Jun Jiu Ling Episode 36 Recap
> Jun Jiu Ling Recap
During the imperial court session, Prime Minister Huang vehemently accused Lord Cheng of intending to betray Tianyou to Beiqi, presenting memorials from officials and soldiers in the North who claimed Lord Cheng oppressed them and disrupted governance. Prime Minister Huang insisted that as long as Lord Cheng remained in power, the border would never be peaceful, and he urged Chu Rang to strip Lord Cheng of his military duties and punish him for abusing his authority.
Other ministers echoed these demands. Despite his steadfast loyalty to Chu Rang and the court, Lord Cheng chose not to argue. Citing his advanced age and lingering injuries from recent battles, he requested to resign from all military posts. Chu Rang granted his request, acknowledging Lord Cheng's long years of service. However, it was widely believed that this was not a true resignation but a disguised dismissal, orchestrated to portray Lord Cheng as guilty and consolidate power.
Rumors spread on the streets that Lord Cheng was greedy for military achievements and sought to provoke war to regain control of the army, forcing the Emperor's hand. Upon learning of these developments, Jun Jiuling grew concerned for Lord Cheng. She found him and his wife already preparing to leave, having packed their belongings for the North.
Jiuling expressed her worry that Prime Minister Huang and Chu Rang would not let Lord Cheng go easily, urging Zhu Zan to safely escort his parents, emphasizing its utmost importance. Zhu Zan assured her he would stay and protect her, stating his own plans for vengeance would unfold gradually. Lord Cheng, in turn, comforted Jiuling, revealing he had long anticipated this day.
He reiterated that the credit he had given her truly belonged to her, explaining that while he was targeted, her reputation remained intact. He believed that by having her gain more renown, particularly as a doctor who healed the people, it would be enough to eventually challenge Chu Rang, as even the Emperor could not fully suppress public will. Just as Jiuling and Zhu Zan bid farewell, a palace messenger arrived, summoning Jiuling to attend to the Empress.
Before she left, Zhu Zan cautioned her not to act impulsively in the palace, reminding her that staying alive was paramount, especially since she had already "died once." As Jun Jiuling entered the palace, she encountered Ning Yunzhao. They exchanged brief, distant greetings to avoid raising suspicions from Prime Minister Huang. Ning Yunzhao, also summoned urgently, sensed a significant event was unfolding, believing Chu Rang was finally shedding his benevolent facade and eliminating remaining opposition.
He subtly advised Jiuling to be careful given her deep ties to Lord Cheng, stating his resolve to do his best to serve the people and the state amidst the court's turmoil.
Inside, Prime Minister Huang escalated his accusations against Lord Cheng, now referring to him as "Zhu Shan," presenting not only earlier civil official complaints but new memorials from officers and soldiers in the North, along with what he claimed were secret letters between "Zhu Shan" and the Crown Prince of Beiqi, proving treason. Chu Rang initially expressed disbelief but was swayed by the presented evidence, leading other ministers to clamor for "Zhu Shan's" immediate arrest.
Ning Yunzhao, witnessing the gravity of the accusations, worried about Jun Jiuling's safety given her connection to Lord Cheng. After Jiuling concluded her visit with the Empress, she left the inner chambers. As she navigated the palace grounds, Lu Yunqi intercepted her, ominously remarking on her "revisit" before forcibly taking her away. Unaware of Jiuling's abduction, Ning Yunzhao left the palace and saw Chen Qi still waiting anxiously outside the gates.
Unable to speak to him directly due to Prime Minister Huang's proximity, he departed in his carriage, pondering Jiuling's whereabouts. Jun Jiuling awoke to find herself in Lu Yunqi's mansion, a room lavishly decorated as a marital chamber, with Lu Yunqi himself dressed in wedding attire, his gaze filled with intense obsession. Her hands and feet were tied, making escape impossible. Jiuling immediately tried to scream for help, but Lu Yunqi calmly informed her the doors and windows were locked.
He declared it was their wedding day, producing a wedding dress identical to the one she wore during their previous marriage, telling her she had been gone for over a year and it felt like a dream. Jiuling furiously called him a madman, which he readily admitted, stating he was mad only for her. He then revealed his realization that she was not an incarnation but the real Jiuling returned, much to her horror.
Jiuling vehemently rejected him, reminding him they were always enemies and finding him disgusting. He misinterpreted her anger, thinking she blamed him for not saving her during her assassination attempt on Chu Rang, which he claimed was an act of protection. When he tried to approach, Jiuling snatched a stick and threatened to harm herself, desperately pleading to be released.
