Qing Luo Episode 10 Recap
> Qing Luo Recap
Ye Xiudu collapsed into Yu Qingluo's arms, suffering from the same rash as Nan Nan. Yu Qingluo quickly prepared an antidote using a dossier Ye Xiudu had retrieved. She explained that the rash was caused by Tianzhu flowers. Decades ago, Tianzhu flowers blooming at the same time as a warm southern wind caused a large-scale outbreak in Dongmuguan that incapacitated an army.
Ye Xiudu recalled that the Prime Minister, who was Li Ranran's father, had transplanted many Tianzhu trees to the capital to please the Empress Dowager and wondered if Yu Zuolin was behind it. Yu Qingluo assured Ye Xiudu that Nan Nan was fine after receiving the ointment. She then revealed that the dossier also mentioned the Tianzhu flower rash could be passed between parents and children, giving her an opportunity to find Nan Nan's biological father.
She told Ye Xiudu to focus on his training for the Four Kingdom Contest and stay out of her search, but gave him the ointment for his own rash. Yu Qingluo opened a clinic at Fulong Inn to treat the widespread rash. Commandant Zhang, authorized by the Emperor, announced the consultation's start. Ye Haoran found Ye Xiudu still outside, wondering why he wasn't helping Yu Qingluo.
Ye Xiudu explained that Yu Qingluo had pushed him away, fearing she couldn't promise him a future, and he didn't want to pressure her. Ye Haoran urged him to show his determination in finding Nan Nan's father. Meanwhile, Jin Liuli, assisting Yu Qingluo, felt Ye Haoran was constantly watching her, suspicious she was after the "Shennong Pharmacopoeia." Ye Haoran, indeed, believed Jin Liuli was feigning loyalty to steal the medical book and resolved to keep a close eye on her.
Ye Xiudu gave Yu Qingluo a half jade pendant, believing it would help her find Nan Nan's father, affirming his sincere desire to help. As Yu Qingluo displayed the jade pendant to patients, an antique dealer tried to buy it, but Jin Liuli quickly shooed him away. Princess Xiangxiang and Li Ranran watched the thriving clinic with annoyance, with Li Ranran encouraging the princess not to give up.
Later, Commandant Zhang, accompanied by Princess Xiangxiang, accused Yu Qingluo of misdiagnosing several high-ranking officials, including Vice Minister Li and his son, Lin Jong, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, He Huanzhi, Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Banquets, and Royal Uncle Tao, all of whom had suffered relapses. Princess Xiangxiang ordered Yu Qingluo's arrest, but Li Zifan tried to intervene.
Ye Xiudu stepped forward, reminding Commandant Zhang that Yu Qingluo had one day left of the three-day imperial decree. He offered his personal guarantee for Yu Qingluo, promising to accept the same punishment if the truth was not found by tomorrow. Commandant Zhang reluctantly agreed. Yu Qingluo suspected Princess Xiangxiang's involvement but believed someone more cunning was manipulating her. Ye Xiudu insisted on joining the investigation, stating they were "on the same side."
They split up, with Yu Qingluo investigating the medicinal herbs, while Ye Xiudu and Li Zifan looked into the patients' movements. Nan Nan attempted to play detective, making deductions about a "culprit" who had tampered with the medicine, only for Yu Qingluo to reveal she was the one who had accidentally made the "marks" he found. She clarified that investigating the herb residue was a dead end.
After compiling a list of the patients' whereabouts, they discovered that several of them had all visited the Qin Restaurant. At the Qin Restaurant, they investigated and, after hearing a sudden noise and briefly hiding to avoid detection, discovered that shanqingzi, a colorless, non-toxic substance with a faint aroma, had been mixed into the well water. Ye Xiudu's palms began to itch after touching the water, confirming the contamination.
While beneficial for normal circulation, it caused severe reactions in rash patients. Yu Qingluo deduced that the poisoner was likely from Jiangnan, where shanqingzi was commonly used for warmth on boats, making it rare in the interior. Mo Xian reported that a luthier named Gu Yebai, who fit their criteria, had been seen near the well the previous night and was likely at his home by the Chaobai River.
