My Divine Emissary Episode 18 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Qi Su was with Cui Wan'er in her room, pouring her tea. Cui Wan'er asked him to pinch her, and when he asked why, she explained that everything felt too beautiful, like a dream, and she was afraid it wasn't real. Qi Su reassured her that it was real and their happiness would only grow.
Cui Wan'er shared her plans for their life at the frontier: a small house where she could plant flowers and plants, and a dog with a bell on its neck to make noise when it ran. Qi Su said he would do whatever she wanted, but she asked what kind of life "he" wanted. He told her that everything she had just described was exactly what he wanted, and she playfully decided their home life would be her way.
Qi Su then informed her he had matters to attend to back in the capital and asked if she could wait for him. He explained they would have no worries after His Majesty returned to the capital and announced her sudden death. She promised to wait for him and stay at the Sai Residence to avoid being found, urging him to be careful and not get hurt. He promised to take good care of her before departing.
It began to rain in Yang City, which had not seen rain in a month. Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng were out in the rain, reaching out their hands. Li Mengmeng suddenly noticed her hand appeared transparent, questioning if she was hallucinating. Meanwhile, Li Tao's subordinate reported on their investigation into how Qi Kingdom solved their drought problem, discovering they built an aqueduct project.
It started in Lu County, managed by a county official named Li Ming, but the subordinate didn't have details on how it was built. Later, Qi Yan, Cui Wan'er, Li Tao, Sai Xue, and Li Mengmeng were having a meal when Minister Li Ming arrived. Qi Yan welcomed him, asking about his journey. Li Ming reported it was smooth but delayed by continuous rain. Li Mengmeng noted he looked thin and asked how he'd been.
Li Ming said His Majesty had found him a comfortable place with beautiful scenery. Qi Yan introduced Cui Wan'er and then Li Tao, identifying Li Ming as the official from Lu County who built the aqueduct. Li Tao immediately asked to see the blueprints, but Li Mengmeng quickly told Li Ming to ignore him, while Li Tao insisted he really needed them.
Qi Yan then introduced Sai Xue, explaining that Minister Li would be staying in Yang City to assist with watercourse matters, and tasked Sai Xue with helping him while keeping his identity secret. Qi Yan invited Li Ming to eat, but he had already eaten on the way and went with Lu Huan to his residence.
Li Mengmeng finished eating quickly and followed Li Ming, asking if he would like to go to a drama performance at the teahouse that night. Li Ming agreed. As they sat down, Li Ming asked how she knew he liked listening to dramas. Li Mengmeng remembered going with her father as a child and always falling asleep before the end. She resolved not to fall asleep this time and stay awake to watch with him, but she fell asleep again.
Qi Yan then arrived, seeing her asleep, and asked why she was watching a play with another man without explaining herself to him. Li Tao also arrived, leading to an argument over the seat; Li Tao claimed it was Li Ming's, while Qi Yan insisted it was his as he was there first. Li Mengmeng told them to stop arguing and let Li Ming sit. Qi Yan sat in the back.
Qi Yan and Li Tao continued to bicker loudly, accusing each other of jealousy and being rude men, disturbing the other audience members. The audience complained, and they were all asked to leave. Outside, Li Mengmeng blamed Qi Yan and Li Tao for getting kicked out before finishing the play and apologized to Li Ming. Li Ming told her not to worry about the outcome, saying that what mattered were the beautiful moments, like watching the play together.
Li Mengmeng then asked what kind of person he hoped Wanwan would become when she grew up. He simply replied that as long as she grew up safely and happily, he would be satisfied. Suddenly, Qi Yan shouted "Be careful!" Black-clad assassins rushed out and attacked them. Li Ming shielded Li Mengmeng and was stabbed. He asked if she was hurt before he died. Li Mengmeng cried out, calling him "Dad," and wept over his body. Li Ming was buried.
