An Oriental Odyssey Episode 18 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Madame Guo, while examining a doll, discovered a Nine-Star Celestial Bead hidden within it. She immediately recognized it as the bead Princess Minghui had been searching for and carefully concealed it back in its original spot. General Guo, guided by Zhao Lanzhi, arrived at a tavern where Minister Ye, Ye Yuanan, and Huan Ge were present. Minister Ye immediately understood Huan Ge was General Guo's son, but was bewildered why Huan Ge had previously claimed kinship with him.
Ye Yuanan then clarified that Huan Ge was indeed General Guo’s son, born to the puppeteer Xiu. Minister Ye expressed his deep disappointment, realizing he had been deceived, especially recalling the faked blood kinship test. Huan Ge confessed that he had applied castor oil to his hand to ensure his blood would mix with anyone's, a tactic he used to protect himself from "evil plots" by Ye Yuanan and Ye Yuanning.
Feeling betrayed, Minister Ye told General Guo to take Huan Ge and then left with Ye Yuanan. Huan Ge quickly shifted his allegiance, now calling General Guo "Father" and presenting a puppet, which General Guo recognized as a love token he had shared with Xiu. General Guo was deeply moved by Huan Ge's story of suffering while searching for his father and promised to officially recognize him. Ye Yuanan, before departing with her father, congratulated General Guo and Huan Ge.
As they left, Zhao Lanzhi advised Ye Yuanan to instruct her horsekeeper to drive slowly due to the wet and windy weather. Huan Ge, eager to join his new father, asked when he would be brought to the mansion. General Guo explained that he first needed to inform his wife to avoid family turmoil, referencing the recent chaos at Minister Ye's household.
He then requested Zhao Lanzhi to care for Huan Ge for a few days, promising to arrange a grand welcome into the family and even request an official rank from the Empress Dowager for Huan Ge. Zhao Lanzhi agreed to the task. As Huan Ge followed Zhao Lanzhi, he felt a sting but dismissed it as a mosquito bite.
On the carriage ride to the inn, Huan Ge acted arrogantly towards Zhao Lanzhi, recalling their previous encounter and boasting about his father's high official position. He then commented on Ye Yuanan's beauty, noting they were no longer related, and expressed his desire to have her. Zhao Lanzhi, incensed by Huan Ge's disrespectful words, tied him to a tree during a heavy downpour, intending to leave him there to calm down.
However, after walking away, Zhao Lanzhi heard a loud noise. Rushing back, he discovered Huan Ge dead, struck by lightning. Zhao Lanzhi was horrified, understanding the grave implications of this tragedy and collapsing to the ground in fear. Meanwhile, General Guo confessed his past relationship with a palace puppeteer to Madame Guo. Although initially resigned to the revelation of his son, Madame Guo agreed to let Huan Ge enter the household.
Just as General Guo was expressing his excitement, a subordinate delivered the devastating news of Huan Ge's death and Zhao Lanzhi's negligence. General Guo was heartbroken and collapsed. Upon hearing of Huan Ge's death, Minister Ye was troubled. Madame Ye seized the opportunity to speak highly of Ye Yuanning, persuading Minister Ye to secure a promising future for their son. Both Ye Yuanning and his mother were ecstatic.
Ye Yuanan, learning of Zhao Lanzhi's arrest for manslaughter, rushed out, followed by Mu Le. In prison, General Guo confronted Zhao Lanzhi, angrily accusing him of causing his son's death after helping him find him, and vowed to make him pay with his life. Princess Minghui arrived at the prison, reveling in Zhao Lanzhi's predicament. She mockingly reminded him of his past resolve to arrest wrongdoers.
Zhao Lanzhi calmly reaffirmed his commitment to justice, even if he were to be released. Minghui then taunted him further, predicting that Ye Yuanan, his "remarkable" friend, would soon come to rescue him. Minghui privately hoped that if Ye Yuanan attempted a prison break, it would mean the death penalty for both of them, rather than Zhao Lanzhi merely facing exile for manslaughter. Zhao Lanzhi, agitated, defended Ye Yuanan, telling Minghui not to involve her in her taunts.
Amused by his deep affection for Ye Yuanan, Minghui departed. Moments later, Ye Yuanan did indeed arrive, using special equipment to bypass the prison defenses, intent on freeing Zhao Lanzhi. Zhao Lanzhi, however, refused to leave, asserting that as an imperial officer, he could not abscond from his crime, even if it was unintentional. He admonished Ye Yuanan for disrespecting the law and urged her to leave immediately.
Upset and chastised, Ye Yuanan stormed out and vented her frustration on Mu Le, who attempted to console her. Mu Le explained that Zhao Lanzhi’s decision was honorable, preserving his reputation, and advised Ye Yuanan to return home and rest. In the imperial court, the Empress Dowager convened her ministers to discuss Zhao Lanzhi's case. She viewed Huan Ge's death as an accident, believing Zhao Lanzhi would not intentionally harm the son of a general he had helped.
The ministers echoed her sentiment, praising Zhao Lanzhi's integrity. General Guo, however, insisted on strict adherence to the law, citing a past emperor who punished himself for even accidentally spilling rice. He argued that Zhao Lanzhi, a law enforcer, must be held accountable for taking a life, regardless of intent. Convinced by General Guo's argument, the Empress Dowager decided not to intervene further, leaving the judgment to the Luoyang county court.
Public notices were posted across the city announcing Zhao Lanzhi's sentencing for manslaughter. In Chang'an, Xiu saw the notice and believed Zhao Lanzhi deserved his punishment for her son's death. Princess Minghui, noticing Xiu among the crowd, instructed her servant to discreetly follow her. General Guo, still grief-stricken and having vomited blood, was too distraught to care about his daughter Xuelan's wedding preparations.
Madame Guo, subtly prompted by Minghui, suggested inviting Xiu to live in their mansion, promising to treat her as a sister. Moved by his wife's apparent magnanimity, General Guo agreed and tasked Minghui with bringing Xiu to the household. Minghui, feigning concern, requested a token to authenticate her mission. General Guo gave her the puppet, the very love token he had shared with Xiu. Madame Guo encouraged this, stating he wouldn't need it once Xiu was living with them.
Minghui, now in possession of the puppet and the Nine-Star Celestial Bead hidden within, was secretly pleased, reflecting on her success in securing the item and preventing Huan Ge from entering the family. For Minghui and Madame Guo, the suggestion of bringing Xiu was merely a ploy to obtain the doll, and Minghui was confident that a few carefully chosen words to Xiu would ensure she would be too occupied with other matters to cause trouble for them.
In the suburbs, Xiu was mourning Huan Ge at his grave, burning paper money. Princess Minghui appeared, holding the puppet, and claimed General Guo wished for Xiu to join him at the mansion. Xiu, unmoved by the token, declared that the love symbolized by the puppet had long faded, and now that her son was also gone, she saw no reason to meet General Guo.
Minghui then deviously informed Xiu that Zhao Lanzhi was not the sole person responsible for Huan Ge's death; Ye Yuanan also bore some responsibility, skillfully inciting Xiu to seek revenge against Ye Yuanan.
