An Oriental Odyssey Episode 1 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
The Age of Mythology concluded with the Mother Goddess Nuwa molding humanity from dirt and bestowing upon them the wisdom to survive. Humanity was then divided into Nine Tribes, each with unique talents, to oversee the world. However, this division led to an endless war, fueled by mankind's insatiable desires.
Nuwa, pitying all living creatures, sealed these desires and the superpowers of the Nine Tribes into crystal stones, remnants from when she patched the sky, transforming them into Nine Divine Beads. This act brought about a temporary peace, but the future remained uncertain. Years later, in Chang'an, after Master Tang Sanzang passed away, he left behind a string of these Nine Divine Beads, intricately carved with the ancient magical arts of the Nine Tribes.
His two attendant disciples, Tian Qiao and Tian Shu, vied for possession of the beads, which tragically led to a massive fire at Ci'en Temple, causing countless casualties among their fellow monks. During the chaos, the nine beads scattered. Tian Qiao, who successfully protected Master Sanzang's relics and offered strategic advice that led to a major victory for the Tang army, was bestowed the title of State Preceptor. Unbeknownst to others, a single bead on Tian Qiao's wrist-rosary subtly glowed.
Meanwhile, Tian Shu was branded a prime fugitive for attempting to seize the beads and betraying his master. Nineteen years later, under the co-rule of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu, the prosperous Tang Dynasty flourished in Chang'an. In the serene outskirts, a masked man and his subordinates discovered a young, unconscious boy. The boy, suffering from amnesia, possessed immense strength and was subsequently captured by the mysterious man.
The man then brought the boy onto a merchant ship to discuss smuggling with the boat owner, Shen Da. Coincidentally, Zhao Lanzhi, a highly skilled constable from Luoyang, boarded the same ship with his team to investigate smuggling. He ordered his men to capture the suspects alive. The amnesiac boy, despite his memory loss, engaged in a powerful struggle with Zhao Lanzhi.
Zhao Lanzhi pursued the masked man into the ship's cabin, but the man managed to escape with the boy. Simultaneously, Shen Da, the boat owner, seized the opportunity to jump overboard and flee. A search of the ship confirmed Zhao Lanzhi's suspicions, revealing a stash of smuggled opium. Zhao Lanzhi explained to his subordinate that during his service as a garrison guard in Annan, he had witnessed military medics exchange grain with local tribes for opium to alleviate soldiers' pain.
He noted that while a small amount of opium could relieve pain, a larger dose would induce hallucinations and could be lethal. He emphasized that it should never be freely distributed, as it could ruin the country and its people. Zhao Lanzhi had initially suspected the ship's true purpose during a daytime inspection, noticing its unusually high draft, suggesting it wasn't laden with rice.
His suspicion was confirmed by the xanthine marks on Shen Da’s hands, which resembled those of people from the Annan tribes. His subordinate then mentioned the beautiful courtesan Ru Yue, who had recently died, prompting Zhao Lanzhi to reflect on the numerous untold stories hidden within the bustling city of Chang'an. Ye Yuanan, the spirited and righteous daughter of the Assistant Minister of Finance, found joy in solving mysteries and often ventured out disguised as a man.
One day, while strolling through the streets, she encountered a raggedly dressed boy. Out of kindness, she offered him food, but a group of men intervened, beating the boy. Ye Yuanan, unable to tolerate the cruelty and suspecting the boy was not truly their slave, publicly defended him, demanding proof of ownership. At that moment, a frenzied horse bolted through the street.
The boy bravely rushed forward, while Zhao Lanzhi also arrived, preventing Ye Yuanan from being struck by the horse. The boy was subsequently recaptured by his tormentors, but not before glancing back at Ye Yuanan – he was the same amnesiac boy Zhao Lanzhi had encountered on the ship. Later, Ye Yuanan's servant, Shi Tou, sought her help because his beloved, Duan Xiaoyu, was in trouble.
Duan Xiaoyu, a former maid to the deceased courtesan Ru Yue, had been found wearing Ru Yue's bracelet after her mistress's death and was accused of murdering Ru Yue for money. The authorities swiftly tried the case, condemning Duan Xiaoyu to death. Unable to ignore Shi Tou's pleas, Ye Yuanan secretly infiltrated the prison at night.
Using a unique spider named Shu Shu, she ingeniously rescued Duan Xiaoyu from her cell, with other inmates witnessing the miraculous escape and fearing it was a ghost. Ye Yuanan successfully freed Duan Xiaoyu, but they were pursued by Zhao Lanzhi. They narrowly escaped capture by hiding underwater. Ye Yuanan then entrusted Duan Xiaoyu to Shi Tou, both of whom expressed profound gratitude for her life-saving intervention.
Rushing back home without changing her night clothes, Ye Yuanan was confronted by her half-brother, Ye Yuanning, who questioned whether she was hiding someone in the mansion, having heard noises in the cellar. Ye Yuanan, dismissive of him, grabbed his throat and warned him against speaking carelessly. Her stepmother intervened, expressing her frustration about living with Ye Yuanan after she left. Zhao Lanzhi tasked his subordinate, Xiaohu, with investigating Duan Xiaoyu's social connections.
Upon learning that Duan Xiaoyu had a beloved, Shi Tou, working at the Ye Mansion, Zhao Lanzhi immediately led a team there. Both Zhao Lanzhi and Ye Yuanan were surprised to see each other. Zhao Lanzhi, through keen observation, deduced that Ye Yuanan, despite her masculine attire, was a woman. Stating his purpose, Zhao Lanzhi requested to question Shi Tou. Knowing that Zhao Lanzhi would not give up, Ye Yuanan reluctantly called Shi Tou out.
Shi Tou claimed complete ignorance regarding the prison break. Ye Yuanan, attempting to defend him, inadvertently revealed Duan Xiaoyu’s name, confirming to Zhao Lanzhi that she possessed insider information. Zhao Lanzhi then deliberately emphasized the gravity of aiding a death-row inmate, stating it was a severe crime. Shi Tou, terrified by Zhao Lanzhi's words, decided that very night to flee with Duan Xiaoyu. Ye Yuanan, seeing their desperation, reluctantly agreed to help them escape.
However, Zhao Lanzhi and Xiaohu were already waiting on the boat, apprehending Duan Xiaoyu and Shi Tou. Duan Xiaoyu, unwilling to implicate Shi Tou further and believing she faced inevitable death, dramatically leaped into the river to commit suicide. Ye Yuanan promptly intervened, saving her. Recognizing Zhao Lanzhi's integrity, Duan Xiaoyu then confessed that the coral bracelet was indeed a gift from Ru Yue and that she believed Ru Yue's death was suspicious.
Duan Xiaoyu revealed that a certain gentleman frequently visited Ru Yue, always dressed in informal clothes to avoid recognition. Ru Yue would always send Duan Xiaoyu away when he came. Once, Duan Xiaoyu overheard Ru Yue tell him, "Dear, let's find a date, and marry in the next life." Duan Xiaoyu explained that Ru Yue, despite being a popular courtesan from a fallen rich family, maintained her principles, selling only her talent and never her body.
Her room was off-limits to everyone except for performances and this mysterious man. Duan Xiaoyu lamented that no one in court had believed her story. Ye Yuanan implored Zhao Lanzhi to grant them time to uncover the truth, confident that she would solve the mystery.
