An Oriental Odyssey Episode 11 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
A witness told Zhao Lanzhi that the perpetrator of the recent murders was like a ghost wearing a cape, claiming they saw a faceless figure. Meanwhile, Shuiyue used the faces of the murdered women to maintain her own beauty. Mu Le arrived at the agreed meeting spot, but Shuiyue, observing from a distance, chose not to appear, instructing her maid that patience was key and she wanted to keep him waiting longer.
Mu Le, left with no alternative, waited throughout the afternoon in the pouring rain, clad in a straw cape. Ye Yuanan, struggling with flower arrangement, sought help from the Bellflower Room owner. The owner, noting Ye Yuanan's lack of talent in such "girlish stuff," reluctantly agreed to help her create a beautiful arrangement. Ye Yuanan then presented the flower arrangement to Zhao Lanzhi.
She inquired about the unusual murder case, but Zhao Lanzhi, citing his duty, refused to divulge any details, simply telling her it was time to go home. Later, Shuiyue arrived at the Ye Mansion, claiming she had gone to their meeting spot and only saw a man in a raincoat, implying Mu Le had not kept his word.
Mu Le, in turn, presented her with earrings he had bought with borrowed money, but Shuiyue scoffed at their value, comparing them to her own expensive Mengjinyuan earrings. She held onto Mu Le, threatening to report his behavior to Ye Yuanan, when Ye Yuanan herself appeared. Shuiyue explained to Ye Yuanan that she had seen Mu Le skillfully feeding horses in the market and had come to ask for advice.
Sensing Ye Yuanan was secretly in love, Shuiyue offered to teach her how to apply makeup, transforming Ye Yuanan into a beautiful lady. Pleased with the result, Ye Yuanan invited Shuiyue to visit more often. As Shuiyue departed, Mu Le secretly entered her carriage, demanding to know what she had told Ye Yuanan. Shuiyue, realizing Mu Le's affection for Ye Yuanan, cruelly pointed out the vast difference in their social statuses, insisting that their relationship would never succeed.
Back at her own mansion, Shuiyue encountered Princess Ming Hui. Their exchange was outwardly polite, but both harbored ulterior motives. Shuiyue grew suspicious of Ming Hui's frequent visits and instructed her steward, Old Wang, to prevent the princess from wandering freely around the estate when she was not present. Ming Hui, meanwhile, reflected on her childhood memories of Shuiyue, recalling that Shuiyue's eyes had been blue due to her foreign mother.
The stark contrast with Shuiyue's current black eyes left Ming Hui puzzled, wondering if eye color could change over time. Determined to assist Zhao Lanzhi in catching the murderer, Ye Yuanan dressed up beautifully and ventured out late at night. Unbeknownst to her, Zhao Lanzhi had deployed male constables in women's attire to act as bait for the face-cutting killer. A rogue attempted to accost one of the disguised constables and then turned his attention to Ye Yuanan.
Zhao Lanzhi intervened, apprehending the rogue. He then chastised Ye Yuanan for recklessly endangering herself, reminding her of his responsibility to her father if anything happened to her. Ye Yuanan, believing Zhao Lanzhi’s concern stemmed only from his fear of facing Minister Ye, tearfully argued with him, feeling he treated her no differently than her own father. In her sorrow, Ye Yuanan took out her mother's keepsake, only to discover it had been broken during her scuffle with the rogue.
Her grief intensified, and Mu Le quickly moved to comfort her. As Zhao Lanzhi and his men continued their investigation, realizing the earlier arrested rogue was not the true culprit, another woman, a courtesan named Cui Lian from Tingyin Pavilion, was brutally murdered, her face also removed by the killer. This horrifying development enraged Zhao Lanzhi and his team, prompting him to issue a city-wide order for all young women to stay home at night for their safety.
Seizing an opportunity to manipulate Mu Le and Ye Yuanan, Shuiyue deliberately drove a wedge between them. She challenged Mu Le to a bet, asserting that Ye Yuanan regarded him no differently than any other servant and would readily give him away if asked. Shuiyue then falsely confided in Ye Yuanan, claiming that she and Mu Le were secretly engaged and that Mu Le had even presented her with precious earrings as a token of their love.
Remembering Mu Le's recent request for money, Ye Yuanan sadly believed Shuiyue's tale. In front of a heartbroken Mu Le, she formally relinquished his service, telling him he was now free to be with Shuiyue. Mu Le, unable to utter a word, silently left with Shuiyue. Meanwhile, Princess Ming Hui, having gained access to Shuiyue's room, discovered a small bottle of medicinal pills, deepening her suspicions about Shuiyue.
Back at her mansion, Shuiyue welcomed Mu Le, declaring him the new master of her household and attempting to kiss him. As Mu Le recoiled, he noticed that Shuiyue’s facial features seemed to shift, a strange displacement. Alarmed, Shuiyue realized her face was becoming unstable and rushed to find her medicine, only to discover the bottle was missing. Recalling Ming Hui's persistent visits, Shuiyue grew furious, convinced that Ming Hui had stolen her precious pills.
