An Oriental Odyssey Episode 17 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
While drinking heavily, Huan Ge loudly proclaimed himself Minister Ye's eldest son in front of Zhao Lanzhi. His subordinates dismissed Huan Ge as another charlatan, but Zhao Lanzhi observed that Huan Ge bore a striking resemblance to someone, though he could not recall who. The next morning, Huan Ge returned to Ye Mansion with a pounding headache and discovered his money pouch was missing, realizing one of the brothel girls had taken it.
Deciding that the girls were too pretty to complain about, he resolved to find more money by stealing from his home. Ye Yuanning and his mother secretly watched as Huan Ge searched for valuables. After Huan Ge was caught with some gold, he initially denied it but then offered to return any money he had previously deducted.
Ye Yuanning, feigning helpfulness, suggested that there was something even better in the basement of the back garden, where Ye Yuanan stored many rewards from the Empress. He insinuated that Ye Yuanan was selfish for keeping them all to herself. Proudly asserting his status as the eldest son, Huan Ge immediately decided to raid the basement. Inside the basement, Tian Shu grew anxious as Huan Ge ordered his men to break down the door.
Ye Yuanning and his mother delighted in the thought of the ensuing chaos between Huan Ge and Ye Yuanan. The guards hesitated, explaining that the basement contained Ye Yuanan's personal belongings, which even Minister Ye and his wife did not question. Huan Ge, however, declared himself in charge and insisted on discovering what Ye Yuanan was hiding. As he prepared to force entry, Mu Le intervened, blocking his path.
Huan Ge, enraged, called Mu Le a "slave" and tried to push past him, but Mu Le struck him down. Just then, Ye Yuanan arrived. She confronted Huan Ge about insulting Mu Le, whom she fiercely protected, and attempting to enter her private quarters. Huan Ge, now submissive, repeatedly apologized and promised not to repeat his actions. Minister Ye Fucheng arrived, stopping Ye Yuanan from further punishing Huan Ge.
Huan Ge immediately started crying and complaining to Minister Ye about the beating. Minister Ye chastised Ye Yuanan, reminding her that Huan Ge, unlike her, had not lived a happy and comfortable life. Despite this, Huan Ge, emboldened by Minister Ye's presence, again demanded entry to the basement. Ye Yuanan adamantly refused, leading to a public argument.
Minister Ye, caught in the middle, quickly defused the situation by telling Huan Ge that the basement contained nothing precious and then led him away, promising to discuss the matter later. After they left, Minister Ye's wife and Ye Yuanning appeared, intentionally stirring Ye Yuanan's resentment against Huan Ge.
Minister Ye's wife voiced her suspicions that Huan Ge was not Minister Ye's son, pointing out that his appearance and personality differed greatly from her husband's, suggesting he might resemble his real father. She reminded Ye Yuanan that it was Huan Ge who initially proposed the blood paternity test, and his background remained highly suspect.
Following Ye Yuanning's suggestion, Ye Yuanan decided to investigate Huan Ge's mother, a palace puppeteer named Xiao Xiu, to uncover the truth and gain grounds to expel him. Fed up with Huan Ge's antics, Ye Yuanan agreed to take action. Ye Yuanan then sought out Zhao Lanzhi, who jokingly congratulated her on gaining an elder brother.
Ye Yuanan explained the turmoil Huan Ge had caused in her family and asked Zhao Lanzhi to investigate Xiao Xiu's past, promising a substantial reward. When Zhao Lanzhi inquired about the "great bonus," Ye Yuanan playfully offered to teach him a new way to roll his eyes. Zhao Lanzhi accepted the task.
Zhao Lanzhi visited the palace's puppeteer department, but the eunuch in charge found no record of a puppeteer named Xiu or Xiao Xiu from eighteen years prior, explaining that such individuals either received imperial grace, died in the palace, or were executed for grave crimes. At that moment, a blind woman named Ling (Sister Ling) entered, asking the eunuch for some fragrance. Zhao Lanzhi, observing Ling's heightened senses, realized she might hold the key.
