An Oriental Odyssey Episode 13 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Ye Yuanan, having secretly followed Mu Le to the Lingdang Garden House, discovered him giving medicine to Xiaoke, whose face had now been restored. Ye Yuanan confronted them, demanding to know what they were doing and what Xiaoke had swallowed. Xiaoke, calling Mu Le "Tuotuo," desperately urged him to kill Ye Yuanan to protect her secrets.
Ye Yuanan challenged Xiaoke's authority over Mu Le, questioned if he was at the flower house to find medicine for Xiaoke, and demanded to know Miss Lingdang's whereabouts, realizing she was missing. As Mu Le hesitated, Xiaoke, reaffirming his promise to do anything for her, again commanded him to kill Ye Yuanan. Ye Yuanan corrected Xiaoke, stating his name was Mu Le.
During the commotion, Xiaoke forced a pill into Ye Yuanan's mouth, revealing it was a poison that would cause her to freeze to death within thirty minutes without an antidote. Mu Le frantically demanded the antidote for Ye Yuanan, but Xiaoke, expressing her jealousy and asking if Ye Yuanan was more important than her, refused. Instead, Xiaoke offered Mu Le another pill, claiming it was poison, and promised the antidote for Ye Yuanan if he swallowed it.
Despite Ye Yuanan's warning that Xiaoke was lying, Mu Le took the pill without hesitation and again demanded the antidote. Angered by his actions, Xiaoke exclaimed that Ye Yuanan didn't deserve such sacrifice. Xiaoke then reneged on her promise and locked Ye Yuanan and Mu Le together, stating that only after one of them died would she release the other.
As both suffered from the poisons, Ye Yuanan declared she was no coward and would never trade Mu Le's life for her own, choosing to live or die together, a sentiment Mu Le echoed. Finally, Xiaoke, softened by her feelings for Mu Le, threw them the antidote. After the ordeal, Xiaoke expressed her desire for death, feeling exposed now that Ye Yuanan knew her secrets.
Ye Yuanan, though initially angry, realized Xiaoke wasn't entirely bad, noting that she saved them at the last minute. Mu Le confirmed that Xiaoke was not the true Shuiyue but a "pitiful girl." Mu Le and Xiaoke then explained the truth to Ye Yuanan, who understood that the real Shuiyue was also at the Lingdang Garden House that night and had kidnapped Miss Lingdang to gain control of the "drug-maker."
Xiaoke, distraught that her current supply of medicine would run out and ruin her face, worried about what to do. Ye Yuanan warned her about the poisoned room they were in. Returning to the Lingdang Garden House, they found a crow feather. Xiaoke recognized the smell of decomposing bodies and stated, 'I know where she is.' Following the clues to a grave site, they were confronted by the real Shuiyue, who expressed surprise they found her.
Shuiyue mocked Xiaoke and her companions, then directly accused Xiaoke of being the culprit. Xiaoke denied it, but Shuiyue countered that words were meaningless without evidence, inviting them to follow her for the "truth." As they followed, a trap, set with the help of Princess Minghui, ensnared Ye Yuanan and her companions. Shuiyue noted that Mu Le was a difficult opponent. After capturing them, Shuiyue drugged Xiaoke and successfully switched faces, reclaiming her original appearance.
She revealed to Princess Minghui that she learned this "skin-switching" technique from the ancient scriptures inscribed on a Divine Bead that her grandfather had given her as a child. Minghui, witnessing the ingenious magic, realized why the State Preceptor was so keen on collecting all nine Divine Beads, believing that with them, one could become invincible. Shuiyue, now back in her own skin, intended to kill Ye Yuanan, Mu Le, and Xiaoke to eliminate witnesses.
However, Minghui suggested a cunning plan: framing Xiaoke as the primary culprit and Ye Yuanan and Mu Le as her accomplices, allowing Shuiyue to return to Prince Nanjing Mansion and live as her true self. Minghui reminded Shuiyue that they already had a witness to implicate Xiaoke. Miss Lingdang, who had been abducted by Shuiyue, was found imprisoned in the secret room where Ye Yuanan and the others were held.
Meanwhile, Zhao Lanzhi, following the trail of raven feathers, located a suspicious grave site on the outskirts. An officer pointed out an oddity about the grave, and Zhao Lanzhi, remembering that crows were out of season in Luoyang, recognized the significance of their guide. He activated a mechanism on the tombstone, revealing a secret room where Miss Lingdang, disoriented and in shock, was arguing with the faceless Xiaoke, whom she mistakenly believed was her attacker.
Zhao Lanzhi immediately ordered the capture of Xiaoke and Mu Le, despite Ye Yuanan's protests that they were innocent. Miss Lingdang was taken to a doctor for treatment. In court, Xiaoke vehemently denied the accusations, pointing out that she was a lady from a prince's manor and questioning why she would commit such crimes, while the faceless woman (herself) had every reason to do so. However, without evidence, her claims were dismissed.
