The First Jasmine Episode 13 Recap
> The First Jasmine Recaps
Ye Li stays by Mo Xiuyao’s side, diligently massaging his legs late into the night. It is already the second watch, and a cold rain begins to fall outside. Feeling the chill, she lets out a sneeze. Observing her discomfort, Mo Xiuyao warmly invites her to join him on the bed to keep warm. Startled by the sudden offer, she initially hesitates and runs off, but soon returns holding her pillow.
Settling beside him, she finds the shared warmth deeply comforting. As they talk, Ye Li notes that those close to her call her A Li, while her formal address for him feels distant. Mo Xiuyao shares that his parents and siblings used to call him A Yao, and he grants her permission to call him by this nickname as well.
Lying there, she softly murmurs his name and confides her list of hopes now that she has returned from Lishan Mountain: to enjoy delicious food, reclaim her late mother's shops, find her senior disciples, and above all, help him stand again and live happily. The peaceful night is followed by a summons from the palace. The Empress Dowager calls Mo Xiuyao for an audience.
After offering her concerns for Princess Ding's recent injuries and acknowledging her efforts to treat Mo Xiuyao's crippled legs, she shifts to the true purpose of her summons: the assassination of Yuan Fang. Refusing to believe that a prominent court official was killed merely by roving bandits, she notes the growing whispers implicating Marquis Muyang.
Mo Xiuyao carefully navigates her questions, comparing court politics to a game of chess played in a dense fog where the ultimate players always orchestrate their own gains. Satisfied with his discretion, the Empress Dowager charges Mo Xiuyao with the task of conducting a thorough investigation, declaring that no matter who is implicated, she will not tolerate any cover-ups. Meanwhile, Ye Wending has been suffering from terrifying nightmares, feeling as though he is haunted by the specter of his past.
Shaken by a fortune teller's cryptic words, he makes an unannounced visit to Prince Ding's Mansion to see Ye Li. Out of nowhere, he nervously asks after the well-being of Xu Wanzhou. Ye Li's expression turns solemn as she reminds him that her mother, Xu Wanzhou, has been dead for eight years. The revelation leaves Ye Wending speechless and deeply unsettled.
That night, his nightmares intensify, and he is tormented by hallucinations of his deceased wife demanding the return of the late emperor's decree. Over at the residence of Marquis Muyang, Zhou Jing praises his guard, Qin Cang, who has just returned from a three-month mission to Cangbei. As they discuss the rising political instability in Cangbei and the high demand for weapon shipments, Zhou Jing laments that everyone suspects him of murdering Yuan Fang.
He notes that while Zhang Hengyuan is reliable for court administration, certain covert matters still require Qin Cang's specialized skills. This favoritism stirs jealousy in Zhou Jing's son, the Young Lord Zhou Tianyang. Arriving with a fresh catch of black carp from the reed marshes, Zhou Tianyang mockingly offers a fish to Qin Cang. When Qin Cang politely declines, claiming he does not care for fish, Zhou Tianyang's temper flares.
Sensing the brewing tension, Zhang Hengyuan quickly steps in to accept the fish, defusing the confrontation. Back at the mansion, Ye Li joins Mo Xiuyao and his family for a game of chess. Her exceptional skills easily best her opponents, prompting Mo Xiuyao to sit across from her. As they play, Mo Xiuyao's keen eyes notice her precise wrist movements.
Grabbing her hand, he points out the thick calluses on her thumb and index finger, noting that they are characteristic of a seasoned sword practitioner. Ye Li quickly deflects, attributing the calluses to the grueling manual labor she performed during her eight years of isolation on Lishan Mountain, such as chopping wood, harvesting tea, and farming. Though her explanation sounds plausible, Mo Xiuyao's curiosity is piqued.
The truth behind Ye Li’s secrets soon comes to light when Feng Zhiyao arrives with his findings. He reveals to Mo Xiuyao that Ye Li had actually staged her own kidnapping by hiring Zheng Qin of the Red Scorpion Gang. Zheng Qin, who once operated under Lu Changfu, was the very man responsible for the tragic fire that claimed the Seven Scholars of Lishan.
Feng Zhiyao suggests that Ye Li orchestrated the abduction to trick Mo Xiuyao into using his power to eliminate Zheng Qin. Stunned by the deception, Mo Xiuyao is consumed by suspicion, unable to accept that his wife has used him as a pawn. Despite Feng Zhiyao’s attempts to defend her by highlighting her genuine dedication to healing his legs, Mo Xiuyao demands a deeper investigation. Mo Xiuyao immediately confronts Ye Li in the darkened room.
When he questions her about the staged kidnapping, Ye Li admits to the scheme, explaining that she only resorted to such desperate measures to force him to accept her leg treatments. However, Mo Xiuyao is too hurt by the betrayal to find comfort in her intentions. He bitterly recounts the tragic fate of his brother, Mo Xiuwen, who had once trusted the wrong person and surrendered his imperial edict to prove his loyalty.
Without the physical document to clear his name, Mo Xiuwen was falsely accused of entering the capital without authorization and executed for treason. Mo Xiuyao emphasizes that such devastating consequences are the price of gullibility, leaving Ye Li deeply saddened. On the day of the Ye family matriarch’s birthday celebration, Mo Xiuyao refuses to accompany his wife, choosing instead to head to his office despite his injuries.
Ye Li travels to the Ye Mansion alone with her third uncle, Ye Wenshen. Noting the tension between the couple, Ye Wenshen gently advises her to pay closer attention to the delicate art of marriage, drawing from his own observations of noble households. As she listens, Ye Li gazes out of the carriage window, spots a familiar carriage, and immediately chases after it, which instantly triggers a painful memory.
Years ago, Mo Xiuwen had placed his complete trust in Xu Wanzhou, handing over the crucial posthumous edict for safekeeping. However, Ye Wending ruthlessly snatched the decree away despite Xu Wanzhou's desperate pleas. This theft directly led to Mo Xiuwen's wrongful execution, cementing the heavy debt Ye Li has always felt she owed to Prince Ding's Mansion.
