Overlord Episode 31 Recap
> Overlord Recap
Li Qingliu went to pay his respects to the Grand Consort, who asked why Long Aoyi had not accompanied him. Li Qingliu explained that Long Aoyi was feeling unwell and resting at home, momentarily concealing the truth about her fake pregnancy. The Grand Consort expressed her fondness for Long Aoyi, stating that she liked Long Aoyi's lively spirit, which reminded her of Cui, whom the Emperor had once doted upon, even to the point of forgetting affairs of state.
The Grand Consort then gave Li Qingliu a gift for their child and urged him to take good care of Long Aoyi. Meanwhile, members of the Longzhu Gang, including Xiaoqin, anxiously searched all of Long Aoyi's usual haunts, but she was nowhere to be found. Xiaoqin worried particularly because Long Aoyi's old wounds hadn't healed, and she had left without her usual protective items. Du Xiaoxian's attendant reported seeing cotton falling from Long Aoyi's clothing.
Suspecting the fake pregnancy, Du Xiaoxian went to Prince Jun’s Mansion herself. As a thunderstorm raged, Li Qingliu, watching the downpour, was consumed with worry for Long Aoyi's safety. Du Xiaoxian tried to use the storm as an excuse to stay with him, but seeing he was completely preoccupied, she realized his heart was truly elsewhere and tearfully agreed to cancel their engagement.
Overcome with worry, Li Qingliu rushed out to search for Long Aoyi, only to find her curled up on the doorstep. Fearing she would leave, he immediately embraced her and brought her inside. Once they had changed into dry clothes, Long Aoyi explained that she had faked her pregnancy to protect Li Qingliu from court intrigues, especially after seeing him being targeted.
Li Qingliu, putting aside past grievances, reassured her, saying they had entered the capital with nothing to lose and could always return to Silver City or Jia'ermu to resume business. He then warned her that if the fake pregnancy were exposed, she would face beheading. He vowed to keep her secret, proclaiming her his "most precious goods," and declared that he would never let her leave him again. They promised each other no more concealments.
In her own quarters, Du Xiaoxian, despite agreeing to cancel the engagement, still harbored intentions to use the fake pregnancy against Long Aoyi. She planned to wait for the right moment to expose Long Aoyi publicly. The next morning, Li Qingliu, unwilling to disturb Long Aoyi's sleep, left for court after leaving her a heartfelt note.
In it, he confessed his love, promised to resolve all his current affairs, and then seek the Emperor's permission to resign and travel the world with her. Later, Long Aoyi and Li Qingliu went to Qinglong Temple to pray. A monk, noting Long Aoyi's supposed pregnancy, advised her to pray in the side hall, as the musk in the temple's incense could harm a fetus.
While wandering, Long Aoyi observed Abbot Wuji treating a "strange monk" covered in red marks, which she felt suggested a secret, but Li Qingliu, focused on their prayer, urged her to return home. Meanwhile, Concubine De played the pipa for the Emperor, who, however, was lost in thoughts of Cui and openly praised Li Qingliu's talent, expressing his intention to cultivate him. Concubine De seethed internally, plotting to eliminate Li Qingliu during the upcoming Qiuxian, the autumn hunting event.
Following Prime Minister Yuan Zai's suggestion to reduce the scale of Qiuxian, the Emperor decided to hold it in the smaller Nanyuan hunting ground. He then announced that the Crown Prince, Li Qingliu (Prince Jun), and Li Zhao (Prince Zhao) would each lead a team, with rewards for the one who hunted the most prey. Concubine De later discussed the legend of a white deer in Nanyuan with her maid, hinting at a sinister plot.
On the day of Qiuxian, Du Xiaoxian performed a prayer dance. Long Aoyi, finding it boring, decided to teach the princesses the Five-Animal Exercises, a health regimen by Hua Tuo. During the exercises, Long Aoyi stumbled upon the Crown Prince's lightweight quiver. Inside, she found a "moon hook for stealing money bags," an item highly out of place in the Palace. She noticed a short guard, identified as Pang Dahai from the Pang family, who was Concubine De's personal escort.
Long Aoyi suspected his involvement and subtly tested him by dropping the quiver, which he picked up and covertly removed the moon hook. Realizing Concubine De might be using the Crown Prince to harm Li Qingliu, Long Aoyi immediately rode off to find him. Just as Li Qingliu and the Crown Prince were chasing a white deer, an assassin, disguised as the deer, led the Crown Prince to shoot an arrow. The arrow, however, struck Long Aoyi.
Panicked, Li Qingliu rushed to her, but Long Aoyi quickly reassured him that she was unharmed; a bundle of cotton under her clothing had shielded her. Li Zhao, who had been delayed due to a sabotaged saddle, witnessed this incident and deduced that Long Aoyi was not pregnant. Long Aoyi suspected Concubine De had swapped the Crown Prince's arrows, and to prevent the Crown Prince from seeing the suspicious arrowhead, she quickly discarded it.
When they later searched for it, it was gone. Long Aoyi, suspecting Concubine De's connection to the "koi pendant" conspiracy, resolved to infiltrate Chongwen Hall to find evidence. Li Zhao, overhearing Concubine De's maid Mei discussing the failed assassination, learned that the arrow had been filled with mercury and that Long Aoyi's unexpected appearance had foiled the plan to eliminate Li Qingliu.
Mei also confirmed that sabotaged shoes had not alerted Li Zhao to the plot, and the mercury-filled arrow was now missing. Li Qingliu, seeking answers, asked General Lyu to investigate the suspicious guard. General Lyu confirmed the guard was Pang Dahai, from the Pang family, who had been promoted by Concubine De to the Imperial Guards.
However, due to the separate jurisdictions of the Shence Army and Jinwu Guards, General Lyu could not investigate further, as Pang Dahai had conveniently taken sick leave and left the Palace. Later, Long Aoyi set up a "Palace Gathering" club. Concubine De's arrogant personal maid, Mei, tried to assert her authority by ordering the sign to be taken down.
However, an official from the Stewardess Office, acting on the Grand Consort's orders, intervened and reprimanded Mei, reminding her that Long Aoyi was carrying the royal heir and her firm was assisting the court. Subsequently, the Grand Consort herself arrived and, to further protect Long Aoyi, lent her personal seal. She instructed Long Aoyi to stamp it on the club's wooden sign, ensuring no one would dare to disrespect her again.
Deeply moved, Long Aoyi thought of Feng, an elder who had treated her with similar kindness. When the Grand Consort suggested Long Aoyi bring her elder to the Palace, Long Aoyi sadly revealed that Feng had passed away. The Grand Consort, commending Long Aoyi's nostalgic heart, then presented her with a collection of precious objects, among which Long Aoyi discovered an "Imperial Sakura Koi" hairpin.
