Guardians of the Dafeng Episode 39 Recap, Plot

> Guardians of the Dafeng
> Guardians of the Dafeng Recap

Court officials, armed with an imperial token, were sent to arrest Zheng Xinghuai. Despite Wei Yuan deploying many Jinluo officers to protect him, Zheng Xinghuai, upon hearing that the emperor had issued a "kill without pardon" order, chose to surrender voluntarily. He wanted to avoid implicating more innocent people. Once imprisoned, Zheng Xinghuai was subjected to severe torture. No matter how brutal the methods, he refused to confess to false charges.

Furious, Que Yongxiu ordered his tendons severed in both his hands and feet and had his legs broken. Even as he endured unimaginable pain, Zheng Xinghuai denounced their despicable actions. A nearby judge coldly remarked that Zheng was delusional. He revealed that while the emperor had once seen Zheng as useful and spared him, Zheng’s constant petitions and secret maneuvers in court had exhausted the emperor’s patience.

The judge, in a tone of finality, admitted the truth—he wanted Zheng to die knowing why. Xu Qi'an and the Jinluo officers arrived at the prison to rescue Zheng Xinghuai, but it was too late. Zheng had been hanged to death, his body bound by iron chains, covered in wounds, and drenched in blood. The ground beneath him was soaked with a large pool of blood. Both Xiao Rou and Xu Qi'an's eyes reddened with grief.

The wrongful death of a righteous man left them questioning the rule of law in the current regime. In Zheng Xinghuai's final moments, his mind drifted back to Chuzhou, where the people were once simple and kind, the markets bustling. He imagined the warm scene of villagers greeting him with enthusiasm and his elderly mother welcoming him home. Xu Qi'an took a piece of white cloth, carefully wiped the bloodstains off Zheng Xinghuai's body, and removed the chains binding him.

Carrying an air of solemnity, Xu Qi'an left the prison and silently observed the officials who had escorted Zheng to his death before walking away. That night, Xu Qi'an did not return home. Xu Pingzhi, hearing about Zheng Xinghuai’s tragic end, feared that Xu Qi'an might do something reckless. He mobilized the family and Xu Qi'an’s friends to search for him. After an exhaustive night of searching, Chu Yuanzhen found Xu Qi'an near a hoop-tossing stall.

Xu appeared calm, explaining that he had spent the night contemplating and had finally decided on a course of action. Returning home, Xu Qi'an ate a proper meal. As he finished, he announced that he needed to rest. Before heading to his room, he noticed the worried expressions of his uncle and aunt. Smiling, Xu Qi'an reminded Xu Pingzhi to pack his belongings and leave the city after dinner.

Having seemingly made up his mind, Xu Qi'an took his blade and headed to the palace gates. The guards stopped him, warning him that entry without a summons was prohibited. Xu Qi'an's blade sparked with fire as it struck the ground. Wei Yuan appeared, urging him not to act rashly. Xu Qi'an smiled faintly and handed Wei Yuan a slip of paper left behind by Zheng Xinghuai.

The words "take your time" were inscribed on it—a message fitting for Wei Yuan. However, Xu Qi'an declared that he was no longer willing to wait. He sought justice for Zheng Xinghuai. Xu Qi'an hunted down Duke Cao and Duke Hu, the men responsible for Zheng's suffering. Using the same tortures they had inflicted upon Zheng, he exacted vengeance upon them.

He then tied their bodies behind his horse and paraded them through the streets, exposing their crimes to the public. At the Meridian Gate, Xu Qi'an dragged the two criminals onto a high platform and forced them to confess the truth. By then, the people understood that Zheng Xinghuai had been wrongfully executed. Just as Xu Qi'an was about to deliver justice, a squad dispatched by Emperor Jing to arrest him arrived on the scene.

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