A beggar was brought in as a witness, who unequivocally identified the faceless Xiaoke as the killer he had seen. Based on this eyewitness testimony and the circumstantial evidence, the Magistrate declared Xiaoke guilty of killing and skinning people and sentenced her to death by execution in two days. Xiaoke cried out that she was framed by Lady Shuiyue, but her pleas were ignored as she was taken to prison.
Princess Minghui orchestrated the spread of rumors throughout the city, stating that the captured "skinless monster" was not alone, but had two accomplices: Minister Ye's daughter, Ye Yuanan, and her slave. This incited public outrage, with citizens demanding severe punishment for all three and accusing officials of shielding their own. Minghui confirmed her role in spreading these rumors with her informant. Confronting Shuiyue, Minghui pressed her about her deep grudge against Ye Yuanan and demanded the Divine Bead.
Shuiyue, however, insisted on waiting until all witnesses were dead before handing it over. Just then, news arrived that the old Prince Nanjing had passed away. Shuiyue immediately rushed home, leaving Minghui to coldly remark that Shuiyue's good days were clearly over. Zhao Lanzhi visited Ye Yuanan in prison, explaining that all evidence pointed to Xiaoke, who was sentenced to death, and that Ye Yuanan and Mu Le were accused as accomplices, facing public calls for severe punishment.
Ye Yuanan questioned if Zhao Lanzhi also believed her guilty, but he asserted that his personal opinion didn't matter in the face of evidence like the skins found at the scene and Miss Lingdang's testimony. He urged Ye Yuanan to admit her mistakes, promising her freedom if she learned her lesson.
However, when Ye Yuanan asked about Mu Le and Xiaoke, Zhao Lanzhi explained that Mu Le's footprints at Lingdang Garden House and the witness identification of Xiaoke were undeniable evidence, meaning only Ye Yuanan could be released. Refusing to abandon her companions, Ye Yuanan chose to remain. Later, she reconciled with Mu Le, explaining that her past actions of trying to make him leave were meant to fulfill his wishes.
That night, Mu Le suffered a nightmare, mumbling "Huole de tuotuo" in his sleep. Ye Yuanan soothed him by singing a lullaby, recalling her mother used to sing the same to her. Ye Yuanan also lamented her situation, reflecting on how her mother would be vexed to see her in prison. In court, an official presented a memorial impeaching Minister Ye, accusing his daughter, Ye Yuanan, as an accomplice in the skinning case.
Minister Ye defended himself, admitting he might have been too lax but emphasizing that Ye Yuanan was not yet found guilty and he knew nothing of the crimes. The Empress, however, dismissed the accusations, publicly stating that Ye Yuanan's status as a suspect would not implicate her father, allowing Minister Ye to continue his duties. Later, Minister Ye, concerned for his daughter, wished to bring her food and clothes to prison.
His stepmother intervened, warning him against risking his official position further and offering to visit Ye Yuanan on his behalf. Minister Ye, seeing Zhao Lanzhi arrive for a visit, reluctantly agreed. The stepmother then revealed her true malicious intent to a servant, stating she had no leisure to visit Ye Yuanan and hoped she would starve in prison.
Meanwhile, Tian Shu, noticing Ye Yuanan and Mu Le's prolonged absence, inquired with the housekeeper and learned they were imprisoned, accused as accomplices in the skinning case. Though initially making a jest, Tian Shu quickly showed concern, realizing that more than food was needed. He then had the housekeeper deliver some of his ingenious escape tools to Ye Yuanan in prison, disguised as gifts from "the man in the basement."
Xiaoke, in her prison cell, regretted her past actions, lamenting her fate and how she had dragged Mu Le and Ye Yuanan into her mess. Soon after, Ye Yuanan and Mu Le, utilizing the escape tools provided by Tian Shu, broke out of prison. They then rescued Xiaoke, and the three fled to a river. Ye Yuanan, fearing her family would be incriminated by her escape, urged Mu Le to take Xiaoke and leave.
However, Mu Le declared his unwavering loyalty to Ye Yuanan, stating he would not live without her, and jumped into the water to return. Seeing his resolve, Xiaoke also insisted on not leaving without them. Xiaoke then proclaimed her innocence, refusing to plead guilty to crimes she didn't commit, and asserted that Miss Shuiyue of Prince Nanjing Mansion was the true murderer. Mu Le agreed, determined to make Shuiyue pay.
Ye Yuanan, recognizing that Shuiyue had powerful allies, suggested they seek expert help themselves. They went to Tian Shu, who was astonished to see Xiaoke's condition, confirming the existence of the legendary skin-switching technique. Tian Shu explained that he had heard of such a foreign method, inspired by snakes, but never truly believed it until now.
Despite his initial fascination, Tian Shu stated he could not help them directly, as Shuiyue had reclaimed her skin, making it nearly impossible to apprehend her unless she attempted another skin-switching ritual, which would be their only chance to catch her in the act.
