An Oriental Odyssey Episode 47 Recap
> An Oriental Odyssey Recap
Empress Tuoyue, heartbroken, condemned Prince Ying for his obsession with beauty and recent blunders after he willingly handed her the Nine Divine Beads. She ordered him imprisoned and his scapulae nailed, a process that would strip him of all powers, and commanded that Ye Yuanan be dragged out to endure the scorching sun of Suoluo.
Prince Ying pleaded with his Royal Mother to spare Ye Yuanan, offering to bear all consequences himself, but Empress Tuoyue chastised him, asserting that royal rules had no exceptions. Later, in the dungeon, Zhenzhen came to nail Prince Ying's scapulae. She asked if he regretted his actions, but he defiantly replied, "I won't regret it." As he was flogged, Zhenzhen watched, filled with deep guilt for having lied to him.
Zhenzhen reflected on her past, recalling how Prince Ying had once rescued her from robbers trying to steal money meant for her father's medicine, even giving her additional funds. Upon returning home, she found that Lingxi had saved her critically ill father, making her deeply indebted to him. Shortly after, she saw a palace notice announcing a warrior selection, with the winner earning the right to serve Prince Ying.
Despite being a girl, Zhenzhen boldly cut her hair, disguised herself as a man, and secretly participated in the competition, believing she could be an exception. She trained martial arts day and night, impressing many with her skill. During the final round, her true gender was exposed by an opponent, leading to calls for her arrest. However, Prince Ying intervened, stating that the palace selected warriors based on talent.
He acknowledged her impressive performance in defeating many candidates, which proved her strength, and allowed her to stay in the palace. From that day on, Zhenzhen served Prince Ying, eventually rising to her current position. The news of Prince Ying using the Nine Divine Beads to kill General Bokai spread rapidly throughout Suoluo, causing widespread panic among soldiers and citizens alike.
The Prime Minister and numerous officials sought an audience with the King and Empress Tuoyue, expressing their anxiety and demanding a solution. They argued that Prince Ying had lost the people's trust and, despite Prince Heng's past transgressions being a secret, Prince Ying's actions were publicly known. They urged the King to release Prince Heng from the pagoda to serve as Regent, believing this was the only way to quell public unrest and restore order.
Reluctantly, the King agreed to their request. Empress Tuoyue personally went to the pagoda to release Prince Heng, conveying his Royal Father's order. Prince Heng expressed profound gratitude to both his Royal Father and Royal Mother, claiming that his time in confinement had led him to realize his mistakes and that he intended to turn over a new leaf, dedicating himself to the prosperity of the kingdom. Empress Tuoyue, skeptical, questioned his sincerity, then brought him to the King.
The King, acknowledging that Prince Heng was only released due to Prince Ying's grave error, then showed Prince Heng the Nine Divine Beads, inviting him to touch them, as a test of his ambition. Prince Heng, controlling his inner desires, returned the Beads, stating that he no longer sought magic or power but only wished to ease his father's burdens.
The King, surprised that Prince Heng had resisted the temptation that would typically reveal a greedy man, discussed the matter with Empress Tuoyue. He decided to appoint Prince Heng as temporary Regent to pacify the people, though he felt Prince Heng should be tested further before being entrusted with the Divine Beads permanently.
Upon his appointment as Regent, Prince Heng immediately sought to gain public favor by issuing decrees, including a general amnesty and distributing rice and flour to every family. The citizens praised his benevolence, contrasting it with Prince Ying's perceived violence and selfishness, and expressed hopes for Prince Heng to rule Suoluo. Empress Tuoyue acknowledged Prince Heng's efforts to win the people's hearts and his plan to recuperate the kingdom and end wars, which greatly pleased her.
She then sought his opinion on how to deal with Prince Ying and the "temptress" who incited him. Prince Heng suggested seeing them first. In the dungeon, Prince Ying greeted his brother, expressing happiness at his release and marveling at how their fortunes had reversed so quickly. Prince Heng scornfully stated that Prince Ying's troubles were self-inflicted due to his misuse of the Divine Beads and killing a meritorious official.
Prince Ying adamantly defended Ye Yuanan, insisting she was not a temptress. When Prince Heng pressed him to admit his crimes to save his life, Prince Ying maintained that he had done nothing wrong against his brother, parents, or the kingdom. Angered, Prince Heng left the dungeon. Prince Heng then approached Ye Yuanan, who was still enduring the scorching sun. Ye Yuanan, concerned for Prince Ying, asked about Mu Le.
