Previously…
By the end of The First Jasmine: Drama Recap Episodes 16 to 22, the diplomatic visitation from Princess Lingyun of Cangbei stirred up a lot of trouble. Let’s see how our couple deals with them.
Recap Episodes 23 to 28
Episode 23
Su Zuidie tried to win Mo Xiuyao’s heart by playing the victim of her situation, but of course, Mo Xiuyao’s heart was already for his wife. We knew from the previous episode that Su Zuidie could enter Prince Ding’s mansion because her family and Wen Ran’s family knew each other in the past.
Marquis Muyang managed to kill the suspect in the Cangbei and Great Chu’s secret coalition, Zhang Hengyuan. Empress Dowager knew that the Marquis killed the man, and the Dowager Consort also knew that the Empress Dowager and the Marquis’ political relationship was no longer harmonious.
Ye Li returned home late for some business at Xiangqi Pavilion, and Mo Xiuyao was so worried and angry at her. He had learned to understand her, but he was concerned that she hadn’t learn to understand him. Ye Li revealed that she had liked him ever since he rescued her long ago. But for a long time, she had wondered and wanted to ask why he had rescued her instead of others in the desert? Had he liked her back then?
Episode 24
When Ye Li was out and about last night, Mo Xiuyao found a box full of Ye Li and Mo Jingli’s letters, but Mo Xiuyao didn’t read them. Ye Li didn’t want him to misunderstand her relationship with Mo Jingli, so she opened one for Mo Xiuyao to see. They contained musical scores she had sent him during childhood. Moreover, Ye Li said that she believed Mo Jingli was not dead because she had found a secret passage under his mansion leading to a riverbank and found a boat waiting on that particular night. Mo Xiuyao knew that Mo Jingli had an ambition to restore the Eastern Palace and put himself on the throne.
Ye Li had also investigated Su Zuodie’s background. Later, she told Su Zuodie that her relatives were rich people, so she didn’t have to act as a servant. Su Zuodie understood what Ye Li meant to say, so she left the Prince Ding Mansion. On her way out, she killed the person who attacked her. Su Zuodie was not the weak woman she had shown the public to be. I wonder what her actual agenda was.
Li Feibai finally returned from the mountain and Lishan Academy. He realized something bad had happened to the Academy and how Ye Li had suffered by herself over there before she went down the mountain.
Ye Li decided it was time to finally meet Dowager Consort Qin Zheng. After knowing the Dowager Consort’s schedule, Ye Li startled the horses of the carriage that Her Highness was in. Ye Li pretended she was just passing by and helped Qin Zheng. As she treated Her Highness’s injuries, she successfully sowed a seed of curiosity and doubt in Qin Zheng’s mind.
Episode 25
In the previous episode, Marquis Muyang killed Qin Cang, his illegitimate son, after sending him on a mission to assassinate the Cangbei’s envoy who colluded with the Great Chu. Apparently, Qin Cang didn’t die, and the Jingzhao Prefecture people rescued him. He also found out that his father, whom he was loyal to, intended to silence him. He gave Mo Xiuyao important info, so Mo Xiuyao would take a business trip for a few days.
Now we knew Su Zuitie’s agenda. She and Hang Mingxi’s older brother, Han Mingyue, secretly collaborated with Mo Jingli! They conspired to stir up conflict between Cangbei and the Great Chu.
Qin Zheng and Ye Li grew closer indirectly, and Ye Li could make Qin Zheng realize that she had been used by the Empress Dowager for a long time. Back then, Zhou Xian Kun, the imperial astronomer she respected, had instructed her while he was imprisoned to hide the imperial decree carefully and never let the Empress Dowager know. This decree could protect her in the future. The deep sisterly bond between the Empress Dowager and her had been built entirely on deception and exploitation.
In a more lighthearted mode, Princess Lingyun, disguised in male clothing, had a hiking date with Feng Zhiyao. They even had a barbecue together. Although she was still hiding her identity, she was closer to revealing her background to him. After pretending she had a younger sister—who was her—and hinting about her past abusive marriage, they decided to meet again in seven days.
Episode 26
Qin Zheng remembered when she was visiting her beloved master Zhou Xiankun, who was imprisoned years ago. She had reassured him that Consort Guo, the Empress Dowager back then, tried to free him. Zhou Xiankun had only called her a fool and warned him never to let herself end up like him. The master then recited a poem about how deeply the hibiscus had seeped into his bones. The hibiscus in Chinese was 芙蓉 (“Furong”), which was the Empress Dowager nickname: “Furong’er”. Qin Zheng realized her sisterly bond with the Empress Dowager was nothing more than a calculated deception.
