My Queen Episode 17 Recap
> My Queen Recap
Song Che and Zhe Xiang entered Ye Fei'er's mourning hall to perform an autopsy. Song Che, feeling nervous, was reminded by Zhe Xiang of his past as a young general, accustomed to battlefields filled with bodies, but he insisted a single corpse was "completely different." After examining the body, Zhe Xiang noted multiple fractures, three broken ribs with one piercing a lung, and a severe head injury with cerebral hemorrhage. However, she concluded that none of these were fatal wounds.
Zhe Xiang then pointed out black spots on the body, revealing that Ye Fei'er had been poisoned before entering the teahouse. The poison took effect during her argument with Jiang Mengmeng, causing her to lose strength and fall, thus appearing to have died from the fall. This discovery cleared Jiang Mengmeng of suspicion. As they attempted to leave, Song Che accidentally triggered an alarm.
House guards quickly surrounded them, and Governor Ye demanded to know why they were desecrating his daughter's body. Seeing no other option, Song Che revealed their purpose was to perform an autopsy and declared that Ye Fei'er was poisoned, with the true culprit being Ye Ling'er, who stood beside the Governor. He presented the evidence of black fingers and seven black spots behind Ye Fei'er's ear as symptoms of poisoning.
Ye Ling'er immediately feigned distress, accusing Song Che and Zhe Xiang of poisoning the body themselves to frame her and absolve Jiang Mengmeng. She tearfully appealed to her father, threatening suicide to accompany her sister, which would leave him with no living children. Overwhelmed with grief and concern for his last remaining daughter, Governor Ye believed Ye Ling'er and ordered Song Che and Zhe Xiang to be beaten to death.
Just as the guards moved in, Murong Chen, Jiang Mengmeng, Xiao Ai, and Chang Kong arrived. Murong Chen announced his identity as the Fifth Prince and stated that Song Che and Zhe Xiang were acting under his orders to investigate the murder. He then presented Sai Pan'an as a witness. Sai Pan'an, visibly terrified, confessed that the true murderer of Ye Fei'er was Ye Ling'er.
He then produced a blood night-blooming cereus, explaining that Ye Ling'er had given it to him as hush money. A flashback revealed how Jiang Mengmeng, disguised as Ye Fei'er's ghost, confronted a terrified Sai Pan'an in his home, leading him to confess that Ye Ling'er had threatened him to keep quiet about poisoning Ye Fei'er, telling him that if he possessed the "loot," they would be "on the same boat." Governor Ye was deeply pained by Sai Pan'an's testimony.
Ye Ling'er, cornered, confessed her motives. She claimed that she and Sai Pan'an were once a couple, but Ye Fei'er used her status to steal him away and later stole the blood night-blooming cereus from an auction to control Sai Pan'an. Misinterpreting Sai Pan'an's interactions with Jiang Mengmeng, Ye Ling'er decided to use Jiang Mengmeng as a scapegoat, believing she was "doing society a favor" by eliminating Ye Fei'er, whom she described as a local bully.
Horrified by his daughter's depravity, Governor Ye ordered her arrest. However, Ye Ling'er, unwilling to face justice, swiftly stabbed Sai Pan'an, killing him, and then took her own life, declaring that she and Sai Pan'an would be "ghost couples" in the afterlife and never be separated again, even without the blood night-blooming cereus. Governor Ye collapsed in utter devastation. Later, Zhe Xiang accused Yu Qingzhu of orchestrating Ye Ling'er's actions to kill Ye Fei'er and frame Jiang Mengmeng.
Yu Qingzhu acknowledged Zhe Xiang's keen observations. She clarified that she had no intention of harming Jiang Mengmeng, as Jiang Mengmeng's "blood of pure yang" was essential as a "medical supplement to restart the blood night-blooming cereus." Zhe Xiang then reaffirmed her loyalty to Yu Qingzhu, stating that Yu Qingzhu was her only family and Jing Yue Sect her only home. Yu Qingzhu then entrusted Zhe Xiang with one final mission.
Back at their lodging, Jiang Mengmeng confided in Zhe Xiang about her confusing emotions regarding Yun Ya and Murong Chen. She explained that she initially believed Murong Chen was just a friend and Yun Ya her true love. However, Yun Ya's recent question about her feelings for him, post-memory recovery, had left her uncertain, believing she only felt "guilt and responsibility."
She also admitted to feeling a strange sense of loss and discomfort now that Murong Chen was preparing to return home, realizing how much she would miss him. Zhe Xiang thoughtfully advised Jiang Mengmeng that feelings and responsibilities often intertwine and suggested that Jiang Mengmeng arrange a meeting with both Murong Chen and Yun Ya. She explained that by fulfilling her "responsibilities" to both men, Jiang Mengmeng might finally understand her true feelings.
Jiang Mengmeng agreed to arrange the meeting for the following morning. The next day, Jiang Mengmeng prepared a special "DIY Master Jiang's instant noodles" for Murong Chen. She then informed him of her plan to take him to meet Yun Ya at Tian Ji Pavilion. Murong Chen was visibly taken aback, spitting out his noodles. Concerned about his identity being revealed, he suggested waiting for Chang Kong and Xiao Ai to return before going.
However, Jiang Mengmeng eventually convinced him to proceed. Unbeknownst to them, Zhe Xiang had arranged for two children to approach Xiao Ai and Chang Kong, claiming their ball was stuck on a roof and asking for help. This successfully diverted them, preventing them from assisting Murong Chen. At Tian Ji Pavilion, Jiang Mengmeng patiently waited for Yun Ya, but Murong Chen kept excusing himself with repeated claims of stomach aches.
Each time he left, he secretly switched between his Murong Chen and Yun Ya identities, rushing back and forth, becoming utterly exhausted. Jiang Mengmeng grew increasingly suspicious, feeling as though the two men were "playing" with her. While Murong Chen was briefly away, Jiang Mengmeng found a "World Memoir" book, realizing both Murong Chen and Yun Ya read it.
Then, she discovered a Qian Xiu Workshop ledger in Yun Ya's room, which, combined with previous hints and the strange behavior, made her suddenly understand. Connecting the pieces, Jiang Mengmeng finally realized, "It was so obvious. I'm such a fool," that Murong Chen and Yun Ya were one and the same person.
