An Oriental Odyssey Episode 29 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Zhao Lanzhi knelt persistently outside the Empress's chamber, close to collapsing. Princess Ming Hui, having been ordered by the State Preceptor to kill Zhao Lanzhi, found herself hesitating. She remembered their shared past, but also felt a surge of anger and hatred for him kneeling so persistently for Ye Yuanan. As her resolve wavered, the Empress emerged and told Zhao Lanzhi to rise and accompany her to the State Preceptor's palace. Zhao Lanzhi dutifully obeyed.
Inside the State Preceptor's palace, State Preceptor Tian Qiao greeted Chen Tianshu, noting how much he had aged compared to himself. Tian Qiao revealed that he had collected seven of the Divine Beads and now needed the two from Chen Tianshu to complete the set. Chen Tianshu handed them over.
He then publicly exposed Tian Qiao, stating that after decoding only one incantation from the Divine Beads, Tian Qiao had used its secret arts to become the State Preceptor and forge countless deadly weapons for the Tang Dynasty. Chen Tianshu further revealed that nineteen years ago, Tian Qiao had even used a technique from the beads to murder their fellow apprentices just to obtain them.
Tian Qiao denied these accusations, calling Chen Tianshu a wanted criminal, but Chen Tianshu asserted that the two Divine Beads he'd just handed over were not truly Tian Qiao's unless he willingly gave them. He demanded the full truth about the nineteen-year-old incident, stating that it was time to reveal the truth Tian Qiao had concealed for so long.
Tian Qiao, believing himself untouchable, confessed to massacring their sect members for the Divine Beads and fabricating the story to frame Chen Tianshu. Unbeknownst to him, the Empress had arrived and overheard his entire confession. The Empress then stepped forward, questioning Tian Qiao about the hallucinogenic drug found in the censer beside the Emperor's bed. She also expressed her desire to witness the power of the Nine Divine Beads, which the late Emperor claimed could grant control over the world.
To Tian Qiao's shock, she revealed that his confession had also uncovered him as the true murderer behind the heinous Ci'en Temple crime nineteen years ago. Tian Qiao brazenly admitted to all the other mysterious cases as well – the Qianduan Brothel, the Luotian Cave, the Prince Nanjing's wife incident, General Guo's death, and the turmoil of Huodu Mountain.
He confessed that all his schemes were driven by his ambition to collect the Nine Divine Beads and gain power over the world. Unfazed by their knowledge, Tian Qiao declared that everyone present would die and began to wield the Divine Beads' magic against them. As the others struggled, Chen Tianshu quickly instructed Ye Yuanan, reminding her of a lethal striking point: two finger-widths below the left scapula.
Following his guidance, Ye Yuanan attacked Tian Qiao from behind, severely wounding him. Tian Qiao, bleeding and shocked, used a secret art to escape, leaving the Divine Beads behind. Chen Tianshu, seeing the beads recovered, was relieved, feeling he had finally fulfilled the wishes of his master. Tian Qiao fled to the outskirts, where he encountered Ming Hui. Desperate, he pleaded with her to save him, promising to teach her all his knowledge. However, Ming Hui saw through his manipulation.
She reminded him how she had risked her life multiple times to retrieve the Divine Beads for him, only to receive blame instead of praise. She also recalled his threats against her family and his order to kill Zhao Lanzhi. She declared that Zhao Lanzhi, her enemy, had treated her better than Tian Qiao ever had, and he did not deserve to be called her master.
Tian Qiao, with his dying breath, still attempted to absorb her essence to heal himself, but Ming Hui recognized his treacherous intent. She refused to give him her hand and mercilessly killed him. Back at the palace, Mu Le returned, explaining to Ye Yuanan that he couldn't stay away as long as she was there. Zhao Lanzhi, upset, confronted Ye Yuanan, accusing her of lying about Mu Le's death. Ye Yuanan retorted, leading to an argument.
The Empress interjected, scolding them and reminding Ye Yuanan that Zhao Lanzhi had knelt for three days and three nights for her, making a simple thank you appropriate. Chen Tianshu presented the recovered Divine Beads to the Empress. Ye Yuanan, still worried, noted that even with his heart wounded, Tian Qiao possessed great magical power. At that moment, Ming Hui arrived, presenting Tian Qiao's head as proof of his death.
The Empress then revealed that Ming Hui had been her spy all along, deployed to Tian Qiao's side years ago to uncover his schemes and retrieve the Divine Beads, acting on the late Emperor's legend about the beads. She praised Ming Hui for her instrumental role in their victory. Holding the Divine Beads, the Empress gazed into them, envisioning herself as the ruler of the world. Chen Tianshu cautioned her against becoming bewitched by illusions, warning of potential disaster.
The Empress dismissed his concern, saying they would decode any unknown secrets. She officially cleared Chen Tianshu's name and, as a reward, appointed him as the new State Preceptor, tasking him with deciphering the Divine Beads' secrets to aid the Great Tang Dynasty in ruling the world. The Ye family, having survived their ordeal, celebrated their new beginning with a grand banquet.
Ye Yuanan's stepmother and Ye Yuanning were uncharacteristically kind, expressing their love and promising to care for her and find her a good husband. Ye Yuanan, believing much of the credit belonged to Mu Le, prepared to toast him publicly. However, Zhao Lanzhi's arrival interrupted her. Ye Yuanan feigned indifference towards Zhao Lanzhi, though her father teased her, suggesting she secretly cared for him despite her tough exterior.
Ye Yuanan and Zhao Lanzhi engaged in a lively finger-guessing drinking game, laughing and enjoying themselves. Seeing this, Mu Le became disheartened and quietly left the feast. Uncle Xia followed Mu Le, finding him outside drinking alone. He acknowledged Mu Le's feelings for Ye Yuanan but reminded him of their stark social differences.
As servants, their duty was to serve, and while Ye Yuanan appreciated his devotion, her marriage was arranged by her parents, and she was destined to marry Zhao Lanzhi. Mu Le insisted that he liked Ye Yuanan and believed she liked him in return, asserting that mutual affection should be enough. Uncle Xia, however, reiterated that their unequal social status made his feelings futile and that he would ultimately achieve nothing. Mu Le silently accepted his words, lost in thought.
