Legend of Yun Xi Episode 38 Recap
> Legend of Yun Xi Recap
Gu Beiyue and Gu Qishao examined an old well, confirming their suspicion that its water was poisoned. Gu Beiyue noted that over half the villagers were infected with a poison plague, suspecting the well as its source, and planned to take water samples back for antidote research. Suddenly, a hunter attacked them, accusing them of causing the plague.
Gu Qishao denied it, but the hunter insisted, claiming he had seen a similar black-clad figure sprinkle something into the well a month prior, after which the plague broke out. The hunter, who had been injured by the black-clad man himself, recounted how he stumbled upon the scene while returning from a hunt and how, upon recovering and returning to his village, he found many sick or dead.
Convinced Gu Qishao and Gu Beiyue were working with the black-clad man, he lunged again. Gu Beiyue intervened, instructing Gu Qishao to be gentle as the hunter was still injured, before Gu Qishao rendered the hunter unconscious. Deciding to bring the hunter back with them, they prepared to depart. Han Yunxi finally regained consciousness, finding Long Feiye, Gu Beiyue, and Gu Qishao by her side. Long Feiye informed her she had been infected with the poison plague.
Despite her apologies for causing trouble, Long Feiye reassured her, crediting her actions with helping control the epidemic. However, Han Yunxi was deeply upset with Gu Qishao, unable to forgive him for his repeated deception and manipulation, including her father's circumstances.
Long Feiye confronted Gu Qishao about being a spy, to which Gu Qishao defended himself, claiming he had "ineffable reasons" and pointing out he had kept Long Feiye's identity as a gu-abetted man a secret, and accusing Long Feiye of hurting Han Yunxi and her father. Han Yunxi, hurt by what she perceived as Gu Qishao's betrayal of their friendship and trust, asked him to leave.
Gu Beiyue intervened, advising Gu Qishao to withdraw temporarily for everyone's sake, which Gu Qishao did. Gu Beiyue then urged Long Feiye to rely on Gu Qishao, emphasizing that he was their only hope for an antidote, especially since the plague had spread to Beili and the Poison Master was deceased. Long Feiye agreed to keep an eye on Gu Qishao.
Following this, the hunter, who had been brought back, presented Long Feiye with a torn piece of fabric, explaining he ripped it from the black-clad man who had poisoned the well, and cautioned him to keep their conversation confidential. After Long Feiye left, Gu Qishao approached Han Yunxi, who appeared to be asleep.
He spoke softly, reminding her of his condition about not risking her life and expressed his newfound freedom from his grievances with Beili, thanking her for helping his mother find peace. He vowed to keep Han Yunxi safe, unaware that she was actually awake and listening. Gu Beiyue and the imperial doctors worked tirelessly with the well water to develop an antidote. Although they successfully formulated a prescription, a critical herb called Ziai grass was in short supply.
They learned that this herb, essential for the antidote, grew in a treacherous place surrounded by a poison barrier and was difficult to preserve. The Imperial Academy of Medicine's existing stock had been depleted during testing, and the Herb-Ghost Valley's supply had been destroyed by fire. They also learned that Imperial Doctor Han Cong'an, who originally collected the herb, was the only one who knew its precise location, and it could only be safely gathered in snowy weather.
Despite the current season, Gu Qishao, determined to save Han Yunxi, volunteered to retrieve it, stating his familiarity with poison barriers. He quickly departed for Han Cong'an's residence. Upon arrival, Gu Qishao, exhausted from his two-day journey, collapsed outside Han Cong'an's home. Once recovered and having identified himself as Han Yunxi's friend, he explained the plague at the southern border and the urgent need for Ziai grass.
Han Cong'an expressed grave concerns about collecting the herb outside of winter due to the extreme danger. However, upon learning that Han Yunxi herself was infected and had only days to live without the Ziai grass, he immediately agreed to accompany Gu Qishao to gather it. His daughter, Han Ruoxue, and son, Yunyi, insisted on helping.
While Han Ruoxue prepared supplies and urged Gu Qishao to protect her father, Yunyi, despite Han Cong'an's initial refusal due to the danger, convinced him to let him join, emphasizing his closeness with Han Yunxi and the need for mutual support on such a perilous journey. Meanwhile, Han Yunxi's condition worsened, with doctors estimating she might not survive past three days without the Ziai grass.
Long Feiye, desperate to prolong her life, transfused his own vitality into her, ignoring warnings that it could exacerbate his gu-poison. He declared her life more important than his own. As Gu Qishao, Han Cong'an, and Yunyi continued their journey, Gu Qishao urged them onward, prioritizing Han Yunxi's critical state. They arrived at the perilous Ziai grass location, surrounded by a potent poison barrier.
Han Cong'an explained that the barrier's toxicity only weakened in winter when it melted into snow water. Despite the danger, Gu Qishao, accustomed to such environments, attempted to enter the barrier with a rope, but he was overwhelmed by the intense toxins and nearly lost consciousness. Han Cong'an quickly pulled him out to safety.
