Legend of Yun Xi Episode 40 Recap
> Legend of Yun Xi Recap
Emperor Tianhui held Consort Dowager Yi hostage, demanding Long Feiye retreat his troops. For his mother's safety, Long Feiye ordered his forces to pull back. However, Consort Dowager Yi pushed Emperor Tianhui away and leaped from the city gate, urging Long Feiye to do as he wished and not be hindered by her. Long Feiye frantically rushed to her side, but she died in his arms, content to have spent her last days with him.
Witnessing her death, Long Feiye's true nature as a gu-abetted man was revealed. Simultaneously, Long Feiye's forces launched a fierce attack, forcing Emperor Tianhui and his General Mu Qingwu to retreat hastily. Meanwhile, Gu Beiyue rushed into the Cold Palace to retrieve Han Yunxi, but she insisted on waiting for Consort Dowager Yi's return, unaware that she had already perished.
Gu Beiyue informed her of Consort Dowager Yi's death and urged her to leave quickly, as Prince Qin was clashing with the imperial guards, plunging the palace into chaos. News soon arrived that Prince Qin had already breached Shenwu Gate, revealing that Long Feiye had used the crown prince as a decoy. Elsewhere, Emperor Tianhui planned to escape with the Empress Dowager and other imperial consorts.
However, the Empress Dowager refused to leave and chose to drink poisoned wine, ending her life. In her final note, she confessed to setting the secondary imperial palace on fire years ago, which had killed the real Long Feiye, considering the current chaos to be her karma. Emperor Tianhui wept beside her body. Chu Qingge appeared to counsel Emperor Tianhui, urging him to prioritize survival.
As Emperor Tianhui and his remaining loyalists fled towards Xijing, his troops controlled the capital's exits. However, when Long Feiye's forces pursued them, Emperor Tianhui used women and children as human shields, forcing the pursuing general to allow them passage. Long Feiye commended his general's decision, emphasizing that their restoration's true purpose was to establish peace for the people. With the general situation settled, Long Feiye was urged to rest by Tang Li, who feared another gu poison outbreak.
Long Feiye, however, insisted on holding a memorial ceremony for Qinxi's ancestors and his birth mother. He honored Consort Dowager Yi's loyalty to Tianning by burying her decently in Tianning's imperial mausoleum with the late emperor, instructing her tombstone to read, "My deceased mother, Consort Dowager Yi. Buried by an unfilial son, Long Feiye."
In the "All Four Oceans Are Peaceful" hall, Long Feiye publicly announced the restoration of Qinxi, declaring that Qinxi's descendants had banished the traitors and restored their reign, aligning with Heaven's will and the people's wishes. His ministers urged him to ascend the throne, citing widespread public support due to news of Emperor Tianhui forcing civilians to become gu-abetted men.
However, Long Feiye declined, stating it was too early as Qinxi was not yet unified and Emperor Tianhui had established a new capital in Xijing. Soon after, Long Feiye collapsed, his gu poison deepening into his marrow. Tang Li, unable to find Han Yunxi, who was reportedly collecting herbs, reluctantly brought Gu Beiyue to the palace. Gu Beiyue could only help Long Feiye regain consciousness, admitting the severity of his condition.
Tang Li, blaming himself, was relieved when Long Feiye awoke. Long Feiye questioned Gu Beiyue about Han Yunxi's whereabouts. Gu Beiyue explained that they had returned to the capital to try and save Consort Dowager Yi, and decided to stay as the city was now safer under Long Feiye's rule. He also informed Long Feiye that Han Yunxi was actively seeking a cure for his gu poison.
Long Feiye thanked Gu Beiyue and requested him to take charge of the Imperial Academy of Medicine to treat the wounded soldiers, citing a lack of reliable personnel. He then instructed Tang Li to begin learning state affairs, reminding him of their responsibilities as descendants of the Xuanyuan Clan. Back at his residence, Gu Beiyue told Han Yunxi that Long Feiye's gu poison had flared up, leaving him in a coma before Gu Beiyue's intervention.
He urged her to visit Long Feiye, advising her not to regret things later and to look beyond surface appearances. Earlier, Han Yunxi, disguised as a medicine boy, had accompanied Gu Beiyue into the palace and placed a medicine pouch on the unconscious Long Feiye before quietly leaving. Long Feiye, now awake in Wende Hall, repeatedly called out Han Yunxi's name, asking Xifeng if she had visited.
