Overlord Episode 23 Recap
> Overlord Recap
Li Qingliu waited at the appointed location for Long Aoyi, but she never appeared. He concluded that her absence was due to concerns about their differing social statuses, completely unaware that she was in the midst of her family’s destruction. As he was leaving for Chang’an, Li Qingliu penned a heartfelt letter, professing his long-held feelings and promising to marry her once everything was settled.
He entrusted this letter, along with a peony flower, to the wet nurse to deliver to Long Aoyi. Unbeknownst to Li Qingliu, the letter had been secretly removed from the vase. When the wet nurse presented the empty vase with the flower to Long Aoyi, she was crestfallen. Long Aoyi questioned if there was anything else, but the wet nurse only gave Xiaoqin a sachet and a letter from Yan Bin.
Overwhelmed with disappointment, Long Aoyi mistakenly concluded that Li Qingliu intended to sever ties with her to stabilize his position as a prince. Xiaoqin, seeing Long Aoyi's despair, read Yan Bin's letter. He explained his decision to follow Li Qingliu was out of loyalty, akin to the bond between Xiaoqin and Long Aoyi. He also left a key to Li's Bank, containing 10,000 bolts of silk, as a practical measure in case Long Aoyi needed storage.
Long Aoyi remained saddened that Li Qingliu had left her nothing but a flower, finding Yan Bin’s thoughtfulness more comforting. Meanwhile, Du Changfeng initiated the promotion of artisan status, which promptly drew many individuals seeking to ingratiate themselves. His next move was to establish official markets. Through his machinations, several major merchant guilds had already nominated the Fang family to lead, ensuring the capture of significant tax revenues.
Du Xiaoxian was delighted to hear of Li Qingliu's imminent arrival in Chang’an, yet she harbored concerns about her father’s past grievances with Li Qingliu and the perceived obstacle that Long Aoyi represented. With the Xinsilu silk store ordered to suspend operations for a year, and despite workers being promised monthly wages, Long Aoyi recognized this wasn't a sustainable solution. She invited all Xinsilu employees to join her newly established Qinglong Firm.
Having secured their new employment, Long Aoyi and Xiaoqin then departed from Silver City. Coincidentally, Li Zhao and Wu Lin arrived in Southern City. Upon seeing the "Qinglong Firm" signboard on what used to be the Longzhu Gang's premises, they almost thought they were in the wrong place. Learning of Long Aoyi's recent hardships, Li Zhao was deeply troubled and wanted to find her.
However, Wu Lin persuaded him that it was crucial to return to Chang’an first to appease Concubine De, promising to dispatch people to search for Long Aoyi later. Long Aoyi visited Feng's grave, vowing to avenge her death, convinced that Chang'an and the white fancy carp jade pendant she discovered were critical clues. After a long journey, Li Qingliu finally reached the Chang’an Imperial Palace.
He was greeted by an official from the Ministry of War and nannies dispatched by Concubine De. The Emperor recognized him as his son, bestowing upon him the title of Prince Jun. The Emperor expressed his regret for Li Qingliu's past hardships and fondly recalled his birth mother, Concubine Cui. Xiaoqin, observing Long Aoyi's deepening melancholy and deteriorating health, feared she might never recover. She insisted they eat at the Jinjiang Hock Restaurant in Chang’an.
To their surprise, the restaurant had very few dishes available, and even simple pancakes were exorbitantly priced due to soaring grain costs. Long Aoyi, however, viewed the inflated prices as an opportunity. She readily paid and asked the waiter to direct them to Chang’an’s largest canal market. The restaurant owner, overhearing that Long Aoyi's Qinglong Firm was involved in grain transport, immediately expressed interest in purchasing a large quantity.
This allowed Long Aoyi to smoothly initiate her business ventures in Chang’an, and she requested a list of scarce ingredients from the owner. Back in the palace, Concubine De chided Li Zhao for his frequent trips to Silver City. Advisor Pang reinforced this, urging Li Zhao to dedicate himself to state affairs to gain the Emperor's favor, especially in light of the new prince's arrival.
Advisor Pang specifically cautioned Li Zhao against forming a close bond with the recently acknowledged prince. Meanwhile, Du Changfeng, now in Chang’an, met with Advisor Pang and presented customs documents, a gesture of his loyalty. Advisor Pang, aware of Du Xiaoxian’s previous connection with Li Qingliu, subtly suggested a marriage alliance between the two. He implied that such a relationship would transform national issues into family matters, simplifying complex problems.
Weng Dayou, having learned of Long Aoyi’s plight through his canal transport network, arranged lodging for her and Xiaoqin at an inn. Xiaoqin returned from the restaurant with a bottle of wine, unaware it contained poison. That night, Long Aoyi, sensing they were being followed, tested the wine with a silver needle and confirmed it was poisoned. She cleverly ordered more wine, creating a trap to lure the culprits.
When the assassins entered, Long Aoyi realized they were skilled fighters, not mere petty thieves, and their intention was to kill. Fortunately, Long Aoyi's foresight allowed her and Xiaoqin to narrowly escape. They sought refuge at the seventh antique shop on Zhuque Street. Long Aoyi mused that Du Changfeng was unlikely to be the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, as such an intricate plot would be unnecessary for him.
When Xiaoqin suggested seeking help from Li Qingliu, Long Aoyi sternly forbade any mention of him. Long Aoyi presented a token to the antique shop owner, requesting an audience with Second Master Lyu. Suddenly, several men in sacks accosted them. When the sacks were removed, they found themselves standing before Second Master Lyu, revealing the abduction to be a pre-arranged, if startling, meeting.
Second Master Lyu, now serving as the Jinwu Guard commander, affirmed his duty to protect the new prince, explaining that the intricate and volatile political landscape in the palace made it impossible to arrange a meeting between Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi. He also reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the Longzhu Gang. Long Aoyi then shared her intention to establish a Qinglong Firm shop in Chang’an for both business and a secure place to stay, seeking Second Master Lyu’s assistance.
He assured her that he had already arranged for the antique shop owner to find them a safe location and presented them with a bag of silver for any unforeseen needs. After some initial hesitation from Xiaoqin, she accepted the money at Second Master Lyu’s insistence. Long Aoyi then showed him the white fancy carp jade pendant, asking if he recognized it or knew of its origin. Second Master Lyu found the pendant familiar but couldn't recall specific details.
He suggested she visit the Buyu Pavilion, a seemingly high-end gambling establishment in Chang’an that secretly served as a hub for confidential information exchange, even holding old palace secrets. Long Aoyi acknowledged his advice, thanked him, and prepared to depart.
