My Divine Emissary Episode 3 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Li Mengmeng saw Prince Heqin and was startled, realizing he looked exactly like her modern-day idol, Bai Lian. She thought to herself that both Lin Duo and Bai Lian were here, which made her very happy. She asked Qi Yan if the man she had just seen was Prince Heqin. Qi Yan asked if she had been outside for so long just to look at him.
Li Mengmeng confirmed it, asking if Qi Yan didn't think he was incredibly handsome; she felt just a few glances were enough to make her eyes feel massaged. Qi Yan responded by putting a pastry in her mouth to silence her and pulled her away to eat. Meanwhile, Cui Anshi met with Cui Wan'er, asking why she hadn't consummated her marriage with the Emperor after three months in the palace.
He mentioned Prince Heqin had returned and he didn't want her to have any further ties with him, reminding her that her actions affected the future of the Cui family. Since the Emperor seemed unwilling to 'merge', Cui Anshi felt they couldn't just wait passively. He gave Cui Wan'er some top-grade aphrodisiac powder from Xi Mi, instructing her to keep it safe as it would definitely be useful later.
At Prince Heqin's residence, his people complained about the Emperor's behavior, promising a welcome back but not showing up. Prince Heqin, whose given name is Huai'an, asked about Wan'er, learning she was made a Noble Consort three months ago. He was angered that he only received the news five days prior and vowed to make the Emperor answer for taking Wan'er despite knowing their mutual affection and for publicly humiliating him now.
Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng arrived at Taifeng Tavern for dinner. Upon seeing Cui Wan'er nearby, Qi Yan's attendant, Lu Huan, suggested they go somewhere else. Qi Yan agreed and instructed Lu Huan to find a way to send Li Mengmeng away so she wouldn't know their plan. Before they could act, Li Mengmeng spotted Cui Wan'er and excitedly called out "Lin Duo!" Qi Yan had no choice but to approach and invite Cui Wan'er to dine with them.
Soon after they were seated, Kong An arrived to inform Qi Yan that Lord Li had arrived. Qi Yan told Li Mengmeng to stay and dine with Cui Wan'er while he stepped out, assuring them he would be back soon. Li Mengmeng observed Cui Wan'er eating heartily. She asked if she ate a lot when she was unhappy, explaining that she had a friend who was just like that.
After sharing a few drinks, Cui Wan'er became visibly upset and quickly passed out on the table. Li Mengmeng helped her outside. As they were leaving, Cui Wan'er murmured that she didn't want to 'merge'. Just then, Qi Yan returned and asked what was happening. Li Mengmeng said there was a small accident.
Seeing Cui Wan'er's state, Lu Huan suggested to Qi Yan that this might be a good opportunity for him to 'merge' with the Noble Consort tonight, thus fulfilling the wishes of the Empress Dowager and Cui Anshi. Qi Yan thought it was a good idea and ordered that he would 'merge' with the Noble Consort that night. Hearing this, and remembering Cui Wan'er's whispered reluctance, Li Mengmeng rushed to Qi Yan's palace to stop him.
As she arrived, Qi Yan noticed someone eavesdropping outside his door. He decided to feign intimacy with Li Mengmeng. The eavesdropper, believing it was the Emperor and the Noble Consort together, quickly left to report the "great news" to the Empress Dowager and Cui Anshi, who were overjoyed. Li Mengmeng asked Qi Yan if he was just pretending.
The next morning, palace maids in Lihua Hall were gossiping about the Emperor and the Noble Consort having 'merged' the previous night after three months. Cui Wan'er overheard them. Her maid, Shitao, quickly reprimanded the maids for their loose talk. Cui Wan'er then encountered Prince Heqin (Huai'an/Qi Su). She recalled receiving a letter from him after she was commanded to marry the Emperor.
She had written to him hoping he would return quickly, but his letter had stated he would be at the frontier for three years with an uncertain return date and wished for her to find a good husband and not waste her youth waiting for him. Remembering this painful message, she walked past Prince Heqin without looking back. The Empress Dowager summoned Prince Heqin. She asked him for name suggestions for a future child of Qi Yan and Cui Wan'er.
Prince Heqin suggested the character "Ze," explaining its meaning related to nourishing all things and bringing blessings to the people, especially relevant during the current drought, hoping the child could bring rain and fortune to the Qi Kingdom. The Empress Dowager found the name "Ze" very fitting. Later, Lu Huan reported to Qi Yan that Prince Heqin had first gone to see the Empress Dowager and then intentionally detoured to Lihua Hall to meet with the Noble Consort.
Qi Yan found this perplexing, given that Prince Heqin was the one who had abandoned Wan'er via letter, and now he was seeking her out. Lu Huan suggested it was likely due to their childhood friendship. Shitao told Cui Wan'er that she looked beautiful that day, but Cui Wan'er felt she was merely a "caged bird," no matter how beautiful. Shitao tried to console her by saying everything would be better once she had a prince.
This brought tears to Cui Wan'er's eyes. She decided to leave the palace and went to a magnolia tree where she and Prince Heqin (Huai'an) had once carved their names and made vows of eternal connection. Recalling their promise that their bond, once rooted, could not be severed even if the tree was cut down, she wept. Prince Heqin arrived at the tree. Cui Wan'er interrupted him as he spoke her name.
She instructed Shitao to retrieve Prince Heqin's belongings and return them to him, stating that she was now married to the Emperor and from that moment on, they owed each other nothing. Prince Heqin responded by asking why she would return something that was unwanted. In the Imperial Study Room, Li Mengmeng was attempting to perform a rain prayer using a method from her hometown.
She recited chants asking the Rain King to appear and bring rain and peace, but also included a personal wish to return home soon. Qi Yan overheard her personal wish and questioned it. She quickly corrected herself, adding wishes for abundant crops and peace for the Qi Kingdom instead. She had stumbled upon a sketch of the aqueduct project among Qi Yan's documents earlier when she was startled by his sudden appearance while trying to pray for rain.
Later, Qi Yan discussed financial matters with Lu Huan. Lu Huan reported that the funds in the private treasury were nearly depleted due to the aqueduct construction, and Lord Li was urgently requesting money. Qi Yan decided to host a flower appreciation banquet for all ministers at Renxin Hall that night, instructing Lu Huan to ensure the ministers knew not to come empty-handed.
While preparing for the banquet, Li Mengmeng was helping Qi Yan arrange a picture or scroll, guiding him to move it up and down. After adjusting it for a long time, she grew impatient and asked him to look carefully before giving instructions, stating she had been doing this for almost two hours. Qi Yan reacted sharply, calling her words impudent and telling Lu Huan to slap her. Li Mengmeng protested that she wasn't being impudent, just offering a small suggestion. Qi Yan finally approved the placement.
