Qing Luo Episode 16 Recap
> Qing Luo Recap
Li Zifan met with his Master Situ, who was reading "Records of One Hundred Grasses," a book he had co-authored with his old friend, Han Xiao. Master Situ revealed that "the mysterious doctor," who Li Zifan had been protecting, was none other than Han Xiao's daughter, Han Jiangxue.
He expressed his relief that Jiangxue was alive and understood why Li Zifan had concealed her identity, noting that fewer people knowing her true identity meant greater safety for her, especially with Yu Zuolin lurking and the volatile situation in the capital. Master Situ informed Li Zifan that Yu Jiangxue (Yu Qingluo) was going to replace Ye Xiudu in the Four-Kingdom Contest, a decision approved by the Emperor.
Recognizing the perilous nature of the journey, he instructed Li Zifan to accompany and secretly protect her, a task Li Zifan gratefully accepted. Yu Qingluo prepared to depart for Zuimeng City, leaving Nan Nan in the care of Xiaohong and Xiaocao at Fulong Inn. Nan Nan, asserting himself as a "real man," told his mother not to worry and asked her to win the contest for "Little Ye."
Jin Liuli, in turn, tasked Nan Nan with managing Fulong Inn while they were away. Ye Haoran offered six Night Guards for Yu Qingluo's protection. Jin Liuli, however, insisted that Zuimeng City was her and Yu Qingluo's territory and she would protect Yu Qingluo, questioning why Ye Haoran was there instead of Mo Xian. Li Zifan arrived, explaining that the Emperor had commanded him to escort them, as he intended to search for Ye Xiudu along the Chaobai River.
He designated Ye Haoran to lead the Night Guards. Ye Haoran, observing Li Zifan's attentive behavior towards Yu Qingluo, accused him of being "too enthusiastic" in Ye Xiudu's absence. Li Zifan retorted, advising Ye Haoran to focus on impersonating Ye Xiudu convincingly to prevent Fengcang Kingdom from being disqualified. Fed up with their bickering, Jin Liuli forcibly removed Ye Haoran from the carriage.
Ten days earlier, Princess Qingning and her retinue were on the Chaobai River, attempting to capture a rare sturgeon. She briefed her guards on the fish's elusive nature and speed, expressing her determination to succeed despite suspecting her elder brother, Prince Qingheng, of trying to dissuade her from the Four-Kingdom Contest. She commanded them to capture the sturgeon alive. After successfully ensnaring a large one, they discovered an unconscious man, Ye Xiudu, further upstream, apparently poisoned.
Princess Qingning brought him back. Upon waking, Ye Xiudu inadvertently caused the death of the sturgeon, infuriating Princess Qingning, who ordered her men to punish him. Ye Xiudu, suffering from amnesia, had no recollection of his identity but possessed formidable martial arts skills, effortlessly subduing and tying up Princess Qingning and her attendants. Her maid, Lühe, revealed Princess Qingning's identity as the daughter of Lord Qing of Tianyu Kingdom.
Princess Qingning bemoaned the absence of her brother, Prince Qingheng, a top contender in the Four-Kingdom Contest, who she believed could easily handle Ye Xiudu. Ye Xiudu, hearing mentions of the "Four-Kingdom Contest" and "Zuimeng City," sensed that the city might hold clues to his lost past. Desperate for release, Princess Qingning offered to guide him to Zuimeng City. When he seemed unconvinced, she dramatically vowed to become his disciple, secretly viewing it as a mere delaying tactic.
Ye Xiudu, despite his current unkempt appearance, accepted her as his apprentice and, to her horror, ordered the roasted sturgeon, which was originally intended to treat Prince Qingheng's roaring disease, to celebrate his new student. Princess Qingning and Lühe secretly plotted their revenge, with Princess Qingning having tampered with the apprenticeship contract and Lühe having added a "special ingredient" to the roasted fish.
Later, Princess Qingning and Ye Xiudu stopped at a tea stall run by Sanniang, who, dressed as "the mysterious doctor," was attempting to swindle customers. Sanniang, in her charlatan act, tried to sell Princess Qingning a "Red Jade Cream" made from "Yunshan Immortal Lotus," claiming it could rejuvenate skin and bring the dead back to life.
Ye Xiudu, however, interrupted her, pointing out the rarity of Yunshan Immortal Lotus blooming once every fifty years, implying Sanniang must be centuries old to have produced so much cream. Sanniang immediately recognized Ye Xiudu, mistaking him for Ye Pianzhou, and tried to flee, but Ye Xiudu used chopsticks to stop her. He demanded to know why she fled.
