An Oriental Odyssey Episode 41 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
The King severely reprimanded Prince Ying for trespassing into the restricted Imperial Library and using forbidden magic. Prince Ying admitted his mistake but earnestly pleaded for Xiao Nan, reminding his Royal Father of the importance of compassion towards their subjects. Since Xiao Nan, a citizen, was harmed by unknown magic, Prince Ying felt obliged to help. Taking into account that it was his birthday, the King decided to pardon Prince Ying and let the matter of the forbidden magic pass.
The King then requested both Prince Ying and Prince Heng to present the Wuli flowers they had been tasked to grow. As they brought their flowers forward, Prince Ying honestly confessed that his flower was not grown by him but by Xiao Nan, who had used a spell because the seed was shriveled and ugly. He humbly requested the King's forgiveness for his actions and the lie.
In contrast, Prince Heng insisted that his beautiful flower was cultivated solely through his own patience and care. Disappointed, the King declared that only one of his sons had told the truth and asked Empress Tuoyue to reveal the winner. The Empress announced Prince Ying as the victor, explaining that the seeds given to both princes were actually baked and incapable of sprouting, designed to test their honesty.
Prince Heng, flustered, quickly offered an apology, claiming he was merely eager to present a fine birthday gift. The King sternly rebuked Prince Heng for his deceit and reminded him of the teachings against using magic for personal gain. He then commended Prince Ying for his truthfulness, expressing that he would rather believe Prince Ying's actions were driven purely by a desire to help Xiao Nan.
As a birthday favor, the King promised to invite a High Priest to lift Xiao Nan's transfiguration curse. Back in his chambers, Prince Heng blamed Lingxi for using magic to grow his flower, fearing that this incident would only increase the King and Queen's favoritism towards Prince Ying. He worried that Prince Ying's succession to the throne was now inevitable.
Lingxi, incensed, suggested that Prince Heng could become crown prince if Prince Ying were eliminated, and impulsively decided to kill him. Prince Heng stopped her, cautioning that such a drastic act would expose her using a transfiguration spell to turn a man into a deer. Lingxi then confessed that she had deliberately planted the fake transfiguration spell book, hoping to drive Xiao Nan mad, out of frustration with Prince Ying constantly overshadowing Prince Heng.
However, Prince Heng declared that Lingxi's life was more valuable to him than the throne and forbade her from taking any further action. With his transfiguration curse lifted, Xiao Nan was joyful and planned to live peacefully with Xiao Lian. The couple thanked Prince Ying, who redirected their gratitude towards Ye Yuanan. Ye Yuanan then secretly whispered to Xiao Nan about her origins from the future.
Prince Ying, curious about their hushed conversation, confronted Ye Yuanan, but she refused to tell him, even playfully threatening to kill him. Prince Ying, unfazed, handed her a dagger, inviting her to do so, knowing she couldn't.
Ye Yuanan questioned Prince Ying about the mysterious person who had planted the fake spell book in the Imperial Library and how it nearly killed Xiao Nan, but Prince Ying, satisfied that Xiao Nan had recovered and the King had dropped the matter, saw no need to investigate further.
Ye Yuanan then predicted that he would not become Emperor but would serve as a horse groom for a girl in the Tang Dynasty, to which he cheekily suggested she should be his maid instead. As Xiao Nan and Xiao Lian invited them for a drink, Lingxi, hidden nearby, ambushed Prince Ying. Xiao Nan bravely intervened, taking a fatal blow for Prince Ying, and died with a grateful smile, relieved to be freed from his monstrous form.
Ye Yuanan retaliated by shooting an arrow at Lingxi. She and Prince Ying pursued the wounded attacker on horseback, but Lingxi used a hidden weapon against Ye Yuanan's horse, causing it to swerve. Ye Yuanan shouted "Dao! Dao! Dao!" (meaning "turn back" to the horse), which Tian Shu misinterpreted as a signal to return, using his Reverse Time magic to summon her back. Upon her abrupt return, Ye Yuanan was furious, scolding Tian Shu for misinterpreting her words.
She desperately demanded to be sent back, but Tian Shu claimed he was too exhausted. Ming Hui quickly deduced that Ye Yuanan had failed to eliminate Prince Ying (Mu Le) and was desperate to return. Ye Yuanan admitted her failure and again insisted on being sent back. Zhao Lanzhi attempted to offer his help, suggesting he could kill Prince Ying, but Ye Yuanan adamantly refused, declaring it her responsibility.
Ming Hui then accused Ye Yuanan of being ungrateful and jeopardizing Zhao Lanzhi's life, as well as many others whose lives were controlled by the Empress, by her reluctance to complete the mission. After the heated argument, Tian Shu stated he could only send one person back due to his depleted power. Ye Yuanan stepped forward, accepting the task. Zhao Lanzhi gravely reminded her that this was her last opportunity to eliminate Prince Ying.
