Previously…
The First Jasmine: Drama Recap Episodes 29 to 33 show the heartbreaking backstory of Ye Li and her Lishan Academy. Let’s continue!
I will also write a final review with my rating. If you want to recommend someone but don’t want them to expose the spoilers, my review will be a good source for them.
Regarding the featured image, I really wanted to capture the image of Mo Xiuyao donning military garb. Because Mo Xiuyao was once a military commander, it was only right that one of the featured images shows him as one. With Ye Li by his side at the military camp, this screenshot is perfect.
Recap Episodes 34 to 40
Episode 34
As a psychological defense mechanism, Ye Li had completely suppressed the pain by making her believe that her grandfather and the others were still alive. Clinging to that illusion, she managed to endure eight years alone. But now, seeing these graves, Ye Li finally remembered the truth—that her grandfather and the others had long since passed away. Mo Xiuyao held the weeping Ye Li in his arms and gently told her that the sun had risen.
Mo Xiuyao guided Gongshu Yang, who was sent by the Empress Dowager, to inspect the graveyard. All 46 people from Lishan Academy had died of the plague. The ministers advised the emperor to take advantage of this issue to impeach the Empress Dowager and reclaim the court administration. Originally, the young emperor wanted to wait until his coming-of-age ceremony. However, another minister strongly urged him to seize the opportunity and reclaim power immediately, fearing that by next year the Empress Dowager still would not relinquish authority. At court the following day, the ministers boldly petitioned the Empress Dowager to return governing authority to the emperor, under the pretext of allowing her to rest and preserve her health.
Mo Xiuyao brought Ye Li back to Prince Ding’s residence. After regaining her senses, she still held a straw doll in her hands. In the past, every time she killed one of her enemies, she would tear apart one straw doll. This fourth straw doll remained intact. Without her saying a word, Mo Xiuyao understood that it represented the Empress Dowager. Her Highness had once been one of the Academy’s most outstanding disciples. She possessed immense ambition. To pave her path to supreme power, she stopped at nothing, sacrificing countless innocent lives.
Episode 35
The Emperor issued an imperial decree to clear the names of the late sages of Lishan Academy and posthumously honor their contributions. His Majesty also promoted and appointed talented individuals descended from the Lishan Academy. Xu Qingyun, Ye Li’s grandfather, was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Wenzheng, Ye Li was titled as County Lady Wenzhao, receiving a stipend equal to that of a prince’s daughter. Wei Zhuang, was appointed to an official position, leaving Ye Li with no shop steward. She hired Tang Zixiao, who was a handsome man and made Mo Xiuyao jealous. He started helping Ye Li with the shop and didn’t want to return to working as the Prefect of Jingzhao.
After finding out the suffering her stepsister had endured, Ye Ying finally had a reconciliation with Ye Ying. The sisters put aside their past grudges and were now on good terms, with Uncle Ye Wenshen vowing to always stand by them.
But Mo Xiuyao’s ‘vacation’ seemed wouldn’t last long. General Xiong, commander of Suixue Pass, had been murdered. We knew earlier that Mo Jingli had killed the general. Several ministers recommended appointing Mo Xiuyao to take command of Suixue Pass.
Episode 36
Wen Ran, their sister-in-law, was concerned that Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li needed to have an heir for Prince Ding’s Mansion. She tried to give Mo Xiuyao an aphrodisiac, but it didn’t work. So, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li hadn’t consummated their marriage!
The proposal to send Mo Xiuyao to defend Shixue Pass didn’t work out as many opposed the appointment. Minister of the Right, Li Duo, volunteered to defend Shixue Pass himself, and the young emperor agreed. However, Li Duo was little more than an armchair strategist.
At Shixue Pass, things happened with other characters. Han Mingxi and his older brother, Han Mingyue, managed to escape from Mo Jingli’s clutch. However, Su Zuidie, Mo Jingli’s subordinate, found out that they had escaped. After reporting it to Mo Jingli, she immediately led men to kill the Han brothers. While they were fighting, Feng Zhiyao—Mo Xiuyao’s friend—and his companion happened to pass by. Hearing Su Zuidie’s name being mentioned in the fight, Feng Zhiyao rushed to join the battle. Han Mingyue and Feng Zhiyao’s companions were killed. Feng Zhiyao avenged his beloved Princess Lingyun by killing Su Zuidie with the help of Han Mingxie. After burying the dead, Feng Zhiyao learned that the one who backed Su Zuidie and Han Mingyue was Mo Jingli. He had murdered General Xiong. Moreover, Li Duo, who was about to assume the role, was actually Mo Jingli’s man.
Feng Zhiyao rushed to return and told Mo Xiuyao, who immediately reported this information to the young emperor. Seeing that Mo Jingli intended to use the weapons stored in Shixue Pass’s armory to attack the capital, Mo Xiuyao volunteered to meet the enemy and stop Mo Jingli’s forces before they reached the city. Ye Li fully supported Mo Xiuyao and understood that he had to confront Mo Jingli. Before he departed, she dyed his white hair black, sending him off to Luoxia Pass looking refreshed and full of spirit.
Episode 37
Mo Xiuyao led his troops to Luoxia Pass with fewer than 30,000 soldiers, while Mo Jingli had a force of 80,000! The disparity in troop numbers was enormous, making the coming battle between them exceptionally difficult. Wang Suwu, a former subordinate of Mo Xiuyao who had been promoted to the Court of Judicial Review, fought alongside Mo Xiuyao against Mo Jingli’s rebel army.
