Overlord Episode 26 Recap
> Overlord Recap
Concubine De confronted Long Aoyi, expressing her scorn and resentment. She accused Long Aoyi of being a low-born woman from Silver City who had caused her son, Li Zhao, to steal a rare Xinluo Purple Ginseng from her. Long Aoyi boldly took responsibility for having consumed the ginseng and offered to repay it, but she also spoke up against Concubine De's demeaning words.
Enraged by Long Aoyi's perceived insolence, Concubine De ordered her guards to administer thirty strokes to teach her a lesson. Li Zhao quickly intervened, pleading with his mother to reconsider, taking all the blame for Long Aoyi’s supposed offenses and insisting that Long Aoyi needed to rest due to her unhealed wounds.
Not wanting to cause further trouble for Li Zhao, Long Aoyi declared her intention to move out of Prince Zhao's mansion, despite Li Zhao's pleas for her to stay, stating she wished to avoid putting him in a difficult position. After Long Aoyi's departure, Concubine De furiously reprimanded Li Zhao, accusing him of harboring improper affections for Long Aoyi.
She reminded him that her long and difficult efforts within the palace were what ensured their family's current peace, and that his infatuation with a low-born girl threatened to undo everything, potentially leading to dire consequences for both of them. Li Zhao listened in silence, his mother's words leaving him distraught. Meanwhile, the Emperor inquired about Li Qingliu's recent performance in court.
He was informed that Prince Jun had been impeached multiple times: first for acting without authorization to stabilize spice prices in the Hu market, and then for failing to pass on a direct order during his night watch in the palace. The Emperor expressed his disappointment, concluding that Li Qingliu was not competent for his duties in the palace.
That same evening, Li Qingliu, through Yan Bin, learned that Long Aoyi had recovered quickly and moved out of Prince Zhao's mansion, settling into Qinglong Firm. Du Xiaoxian, eager to win Li Qingliu's affection, showed him meticulous care, preparing his favorite tea and food, including Meng Ding Gan Lu and plums for his favorite dish, black truffle gold-soup fish. However, Li Qingliu gently suggested she need not go to such lengths.
Du Xiaoxian, undeterred, declared that her devotion was her personal choice before, and now, as his fiancée, it was her obligation. Witnessing Du Xiaoxian's deepening affection, Li Qingliu hoped she would not become too deeply involved in a hopeless love for him. Later, Du Xiaoxian’s maid, Yue’er, confirmed that Long Aoyi had fully recovered and intended to establish herself in Chang'an.
Sensing Du Xiaoxian’s growing anxiety that Long Aoyi might pose a threat to her impending marriage with Li Qingliu, Yue’er advised her to take decisive action and consummate her engagement with Li Qingliu as soon as possible. Back at Qinglong Firm, Long Aoyi was informed that the first shipment of goods had arrived, with the second and third expected soon, signaling the successful establishment of their transport routes.
She instructed her team to work alongside the Water Gang to unload all the cargo that night, aiming for a successful grand opening the following morning. Alone in the Prince Zhao’s Mansion courtyard, Li Zhao sought solace in drink, joined by Wu Lin, who understood the profound impact of Concubine De’s harsh words. Li Zhao lamented his existence as a royal prince, bound by expectations and unable to pursue his desires.
He spoke of his love for Long Aoyi, how she had brought color and possibility into his life, and how for the first time, he wished for his heart to simply stop and reside with hers, free from past burdens and future worries. The next day, Qinglong Firm officially opened in Chang'an, with Long Aoyi personally unveiling its plaque to much fanfare.
During the celebrations, Long Aoyi was surprised to encounter Xiangyue, who explained she had joined a foreign dance troupe after the death of Sister Feng and traveled to Chang'an. Xiangyue mentioned that a high-ranking official, Yuan Zai, was hosting a banquet for capital aristocrats and palace dignitaries that evening, and her troupe was invited to perform. Realizing this was a perfect opportunity to investigate the carp patterns she sought, Long Aoyi decided to attend the feast.
At Yuan Zai's banquet, Long Aoyi disguised herself as a Hu dancer. As she performed, she subtly observed the officials' headwear and clothing patterns, noticing Li Zhao, Li Qingliu, and Du Xiaoxian among the guests. During her dance, a small pouch containing a jade carp token fell from her person, immediately catching the attention of Her Highness, the Empress Dowager.
