My Queen Episode 22 Recap
> My Queen Recap
As Jiang Mengmeng prepared to leave with Murong Chen, Yu Qingzhu realized she had been deceived. Yu Qingzhu angrily confronted the pair, accusing them of conspiring against her and reminding Jiang Mengmeng that she (Jiang Mengmeng) had initially deceived her (Yu Qingzhu) by entering Jing Yue Sect. Zhe Xiang apologized to Yu Qingzhu for her actions. Earlier, when Zhe Xiang delivered the antidote to Murong Chen, he revealed her true identity as Qu Yao, the daughter of Qu Yeming.
Murong Chen explained that he saw inherent kindness and justice in her, believing she had merely forgotten her true self during her time with Yu Qingzhu. He clarified that he never gambled on human evil, only on goodness. He also revealed that if Zhe Xiang hadn't come to his aid, his contingency plan would have seen Chang Kong appointed as the next Tian Ji Pavilion owner to continue the fight against Jing Yue Sect.
Murong Chen explained that while individuals might fade, their consciousness and purpose would be passed down, just as Tian Ji Pavilion was entrusted to him. Following Murong Chen's instructions, Zhe Xiang woke Jiang Mengmeng and handed her the Tian Ji Pavilion token. Jiang Mengmeng immediately asked about Murong Chen’s well-being, relieved to hear he was safe.
Zhe Xiang then outlined Murong Chen's rescue plan: Jiang Mengmeng was to act like a frivolous woman, gathering male consorts to mislead Yu Qingzhu, and proceed with a fabricated marriage to Song Che. Jiang Mengmeng agreed to this, allowing Murong Chen’s plan to gain time and momentum.
Just as Murong Chen attempted to rescue Jiang Mengmeng and the others, Yu Qingzhu dramatically revealed that she had long been aware of their collaborative scheme, having already taken Murong Yi hostage and lured them into her trap. Murong Chen thanked Jiang Mengmeng for her trust, promising he would never let go of her hand again, but Yu Qingzhu interjected, declaring he could not take Jiang Mengmeng away that day.
Murong Yi urged Murong Chen to take Jiang Mengmeng and leave him behind. Yu Qingzhu questioned Murong Chen's dual identity as the Fifth Prince and Tian Ji Pavilion owner, and taunted Zhe Xiang, revealing she knew Zhe Xiang had stolen the antidote for him. Yu Qingzhu stated she had raised Zhe Xiang for years and saw through her petty tricks, confirming that the entire situation was a trap she had set to lure them in.
Murong Chen offered to remain as a hostage if Yu Qingzhu would release the others, but Yu Qingzhu dismissed this, stating that Jing Yue Sect was too small to contain a figure like him. She then presented Murong Chen with an ultimatum: he could take Murong Yi, but only if he surrendered the Tian Ji Token, and even then, Murong Yi would not survive long without Jiang Mengmeng's virgin blood. Alternatively, he could take Jiang Mengmeng with no conditions attached.
Song Che angrily defied Yu Qingzhu, attempting to rally resistance. Murong Chen’s aide pleaded with him not to surrender the Tian Ji Token, warning of the chaos it would bring to the jianghu and the court. Murong Yi also urged Murong Chen not to sacrifice his ten years of hard work. After agonizing consideration, Murong Chen chose to save Murong Yi, handing over the Tian Ji Token to Yu Qingzhu.
With tears in his eyes, he bid a sorrowful farewell to Jiang Mengmeng, apologizing to her. Yu Qingzhu commanded Chen Yan to proceed with the wedding ceremony and ordered Zhe Xiang to be thrown into the dungeon as a traitor. Song Che tried to intervene, but Yu Qingzhu threatened Zhe Xiang’s life, forcing Song Che to continue with the marriage.
Jiang Mengmeng was heartbroken, lamenting that she, Tian Ji Pavilion, and ten years of effort were all less important to Murong Chen than Murong Yi, concluding that Murong Yi must be Murong Chen's true love. Yu Qingzhu then advised Jiang Mengmeng not to let unimportant people and matters spoil her wedding day. Later, in their chamber, Song Che tried to offer Jiang Mengmeng more comfortable clothes.
