Overlord Episode 22 Recap
> Overlord Recap
At the yamen, Du Changfeng was about to order the execution of Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi. Long Aoyi vehemently protested, calling Du Changfeng a liar, but he dismissed her as a mere prisoner with no right to speak. Just as the executioners moved in, Second Master Lyu, identifying himself as Lyu Chengyun, former royal guard commandant, entered dramatically in armor, holding a royal guard token.
A guard confirmed the token’s authenticity, and Lyu Chengyun declared that Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi were not to be harmed. Du Changfeng, however, was highly skeptical and accused Lyu Chengyun of fabricating a story. Lyu Chengyun then unveiled a twenty-year-old palace secret. During a palace incident, a concubine gave birth to a prince and was escorted out of the palace by Lyu Chengyun at the Emperor's command, accompanied by a maid of honor.
They were ambushed, and the concubine was fatally wounded. Lyu Chengyun, with the maid and prince, fled into a deserted thatched hut. He then left to draw away the pursuing soldiers, but when he returned, the maid and prince were gone. Lyu Chengyun confessed his failure to protect the royal family and resigned his position.
He settled near Silver City and spent years searching for the prince, unaware that the child had grown up in the very city, becoming the wealthy Xinsilu boss, Li Qingliu. Du Changfeng questioned why Lyu Chengyun hadn't found Li Qingliu sooner if they were in the same city. Lyu Chengyun further explained that Li Qingliu's nanny was, in fact, the lost maid of honor.
He eventually learned that she had hidden in the Li family's Buddhist hall and was discovered by the family head. To evade pursuers, the maid gave the prince to the childless Li family and took on the identity of a nanny. Years later, Li Qingliu's high-profile business dealings led Lyu Chengyun to notice his striking resemblance to the Emperor, sparking his suspicions.
A timely dispute between Longzhu Gang and Xinsilu provided Lyu Chengyun an opportunity to investigate Xinsilu, where he coincidentally encountered the nanny. It was then that he learned the concubine had broken the Leopard-head Token, a birthright carried by the prince, into two halves before leaving the palace. One half was tattooed onto the prince's left arm, and the other half remained with the Emperor. Long Aoyi, overhearing this incredible tale, realized Lyu Chengyun was attempting to save them.
Li Qingliu, however, found it hard to believe, questioning why his nanny would keep such a secret. Still refusing to believe Lyu Chengyun, Du Changfeng accused him of impersonating a court official. At that moment, Yuan Zai, the head of the secretariat, arrived with an oral decree from the Emperor, officially confirming Li Qingliu's identity as a prince and extending an imperial welcome for his return to the palace.
Faced with irrefutable proof, Du Changfeng panicked, realizing his scheme had backfired. He desperately tried to shift blame, claiming he was misled by a secret report about weapon smuggling. To save himself, he scapegoated the county magistrate, who, under duress, confessed to spreading rumors. Du Changfeng immediately ordered the magistrate's execution. Yuan Zai then apologized to Li Qingliu for the disturbance and requested him to prepare for their departure to the capital in a few days.
News of Li Qingliu's royal identity quickly spread throughout Silver City, making Wuyun Pavilion a buzzing hub of gossip. Long Aoyi was even referred to as "The Woman of the King." However, Long Aoyi sat alone in the pavilion's backyard, drinking and gazing at the sky, lost in her thoughts. She recalled her journey with Li Qingliu, his tenderness, and the unspoken feelings between them.
That night, Feng went to a mountain, dug up a brocade pouch containing a White Fancy Carp jade from the earth, and knelt before her master’s tomb. She tearfully admitted her failure to fulfill her original mission, instead choosing to adopt Long Aoyi and teach her the secrets of political strategies. Feng was proud that Long Aoyi had surpassed her expectations, mastering both flexible and firm approaches, and always considering the human heart.
Yet, having hidden in Wuyun Pavilion for many years, Feng never imagined Li Qingliu would be a prince. She agonized over whether to pass on the White Fancy Carp to Long Aoyi, fearing that if Long Aoyi returned to Chang’an, she might suffer the same tragic fate as someone before her. Meanwhile, Du Changfeng worried about the dire consequences he would face if Li Qingliu went to the palace and revealed his past misdeeds.