Lu Yunqi, retreating slightly, promised he was not mad, just a madman in love, and insisted he was protecting her from Chu Rang, who now suspected her. He called her his beloved and deceased wife, refusing to kill her, and offered to take her anywhere she wished. Jiuling continued to demand her freedom, angrily rejecting the food he brought her. Meanwhile, capital soldiers were dispatched to apprehend Lord Cheng.
They confronted him on the road, ordering him back to the capital to face treason charges. Lord Cheng defiantly refused to return, asserting that his sword had only ever spilled the blood of Tianyou's enemies, not its own people. He questioned whether the soldiers themselves would accept such humiliation, declaring he would rather die than return to the capital disgraced.
He spoke of his lifelong dedication to Tianyou's peace, not personal gain, and challenged them to truly say he was a traitor after his decades of selfless service. Moved by his unwavering integrity and loyalty, recognizing him as a true loyal general, the soldiers chose to defy their orders. One by one, they made way, allowing Lord Cheng and his family to pass safely, wishing him a safe journey and acknowledging his immense contribution to Tianyou's peace.
Back in the capital, Chen Qi waited until nightfall for Jun Jiuling, growing increasingly anxious as she did not appear. He discussed his concerns with Shopkeeper Liu, noting it was unlike Jiuling to leave him uninformed. Soon after, Ning Yunzhao approached them discreetly, having observed Chen Qi's distress from a distance earlier. Ning Yunzhao revealed his suspicion that Jiuling was in Lu Yunqi's hands.
Shopkeeper Liu confirmed Jiuling's disappearance, expressing despair that with Zhu Zan absent, there was no one to rescue her. Ning Yunzhao advised against any rash actions, promising to approach Lu Yunqi first to assess the situation. He also clarified that their earlier distant behavior was a pre-arranged act to mislead others, and he would secretly send updates. He subsequently confronted Lu Yunqi, demanding to know Jiuling's whereabouts.
Lu Yunqi, however, was unconcerned, stating that Emperor Chu Rang himself intended to eliminate Jiuling, making her rescue by Ning Yunzhao impossible at present. Despite this, Ning Yunzhao deduced that Lu Yunqi's profound obsession with Jiuling meant he would not harm her, and then notified Shopkeeper Liu not to act rashly. Later, Shopkeeper Liu and Chen Qi discussed Ning Yunzhao's note, which confirmed Jun Jiuling was indeed held by Lu Yunqi.
Chen Qi impulsively wanted to storm the Arm Moral Department, but Shopkeeper Liu restrained him, explaining such an act would be suicidal. They considered making Jiuling's abduction public to leverage popular opinion but dismissed the idea. With Lord Cheng now officially convicted of treason, Jiuling's close association with his family would make her disappearance easy for malicious parties to exploit, further muddying the waters.
They concluded that waiting patiently was their only option, finding a sliver of fortune in her being held by Lu Yunqi rather than Chu Rang, believing Lu Yunqi's profound obsession meant he would not harm her, unlike the Emperor. In the ensuing days, Lu Yunqi ensured Jiuling remained confined, though he personally brought her food daily and attempted to engage her, revealing outside news in hopes she would accept her situation.
He informed her that Lord Cheng had been convicted of treason and would face execution upon his return to the capital, dismissing the matter as irrelevant to them and insisting she call him "Yunqi," her husband. Jiuling, however, fiercely rejected him, finding him abhorrent, and reiterated her demand for freedom. He continually reassured her he was protecting her and would always keep her safe.
Meanwhile, at Jiuling Drugstore, staff were instructed to tell visitors that Dr. Jun had returned to Zezhou due to family matters, a lie to protect her whereabouts. Lu Yunqi mockingly told Jiuling that Ning Yunzhao had even tried to visit her, acknowledging Ning's deeper appreciation for her "soul." Unaware of Jiuling's desperate situation, Prime Minister Huang reported to Chu Rang that Lord Cheng had escaped and suggested numerous individuals must have aided him along the way.
Chu Rang ordered an investigation into who provided assistance. Prime Minister Huang confidently stated that Lu Yunqi would soon apprehend Lord Cheng. Lu Yunqi then reported his findings to Chu Rang, tracing Lord Cheng's last known location near Malüe Pass, suggesting he was heading towards Baozhou in the North. Surprised by this, Chu Rang dispatched Yuan Bao to alert the Earl of Qinghe to set an ambush.
After Prime Minister Huang departed, Chu Rang inquired about Jun Jiuling, whom Lu Yunqi claimed had returned to Zezhou due to a family dispute. Chu Rang then chillingly instructed Lu Yunqi to eliminate Jiuling, emphasizing that she must not be left alive to cause future trouble.