The next day, Qin Zheng went to see Ye Li and directly asked her what she wanted. Ye Li, after knowing that Qin Zheng had enlightened, asked Her Highness the whereabouts of the imperial edict. Qin Zheng lied, saying it had already been given to the Empress Dowager, but Ye Li didn’t believe her. Back then, after Qin Zheng obtained the edict from Ye Wenhua, she replaced it with a fake one and gave it to Marquis Muyang. He burned the fake edict, believing he was now completely safe.
Ye Li invited Princess Lingyun to meet the next day at Qingfeng Mingyue Tower, and the princess agreed. On the way to the Tower, Ye Li received a gift from Qin Zheng. On the surface, it was a bunch of books. But there was a hidden compartment containing the sought-after imperial edict from that year. Yay!
However, things didn’t go well during the meeting between Ye Li and Princess Ling Yun. Su Zuitie, who accompanied the princess, poisoned the tea and snacks. Just as they were about to eat, both Ling Yun and Ye Li suddenly collapsed. Han Mingxi, who accompanied Ye Li, immediately pushed the door open and saw both Ye Li and the princess lying there—Lingyun with blood at her mouth, and Ye Li holding a knife. Before losing consciousness, Su Zuitie accused Ye Li of killing the princess.
It was an uproar at the court! Marquis Muyang took the chance to advocating Ye Li’s execution to appease Cangbei’s anger. Duke Hua strongly opposed it, citing that someone was deliberately using Lingyun’s death to provoke war between Cangbei and the Great Chu. If the real culprit could not be found within three days, Ye Li would become the target of Cangbei’s wrath, because of the old grievances involving Heiyun Cavalry/the Ding Mansion, Ye Li was suspected in killing Princess Lingyun. The execution would both calm Cangbei and give the court an explanation.
Ye Li and Han Mingxi were both imprisoned in the Imperial Judicial Review prison. After waking, Ye Li learned from Han Mingxi that Su Zuitie and his brother, Han Mingyue, were partners in crime, under the order of Mo Jingli!
Episode 27
Meanwhile, Mo Xiuyao had no idea what had happened to his wife! He happened to catch a suspicious person bringing a letter stating that Princess Lingyun had died in the Great Chu. Mo Xiuyao’s mission now changed to making sure the news about the princess’ death wouldn’t reach Cangbei. He decided to ride at full speed back to the Capital.
To repay his debt to Ye Li, Han Mingxi wanted to take the blame solely for killing the princess, but Ye Li refused. Instead, she took a sharp hair ornament from Han Mingxi’s head and stabbed herself. Ye Li staged an act that she had been poisoned. She even said it was Zhenyu poison, and Gu Zheng of the Jingzhao Prefecture had the antidote. If no antidote was found within two hours, she would die from bleeding from all seven orifices. Han Mingzi joined Ye Li at the act.
Gu Zheng was called right away to see Ye Li. He figured out what Ye Li was up to, so he brought a bottle of digestive medicine to the Imperial Judicial Review prison to see Ye Li. Under the watch of the guards, she secretly whispered to Gu Zheng, asking him to send someone to monitor Su Zuitie’s every move. Meanwhile, she had hidden the imperial edict under the pillow in Qingfeng Mingyue Tower.
After giving the edict to Ye Li, Qin Zheng realized that the situation at the Capital would get worse and her life was at risk. She decided to return to her hometown, and the Empress Dowager agreed. The empress gave her a pot of orchids as a keepsake. I was suspicious the orchid plants either contain a poison or a hidden message.
Su Zuitie met Marquis Muyang and told him that his ally, Chen Longxiang, was investigated by Mu Xiuyao and the Jingzhao Prefecture. Chen Longxiang had long helped the marquis smuggle military weapons to Cangbei and held many of his secrets. Marquis Muyang found out that she was the one killing Princess Lingyun and framed Ye Li. The Marquis agreed to help Su Zuitie make sure Ye Li was sentenced as the princess’ killer. In that case, Mo Xiuyao would also be implicated, and the Jingzhao Prefecture would no longer be able to investigate Chen Longxiang.
Later, Marquis Muyang’s subordinate tried to assassinate Ye Li in the prison. Luckily, Han Mingxi helped Ye Li. After that, the assassin killed himself. To find the real culprit, Ye Li persuaded the Chief Imperial Secretary to let her leave and looked for Su Zuitie with his men following Ye Li. After finding Su Zuite, Ye Li managed to make her confess that she killed the princess. The Minister of Revenue arrived with his men and caught Su Zuitie.
