An Oriental Odyssey Episode 31 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Zhao Lanzhi angrily forced his way into Prince Yu's Mansion to confront Ming Hui, demanding an antidote. Ming Hui, unfazed by his intrusion, allowed him to stay. She smugly told him that a gambler must pay their debts, implying Ye Yuanan's impending fate. Zhao Lanzhi questioned why Ye Yuanan couldn't see, taste, or speak. Ming Hui confirmed that within two days, all of Ye Yuanan's senses would disappear, leading to her death from breathing paralysis.
Zhao Lanzhi immediately accused her, and Ming Hui brazenly admitted to poisoning Ye Yuanan. Ming Hui explained that she had challenged Ye Yuanan to a martial arts contest in the forest. The rule was that the winner would drink a cup of wine and the loser would never bother Zhao Lanzhi again. Ye Yuanan won and drank the wine, unaware that Ming Hui had already poisoned it.
Ming Hui stated that while she wouldn't bother Zhao Lanzhi, she would ensure he came to her. She detailed the poison, a concoction of thirteen lethal toxins designed to slowly strip away all five senses, leaving the victim unable to see, hear, talk, or move, eventually leading to death from organ failure. Zhao Lanzhi condemned her viciousness, but Ming Hui remained defiant, telling him he only had two days left. Desperate, Zhao Lanzhi begged for the antidote.
Ming Hui dismissed his plea, stating that saving Ye Yuanan and their relationship were entirely separate matters, and demanded that Zhao Lanzhi must ask the Empress for a marriage edict, treating her with the same devotion he showed Ye Yuanan. Suddenly, Mu Le burst in and fiercely grabbed Ming Hui by the neck, demanding the antidote. Zhao Lanzhi intervened, explaining that killing Ming Hui would prevent them from getting the antidote, thereby dooming Ye Yuanan.
Mu Le reluctantly released his grip. Ming Hui then reiterated her demand for a marriage edict and taunted Zhao Lanzhi by revealing that when the Empress granted wishes, her wish was for him, while Ye Yuanan had asked for Mu Le. She called Zhao Lanzhi foolish for loving someone who loved another. Stunned by this revelation, Zhao Lanzhi was furious and left Prince Yu's Mansion, but knew he had no other choice given Ye Yuanan's critical condition.
Ye Yuanan's condition worsened dramatically, leaving her in a coma, having lost all her senses. Minister Ye was beside himself with worry. Zhao Lanzhi requested a moment alone with the unconscious Ye Yuanan. He spoke to her softly, recalling their first blind date at the tea house. He remembered how he knew she was his intended, but she remained oblivious to his identity.
He regretted his lack of persistence then, wishing he had clarified things when the matchmaker suggested she disliked him, believing they would have ample time together. He lamented not marrying her the moment they first met. Realizing the poison was taking full effect and he could wait no longer, he apologized to Ye Yuanan for the painful decision he was about to make. Zhao Lanzhi then went before the Empress and requested to marry Princess Ming Hui.
The Empress, acknowledging Ming Hui's success in manipulating the situation, issued an Imperial edict granting their marriage, declaring them a perfect match and setting the wedding for two days hence. Upon this, Ming Hui, ecstatic, immediately gave Zhao Lanzhi the antidote. She then instructed her brother and sister-in-law to make swift preparations for the wedding at Prince Yu's Mansion. Zhao Lanzhi quickly administered the antidote to Ye Yuanan, and she soon regained consciousness.
Still disoriented, Ye Yuanan wanted to confront Ming Hui, believing her actions were a cruel joke. Zhao Lanzhi stopped her, claiming Ming Hui was just kidding and that he had successfully retrieved the antidote. Ye Yuanan, however, felt betrayed by his defense of Ming Hui, questioning why he always found fault with her instead of the princess. To push her away and spare her further pain, Zhao Lanzhi adopted a harsh tone.
He coldly accused her of asking the Empress for Mu Le's freedom and forgiveness for his crimes at Huodu Mountain, implying she cared more for Mu Le than for him. Ye Yuanan countered that their relationship didn't require a special imperial wish and that she would naturally ask for other things. She was bewildered by his sudden, uncharacteristic aggression.