Tian Shu warned Ye Yuanan that she would be sent back a few days prior to her previous departure and advised her to be cautious. Meanwhile, Lingxi, impressed by Tian Shu's power, asked him to teach her the Reverse Time magic to correct her past regrets. Tian Shu, removing his hood, revealed that they were similar, and while Lingxi recognized his profound insight, he refused her request to teach her the magic or undo her spell.
He explained that everything has its own fate, and true freedom comes from letting go of the past. Lingxi questioned why he sent Ye Yuanan back if that was the case. Tian Shu replied that Ye Yuanan could only release her present burdens by understanding her past. Ming Hui suspected that she and Zhao Lanzhi had been deceived by Tian Shu. Zhao Lanzhi expressed deep concern for Ye Yuanan, leading Ming Hui to accuse him of caring only for her.
Ming Hui believed Ye Yuanan was incapable of killing Prince Ying (Mu Le) due to her affection for him, suggesting that she would have to reveal the truth about Tian Shu to persuade her. Tian Shu then confessed that during his struggle with Prince Ying for the Nine Divine Beads, the immense power of the beads caused him to lose his physical body, leaving him as merely a spirit, vulnerable to sunlight.
He assured them that he could regain his true form if the Nine Divine Beads were recovered, but this depended on Ye Yuanan's choices. Ming Hui was furious, arguing that Prince Ying had stolen the beads and killed the State Preceptor, yet Tian Shu seemed indifferent.
Tian Shu, however, asserted that Ye Yuanan, Prince Ying, and the Nine Divine Beads were all connected by destiny, and their path involved specific "tribulations," a concept that confused both Zhao Lanzhi and Ming Hui. Ye Yuanan awoke by a river in Suoluo, where a woman named Dan Zhu approached her. When Ye Yuanan refused to engage, Dan Zhu magically immobilized her, claiming her as a slave.
Annoyed but powerless, Ye Yuanan was forced to accompany Dan Zhu to the market. Dan Zhu, unfamiliar with such places, was amused by Tang Dynasty cosmetics, liberally applying them to her face. When it was time to pay, Dan Zhu magically transformed leaves into money to settle the bill. At a restaurant, Dan Zhu became enraged when other patrons commented on Ye Yuanan's beauty, believing Ye Yuanan to be prettier.
In a fit of jealousy, Dan Zhu attacked Ye Yuanan, throwing her from an upper floor. Prince Ying, riding past, happened to catch Ye Yuanan as she fell. Seeing him, Ye Yuanan panicked and immediately hid under a table inside the restaurant. Prince Ying inquired about Ye Yuanan at the restaurant, describing her appearance to Dan Zhu, who was instantly captivated by his handsomeness.
Prince Ying explained he had been searching for a friend who had mysteriously disappeared and told Dan Zhu to inform the girl that he would wait for her at the spot where she had vanished. After Prince Ying left, Dan Zhu confronted a hiding Ye Yuanan, sensing her feelings for him despite Ye Yuanan's protests of hatred. Dan Zhu, admitting her own attraction to Prince Ying, asked Ye Yuanan to help her win him over.
Ye Yuanan reluctantly agreed, on the condition that Dan Zhu would release her from the spell. Dan Zhu then attempted to flirt with Prince Ying by the river, trying some peculiar advice given by Ye Yuanan. However, Prince Ying saw through Ye Yuanan's hiding spot behind a tree, revealing he knew she was the one from the restaurant and that he had witnessed her strange disappearances and reappearances, especially after Xiao Nan's death.
Moved by Prince Ying's sincerity and reluctant to part ways, Ye Yuanan decided to join him in investigating Xiao Nan's death, and also asked to bring Dan Zhu along. Prince Ying agreed and brought them both to the palace. Prince Ying cautioned Ye Yuanan and Dan Zhu to be careful while roaming the grounds, mentioning an upcoming celebration where his Royal Father would meet the people.
He explained that the celebration commemorated the sealing of a mischievous red dragon in Lucang River by a high priest long ago. This dragon would attempt to break free every Mid-Autumn Festival, leading the people to hold a festive celebration to keep it at bay. Ye Yuanan recalled Zhao Lanzhi's previous mention of Prince Ying (Mu Le) transforming into a red dragon monster on Huodu Mountain and wondered about a potential connection.
Dan Zhu, further smitten by Prince Ying's royal status, enthusiastically believed her centuries of waiting for him were justified. Ye Yuanan, however, tried to temper Dan Zhu's excitement, observing Prince Ying's apparent lack of interest in her and warning her against becoming too deeply involved to avoid future heartbreak.
