My Divine Emissary Episode 12 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
The Empress Dowager arrived, anxious to see Qi Yan. Someone reported that the divine emissary had given instructions that this was the critical final moment for expelling evil spirits through scripture recitation for His Majesty, and absolutely could not be interrupted. Despite this, the Empress Dowager insisted on entering, accusing them of repeatedly blocking her and hiding something. Kong An and Lu Huan stood in her way.
The Empress Dowager told Lu Huan he was blocking her and making her head hurt. Qi Yan, hearing the commotion, instructed Lu Huan to let her pass. Seeing Qi Yan, the Empress Dowager was relieved. She explained she was worried because there had been a fire outside. Assured he was fine, she told him to continue his recitation and left. Lu Huan commented it was a close call and praised his own cleverness, which Qi Yan called bootlicking.
Qi Yan acknowledged that the successful completion of the aqueduct in Lu County was thanks to their efforts. He invited Lu Huan, Li Mengmeng (referred to as Emissary Xiao in the subtitles), and Kong An to sit and have a drink with him. Lu Huan initially hesitated, but Li Mengmeng immediately made him sit down. As they ate, Lu Huan mentioned Li Mengmeng's "chicken" (referring to her phone), saying it suddenly died.
Li Mengmeng looked at it and explained it was nothing serious, he might have accidentally pressed the lock button. Qi Yan, curious about Li Mengmeng's other abilities, asked if she knew anything else he didn't. She claimed she could recite poetry. Encouraged by Qi Yan to recite an impromptu poem with the moon and wine present, she attempted a few famous lines but failed to complete them or they were deemed unsuitable for the context (wrong season, drought).
After several failed attempts, she admitted she couldn't continue. During the meal and drinks, Li Mengmeng eventually became drunk and leaned against Qi Yan. Later, the period of Qi Yan's confinement ended. At court, Qi Yan announced his successful recovery thanks to the divine emissary. Officials presented green seedlings from Lu County, proof that the aqueduct had brought water to the dry land and could solve the drought. Ministers congratulated Qi Yan on the aqueduct's success, calling it a masterpiece.
Qi Yan announced his plan to implement the aqueduct project nationwide. He appointed Zhen Xu, who was knowledgeable about aqueducts, as the Vice Minister of Public Works, responsible for the national rollout. Li Mengmeng observed Qi Yan, believing he would become a wise king. Cui Anshi congratulated Qi Yan on his safe return and the good news from Lu County, emphasizing Li Mengmeng's indispensable contribution. The Empress Dowager also praised Li Mengmeng and offered her a reward.
Li Mengmeng requested a reward, but instead of asking for something, she produced her camera and asked a eunuch to take a group photo with everyone, explaining how it worked and instructing them to pose and smile. Li Mengmeng began distributing gifts, explaining she was leaving and thanking everyone for their care. She told Zhou Quan she was going home but didn't know when she would return, or if she would even be able to.
She gave Zhou Quan a photo of Kong An, calling it a "photograph" and high technology from her hometown. Zhou Quan found it very realistic but didn't want Kong An's photo, saying it was too ugly to sell but she would keep it. Li Mengmeng laughed, understanding Zhou Quan's feelings for Kong An. Kong An was sitting on a rooftop watching Zhou Quan when Qi Yan found him.
Qi Yan correctly guessed Kong An was watching Zhou Quan and told him his thoughts were obvious. Kong An admitted he liked Zhou Quan but didn't think she knew. Qi Yan advised him to just tell her directly, saying it wasn't difficult. Kong An then asked if Qi Yan had told Li Mengmeng he liked her, and Qi Yan said no, accusing Kong An of trying to trick him.
The next day, Kong An bought many things and gave them to Zhou Quan, telling her he liked her. Zhou Quan responded that she didn't know what liking someone felt like, and Kong An said he would wait until she understood. Li Mengmeng visited the group at the Secret Research Pavilion with many gifts. Lu Huan asked if she was moving. She reiterated the gifts were to thank them for their care.
She gave Kong An an "expressionless swordsman, iron-hearted and ruthless" description and an invisibility cloak, explaining it was made with Zhou Quan and he could wear it to watch Zhou Quan from rooftops without being seen. She gave Zhen Xu a "strongest support, promising future" description and a neck rest for reading. She gave Lu Huan a "wholeheartedly, a bootlicker" description, which he protested strongly against, and a pair of dumbbells, urging him to exercise for health.
