My Queen Episode 9 Recap
> My Queen Recap
Xiao Mei suggested a plan to deal with the servant who might report them by making him lose his memory in the hot spring. Murong Chen then threw the servant into the spring. Jiang Mengmeng accidentally touched a mechanism, revealing a secret passage behind a large wall. Murong Chen deduced it was built thirty years ago by the previous owner of the house during a time of chaos and danger, and Sang Luo likely didn't know about it.
Jiang Mengmeng eagerly suggested they use the passage to rescue the captured girls. They devised a detailed plan: the following evening, when most servants would be busy preparing the Blood Moon Tactics, Murong Chen would distract the remaining guards, while Jiang Mengmeng, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Ai led the girls to the passage.
The next day, the servant who had been in the hot spring woke up with no memory of the previous night, and his companions immediately called him away to work. Murong Chen, disguised as a servant, successfully diverted the other guards. Jiang Mengmeng gathered the girls at the hot spring and opened the secret passage. Xiao Mei led the girls through, while Jiang Mengmeng stayed behind to wait for Murong Chen.
After completing his task, Murong Chen returned, and Jiang Mengmeng grabbed his hand, and they escaped through the passage together. As Jiang Mengmeng and Murong Chen emerged from the secret passage, they were immediately apprehended by Sang Luo, who had the rescued girls already captured. Jiang Mengmeng realized she had been tricked.
Sang Luo revealed that Xiao Mei had been her accomplice all along, deliberately leading them into a trap by making them discover the "fake" Blood Moon Tactics and the "secret" passage, all designed to lure them to the true location. Stunned, Jiang Mengmeng desperately revealed that Murong Chen was a man, hoping to disrupt Sang Luo's plans for 18 girls.
However, Sang Luo merely scoffed, stating she had known all along and only needed 17 girls for her ritual, with Jiang Mengmeng being the final one. She praised Jiang Mengmeng's courage and ingenuity in attempting the escape, but declared her struggle was over. Sang Luo then prepared to draw Jiang Mengmeng's blood, claiming her beauty would live on through the ritual, offering a twisted form of immortality. Jiang Mengmeng frantically called out for Mr. System and Yun Ya.
Just as Sang Luo raised her sword, Xi Qing, who had been in seclusion, arrived and stopped her. He harshly rebuked Sang Luo for her heinous actions. Sang Luo tearfully explained that her obsession with eternal youth was to remain worthy of Xi Qing, whose appearance never changed, fearing she would age while he remained young.
Xi Qing, revealing he was forty-six years old and maintained his youthful looks through a unique cultivation technique, insisted that he loved her for who she was, not for her appearance. He expressed his unwavering love, regardless of how she might change. Sang Luo, however, struggled to believe his sincerity and asked for more time, suggesting she could find more girls elsewhere if the full moon ritual was missed in Qing Luo Town.
Unable to convince Sang Luo with words, Xi Qing took drastic action. To prove his eternal love and show that external beauty meant nothing to him, he tragically blinded himself, declaring that in his mind, Sang Luo would forever remain beautiful and never grow old. Sang Luo, horrified and remorseful, broke down in tears, repeatedly blaming him for his foolishness. Jiang Mengmeng and Xiao Ai were deeply moved by Xi Qing's profound sacrifice.
Later, Jiang Mengmeng reflected on the impossibility of finding such a deep, soul-stirring love for herself. Murong Chen, overhearing her, explained that true love transcends external factors like appearance, wealth, or status. He said it's about being drawn to someone's essence, loving them unconditionally, making their concerns your own, and sharing all their joys and sorrows. He remarked that he was unknowingly attracted to Jiang Mengmeng even before knowing her true identity.
Jiang Mengmeng, listening to his words, had a revelation. She realized this was exactly how she felt about Yun Ya, even though she didn't know his appearance. She remembered wanting to cure his illness, defying her royal status, and escaping the palace for him. She held up the jade pendant Yun Ya had given her, affirming her belief that her love for Yun Ya was true.
Murong Chen, seeing her realization, thought to himself about Jiang Mengmeng's continued obliviousness to his own feelings for her. Sang Luo, now reconciled with Xi Qing and filled with remorse, decided to seal the secret passage and retreat from the world with him. Xi Qing expressed regret that his blindness would limit their ability to enjoy a simple life, but Sang Luo vowed to be his eyes.
As a parting gift, Sang Luo offered Jiang Mengmeng the blood night-blooming cereus, hoping it could be used for good. Jiang Mengmeng started to reveal that the flower might be fake, but Murong Chen quickly interrupted and accepted it on her behalf. Afterwards, he explained to her that he did not want to crush Sang Luo's spirit by revealing the truth about the flower after all the emotional turmoil she had just endured.
He emphasized that Sang Luo's gratitude and hopes were genuine, which was more important than the flower's authenticity. The group—Jiang Mengmeng, Song Che, Xiao Ai, Chang Kong, and Murong Chen—resumed their journey towards Cang Yun Kingdom, enduring a rough outdoor life. Along the way, Song Che and Murong Chen frequently bickered, often competing for Jiang Mengmeng's attention and arguing about trivial matters, even their horses.
Tired of their constant squabbling, Jiang Mengmeng decided to sleep under a tree with Xiao Ai. Later that night, Jiang Mengmeng, holding Yun Ya's jade pendant, appealed to Mr. System to allow her to see Yun Ya once more. Suddenly, Yun Ya, wearing his mask, appeared and gracefully carried her up into a tree. They sat together, and Yun Ya apologized for not having come to rescue her the previous night.
Jiang Mengmeng, understanding his busy nature, assured him she wasn't disappointed and promised to send the signal earlier next time she was in danger. She shared her newfound joy in actively helping others, like saving her companions and the girls, and bringing Sang Luo back from her misguided path. This experience, she realized, taught her that there was more to happiness than just being loved.
After a brief, affectionate moment where Jiang Mengmeng tried to kiss him, Yun Ya gently pulled away. He then stated that their "cooperation" to find the blood night-blooming cereus was over, taking responsibility for having broken his promise to help her escape the palace previously. Jiang Mengmeng, frustrated, declared him a "fool" for not understanding a girl's heart.
She passionately confessed that her desire to find the blood night-blooming cereus and their past agreements were mere excuses; her true wish was for him to be healthy, happy, and free from worry, emphasizing that her feelings for him were pure and unconditional love, not a transaction. Without another word, Yun Ya abruptly flew away, leaving Jiang Mengmeng stranded high in the tree, calling out for help.
