My Divine Emissary Episode 13 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Li Mengmeng stood by Linzhou Bridge, attempting to return home by creating a small pool of water with sand. She repeatedly jumped into the water, hoping it would work, but nothing happened, leaving her disappointed and fearing she might never go back. While sitting by the bridge, she saw officials apprehending Minister Li, acting on a decree. This made her suspect that the Empress Dowager had discovered Qi Yan and Minister Li's project to repair the canal.
She hurried to the Lu County Office to help Minister Li. Guards stopped her at the entrance. She claimed to be an emissary ordered from above to catch a ghost, explaining that Minister Li was possessed, causing him to become obsessed with building the canal. The guards were skeptical until she used her "demon-spotting mirror," which was actually her phone with a filter effect, to take their picture.
Seeing their distorted images on the screen, they believed her and allowed her inside. Inside the prison, Li Mengmeng urged Minister Li to escape, admitting her attempt to save him had complicated things. Minister Li refused, stating he had lived with a clear conscience and could not become a fugitive, which would feel like a betrayal of the late Emperor and Qi Yan's trust.
Just then, Qi Yan arrived, telling Minister Li that all arrangements were made and he must leave with him. Despite Minister Li's hesitation to involve him, Qi Yan insisted they escape together. News of Minister Li's escape reached Qi Su, who immediately ordered the official roads sealed and everyone searched. As Qi Yan and Minister Li fled, they met Changrui, who had already prepared a hiding place.
Changrui offered to wear Minister Li's clothes and act as a decoy, drawing the pursuers away from the south while Minister Li and Qi Yan escaped north. Minister Li was reluctant to let Changrui take such a risk, but Changrui was resolute, emphasizing his gratitude for Minister Li's kindness to him and the people of Lu County. He assured them he had made safe arrangements before leaving.
Qi Su saw Changrui fleeing alone and found it suspicious, ordering his men to pursue him. Cui Anshi and his men also arrived. With many bystanders present, they couldn't capture Changrui openly. Cui Anshi ordered his men to find a different route to continue the chase and, taking advantage of the chaos, commanded them to kill the emissary. Qi Yan ensured Minister Li's family would be looked after and urged Minister Li to be careful on his journey.
Minister Li left, expressing regret for not completing the late Emperor's wish, but Qi Yan told him he had done well and the people would understand their efforts once the canal irrigated the land and opened to traffic. He mentioned Zhen Xu would oversee the watercourse. By the river, Li Mengmeng mused that Minister Li was safe but wondered how she could return home.
Qi Yan found her there and asked what she was thinking, teasing her about trying to escape again. He asked if she had come to Lu County to save Minister Li, but she replied she had only encountered him by chance. Qi Yan offered to take her home so he would know how to find her again, but she admitted she didn't even know how to get back herself.
Qi Yan suggested she stay, but she insisted she needed to return someday. He asked if her home was truly so good and what her position was there. She confessed she was nothing, just a "study slacker." Qi Yan playfully offered to name her a first-rate study slacker. She appreciated his unique offer but maintained her desire to return home, and Qi Yan noted he kept asking the same question even after she had rejected him before.
Cui Anshi's men arrived, having been ordered to kill her. Seeing them, Li Mengmeng immediately jumped into the river. Qi Yan cried out her name and leaped in after her to protect her. Kong An pulled Qi Yan from the water, but Qi Yan had lost consciousness. Cui Anshi's men, seeing her enter the fast-flowing river, assumed she could not have survived and withdrew.
Qi Yan's guards tried to reassure him, suggesting the emissary was blessed and might still be alive. The Empress Dowager questioned Qi Su's failure to apprehend a minor official. Qi Su explained that the people of Lu County had defended Minister Li, indicating their support for the canal project. The Empress Dowager reminded him of the late Emperor's fate, claiming his insistence on digging the canal against opposition had disturbed the kingdom's foundation, causing drought and his death.
She declared that while she tolerated some of Qi Yan's actions, anyone encouraging him to restore the canal was her enemy and would be brought to justice. Despite being told Qi Yan was unwell, the Empress Dowager insisted on summoning him. She confronted Qi Yan about the canal, calling it a taboo linked to his father's demise. Qi Yan countered that his father's death was unrelated and that the canal was beneficial.
