Resumo do episódio 17 de A LOVER IN THE MORTAL WORLD
> Resumos de A LOVER IN THE MORTAL WORLD
Xiao Chi visited the medical chambers with snacks for Han Yunling, concerned that her tireless research for an antidote was ruining her health. Han Yunling insisted she was fine and showed him a small bed where she could rest, though it was far less comfortable than her home. Xiao Chi decided to stay and keep her company, masking the fact that he had been secretly coughing up blood for several days.
The next day, Liu Chu’s condition took a turn for the worse. Han Yunling and Xiao Chi rushed to the Emperor’s side, where the Imperial Physicians were in a panic as the ruler had been unable to eat or drink for days. Upon examination, Han Yunling discovered a Gu worm moving beneath the Emperor’s skin. Despite the physicians' horrified protests against using a blade on the Emperor, Han Yunling performed an emergency procedure to cut the parasite out.
Xiao Chi stood by her, declaring he would take full responsibility for the consequences. Princess Liu Xie arrived at the palace shortly after the procedure. Although the physicians accused Han Yunling and Xiao Chi of harming the Emperor, Liu Xie granted them her forgiveness after learning they had removed a poison that had previously gone undetected. Meanwhile, in the Noble Consort Pavilion, a pregnant Jiang Wanyu was consumed by worry.
She summoned Fei Zheng, who informed her that while the worm was gone, Liu Chu had not yet regained consciousness. He urged her to focus on her health and the safety of the imperial child. Han Yunling soon brought a newly developed antidote to Liu Chu. However, after consuming the medicine, Liu Chu’s body began to convulse violently. He cried out for his elder sister in his sleep before suddenly losing his breath.
The Emperor was pronounced dead, sending the room into chaos. Enraged and grieving, Liu Xie ordered Xiao Chi and Han Yunling to be thrown into the imperial prison and sealed the palace gates, threatening to execute the families of anyone who leaked news of the Emperor’s passing. As Liu Xie mourned, she recalled her father’s final instructions to assist her brother, despite her own superior intellect. However, the state required a leader.
In the imperial court, ministers were already debating the succession. Li Shichang and others began pushing Zhang Ruizhong toward the throne, claiming it was the will of the people. Although Zhang Ruizhong protested that it was an act of treason, the ministers continued to urge him to take the seat. The proceedings were interrupted when Liu Xie marched into the hall. She challenged the ministers, reminding them that the Liu family was still in power.
When some questioned the precedent of a female ruler, she had the dissenters executed on the spot. Asserting her bloodline and her years of managing the treasury, she prepared to take the throne. Just as she was about to sit on the dragon chair, Liu Chu appeared at the entrance of the morning court, alive and well.
It was revealed that the "death" was a calculated plan between Liu Chu and Han Yunling to draw out those harboring ambitions for the throne. Now back in power, Liu Chu resumed his seat and offered Liu Xie a chair, though his demeanor toward her was notably cold. This reminded Liu Xie of her childhood, when her father bypassed her for the succession simply because of her gender.
To ensure stability, Liu Chu opened the national treasury and granted all ministers three years' worth of salary as a reward for their service during his illness. The peace was short-lived when Li Shichang stepped forward to accuse Zhang Ruizhong of harboring a dragon robe in his home, a clear sign of intent to usurp the throne. Xiao Chi was ordered to investigate and produced the hidden robe from Zhang’s residence.
Despite Zhang Ruizhong’s desperate claims that he had been framed, Li Shichang testified that Zhang had once boasted while drunk about his plan to rule. Consequently, Liu Chu sentenced Zhang Ruizhong’s family to execution and placed the old minister under permanent house arrest. Later, Liu Chu met with Jiang Wanyu. She expressed her immense relief, telling him she had prayed to exchange her life for his while he was unconscious.
Liu Chu reacted with a joke, asking if she intended to follow through on that promise now. His tone then turned serious as he questioned her about how he had been poisoned, specifically asking if the tribute food from Changmo was the source. Jiang Wanyu pointed out that since she had eaten the food and remained healthy, the poison must have come from elsewhere. She then recalled that the only item given exclusively to Liu Chu was the string of Zhuyao beads.
