The First Jasmine Episode 16 Recap
> The First Jasmine Recaps
Ye Li paid her respects to the deceased Madam Ye, praying for her grandmother to rest in peace before heading out of the Ye Mansion. As she prepared to board her carriage, Wang Xiaoniang stopped her. Sending her sister-in-law ahead, Ye Li spoke with Wang Xiaoniang in private. Wang Xiaoniang wanted to know why Ye Li had chosen not to expose her.
Ye Li explained that it was a fair exchange: Wang Xiaoniang had helped her scare her father, Ye Wenhua, by posing as a ghost, so keeping her secrets made them even. Although Wang Xiaoniang had tried to seize her dowry and her late mother Xu Wanzhou's shops, Ye Li had already reclaimed them and publicly humiliated Wang Xiaoniang in the process.
Ye Li added that her mother's tragic fate was not Wang Xiaoniang's fault, as the cowardly and heartless Ye Wenhua would have mistreated any woman he married. Before departing, Ye Li advised Wang Xiaoniang to focus on being a good mother to Ye Rong and to show more care for Ye Ying. Later that night, Mo Xiuyao found Ye Li eating sugar in the dark because she was hungry.
He decided to cook a simple bowl of noodles (botuo) for her himself, advising her to have their servant, A-Ding, prepare hot food for her in the future instead of relying on sugar. Ye Li admitted her deep love for sugar stemmed from her years on Lishan Mountain, where sugar was unavailable and even honey could not satisfy her craving.
Mo Xiuyao, still deeply concerned about Ye Li's state of mind after her emotional breakdown at the Ye Mansion, gently asked how she had been doing. Ye Li reassured him that she was perfectly fine. Mo Xiuyao then surprised her by presenting a cherished item that Qingyu had brought back from the Ye Mansion, which he had commissioned a craftsman to repair. Deeply touched by his thoughtfulness, Ye Li wept that night.
The following morning, Mo Xiuyao prepared to head to the Jingzhao Prefecture for his duties. Noting that it was still early before his shift started at the Mao hour, Ye Li offered to push his wheelchair so they could take a peaceful walk together. Mo Xiuyao humorously referred to himself as a cripple, but gladly accepted her company. As they strolled, Ye Li decided to come clean about her past.
She recounted how her mother, Xu Wanzhou, married Ye Wenhua at the age of nineteen and brought immense fortune to the once-poor Ye family. However, once Lishan Mountain closed its gates, the Ye family turned on her mother, subjecting her to relentless abuse. Ye Li confessed that she previously lied about her mother dying of illness at Zhengyi Temple; the truth was that her grandmother murdered her mother while Ye Li was out seeking a physician.
Ye Li explained that her entire return to the Ye Mansion was a calculated quest for vengeance and to recover a stolen imperial decree. To accomplish this, she had hired a fake celestial master to perform rituals and used Wang Xiaoniang to terrify her guilt-ridden father. Now that she had finally uncovered some leads, she felt a sense of closure. Upon arriving at the government office, Ye Li declined a carriage ride back and decided to walk alone.
Her true destination was Xiangqi Pavilion, where she met with Li Feibai. He revealed that the imperial decree was currently held by Dowager Consort Qin Zheng, rather than Marquis Muyang as they had initially suspected. Knowing that Qin Zheng was a meticulous and ruthless woman, Ye Li reasoned that if the Dowager Consort had her own hidden motives, she would certainly keep a tight grip on such a critical document.
Meanwhile, at the Jingzhao Prefecture, Mo Xiuyao received a report accusing Ye Wending and a servant named Sun Fu of murdering a maidservant named Yanlu eight years ago. Mo Xiuyao instructed Zheng Zuoshi to arrest Sun Fu, extract a confession regarding the burial site, and return Yanlu's remains to her grieving family. Once the officers left, Mo Xiuyao turned his attention to the failed raid at Penglai Alley.
Convinced that a mole within their own ranks must have leaked information to rescue Red Fox, he secretly charged Gu Zheng with investigating every guard involved in the operation. Mo Xiuyao noted that because the guards were mostly newcomers without deep roots, the traitor was likely bribed, prompting him to order a thorough check on their recent finances and expenditures. Elsewhere, Ye Ying confronted Mo Jingli regarding the night of the Penglai Alley lock-down.
She mentioned that she saw him leaving the Ye Mansion that evening. However, Mo Jingli flatly denied it, claiming he was completely drunk and asleep the entire night. Recognizing his deception, Ye Ying chose not to push the matter any further. Under Ye Li's dedicated medical care, Mo Xiuyao underwent a breakthrough during his treatment. Encouraged by her positive assessment, he attempted to stand up and cautiously took a few steps forward.
Though he eventually lost his balance and fell back down, the immense progress filled him with overwhelming joy and gratitude. Realizing he could truly walk again, an ecstatic Mo Xiuyao ordered his staff to distribute pastries and cash rewards to all the servants in the residence. While presenting him with a newly adjusted regimen of tonic soup and reduced acupuncture sessions, Ye Li listened to Mo Xiuyao express his deep remorse.
He apologized for his past suspicion, his outbursts, and his failure to accompany her to the Ye Mansion as promised. Ye Li playfully chided him, asking why he even agreed to let her treat him if he had so little faith in her skills. Mo Xiuyao smiled and admitted that her stubborn determination left him with no other choice, as he had no idea what reckless stunts she might pull if he refused.
On his day off, Mo Xiuyao informed Ye Li that Yanlu's remains had been returned to her family, and that the culprits would face severe legal consequences. Eager to treat her, he offered to buy her anything she desired. He brought her to the prominent Jinbaozhai, but Ye Li immediately balked at the entrance. She explained that Jinbaozhai and its sister branches, including Shubaozhai, Qibaozhai, Huibaozhai, and Linbaozhai, were direct rivals of her own Shendexuan.
Amused, Mo Xiuyao promised that he would foot the bill, coaxing her to finally step inside. Upon entering, a shop assistant explained their policy: only customers who had spent at least ten thousand coins were permitted to view their premium goods. However, after Mo Xiuyao silently signaled him, the assistant immediately set the rule aside and respectfully guided the couple to a private room to present their finest celadon.
