My Divine Emissary Episode 9 Recap
> My Divine Emissary Recap
The Empress Dowager hosted Qi Yan, Prince Heqin (Qi Su), and Noble Consort Wan (Cui Wan'er) for tea, observing the warm relationship between Qi Yan and Noble Consort Wan. She expressed her wish for Prince Heqin to also marry and start a family soon, reminding him that his concubine selection was in two days and he should be grateful to Noble Consort Wan for her efforts in arranging it. Prince Heqin thanked Noble Consort Wan profusely.
After Prince Heqin left, Noble Consort Wan followed him, asking if he still cared about her. Prince Heqin quickly distanced himself, warning her they were in the Imperial Garden and the Empress Dowager had eyes everywhere, urging her, as Noble Consort, to mind her behavior. She pressed him, asking if he was truly willing to see her arrange his concubine selection, just as he had neglected her in the past. Before he could answer, the Empress Dowager arrived.
She asked what they were doing. Noble Consort Wan quickly explained that she had accidentally tripped and Prince Heqin had helped her up. The Empress Dowager expressed concern, eager to hold a grandchild, and advised her to be more careful. Prince Heqin later visited Li Mengmeng at Lingtai Pavilion, feeling troubled and seeking someone to talk to. Li Mengmeng asked what was bothering him.
He explained that he grew up with Qi Yan, sharing everything, but upon returning from the Northern Frontier, he found the Emperor changed. He described the Emperor before as being young but dedicated to the people, unlike now, when he seemed negligent and acting absurdly. Li Mengmeng suggested Prince Heqin might have misunderstood the Emperor, stating that while she once thought being Emperor was wonderful, she now saw it was a difficult and financially constrained position.
Prince Heqin was surprised to hear the Emperor was poor. Li Mengmeng advised that if he truly wanted to help, he should give the Emperor more money, but she could not explain why. Prince Heqin also asked about her thoughts on the concubine selection and suggested she herself would be a good candidate, but she dismissed it as a joke, reminding him they were friends.
Prince Heqin subsequently instructed a subordinate to investigate what happens to the money collected from the Emperor's banquets. On the day of Prince Heqin's concubine selection at his residence, Noble Consort Wan requested the dress gifted by the Empress Dowager, emphasizing the importance of dressing formally for the occasion, despite having previously considered it too extravagant. Qi Yan arrived, asking if he had missed anything interesting.
Noble Consort Wan informed him the selection had not yet begun, and they commenced the proceedings. During the presentations, Noble Consort Wan revealed that while she was hosting, the Empress Dowager favored Zhang Yiran, the second daughter of the Zhang family. She asked Li Mengmeng to help disrupt the selection. Li Mengmeng then appeared, impersonating Zhang Yiran, and performed a modern dance. Prince Heqin recognized her and, amused, declared that she should be his consort.
Both Noble Consort Wan and Qi Yan immediately opposed this. Seizing the opportunity, Li Mengmeng quickly fled. The real Zhang Yiran then arrived late, revealing the impersonation. Guards were ordered to find the intruder. Li Mengmeng ran and hid in a room, which turned out to be Prince Heqin's study. On the floor, she found and picked up a portrait of Noble Consort Wan. Qi Yan entered the study from behind her, startling her.
He quickly pulled her behind some shelves to hide. Moments later, Prince Heqin entered his study, having heard a noise. He saw Qi Yan already inside and commented on their similar tastes, especially concerning women. Qi Yan countered, playfully suggesting Prince Heqin was overstepping. Prince Heqin then asked Qi Yan what he thought about the dancing girl, whom the Empress Dowager had favored, proposing her as a potential consort for himself.
Qi Yan responded that as long as Prince Heqin liked her, it was fine, but warned him not to go back on his word and ruin the girl's prospects. Qi Yan then left. Qi Yan summoned Li Mengmeng to the Secret Research Pavilion and questioned her presence at Prince Heqin's residence, suspecting she was there for the selection. He seemed jealous and pressed her to choose between him and Prince Heqin.
During their conversation and a brief struggle, Li Mengmeng's sleeve was torn. Just then, Lu Huan, Zhen Xu, and Kong An entered. Qi Yan immediately ordered them out. He instructed Li Mengmeng to think carefully about his question and give him an answer later, before allowing the three officials to re-enter. Lu Huan reported that there were problems with the Qanat channel excavation in Lu County, and the project was behind schedule.
