Guardians of the Dafeng- Episodes 19-20
Hey Guardians of the Dafeng fans! Episodes 19 and 20 brought us a whirlwind of intrigue, drama, and action-packed revelations. From the ongoing mystery of Princess Pingyang's disappearance to the escalating tensions surrounding Sangbo Lake, our favorite constable Xu Qi'an finds himself juggling royal politics, dangerous enemies, and a case that could shake the entire empire. Let’s dive into the highlights!
Episode 19: A Royal Gamble
Xu Qi'an’s investigation led him straight to the Eldest Princess, who wasted no time suspecting the involvement of the elusive Northern King. Xu Qi'an, oblivious to the king’s existence, was left stunned by the complexity of the case. The Eldest Princess, impressed by his sharp thinking, offered him the chance to pledge loyalty to her. But in classic Xu Qi'an fashion, he hesitated—citing his existing allegiance to Lin An as a potential source of palace drama. In the end, though, the Eldest Princess won him over with an irresistible token of favor.
Their search for answers led to the revelation that the Bodhi Beads could block aura detection, which could explain Princess Pingyang's mysterious disappearance. Armed with this knowledge, Xu Qi'an realized that Lin An might hold the key to finding her. Cue another round of Xu Qi'an’s signature antics—this time, standing in the blazing sun outside Lin An’s palace in an over-the-top display of loyalty. His dramatic fainting act finally got him through the door, where he charmed his way back into Lin An’s good graces.
Lin An, in a rare moment of sincerity, revealed Pingyang’s close ties with Henghui from Qinglong Hall. Their childhood bond and Pingyang’s resistance to a forced marriage painted a tragic picture of the princess's escape. Xu Qi'an reassured Lin An, but the stakes were clearly getting higher.
The lighthearted moments took a turn when the emperor’s spirit dragon, acting out of character, nearly caused chaos at the palace. Xu Qi'an once again found himself in the thick of it, shielding Lin An from harm and earning himself yet another royal favor. Despite Lin An’s pleas, the emperor wasn’t ready to fully pardon him, instead giving him a strict 15-day deadline to crack the case. No pressure, right?
Episode 20: The Net Tightens
As if Xu Qi'an didn’t have enough on his plate, the emperor’s temper flared after the spirit dragon incident, leading to a citywide curfew and heightened security. Back at home, Xu Pingzhi and Xu Xinnian teased Xu Qi'an for his precarious balancing act between two princesses, with his uncle already scheming ways to benefit from the situation. Xu Qi'an, ever the realist, weighed his options—Lin An’s loyalty and warmth versus the Eldest Princess’s calculated brilliance. In his eyes, having the Eldest Princess on his side was a ticket to a brighter future, but he couldn’t afford to offend either royal faction.
While Xu Qi'an tried to navigate his political entanglements, his jade mirror buzzed with urgent messages from his Heaven-Sealing Society allies. Member Four reached out regarding Hengyuan's disappearance, and the group speculated that he might have taken the artifact that concealed auras. This revelation led Xu Qi'an to the Earl of Pingyuan’s residence, which despite recent confiscations, was suspiciously lively.
The eerie festivities soon turned deadly when a mysterious figure in a bamboo hat effortlessly slaughtered the Earl’s heir. Xu Qi'an and his allies barely escaped with their lives, realizing they were up against a formidable foe. Reporting back to Wei Yuan, the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place—Henghui, Pingyang’s missing lover, was now a prime suspect in the Sangbo Lake conspiracy.
Meanwhile, Lin An visited Princess Pingyang’s grieving mother, offering small comforts while continuing the facade that her daughter was safe abroad. This emotional moment showed Lin An’s softer side, but it also underscored the growing pressure to uncover the truth before it's too late.
The tension reached its peak when the emperor demanded updates, and Wei Yuan, with his usual strategic brilliance, teased that they were close to a breakthrough. Minister Zhang Feng, growing increasingly paranoid, attempted to flee the capital but was swiftly intercepted—proof that Xu Qi'an’s trap had worked.
But the highlight of the episode? Henghui himself appearing at Zhang Feng’s residence, displaying his terrifying martial prowess by draining his victims of life force in an instant. Just when it seemed like no one could stop him, a formation trap was triggered, and the stage was set for an epic showdown with some of the empire’s most powerful warriors.
DramaZen's Opinion
These episodes were packed with tension, political maneuvering, and a dash of Xu Qi’an’s signature wit. Watching him juggle between the Eldest Princess and Lin An while trying to solve the Sangbo Lake mystery was both hilarious and nerve-wracking. His investigation is uncovering deeper conspiracies, and I loved how his sharp instincts led him straight to key suspects like Zhou Chixiong and Henghui.
The scene with Xu Qi’an faking a heatstroke to get Lin An’s attention was pure comedy gold, but the stakes got real when the emperor’s spirit dragon went rogue, leading to more trouble for our favorite constable. Despite Lin An’s efforts to plead for him, the emperor’s ultimatum of 15 days added serious pressure.
The Earl of Pingyuan subplot was another highlight, with a mysterious assassin upping the danger and keeping the tension high. Wei Yuan’s strategic moves and the looming confrontation with Henghui set the stage for an exciting showdown.
Overall, these episodes perfectly balanced humor, suspense, and action, making them some of the best yet. I can’t wait to see how Xu Qi’an pulls through with time running out!
