American Perspectives: Ready to bust Prince Bo out of Prison ("The Wolf" Ep. 42)

Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong take it upon themselves to get Prince Bo out of Qiannu Battalion, a prison camp for those who have been demoted to slave status.  In lieu of being burnt at the stake, he was sent to Qiannu Battalion to be at the mercy of many fellow slaves who want to kill him.  Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong do not feel right about letting him stay there, so they formulate a plot to get him out.  They are able to pay someone off in order to get into the Battalion and scope the place out.

They are also wanting to get him out so he can join their side and end the war between Jin and Yang kingdoms.  Rumors are spreading that Prince Bo sent his warrior wolves to attack others in the town just outside of Qiannu Battalion.  They are completely baseless, and were started by 2nd Prince in order to make his death happen sooner.  The sad part is, the villagers believe the rumors.

Prince Bo is not having an easy time at Qiannu Battalion, as the guards are pretending to favor him in order to turn the other slaves against him.   Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong are spying from the outside, and they witness Prince Bo getting a slave brand on his chest.  Ji Chong is livid, Ma Zhaixing feels pained and sad.  They both know it isn't right.  Prince Bo isn't the same person he once was.  He appears to be weak and partially broken.  It breaks Ma Zhaixing's heart.  Some of the other slave begin to feel remorse for Prince Bo's treatment, and it's creating division.  When it is realized Prince Bo gave water to an injured slave, a change of heart among an increasing number of slaves occurs.

Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong are able to sneak into the Battalion under the pretense of providing firewood.  They are able to get to his cell, and Ma Zhaixing takes the time to talk to him.  Prince Bo initially feels distrustful of her intentions.  They are both very guarded with each other, but Prince Bo's guard begins to drop when she reveals that she learned about his true intentions at Boxiang.  But, he is continuing to pretend to be guarded, and he refuses her help.  She asks him to ally with Jin Kingdom, and he immediately becomes defensive.  He pretends to be a cold hearted sociopath, but Zhaixing already knows he's full of shit.  She appeals to him by talking about the suffering of the people from this war, and that if he allies with Jin, the casualties will be reduced significantly.  Prince Bo is doubtful.  Ma Zhaixing counters him by telling him that the King of Jin wants her to save him.  Prince Bo tells her to leave, and refuses to go with her.  He wants to go, but he has bigger plans, which is to get the other slaves to leave with him, so they too, can fight against the King of Yang.  He can't do that with Ma Zhaixing and Ji Chong. Ma Zhaixing leaves him some ointment for his wounds and a fire striker in case he changes his mind.

Prince Bo is emotionally drained, but he can't leave just yet.  He has other, bigger plans that are beneficial to more people in the long run, and he needs to work them out.  With the bad karma that he has to clear with these other slaves, whom he had a history of harming in the past,  he can't afford to solely think of himself.  So, in order to move forward with a clean slate, he has to clean up the sins of his killing machine past.