Legend of Yun Xi Episode 39 Recap
> Legend of Yun Xi Recap
Yu Ze expressed her desire to remain by Lord Qishao's side, insisting that following him was her life, even after he declared they were no longer bound by mission and she was free. Despite Lord Qishao's warnings of the perilous path ahead and his inability to guarantee her protection, Yu Ze remained steadfast, asserting she had nowhere else to go and feared no danger or death. She ultimately persuaded him to let her stay, promising not to be a burden.
Meanwhile, Long Feiye returned from the Southern Border, having successfully contained the poison plague. The grateful common folk knelt and cheered for Prince Qin, thanking him for saving their lives. Back in the palace, Emperor Tianhui was furious that Long Feiye had not only avoided infection but also gained immense public adoration and official praise. He questioned Eunuch Li about any suspicious traces left in the Southern Border, fearing Long Feiye might discover his involvement.
General Mu Qingwu then sought an audience, praising Long Feiye's efforts while exposing the local officials' cowardice; most had fled or feigned obedience to avoid contagion, which had greatly angered Prince Qin. He also reported that over half the infected Southern Border soldiers had recovered due to their strong physiques, which was noted as good material for poison puppets.
Crucially, General Mu noted that Long Feiye had treated soldiers and and civilians equally, often prioritizing the dying commoners, and had not developed close ties with the Southern Border generals. Emperor Tianhui, trusting the loyal Mu family, felt relieved that Long Feiye's influence wasn't deeply entrenched, but declared that Long Feiye was forcing his hand. Long Feiye, speaking with Tang Li, vowed to make Emperor Tianhui pay a heavy price for testing him at the expense of his people.
Tang Li, however, worried about a prolonged battle in the capital that would harm civilians. Elsewhere, Long Tianmo celebrated the growing allegiance of powerful ministers, including the Cavalry General, Southern Subduing General, and the ministers of the Ministries of Personnel and Revenue, feeling the time was ripe for his move. A neutral party also noted the escalating tension between Prince Qin and Emperor Tianhui, predicting an imminent war but choosing to observe their mutual destruction.
Long Feiye dispatched General Chu to instruct Gu Beiyue to take Han Yunxi to safety, removing any potential weakness. Gu Beiyue, already aware of Long Feiye's divorce letter and Han Yunxi's discovery of it, agreed to escort her. He proposed they leave the capital, given the recent distressing events. Han Yunxi, still burdened by the plague's casualties despite her efforts and regretting her previous arrogance in toxicology, found solace in the idea of traveling.
She accepted his offer, asking him to call her "Yunxi" instead of "My Lady" and in return, she would call him "Brother Gu." Separately, Long Feiye visited Consort Dowager Yi at Zhichan Pavilion, suggesting she relocate to a newly built house in Meihai to escape the summer heat. Consort Dowager Yi refused, revealing she knew Long Feiye was preparing to act and, more profoundly, that she was aware he was not her biological son.
She tearfully recounted how he had given her a reason to live after her own son's death, cherishing him as a blessing. She expressed her unwavering faith in his ability to rule Tianning better and declared her intention to stay at the pavilion, praying for him and atoning for her sins, regardless of the danger. Long Feiye, moved by her resolve, reluctantly agreed but ordered his guards to protect her at all costs.
Unbeknownst to them, Empress Dowager and Emperor Tianhui, having learned of Consort Dowager Yi's secluded stay at the temple for months, decided she was a vital leverage point. They dispatched masked palace guards to abduct her and bring her to the palace. As Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue were preparing to leave for Mt. Tianyu, Consort Dowager Yi's Nanny Gui rushed to them, frantic, reporting that Consort Dowager Yi had been kidnapped by palace guards.
Han Yunxi immediately expressed her deep concern. In the palace, Consort Dowager Yi bravely faced Empress Dowager, asserting her continued value as their "last chip." Gu Beiyue, disguised as an Imperial Doctor, entered the palace with Han Yunxi posing as a small palace maid. Simultaneously, Long Feiye's forces secured Long Tianmo's gunpowder warehouse in the black market. After evacuating all civilians from the black market east, they detonated the arsenal.
Upon hearing the explosion, Emperor Tianhui raged, ordering an investigation and tightening surveillance on Prince Qin's mansion, immediately suspecting Long Feiye of hoarding gunpowder. When Long Tianmo learned of his gunpowder warehouse's destruction, he panicked, fearing his father would expose his secret operations and possibly remove him from his position as Crown Prince. Concluding that a preemptive strike was his only option, he impulsively decided to launch a palace coup.
Gu Beiyue and Han Yunxi located Consort Dowager Yi in the Cold Palace, which was heavily guarded. They devised a plan: Gu Beiyue created a distraction by leading guards away, allowing Han Yunxi, disguised as a food-carrying palace maid after knocking out the original one, to enter. Inside, Han Yunxi urged Consort Dowager Yi to escape, but Consort Dowager Yi adamantly refused, concerned that her escape would only provide Emperor Tianhui and Empress Dowager with more leverage against Long Feiye.
Meanwhile, news reached Emperor Tianhui that Long Tianmo was leading approximately five thousand soldiers, including the Cavalry General and Southern Subduing General, in a direct assault on the palace, having reached the Xuanwu Gate. Emperor Tianhui was left stunned and enraged by his son's rebellion. Consort Dowager Yi, in a heartfelt conversation with Han Yunxi, confessed her initial prejudice, having expected a more traditionally refined consort for Long Feiye, finding Han Yunxi too lively and skilled in poisons.
However, she tearfully expressed her joy and surprise at how Han Yunxi’s lively spirit and skilled expertise had transformed Long Feiye, melting his icy exterior and allowing him to experience joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. She recounted his traumatic experiences before the age of ten that caused him to close himself off emotionally, and how Han Yunxi’s presence had been like sunshine, slowly warming him.
With a mother's final entrustment, she implored Han Yunxi to continue loving and protecting Long Feiye, assuring her that he truly loved and needed her, despite his tendency to bear burdens alone. Following the initial shock, Emperor Tianhui and Empress Dowager discussed Long Tianmo's unexpected rebellion, suspecting external manipulation, specifically by Long Feiye, given Long Tianmo's indecisive nature. They noted that the gunpowder explosion had caused no casualties, a style characteristic of Long Feiye.
Emperor Tianhui then pieced together Long Feiye’s intricate scheme: Long Feiye had secretly detonated Long Tianmo’s gunpowder to mislead him into believing a major attack was imminent, thus diverting all imperial forces to confront Long Feiye. This left the palace defenses weakened, providing Long Tianmo with an opportune moment to launch a desperate, premature attack.
Emperor Tianhui further deduced that the Cavalry General and Southern Subduing General, who were leading Long Tianmo's forces, must be Long Feiye's double agents, meaning Long Feiye was controlling the entire situation. Recognizing the immediate danger, Empress Dowager ordered Consort Dowager Yi to be taken. Consort Dowager Yi, with swift presence of mind, urged Han Yunxi to hide, ensuring her safety before being led away by the palace guards.
Soon after, Long Feiye received news that Consort Dowager Yi had been kidnapped and his shadow guards killed. At the city gate, Emperor Tianhui held Consort Dowager Yi hostage, publicly addressing Long Feiye's men (who were mixed in Long Tianmo's camp). Long Tianmo, unaware of the broader strategy and frustrated by his father’s actions, ordered his archers to fire.
However, the archers hesitated, betraying their true allegiance, revealing they were indeed Long Feiye's people and that Long Tianmo had fallen into a trap. At that critical moment, Long Feiye arrived on horseback at the city gate.
