Miss The Dragon Episode 23 Recap
> Miss The Dragon Recap
Xiao Jin and Feng Chenyue, childhood friends who recently recognized each other during an unexpected encounter on the street, met at an inn to reminisce about their past skills, like Feng Chenyue's precise archery and Xiao Jin's struggle with a labyrinth casket. While their current public roles remained unstated, they acknowledged how much they had changed over the years, agreeing to meet again the next day at noon at the same place.
Meanwhile, Han Xiyun, the Crown Prince of Dongluo, arrived in Wind City to celebrate the Emperor's birthday. He presented a magnificent gift, a Seven-Gem Cutlass, said to be a treasure from a previous dynasty that could mark sovereignty over the world. The Emperor was highly pleased and ordered a grand welcoming banquet, inviting all high-ranking officials. However, Feng Chenyue requested to be excused, explaining that she had previously injured Han Xiyun's eye, and her presence might cause him discomfort.
The Emperor, understanding, granted her exemption. Later, Feng Chenyue visited Consort Rui and was surprised to see a familiar labyrinth casket, which Consort Rui revealed her maid, Xiao Jin, had made. Just then, Xiao Jin returned from Xingyuan Pastry. Upon seeing Feng Chenyue's attire, Xiao Jin realized she was the renowned general who had defeated Dongluo.
Feng Chenyue expressed joy, believing their childhood friendship remained unchanged, despite her past secrecy about her general status, which she attributed to her father’s orders. Xiao Jin, however, adopted a formal demeanor, bowing and addressing her as "Lady General," stating that while Feng Chenyue might not have changed, she herself had, and their former closeness was gone. Back in her room, Xiao Jin, distressed by the encounter, experienced an early onset of her illness.
Han Xiyun appeared, noting her early suffering and hinting at her guilt over not fulfilling her mission to blind Feng Chenyue. He reminded Xiao Jin that the Feng family was responsible for her father's death and his own eye injury. He then provided her with an antidote and instructed her to cooperate with him during his extended stay for the birthday banquet. His goal was to acquire the Fengs’ commanding badge.
Xiao Jin expressed hesitation, pointing out that framing Feng Chenyue with the badge might be seen through, especially since Han Xiyun's animosity towards Feng Chenyue was widely known. Han Xiyun sternly warned her against questioning his orders again, clarifying that he only needed Feng Chenyue to be investigated by the Ministry of Justice, where he had influence. Resigned, Xiao Jin agreed to his plan, resolved to avenge her family.
She then burned the labyrinth casket, a symbol of her past friendship. Following Han Xiyun's instructions, Xiao Jin arranged for Consort Rui to invite Feng Chenyue to the palace, intending to delay her there. As Feng Chenyue prepared to leave, a maid, as arranged by Xiao Jin, accidentally spilled hot tea on her. Xiao Jin insisted on personally applying balm to Feng Chenyue's hand.
During this, Feng Chenyue expressed her discomfort with Xiao Jin's newfound distance, wishing their friendship could remain. Xiao Jin, however, maintained her formal stance, emphasizing their differing statuses and her Dongluo origins. Feng Chenyue pressed, recalling Xiao Jin's father was a Dongluo general and asking why she became a maid. Xiao Jin revealed her father had died in the war, leaving her without a home.
After applying the balm and helping Feng Chenyue change, Feng Chenyue offered Xiao Jin a jade badge, explaining it granted her free access to the General’s Mansion. Xiao Jin, however, declined, asserting a mere maid had no right to enter such a place, and quickly left. Later, Feng Chenyue brought Qingqing her favorite pastries. Qingqing was visibly upset and asked for advice on how to deal with something detestable that she could not escape.
Feng Chenyue, drawing from her experience in combat, explained that sometimes, like using a thunder cannon in battle that causes casualties on both sides but ensures victory, it is "better a short pain than a long one" to cut off painful ties swiftly. Meanwhile, Han Xiyun successfully acquired the Fengs’ commanding badge.
He then orchestrated a scene at Dongluo Hall: he reported to the Emperor that the Dongluo Crown Prince was slightly wounded, many of his personal guards were killed, and the Seven-Gem Cutlass had been stolen. The Emperor, infuriated, ordered a thorough investigation, and personally went to the hall, accompanied by Feng Chenyue, where Mr. Guo from the Ministry of Justice was already investigating. Mr. Guo presented a Fengs’ commanding badge found on a dead guard, implicating the Feng family.
Han Xiyun and Mr. Guo accused Feng Chenyue directly. Feng Chenyue, however, calmly clarified that while the jade badge belonged to her family, it was not the actual military commanding badge. She asserted that someone had stolen it to frame her and her family. To prove her innocence, she invited everyone to her General’s Mansion.
There, she revealed a collection of identical fake jade badges, explaining her father had ordered them made to deter thieves who frequently tried to steal their badges. These fakes were worthless, proving the one found on the guard was not the true commanding badge and that she was indeed framed.
Feng Chenyue further stated she had already surveyed Dongluo Hall and observed no footprints leading outside over the wall, concluding that the stolen Seven-Gem Cutlass must still be hidden within the hall itself. The Emperor then ordered an immediate search. In the General’s Mansion, Qingqing, reflecting on Feng Chenyue’s advice to choose "better a short pain than a long one," attempted to remove her meteor scar, declaring she had to get rid of it.
From Luofeng Pavilion, Xue Qianxun sensed Qingqing’s distress and immediately rushed to her, instructing Bingxing to thoroughly investigate anyone who might have harmed her within a vast area. Xue Qianxun then carried Qingqing into a room. Just as he brought her in, Feng Chenyue arrived and angrily confronted him. Long Yan intervened, explaining that Xue Qianxun and Qingqing had recently met, developed feelings for each other, and that Xue Qianxun, a traveling physician, was tending to Qingqing's injury.
Qingqing, now awake, asked Xue Qianxun to leave, assuring him that Feng Chenyue would take care of her. As Xue Qianxun departed, he instructed Feng Chenyue to take good care of Qingqing. Feng Chenyue, protective, retorted that she did not need his instruction and warned him not to take advantage of Qingqing.
