Shining Just For You Episode 10 Recap
> Shining Just For You Recap
After the failed assassination attempt during the Ceremony of Stars, officials in court detailed the severe punishments for the culprits. Huo Lu, an Assistant General of the Imperial Guard, faced dismemberment of his corpse and the execution of his entire family. Ye Lingshuang, Director of the Bureau of Astrology, was sentenced to beheading for conspiracy. Princess Qi Hailian of the Yebei Qihai Tribe was to be executed along with her accomplices for masterminding the plot.
However, Emperor Yu Xiuming, acknowledging Princess Qi Hailian's status as Qihai Zhenyu's daughter, offered her a public opportunity to state her case. Upon being presented to the court, Princess Qi Hailian defiantly refused to kneel, declaring that a dying person had no need to grovel. She directly confronted Yu Xiuming, accusing him of killing her father and harming her people, branding him a "demon" deserving of death. The court was outraged, but Yu Xiuming calmly countered.
He clarified that his offer of a marriage alliance was met with Qihai Zhenyu's deceit, who used it to prepare for war, leading to the slaughter of 3,000 of Yu Xiuming's elite Lanyi Army. He argued his subsequent military action was justified and Qihai Zhenyu’s death in battle was his own downfall.
Yu Xiuming pointed out the extensive civil strife within the Yebei tribes, which had claimed more lives than the recent war, and urged Princess Qi Hailian, if she truly cared for her people, to seek pardon rather than death. Swayed by the thought of her vulnerable clan members, Princess Qi Hailian finally knelt, pleading for their lives and asking for them to be spared from forced labor. Yu Xiuming granted her pardon and chose not to pursue her uncaptured accomplices.
He then decreed that the Yebei people, being unable to continue with canal construction, would be relocated to Yuezhou, a distant land, and forbidden to leave without his explicit command. Princess Qi Hailian's plea to remain in their ancestral home was denied, with Yu Xiuming giving her a stark choice: migrate to Yuezhou or perish in their barren land. She had no other choice but to accept the relocation.
Yu Xiuming then summoned Jie Zhuying, appointing him as the Sima of Yuezhou, retaining his rank as General. His new duty was to oversee the escort of the Yebei survivors to Yuezhou and supervise them there. Jie Zhuying expressed his reluctance, wishing to stay by Yu Xiuming's side and emphasizing that any romantic connection between him and Princess Qi Hailian was impossible.
Yu Xiuming disregarded his feelings, announcing that Jie Zhuying would no longer bear the family name "Jie," and would henceforth be known as Zhu Ying, signifying a complete separation from his father's past deeds. Yu Xiuming sternly warned Zhu Ying to perform his duties well in Yuezhou, lest he face execution. Zhu Ying reluctantly complied with the decree. Meanwhile, Ye Lingshuang, still imprisoned, pondered Yu Xiuming's apparent invulnerability during the assassination, concluding he must have encountered a Truth Master.
She believed that finding the all-knowing Truth Master was her best chance to locate Qi Hairui. Upon her release, Princess Qi Hailian reunited with her people, who were resistant to the forced migration to Yuezhou. Chu Ye advocated for fighting back, but Princess Qi Hailian explained that violence would only lead to more suffering and wouldn't save their families. She asserted that migrating was their only path to survival, emphasizing, "If the Yebei people are alive, Yebei exists."
She encouraged them to hold onto their courage and honor in their hearts, passing these virtues to future generations, as survival was paramount. Word of Ye Lingshuang's impending execution reached Yi Wuyou. He immediately confronted Princess Qi Hailian, heartbroken that Ye Lingshuang faced death while Princess Qi Hailian was free. He accused Princess Qi Hailian of betraying Ye Lingshuang by pledging loyalty to Yu Xiuming.
Princess Qi Hailian, in anguish, defended her choice, explaining that she had tens of thousands of clan members to protect and could not risk Yu Xiuming retracting his pardon by attempting to save Ye Lingshuang. She expressed deep sorrow for her inability to save both Qi Hairui in the past and Ye Lingshuang now. Yi Wuyou, deeply disappointed and saddened for Ye Lingshuang, declared that if Princess Qi Hailian and her people would not rescue her, he would.
As Ye Lingshuang was being led to the execution ground, Yu Xiuming suddenly recalled her earlier references to the Truth Master. He ordered her to be brought before him for questioning, only to be informed that she was already at the execution site. Disturbed, Yu Xiuming swiftly visited Leng Tianxi, the Heavenly Consort, and inquired about any recent conversations or items Ye Lingshuang might have given her.