Ye Li requested to appear in court, accusing Marquis Muyang of killing people and attempting to kill her, too. His subordinate infiltrated the prison to assassinate her. The Chief Imperial Secretary and the prison guards were the witnesses.
Episode 28
After Ye Li’s statement, the Minister of the Secretariat also mentioned that Marquis Muyang’s subordinates assassinated Zhong Xingtong and Zhao Ting. The marquis still tried to defend himself, feigning ignorance of what his subordinates had done. At this moment, Mo Xiuyao suddenly showed up and joined the court. He presented evidence, stating that Chen Longxiang had confessed to all his crimes. He found many secret letters exchanged between the marquis and Cangbei, as well as a list detailing the land, title deeds, horses, and the flow of illicit funds from Cangbei’s bribery of the marquis. Marquis Muyang still begged the Empress Dowager to prove his innocence. Ye Li then dropped the last bomb, bringing up the Black Cloud Cavalry case from eight years ago. She produced the late emperor’s imperial edict she retrieved from Qingfeng Mingyue Tower. Duke Hua authenticated the late emperor’s edict. The young emperor approved Mo Xiuyao’s petition to clear the names of the Black Cloud Cavalry, and also sent the marquis to death row.
It was a very sad scene with Feng Zhiyao, who had waited for Princess Lingyun at the time and had agreed. Instead, he saw the Cangbei delegation solemnly leaving the Capital, carrying a casket. He didn’t know his beloved was inside it. After searching all over the city for Miss Yunling, he asked Mo Xiuyao for help. Mo Xiuyao was suspicious of the name’s similarity, so he showed Feng Zhiyao the portrait of the princess. Oh my God, it was so sad when Feng Zhiyao chased the Cangbei boat, carrying a pot of blooming Golden Scale Cup flowers he wanted to show her. Poor thing!
The Cangbei delegation took Su Zuodie back to Cangbei as a prisoner, but Han Mingyue helped her escape. Han Mingxi went to look for his brother and saw Mo Jingli questioning Su Zuodie. Han Mingyue liked the girl, so he pleaded for Su Zuodie, but Mo Jingli stabbed him. Han Mingxi was caught, and both he and his brother were locked up. Han Mingxi wanted to kill Su Zuodie, but was stopped by Han Mingyue. His stupid brother still believed that Mo Jingli would take back the throne. Han Mingxi believed that once Mo Jingli ascended, Han Mingyue was the one to kill to cover up Mo Jingli’s crimes.
TL;DR
- Ye Li decided it was time to finally meet and confront Dowager Consort Qin Zheng about her hiding the imperial edict from the late emperor, which would clear the names of her mother, Prince Ding’s Mansion, and the thousands of Heiyun Cavalry who died without justice.
- Dowager Consort Qin Zheng realized she had been manipulated by the Empress Dowager.
- Su Zuitie’s colluded with Han Mingyue, Han Mingxi’s older brother, under the order of Mo Jingli, who of course, was not dead. They conspired to stir up conflict between Cangbei and the Great Chu.
- Princess Lingyun and Feng Zhiyao grew closer and had some dates.
- Dowager Consort Qin Zheng finally gave Ye Li the late emperor’s edict she had hidden.
- Ye Li met Princess Lingyun, but they were drugged. The princess was killed, and Ye Li was accused to be her killer! Ye Li was also poisoned!
- Marquis Muyang’s subordinate tried to kill Ye Li in the prison. Ye Li was granted a temporary leave to hunt Su Zuitie down. Su Zuitie confessed and was apprehended.
- Ye Li accused Marquis Muyang of orchestrating all the killings. Mo Xiuyao brought in solid evidence. Marquis Muyang was sentenced to death.
- Ye Li surrendered the late emperor’s edict to summon Mo Xiuwen and the Black Cloud Cavalry back to the Capital, thus clearing up his name, the Prince Ding Mansion, and the Black Cloud Cavalry.
- Poor Feng Zhiyao finally realized the girl he loved was Princess Lingyun and she was gone.
- Su Zuitie escaped with the help of Han Mingyue. Han Mingxi finally met Mo Jingli.
Marquis Muyang went down (maybe), but we still had Mo Jingli alive. The revelation of the past edict would affect Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao’s relationship. Things would get serious in the next part!
