Nancheng Banquet Episode 1 Recap

Fu Xiao had already mastered martial arts under her master's tutelage. This time, her master sent her down the mountain to eliminate General Guo Zhen, who had been wreaking havoc at the border. She was to kill him on his return to the capital.

Additionally, she had to deal with Yan Zhangyun, the commander of the Qianyu Guards, who held significant power and oppressed the people. As the most skilled disciple of the Wanshi Pavilion, Fu Xiao needed to return to the capital to eliminate this menace. Her master specifically warned her to be cautious of Yan Zhangyun, who was highly skilled in martial arts.

Yan Zhangyun, as usual, went to the brothel to find Lei Chuyue. As soon as he entered, he sensed that the person there was an impostor. Fu Xiao, pretending that Lei Chuyue was ill, claimed she was there to serve in her stead.

Yan Zhangyun tested her martial skills and detected her abilities. When Fu Xiao attempted to use a beauty trap and drew a dagger, Yan Zhangyun saw through her ruse, and they fought. Fu Xiao, unable to defeat him, seized the opportunity to escape, but her masked face was recognized during the pursuit.

That night, Yan Zhangyun, masked, arrived at an abandoned house. At this time, Fu Xiao was resting on a beam. Yan Zhangyun, the young master, had planned to lure Guo Zhen back to the capital to uncover the mastermind behind the Guanyou incident and avenge his family.

However, with Guo Zhen's death, the clues were cut off. As he was burning incense in remembrance, he heard movement from the beam and engaged in a fight with Fu Xiao. She admitted to killing Guo Zhen and intended to send Yan Zhangyun to the underworld but failed to defeat him. She fled after her pouch was knocked off.

Fu Xiao escaped to a passenger boat, changed her clothes, and was knocked out by Xiao Qiang Zi. Instinctively, she killed Xiao Qiang Zi, whose body fell into the river. The next day, she woke up with a headache, having no memory of her injuries or identity.

Holding a waist tag she found on the boat, she arrived at Nanguo City. Seeing Yan Zhangyun, she became fearful and avoided a man with an injured arm, drawing attention. When she presented the waist tag, the guards, recognizing it as belonging to someone from the palace, let her go.

Fu Xiao, looking at her reflection by the roadside, was puzzled by her male disguise and sought a doctor. The doctor diagnosed her with amnesia but, due to lack of money, she was expelled from the clinic.

Meanwhile, Feng Gonggong had dispatched many to search for Xiao Qiang Zi. The Prime Minister, disregarding the guards, barged into the hall to request the Emperor decide on Guo Zhen's replacement. He was accompanied by Duke Wei, who recommended He Wei, while the Prime Minister suggested Yang Xiong.

The Emperor, Zhao Yuan, had already disguised himself and gone to the theater, leaving a eunuch dressed in his place. At the theater, he coincidentally encountered Fu Xiao, who was hiding under a table, stealing his snacks. At this moment, Yan Zhangyun arrived at the theater to search for the assassin. Emperor Zhao Yuan, hiding under the table, became anxious. Initially, they planned to escape together, but Fu Xiao abandoned the Emperor and fled.

Halfway through her escape, Fu Xiao intended to trade Xiao Qiang Zi's waist tag for a bun but was discovered by Dao Ge, who learned of her amnesia and decided to have her impersonate Xiao Qiang Zi and return to the palace. Fu Xiao, hearing Dao Ge promise to feed her, happily followed him back. In the palace, Dao Ge knocked her out.

When she woke up, she found herself tied to a bed, realizing Dao Ge intended to make her a eunuch. Instinctively, she broke free, kicked Dao Ge unconscious, and fled. Lost, she stumbled into Yan Zhangyun's palace. Yan Zhangyun, troubled by his injuries and unable to dress himself, asked Fu Xiao to assist him. He noticed the injury on her arm and was about to verify her identity when he was informed of the assassin's trail, giving Fu Xiao a chance to escape.

In the back garden, Fu Xiao met the Emperor, realizing they were the brothers who had met at the theater. They decided to leave the palace together. Xiao Qiang Zi's body was retrieved from the river, and Yan Zhangyun prepared to investigate from the eunuch's identity. Fu Xiao and the Emperor, having stolen money, were discovered by guards. The Emperor instructed Fu Xiao to wait elsewhere. Yan Zhangyun soon traced Xiao Qiang Zi’s identity and ordered a palace-wide search.

When her brother didn't arrive, Fu Xiao decided to leave with the money but was caught by Yan Zhangyun. Yan Zhangyun intended to kill her under the pretext of theft, as she knew he was the young master. The Emperor arrived in time to save her and revealed his true identity.

Finding a kindred spirit in the palace, the Emperor arranged for someone to prove that Xiao Qiang Zi was a pure eunuch and that the money was his reward, not stolen. Despite Yan Zhangyun's intention to take Xiao Qiang Zi, the Emperor insisted on keeping her as an attendant.