Legend of Yun Xi Episode 26 Recap
> Legend of Yun Xi Recap
Long Tianmo, the Crown Prince, was confined to his palace when his younger brother, Long Tianqing, paid him a visit. Initially, Tianmo suspected his brother was there to gloat, but Tianqing feigned sincerity, prostrating himself and proclaiming Tianmo as the future successor and current crown prince, even offering to bear unwarranted blame for him. Believing he had misjudged his brother, Tianmo felt remorse and promised Tianqing a drink once his confinement was lifted.
However, Tianqing quickly dropped his facade, revealing his true colors. He questioned Tianmo's right to be Crown Prince, insulting his deceased mother, intelligence, and capabilities, provocatively challenging him. Enraged by the deception, Tianmo threatened Tianqing’s life, but Tianqing defiantly dared him to try. After Tianqing's departure, a servant informed Tianmo that the Emperor was investigating the gu-abetted men.
Despite his advisor Gu Qishao's counsel to remain patient, Tianmo, consumed by anger and a desire to eliminate his brother, decided to frame Tianqing by fabricating and adding to existing evidence of Tianqing's involvement in the gu-abetted men research, then submitting it to the Ministry of Personnel. Meanwhile, at Prince Qin's Mansion, Chu Xifeng confirmed to Prince Qin, Feiye, that the Crown Prince had indeed delivered all the incriminating evidence against the Second Prince.
Feiye then subtly inquired about the wine at Herb-Ghost Valley. That same evening, at Herb-Ghost Valley, Yunxi found herself lost in thoughts of Feiye’s forehead kiss. Gu Qishao, sensing her preoccupation, playfully quoted an ancient verse, implying his own affections for her. Yunxi, flustered, quickly reminded him that she was married, pleading with him not to jeopardize their friendship.
Qishao brushed it off as a joke, claiming he wouldn’t stoop to stealing another man’s wife, though he playfully called her gullible. He then presented her with a medicine he had painstakingly prepared, explaining he relied solely on his hands to precisely measure its minute dosage. As their hands touched while exchanging the medicine, Feiye suddenly appeared, unleashing internal force to strike down Gu Qishao before swiftly grabbing Yunxi's hand and pulling her away.
When Yunxi chided Feiye for being jealous, he childishly pouted, then pulled her close, and sealed her lips with a tender kiss. In the imperial court, ministers presented their findings regarding the escalating rumors of gu-abetted men and widespread disappearances, implicitly linking Prince Qin to the incidents.
The Emperor, in a display of formidable power, ordered two officials, who had brought forth the initial reports and were now accused of disregarding human life and spreading rumors, to be dragged out and beheaded, terrifying the remaining court members. Even the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Personnel, who secretly possessed evidence of the Second Prince’s misdeeds, remained silent, recognizing the Emperor’s clear intent to protect his favored son.
News of this reached Crown Prince Long Tianmo, who seethed over the Emperor's blatant favoritism towards the Second Prince. He resolved that upon the lifting of his confinement, his top priority would be to win over the Ministers of Revenue and Personnel, using them to ensnare the Second Prince. At Hongfu Restaurant, Second Prince Long Tianqing sought solace in wine, despairing over the decimation of his network of operatives across the provinces.
His advisor urged him to rally, reminding him that despite his losses, the Emperor still favored him, and the Crown Prince had significantly fallen from grace, leaving the succession still open for contention. The advisor suggested that by diligently tracking the movements at Herb-Ghost Valley and successfully apprehending the Poison Master, Tianqing could earn significant merit and secure his claim to the throne. Determined, Tianqing refocused his efforts on this new objective.
Meanwhile, at Herb-Ghost Valley, Yunxi apologized to Gu Qishao on Feiye's behalf, causing Qishao considerable discomfort. Noticing his genuine anger, Yunxi expressed her gratitude for his help and tactfully took her leave. Qishao watched her retreating figure, contemplating his unrequited feelings. Later, after Tang Li escorted Yunxi back to Prince Qin's Mansion, Bai Su urged the exhausted Gu Qishao, who had been staying up for days, to rest.