Xifeng offered to summon her, but Long Feiye refused, stating Han Yunxi had declared they would have no further relations. Xifeng then reported that Baili Mingxiang had been kidnapped by Eunuch Li and taken to Xijing by Emperor Tianhui. Bai Xiaochuan had been dispatched for a rescue. Long Feiye expressed deep regret for Baili Mingxiang's suffering on his behalf and his inability to find a cure for her Beauty Blood. Meanwhile, Gu Qishao and Yu Ze arrived at Mt.
Beiming, a misty and unusual place, as Gu Qishao's last hope for finding Traceless Grass. They came across the body of a deceased bandit, which Gu Qishao gently bid to rest in peace. Yu Ze observed that Gu Qishao had become more compassionate, attributing the change to Han Yunxi's influence.
They also noted the unusual properties of Traceless Grass; its roots released unique nutrients that fostered growth of other valuable medicinal plants, and it absorbed other herbs' medicinal properties before sunrise. They decided to wait overnight to find it. Gu Qishao admitted Han Yunxi was the person he cared for most, but lamented meeting her too late.
Yu Ze subtly hinted at her own feelings, but Gu Qishao explained that while they were like family, he would never hinder her own path to happiness, just as he wouldn't for Zhuyu. He then stated he would risk his life to detoxify Yu Ze or Zhuyu if they were hurt, just as he was doing for Han Yunxi. In Xijing, Baili Mingxiang was settled in Ruowei Pavilion, a residence chosen by Eunuch Li.
Alone, she mused about having identified all supporting medicines for gu poison except Han Yunxi's heart blood, wondering what Han Yunxi would do if she knew everything. Eunuch Li then arrived, presenting Baili Mingxiang with the Poison Scripture, claiming he found it among her belongings after the move.
Later, in Xiongfeng Hall, Eunuch Li presented a copied version of the Poison Scripture to Emperor Tianhui, explaining he had transcribed it because Baili Mingxiang had been studying it day and night, suspecting it contained crucial secrets. Emperor Tianhui was delighted, realizing the last volume of the Poison Scripture was finally in his possession.
He ordered Eunuch Li to gather all available wonder doctors and poison doctors to thoroughly study the Poison Scripture, aiming to discover methods for creating gu-abetted men, even if only partially like the "vile spawn of Qinxi," to turn the tide of war. Emperor Tianhui also inquired about the crown prince. Soon after, General Mu Qingwu located Long Tianmo and forcibly brought him before Emperor Tianhui despite his pleas and fears.
Emperor Tianhui confronted Long Tianmo for his treacherous act of colluding with outsiders. Long Tianmo bitterly retaliated, accusing his father of using his dying life against Long Feiye, even knowing Han Yunxi could save him. He asserted that their family was cursed with patricidal and regicidal bloodlines, just like their grandfather who usurped the throne. Emperor Tianhui berated him for being foolish and misled.
Long Tianmo declared this a "karma" for Qinxi's downfall and shockingly revealed he had killed Long Tianqing, who had murdered his mother and uncle, and later tried to kill him. Emperor Tianhui was distraught, lamenting how they had fallen so far and recalling his deep love for Long Tianmo's mother, the reason he never named another empress, as he had held such high expectations for his son.
Meanwhile, Chu Qingge, who was outside, overheard Emperor Tianhui confessing his undying love for the deceased empress and left in anger. Long Tianmo dismissed the past as meaningless. Before Emperor Tianhui's eyes, Long Tianmo drank poison, hoping they would not be born into the imperial family in their next life, and asking for forgiveness before dying. Emperor Tianhui desperately called for imperial doctors.
Mu Qingwu confided in his father, expressing doubts about supporting Emperor Tianhui, given rumors of the southern border plague being caused by the Emperor and the incident where he used civilians as hostages. His father, a loyal general, rebuked him, reminding him of their family's generations of loyalty to the Long clan and Emperor Tianhui's kindness towards them. He also reminded Mu Qingwu of his upcoming marriage to Princess Changbing, urging him to remain steadfast.
In Wende Hall, Tang Li expressed concern over Long Feiye's health, as he spent his days reviewing memorials or staring at the medicine pouch. Tang Li attributed Long Feiye's ill health to Han Yunxi and wanted to bring her back to clarify the truth about Poison Master's death, arguing that Long Feiye did not kill him.
Long Feiye, however, stopped him, explaining that since Poison Master had poisoned his entire family, he preferred Han Yunxi to believe he was the killer, thinking it would make them "even." He stated that he had to let her go, even if it was difficult, rather than ruin her life. Tang Li argued that Han Yunxi was not worthy of him, but Long Feiye cut him off. At that moment, Xifeng reported that Bai Xiaochuan had successfully entered Xijing to rescue Baili Mingxiang, and delivered the shocking news that the Crown Prince had committed suicide.