Still under the impression he was Ye Pianzhou, Sanniang accused him of being a "peer" who "swindles people of their love" while she "swindles people of their money." She exposed him as "Ye Pianzhou, the first womanizer of Fengcang Kingdom," also known as "Affectionate Childe." Ye Xiudu was stunned to learn of his supposed past but resolved that his amnesia presented an opportunity for a new, righteous life. He sternly warned Sanniang and her companion against revealing this information.
When Princess Qingning returned, Sanniang quickly revised her story, portraying Ye Xiudu as "Ye Pianzhou, the first warrior of Fengcang Kingdom," an enigmatic and dashing "Mr. Free Spirit" who had lost his memory but retained his noble character. Princess Qingning, though skeptical of his appeal in his current state, agreed to judge him after he had cleaned up. After a thorough wash, Ye Xiudu's handsome appearance captivated Princess Qingning.
Shortly after, she was alerted that her brother, Prince Qingheng, had fainted from his roaring disease again. A doctor explained that Prince Qingheng was suffering from corpse-like syncope due to the disease, caused by a disruption in his blood circulation from a poison. Recalling Yu Qingluo's medical teachings, Ye Xiudu suggested applying needles to the Dadun and Neiting acupoints, emphasizing the Baihui acupoint's role in resuscitation.
When these measures proved insufficient, Ye Xiudu prepared to administer artificial respiration, remembering a close encounter with Yu Qingluo from his fragmented memories, which he misunderstood as a "debt of love." However, just before he could perform the procedure, Prince Qingheng regained consciousness. Yu Qingluo, Li Zifan, Jin Liuli, and Ye Haoran arrived in Zuimeng City, bustling with activity due to the Four-Kingdom Contest. Fei Yu, Commander of Qingyang Guard of Tianyu Kingdom, greeted them on behalf of Prince Qingheng.
He explained that Fengcang Pavilion, their designated lodging, was modeled after Prince Ye's Mansion to make them feel at home. Fei Yu then extended an invitation to Prince Qingheng's birthday feast in three days, which would also be attended by dignitaries from Jinglei and Liuyun Kingdoms, strongly emphasizing the requirement for Lord Yuyang (Ye Xiudu) to attend in person. Jin Liuli suspected it was a "Hongmen Banquet" designed to test their military prowess.
Li Zifan concurred that, regardless of the danger, they had to attend. Yu Qingluo proposed that Ye Haoran impersonate Ye Xiudu. Both Jin Liuli and Li Zifan supported the idea, although Ye Haoran expressed reservations about his ability to convincingly portray his elder brother. Meanwhile, Princess Qingning challenged Ye Xiudu to a "one versus ten" fight to demonstrate his capabilities, especially after he consumed the sturgeon.
Ye Xiudu accepted and effortlessly defeated ten opponents, leaving Princess Qingning and Prince Qingheng impressed. To prepare Ye Haoran for his impersonation and to cure his hiccups, Jin Liuli, Xiaoguozi, and Hanshuishi hung him upside down for twelve hours. The unconventional treatment proved effective, as Ye Haoran later confirmed he no longer hiccuped when he lied. Later, while in the mansion, Yu Qingluo, noticing a figure resembling Ye Xiudu, followed him.
She encountered Shangguan Jin, Prince of Jinglei Kingdom, who immediately recognized her. Shangguan Jin reminded her that she, as "the mysterious doctor," had cured his eyes three years prior, a detail Yu Qingluo recalled, particularly remembering the substantial payment from his family. Shangguan Jin also expressed his fondness for nature, having been drawn by an eagle and birdsong. Yu Qingluo promised to care for a bird he held. An attendant interrupted, reminding them that Prince Qingheng's birthday feast had commenced.
At the feast, Shangguan Jin and Yu Qingluo entered together. General Qi openly expressed his desire to witness Lord Yuyang's legendary swordsmanship, famous for its ability to cut down enemy generals in battle. Ye Haoran, impersonating Ye Xiudu, tried to decline, stating that such skills were meant for the battlefield, not for display. However, Prince Qingheng intervened, requesting "Lord Yuyang" to grant General Qi's long-held wish on the occasion of his birthday.
As Ye Haoran prepared to reluctantly comply, the true Ye Xiudu suddenly appeared, declaring that in this world, there were only two kinds of people: those who acknowledged his strength and those who hadn't met him. He then swiftly moved to challenge Ye Haoran. Yu Qingluo, witnessing his unexpected arrival, was overjoyed to see Ye Xiudu alive.