Qi Yan felt he needed to go to Lu County personally but worried about leaving the palace and being discovered by those with ill intentions. Li Mengmeng offered to devise a plan for him to leave secretly. She met with the Empress Dowager and claimed to have found a method to expel bad luck from the Emperor.
She explained that the Emperor and she needed to seclude themselves in a Buddhist temple located a hundred li northwest of the capital for three days to cleanse themselves, which would also ensure the Emperor and Noble Consort Wan would have many descendants. The Empress Dowager was pleased and readily agreed, insisting that such an important matter for the Emperor required her and other royal relatives to accompany them to the temple for prayer.
Later, Li Mengmeng explained her elaborate plan to Qi Yan: she would paint him black so she could demonstrate her ability to 'drive away bad luck' by making the black marks disappear once they entered the temple and started the ceremony, thus ensuring the Empress Dowager's trust and cooperation. Qi Yan found this amusing but went along with it. They teased each other as she painted his face, turning him into what she called a "panda," a "national treasure."
Meanwhile, Prince Heqin was tending to his beloved horse when Qingluo approached him. She revealed she knew much about him from Noble Consort Wan, even recalling details about when he won the horse. Prince Heqin noted her young age at the time. Qingluo observed that the horse seemed restless because it was confined and needed to run freely. Prince Heqin agreed, and in a moment, suggested they could travel together with the horse after they were married.
Qingluo was surprised, asking who said they were getting married. Back at the palace, the Empress Dowager commented to Noble Consort Wan and others that Qingluo and Prince Heqin seemed well-matched, noting that she had brought Qingluo specifically with matchmaking in mind. Noble Consort Wan listened without visibly reacting. Upon arriving at the temple, Li Mengmeng hosted the ceremony.
She instructed everyone that they had five flowers (pomegranate, crepe myrtle, everblooming rose, albizia, and jasmine) representing the essence of heaven and earth. These were to be placed in an incense burner at the Zi hour and burned. From Zi hour onwards, they were to remain in their rooms for three days of secluded meditation, copying scriptures 666 times while inhaling the fragrance.
When asked what she and the Emperor would do while others prayed for him, Li Mengmeng stated they would be together, reciting scriptures to expel the Emperor's bad luck. Qi Yan questioned the "scripture" she had just taught everyone, recognizing it as a simple alphabet song. Li Mengmeng admitted she just said it to set a time, and she had forgotten what time the Zi hour was anyway, suggesting they rest from their journey.
Later that night, in their room, Qi Yan found it too warm and told Li Mengmeng she could have the bed. He remarked that she reminded him of a "domineering CEO," a term unfamiliar to him. She described this character as a good person who often acted cold and aloof, showing jealousy, performing 'kabedons,' and dedicating his life to others.
When Qi Yan asked if this was a friend from her hometown or someone from her dreams, she replied it was the dream man of all girls in her hometown. He then asked if she ever dreamed of him, and she initially said only nightmares, but then corrected herself, saying she often dreamed of him giving her lots of money and a luxurious carriage like his. He chuckled, calling it truly a dream.
Elsewhere, Prince Heqin received a report from his subordinate confirming the Emperor's private funds were going to Lu County and the canal project had issues. Suspecting the Emperor's upcoming trip was related, Prince Heqin ordered more men sent to monitor the situation in Lu County.
Back in their room, Li Mengmeng noted it was almost time for the others to begin their seclusion and the eunuch guarding the door seemed to have left, suggesting Qi Yan disguise himself before leaving to avoid detection. Later that night, Noble Consort Wan came out of her room, claiming to be hungry due to the limited and plain food. Prince Heqin also emerged for the same reason.
They encountered Qi Yan and Li Mengmeng, who were outside, supposedly admiring the moon. Qi Yan invited them to join. As they sat together, Noble Consort Wan asked Prince Heqin when he intended to marry. Li Mengmeng interjected, remarking that if Qi Yan were as interested in governance as he was in his wife, things would be better. Noble Consort Wan commented on how well Prince Heqin and her cousin, Qingluo, seemed to get along earlier.
Prince Heqin stated that he was satisfied with Miss Cui, who is the Noble Consort's cousin and the second daughter of the Cui family, seeing it as a good match and intending to find a suitable day to marry soon, fearing complications if he delayed. Li Mengmeng advised him that marriage was a major life event and he should think carefully. Prince Heqin confirmed his sincerity in his intention to marry Miss Cui.
