A father’s embrace

The battle of father and son. ZhiXing challenges his father that if he wins the insurrection ceases. The Marquis accepts the challenge. His son is definitely less experienced, but he is impressed that he can dodge his attacks. He tests his son’s mettle and is satisfied. At a crucial time he holds his son’s blade and helps him avert an attack. He lets his son continue the thrust and makes him swear to keep his promise of reviving the Zhuang name. Zang Hai is shaken at the emotional embrace between father and son as the sword continues through. As much as he truly wants the Marquis dead, he is heartbroken for ZhiXing. The battle ceases and the Marquis’ men and son are arrested. In court Eunuch Cao argues for the death of ZhiXing and his supporters agree. Fortunately calmer voices prevailed and ZhiXing is spared.He is sent to the border and refused entry to city unless by imperial order. Zang Hai and ZhiXing see this as the emperor trying to have him killed indirectly. Zang Hai points out he could succeed. I see this as the emperor giving him indirect protection. For all his faults the Marquis fought valiantly and with honor, his son is cut of the same cloth without the moral ambiguity. He is a straight arrow with a definitive line of right and wrong. If kept away from the court to mature and strengthen himself, he will be a great asset to the empire and has the capacity to be a great man and savior of the Zhuang bloodline. After arrests are made, Zang Hai smiles over the body of Marquis, but after is still a hint of respect for a man that is brave but blinded by power . ZhiXing asked if he was happy at death of his first enemy. Zang Hai has no response but ponders the question. I think he is satisfied that no more misconduct can be caused by him but I think it would be wrong to say he was pleased and content. ZhiXing notices for himself that while he felt the need to completely avenge his mother that he was not consoled by the death of his father. He weeps by his mother’s tomb feeling completely alone in the world. He thinks she is disappointed in him for killing his father and would not want him to visit anymore. Zang Hai softens this by requesting his mates from the military to join him so they can grow and mature together. I like how Zang Hai tells him to not look back but to keep looking forward. I hope to see the day ZhiXing returns and looking forward greets Zang Hai. The Eunuch is far from happy and his goons are wanting to kill off ZhiXing immediately. I think they will still plot but while annoyed that part of the Marquis is alive, he does not consider the son to be a worthy adversary. His mistake but he won’t live long enough to realize it. Zang Hai has set a nice trap for the Eunuch. He has them believing the seal is hid in the wall of the treasury. Knowing that the eunuch will be behind his henchman while they are opening it…when the box is removed it will trigger a device in opposite wall that spews darts across hitting back to front. The eunuch is guaranteed to get the majority of missiles. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.😝The masked man visits Zang Hai and mentor. Zang Hai is remaining on path but he does realize he used ZhiXing and changed his life forever. On this, as horrible as it was, I am inclined to think this ultimately helped ZhiXing more than hurt him. He will become his own man without the stigma of corrupt father and brother and heartless poisoning stepmom. His future will be brighter without their influence. I think the Marquis himself recognized this when he chose to lose the battle. This was his redemption. They discuss how things are going and how to proceed now that Marquis is dead. It is figured the third party is aware of the happenings but just to be sure mentor is dispatched to Dongxia to spread rumors and find out what they know. AnTu is worried that ZangHai will not survive a round with her mom. She is truly concerned and his response is that it would be better if she killed him. I know that the queen must know of her daughter’s disappearance and the happenings about the Gui seal. I do not know if she is part of the current three tho I am pretty sure she is the one that triggered it to beat General Zhuang in first battle. I do not know if she had any dealings with astronomer, but it’s likely she did. So what arrangements did she have with the astronomer and where was he directed to put the seal and who helped guard it? I think all three fish have to be together to activate it. I think Cao was a necessary evil to keep her daughter protected, but if he and Marquis are both out of the way…what happens now? That is the real question for the case of the seal. Now to see if Zang Hai still needs plan for seal or if he is just winding down his hunt for third person revenge. And what are his intentions for AnTu? How will she fit into things? Will they be together or adversaries? I don’t even think Zang Hai has decided on this yet.

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