My Divine Emissary Episode 17 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Here is the text with all Chinese names translated into English (using pinyin romanization): Upon receiving the medicine, Qi Su was met by Ma Kun, who, instead of paying, had his men tie up Qi Su. Ma Kun told his subordinate to inform the pharmacy owner's son that Qi Su, with whom he had supposedly become friends, would be staying for a few days until Ma Kun recovered and returned home.
While tied up, Qi Su was present as Ma Kun addressed Cui Wan'er, who was being held captive with him. With Master Sai dead, Qi Yan planned to return to the capital to continue his investigations. Li Mengmeng inquired about what would happen to Sai Xue. Just then, Sai Xue arrived to bid farewell, explaining that she had dismissed the Sai family staff and felt she had no standing to remain now that the family's property had been confiscated.
Qi Yan offered to leave her the Sai Family Escort and the ancestral home as compensation if she was willing to manage the business. Sai Xue gratefully accepted, pledging her loyalty to atone for her family's past. Meanwhile, Qi Su revealed that he had hidden anesthetics within the herbs delivered. Cui Wan'er noted that the drug should render Ma Kun unconscious for hours, a fact Qi Su confirmed, assuring her he remembered everything about her.
They discussed his troops being sent to the frontier. As they attempted to escape, Ma Kun abruptly woke up. He disclosed that he had suspected Qi Su from the start and that such anesthetics were ineffective on him due to his extensive experience in the jianghu. Ma Kun then identified Qi Su as the renowned Prince Heqin. Back at the Sai Residence, Sai Xue was seen holding window paper.
She explained that after her father's death, several escort orders were canceled, requiring deposit refunds which she currently could not afford. She planned to mortgage some belongings. When asked about the value of window paper, Sai Xue clarified it was not ordinary paper but expensive Qingtong Zhumie paper given to her by Prefect Qian's wife for her birthday, noting its value and good sound insulation. This prompted comment on Prefect Qian's apparent modesty versus his wife's generosity.
Considering this, Qi Yan instructed Lu Huan to immediately go to the government office and order Prefect Qian to send the relief grain to the capital. Qi Yan suspected Prefect Qian's involvement in past events, noting the suspicious speed with which officials arrived when Li Tao fled with the grain and the apparent arranged killing of Sai Haiming to silence him. Elsewhere, Prefect Qian discussed the situation with a subordinate.
The subordinate suggested distributing the food as ordered, but Prefect Qian refused, stating it was meant for army pay and crucial for Chancellor Cui's plan to build a private army and seize power. He emphasized that defying Chancellor Cui was a greater risk than deceiving the Emperor and ordered meticulous preparation for the next day. Around the same time, Li Tao returned to Yangcheng.
Questioned by a companion about his return after escaping, Li Tao stated he was back to openly reclaim the money he had paid for the grain, as his goods were taken and he couldn't return to Ximi empty-handed. Qi Yan arrived at the government office to inspect the relief grain Prefect Qian had declared ready. Upon inspection, Qi Yan discovered the containers were mostly filled with boards, with grain only on the surface.
Qi Yan confronted Prefect Qian, calling him audacious and accusing him of deceiving the Emperor, killing Master Sai, and trying to steal the grain, demanding to know who was behind him. As Qi Yan ordered his arrest, arrows were fired, initiating an ambush. During the chaos, Prefect Qian ordered a signal flare fired. Lu Huan urged Li Mengmeng to retreat, stating she would only complicate things, as Qi Yan had his own plans.
In the midst of the fighting, someone was in danger but was saved by the timely arrival of Li Tao. Li Mengmeng anxiously checked on Qi Yan, who confirmed he was unharmed. Li Tao boastfully claimed credit for saving them. Qi Yan questioned why Li Tao had returned, calling it self-surrender. Li Tao explained the severe drought in Ximi had left his country devastated, forcing him to return as he was penniless and starving.
Li Tao then audaciously asked Qi Yan to share his method for solving the drought. Qi Yan dismissed the request. Li Tao asserted he would find a way regardless. Later, Kong An reported findings from Prefect Qian's documents, identifying four officials as Chancellor Cui's men and noting the oddity of someone named Cui Anshi transporting cotton clothes during the hot weather. Qi Yan suspected the cargo was not cotton clothes and ordered Kong An to investigate.
Li Mengmeng and Lu Huan then assisted an injured man into the Sai Residence. Qi Yan recognized him as Zhui Ying, one of his men. Zhui Ying reported that pirates had abducted the Noble Consort, Cui Wan'er, from the temporary palace. Qi Su had pursued them to Yangcheng to rescue her but was trapped. Zhui Ying added that his own men were ambushed during their attempted rescue. In their captivity, Ma Kun taunted Cui Wan'er, threatening her.