Prince Heng, feigning ignorance of the name Mu Le, coldly reminded her that he was Prince Ying, the Prince of Suoluo, not some slave. Ye Yuanan, however, insisted on calling him Mu Le, explaining she was Ye Yuanan, daughter of the Tang Empire's Minister of Finance, and that Mu Le, who once lived with her family, had stolen the Nine Divine Beads, prompting her journey to Suoluo.
Prince Heng, sensing her affection, declared that countless people would die for Prince Ying and that Ye Yuanan was not unique. He then triumphantly informed her that Prince Ying was suffering terribly in prison precisely because of her, before ordering her unbound and taken to see him. In the dungeon, Ye Yuanan was heartbroken to see Prince Ying (whom she called Mu Le) battered and bruised from torture.
Prince Heng revealed that Prince Ying's wounds would heal, only for him to endure the same agony repeatedly each day, all because he had misused the Divine Beads for Ye Yuanan. Overcome with guilt, Ye Yuanan blamed herself, but Prince Heng affirmed, "This is all your fault." Prince Heng presented Ye Yuanan with a cruel choice: take the Divine Beads and Prince Ying would die, or leave the Beads and Ye Yuanan would die.
Ye Yuanan asked to speak with Prince Ying one last time, a request Prince Heng granted. Ye Yuanan gently woke Prince Ying, who, seeing her, thought he was dreaming and wished he would never wake up from such a beautiful illusion. Ye Yuanan, distraught by his suffering, confessed her regret at having bought him in the Ghost Market, believing that if they hadn't met, Zhao Lanzhi and Tianshu might still be alive, and she wouldn't be imprisoned in Suoluo.
Prince Ying, however, declared that falling in love with her was the happiest time of his life, and the one thing he did not regret. He urged her to return safely, seeing it as a way to honor his promise to Master Tianshu. Ye Yuanan, tearfully expressed her sorrow for the people who would die if she didn't retrieve the Divine Beads.
Despite his pain, Prince Ying reassured her, saying he would never regret anything he did for her, accepting his suffering as his karma. Empress Tuoyue, observing their heartfelt exchange, was deeply moved by their profound love for each other. Prince Heng again presented the Nine Divine Beads, demanding Ye Yuanan choose between Prince Ying and the Beads.
Ye Yuanan, in a furious display, chose Prince Ying and hurled the Nine Divine Beads to the ground, reminding Prince Heng of his promise to spare Prince Ying's life in exchange for hers. Prince Heng then brought the Divine Beads to Empress Tuoyue, subtly pleading for his younger brother.
He argued that while Prince Ying's actions were unlawful, they were committed under duress, and suggested that banishment from Suoluo and forfeiture of his position would be sufficient punishment, rather than the death penalty. Empress Tuoyue was touched by Prince Heng's apparent compassion for his brother, acknowledging their deep love and her inability to abandon either of her sons. She accepted Prince Heng's suggestion and entrusted him with the final decision regarding Prince Ying's fate.
Empress Tuoyue, after confirming Prince Ying's unwavering love for Ye Yuanan and his willingness to sacrifice everything for her, granted his wish. However, while he was spared the death penalty, she decreed that his punishment was unavoidable. All his martial skills, being from Suoluo, could not be taken to another land, and thus the nails in his scapulae would remain, rendering him powerless. He was no longer a Prince of Suoluo and was forever banished from the kingdom.
Prince Ying accepted the punishment willingly, thanking his Royal Mother. As Prince Ying and Ye Yuanan prepared to depart, Prince Heng met with his brother, informing him that to appease the populace, he would publicly announce that Prince Ying was imprisoned forever in the dungeon. He then encouraged his brother to cherish Ye Yuanan, as finding true love was rare. Rescued from their ordeal, Ye Yuanan and Prince Ying decided to return to Great Tang for a peaceful life.
Before leaving Suoluo, Ye Yuanan took Prince Ying to pay respects at the memorial for Tianshu and others. Prince Ying, filled with remorse for his past actions while he had amnesia, asked Ye Yuanan if she hated him. Ye Yuanan reassured him that Tianshu would not hate him, so neither would she. She urged him to live their remaining days well to honor those who had sacrificed for them.
Later, Empress Tuoyue inquired if the King remembered Prince Heng and Prince Ying as boys. The King recalled Prince Heng's early, uncontrolled use of magic, from burning a futon to turning his master into stone or guards into mice, and even incinerating an entire forest during a hunt. He reiterated how this led him to forbid magic throughout the kingdom and secure all magic books.
The Empress admitted her worry about Prince Heng, acknowledging that while magic itself wasn't evil, unchecked human greed was terrifying. She noted that Prince Heng had seemingly put aside his violent tendencies and forgiven his brother. She then asked the King if he had truly forgiven Prince Heng and if he was now willing to entrust him with the Divine Beads. The King simply replied, "Just go."
