The First Jasmine Episode 3 Recap
> The First Jasmine Recaps
The Huaixi weaponry smuggling case takes a dark turn when the Military Governor of Huaixi, Yuan Fang, who held critical evidence, is assassinated. Kneeling before Emperor Mo Yanqi, a remorseful Gao Wenhuan explains that although he had met Yuan Fang in the outskirts of the capital, they were immediately ambushed by assassins who abducted the military governor. Despite a tireless two-day search, Gao Wenhuan only found Yuan Fang's lifeless body in a dilapidated shack.
The news leaves the young Emperor deeply troubled. With Yuan Fang dead, his crucial evidence has vanished, leaving the path to personal reign fraught with obstacles. Mo Yanqi suspects that Marquis Muyang, Zhou Jing, is the mastermind behind the illegal sale of national weapons to the northern region of Cangbei. Since even the Empress Dowager Guo Jin cannot tolerate such treason, she did not block the investigation, but without concrete evidence, it is impossible to shake the deeply entrenched Marquis.
The Emperor stresses to Gao Wenhuan that they must prevent the Marquis from placing his own man in Huaixi, or the truth will remain buried forever. Meanwhile, Ye Li visits Changsheng Pavilion on the birthday of the Great Emperor of Longevity.
The pavilion is bustling with patrons seeking blessings, and the workers gossip about how the wife of Lv Cheng had recently made a scene, demanding to place her ceremonial lamp on the highest tier, which is strictly reserved for royalty. The workers ultimately compromised by placing her lamp on the second tier.
As Ye Li prepares to make her own offering, a young bookboy explains the differences between the Jiuyao Everlasting Lamp, which wards off misfortunes, and the Seven Stars Lamp, which is used for making wishes to the gods. To make a wish, one must write the recipient's real name, specifically the name given at birth and recorded in the ancestral temple, on the bottom of the lamp. At the Jingzhao Prefecture, a tense standoff unfolds.
General Lu Changfu, the commander of the Jinwu Guard and a close ally of Marquis Muyang, storms the courtyard with his soldiers, demanding to take custody of Yuan Fang’s body and case files. He argues that the Jinwu Guard should handle the investigation. Magistrate Gongshu Yang firmly refuses to yield, pointing out the obvious conflict of interest.
Since Marquis Muyang is closely tied to the prominent Zhou family in Huaixi and Lu Changfu is his well-known confidant, leaving the investigation to the Jinwu Guard would render it a farce. Lv Cheng stands nearby, playing the role of an innocent bystander who merely happened to drop by. He tries to play peacemaker, reminding both Gongshu Yang and Lu Changfu that they were both elevated by the Empress Dowager and should avoid unnecessary conflict.
Lu Changfu remains defiant, boasting of the Marquis’s legendary military achievements, but Gongshu Yang stands firm, threatening to petition the Emperor. Back at Changsheng Pavilion, as Ye Li selects her own lamp, she notices the name written under Mrs. Lv's lamp is not Lv Cheng, but Lv Boying. This realization leads her to deduce that the arrogant official must have changed his name to hide his past.
The bookboy suggests placing Prince Ding’s lamp at the highest position so the deity will see it first, but Ye Li declines. She chooses a moderate position, writing Mo Xiuyao’s name and wishing him nothing but peace and safety. Later, Li Feibai, a guard from the Ye family, arrives at the Jingzhao Prefecture to thank the magistrate for recovering a lost imperial plaque.
Upon spotting Lv Cheng, Li Feibai greets him familiarly as Lord Lv Boying, asking if the official remembers him. Though a panicked Lv Cheng quickly denies the association and claims it is a case of mistaken identity, the slip-up does not escape the sharp ears of Gongshu Yang, who silently notes the name. On her way back, Ye Li walks with her maid Qingyu, who asks if she is worried about Prince Ding.
Ye Li shares a story about a flattering official in the Bureau of Astronomy during the previous dynasty. To please the Empress, the official insisted that an ancient tree in a certain concubine’s courtyard brought misfortune, prompting the Empress to chop it down and leave the courtyard barren. That neglected concubine, however, eventually rose to become the Empress Dowager. When Qingyu wonders if the official tried to escape her wrath, Ye Li hints that he survived by changing his name.
Armed with this new lead, Gongshu Yang reports the details of Yuan Fang's death and the storming of the prefecture to Empress Dowager Guo Jin. He then casually relates the strange coincidence of the Ye family guard identifying Lv Cheng as Lv Boying. Hearing the name of her old tormentor, the Empress Dowager's expression turns cold. Without delay, Senior Eunuch Shunxi is dispatched to the Lv Residence with guards, arresting a protesting Lv Cheng and dragging him away.
Shortly after, the Empress Dowager summons a trembling Zhou Jing. She rebukes him for allowing such a treacherous scoundrel to infiltrate his inner circle, questioning his ability to distinguish between friend and foe. She also orders the Court of Judicial Review to step away from Yuan Fang's case. After Zhou Jing departs, a royal consort steps out from the inner chamber, trying to soothe the Empress Dowager's frustration.
