With the help of the evil innkeeper, Xue Wu gets dressed for her pretend marriage. As she descends down the stairs, Chang Gong and An De get their "Say, she cleans up pretty good," moment. The plan, what there is of it, is for their group to act like a wedding party in order to get through the gates of Dan Zou City. After that, they're winging it.
Meanwhile, Zhou General Yuwen Shen Ju informs Queen Axina that their king is missing! She orders Yuwen to go immediately to Dan Zou City where Yuchi Jiong already is. The two generals are to then join forces to find the missing king before the Qi do.
As the fake wedding party travels along they encounter the imperial tutor, Duan Shao. He figured Chang Gong was up to something in order to save Xu Da and the old man is here to help. He's brought wedding gifts that are in fact chests full of weapons.
In Dan Zou City Yuwen reports the situation to Yuchi. Yuchi orders his men to assemble for the search. This leaves the dungeon guard detail stretched thin, with only one guy watching over Hulu Xu Da. Suddenly a character I've never seen before knocks the lone guard out and frees Xu Da. Random Peasant explains he's originally from Qi and at one time Hulu Sr. saved his father's life. It's payback time, in a good way. Also, Random Peasant was listening in when the two Zhou generals were talking so he knows all about the missing king.
Oh no, Random Peasant just got a sword through the chest! Yuchi Jiong hadn't left the building yet. Xu Da remains a prisoner. You so evil, Yuchi.
With a little fast talking and money to grease the wheels, the wedding party is allowed through the gates. But not so fast! It's Yuchi Jiong again. You're everywhere, Yuchi. The evil general is suspicious of the party and insists he be invited to attend the wedding. Chang Gong plays it cool and says it would be such an honor to have the general at his wedding.
But not so fast again! Just as they're setting out, an arrow drops out of the carriage carrying Xue Wu. Yuchi demands an explanation as to why a wedding party would need an arrow. Xue Wu, listening to all this from inside the carriage, speaks up. She explains how it is customary in her hometown for a blessed arrow to be hung up to ensure the birth of a son. Pretty clever, girlfriend.
Yuchi settles for this explanation. He orders the pretend bride and groom to be married in the city's most sacred temple in front of an image of the goddess Nu Wa. (Takes me back to my old game, The Middle Kingdom.) Xue Wa is worried. This pretend marriage is starting to take a turn to become a real marriage. (No offense, China/Taiwan/prop department, but that's a butt-ugly statue of a goddess. Surely you could have done better.)
After the all-too-true marriage ceremony, Yuchi attempts to give the bride a gift of pomegranates, also a tradition to ensure the birth of a boy. Xue Wu is quick on the take. She points out pomegranates are a Qi tradition, and they're not from Qi. Yuchi allows them all to leave the temple but he's not fooled. He has spies keep tabs on the group.
Chang Gong and company retire to a house already procured by a Qi confederate. Chang Gong knows they're being watched by Yuchi. This doesn't change their plans for breaking Xu Da out. Chang Gong tells Xue Wu to change into plain clothes and get out of the city as soon as she can. She returns his war mask. He returns her ceremonial belt.
There's a long line at the gate to get out of the city. Xue Wu hears that the gate will be closed for the next three days as the city searches for Lan Ling. Of course Xue Wu heads back into the city in order to warn her sort of/almost/not quite husband.
While the city guard goosesteps around to bully the populace, Yang Shi Shen and An De take down some of the Zhou and steal their armor for disguises. Duan Shao is acting as a decoy when he encounters Xue Wu again and takes her under his care.
A disguised An De marches in with the other Zhou soldiers to the execution grounds. The tension mounts as Xu Da is brought out. Yuchi Jiong watches and waits, fully expecting Chang Gong to make his move. Weights are tied to Xu Da's feet and a noose is put around his neck. Xu Da is slowly strangled as Yuchi loudly taunts Lan Ling for being a coward.
Suddenly fireballs rain down inside the execution ground. With this huge distraction, An De and his men make their move to get to Xu Da and free him. Thinking An De is Lan Ling, Yuchi orders his hidden archers to start firing their crossbows down into the crowd. Yeah, he's gonna hit his own men but sacrifices must be made.
An De and his men are surrounding Xu Da when Yuchi reveals another surprise: a gigantic net is unraveled around the entire execution stage. Yuchi enjoys a villainous laugh. For a few seconds.
Chang Gong, using his bow, ziplines over their heads, cutting the netting away from his friends before he lands on the ground and starts swinging with his sword. Awesome. Chang Gong captures Yuchi and uses him as hostage to keep the other Zhou soldiers at bay.
Duan Shao drives a carriage inside so they can load up the wounded Xu Da as well as their hostage. Out in the streets, Shi Shen helps keep the following forces back as the little carriage escapes. Inside, Xu Da gasps the news about the missing Zhou king before falling unconscious. With everyone concerned more about Xu Da, Yuchi Jiong is able to leap out of the back of the carriage.
Chang Gong and the gang quickly ditch the conspicuous carriage. Yuchi and his men are searching the city and are coming very close to where our heroes are holding up when BANG! Thanks to her superior chemistry skills, Xue Wu has peppered the city with IEDs.
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