Cui Wan'er tried to comfort the grieving Li Mengmeng, but Li Mengmeng asked them to leave her alone, blaming herself for Li Ming's death. Qi Yan stayed with her, telling her it was not her fault and promising to make the attackers pay. Kong An reported to Qi Yan that their investigation showed the attackers were Chancellor Cui's people. Lu Huan exclaimed that Chancellor Cui was outrageous for daring to assassinate His Majesty.
Qi Yan believed Chancellor Cui had been waiting for this chance and ordered Kong An to ensure the safety of both Cui Wan'er and Li Mengmeng. Qi Yan made various attempts to cheer up the deeply saddened Li Mengmeng. He offered her noodles or osmanthus cake, but she had no appetite. He brought her a bouquet of beautiful flowers, which she liked.
He told her he would buy her a bouquet every day if she liked them, and she finally smiled. He commented that it had been a long time since he had seen her smile. Meanwhile, Qi Su found Chancellor Cui Anshi and proposed a deal, stating he wanted to become the Emperor of Qi. Cui Anshi dismissed this, telling Qi Su to leave and he would pretend the conversation never happened.
Qi Su insisted they shared the same goal and he could help. To persuade Cui Anshi, Qi Su fabricated a story, claiming Cui Wan'er had died in the pirate's lair.
When Cui Anshi expressed shock, believing she was with the Emperor, Qi Su falsely accused Qi Yan of being responsible, claiming Qi Yan wasn't at the palace, left Cui Wan'er there allowing her to be captured by pirates, and then had her killed himself for his own reputation rather than rescuing her. Cui Anshi reacted with deep grief, lamenting the loss of Wan after previously losing Ying, and claiming his life was miserable.
Qi Su added that he had intended to take Cui Wan'er away but now owed her a debt. Seeing an opportunity, Cui Anshi expressed gratitude for Qi Su's devotion to his daughter, but stated he was too grief-stricken to think clearly and needed time to recover before considering reporting the matter. He asked Qi Su to allow him time to think. Cui Anshi immediately put a plan into action.
He created the false appearance of Qi Yan returning to the palace, claiming the Emperor had caught a contagious illness and was being kept in his chamber, with the palanquin heavily shielded. He then met with the Empress Dowager, who asked about the Emperor's condition. Cui Anshi informed her that Qi Yan was not in the palace but had secretly gone to Yang City and would not be returning.
He claimed Qi Yan possessed information that could ruin the Cui family if he returned. The Empress Dowager was horrified, accusing him of madness and reminding him that Qi Yan was of Cui family blood whom he had raised. She offered to try and persuade Qi Yan.
Cui Anshi argued that the Cui family had built half the kingdom's territory and the former Emperor decreed Cui daughters should be Empress, but Qi Yan's treatment of Cui Wan'er meant he had lost patience. He shoved the Empress Dowager, telling her to stay in her chamber and think about it, instructing the guards that she was unwell and only he was to see her.
A palace maid from Lingtai Pavilion arrived to deliver talismans to the Empress Dowager, informing the guards they were urgent. The guard let her in. After the maid left, Cui Anshi asked who had been there. Upon hearing it was the maid from Lingtai Pavilion, he ordered his subordinate to pursue her immediately and ensure she did not escape, giving explicit instructions not to leave her alive.
Back with Li Mengmeng and the others, they were packing to return to the capital. The Lingtai Pavilion maid was also seen trying to rush out of the palace but was stopped by guards asking for her token and pursued when she fled. Meanwhile, Li Mengmeng looked at the items being packed. Lu Huan showed her some of Li Ming's belongings. Among them was a document labeled "Watercourse Plan," containing Li Ming's detailed ideas for the project.
Li Mengmeng realized it was a plan to benefit the people. Qi Yan vowed to fulfill Li Ming's wish by completing the plan, making the canal navigable, and ensuring everyone knew what an extraordinary person Minister Li was. Li Mengmeng went back to her room, noting it was raining again, just as it had been the day she arrived in the Qi Kingdom. She seemed troubled, wondering what was happening, possibly experiencing the strange phenomenon with her hand again.