He expressed frustration at her constant opposition, questioning if she saw him only as a frivolous emperor incapable of doing anything right. He declared he would rather not be emperor if that were the case, which angered the Empress Dowager. Qi Yan ended the conversation by stating the aqueduct decree was issued and nothing more needed to be said about the canal, then took his leave, saying she seemed tired.
Qi Yan was left heartbroken and drank alone, feeling isolated and misunderstood, even by his mother. He yearned for Li Mengmeng, having grown accustomed to her companionship, and blamed himself for failing to protect her. He held onto the belief that she was still alive. Meanwhile, Li Mengmeng found herself in a forest, feeling lost with no way home and having lost track of Qi Yan.
She saw an escort carriage belonging to the Sai Family Escort heading towards Yang City. Not knowing its destination or caring much, she boarded the carriage to escape the cold. Upon arriving at Sai Residence in Yang City, she exited the carriage but left her bag behind, which contained her belongings and Qi Yan's belt tag. She didn't immediately realize where she was. Elsewhere, Qi Yan learned that the assassins who attacked them were affiliated with Cui Anshi.
At Sai Residence, the young lady of the house found Li Mengmeng in her room along with the forgotten bag. Discovering Qi Yan's belt tag inside, she recognized it as belonging to His Majesty. Li Mengmeng claimed she found it. The young lady, assuming Li Mengmeng was a beggar who had also eaten a costly "Ten Herbs Tonic Soup" intended for her, decided to send her and the bag to the authorities.
Li Mengmeng pleaded against it, explaining she was hungry and intended to pay. The steward, Fu, calculated the extremely high cost of the soup. Unable to pay, Li Mengmeng offered to work off the debt. She explained she had run away from home to avoid a forced marriage and was now destitute. The young lady had Li Mengmeng sign an indentured servitude contract.
Li Mengmeng signed it, finding this situation even more difficult than her time in the palace, and wondered when she would ever be able to return home. Qi Yan received news from Yang City that pirates had robbed the relief grain being sent to the capital. He was angered by the continued piracy, especially led by the cunning Ma Kun, despite the funds allocated for suppression.
Minister Gu reported that while their forces were training in water combat, they were outmatched by the pirates, making it difficult to eliminate them without harming merchant ships. Qi Yan refused to accept that the kingdom's sea trade would remain vulnerable. Zhen Xu proposed that developing the watercourse could provide an alternative trade route, mitigating the pirate issue by reducing reliance on sea transport. Cui Anshi opposed this, calling the canal project ominous.
Qi Yan challenged Cui Anshi to suppress the pirates himself if he disagreed with the canal plan. Cui Anshi declined, citing his age. Based on Zhen Xu's suggestion and Cui Anshi's inability to offer a solution, Qi Yan ordered full efforts to open the canal and watercourse, and also commanded Minister Gu to eliminate the pirates immediately.
Qi Yan then announced his decision to establish an Internal Research Pavilion, formed by selecting officials from various ministries, to discuss and decide on future government matters. While some officials supported this as a wise move, others opposed it, warning it could disrupt the court's structure and urged him to reconsider. Qi Yan stood by his decision based on the principle of majority rule and dismissed the court.
Cui Anshi saw the Internal Research Pavilion as Qi Yan's attempt to seize control and reduce his own power. He instructed his subordinates to be more cautious in their actions and planned to create challenges for Qi Yan. At Sai Residence, Li Mengmeng was given various chores, including washing a large amount of laundry. She showed resourcefulness, finding ways to make the work easier, like using her feet. The young lady was impressed by her cleverness and rewarded her.
Li Mengmeng later made a small fan, which the young lady found delightful and refreshing, earning further rewards. Other servants also asked for her help. Despite her "promotion" to head maid, Li Mengmeng still faced physically demanding tasks. Tired from her work, she sat and looked at the stars, thinking of Qi Yan and wondering what he was doing. Qi Yan received updates on the search for Li Mengmeng.
His guard reported they had searched the river but found no sign of her, suggesting she might not have survived the strong current. Qi Yan refused to accept this possibility and insisted they continue the search, clinging to the hope that she was still alive.