Though veiled, Li Zhao recognized Long Aoyi and swiftly intervened to cover for her, claiming the fallen object was a "Guidebao", a kneepad used in dancing. He then boldly requested the Empress Dowager to grant him possession of the Hu dancer. To everyone's surprise, Li Qingliu also stepped forward, asking for the same dancer.
Faced with two princes vying for the same woman, the Empress Dowager, amused, declared that they would both dance with Long Aoyi, and whoever performed better would win her. Li Zhao danced first, but Long Aoyi deliberately maintained a distance, resulting in a performance that the Empress Dowager deemed unharmonious. When it was Li Qingliu's turn, he took Long Aoyi's hand, meeting her gaze, and held her close as they danced, their movements fluid and synchronized until the music ended.
From the sidelines, Du Xiaoxian watched, her heart filled with bitterness, recalling Yue’er’s earlier advice. The Empress Dowager declared Li Qingliu the winner. However, Long Aoyi, asserting her right to self-determination, respectfully pleaded with the Empress Dowager to revoke her decree, as she was a free spirit from the borderlands and unwilling to be casually assigned.
Though initially angered, the Empress Dowager was intrigued by Long Aoyi's audacity and conceded, but insisted that Long Aoyi drink a cup of wine with Li Qingliu as compensation for "disappointing" him. Du Xiaoxian, seeing Long Aoyi about to drink the wine laced with an aphrodisiac that she had secretly added, tried to intervene, but the Empress Dowager, misinterpreting her actions as petty jealousy, chastised her for her narrow-mindedness.
Unable to stop them, Du Xiaoxian watched as both Long Aoyi and Li Qingliu consumed the wine. Feeling the effects of the aphrodisiac, Long Aoyi, dizzy and flushed, made her excuses to leave, ostensibly to prepare for the next performance. Li Qingliu, also feeling unwell, quickly followed. Li Zhao, sensing something amiss, excused himself to follow as well. Outside the main hall, Long Aoyi, still feeling disoriented, encountered palace guards who questioned her presence.
She fled, only to be intercepted by a dizzy Li Qingliu, who pulled her into a carriage and insisted they go to the best inn in Chang'an, overriding her attempts to return to Prince Zhao's mansion. Meanwhile, Li Zhao encountered Du Xiaoxian, who, seeing his distress, revealed that she had put a potent aphrodisiac in the wine meant for Li Qingliu, admitting it was intended to make people lose their minds.
Furious and speechless at her confession, Li Zhao immediately ordered Wu Lin to prepare a carriage to search for Li Qingliu and Long Aoyi, sending additional men to Qinglong Firm to await any news of Long Aoyi. The next morning, Li Qingliu awoke in a messy inn room, his clothes scattered around. He found Long Aoyi lying naked beside him. Long Aoyi opened her eyes, immediately remembering the previous night's events and realizing the aphrodisiac had taken effect.
As she struggled with her emotions, Li Qingliu looked at her and declared that he would take full responsibility for what had happened, promising never to let her down. Long Aoyi, trying to appear unfazed, dismissed the incident, stating she was accustomed to such situations from her past in Silver City’s brothels and urged him not to take it seriously. She further challenged him, asking how he, an engaged man, could truly take responsibility, leaving Li Qingliu momentarily speechless.
The scandal quickly became the talk of Chang'an. The Emperor received five separate petitions detailing Prince Jun's night with a Hu dancer and his disheveled appearance the next morning. Liu Chang, the Imperial Recorder, confirmed the widespread rumors, stating that the prince's "romantic affair" was highly scandalous and had become the subject of public gossip. According to Tang law, a prince consorting with a courtesan could face severe punishment.
During the court debate, Du Changfeng and another official pleaded for leniency for Li Qingliu, arguing that he was merely young and misguided, and that the "evil girl" was the true culprit who should be flogged as a warning. However, Li Zhao stepped forward to defend Long Aoyi, arguing that punishing an innocent commoner would be unjust.
At this point, Li Qingliu openly confessed to the Emperor that the woman in question was not merely a dancer or a temptress, but an old acquaintance from Silver City whom he loved, stating they were already deeply in love with each other.
