My Divine Emissary Episode 20 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Ministers gathered, asking Prince Heqin and Chancellor Cui about the Emperor's condition. Imperial physician Xu sighed, reporting that His Majesty's lung disease had worsened significantly. He implied that if the Emperor did not wake within two days, the situation would be dire. Chancellor Cui suggested that it was time to make plans, although the ministers were hesitant as the Emperor was still alive. Meanwhile, Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng reached the capital borders.
Sai Xue received news from the escort agency that someone was deliberately disrupting the watercourse shipping and she needed to return immediately. Qi Yan suspected Chancellor Cui, who had recently suffered losses regarding the disaster relief provisions. He told Sai Xue to go back, observe the situation, and wait for his news. They bid farewell.
Prince Heqin met with Chancellor Cui, stating that he had fulfilled Cui Anshi's request by sending the letter to His Majesty and cooperating with his plan. He asked Chancellor Cui to release Wan'er. Chancellor Cui insisted that Prince Heqin must complete one more task before he would release Wan'er and allow her to legitimately become Prince Heqin's wife. Prince Heqin had no choice but to agree.
Later, Li Tao, identifying himself as the second prince of Xi Mi, arrived at the city gate requesting entry. Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng were hidden inside chests on his cart. Guards, on high alert due to recent rebel activity near the capital, insisted on inspecting all entering and exiting personnel. When Li Tao hesitated to allow them to inspect the chests, claiming they contained precious tribute treasures, the guards grew suspicious of his obstruction and insisted on opening them.
Just as they were about to force the chests open, Prince Heqin arrived. The guards saluted him and explained the situation. Prince Heqin confirmed the checks were done and allowed Li Tao's party to enter. Li Tao later remarked to Qi Yan how fortunate they were that Prince Heqin arrived in time, otherwise they would have been caught. Qi Yan thanked him and suggested he return to the posthouse, promising to thank him properly later.
After Li Tao left, Qi Yan and Prince Heqin spoke privately. Prince Heqin revealed that tomorrow, Cui Anshi planned to announce the Emperor's death and govern on behalf of the Empress Dowager. He had taken control of the palace with imperial guards and stationed 20,000 troops outside the capital. Qi Yan noted that Chancellor Cui had clearly coveted the throne for a long time.
Prince Heqin explained that Cui Anshi had lied about the Emperor's illness, keeping most of the imperial guards unaware. If the Emperor could appear in the palace, along with their own men, the situation could be reversed. This was their only chance. However, Cui Anshi had used the Empress Dowager's warrant, under the pretext of suppressing rebels, to move the Huwei Camp out of the capital.
The Empress Dowager herself was under house arrest but safe as she was useful to Cui Anshi. During their conversation, Qi Yan felt ill, realizing the water he drank was poisoned. He asked Prince Heqin what he had done. Prince Heqin said "I'm sorry" before stabbing Qi Yan with a sword. As Qi Yan stumbled towards the door, bleeding, he met Li Mengmeng.
Seeing his injury, she cried and insisted she could heal him as long as he was alive, urging him to let her help. Qi Yan told her to leave quickly, prioritizing her safety. Li Mengmeng then saw the blood on Prince Heqin's sword and cried out asking why. Guards arrived and restrained Li Mengmeng.
Prince Heqin ordered the guards to leave them, telling Li Mengmeng that he would send His Majesty's body to the palace tomorrow and grant her freedom after the matter was resolved. Later, Li Mengmeng, held in a room, asked to see His Majesty again. Prince Heqin granted her request. She went to Qi Yan's bedside and spoke to his seemingly lifeless body.
She reminded him of his promise never to leave her and lamented all the things they hadn't done together, like drinking milk tea, shopping, watching movies, quarreling, or having a cold war. She asked why he had left before even asking her to marry him. Remembering he had asked about weddings in her hometown, she described how a beautiful ring was needed.
Using a red string, she fashioned a makeshift ring and placed it on his finger, recounting the wedding vows about loving, caring for, respecting, and tolerating each other until death. She told him, if he could hear her, that she did, she would marry him. Sometime later, a servant reported to Chancellor Cui's subordinate that she had witnessed Prince Heqin stab His Majesty, causing him to bleed to death.
She also mentioned a lady who cried sadly and whom Prince Heqin treated courteously, concluding it must be the Emissary. The subordinate reported this to Chancellor Cui, adding that Chancellor Cui himself planned to escort His Majesty's body back to the palace and announce his death publicly. He mentioned that Cui Anshi still refused to release Wan'er until after his plans succeeded.