After recovering, Gu Qishao, still reeling from the near-death experience, confessed his deep affection for Han Yunxi to Han Cong'an and boldly asked for his permission to marry her if she were to divorce Long Feiye. Yunyi immediately interjected that his sister would not divorce Prince Qin. Han Cong'an, aware of Long Feiye and Han Yunxi's strong bond, gently deflected, offering his daughter Han Ruoxue's hand in marriage instead if Gu Qishao was eager to settle down.
Gu Qishao, dismissing the suggestion, promptly took the collected Ziai grass and set off immediately, rushing day and night back to the southern border to save Han Yunxi and the plague-stricken villagers. Upon receiving the Ziai grass, Han Yunxi finally woke up after six days in a coma. Gu Beiyue informed her of Gu Qishao's success in finding the herb and how Long Feiye's constant infusion of true energy had kept her alive.
Han Yunxi wanted to examine the antidote prescription, but Gu Beiyue advised her to rest, promising to provide the detailed records once she fully recovered. Long Feiye, though relieved she was awake, chose to observe from a distance, stating he wouldn't disturb her rest and prioritizing the continued treatment of other infected civilians. Gu Qishao approached Gu Beiyue to inquire about Han Yunxi's condition, learning she was awake but still upset with him.
While Gu Beiyue credited Gu Qishao for his efforts in combating the plague, Gu Qishao revealed that the current antidote only temporarily suppressed the poison plague; it would resurface within a year, proving fatal for weaker individuals unless Traceless grass, a rare herb, could be found.
Gu Beiyue offered to join him in the search, but Gu Qishao insisted that Gu Beiyue remain behind to protect and care for Han Yunxi, emphasizing the dangers and unknown duration of the quest for Traceless grass, and the need to keep this critical information secret from the public. Gu Beiyue silently contemplated Gu Qishao's genuine concern, concluding he didn't seem like someone who would harm Han Yunxi.
Meanwhile, Han Yunxi lay in her bed, tears silently flowing, overwhelmed by her complex emotions. With the immediate threat of the poison plague managed, Gu Qishao declared his and Zhuyu's freedom from their past ties to Beili. Recognizing the budding affection between Zhuyu and Chu Xifeng, Gu Qishao urged Zhuyu to pursue her own happiness, no longer needing to serve him.
Despite Zhuyu's protests of lifelong loyalty, Gu Qishao entrusted her care to Chu Xifeng, reminding him to treat her well. Chu Xifeng readily accepted the responsibility. Before departing, Gu Qishao met with Long Feiye. Gu Qishao provocatively noted that the plague was man-made and shared a secret he'd learned from the Crown Prince of Beili: those who can recover from the gu poison are the best candidates for becoming gu-abetted men.
He told Long Feiye he hoped Long Feiye would soon leave Han Yunxi. He also mentioned that Jun Yizheng had been infected with the poison plague and had not yet recovered, offering it as a "big gift" to Long Feiye. Long Feiye remained indifferent, stating it was Gu Qishao's concern, not his own.
Gu Qishao mused privately that if not for Zhuyu, he might have believed Long Feiye's detachment, revealing he knew Long Feiye had sent Chu Xifeng to infiltrate Beili. Long Feiye then discussed Zhuyu's knowledge with Xifeng, instructing him to take Zhuyu back to Tianning and have her draw a map of Herb-Ghost Valley. Xifeng expressed skepticism about Gu Qishao's intentions, but Long Feiye dismissed it, revealing a piece of Moxue satin to Xifeng.
Recognizing it as a royal tribute exclusively found in the palace, Xifeng understood the fabric pointed to someone with access to the imperial court. Long Feiye confirmed his suspicion and ordered Xifeng to instruct trusted generals to falsify the number of infected soldiers before reporting them to Mu Qingwu, to prevent suspicion.
Long Feiye also revealed that he had dispatched their most trusted Imperial Doctor to detoxify Jun Yizheng, reasoning that once Jun Yizheng recovered, Beili would be indebted and less likely to act rashly, regardless of any potential alliance. Before fully recovering, Han Yunxi sought out the antidote prescription records. While searching through Imperial Doctor Gu Beiyue's belongings, she inadvertently discovered a divorce agreement, bearing her and Long Feiye's names.
At that moment, Long Feiye entered, checking on her recovery and informing her of impending travel. Han Yunxi affirmed her full recovery and dismissed his thanks, stating her duty as a Tianning citizen. She then inquired about the plotter behind the Haidong Village poisoning, noting that the infected man she and Gu Beiyue encountered in the suburbs might have contracted the poison from the culprit, suggesting the plotter could still be in the capital.
Long Feiye reassured her he would not let the culprit escape. Following this conversation, Long Feiye sadly stated that he supposed this would be their last meeting, declaring that from now on, they would be unrelated and owe each other nothing. Han Yunxi, in immense sorrow, picked up the divorce agreement and departed.
