Legend of Yun Xi Episode 21 Recap
> Legend of Yun Xi Recap
Confined to the woodshed, Yunxi meticulously recalled Prince Qin's symptoms, desperate to find a way to detoxify him. When Ning Jing arrived with food, Yunxi seized the opportunity, urgently pleading with Ning Jing to distract Baili Mingxiang, who remained constantly by Prince Qin's side. Yunxi explained that Baili Mingxiang attributed Prince Qin's condition to her medicine, but Yunxi was determined to examine him herself to diagnose the problem.
Despite Baili Mingxiang's initial resistance, Ning Jing cleverly convinced her that Yunxi had fainted, and if His Majesty found out, Prince Qin could face trouble for allowing a bestowed consort to suffer. This ruse successfully drew Baili Mingxiang away. Yunxi then used her bracelet to examine Prince Qin, discovering he was suffering from a gu poison outbreak. She realized it could only be suppressed, not cured, by using an equally potent substance known as Beauty Blood.
In Yujing Pavilion, Baili Mingxiang reported Yunxi's "escape" to Consort Dowager Yi, insisting Yunxi should never be allowed back. Ning Jing attempted to defend Yunxi, arguing that Yunxi didn't seem like a spy, citing her past actions like clearing Prince Qin's name, healing Princess Changbing and Consort Qing, and even helping to manage Empress Dowager.
However, Baili Mingxiang countered, asserting that if not for Yunxi, Prince Qin would not be in his current state, and reiterated that Yunxi's spy identity was undeniable, regardless of any past help. The discussion left Consort Dowager Yi with a headache, prompting her to retreat. Meanwhile, as Yunxi ventured to Herb-Ghost Valley to find an alternative to Beauty Blood, she was stopped by imperial soldiers who accused her of being an escaped criminal's accomplice.
Lord Qishao appeared just in time, saving her from arrest and jokingly chiding her for being so helpless without her poisons. Later, Ning Jing confessed her confusion to Tang Li about Yunxi's true nature, especially after Baili Mingxiang's accusations. Tang Li advised her that appearances could be deceiving and that one must use their heart to discern truth.
When Ning Jing pointed out that Tang Li always seemed to appear when she was upset, subtly suggesting his affection, he playfully denied it and threatened to change his habits. Inside Herb-Ghost Valley, Yunxi inquired of Lord Qishao about Beauty Blood, which he described as the blood of a girl who had consumed poison for a decade. He dismissed the creation of such a substance as cruel, then offered Moonseed, a potent herb, as an alternative.
He would not sell it, but offered it in exchange for Yunxi agreeing to three future requests from him. Yunxi agreed, adding her own condition that his requests must not violate her morals. They journeyed to a dangerous cave with poisonous pools where the Moonseed grew, Yunxi's resolve to obtain the herb for Prince Qin overriding her fear. As she risked her life to retrieve the flower, Lord Qishao observed her, musing internally that her beauty overshadowed even the flowers.
Later, Lord Qishao discussed Yunxi's visit with his servants, Zhuyu and Bai Su. He speculated that Yunxi’s desperate search for Moonseed indicated its intended user was likely Prince Qin. He connected the Moonseed and Beauty Blood, both highly toxic, to the "weak period" after a gu poison outbreak.
Recalling that a gu-abetted man with a similar physique to Prince Qin had appeared during the abduction of the Poison Master, Lord Qishao instructed Bai Su to investigate Prince Qin's past, convinced that these coincidences warranted suspicion. The next morning, Yunxi, exhausted from a night spent grinding medicine for Prince Qin, departed Lord Qishao's valley, thanking him for his help.
Elsewhere, a young eunuch reported to Eunuch Li Quan that he had briefly seen Prince Qin's eyes flash red while in the Imperial Garden. Li Quan, concerned, immediately relayed this suspicious detail to His Majesty, linking it to the abducted Poison Master and the appearance of gu-abetted men. His Majesty, deeply troubled, decided to personally visit Prince Qin with an Imperial Doctor.
Learning of the Emperor's impending arrival, Baili Mingxiang bravely used Beauty Blood to suppress Prince Qin's gu poison and awaken him, revealing that she cultivates the rare blood specifically for him, risking her own life to protect his identity and past sacrifices. When His Majesty arrived, Prince Qin feigned a relapse of an old illness. Dr. Sun, the Imperial Doctor, examined Prince Qin and reported only a weak pulse, with no signs of poison, despite the Emperor's stern warnings.
Later, while bathing, His Majesty pressed Dr. Sun again, but the doctor reiterated that Prince Qin merely appeared weak. Eunuch Li Quan then hesitantly reported disturbing civilian rumors circulating about His Majesty, accusing him of imposing harsh taxes for military purposes and even developing gu-abetted men from the ancient Qinxi Dynasty, causing widespread panic. Enraged, His Majesty suspected Prince Qin was behind these slanders, seeing it as a deliberate manipulation of the public.
He immediately ordered Lei, his loyal guard, to conduct a thorough and detailed investigation into the source of the rumors and Prince Qin's entire past, particularly the period after a past fire, leaving no stone unturned. Back at Prince Qin's Mansion, Consort Dowager Yi confronted Yunxi, harshly accusing her of being a spy who nearly caused Prince Qin's death, and ordered her jewelry removed, her clothes replaced with coarse ones, and her confinement to the remote northwest courtyard.
Just then, Prince Qin arrived, having been informed of the situation. He intervened, much to Consort Dowager Yi's surprise, and claimed Yunxi was not Empress Dowager's spy, but his own, working as a double agent to feed false information to the palace. Though skeptical, Consort Dowager Yi allowed Prince Qin to take Yunxi away. Alone, Yunxi offered Prince Qin the Moonseed pill she had meticulously prepared. He accepted it without hesitation, expressing his trust in her.
Yunxi then asked why he had saved her, realizing he had known about her spy identity all along but never exposed her. Yunxi also revealed that she had deduced his gu poison from his symptoms and the red flash in his eyes that day. Overwhelmed with emotion, she blurted out that she liked him, then quickly rephrased it, saying she simply didn't want to help the Empress Dowager.
Prince Qin pulled her into a tender embrace, laying her head on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Consort Dowager Yi visited Baili Mingxiang, praising her and promising that in due time, she would ensure Baili Mingxiang became Prince Qin's secondary consort, believing her to be the true mistress of the mansion. However, Consort Dowager Yi also mentioned Prince Qin's intercession for Yunxi, causing a pang of jealousy in Baili Mingxiang. Later, Prince Qin gently asked Yunxi why she became Empress Dowager's spy.
Yunxi tearfully revealed that before her marriage, Empress Dowager had summoned her, showing her mother's bracelet and claiming her mother was still alive, promising a reunion if Yunxi became her informant. Prince Qin observed that Empress Dowager was merely manipulating Yunxi, recalling that Lady Tianxin had died falling off a cliff after taking a sword blow for him, and suggested her mother was likely long gone. Yet, Yunxi insisted she would cling to even the slightest glimmer of hope.
