An Oriental Odyssey Episode 14 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Zhao Lanzhi inspected the imperial prison, finding the lock cut and the cells empty where Ye Yuanan and her companions had been held. He sighed, wondering what he could do to make Ye Yuanan behave. Later, Zhao Lanzhi went to Prince Nanjing's manor to offer his condolences following the Prince's passing. Shuiyue greeted him, and as she directed a servant to take him to rest, Zhao Lanzhi noticed her blue eyes.
On the way, he encountered a young boy rushing past. He recognized the boy as Ye Yuanan in disguise and told the servant to inform Shuiyue he had urgent business at his office and had to leave. Shuiyue, observing the declining state of her manor, lamented that with her grandfather gone and unable to inherit his title, few friends came to pay respects, and her funds were dwindling. Zhao Lanzhi pursued Ye Yuanan to a tea house.
He confronted her, asking why she had returned after escaping. Ye Yuanan explained she was back to catch the murderer and asked for his help, confident that Shuiyue would eventually expose herself. Zhao Lanzhi urged Ye Yuanan to go home and let him handle the case. Zhao Lanzhi unconsciously held Ye Yuanan's hand. As Ye Yuanan was distracted, Zhao Lanzhi took the opportunity to hold her hostage, demanding she reveal Xiao Ke's whereabouts. Soon after, Xiao Ke was publicly executed.
From a distance, Princess Minghui watched, appearing pleased. Back at the dilapidated manor, Shuiyue furiously rebuked her servants for stealing sacrificial offerings and ordered them to be cast out. The servants, who had not been paid in a long time, retorted that they had to live and left the manor. Princess Minghui arrived at the manor, noting that the mourning hall for Prince Nanjing had been removed before seven days had passed.
Shuiyue explained that performing the proper rites required money, and her grandfather had left her nothing; the mansion was now a mere skeleton, difficult to manage. Minghui revealed that Xiao Ke had been executed, and Ye Yuanan and her servant were imprisoned, meaning Shuiyue was no longer threatened. Minghui then demanded the Divine Bead from Shuiyue. Shuiyue led her to a room and showed her the bead but refused to hand it over.
She explained that such beads could only be bestowed, not forcibly taken, and if she died, the bead would be masterless. Shuiyue declared she was tired of being powerless and wanted Minghui to help her find a powerful and influential woman whose identity she could assume. Minghui, surprised that Shuiyue wished to change skins again so soon after regaining her own, revealed that the Empress planned to marry Princess Qi'an off to Kang Kingdom for an alliance.
Minghui proposed recommending Shuiyue as an escort for Princess Qi'an, which would allow Shuiyue to take Princess Qi'an's skin, gaining a higher status and greater power. Shuiyue, delighted by the prospect, promised to give Minghui the Divine Bead once the plan was successfully executed, though Minghui warned her not to play any more tricks.
Meanwhile, the State Preceptor expressed his disapproval of Princess Qi'an's marriage alliance with Kang Kingdom to the Empress, arguing that it was a small nation and they should instead conquer it. The Empress rebuked him, asserting that peace and stability were far superior to war and misery, and that her decision was final. The Emperor, suffering a headache, took pills provided by the State Preceptor. Princess Minghui, sensing the State Preceptor's frustration with the Empress's decision, proposed a plan.
She claimed it would ruin the marriage alliance, sow discord between Great Tang and Kang State, secure the fifth Divine Bead, and eliminate all witnesses, killing two birds with one stone. The State Preceptor approved, assigning his assistant Huo Yang to help Princess Minghui. As Princess Qi'an's marriage procession departed, the Empress instructed Shuiyue, whom Minghui had recommended as an escort, to ensure the Princess’s well-being.
Once inside the carriage, Princess Qi'an, feeling bored, invited Shuiyue to join her and chat. Inside the carriage, Princess Qi'an offered to show Shuiyue some magic tricks she learned from commoners, making a pigeon appear. Shuiyue then lit some incense, creating a sedative effect. Shuiyue proposed a "changing skins" game, demonstrating the skin-changing art on herself, causing Princess Qi'an to realize Shuiyue intended to take her skin. Suddenly, Zhao Lanzhi appeared.
