The First Jasmine Episode 26 Recap
> The First Jasmine Recaps
In the quiet halls of the imperial palace, where a palace maid recites a poem dedicated to the hibiscus. Hearing that the collection was compiled for her years ago by Master Zhou Xiankun, a displeased Empress Dowager Guo Jin commands the maid to burn it, determined to erase the memory. Meanwhile, Qin Zheng is consumed by her own memories of visiting Zhou Xiankun in prison years ago.
Back then, she had tried to reassure him that Consort Guo was working to free him. Zhou Xiankun had only called her a fool, leaving her with a cryptic warning to never let herself end up like him, before reciting a poem about how deeply the hibiscus had seeped into his bones. Now, knowing that "Furong'er" was Guo Jin's private nickname, Qin Zheng realizes that her cherished bond with the Empress Dowager was nothing more than a calculated deception.
Zhou Tianyang visits Qin Zheng in a state of distress. He is deeply shaken by the realization that his grandfather, Zhou Jing, ruthlessly murdered Qin Cang to protect his own long-standing schemes. Qin Zheng is not surprised, knowing Zhou Jing's cold nature, but she is devastated.
She recalls how her own father traded her away for Southwest interests, leaving her to survive in the palace where she mistakenly believed Zhou Xiankun and Guo Jin were her only genuine pillars of support. Numbed by the betrayal, she tells Zhou Tianyang to leave, dismissing his past attempts to flatter her as mere service to his grandfather, though he insists his feelings were genuine.
The following day, Qin Zheng confronts Ye Li, demanding to know what she hopes to achieve through her recent public actions. Ye Li speaks plainly, explaining her investigation into the Empress Dowager’s inner circle. She questions why Qin Zheng, with her powerful Southwest backing, would willingly serve Guo Jin out of mere sisterly affection.
Pointing to Zhou Xiankun's past actions, Ye Li suggests his loyalty to the Empress Dowager was entirely tied to his relationship with Qin Zheng, and that his conspiracy with the Eastern Palace was far more complicated than it seemed. Ye Li pleads with Qin Zheng for the truth about the missing imperial edict, hoping to clear the names of her mother, Prince Ding's Mansion, and the thousands of Heiyun Cavalry who died without justice.
Qin Zheng claims she gave it to the Empress Dowager, but Ye Li points out the inconsistencies in her story, guessing that Zhou Xiankun had warned Qin Zheng to keep the real edict as a final safeguard before he was discarded. In truth, years ago, Qin Zheng had intercepted the genuine edict from Ye Wenhua's possession and handed a forged copy to Zhou Jing, who burned it, believing he had destroyed the evidence.
In the present, Zhou Tianyang refuses to return to the Southwest. On Zhou Jing's orders, his men bind him and attempt to smuggle him out of the capital. However, Senior Eunuch Shunxi intercepts the carriage on behalf of the Empress Dowager, bringing Zhou Tianyang and his captors back to the palace. Meanwhile, Princess Lingyun of Cangbei receives Ye Li's invitation to meet at the Qingfeng Mingyue Tower.
Intrigued by Ye Li's status as a respected descendant of Lishan Academy, Lingyun decides to accept. She invites her maid, Su Zuidie, to accompany her, unaware of the trap being laid. Outside the city, Mo Xiuyao leads A Jin and Wang Suwu on a mission to capture Chen Longxiang, a brutal former official and close ally of Marquis Muyang who had escaped justice years ago. During the skirmish, Mo Xiuyao shields Wang Suwu from a blade, injuring his own wrist.
Moved by the prince's selflessness, Wang Suwu tends to his wound and admits his past resentment over the fall of Suixue Pass and Lingzhou. He confesses to throwing angry letters into the prince's estate, which Mo Xiuyao reveals he knew about all along. Letting go of his bitter grudge, Wang Suwu pledges his ultimate loyalty to Mo Xiuyao.
Shortly after, A Jin brings in the captured Chen Longxiang, who realizes in shock that there is a traitor within Marquis Muyang's ranks. Back in the capital, Ye Li heads to her meeting at the Qingfeng Mingyue Tower, accompanied by Han Mingxi, who insists on tagging along as her guard to ensure her safety. Before she enters the tower, Qin Zheng’s maid approaches Ye Li and presents her with a box containing the first four volumes of the Xiankun Miscellany.
Upon opening a hidden compartment within the box, Ye Li is thrilled to discover the genuine imperial edict. Upstairs, Ye Li joins Princess Lingyun, and the two women share a toast. However, the tea has been poisoned by Su Zuidie. Both Lingyun and Ye Li suddenly collapse. Han Mingxi rushes into the room to find them unconscious, with Lingyun bleeding from the mouth and Ye Li holding a knife.
Before faking her own unconsciousness to complete the frame-up, Su Zuidie falsely points to Ye Li as the assassin. The news of Princess Lingyun's death throws the court into a panic. Duke Hua immediately prepares the northern borders for war, warning that the Cangbei ruler will seek swift vengeance.
While Zhou Jing and Marquis Muyang advocate for executing Ye Li to appease Cangbei, Duke Hua strongly objects, pointing out that sacrificing the Princess of Ding would show weakness and play right into the hands of the conspirators. Later, Wei Zhuang of Lishan Academy begs Duke Hua to protect Ye Li for the sake of their Headmaster's legacy.
Duke Hua promises to do what he can to shield her from the immediate fallout, but stresses that her ultimate survival depends on finding the evidence needed to expose the true culprit. Ye Li and Han Mingxi are locked away in the dungeons of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review. Upon waking, Ye Li learns from Han Mingxi that they were poisoned by Su Zuidie, a dangerous woman who previously manipulated his brother, Han Mingyue, of the Tianyi Pavilion.
Ye Li is left reeling as she realizes that Su Zuidie and the Tianyi Pavilion are working under the direction of Mo Jingli. Suddenly, Ye Li begins spitting blood as the residual poison takes effect. Han Mingxi frantically calls for help, warning that she will die within two hours without an antidote.
While a desperate search begins for Mo Xiuyao's ally, Gu Zheng, who holds the cure, the conspirators resolve to seal Ye Li's fate and turn the murder charges into an airtight case of treason against the Ding Wang Mansion.