Li Zifan volunteered to apprehend him, while Ye Xiudu decided to visit the black market for further leads, taking an antidote from Yu Qingluo for his rash. Meanwhile, Yu Qingluo's four guards prepared to take the blame for her if she was imprisoned, recalling her past kindness to them. Yu Qingluo refused, instructing them to care for Nan Nan if anything happened to her.
As the deadline approached, Jin Liuli grew anxious, but Yu Qingluo calmly continued preparing the antidote for distribution. Ye Haoran continued to shadow Jin Liuli, despite her protests that she was Yu Qingluo's loyal sister. Ye Haoran, still convinced she sought the "Shennong Pharmacopoeia," was determined to make her "mend her ways," to which Jin Liuli responded by kicking him. Li Zifan returned without Gu Yebai, leaving Yu Qingluo to accept her fate.
Jin Liuli urged Yu Qingluo to flee, but Yu Qingluo refused, saying she couldn't hide forever with Nan Nan and entrusted her son's care to Jin Liuli. Commandant Zhang returned to the inn, demanding results. Li Zifan reported that Gu Yebai had poisoned the well. Princess Xiangxiang, however, demanded Gu Yebai's presence as proof. With no suspect in custody, she insisted on arresting Yu Qingluo, who calmly agreed to go.
Just then, Gu Yebai appeared, proclaiming Yu Qingluo's innocence and identifying Lengfeng as the true culprit. Princess Xiangxiang accused Gu Yebai of conspiring with Yu Qingluo and ordered his arrest, but Ye Xiudu intervened with evidence. He brought Wen, the medicine seller, who identified Lengfeng as the buyer of the shanqingzi. Ye Xiudu also produced physical evidence found in Lengfeng's belongings. Cornered, Lengfeng inadvertently revealed his guilt by naming shanqingzi before it had been mentioned.
He then confessed that he had acted alone, wanting to "teach the mysterious doctor a lesson" for "bullying" Princess Xiangxiang. Commandant Zhang arrested Lengfeng, resolving the crisis. Ye Xiudu warned Princess Xiangxiang that her actions could lead to severe consequences from the Emperor. Yu Qingluo thanked Ye Xiudu and Gu Yebai for clearing her name. Gu Yebai then addressed Yu Qingluo as "Jiangxue," shocking her, Ye Xiudu, and Li Zifan.
Yu Qingluo later told Jin Liuli that Gu Yebai claimed to be Nan Nan's biological father. Jin Liuli was skeptical, finding his story "too true" and perfectly made up. Yu Qingluo, also doubtful, housed Gu Yebai in a guest room. Gu Yebai recounted his story to Yu Qingluo: seven years ago, at a banquet, he, a musician, saved "Han Jiangxue" from an attack orchestrated by her husband, Yu Zuolin, who wanted to disgrace her to marry the Prime Minister's daughter.
Half a month later, they reunited at the Qin Restaurant, where he was injured by two ruffians, and she nursed him. They spent a passionate night together, which led to her pregnancy with Nan Nan. He claimed she wanted to secretly give birth to their child, but Yu Zuolin framed her for adultery and had her thrown into the Chaobai River, where he failed to save her.
He lost his will to live until he saw her again at the consultation. Yu Qingluo had no memory of these events and wondered if her past self would have been interested in someone like him. Jin Liuli suggested Yu Qingluo was simply accustomed to Ye Xiudu's type now. Jin Liuli, at Yu Qingluo's request, decided to test Gu Yebai's sincerity.
She confronted him in his room with a knife, but Gu Yebai, recognizing her, disarmed her with his astute observations about her "strong shell" hiding a "hidden story" of "affection" and loneliness. Jin Liuli left his room, strangely convinced and touched by his words.
As she reported back to Yu Qingluo that Gu Yebai was indeed Nan Nan's father, Ye Xiudu and Li Zifan, who had been playing Go and betting on Jin Liuli's success, were astonished by her swift change of heart. Ye Xiudu, determined to uncover the truth about Gu Yebai, decided to confront him himself. Before Ye Xiudu could act, Nan Nan approached the guest room, asserting that he would not allow another man to live in the Qingnang Pavilion and would uncover the truth.