Ye Yuanan, who had been masquerading as Princess Qi'an with a human-skin mask, revealed her true identity. She reminded Shuiyue that the Empress had approved this ruse to expose the real culprit. Realizing she had fallen into a trap, Shuiyue tried to escape. Princess Minghui, observing the chaos from a distance, worried that Shuiyue might reveal her involvement if captured. She ordered her hidden assassins to attack, determined to retrieve Shuiyue and the fifth Divine Bead.
During the ambush, Mu Le, in a burst of power, single-handedly eliminated all the assassins, saving Ye Yuanan and Zhao Lanzhi. Minghui caught up to the fleeing Shuiyue, who pleaded for help. Minghui demanded the Divine Bead. Shuiyue reluctantly presented the bead, but just as Minghui reached for it, Shuiyue launched a surprise attack, accusing Minghui of using her and intending to take Minghui's skin to become Princess Minghui from Prince Yu Mansion.
At that moment, Huo Yang arrived and fatally stabbed Shuiyue. The Empress, astonished by the existence of skin-changing magic, commended Zhao Lanzhi for successfully solving the case and enforcing the law. She promoted him to Director of Justice (Sizhi) of the Court of Judicature and Revision. The Empress then urged Ye Yuanan to forgive Zhao Lanzhi, acknowledging that the case was unusual and Zhao Lanzhi had simply believed in evidence.
Ye Yuanan formally forgave him, though she still spoke to him curtly. Ye Yuanan then informed the Empress that Shuiyue likely had accomplices, pointing out how they had known the secret marriage route and sought an audience before being lured into the palace. However, the Empress stated that since all the assassins were dead, the investigation could not proceed further.
She then revealed that while the staged marriage was a ploy, Kang Kingdom’s request for a marriage alliance was real, but Princess Qi'an refused to marry a foreigner, leaving her at a loss. Ye Yuanan suggested that Xiao Ke could take Princess Qi'an's place. Xiao Ke, now preparing for her journey, expressed her gratitude to Ye Yuanan and Mu Le for saving her, looking forward to a stable life as a Tang princess in Kang Kingdom.
Before leaving, Xiao Ke secretly told Mu Le that Ye Yuanan harbored feelings for him, even if Ye Yuanan herself didn't realize it, reminding him that she wouldn't have risked her life to save him otherwise. Xiao Ke urged Mu Le not to let Ye Yuanan down. Mu Le vowed to always remember Ye Yuanan's kindness and never disappoint her.
Xiao Ke also warned Mu Le that Zhao Lanzhi was a formidable rival, as she had noticed his affection for Ye Yuanan. Zhao Lanzhi later reflected to Ye Yuanan that Shuiyue's case had made him realize the importance of being true to oneself. He declared that if Ye Yuanan didn't cause trouble or fight, she wouldn't be the Ye Yuanan he admired, and so he would let her be herself.
He then proposed that Mu Le, with his impressive martial arts skills, join the army. Ye Yuanan declined, explaining that Mu Le was wild by nature and only listened to her, which would surely lead to trouble in the military. Zhao Lanzhi then asked Ye Yuanan if she had any suspicions regarding Shuiyue's accomplice.
Ye Yuanan revealed that Xiao Ke had mentioned someone frequently visiting Prince Nanjing's mansion before her pills went missing, and that she vaguely recalled seeing someone resembling Princess Minghui before she fell unconscious. While she suspected Minghui, she couldn't be certain. Ye Yuanan also noted the Empress's reluctance to pursue the matter further.
Zhao Lanzhi confirmed this, explaining that Princess Minghui was the State Preceptor's disciple, and the complex, mutually restrictive relationship between the Empress and the State Preceptor meant the Empress had her own reasons for not digging deeper. Later, Zhao Lanzhi went to visit Jiang Ren's tomb on his friend's birthday. He noted the tomb was well-kept, implying frequent visitors. Princess Minghui then appeared, expressing surprise to see him there.
Zhao Lanzhi explained that Jiang Ren had been a good friend and fellow soldier years ago. Minghui, however, retorted sarcastically that she only knew Zhao Lanzhi had killed him. Zhao Lanzhi defended his actions, stating that the situation had been critical, and he had to kill Jiang Ren to save others. Minghui accused him of feigning regret, asserting that he secretly desired to eliminate his friend.