Qi Su warned him fiercely not to harm her. Ma Kun explained he kidnapped the Noble Consort to expose Chancellor Cui, who was framing the pirates for the stolen relief grain Cui had taken. Qi Su suggested Chancellor Cui could meet Ma Kun's demands if Cui Wan'er was unharmed. Ma Kun then revealed that he had informed Chancellor Cui of Cui Wan'er's abduction.
Chancellor Cui responded by ordering him to kill her, stating her capture had ruined her honor and her survival would disgrace the family. Back at Sai Residence, Qi Yan and others discussed how to rescue Qi Su and Cui Wan'er. Li Mengmeng proposed a plan, retrieving a "bubble maker" she had brought, initially thinking it useless. She explained she would add a potent, skin-contact poison to it, effective where typical sedatives might fail.
They located the hideout and, coincidentally, encountered assassins sent by Chancellor Cui, acting under "His Majesty's" purported orders, to kill Cui Wan'er and Qi Su. Li Mengmeng used the poisoned bubble maker to quickly eliminate the assassins. Qi Yan urged everyone to leave the dangerous location immediately. After the rescue, they found Cui Wan'er drugged but unharmed. Ma Kun had killed himself. The assassins were all dead. A physician confirmed Cui Wan'er was fine but needed rest.
Afterward, Qi Su lamented Chancellor Cui's cruelty, being Qi Yan's uncle and Cui Wan'er's father, yet sending assassins under Qi Yan's name to kill his own daughter. They agreed to keep this from Cui Wan'er to avoid distressing her and began planning for their imminent return. In the capital, Chancellor Cui was informed that his assassins had not returned and the pirate hideout was cleared without a trace.
Alarmed, he considered the damage to the Cui family's reputation if the Noble Consort's fate was known. He ordered a search for her. He was then informed that Prefect Qian reported Qi Yan had discovered the grain issue and was in Yangcheng, surprising Cui, who realized he had underestimated Qi Yan and that he had not been at the summer palace as believed.
Knowing Qi Yan would now investigate him, Cui ordered his relative, Cui Anshi, to deploy more private soldiers near the capital and replace palace guards with his loyal Imperial Guards, planning to eliminate Qi Yan before he could return. As Cui Wan'er recovered, Qi Su inwardly debated his actions, not wanting to hurt her. Cui Wan'er woke, recognizing him as "Huai'an." Qi Su explained they were safe at Sai Residence, rescued by the Emperor.
Cui Wan'er worried her father would be concerned, but Qi Su assured her he likely didn't know. Feeling scared, Cui Wan'er asked him to hold her. He comforted her, promising they would not be separated again this time. At the Sai Residence, Qi Yan received news that Minister Li was coming to Yangcheng to assist. Li Tao was still present, stating he was waiting for the drought solution method.
He cheekily asked Li Mengmeng about her relationship status with Qi Yan, noting she was unlike other court women but "kind of adorable." Li Mengmeng clarified they were dating, not married. Li Tao then suggested she consider returning to Ximi as his main wife instead of potentially being a consort to Qi Yan. Li Mengmeng later asked Qi Yan for his thoughts on Li Tao's suggestion, and he joked, initially annoying her before making amends.
Meanwhile, Sai Xue worked tirelessly on the escort accounts, neglecting to eat, much to her servant's worry. Qi Yan invited Li Mengmeng to dinner at Qingteng Teahouse. She initially hesitated due to their unofficial status, but he insisted he would wait. At the tea house, joined by Li Tao, Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng displayed affection, which Li Tao found excessive. Qi Yan announced Li Mengmeng had a surprise – "instant noodles" from her hometown.
Everyone enjoyed the dish, praising its flavor. Li Tao asked about the cook, and Li Mengmeng mentioned learning it from someone named Kang, offering to ask if he'd become Ximi's imperial chef if she returned home. Yangmei wine was served, also enjoyed by all. Li Mengmeng became sad, missing her home and mother. Qi Yan comforted her, promising to accompany her home when affairs were settled, eager to meet her family and experience her culture.
Li Mengmeng playfully wondered if their relationship would change back in the palace and worried Qi Yan's mother might dislike her and try to pay her to leave. Qi Yan asked what she would do if offered money, and she jokingly said she'd demand more, given his status. He promised not to fail her. Suddenly, it began to rain in Yangcheng, surprising everyone as it had been dry for a month, mirroring the capital's drought.
