My Divine Emissary Episode 19 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Li Mengmeng was taking pictures along the canal when Qi Yan appeared. She snapped a photo of him. Qi Yan accidentally knocked her bag, and an amulet fell out. He noticed that the bag strap looked like it had been cut open, the amulet placed inside, and then sewn back up. Li Mengmeng explained that the bag was new and she bought it just before coming to the Qi Kingdom.
She suddenly remembered her mother doing something to the bag, which they had argued about. Li Mengmeng said her mother put the amulet there, and Qi Yan asked if their relationship was difficult. Li Mengmeng replied that her mother was very strict and always critical, focusing only on academic achievement. Qi Yan listened and said he envied her, explaining that he was raised by a nursemaid and rarely saw his mother, who showed no interest in his life.
He believed his existence was merely a tool for the Cui family to gain power, noting that in the palace, power far outweighed familial ties. He told Li Mengmeng her mother's strictness, like insisting she return home immediately after school, was likely for her safety and well-being, suggesting that underlying such strictness was parental love. Qi Yan suggested opening the amulet to see if it contained a wish. When Li Mengmeng opened it, she found a note.
She read it aloud: her mother wished to trade her own life's luck and happiness for Li Mengmeng's safety and health, seeking neither wealth nor success, only peace. Li Mengmeng was overcome with emotion and cried, expressing how much she missed her mother, knowing she couldn't go back. Meanwhile, Cui Anshi discovered the Secret Research Pavilion established by Qi Yan within the Imperial Study Room.
Realizing the significance of this, he decided they must act quickly before Qi Yan consolidated his power. He ordered his subordinates to guard every checkpoint from Yang City to the capital, ensuring Qi Yan could not return. At the city gates, officials and soldiers, acting on Cui Anshi's orders, set up strict inspections, requiring identification from everyone entering the capital. Elsewhere, Cui Wan'er was making a cape. Li Tao and Sai Xue were present.
Li Tao commented on her skill, and Cui Wan'er explained she was making the cape for Qi Su because he often rode late at night. Li Tao remarked on Qi Su's good fortune, which Sai Xue playfully disputed. As they teased each other, they spotted someone in the corner. Li Tao chased after the figure but couldn't identify them. Li Mengmeng and Qi Yan were walking hand-in-hand, relieved to finally be alone after leaving Steward Lu and Guard Kong behind.
Their peaceful walk was interrupted by assassins. Qi Yan instructed Li Mengmeng to hide on a nearby boat. While fighting the attackers, Qi Yan was stabbed. Seeing an assassin move towards the boat where Li Mengmeng was hiding, Qi Yan quickly reached the boat, grabbed Li Mengmeng, and they jumped into the water together. Shortly after, Kong An and Lu Huan returned from buying food and found the scene of chaos.
They realized assassins had been lying in wait, timing their attack for when Qi Yan's guards were absent. Knowing the assassins must be connected to Chancellor Cui, who was the only one who didn't want the Emperor to return, they concluded the immediate priority was to find Qi Yan. Li Mengmeng found an inn, the Laifu Inn, and brought the injured Qi Yan inside, believing they were safe. She laid him down and prepared to treat his wound.
She helped him remove his upper garment to apply medicine. Qi Yan reassured her not to worry, saying it was just a minor injury. Li Mengmeng told him she couldn't find clean water and only had the medicine she carried with her. Moved by her care, Qi Yan held her, telling her the pain subsided when he held her. In the city, Sai Xue and Li Tao were wandering the streets when they saw official wanted posters being displayed.
They realized the faces on the posters were Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng, identifying them as fugitives. Cui Wan'er heard cries for help outside her residence and started to open the door to investigate. As soon as she opened it, her father Cui Anshi's men appeared. Before she could speak, they knocked her unconscious and took her away. She was held captive by her father.
Cui Anshi harshly confronted her, accusing her of shaming the family by being kidnapped and not being with Qi Su at the border, suggesting she was a pawn like her sister. He ordered her to be locked up and guarded strictly. Li Mengmeng noticed Qi Yan's wound was becoming inflamed and went out to find help. She was nearly apprehended by officials but was rescued by Li Tao. Li Tao went back to the inn with her.
Li Mengmeng immediately suspected Cui Anshi was behind the pursuit. Li Tao confirmed that the capital's city gates were heavily guarded, seemingly by two groups of people, suggesting Cui Anshi's private army had infiltrated the city. They discussed contacting Qi Su, Prince Heqin, and Li Mengmeng mentioned she had left a signal for Sai Xue on the way, hoping she would arrive and help them plan.
Li Mengmeng then talked to Qi Yan about "sickness of the heart" common in her hometown, which manifests as symptoms like insomnia and anxiety, suggesting it can be cured by letting go and moving forward. Back in the capital, Qi Su received a secret message from Qi Yan. The message reported that Cui Anshi had falsely claimed the Emperor had returned to the palace due to illness and had soft-arrested the Empress Dowager, taking control of the capital.
Cui Anshi was using wanted posters of Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng as a pretext for searches and arrests. Qi Yan advised Qi Su to be cautious until he could safely return. The message also contained details about Cui Anshi's forces: over 20,000 private soldiers raised by his brother Cui Anzu in Wan City, financed by embezzled disaster relief funds, and a nationwide network of Jin Tai Banks used for money laundering.
Shortly after receiving the message, Cui Anshi's envoy requested an audience with Qi Su. The envoy mentioned rumors that Qi Yan had killed the Noble Consort (Cui Wan'er) at an imperial villa, implying that Qi Su might be cooperating with Qi Yan to deceive Cui Anshi. The envoy delivered Cui Anshi's message, suggesting that Qi Su should carefully consider whether Cui Wan'er's life was worth his actions. Qi Su understood this was a direct threat against Cui Wan'er.
Meanwhile, Lingdang brought food to Cui Wan'er. Cui Wan'er quickly swapped clothes with Lingdang to escape. As she left her confinement, she overheard Cui Anshi discussing his plan to kill Qi Yan and seize the throne. Horrified, she resolved to warn Qi Su. However, before she could reach the door, Cui Anshi discovered her escape and recaptured her, ordering her guards to ensure she did not escape again, threatening them with death if she did.
At the Laifu Inn, a local reported seeing lights, leading officials there to search for the fugitives. Sai Xue arrived at the inn just as the officials were closing in. Li Mengmeng alerted Qi Yan and Sai Xue that the soldiers were coming. Sai Xue told them to hide quickly. The officials searched the inn.
Li Tao and Sai Xue put on an act, pretending to be eloping lovers who had just arrived and explained away the signs of recent occupancy by claiming they had just given in to their passion the previous night after taking separate rooms. The officials were satisfied and prepared to leave, warning them to report if they saw the wanted persons.
As the officials were leaving, another group of men appeared, looking for Li Tao and Sai Xue, stating they were from the Sai family and were there to bring Li Tao back to marry the Sai family's young lady. Li Tao refused, declaring his love for Sai Xue. A scuffle began, but Sai Xue intervened, calling back the retreating officials, claiming these men were harassing them despite the presence of law enforcement.
The officials intervened, warning the men, who were forced to leave but vowed to wait for Li Tao. Shortly after the officials and the second group of men left, Kong An and Lu Huan arrived at the inn, surprised to find Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng safe. Qi Yan indicated that with everything arranged, they could return to the capital. Li Mengmeng expressed concern about the strict security at the city gates. Sai Xue stated she had a plan to get them back and mentioned she would be returning to Ximi.