Jiang Mengmeng sensed Song Che’s true feelings and told him she knew he liked Zhe Xiang. Song Che apologized to her. Jiang Mengmeng accepted the apology, reflecting on their marriage as fate. She expressed envy for Song Che, who, unlike her, was truly from this world and had found genuine love despite initial adherence to his "destiny." She felt her own efforts to defy predestined paths only led to betrayal and disappointment.
Song Che, though not fully grasping her words, took it as a compliment. Meanwhile, in the dungeon, Qin He tortured Zhe Xiang. Zhe Xiang, defiant, laughed at Qin He, predicting she would one day suffer the same fate. She explained that Jing Yue Sect’s brutal ways meant one could be valued today and discarded tomorrow, emphasizing Yu Qingzhu's ruthlessness towards both men and women. Qin He, enraged by Zhe Xiang's words, intensified her torture.
At a post house, Murong Yi apologized to Murong Chen for being a burden. Murong Chen reassured him, explaining that Uncle Qi’s sacrifice had taught him that all lives are equal, and sacrificing one for many was not true kindness. Murong Chen declared that he had not truly lost, as he held a secret trump card Yu Qingzhu had not discovered. His immediate priority was to retrieve the Tian Ji Token.
He explained that despite his dual identity as the Fifth Prince of Cang Yun Kingdom and Tian Ji Pavilion owner, he had always kept imperial affairs separate from jianghu matters, respecting their father’s principle of non-interference. However, he proposed a dangerous strategy: to provoke Jing Yue Sect into challenging the imperial court directly. Murong Yi warned of the danger, but Murong Chen insisted, stating that "nothing ventured, nothing gained."
He then asked Murong Yi, in his capacity as the Crown Prince of Cang Yun Kingdom, to write a letter to Ruo Shui Kingdom seeking assistance. Elsewhere, Yu Qingzhu found Jiang Mengmeng distracted during her training for the Blood Moon Power. Yu Qingzhu decided to tell her a story, revealing her own tragic past.
More than twenty years ago, she, too, had fallen deeply in love with a noble official (who Jiang Mengmeng later deduced was Emperor Murong Shuo of Cang Yun Kingdom). Despite their disparate social standings, she believed their love could overcome anything. However, the man abandoned her for power and status, marrying into a prominent family. Heartbroken, she left him, only to discover she was pregnant. Her family disowned her, casting her out. Alone and helpless, she wandered the jianghu.
On the very day the man ascended to power, she gave birth to their child, who, due to poor health, tragically died shortly after. She buried her child alone, watching from a distance as her former lover was admired by all, living cheerfully with his new wife and child. Yu Qingzhu confessed that she had never revealed this story to anyone, but she shared it with Jiang Mengmeng to warn her.
She vowed to avenge her dead child by killing Murong Shuo’s children, Murong Yi and Murong Chen. She aimed to disrupt the peace Murong Shuo desired, ensuring his life in the court would be filled with turmoil. She warned Jiang Mengmeng that men would pretend to love her when they had no other options, but would ruthlessly abandon her when better opportunities arose, claiming Murong Shuo and his son were no different.
Moved by Yu Qingzhu’s tragic tale, Jiang Mengmeng agreed to dedicate herself to learning the Blood Moon Power. Meanwhile, Song Che bribed Jiang Mengmeng's male consorts to distract the female guards, allowing him to secretly visit Zhe Xiang in the dungeon. Distraught at seeing Zhe Xiang's badly bruised and wounded body, he asked how she could have endured such suffering since childhood.
He tried to rescue her, but Zhe Xiang refused, explaining she could not leave because of Jiang Mengmeng’s safety. Song Che realized he had acted impulsively without considering Jiang Mengmeng. Zhe Xiang thanked him for his concern, and Song Che gave her a hairpin for any future emergency. They then shared a passionate kiss, with Song Che promising to return and save her. After ensuring Murong Yi was safely away, Murong Chen went alone to Jing Yue Sect.
Despite being gravely injured, he single-handedly fought the sect’s disciples. Overwhelmed by numbers and his severe wounds, he struggled to continue before finally collapsing unconscious. The disciples mocked his "craziness" for attempting such a feat in his condition and vowed to finish him.