Chancellor Cui then confronted Prince Heqin, accusing him of drugging and assassinating the Emperor based on the servant's testimony, calling him a traitor. He ordered Prince Heqin's arrest. Prince Heqin fought off the guards and escaped. Chancellor Cui asked if a girl was seen during the search of Prince Heqin's manor; his subordinate reported finding no one, and Cui Anshi ordered them to search again.
At Wanshou Hall, Chancellor Cui questioned Imperial physician Xu, who confirmed that His Majesty had indeed passed away. Cui Anshi, feigning sorrow, then ordered the mourning bell rung. Outside, Prince Heqin heard the bell and remarked how impatient Chancellor Cui was. It was revealed that Qi Yan was not truly dead. Earlier, after the initial 'stabbing' incident, Qi Yan had woken up with Qi Su (Prince Heqin), who had tended to his wound.
Qi Su explained that Cui Anshi had used Wan'er to lure Qi Yan back to the capital with the intent to kill him. Qi Yan asked why Qi Su hadn't warned him. Qi Su explained the need for utmost secrecy due to Cui Anshi's spies, forcing him to take a dangerous risk. They discussed their plan: since the palace was full of Cui Anshi's troops, a frontal assault with their limited forces was impossible.
The best course was for Qi Yan to fake his death and be sent into the palace by Cui Anshi. Once inside and awake, he could rally the deceived imperial guards, bringing order from chaos and capturing Cui Anshi. This would leave Cui Anshi's outside forces leaderless and neutralized.
Prince Heqin gave Qi Yan a token for Kong An to mobilize the Huwei Camp, which had been moved out of the capital but was expected to arrive near the palace gate tomorrow morning. Qi Yan accepted that he had no other choice but to enter the palace alone to deceive Cui Anshi.
They agreed that Prince Heqin would first rescue Wan'er from Cui Manor and then meet Kong An at the palace gate, coordinating their troops to enter the palace at noon the following day to support Qi Yan. Prince Heqin gave Qi Yan a breath-holding pill, explaining it would induce a coma with no pulse or breathing for four hours, sufficient to deceive Cui Anshi, especially combined with his existing injury.
He instructed Qi Yan to take it only after Cui Anshi had taken him away. At the Wanshou Hall, Chancellor Cui, impatient despite the High Priest's warning that the auspicious time had not arrived, insisted on immediately cremating the Emperor's body and coffin, falsely claiming the Emperor died of a contagious lung disease.
The High Priest urged patience, stating the Emperor's funeral concerned the Qi Kingdom's fortune, but Cui Anshi dismissed him as old and confused and ordered the fire lit. Just as the cremation was about to begin, Emissary Xiao arrived with the High Priest, pleading to stop the ceremony as the Emperor was in danger. Cui Anshi, surprised to see the Emissary was a woman, called her a witch plotting against the Emperor and ordered her arrested.
Emissary Xiao cried out that she could bring the Emperor back to life, asking if they truly didn't want him resurrected. Cui Anshi called her a fraud and ordered the fire again. Emissary Xiao desperately yelled for them to stop, calling out to "Your Majesty!" as she was restrained. Despite the High Priest and Emissary Xiao's protests, Cui Anshi insisted it was the auspicious time for mourning and ordered everyone to kneel for the ceremony.
Emissary Xiao continued to struggle, yelling that His Majesty was not dead and that their treason would anger heaven and bring retribution. Suddenly, it began to rain heavily. People wondered if the Emissary's words were true. The rain seemed to be the signal. Prince Heqin's and Kong An's forces charged forward. Cui Anshi's soldiers, shaken by the Emissary's appearance and the sudden rain, hesitated, asking for forgiveness. Emissary Xiao felt a strange sensation, wondering if she was disappearing.
Prince Heqin urgently commanded his men to quickly open the coffin. As they did, Qi Yan sat up, alive. The soldiers were stunned and amazed. Cui Anshi, panicked, claimed it was the witch's magic turning the Emperor into a monster and ordered them all captured. Qi Yan rose, declaring that he had merely taken medicine to fake his death and was not a monster. He accused Cui Anshi of trying to kill him and revealing his clear intent of treason.
He ordered Cui Anshi arrested. Cui Anshi, enraged, reminded Qi Yan that he was the one who helped him become Emperor and drew his sword against Qi Yan, attempting regicide. Qi Yan's loyalists intervened and apprehended Cui Anshi. Addressing the assembled soldiers, Qi Yan acknowledged Cui Anshi's heinous crimes but also admitted his own failings in judging people and understanding the people's hardships. He asked for another chance, promising to ensure his people would have enough food and shelter. The soldiers cheered, praising His Majesty and praying for the protection of the Qi Kingdom.
