My Divine Emissary Episode 4 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
Li Mengmeng was hanging lanterns when she nearly slipped. Qi Yan quickly caught her. He then seemed to reconsider and ordered Lu Huan to deduct her pay, causing Li Mengmeng to mutter that she would rather he hadn't caught her at all. When Prince Heqin returned to the capital, he planned to host a banquet for the ministers. Coincidentally, Qi Yan decided to host a flower viewing event on the very same day and also invited the ministers.
Qi Su suspected Qi Yan was doing this on purpose. He confirmed his own banquet preparations were complete, knowing that few, if any, ministers would attend Qi Yan's event. Qi Su mentioned a new eunuch who was much favored by Qi Yan and had caused trouble for their own people. He instructed Zhuiying to investigate the eunuch. Qi Su was determined to make Qi Yan pay and planned to ensure Cui Wan'er could return to his side openly.
Meanwhile, palace servants prepared for Qi Yan's banquet, feeling exhausted. Li Mengmeng also felt tired. Ministers discussed the conflicting invitations, noting that Qi Yan's banquets were frequent and primarily for receiving gifts, while Prince Heqin's return banquet was significant due to his military power. They decided to send gifts to Qi Yan's event but attend Prince Heqin's reception instead. At the hour of Qi Yan's flower viewing banquet, he was surprised to find no ministers present.
Lu Huan reported that while no ministers attended, their gifts had been sent. A large box was brought in, and Li Mengmeng emerged from it. Qi Yan, still confused about the ministers' whereabouts, ordered Li Mengmeng's pay deducted for slacking. Li Mengmeng offered to reveal where the ministers were if it meant her punishment would be waived. Qi Yan then arrived unexpectedly at Prince Heqin's lively banquet. The ministers who had feigned illness or absence were startled.
Qi Yan made pointed remarks about their sudden recovery and presence there, acknowledging Prince Heqin's popularity. Qi Su replied that Qi Yan might have lost their loyalty due to his frivolous behavior and disrespect. Qi Yan retorted, asking if the loyalty he lost had gone to Prince Heqin. He then calmed the ministers, stating his main purpose was to welcome Qi Su. Qi Yan suggested Prince Heqin perform to entertain the guests. Qi Su agreed and demonstrated his skilled swordsmanship.
After Qi Su's display, he challenged Qi Yan to perform. Qi Yan decided to test his archery skills by having Li Mengmeng hold an apple on her head as a target. Both Qi Yan and Qi Su shot arrows, and both hit the apple. Li Mengmeng exclaimed that Prince Heqin was amazing. Qi Yan praised Qi Su's skills, noting his success on the battlefield over the past three years despite his unauthorized return to the capital.
As a reward, Qi Yan presented Prince Heqin with a Fertility Guanyin statue, suggesting that since Prince Heqin was past the age of marriage and lacked a wife, he should quickly find a suitable match and have children. Qi Yan then announced he would return to admire the flowers and dismissed himself. Qi Yan instructed Lu Huan to tally the gift money and send it to Minister Li to ensure the aqueduct repair was not delayed.
Li Mengmeng commented on how good it was to be an emperor, receiving so much money, unlike in her hometown where large gifts were only given for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and new births. Hearing this, Qi Yan became visibly upset and left. Lu Huan explained to Li Mengmeng that it was the Emperor's birthday, which is why he reacted negatively.
Qi Yan sat alone, reflecting on his past birthdays as the Crown Prince, which he spent alone, restricted from doing what he wanted. Li Mengmeng found him and presented him with a 'birthday cake' she made from fruit. She explained the tradition of making three wishes and blowing out candles for the wishes to come true. Qi Yan, skeptical, asked if she could grant his wish for the moon in the sky.
Li Mengmeng then retrieved her camera, calling it another 'device' from her hometown, and took a photo of Qi Yan with the moon. Qi Yan was very pleased with the gift and the unique 'cake', stating he hadn't celebrated his birthday since he was eight because the person who celebrated with him had passed away. Qi Yan promised to celebrate all her future birthdays, but reminded her she owed him a favor related to the aqueduct drawing she saw.
