Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 41 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
Physician Li waited outside Zichen Hall until Emperor Di Xu finally appeared, accompanied by Fang Jianming, who discreetly excused himself to manage the foreign envoys. Physician Li reported Fang Jianming’s critical condition, revealing that the poison in his body was not contained and was infiltrating his blood. He explained that Fang Jianming appeared well only due to pearl powder, and once it ran out or became ineffective, he would collapse, beyond saving.
Physician Li stated that the only remaining hope lay with the merfolk. At this moment, Fang Haishi sought an audience. She came to address the plummeting gold price, expressing concern about potential conflict in the southwest if the issue was not resolved. Di Xu, impatient, cut her short and instructed her to accompany him to the great hall to meet the envoys. In the hall, Fang Jianming stood with dignified composure, addressing the distinguished guests.
The Nihualuo envoy, Bonen Naji, had arrived without fanfare. Though ostensibly there to discuss burial and civilian affairs, he subtly hinted at holding Dazheng accountable for the gold price crash, which had caused significant hardship and even suicides among the tribes. Di Xu listened with a cold, contained smile as Bonen Naji passionately delivered his grievances.
After Bonen Naji finished, Di Xu confirmed that the Dragon Tail was revered as a supreme auspicious deity by their tribe and then announced that in the coming summer, all tribal envoys would gather in Tianqi to observe the merfolk. This declaration shocked Bonen Naji and his entourage, as merfolk were considered divine beings, impossible to capture and confine within the palace.
However, Di Xu, though seemingly calm, spoke with immense authority, insisting that bringing the auspicious merfolk into the palace would symbolize Dazheng’s prosperity. Bonen Naji, his face flushed, was forced to comply, his hands clasped in frustration, without any resolution on the gold price. Fang Haishi did not understand Di Xu’s true intentions and firmly stated that she would never bring Lang Huan, a merfolk, to Tianqi.
She explained that there was no such thing as a "Dragon Tail god"; people in Leizhou and the southwest revered merfolk because they could disperse sharks and protect sailors. To Fang Haishi, merfolk were not gods but rather people who lived in water, unable to survive long outside the deep sea. She worried about Lang Huan's potential death during transport and how that would be explained to the envoys. Di Xu remained resolute, dismissing her objections.
He began to explain his real reason for bringing Lang Huan was to save Fang Jianming, but Fang Jianming quickly interrupted him. Despite this, Di Xu entrusted Fang Haishi with the mission to find Lang Huan and bring her safely to Tianqi. The incident left Di Xu in a foul mood. He sought out Ti Lan in Yu’an Palace, confiding that despite his sole focus on saving Fang Jianming, his actions were perceived as willful, and he felt misunderstood.
Ti Lan sensed his despondency and gently told him that his actions stemmed from a deep desire to protect his friend. She advised him to explain his true feelings to others so they could understand. Following Ti Lan's advice, Di Xu decided to inform Fang Haishi of Fang Jianming’s illness. He arrived at the entrance of Fengwu Palace but hesitated, sitting outside without entering. Meanwhile, Bizi, a maid from Yu’an Palace, noticed Di Xu's cloak had been left behind.
She hurried out to deliver it and, witnessing Di Xu gazing at Fengwu Palace, became worried that he might be developing feelings for Fang Haishi, thus neglecting Ti Lan. The next morning, Fang Haishi proactively visited Ti Lan at Yu’an Palace.
During their conversation, she learned how profoundly the tribes in Leizhou revered the Dragon Tail, deducing that Di Xu's risky plan to bring Lang Huan to Tianqi was likely an attempt to awe the tribes and quell the gold price unrest. Di Xu had intended to visit Ti Lan but, learning that she was chatting with Fang Haishi inside, decided to leave them undisturbed. To ascertain her master's stance, Fang Haishi then went to Zhaoming Palace.
Unbeknownst to her, Fang Jianming, consumed by his longing for Haishi, was experiencing a hallucination. He mused that since Fang Haishi became a consort, she had lost her smile. To court officials, she was a harbinger of disaster, yet to the common people, she was a symbol of auspiciousness.
He reflected that Haishi, originally a simple pearl diver from a fishing family named Ye, was blessed by the Dragon Tail, enabling her to be a fish in the water, a spear to pacify the land, or a soaring eagle, but ultimately, she did not belong in Tianqi City. As Fang Jianming sighed, he turned to find Fang Haishi, who had actually arrived.
Fang Haishi felt a pang of sadness seeing her master maintain the formal distance he had previously adopted, citing the distinction between "consort and subordinate." She responded with the same formality, inquiring about his views on the gold price issue. Prior to her visit, Fang Haishi had devised a plan: to visit Leizhou as a messenger of the Dragon Tail god, persuade the tribes face-to-face, and sign a treaty.
Fang Jianming did not agree, and suddenly feeling unwell, he quickly dismissed her to avoid her noticing his condition. Shortly after Fang Haishi left, he coughed up blood again, leaving him frail and near death. Princess Tara of the Right Pudun Kingdom arrived at the tailor shop, asking Madam Su, the shop owner, to custom-make a Dazheng men's underrobe. She joyfully announced her upcoming marriage to Duohan.
Zhe Liu was heartbroken upon hearing the news but nonetheless agreed, cherishing the thought that she could make clothes for Fang Zhuoying, whom she deeply loved, perhaps for the last time. Later, Fang Haishi returned to Zhaoming Palace to learn about Leizhou’s customs and geography from her master. She found herself lost in memories of the past.
Fang Haishi casually remarked that they had "a long time to come," which inadvertently angered her master, reminding him of his own limited time. Fang Jianming coldly told her that as a consort, she should not have excessive contact with outside men. Fang Haishi found his words unfathomable, believing their relationship to be pure and above reproach. She misunderstood his meaning, thinking he valued his reputation above all else, and left in anger.