She mentions that the young Emperor is still in his teens and prone to playfulness, but the Empress Dowager remains stern, knowing he must soon take the reins of the state. An anxious Zhou Jing visits the prison, where a desperate Lv Cheng begs him for mercy. Realizing that the official's hidden past has brought ruin to his faction, an enraged Zhou Jing drags him to Yaoguang Palace, the quiet place where Guo Jin once meditated.
Before Senior Eunuch Shunxi, Lv Cheng is forced to face the gravity of his past actions. Shunxi vividly recalls how Lv Cheng had once callously destroyed the ancient tree under which the Empress Dowager had spent her days copying sutras. Desperate to save his life, Lv Cheng frantically promises to plant a new, even more beautiful tree in its place.
Zhou Jing coldly tells him to do so, and orders his men to bury Lv Cheng alive in the courtyard, planting a small sapling directly over the fresh grave. That night, Feng Zhiyao, the head of the Qingfeng Mingyue Tower, slips over the walls of Prince Ding's Mansion in black attire. Although he is briefly spotted by Ye Li, he manages to escape into Mo Xiuyao's study.
Dripping with rain, Feng Zhiyao warns Mo Xiuyao that his new wife has remarkably sharp eyes. He then shares the news of Lv Cheng's brutal downfall. He notes how ironic it is that a man who spent his life cunningly manipulating both sides was brought down by a simple guard. Upon learning that the guard in question belongs to the Ye family, Mo Xiuyao begins to suspect that Ye Li played a silent role in the official's demise.
To test his suspicions, Mo Xiuyao visits Ye Li in her quarters. He notices her trying to conceal something under her foot and demands she lift it. Beneath her slipper lies a piece of paper with Lv Cheng’s name written on it. Ye Li innocently explains that she used a traditional folk method called "Stepping on Villains" to curse him because he had been bullying Prince Ding.
She confidently claims that according to ancient texts, Lv Cheng will fall gravely ill within three days. Mo Xiuyao, finding her combination of apparent naivety and deep-seated grudges perplexing, simply tells her to stop playing such childish games. Later, Feng Zhiyao laughs at the ridiculous curse, questioning if Lv Cheng's death was truly caused by Ye Li's paper doll. While Feng Zhiyao believes Ye Li is purely kind and innocent, Mo Xiuyao remains wary.
A servant soon arrives, presenting Mo Xiuyao with a bowl of special congee that Ye Li has ordered to be delivered to him daily. At the Marquis Muyang’s mansion, Zhou Jing warns his gathered allies that he will tolerate no more secrets. He acknowledges that while losing Lv Cheng is a minor blow, the immediate concern is securing Huaixi before the Emperor can install a loyalist. He decides that they must push to have Lu Changfu appointed to the post.
The next day in court, Zhou Jing formally proposes Lu Changfu as the new Military Governor of Huaixi. Chief Imperial Secretary Murong Shen objects, arguing that Lu Changfu lacks the experience for such a complex region. However, the Empress Dowager Guo Jin overrides the objection and officially appoints Lu Changfu to the position, ordering him to depart in five days.
Back at the mansion, Mo Xiuyao finds Ye Li writing letters to her grandfather, teachers, and senior brothers on Lishan Mountain. When a sweet congee sweetened with honey is served, Mo Xiuyao is surprised, noting that most scholars prefer savory congee. Ye Li fondly recalls how her favorite teacher, Master Zhu, used to sneak honey into his congee, claiming it was salt water.
Mo Xiuyao notices a line in her letter describing Prince Ding as quite dull, prompting a flustered Ye Li to hide the paper. She tells him that she truly wishes to build a home with him. Mo Xiuyao dryly suggests that his decision to keep their marriage unconsummated might actually suit her plans.
To lighten the mood, Ye Li points out a small spider on his sleeve, calling it a Lucky Spider whose presence brings good fortune, playfully telling him that his luck is about to change. During a walk in the busy streets of the capital, Ye Li and her maid observe the lively crowds. Her maid remarks that Prince Ding still seems distant, but Ye Li remains determined to do what is necessary.
She explains to her maid that everyone carries a unique scent that reveals their true nature, but when asked about Mo Xiuyao, she admits she cannot smell anything. To her, his scent is completely isolated, as if he is submerged deep in water. Upon returning to the mansion, Ye Li encounters Mo Xiuyao’s sister-in-law, Wen Ran, who has just returned from seeking acupuncture treatments from the renowned physician Zheng Jiuzhen.
Shortly after, Ye Li learns from the servants that Mo Xiuyao has locked himself in his study all day, refusing to eat. Worried, she rushes to the study, only to be stopped by the guards who claim the Prince gave strict orders to let no one in. Ye Li angrily demands Mo Xiuyao to come out, even threatening to bite the guards if they do not step aside.
Ultimately, she decides to respect his space but instructs the servants to prepare food and send it in to him. Deep in thought, she discusses the situation with her uncle. She realizes that if Lu Changfu successfully takes control of Huaixi, Marquis Muyang will become unstoppable. Knowing the young Emperor also shares her desire to change the status quo, her uncle advises that they proceed with their plans accordingly.