He had considered an imperial marriage alliance between Prince Zhao and Du Xiaoxian, but Prince Zhao's heart was entirely with Long Aoyi. A sudden realization struck Du Changfeng: Tang Dynasty law prohibited princes from engaging in commerce. He saw this as an opportunity to force Xinsilu to close its accounts, legally seize its Customs Seal, and use the acquired capital to gain influence in Chang’an.
He immediately issued a city-wide decree to close all markets, citing the need to protect the prince's status from "lowly" businesses. He also announced the establishment of official markets and the categorization of "lower-class" merchants as craftsmen requiring special licenses, effectively taking control of all trade in Silver City. Li Qingliu was still troubled by his impending departure and worried about Long Aoyi. His nanny visited him, bringing millet porridge, a dish he loved as a child.
She shared stories of his birth mother, who had warmed the porridge against her chest to feed him during their escape. The nanny explained that she had kept his identity secret to ensure his safety in the common world, honoring a promise to his adoptive mother, who had taken them in when they were destitute. She also revealed that his birth mother, already grief-stricken, had died from arrow wounds.
Deeply affected, Li Qingliu expressed his reluctance to become a prince and asked if he could stay. The nanny gently but firmly told him his fate was sealed; he was royal blood, and his destiny was not his to choose. Around the city, Longzhu Gang members lamented the unfairness of Li Qingliu being a prince, joking about Long Aoyi becoming a concubine in Chang’an.
Black Fatty and Skinny Monkey reported Du Changfeng's city-wide market closure, which severely impacted all businesses, including Xinsilu. They praised Long Aoyi and Li Qingliu’s foresight in securing water transport routes and warehouses, which would prevent many people from starving during this crisis. Long Aoyi, now determined, stated that the success of their water transport business depended on fate, but she would not rely on the new prince for help. She called for a gang meeting the next day.
The following morning, Lyu Chengyun informed Li Qingliu that all arrangements for their return to the capital were complete. Li Qingliu requested a little more time, but Lyu Chengyun warned him that any delay would only give more opportunities to his enemies and could endanger Xinsilu. He urged Li Qingliu to seize this chance to gain power, so he could protect those he cherished. Yan Bin echoed Lyu Chengyun’s advice.
Reluctantly, Li Qingliu agreed to depart but asked Lyu Chengyun for one final favor before leaving. Lyu Chengyun then visited Long Aoyi to bid farewell, offering her a token and instructing her to find him at the seventh shop on Zhuque Street in Chang’an if she ever needed assistance. He also handed her a letter from Li Qingliu, which invited her to meet him at Xinsilu the following day at noon. Overjoyed, Long Aoyi couldn't conceal her excitement.
Later, Feng, after a conversation with Xiaoqin about Long Aoyi's upcoming meeting with the prince, remarked that destiny had a plan and asked Xiaoqin to send Long Aoyi to her after the meeting, as she had something for her. That night, Long Aoyi dreamt vividly of Li Qingliu confessing his love for her, and she reciprocating.
The next morning, Long Aoyi, recalling her dream, carefully selected an elegant outfit for her rendezvous with Li Qingliu, even picking a fabric he had worn before. Meanwhile, Li Qingliu, at Xinsilu, meticulously prepared Long Aoyi's favorite dishes and a handcrafted peony flower, clearly intending to declare his feelings. Just as Long Aoyi was about to leave, she heard a commotion from Feng's room. Other brothel girls casually dismissed it as Carpenter Tan drinking with Feng.
However, sensing something was amiss, Long Aoyi kicked open the door, only to find Carpenter Tan dead on the floor. An assassin stood over Feng, stabbing her with a dagger. The assassin, clutching something, fled immediately. Long Aoyi rushed to Feng, who, with her dying breath, urged her to leave, hide her identity, and stay far away from Chang’an. As Feng succumbed to her wounds, the White Fancy Carp fell from her hand. Long Aoyi sobbed uncontrollably over her fallen mentor.