Zhao Lanzhi, continuing his act, declared he was a court official, not her horse slave, criticizing her manners and rudely telling her to "get lost." Heartbroken by Ye Yuanan's sadness, Mu Le confronted Zhao Lanzhi. He urged Zhao Lanzhi to tell Ye Yuanan the truth: that he was coerced by Ming Hui and agreed to the marriage to save Ye Yuanan's life. Mu Le even offered to help them elope if it meant Ye Yuanan's happiness.
Zhao Lanzhi explained his true intentions to Mu Le. He deliberately provoked Ye Yuanan with harsh words to make her let go of their feelings and leave him. He emphasized that as the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicature and Revision, he could not defy an Imperial edict.
He expressed envy for Mu Le's freedom from such constraints and noted how excessively well Ye Yuanan treated Mu Le, even suggesting that in her heart, Mu Le was more important than he was. Finally, Zhao Lanzhi entrusted Ye Yuanan's care to Mu Le. Back at the Ye Mansion, Ye Yuanan discussed with her nanny about men being neurotic, especially Zhao Lanzhi, who had become irritable and defensive of Ming Hui after delivering the antidote.
She wondered if he disliked her appearance after her poisoning, but still hoped he would visit her that day. Meanwhile, Minister Ye learned from his colleagues about the Empress's granted marriage between Zhao Lanzhi and Ming Hui, expressing his shock and disappointment that his favored prospective son-in-law was marrying someone else, with the wedding scheduled for the very next day. That night, Ye Yuanan had a nightmare where she was with Zhao Lanzhi, but her face transformed into Ming Hui's.
Startled, she awoke and immediately asked Mu Le to prepare a horse so she could confront Zhao Lanzhi. Despite Mu Le and her family's attempts to stop her, Ye Yuanan insisted on leaving. At the Court of Judicature and Revision, an official informed her that it was Zhao Lanzhi's wedding day to Princess Ming Hui, granted by the Empress. Ye Yuanan was stunned.
Mu Le, who had followed her, arrived, and she angrily confronted him for knowing and not telling her. Zhao Lanzhi's wedding to Ming Hui was already underway at Prince Yu's Mansion. Tian Shu was among the guests and, noticing Zhao Lanzhi's lack of joy, attempted to console him, even admitting he had always expected Ye Yuanan to be the bride. Zhao Lanzhi merely stated that the situation was irreversible and brushed off Tian Shu's subtle comfort.
Just as the auspicious moment arrived for the ceremony to conclude, Ye Yuanan and Mu Le burst into the wedding. Ming Hui glared at their unwelcome arrival. Ye Yuanan confronted Zhao Lanzhi, accusing him of not inviting her to his important day, especially after all they had shared. Zhao Lanzhi coldly claimed he hadn't invited her due to her recent illness, not wanting her to feel worn out.
Ye Yuanan retorted that her health was insignificant compared to his wedding and questioned if he simply didn't want to see her. Zhao Lanzhi, maintaining his cold demeanor, declared that he and Ming Hui loved each other, and their marriage was by Imperial edict. He told Ye Yuanan that their fate had ended and they could not be together. He advised her to leave if she wasn't there to drink a toast.
Ye Yuanan pressed him, questioning if Ming Hui had threatened him. Ming Hui then stepped forward, ordering her guards to surround Ye Yuanan. She boldly stated she would do anything for Zhao Lanzhi and warned Ye Yuanan that disrupting an Empress-granted marriage would result in her dying in vain. Zhao Lanzhi reiterated his dismissal, telling Ye Yuanan to leave and denying any coercion from Ming Hui.
Heartbroken and devastated, Ye Yuanan left with Mu Le, riding her horse to a riverside cliff as heavy rain poured down. Mu Le tried to comfort her, innocently suggesting she could also get married to spite Zhao Lanzhi. He explained marriage as treating someone wholeheartedly and never letting them be sad. Unexpectedly, Tian Shu appeared and supported Mu Le's idea, urging Ye Yuanan to marry Mu Le and live a happier life than Zhao Lanzhi as the ultimate revenge.
Overwhelmed by anger and despair, Ye Yuanan agreed. Tian Shu then officiated an impromptu wedding for them in the wilderness. They bowed to heaven and earth, and to Tian Shu, before bowing to each other. Mu Le poured out his heart, promising to always like Ye Yuanan and ensure she never felt sad. Ye Yuanan, in turn, admitted her affection for Mu Le. Tian Shu then playfully ushered them into a nearby cave, declaring it their bridal chamber.
