The First Jasmine Episode 25 Recap
> The First Jasmine Recaps
Mo Xiuyao watched over Ye Li patiently as she slept, holding her hand. When she finally woke up from a long, deep dream, they roasted fresh lamb in the courtyard, which her maid Qingyu had bought. Ye Li joyfully recalled how she had craved roasted meat during her scarcity-filled days on the mountain.
As they ate, Mo Xiuyao mentioned he had to leave the capital the next morning for four or five days because Qin Cang had been saved and provided useful information. Concerned for his safety, Ye Li insisted on preparing five days of leg medicine and strictly warned him not to stand for too long, run, jump, or fight.
Before he left, Mo Xiuyao tenderly assured Ye Li that she was the most beautiful and incomparable woman in his heart, thanking her for coming into his life. In the palace, the young Emperor was infuriated by the ministers' opportunistic memorials following the solar eclipse. Empress Dowager Guo Jin remained calm, advising him to view celestial phenomena as tools on a chessboard to be used to his advantage. Meanwhile, Dowager Consort Qin Zheng arrived to pay her respects.
While waiting in the hall, she was heartbroken to discover her meticulously compiled "Xiankun Miscellany" tossed aside like garbage. She quietly left the newly finished first volume on the desk and departed before Guo Jin returned. Before setting out, Mo Xiuyao instructed Gu Zheng to guard Qin Cang carefully to secure the critical witness. Meanwhile, Ye Li visited Qin Zheng, who was transcribing astrological records at Ye Wenshen’s study.
To win Qin Zheng's trust and expose the truth, Ye Li demonstrated a rainmaking technique identical to the legendary feat of Master Zhou Xiankun. She drew a dragon with ink, and after adding gold dust, the dragon vanished, and a sudden rain began to fall. This display shocked Qin Zheng, proving that Zhou Xiankun was merely a charlatan who used astronomical calculations to deceive others. After Qin Zheng left, Ye Wenshen confronted Ye Li.
It was revealed that the two scribes Qin Zheng had previously overheard discussing Zhou Xiankun’s obsession with "Furong" (hibiscus) were arranged by Ye Li, exposing that Zhou Xiankun was actually the Empress Dowager's puppet used to manipulate Qin Zheng's loyalty.
Despite Ye Wenshen’s earnest pleas for Ye Li to let go of the past and cherish her current happiness, Ye Li stood firm, determined to fulfill her promise to her mother and General Xiuwen to clear the name of Prince Ding's Mansion. Meanwhile, Princess Lingyun, disguised in male clothing, went hiking with Feng Zhiyao.
Although a sudden sunshower ruined his plans to watch the sunset over a field of Jinlinzhan flowers, they shared a cozy moment over his secret recipe barbecue. Moved by his sincerity and carefree nature, Lingyun claimed she had a younger sister who had escaped an abusive marriage before her husband's death.
When Feng Zhiyao declared that he did not care about her past, as wind and snow could not cloud a pure heart, Lingyun was deeply touched and agreed to arrange a meeting between him and her sister in seven days under the old elm tree near the Confucius Temple. In a secluded location, Su Zuidie secretly met with Han Mingyue, both operating in the shadows for Mo Jingli.
They discussed their next plan to instigate a conflict between Dachu and Cangbei. Back in the palace, Qin Zheng sought comfort from Guo Jin regarding the grim warnings of the solar eclipse. During their conversation, Qin Zheng asked about Guo Jin's childhood name. When Guo Jin revealed her name was "Furong'er," the truth finally clicked for Qin Zheng.
She realized that Zhou Xiankun had desperately urged her in prison to hide the posthumous edict from the Empress Dowager to guarantee her survival. She now understood that Guo Jin's decades of sisterly affection were built entirely on lies and manipulation. As Qin Zheng departed, palace attendants presented Guo Jin with the poetry collection Zhou Xiankun had gathered for her, where every verse praised the hibiscus, sparking a sudden wave of suspicion in Guo Jin as well.