Li Mengmeng admitted she saw the draft of the aqueduct works. She explained that in her geography books, aqueducts in dry areas are built underground to prevent water loss, unlike the surface design depicted in Qi Yan's draft. Underground canals (similar to Qanats or Kanerjing) utilize the natural slope of mountains to bring ice and snow meltwater to the surface. Interested, Qi Yan asked her to draw how it looked.
Li Mengmeng struggled to recall the specifics for drawing a Qanat and feigned a sudden stomach ache. Qi Yan gave her one more day, threatening to deduct her salary if she failed, but also promising a substantial reward if the drawing was good. Later, something got into Qi Yan's eye, and Li Mengmeng leaned in to help by blowing on it.
Lu Huan saw this and, misunderstanding the situation, was shocked by Li Mengmeng's boldness, asking if the Emperor's mouth was alright. Qi Yan clarified it was his eye and Li Mengmeng had helped. He dismissed Lu Huan and said he was tired. Qi Yan then thanked Li Mengmeng for celebrating his birthday earlier.
Meanwhile, Zhuiying reported to Prince Heqin that he found no background information on the favored eunuch by Qi Yan's side, only noting strange behavior like carrying a basin around late at night. Minister Gu arrived and informed Prince Heqin that the Empress Dowager planned to arrange a marriage for him, which Prince Heqin understood as a test of his feelings for Cui Wan'er. He resolved to accept the marriage to avoid making the Empress Dowager suspicious.
Later, Li Mengmeng was trying to use a basin in a water tank, attempting to return to her own world, but the water level was too low. She decided to try again. Prince Heqin appeared and saw her. He quickly realized she was a woman. When Steward Huang arrived, Prince Heqin made an excuse about following a cat and sent the steward away.
He then spoke to Li Mengmeng, telling her he wouldn't expose her but warning her to be cautious as the palace had many watchful eyes. Zhuiying was surprised Prince Heqin didn't expose her, but Prince Heqin explained that since she was a woman and trusted by Qi Yan, they might be able to gain information from her in the future. He ordered Zhuiying to keep her under surveillance.
Still struggling with the aqueduct drawing, Li Mengmeng decided to draw a rough sketch of the Qanat, hoping it would suffice. At court, ministers, including Minister Gu and Prince Heqin, discussed the severe drought causing famine and refugees in areas like Lu and Guan Counties. Minister Gu suggested sending Prince Heqin to inspect Lu County. Qi Yan dismissed their concerns, stating he would resolve the food shortage in one month but refused to elaborate on his plan.
Prince Heqin interjected, reminding Qi Yan that the people were the foundation of the country and losing their loyalty would mean losing the kingdom, implying Qi Yan's handling of the situation was risking his reign. Qi Yan challenged Prince Heqin, suggesting he desired the throne, which Qi Su quickly denied. Qi Yan then ended the court session, saying he was tired. Outside court, ministers complained about Qi Yan's increasingly absurd behavior. Lu Huan reported Li Mengmeng was likely slacking again.
Qi Yan sent Lu Huan away and Li Mengmeng arrived with her drawing. Qi Yan found the method depicted unlike any he had seen but noted the lack of specific numerical data. Li Mengmeng explained she was not a professional and suggested consulting an expert like Scholar Zhen to complete the blueprint. Later, Zhou Quan told Li Mengmeng about palace gossip. Because Qi Yan had not been intimate with Consort Wan, rumors circulated that he preferred men.
Recently, eunuchs saw Li Mengmeng with the Emperor in the Imperial Garden, fueling speculation that "she" was the male favorite. Zhou Quan implied that if Qi Yan didn't know she was a woman, perhaps he truly did like men, which could explain his lack of heirs and the rumor about him using a drug on Consort Wan. Zhou Quan also mentioned a popular book, "Why Must the Emperor Marry Me?"
, about an emperor who loved a female eunuch disguised as a man, who was eventually killed for deceiving the Empress Dowager. Hearing this, Li Mengmeng realized how dangerous her situation was and became determined to find water to return to her own world as quickly as possible.
