The Vendetta of An 长安二十四计 - Discussion - Episode 23
The Vendetta of An 长安二十四计 - Discussion - Episode 23
Welcome to the episode discussions for The Vendetta of An! Join us as we walk down the long road to revenge...
🔥🗡This post is for episodes 🩸23 only🩸 please use spoiler tags for express episodes or previews, thank you!🗡🔥
Links to all discussions at bottom of post
Discussion Schedule: slight change of plans.....
- 12/25 automod discussion post for 24-28, will go up around 8am US EST
- Recap posts for 24-28, TBD see note below
Host Notes:
Hi, coming at you from the public library today (12/24 PST) since I have in fact lost electricity at my house (everything else is fine and safe, no worries there!). My power outage prep last night included getting some laundry done and watching this ep😂 so thank you Youku TVOD/express whatever you want to call it. So I'm still here as your host today, power outage cannot stop me talking about TV! But it does make rest of week a bit iffy so....change of plans for tomorrow (12/25).
My plan for ep 24 was to recap as usual and then have mods do an automod post for express package 25-28. However the power outage shifts both my life and work schedules around so I wont be able to recap 24 as I planned. The automod post going up tomorrow (12/25) will be for eps 24-28.
Depending on how the rest of my week goes and what the Youku non-express schedule is for the final eps, I may or may not be able to keep recapping, we'll see. Power outages are not uncommon where I'm at but we'd been having a pretty mild winter so I had hoped this wouldnt happen but here we are! Of course it had to be right before the end 😅
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... Previously on The Vendetta of An ...
[DETAILS REFERENCE CORNER]
Character Flashcards: linked post contains character name card pics from all currently recapped episodes, the show has not provided one for every character. Spoiler Note: if you are watching slower than release, sort comments by 'old' on the Flashcard post to avoid later eps.
Timeline: years are approximate +/- 1yr | Huai'an's mom potentially being the woman in the story leading to Yan Fengshan capture 25yrs ago is tricky if Huai'an also born 25 yrs ago, Im guessing we will find out more info? Maybe Liu Li had a different mother although that is not stated.
- About 40 years ago": a battle over Chen Valley forced Tiemo citizens to evacuate their homes
- 30 years ago/1st year of Qiansheng: 1st Emperor Xiao invades and takeover Chang'an with the 4 military commanders
- ? Liu Ziwan founds Huben Army
- 25 years ago/6th year of Qiansheng: Liu Zhi/Huai'an born, Yan Fengshan captured in Tiemo by King of Tiemo
- ? years ago (possibly same year captured possibly later?): Yan Fengshan escapes captivity, adopts Wang Pu, child Huai'an sees young Wang Pu at some point "19 years ago"
- ? Liu Li/Bai Wan born, estimate she is ~6 yrs younger than Huai'an
- ? Huai'an mother died ("in the north when he was young")
- 20 years ago: Tiemo Shadow Guards deep cover infiltration of Chang'an
- 16 years ago/16th year of Qiansheng: Huai'an age 9, entered imperial academy with Xiao Wenjing
- 15 years ago/17th year of Qiansheng: Huai'an age 10, Tiemo backed Huben mutiny and murder of his father
- Huai'an ages 10-17: hiding out in Nanwei Trough, working as a boatman
- 13 years ago/19th year of Qiansheng: Pu Nichuan infiltrated Tiemo, abandoned as a pawn by Yan Fengshan
- 7 years ago/24th year of Qiansheng: Huai'an age 17, arrived in Huainan and became registrar
- 4 years ago/28th year of Qiansheng Era/1st year of Wenchang Era: Huai'an age 21, General Yan takeover w/Xiao Wenjing on throne
- Now/4th year of Wenchang Era: Huai'an age 25, Xiao Wuyang deposes Xiao Wenjing, Huai'an arrives in Chang'an
Rogue's Gallery:
👑In Charge: King of Tiemo/Wu Zhongheng
❕At Large: Qingyi
❌Dead: Pu Nichuan, Liu Ziyan, Wei Qianting, Yan Fengshan
EPISODE 23
sorry for any formatting weirdness, using different devices to type and edit than usual
[RECAP]
Opening Scene/Flashback: Last ep, we ended on the King asking Huai’an just how much he really knows about him, the real him. The opener is a flashback with Huai’an’s narration, a story he is telling in response to that question.
