffering is its own torment. He resolves to keep her close, not for comfort, but until the full truth of Ming Shui emerges.
Tangled Conspiracy
Far from the icy silence between the lovers, He Rufei plots. His sister's survival threatens him. Xiao Jue's growing influence, solidified by victories like the defense of Jinyang (晋阳大战), poses an even greater danger. Learning that Xiao Jue now knows of his role in the Ming Shui disaster through the testimony of Chai Anxi (柴安喜), He Rufei moves swiftly. He seeks the Prime Minister, proposing a familiar strategy: a feigned attack coordinated with the Wutuo Army (乌托军), designed to draw Xiao Jue out. He Rufei volunteers to lead a "campaign" in Huayuan, intending instead to leak Rundu's defenses, drawing the enemy there.
He knows Xiao Jue's honor would compel him to defend Rundu (润都). This trap serves two purposes: eliminating Xiao Jue and destroying He Yan's former comrades, the elite Eight Tigers – seven stationed in Huayuan, one in Rundu. He Rufei believes he controls the board, unaware he is merely a pawn in a larger, more dangerous game.
Shadow Moves
The Prime Minister, however, plays his own treacherous hand. He holds information about Chu Zhao's (楚昭) earlier failure to eliminate Chai Anxi. To regain favor and eliminate loose ends, the Prime Minister manipulates He Rufei, revealing Xiao Jue's knowledge of Ming Shui to ensure He Rufei attacks first. Chu Zhao, realizing his precarious position as a disposable asset now that the Prime Minister suspects him, makes a desperate gamble. He pledges loyalty to the Emperor.
Under the guise of pleading leniency for Xiao Jue's unauthorized defense of Jiyang, Chu Zhao cunningly elevates He Yan while simultaneously undermining Xiao Jue. Securing for her the title Wu An Lang (武安郎), he deliberately exposes her gender. This act, masking personal obsession with strategic malice, aims to make Xiao Jue a target of scorn and suspicion, diverting attention while Chu Zhao positions himself for survival in the treacherous imperial court. The stage is set for a final, devastating clash where loyalties fracture, vengeance burns, and the fate of Rundu hangs in the balance.