While Zhuyu remained oblivious, Bai Su keenly observed the underlying coldness in Qishao's eyes, despite his superficial smile. At Renshou Palace, the Empress Dowager summoned Imperial Doctor Gu Beiyue to analyze the powders found in pastries Noble Consort Xiao had sent to various concubines over the years. Gu Beiyue’s examination confirmed the powders were derived from rare herbs native to Southwest Meiling.
While appearing to be nourishing tonics, he revealed their cold nature made them addictive if over-consumed, particularly for women, affecting their fertility. He further explained that when mixed with certain other ingredients, these powders could become toxic, gradually eroding one’s vitality and eventually leading to death. The Empress Dowager, clutching her prayer beads, was horrified by the revelation, realizing the malicious depths of Noble Consort Xiao, who had shared the Emperor’s bed for so long.
She understood that a woman capable of harming imperial consorts and imperial offspring would not hesitate to endanger the Emperor and herself. Back at Prince Qin's Mansion, Yunxi was deeply distressed to witness Mingxiang spitting blood in her room. Mingxiang, in her pain, reminded Yunxi that only Beauty Blood could heal Feiye's gu poison.
Yunxi, seeing Mingxiang endure such suffering for Feiye and thinking that Mingxiang might even love Feiye more than she herself did, resolved to cure her, believing it was essential to truly deserve Feiye's love. Yunxi spent the night in the kitchen, meticulously decocting medicine for Mingxiang. Late into the night, Consort Dowager Yi, feeling hungry, wandered into the kitchen and found Yunxi.
After a brief discussion, Consort Dowager Yi softened her stance, promising to formally allow Yunxi to return to the mansion if she successfully healed Mingxiang. Overjoyed, Yunxi, ever the physician, also offered Consort Dowager Yi a restorative pill, explaining it would quell her hunger without negatively impacting her health, as eating late was ill-advised.
One day, in what appeared to be the Imperial Garden, the Empress Dowager conversed with the Emperor about Consort Qing's impending promotion to Noble Consort, for which the Ministry of Rites was already preparing the ceremony. Although Empress Dowager harbored reservations, recalling Noble Consort Xiao's past malevolence, she ultimately acquiesced. Meanwhile, in Solitude Pavilion, Yunxi had exhausted all her methods, yet the Poison Master remained in a seemingly unresponsive state.
Returning to Prince Qin's Mansion that evening, Yunxi conveyed her suspicion to Feiye: the Poison Master might be feigning madness. She hastily presented Feiye with a sachet she had personally embroidered and filled with protective herbs, intended for his birthday, then resumed her tireless research into a cure for Feiye's gu poison. Feiye, deeply moved by her gesture, cherished the gift.
Concurrently, in another location, Gu Beiyue's small bird confirmed that the Poison Master was indeed awake, prompting Gu Beiyue to prepare for his next move. In the imperial palace, the Emperor had uncovered the full extent of Noble Consort Xiao's heinous crimes. Upon learning she was currently visiting Consort Qing, he immediately ordered his retinue to Qinghui Palace. Confronted by the Emperor, Noble Consort Xiao vehemently denied all accusations.
However, a maid’s inadvertent remark about Consort Qing's fondness for Noble Consort Xiao's pastries, coupled with an Imperial Doctor’s pulse diagnosis of Consort Qing, exposed Noble Consort Xiao’s deception. She fell to her knees, pleading for mercy, but the Emperor remained unmoved by her pleas. The following day, Feiye and Yunxi went to Solitude Pavilion to test the Poison Master, whom Yunxi previously believed was feigning madness after exhausting all her treatment methods.
Feiye, suggesting that if he couldn't be healed, he should be killed, but Yunxi, having developed some affection after treating him for so long, intervened, preferring to handle it herself rather than see him executed. She offered the Poison Master some candy, which he readily accepted and ate.