Once, in Tiemo, a woman from Chang’an was caught and suspected of being a shadow guard. Tiemo hoped to extract military intel from her or be able to use her as a lure for her fellow guards. They hung her up by her wrists above a platform at the center of their town. She stayed up there and stayed alive for 7 days. All the while a man was watching, a man with a familiar face with a familiar earring.
Last ep we heard the King tell a version of this story to Su Changlin when they were at Lao Sha's shop.
After 7 days, everyone thought she was dead so the guards left her. The man took her down from where she was hanging and tried to get intel from her. He’d realized anyone who could stay alive that long was “no ordinary shadow guard” and must be Huben. In the flashback it looks she whispered something to him. Huai’an narration says he got intel from her by preying on her when she was at her weakest and then killed her, stringing her back up by her wrists.
“That man was calm and cruel,” Huai’an says.
We leave the flashback and re-enter the courtyard where the King and Huai’an are talking.
“Back then he was known as a brilliant conspirator. The intelligence he obtained turned the war in their favor. And so, he was awarded great military merit. After that, he rose to become the new king of Tiemo.”
“Wu Zhongheng, I never truly knew that man. He deceived my father and he deceived me as well.”
The King picks up where the story left off.
“The Huben elites who came to save her that year has already advanced deep into Chen Valley. I used the intel I coaxed out of that woman, I led a hundred Huben elites straight into a granary, and left them to slaughter each other inside.”
He says Yan Fengshan’s return to power delayed his plans by 15 years.
The King pauses and then asks Huai’an about his mother and implies that the woman in the story was her.
Huai’an says she is in the north and will return when this is all over. The King doesnt seem to believe him and I also dont quite know what to make of this exchange. Per my notes Huai'an said in ep 1 his mother was dead. What is the scheme and what is the truth? I'm guessing more will be revealed.
The King says he has never killed for pleasure, only to achieve his goal. Huai’an asks him why he wanted to speak to him, what exactly does he want from him. But Huai’an already knew the answer, the King wants him to kill Xiao Wuyang.
Cangshui River: We finally see what the elder deposed emperor has been up to, filling up a backpack with swords. He’s incognito, dressed like any other resident of Cangshui with the addition of a straw hat and basket worn on his back, covered with a cloth. From this basket he keeps drawing swords and hiding them places in the market when no one is looking. I’m wondering if he has soldiers or something who will be using these swords but no, they are all for him and whats to come.
he briefly stopped to smile at a baby and I thought was a sweet
We see him watching a young man intimidate someone for not paying back a debt on time.
Then he returns to his hideout and we find out he’s been staying with Zhang Mo’s dad (Zhang Sheng) who knows he’s the emperor. We also find out he knows Tiemo is around as he was ambushed by them 6 nights ago. He recognized their sword work from his years fighting them in the north. The flashback to the fight was cool, all filmed through the gaps between planks of the wall.
They know Yan Fengshan is dead and that the 4 regional armies have withdrawn but they havent heard from Huai’an so the emperor knows something is wrong.
He and Zhang Sheng have a good rapport although he keeps trying to get Zhang Sheng to be less deferent to him. Much to Zhang Sheng’s dismay he also learns the emperor had borrowed money under his name to lure the harsh young debt collector to them. His name is Lu Xiaobing.
he came to terms with his son's face being swapped but the emperor's schemes are too much
Xiao Wuyang is clearly enjoying himself with this scheme, he is a cautious man, confident and canny. He gives the debt collector money, asking him to act as a lookout for him for “his brother” and holds up the wanted poster of Xie Huai’an.
someone please make a gif of his lil eyebrow raise
We follow Lu Xiaobing home where he lives with his younger sister Lu Xiaoding. Unlike his tough street persona, at home he is attentive and kind with his sister as they share a meal. He tells her about the strange man who wants to pay him a lot of money to be a lookout. She thinks he ought to find a wife soon and suggests she start dressing as a boy to find work on her own. They clearly care a lot for on another and are each other’s only family.
Xiao Wuyang visits the house where he has been recuperating and remembers his brother taking care of him.
Yang Chuhao house: Huai’an is in a room with Su Changlin and a few other Tiemo men. One pats him down for weapons, another holds a set of new dark robes for him. Su Changlin also pats down along his arms and when Huai’an flinches, they roll up his sleeve to reveal a gash on his arm that is not looking good. Didn’t Zhiying say a doctor had looked at him? Why does it look so bad?We get an answer in a bit.