Leng Tianxi produced a sachet, explaining that Ye Lingshuang had embroidered it with a motif from a sachet given to her by a Truth Master during her childhood. This revelation led Yu Xiuming to consider that Ye Lingshuang might be a chosen individual. He immediately dispatched an order to halt the execution and bring Ye Lingshuang to him. When questioned, Ye Lingshuang claimed she had indeed met a Truth Master, who had promised to return when she turned twenty-five.
Yu Xiuming, whose divine mirror's power was dwindling, was desperate to find the Truth Master. Despite his skepticism, he gave Ye Lingshuang three months to locate them, warning her that failure would result in her execution without further intervention. Ye Lingshuang requested access to the Bureau of Astrology's resources for her search, and Yu Xiuming reinstated her to her former position.
Ye Lingshuang then inquired about Princess Qi Hailian, learning from Yu Xiuming that Princess Qi Hailian and her people were being migrated to Yuezhou, a piece of news that surprised her. Back at the Bureau of Astrology, Ye Lingshuang's unexpected return and reinstatement, particularly after being condemned for treason, became the subject of widespread rumors. Fan Zheng was furious, berating a Yebei servant and then complaining to his father, Fan Ruhui.
While Fan Ruhui reprimanded his son for speaking ill of the Emperor, he agreed that Ye Lingshuang's pardon and reinstatement, despite clear evidence of her involvement with assassins, was highly unusual. He ordered an investigation, asserting that such a serious case could not simply be dismissed without making Chao's laws meaningless. Meanwhile, Ye Lingshuang confided in her colleague, Yun Wen, about her bold gamble in mentioning the Truth Master to Yu Xiuming, knowing his keen interest would spare her life.
She reiterated her determination to find the Truth Master, believing it was the key to finding Qi Hairui, and planned to start her search by examining the Mianshi Bridge for clues. The next day, Leng Tianxi summoned Ye Lingshuang to the palace. She reproached Ye Lingshuang for her recklessness during the assassination plot, reminding her that Yu Xiuming had trusted her to infiltrate the assassins for intelligence, but she had let an assassin escape due to sisterly affection.
Following her reprimand, Leng Tianxi directed Ye Lingshuang to the back garden, where Yu Xiuming had arranged a final meeting between Ye Lingshuang and Princess Qi Hailian before Princess Qi Hailian's departure. The two friends shared an emotional reunion. Princess Qi Hailian confirmed her imminent migration to Yuezhou and invited Ye Lingshuang to join her. Ye Lingshuang, however, declined, explaining her need to remain in Tianqi to gather information about Qi Hairui, believing the capital offered better opportunities.
She offered Princess Qi Hailian a hopeful perspective, sharing her astrological calculations that indicated signs of prosperity in Yuezhou, suggesting it could be a fresh beginning. Ye Lingshuang also advised Princess Qi Hailian and Zhu Ying to seek out the Tubo, an ancient branch of the Heluo Clan known for their ability to transform difficult terrain, which could greatly aid their journey.
Princess Qi Hailian and Zhu Ying, facing the perilous journey ahead, accepted their fate, believing that the past was irrevocably behind them. Yi Wuyou received reports confirming Ye Lingshuang's reinstatement at the Bureau of Astrology. He instructed his Tabai Army agents to provide more detailed reports from the Bureau and decided to activate his palace spies.
When his agent cautiously inquired if these measures were for Ye Lingshuang's benefit, Yi Wuyou asserted they were for the "restoration of our nation," but then subtly asked his agent to ascertain Ye Lingshuang's safety during the upcoming full moon night. Elsewhere, Cuiping Momo, an agent of the Winged Clan, attempted to subtly gain influence with Leng Tianxi by offering Ningzhou flower tea and hinting at the Winged Clan's desire to establish a foothold in Tianqi.
Leng Tianxi, recognizing the overture, rejected it and ordered Cuiping Momo to be forcibly removed and disciplined. Upon hearing of this incident, Yi Wuyou expressed his disappointment, convinced that Leng Tianxi had completely abandoned her duties as a Snow Crane, lamenting her past and wishing her to suffer.
Despite her own precarious position, Ye Lingshuang remained concerned for Princess Qi Hailian and Zhu Ying's difficult journey, but her primary focus was on her mission to find the Truth Master as a path to finding Qi Hairui, resolving to thoroughly investigate the Mianshi Bridge.