Ling, lamenting her fate of living and dying blind in the palace, contrasted her situation with "that person" who had left for a happy life. Zhao Lanzhi correctly guessed she was referring to Xiu. Ling confirmed it was Xiu, describing her as exceptionally beautiful and the most outstanding young puppeteer, skilled in all aspects, from sewing to silkworm breeding and puppet-making.
She recalled Xiu creating a pair of puppets for "the one in my heart" and her first encounter with Minister Ye Fucheng, who proposed marriage. Xiu, however, refused him because she had fallen in love with another man, a brave and valiant imperial general named Guo Xiaotian. Xiu often secretly visited General Guo. Ling continued, explaining the complicated situation: Minister Ye Fucheng and General Guo were best friends.
General Guo had once accompanied Minister Ye Fucheng for his confession to Xiu, and Guo himself tried to persuade Xiu to accept Minister Ye Fucheng's proposal, which deeply saddened her. Xiu had reluctantly given Minister Ye Fucheng an elaborately made puppet as a "love token." However, Xiu later realized that General Guo had pushed her towards his friend because he was about to depart for war.
Before his departure, Xiu confronted General Guo, professing her love for him and spending a night with him. She told him that the puppet given to Minister Ye Fucheng was merely an object, but her heart belonged only to General Guo. Afterward, Xiu retrieved the puppet she had given Minister Ye Fucheng, ending his hopes but leaving him trapped in longing.
Ling revealed that Xiu and General Guo's affair was eventually exposed, leading to her expulsion from the palace, though the scandal was intentionally not recorded. However, Xiu's expulsion was also due to an accusation of "malicious witchcraft" involving poisonous voodoo dolls. Ling confessed that she herself, Xiu's supposed best friend, had taken money from General Guo's wife and framed Xiu, using her knowledge of Xiu's affairs.
Xiu, facing a death sentence, was miraculously saved by a general amnesty due to a joyous occasion in the palace that year. She swore to live for her unborn child. Ling concluded that both Minister Ye Fucheng and General Guo had gone on to achieve high ranks, married into renowned families, and lived prosperous lives. She confirmed that Minister Ye Fucheng was not Huan Ge's father, but General Guo was the military officer Xiu truly loved.
Ling then muttered to herself, believing she was responsible for Xiu's pathetic life, hoping Xiu was living well after leaving the palace. Zhao Lanzhi, after silently listening, reported his findings to Ye Yuanan, concluding that Huan Ge was General Guo's son. Ye Yuanan was delighted, confirming her suspicions that Huan Ge was not her elder brother. Zhao Lanzhi cautioned her that this matter concerned a noble bloodline and urged her not to reveal anything without concrete evidence.
As they spoke, Minister Ye's wife, who had been listening nearby, overheard their conversation. Ye Yuanan, still fuming about Huan Ge's plans to replace her family's lotus pond with water chestnuts, expressed her strong desire to expel him. Zhao Lanzhi then visited General Guo. When other officials requested an archery demonstration, Zhao Lanzhi noticed General Guo's old war wounds bothering him and stepped in to perform on his behalf, displaying impressive archery skills.
Later, he discreetly asked General Guo if his old wounds were recurring, which General Guo confirmed, attributing it to a poorly treated poisoned arrow from a past war. General Guo lamented his lack of heirs beyond his daughter, Xuelan, worrying about who would support his family after his passing.
Zhao Lanzhi then subtly mentioned encountering a man in the marketplace who bore a resemblance to General Guo and whose mother was a former palace puppeteer named Xiao Xiu, implying he might be General Guo's son. General Guo was visibly shaken by the mention of Xiao Xiu, lost in memories of Xiu telling him she was pregnant and his guilt over not returning for her, believing she had died after her expulsion. He retrieved a small doll and held it.
Just then, General Guo's wife entered, and he quickly hid the doll. After General Guo left the room, his wife secretly retrieved the "old and shabby" doll from his box, suspecting it belonged to an old lover. Inside the doll, she discovered a bead, later known as a Nine-Star Heavenly Bead.