In his new robes, Huai’an and Su Changlin set off through Chang’an on horseback. They pass by Lao Sha’s shop and it’s noticeably closed.
Su Changlin looking like a stressed fashion stylist disappointed in Huai'an's fit
Brief cut to Taiyiji Clinic accompanied by ominous music, we see Ye Zheng in the yard building something out of wood. If its a coffin I’d like to be in denial about that for a bit. We see Shen Xiaoqing sleeping in a bed. She seems alive?
We cut to Lao Sha, opening his shop up. Inside hanging next to the strips of meet is the red ribbon/pennet/kite thing from Liu courtyard we saw yesterday.
Then we see a new location, a courtyard full of plants being dried and processed, a small garden. Lao Sha enters and approaches someone. We only see his hands as he is chopping up a radish. Lao Sha bows to him, the red ribbon in his hands, and calls him “Grand Preceptor” but the man responds that there’s no preceptor here, only “Cen Pickles.”
Cangshui River: Xiao Wuyang tells Zhang She g about how he was around when Liu Ziwen and Cen Weizong came up with plans for this place. He knows there is another exit, a path through the back of the cave. When the time comes, they can use it.
Secret Cave Path: Huai’an and Su Changlin walking through this cave. They aren’t the only ones who know about it either, pass by a few people on their way out. Huai’an snatches a red umbrella from one of them. Acting for Sun Changlin like he wants to protect himself from the dripping cave condensation.
In Cangshui market, Huai’an notices Lu Xiaobing wearing the emperor’s boots, which the Xiao Wuyang had explained earlier to Zhang would serve as a signal to a sharp eyed person. Huai’an puts the umbrella into a pot with a noticeable clang. Lu Xiaobing notices. After Huai’and and Su Changlin pass by, Lu Xiaobing retrieves the umbrella and brings it to Xiao Wuyang.
Xiao Wuyang says its a signal, a reference to the role it played in another plot. He tells Lu Xiaobing his job is done, he should go home to his sister.
Examing the umbrella he finds a small note hidden inside the end.
Flashback to Huai’an rolling up a small strip of paper and hiding it under the skin around his arm wound. !!!!!
wait, did he hide it before or after being patted down?
Xiao Wuyang reads the blood soaked note that confirms his suspicions of Tiemo plot.
Huai’an sees the emperor up on his platform/bridge. He stabs a man (with what?), moving quickly and surprising Su Changlin.
Hidden Tiemo forces in the market reveal themselves. Xiao Wuyang jumps down into the street and grabs one of his hidden swords.
Warrior emperor shows off his skills some more.
Xiaobing joins the fight, also has skills.
Huai’an hides out of way.
Su Changlin v emperor. Su Changlin gleeful look on face only wiped off when Xiao Wuyang stabs him in the gut. He goes flying backwards.
Su Changlin had broken Xiao Wuyang’s sword, he grabs another one from a hiding place as a new challenger enters the fray, the King of Tiemo himself.
Flashback to Xiao Wuyang reading bloody note, end of message says “play the prey first to kill the hunter.”
[NOTES]
📜Schemes and Secrets: secrets about Huai’an mother, Cen Weizong still in town, red ribbon signal, Huai’an hiding note, emperor hiding swords
something very funny to me in these shots of him lurking back here
[REFLECTIONS]
The fight scene at the end was great, I am surprised, although not that surprised, that Su Changlin got taken out. This show does love to quickly dispatch characters and we are barreling toward the end. I can’t wait to see this showdown between the emperor and the king!
Do you think Lu Xiaobing is hiding something? His fighting skills seemed advanced.
Hopefully this isnt my last recap but if it ends up that is, thank you for reading and joining the discussions! It's been so fun watching this show with you all as a close out to the year.
Episode 24 watchers, sorry these posts are behind y'all. Please be extra careful about character living or dying spoilers. Thank you!
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Links to Discussion Posts:
Index | Masterpost (Eps 1-3) | Eps 4-5 | Eps 6-7 | Eps 8-9 | Eps 10-11 | Eps 12-13 | Eps 14-15 | Eps 16-17 | Eps 18-19 | Ep 20 | Ep 21 | Ep 22
Other useful links: Airing Schedule | DramaWiki | MDL| Weibo | OST info
Posted Dec 24, 2025, 9:15 PM UTC