They were suspicious, asking if she had caused trouble or needed help. Li Mengmeng insisted she didn't need anything, only hoping they would remember her when they used the gifts. Lu Huan commented that since they see each other every day, there was nothing to remember, though he later added they would remember her even without the gifts. Qi Yan arrived, attracted by the commotion, and asked where his gift was.
Li Mengmeng said she hadn't thought of what to give him yet, leaving him disappointed. Lu Huan tried to comfort him, suggesting she must be preparing a special mysterious gift. Qi Yan became hopeful, but Lu Huan then reported that Li Mengmeng had gone to see Cui Wan'er. Hearing this, Qi Yan was disheartened. Li Mengmeng met with Cui Wan'er in Lihua Hall.
She described her home as being far away, using the metaphor of stars and the light taking years to reach them, implying a vast distance in time or space. Cui Wan'er didn't fully understand the metaphor but realized Li Mengmeng was leaving and expressed her sadness. Li Mengmeng also expressed reluctance to leave, saying she felt useful there but would be useless compared to people back home.
Cui Wan'er countered by listing Li Mengmeng's skills, such as medical knowledge, dancing, and making delicious things like bubble tea. Li Mengmeng appreciated Cui Wan'er's kindness, and they decided to have another drink. Later, while playing ball at night, Qi Yan called Li Mengmeng over, asking if she was secretly planning to leave without telling him. Li Mengmeng confirmed her intention to leave, saying her reasons were in a letter she had written.
Qi Yan saw it as a farewell letter and forbade her from leaving, saying she was not allowed to go. Li Mengmeng explained she missed her home and mother, who would be very sad if she didn't return. Qi Yan countered that he would be sad if she left. He confessed that he didn't know when it started, but his mind was constantly filled with thoughts of her.
He added that when she was present, no matter how many people were around, he only saw her, and when she was absent, he still thought of her. Li Mengmeng said she had thought he kept her around only because she was useful.
Qi Yan admitted that was true at first, he saw her only as useful, but then he remembered she had taught him that when you like someone, your heart flutters, and he told her his heart fluttered for her. He said he liked her and didn't need an immediate answer but reminded her she still owed him a gift. Li Mengmeng asked what he wanted, and he said he wanted her.
She apologized to him and repeated that she had to go back, asking for his forgiveness for saying goodbye this way. She described her time there as a dream, feeling lucky to have come and met him, Lu Huan, Zhen Xu, and others, from whom she learned a lot. She admitted she wasn't actually that great, and things like the qanat design, calculations, acupuncture, and cupping were cultural treasures left by ancestors in her hometown.
She regretted avoiding studying and being playful in the past and vowed to study hard and face problems bravely in the future to become a person useful to society. She left him a drawing of the moon she made, which he remarked looked like a panda, though she saw it as a representation of him as a good emperor. She told him she was reluctant to leave him and everything, but she was destined to go.
She urged him not to be sad, to take care, and promised she would also work hard in her home to become a better person. Meanwhile, Cui Anshi's investigation along the aqueduct revealed that the secret channel connected to the canal, realizing Qi Yan's ultimate goal was to reopen the canal. He also discovered that Li Ming, who had previously been demoted for advocating for the canal's reconstruction, was the current commissioner of Lu County.
Cui Anshi saw this as Qi Yan having done many things behind their backs and looked forward to seeing who was more strategically skillful. The Empress Dowager, hearing that Li Ming had again persuaded Qi Yan to reopen the canal, expressed disbelief at his boldness and questioned how her "sister" (likely Cui Anshi's sister, implying Cui Wan'er) had taught him.
She recalled not punishing him severely before out of consideration for him being a former minister of the late emperor but was surprised he persisted. She ordered her edict to be passed to Prince Heqin, trusting he would know how to handle the matter. Early the next morning, palace staff reported to Qi Yan that Li Mengmeng had left the palace.
She left him a message containing her phone number and address, asking him to find her if he ever came to her place (Spring Garden). She also left behind small inventions she could remember, hoping they would help him. She wrote that she thanked him for a good dream, but it was time to wake up. Suddenly, news arrived that Prince Heqin and Cui Anshi had gone to Lu County to apprehend Minister Li.
Qi Yan immediately ordered his horse prepared to go to Lu County and instructed Lu Huan to remain in the palace to report any developments concerning the Empress Dowager. In Lu County, Li Mengmeng passed by the county office, seeing vendors selling sugar-coated hawthorn berries. She considered saying goodbye to Minister Li but decided not to disturb them. She completed her preparations, saying her final goodbyes to the Qi Kingdom and Qi Yan, thanking him for everything, before departing.
