Resumo do episódio 9 de The First Jasmine
> Resumos de The First Jasmine
Waking up in a cold sweat, Ye Wenhua was still shaken by the eerie experience from the previous night. When his wife asked why he had wandered into Xu Wanzhou's long-abandoned courtyard, he insisted that he had heard the faint strain of a guqin and had seen Wanzhou's memorial tablet.
His wife dismissed his claims as mere hallucinations, pointing out that Xu Wanzhou was perfectly fine when she departed the capital eight years ago, meaning there could not possibly be a memorial tablet. She reassured him that the servants had simply found him passed out in a completely empty, neglected yard, and quickly ordered the servants to bring some calming tea and hot water to soothe his nerves.
At Prince Ding's Mansion, Mo Xiuyao was preparing to head to his office at the Jingzhao Prefecture. Noticing his wrinkled robes, Ye Li stepped in to help. Though they were pressed for time, she employed a clever trick she learned from Southern embroiderers, using a spoon filled with hot water to iron his clothes. She assured him that the method was safe and worked far better than a traditional charcoal iron.
As she finished, she asked if he would return to the mansion for dinner, explaining that she had invited her senior, Wei Zhuang, to join them. Though Mo Xiuyao warned her that his workload was heavy, he reluctantly promised to do his best to make it back. At the Jingzhao Prefecture, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
Deputy Prefect Zheng Zuoshi and Revenue Clerk Li Yufeng grumbled about their newly appointed Prefect, Mo Xiuyao, who had brazenly brought Gu Zheng—a man newly released from prison—to work alongside them. Zheng Zuoshi sourly noted that the new prefect's reforms were likely just beginning. Unbothered by the whispers, Gu Zheng introduced himself as the new scribe and immediately threw himself into sorting through mountains of neglected files.
Mo Xiuyao's assistant praised Gu Zheng's unparalleled efficiency, noting that the new scribe was easily outperforming five men combined, making him the go-to person for all actual work in the office. During lunch at the official kitchen, the prefecture staff quietly dined on Milk-Brewed Fish and Sweet Dew Soup, whispering anxiously about whether Mo Xiuyao intended to purge the corrupt administration. Mo Xiuyao joined them to ease their tension, urging everyone to carry on with their duties.
When a judicial clerk offered him a taste of grilled lamb prepared by his new wife, the warmth of the gesture reminded Mo Xiuyao of Ye Li's earnest invitation. Making up his mind, he instructed his assistant, A Jin, to inform Ye Li that he would indeed return home for dinner. Back at the mansion, Han Mingxi was clumsily practicing his Eight-Desolation Fist, claiming the martial art could strengthen the body and allow one to scale walls.
Young Mo Wuyou was highly skeptical, teasingly pointing out that the servants said Han Mingxi had only run to their home because he was terrified of losing fights. Their playful bickering was interrupted when Ye Li arrived with a massive paper centipede kite she had crafted. Nearby, Wei Zhuang was meticulously constructing kite frames, and Ye Li offered him advice on using fire to properly heat and bend the warped bamboo hoops so the kites would fly straight.
Wei Zhuang admitted he was helping Wuyou with his schoolwork, having learned the craft from Ji Niang years ago. That evening, Mo Xiuyao's return brought immense joy to the household. The family gathered for a lively dinner to celebrate the blooming of Ye Li's Shiying plant, which she took as an auspicious sign.
During the feast, Uncle Ye Wenshen enthusiastically flattered Han Mingxi—who was disguised as Lady Wen—praising her elegance, while Han Mingxi politely returned the compliment, praising Ye Wenshen's reputation as the master of Changsheng Fang. Ye Wenshen then spun a grand, metaphorical tale about cause and effect, comparing life to incense ashes, until Ye Li playfully threatened to send her uncle back to Changsheng Fang to chat with the general if he did not focus on his food.
The conversation then shifted to Lishan Mountain, with Wei Zhuang reflecting on how scarce resources were during the winters and expressing deep admiration for how Ye Li had endured those hard years. When Ye Wenshen noticed Wei Zhuang's leg was completely healed and Wei Zhuang credited Ye Li's extraordinary medical skills, Mo Xiuyao was quietly struck by a wave of melancholy, gazing down at his own disabled legs.
Later that night, Ye Li gently offered to treat Mo Xiuyao's legs, pointing out that unlike a truly severed limb, his legs still possessed sensation and reacted instinctively to movement. She explained that she had spent years under Master Helai studying medicine, acupuncture, and herb identification with the sole focus of finding a cure for him. She begged him to trust her and try one more time. However, Mo Xiuyao remained deeply bitter.
