Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Episode 35 Recap
> Legend of Two Sisters in the Chaos Recap
Zhang Yongyao was seen burning items in the courtyard, expressing deep remorse. He blamed himself for failing to protect his deceased child, who passed before experiencing the world, and for being a poor husband to Shou An, whose suffering he felt was entirely his fault. He lovingly burned the small trinkets Shou An had made for their child, asking the child to frequently visit Shou An, as he might not be able to do so himself anymore.
Shou An, observing from a distance, remained consumed by hatred for Yuzhan, believing Yuzhan was responsible for all her misfortunes. She later confided in her maid, Yancao, that she felt her fate was uncertain and wished to take a final look at her mansion. She prepared to enter the palace, armed with a dagger, intending to take Yuzhan down with her. Meanwhile, Zhao Wan'er delivered the incense pills Yuzhan had requested.
Yuzhan immediately summoned an imperial physician, who discovered that while the Stellaria Leaf in the pills was non-toxic by itself, it would become a deadly poison when combined with green plums. Yuzhan questioned Zhao Wan'er about her intentions. At that moment, Zhang Yongyao sought an audience, claiming to have leads on Yuzhan's poisoning. Shou An, having learned of Zhang Yongyao's entry into the palace, was unsurprised, believing his integrity and deep affection for Yuzhan would lead him to expose her.
Alone with Yuzhan, Zhang Yongyao suddenly lunged at her with a dagger but intentionally stumbled, failing the attack. He then confessed to poisoning Yuzhan and harboring a desire for her death, driven by his hatred. Shou An, who had just arrived and overheard his confession, dropped her dagger in shock. Zhang Yongyao continued to falsely claim responsibility for the assassination attempt, hoping to shield Shou An.
However, Yuzhan revealed she had already learned from the imperial physician that the poison was a combination of Zhao Wan'er's Stellaria Leaf and Shou An's green plums. Shou An then admitted to the poisoning, accusing Yuzhan of ruining her happiness, her home with Zhang Yongyao, and causing her child's death.
Yuzhan retorted angrily, stating that while the child's death might be related to her, Shou An's unhappiness stemmed from her own lack of trust in Zhang Yongyao and her unwarranted suspicions, not from Yuzhan. Yuzhan declared that she would not report the poisoning to the Emperor and would regard Zhang Yongyao's assassination attempt as merely a presentation of a dagger. Zhang Yongyao expressed his gratitude for her pardon.
Back at her mansion, Shou An proposed a peaceful divorce to Zhang Yongyao. He refused, asserting that all the problems began with him due to his lingering feelings for the Empress after their marriage. He vowed to remain her husband for life. Yuzhan revisited Zhao Wan'er, pressing her for the true reason behind the poisoning.
With a look of resentment, Zhao Wan'er revealed her real name was Fu Wan'er, daughter of Fu Yantong from Xuzhou, the "Fu woman" from the empress legend. She accused Yuzhan of selfishly causing the demise of her entire family. Yuzhan apologized, but Lanpei, Yuzhan's maid, interjected to clarify that it was the late emperor who ordered the family's extermination, not Yuzhan.
Lanpei explained that Yuzhan had dispatched General Zhang Sheng to rescue the Fu family, but he arrived too late and only managed to save Fu Wan'er. General Zhang Sheng, identifiable by his capital city accent and military bearing, was the true rescuer. Overwhelmed by this revelation, realizing that Yuzhan, whom she sought to kill, was her savior, Fu Wan'er collapsed. Later, Yuzhan informed Xue Rong about Fu Wan'er's identity and requested leniency, asking for her release from the palace.
Yuzhan explained her past actions had inadvertently led to the tragedy of Fu Wan'er's family, and she considered the poisoning a repayment for her family's debt. Xue Rong, though hesitant, agreed to release Fu Wan'er but intended to monitor her movements. Yuzhan then went to visit Fu Wan'er, returning a hairpin that General Zhang Sheng had recovered. Fu Wan'er recognized it as a keepsake from her mother.
Unable to bear the weight of guilt and Yuzhan's forgiveness, Fu Wan'er used the hairpin to stab herself in the neck, committing suicide. Shocked, Yuzhan instructed her attendants to return Fu Wan'er's body to her ancestral tomb in Pengze. Meanwhile, rumors of the late emperor having an illegitimate son were circulating throughout the capital. Li Huaijin instructed Yueying to proceed with their next scheme. Yueying secretly infiltrated the mansion of Wang Zhu, the Minister of Education.
The following day, Xue Rong received a secret report accusing Wang Zhu of using a wooden badge to contact Jiang Shao. A subsequent search of Wang Zhu's residence indeed uncovered a jade pendant and a wooden badge. Enraged, Xue Rong confronted Wang Zhu, who vehemently denied the accusations, claiming he was being framed. Xue Rong ordered Wang Zhu's imprisonment in jail, with no visitors allowed.
Before his summons to the palace, Jiang Shao was contemplating how to re-propose marriage to Jinzhan to Prince Wei, having even acquired an expensive "gold goose" as a betrothal gift since live geese were out of season. Xue Rong invited Jiang Shao for a meal, subtly probing his ambitions for the throne. Jiang Shao dismissed the idea, stating he valued freedom and found palace life stifling, deeming himself unsuited for it.
Xue Rong then presented the jade pendant and wooden badge, revealing to Jiang Shao that he was the late emperor's illegitimate son. Jiang Shao's immediate thought was how this would prevent Prince Wei from deeming him unworthy of Jinzhan. Xue Rong, however, warned that Jiang Shao's exposed identity could lead to demands for his own removal from the throne, as he was not of the "real bloodline."
He proposed destroying the wooden badge, the sole proof of Jiang Shao's identity, to remove all evidence. Jiang Shao hesitated, as the wooden badge was a cherished memento from his mother. Xue Rong left him to consider how to proceed. Later, Yuzhan had mostly recovered from the poison. Xue Rong visited her, expressing relief and praising the imperial physicians.
He then shared his worries, confiding that his father, who had adopted him from the Chai family due to a lack of heirs, had an illegitimate son in the common folk who could claim the throne. This child, he revealed, was Jiang Shao.
