An Oriental Odyssey Episode 39 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Prince Ying revealed to Ye Yuanan that his Royal Father was gravely ill, necessitating his journey to Great Tang to retrieve the Nine Divine Beads. He explained that after each healing session for his father, he would seal the beads to prevent anyone from misusing their power to threaten the world. Ye Yuanan, though understanding his predicament, still longed to reclaim the Divine Beads to rescue her imprisoned family.
Prince Ying, having shared his secret, questioned Ye Yuanan if she was concealing anything from him, but she merely replied that she was just a maid servant with no secrets. Later, Ye Yuanan secretly followed Prince Ying, watching him take the Divine Beads to treat the King. After Prince Ying completed the treatment and stored the beads, Ye Yuanan attempted to retrieve them, only to find the box empty and realize she had been tricked.
Queen Tuoyue and her soldiers then appeared, accusing Ye Yuanan of infiltrating the palace to steal the Divine Beads. Prince Ying expressed his deep disappointment, telling Ye Yuanan that he had almost come to trust her, even considering her his best friend, and had given her a chance to be truthful in front of Buddha.
However, she had disappointed him by refusing to reveal her true intentions, confirming his Royal Mother's suspicion that she only approached him to steal the Divine Beads. In a fit of anger, Ye Yuanan confessed she was not Nana and dramatically revealed her true identity as Ye Yuanan, stating that Prince Ying had once been her stable boy, Mu Le, in Chang'an, and had taken the Divine Beads from her.
She claimed her arduous journey from Great Tang was to retrieve the beads and save her family. When Prince Ying demanded proof, Ye Yuanan recalled the wooden waist tag bearing the name "Mu Le" that she had given him after purchasing him in the Ghost Market, explaining she named him because he was quiet but smiled beautifully. Queen Tuoyue then asked Zhenzhen to confirm Ye Yuanan's claims, but Zhenzhen stated she had no knowledge of these events.
Prince Ying, recalling some past events but unwilling to believe or remember them, reiterated that the Divine Beads were originally Suoluo's treasure, and while he retrieved them for his father, his experiences in Tang were lost to him, making them "meaningless." Queen Tuoyue then asked Prince Ying how he planned to deal with Ye Yuanan, who had undermined his reputation. Prince Ying declared that for attempting to steal the Divine Beads alone, she deserved to be beheaded.
As Prince Ying raised his sword, Zhao Lanzhi and Ming Hui suddenly appeared and rescued Ye Yuanan. Ye Yuanan, surprised by their presence, learned from Zhao Lanzhi that Tianshu had predicted her danger, prompting him to seek permission from the Empress to come to her aid. Ming Hui also came, confessing her concern for Zhao Lanzhi.
A flashback showed Zhao Lanzhi volunteering to go to Suoluo to retrieve the Divine Beads and rescue Ye Yuanan, intending to go alone to shield Ming Hui from any potential blame. However, Ming Hui, recognizing his subtle attempt to free her from their marriage, volunteered to accompany him, telling him his story was "quite touching." Ye Yuanan, still puzzled by their swift arrival given her days-long journey, was reminded by Zhao Lanzhi of State Preceptor Tianshu.
Tianshu then materialized, explaining that he had found a magical "teleportation umbrella" among Tian Qiao's possessions, which allowed him to transport them all to Suoluo. He jokingly asked Ye Yuanan to take off his mask, but claimed he was practicing a secret martial art that prevented him from being exposed to light. With Ye Yuanan now a wanted criminal, the group sought refuge at Lingxi's dwelling.
Lingxi, observing Tianshu closely, remarked that he couldn't feel his breathing or heartbeat, wondering if Tianshu was a "great master." Tianshu explained he was practicing "dormancy skill," or "turtle breath skill." Zhao Lanzhi then questioned Ye Yuanan why Mu Le would try to kill her after their marriage, to which Ye Yuanan sadly replied that he had forgotten everything that happened in Tang.
She explained that the man who tried to kill her was Prince Ying of Suoluo, and she was merely a "thief" attempting to steal the Divine Beads. Ming Hui, skeptical, sarcastically suggested Ye Yuanan had too easily cleared his name and that she expected him to "obediently present the Divine Beads." Ye Yuanan retorted that while she appreciated being saved, Ming Hui had no right to ridicule her, and vowed that their ties were severed and she would be ruthless.
Tianshu intervened, calming the argument, and lamented that he hadn't killed Prince Ying when he had the chance while collecting the Divine Beads for Tianqiao. When someone suggested it was impossible to get the Divine Beads now, Tianshu revealed he knew a "time-traveling" skill that could send them all back to the past, though it would consume a lot of his energy. He clarified he was helping because their families were being held hostage by the Empress.
Ming Hui again expressed doubt that Ye Yuanan could bring herself to kill Prince Ying. Ye Yuanan insisted, "My ties with Mu Le have been severed. I surely will kill him." Tianshu then explained his magic's mechanics: two hours in their present equated to one day in the past, and they must say "dao" three times to return. He also warned them to avoid "irrelevant" people in the past. Tianshu performed the spell, sending all three back in time.
However, they materialized directly in front of Prince Ying amidst a barrage of arrows, forcing them to immediately utter "dao" three times to return. Tianshu apologized, admitting he sent them "too near" in time and that his power was limited. He declared he could only send one person further back. Ye Yuanan volunteered, reaffirming her resolve: "My ties with Mu Le have been severed. I surely will kill him." Ye Yuanan was then transported to a bustling street in Suoluo.
Hungry, she snatched a roast chicken from a vendor. When he demanded payment, she hit him, knocking him unconscious. Officers arrived to arrest her. Just then, Prince Ying appeared on horseback. He questioned Ye Yuanan's origins. She stated she was from the "Tang Empire" and had "traveled far" and was "so hungry." Prince Ying remarked that Tang was a "good place" and that he had always wanted to visit Luoyang.
Realizing Tianshu had sent her back before Prince Ying's journey to Tang, Ye Yuanan, believing his visit to Tang would doom everything, attempted to assassinate him with a dagger, but was swiftly stopped by onlookers. Prince Ying, bewildered by her murderous intent, nonetheless found her "quite pretty" and thought she "can be useful." He ordered his men to take her away.
Prince Ying tied Ye Yuanan to a tree, instructing her to act as bait for an approaching friend, telling her to "talk to him" and "act accordingly." Ye Yuanan, recalling her past as his master, reluctantly agreed. When the friend arrived, Ye Yuanan feigned tears, fabricating a story about her father trying to marry her off to an "old and ugly" eighty-year-old man.
Flattered by her compliment on his "good looks," the friend promised to untie her if she would go with him. She agreed, but as he was untying her, she cunningly asked him to find her "headdress" in a specific spot. This diverted his attention, allowing Prince Ying's guards to apprehend him. The friend, realizing he had been defrauded and used as "bait," was enraged. He transformed into a deer and escaped, inadvertently carrying Ye Yuanan with him.
Ye Yuanan soon woke up in a cave filled with other abducted girls. The monster, still fuming, confronted her, calling her "two-faced" and "evil," and attempted to force her into marriage. Ye Yuanan refused, causing the monster to fly into a rage and storm out of the cave. The other girls then informed Ye Yuanan that the monster was named Xiao Nan, responsible for kidnapping girls in the city. Shortly after, Mu Le, wearing a large bird-like contraption, arrived at the cave.
