Episode Summary
Xu Qi'an and Princess Lin'an share a passionate moment before he departs for Chuzhou. He discovers the Duchess of Zhenbei is a stowaway on his ship, leading to an attack. After rescuing the Duchess multiple times from the pursuing Kui tribe, Xu Qi'an decides to take her to Neihuang County and investigate a mysterious blockade, while the officials deal with the aftermath of the attack.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 34 kicks off with Princess Lin'an, distressed upon learning that Xu Qi'an is about to depart for Chuzhou on a dangerous mission. She rushes to the docks, but his ship has already set sail. Seeing her frantic calls from the shore, Xu Qi'an, equally eager to see her, orders the ship to stop. Impatient with the ship's slow turnaround, he dives into the water and swims towards her. Lin'an, not used to manual labor, takes a small boat and clumsily rows toward him. This mutual pursuit culminates in a passionate reunion on Lin'an's boat, where Xu Qi'an bravely kisses her, echoing her earlier sentiment that they are more than just friends. After this heartfelt confession, he hurries back to his ship.
Back on board, Xu Qi'an recalls Wei Yuan's promise of twelve bronze figures to assist him, but only finds Nangong Qianrou, nicknamed "Number Twelve" due to her rank. It's clear Wei Yuan has tricked him. Later, Xu Qi'an discovers a sachet belonging to the Duchess of Zhenbei, realizing she's secretly on the ship, which he suspects will lead to trouble. His fears are immediately confirmed when a barrage of flaming arrows attacks the ship, injuring many soldiers.
At daybreak, the officials are at the docks, tending to the wounded. Xu Qi'an, determined to protect the Duchess, single-handedly pursues the Kui tribe attackers. The officials regret ignoring Xu Qi'an's advice, realizing a change in strategy could have minimized casualties.
The Kui tribe is relentless in their hunt for the Duchess. She has her maids disguise themselves as her to create decoys, but Xu Qi'an, now skilled in the Qi-Observing Technique, quickly finds her and rescues her. The Duchess, having been a political hostage in the past, is desperate to escape. Xu Qi'an, understanding her desperation, catches her multiple times before she finally accepts his protection.
Xu Qi'an decides to take the Duchess to Neihuang County, operating in the shadows while the officials act openly. He seeks information from a courtesan in Chuzhou, using his cousin Xu Xinnian's name. However, she quickly recognizes him and mentions the mysterious sealing of Xikou County. Xu Qi'an observes the hurried pace of the locals, but another courtesan claims ignorance of any blockade, deepening the mystery.
