The intricate web of betrayal and power within the Tang Dynasty capital provides the backdrop for the gripping historical drama, The Vendetta of An (长安二十四计). A central point of intense debate among its audience revolves around the demise of the complex character, Wang Pu (王朴). While the narrative initially points to figures like Xie Huai'an ( 谢淮安) or an Fengshan (言凤山), a closer examination of the events suggests a far more tragic and self-directed conclusion. His death serves not as a simple act of vengeance, but as the final, inevitable move in a game where he was ultimately a disposable piece.
The Poison That Wasn't
Following Xie Huai'an's fourth strategic elimination, many viewers were convinced he had finally claimed Wang Pu. A prevalent theory suggests that poison was hidden within the dumplings offered during their tense meeting at the Daoguan (道观). This assumption, however, dissolves under scrutiny. The bowl set before him remained untouched throughout the entire confrontation.
This detail is profoundly telling. Wang Pu, a man consistently depicted with an appetite, refusing food speaks volumes. His refusal was a silent admission of deep-seated fear and mistrust. He understood the potential danger sitting across from him, and his instinct for self-preservation, however flawed, warned him against consuming anything offered in such a charged moment. The dumplings were a prop, not the weapon.
Xie Huai'an's true tactic was psychological warfare. His threat was not concealed in the meal but delivered clearly: return to General Yan Fengshan or face immediate execution by the guards outside. The power lay in the ultimatum, not in a hidden toxin. Wang Pu left that meeting alive, carrying with him a different kind of poison—the devastating truth about his own past.
A Pawn's End
The actual catalyst for Wang Pu's death was the horrific revelation from Yan Fengshan. The general he had served and revered his entire life confessed to being the murderer of his father. This disclosure was not an offer of reconciliation or a plea for understanding; it was a death sentence of a different kind. Yan Fengshan, by sharing this secret, was severing the final thread of trust and utility between them.
Wang Pu, raised in the general's shadow, knew exactly what the confession meant. His world collapsed not just from the shocking truth, but from the certain knowledge that his role was over. In Yan Fengshan's cold-blooded calculus, a tool that knew too much and could no longer be trusted was worse than useless. Facing a future of suspicion, exile, or a more brutal end, Wang Pu made his choice.
He bit into a hidden capsule, taking control of his own fate for the final time. The most chilling aspect of this scene is Yan Fengshan's passive observation. He did not intervene, offer an antidote, or show a flicker of regret. His inaction confirmed the absence of any genuine paternal bond. Wang Pu died alone, realizing he had never been more than a instrument to the man he called father.
His path to this end began the moment he sought out Xie Huai'an. Even en route, his suspicion flared when he noticed the absence of Yan Fengshan's usual surveillance. He sensed the trap but proceeded, perhaps driven by a desperate need for answers or a twisted sense of destiny. That decision set him on an irreversible course, making him a pivotal chess piece in the silent war between Xie Huai'an and Yan Fengshan. His death was a strategic outcome for both sides, closing a chapter of inconvenient history. Wang Pu was, undeniably, a villain responsible for countless innocent deaths. His end was deserved. Yet, his tragedy lies in being a creation of the very system he served, ultimately consumed by the masters he thought he could outplay.