Citing Lishan Academy's book, "Healing the World and Curing the Mind", he questioned why she believed her skills could surpass those of the most renowned imperial physicians. He coldly warned her that excessive kindness rarely yielded good results in their cruel world, telling her she was free to leave if she did not wish to remain married to a cripple. Mo Xiuyao was unaware of the profound promise that drove Ye Li's persistence.
Years earlier, a young Ye Li had bravely sneaked onto the execution ground to offer a final cup of wine to Mo Xiuwen on behalf of her mother, Xu Wanzhou. Knowing his death was imminent, Mo Xiuwen's final thoughts were of his younger brother, who had broken both legs at Suixue Pass. He begged the young girl to have Lishan Academy save his brother, a sacred vow that Ye Li had solemnly sworn to uphold.
Meanwhile, resentment brewed outside the mansion. Desperate to rid herself of her rival, Ye Ying sought out a local gang leader. Offering a reward of gold and silver, she commissioned them to abduct Ye Li, demanding that they keep her alive and unharmed until she gave the signal to strike. At the same time, Mo Xiuyao was taking decisive action at the prefecture.
He summoned the corrupt Li Yufeng and confronted him with damning ledgers detailing his crimes, including seizing land from commoners and falsifying public accounts. Despite Li Yufeng's desperate arguments that his immediate dismissal violated the protocols of the "Chu Code with Commentary", Mo Xiuyao declared that his word was law at the prefecture. He had the corrupt official dragged away, using the moment to issue a stern warning to the remaining staff that laziness and corruption would not be tolerated.
Elsewhere, Han Mingxi found himself cornered by Red Fox, an assassin sent by Han Mingyue to drag him back. Han Mingxi easily bested the assassin in combat, mockingly reciting their old training instructor's advice that an assassin who hesitates to draw his blade is destined to fail.
Han Mingxi made it clear that he had no intention of returning, stating he would eventually repay everything Han Mingyue had spent on him, but firmly declared that he was no longer his brother. Wanting to spend time with her husband, Ye Li visited the Jingzhao Prefecture to ask Mo Xiuyao to accompany her to the Zhengyi Temple to offer incense.
She was greeted by Personnel Clerk Wei Chengli, who eagerly tried to curry favor by offering her Lushan Yunwu tea and bragging about a rare painting titled "Moonlit Night Insect Chirping". When Mo Xiuyao stepped out, Ye Li explained that with their sister-in-law away visiting a sick relative, she had no companion for the trip. Although Mo Xiuyao warned her that his work would keep him busy until very late, she happily resolved to wait for him.
Unfortunately, Mo Xiuyao became so absorbed in sorting through piles of documents that he lost all track of time. By the time he finished, Ye Li had already gone back to the mansion. Mo Xiuyao bought some honey cakes as a peace offering, only to find her room empty. His sister-in-law, who had returned, informed him that Ye Li had actually set off for Zhengyi Temple three or four days ago and had not returned yet.
Deeply worried, Mo Xiuyao rushed to the Zhengyi Temple with Feng Zhiyao. There, they encountered a heated debate between the scholar Yunsongzi and another master regarding the expression of the Divine Maiden in a massive mural. While they argued over whether the deity should look sorrowful or joyful, Ye Li scaled the high scaffolding and painted a master stroke.
Her addition left the Divine Maiden looking both compassionate and solemn, appearing to smile yet not, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd. When Mo Xiuyao gently chided her for staying away from home for so long, Ye Li explained that she had sent a letter and was well looked after by Wei Zhuang. She revealed her true goal: to obtain a rare painting by Yunsongzi to sell at Sinde Pavilion for a high price.
Since the artist had promised to finish it by morning, she asked Mo Xiuyao to stay the night. Feng Zhiyao playfully teased them, revealing how Mo Xiuyao had tossed and turned in worry all night and would have rushed over sooner if the city gates hadn't been locked. Since the temple was crowded with visiting scholars, only one small room was available for the couple.
Ye Li pointed out that as husband and wife, there was no need to sleep in separate quarters. Behind a folding screen, she prepared for bed, while Mo Xiuyao respectfully looked away. Seeing his belt was loose, Ye Li stepped forward to help him fasten it. She mentioned that she had washed her hair with fresh orchids that morning and offered to gather some for his bath, but he quietly declined, urging her to rest.
As Ye Li drifted off to sleep, she whispered a silent message to her late mother, expressing her relief that she had found a wonderful husband. Meanwhile, Mo Xiuyao sat up a little longer, quietly reading "Travels Across the Four Seas" by the dim light.