Half a month later, no victory from Luoxia Pass. Many officials feared Mo Xiuyao might follow the example of Li Duo by joining forces with Mo Jingli and using his army to stir up chaos, leaving the young emperor deeply anxious. Rumors were spreading throughout the capital: some claimed that Mo Xiuyao had defected to the enemy; others said Luoxia Pass had suffered a devastating defeat with over 20,000 casualties; still others insisted the battle had not been lost and that Mo Jingli’s forces had suffered even greater losses. However, a letter came from the frontier stating that although there had been minor setbacks, they were not significant enough to affect the overall situation. Ye Li ordered Gu Zheng, who was now the Jingzhao Prefect, to thoroughly investigate where the rumors originated.
Ye Li was “held hostage” at the palace by the Empress Dowager under the excuse of accompanying Her Highness. Ye Li understood that the real purpose was to keep her there as leverage against Mo Xiuyao, who was leading troops on the battlefield. After spending some time in the palace, Ye Li wrote a letter to him. She gave a hint to her husband, and Mo Xiuyao immediately understood the Empress Dowager’s intention. What appeared to be companionship was actually a form of hostage-taking.
Mo Xiuyao’s strategy of deceiving the enemy had worked. Mo Jingli’s rebel forces had become convinced that Mo Xiuyao had been defeated and were launching a large-scale offensive. Mo Xiuyao knew that the time had come to strike back.
Episode 38
When Ye Li saw the Empress Dowager, she admitted that everyone in Lishan had indeed died of the plague. The Empress Dowager asked Ye Li if she was blaming her. Cryptically, Ye Li said that even though the plague was a natural disaster and Lishan Academy was too stubborn to ask for her help, the Empress Dowager was the one who ordered the shutdown.
After the great victory at Luoxia Pass, Mo Xiuyao set up an ambush in Jueyunjian and wiped out the main force of Mo Jingli’s rebel army. The Empress Dowager finally freed Ye Li. But Mo Jingli did not die and ran away. Mo Xiuyao ordered that Mo Jingli be found. Mo Jingli rushed into the Capital, and met Ye Ying. Despite her begging to follow him, Mo Jingli said his farewell to Ye Ying and ordered her to return to her family.
The Capital celebrated the victory at Luoxia Pass, while Mo Jingli prepared for his final battle. That was to set the Capital into chaos and to assassinate the young emperor. That night, fire broke out in the Capital, and everyone fled to evacuate and the Capital was a mess. Ye Li remained calm and sent someone to bring her sister-in-law and Mo Wuyou back to the house first.
Episode 39
Our characters at the Capital fought the rebels. Han Mingxi, who went back to the Capital after his brother’s death, fought together side-by-side with Li Feibai to quell the rebellion. Mo Xiuyao heard about the rebellion and wanted to return. Unfortunately, he didn’t get any edict. Returning to the Capital would have the same fate as his brother. The Emperor didn’t have a chance to issue any edict. He donned his army garb and went to the battle despite his mother, the Empress Dowager’s, protest. Mo Xiuyao sneaked in anyway.
Episode 39
Ye Li saw Mo Jingli’s subordinate and understood right away that the fire in the Capital was caused by Mo Jingli. She eventually located him fighting the old Duke Hua. Ye Li shielded the old duke and stood in front of Mo Jingli. She asked Mo Jingli whether he was worthy of being the master of the world. Mo Jingli went crazy and raised his sword to kill Ye Li. Ye Li fought Mo Jingli as well as she could. Eventually, Mo Xiuyao came in with his troop. Eventually, Mo Jingli died after remembering his past with his childhood sweetheart. So tragic!
Luckily, Mo Xiuyao was not punished for entering the Capital without an edict because he helped quell the rebellion and killed Mo Jingli. He still had to go back to the Luoxia Pass to wipe out the remaining rebels. The situation at the Capital returned to peace, and Ye Li had nothing to do. In her longing, she went to the army camp to reunite with Mo Xiuyao.
Episode 40
Mo Xiuyao finally returned to the Capital and had a reunion party with his allies. After the Lishan Academy was no longer closed off, Li Feibai went back to Lishan. Yu Sheng, the dancer from Qingfeng Mingyue Tower, chose to follow him. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao sparred in a sweet stick-fighting match to test Ye Li’s skills in swordsmanship. Ye Li called Han Mingxi back to work at her shop.
A message came from the palace that the Empress Dowager was seriously ill and had summoned Ye Li to the palace. The Empress Dowager, who was lingering on the sickbed, asked if Ye Li wanted to avenge her; now it was time. But she could no longer arouse any hatred from Ye Li. The Empress Dowager eventually died. On her deathbed, to atone for her sins, she asked her son to expose her crimes to the public. The Emperor stripped her of her royal status and she died as Guo Jin. The Dowager Consort Qin Zheng was brought to justice and sentenced. After its name was cleared, Lishan Academy was opened again. Wei Zhuang was not the Headmaster of Lishan Academy. When Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao visited Lishan Academy, she imagined her grandfather and her brothers and sisters for the last time. Everyone was happy to see her. Her grandfather told her not to dwell on the past now and embrace the future.
THE END
Summary of the final part (Major spoilers not hidden)
- Ye Li was healed after accepting the fact about what happened at Lishan Academy. The name of the Academy was cleared, and the people from Lishan were cleared and promoted.
- Ye Li and Ye Ying reconciled.
- Feng Zhiyao avenged Princess Lingyun by killing Su Zuidie.
- Mo Xiuyao had to go to Shixue Pass to fight Mo Jingli. Mo Jingli escaped to the Capital and bid farewell to his wife, Ye Ying. He planned to assassinate the emperor, but he eventually died in front of Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao.
- Ye Li decided not to kill her last enemy, the Empress Dowager, and she died of illness. Her crimes were exposed by the Emperor.
- Lishan Academy was opened again. Wei Zhuang became the headmaster. Li Feibai went traveling the world with Yu Sheng. Han Mingxi was called back working at the shop.
- Overall, it was a happy ending for the good characters.
