Qing Luo Episode 18 Recap
> Qing Luo Recap
Ye Xiudu, blindfolded, carefully tended to Yu Qingluo’s shoulder wound. In her semi-conscious state, Yu Qingluo murmured, "Ye Xiudu," pleading with him not to let her go. As she stirred, a jade pendant slipped from her, which Ye Xiudu discovered perfectly matched a piece he carried, forming a complete circle when joined. Meanwhile, in the main hall, Jin Liuli anxiously awaited news, furious at Ye Xiudu for Yu Qingluo’s injury.
Princess Qingning countered, accusing Yu Qingluo of feigning the identity of the mysterious doctor and failing to cure hemophobia. Jin Liuli, unwilling to tolerate Qingning’s irrational accusations, bluntly revealed that Yu Qingluo was, in fact, Ye Xiudu's fiancée. Ye Xiudu, who still believed his name was Ye Pianzhou, was visibly stunned by this revelation. Earlier, Jin Liuli had suggested forcibly bringing Ye Xiudu back for Yu Qingluo's safety.
Ye Haoran volunteered for this, but was instead captured by Ye Xiudu, during which he learned about Ye Xiudu's past injury. However, Ye Xiudu dismissed Ye Haoran's account, believing he was merely trying to trick him into serving Fengcang Kingdom. Elsewhere, Shuang Ke reported to her master that Ye Xiudu had lost his memory and didn't even remember Yu Qingluo.
Her master, anticipating a city-wide plague within a day, saw this as an opportunity, believing that revealing Ye Xiudu as Lord Yuyang at such a critical time would only worsen the epidemic. Later, Li Zifan expressed concern to Jin Liuli and Ye Haoran, fearing Qingning might expose Lord Yuyang’s true identity to her brother, Qingheng, endangering Ye Xiudu. Jin Liuli dismissed the worry, observing Qingning's obvious affections for Ye Xiudu.
Jin Liuli then proposed a more elaborate plan: they kidnap Ye Xiudu, get him drunk, and place him on Yu Qingluo’s bed, ensuring he would take responsibility for her, regardless of his memory. Ye Haoran enthusiastically volunteered for this task, convinced he could impress Jin Liuli by bringing Ye Xiudu back to Fengcang Pavilion. Ye Haoran's attempt to drug Ye Xiudu's wine, however, backfired.
Ye Xiudu, although ultimately succumbing to the poison due to a miscalculation, managed to knock Ye Haoran unconscious before losing consciousness himself. Shortly after, Princess Qingning arrived at the small cottage, found both men, and quickly hid Ye Haoran under the bed before placing the unconscious Ye Xiudu on her own bed. When her brother, Qingheng, arrived with his guards, he discovered Ye Xiudu and Qingning in bed together.
Concurrently, Ye Xiudu, dreaming of intimacy with Yu Qingluo, woke up to find Qingning beside him, mistakenly believing her to be the woman from his dream. Qingheng, having learned Ye Xiudu's true identity as Lord Yuyang from his subordinates, was enraged and threatened to kill him for defiling his sister. Qingning intervened, protecting Ye Xiudu and falsely claiming that they had fallen for each other at first sight and secretly pledged to marry, begging Qingheng to accept their union.
Upon waking, Yu Qingluo noticed her attendants, Luohan Guo and Han Shuishi, seemed unwell. Yu Qingluo immediately suspected the illness was more than fatigue. Ye Haoran arrived, boasting to Jin Liuli that he had successfully convinced Ye Xiudu of his identity. Moments later, Ye Xiudu himself appeared, urgently seeking the mysterious doctor’s help. Prince Qingheng had fallen gravely ill, and many citizens were now suffering from the same debilitating plague.
Yu Qingluo recognized the symptoms as identical to those displayed by her own subordinates. She agreed to treat Qingheng, but only after Ye Xiudu confirmed that he was the one who had bandaged her shoulder wound, which he did. Qingning voiced her distrust of Yu Qingluo, but Qingheng instructed her to allow the mysterious doctor to proceed. Yu Qingluo administered acupuncture to Qingheng, and after the duration of a burning incense stick, he regained consciousness.
She informed him that his condition and the city’s widespread plague were severe. Suddenly, Shangguan Jin, Prince of Jinglei Kingdom, and General Qi Hantian of Liuyun Kingdom arrived, accusing Ye Xiudu of being Lord Yuyang, who had concealed his identity and infiltrated Tianyu Kingdom. They claimed that since Ye Xiudu and the entire Fengcang Kingdom team were unaffected by the plague, it was a malicious scheme to win the Four-Kingdom Contest.
Qingning once again defended Ye Xiudu, asserting his amnesia and innocence. Qingheng, pressured by the accusations, ordered Ye Xiudu's temporary detention. Yu Qingluo, however, boldly declared that Ye Xiudu was under her protection, challenging anyone who dared to harm him. She swore on her identity as the mysterious doctor that she would resolve the plague within ten days, or face the same punishment as Lord Yuyang.
Qingheng, allowing for a shorter timeframe, granted her seven days, threatening to disqualify Fengcang Kingdom from the contest if she failed. The group then deliberated on why they remained immune to the plague, noting Qingning's immunity as well. Ye Haoran suspected the Xiuluo Sect of framing Ye Xiudu. Ye Xiudu, however, theorized the plague might be connected to incense.
Qingning produced a color-changing butterfly, leading Yu Qingluo to realize that the pollen of firethorns, favored by these butterflies, was the key. Firethorns, native to Jinglei Kingdom and known for their cold-dispelling and detoxifying properties, were even used in her own incense blends. They decided to follow the butterflies to find the flowers. Upon locating a small patch of firethorns, they also detected the scent of fire-stone powder, confirming intentional poisoning.
Realizing the collected amount was insufficient, they concluded a trip to Jinglei Kingdom was necessary. Ye Xiudu helped Yu Qingluo process the pollen into an antidote, which she then distributed to the ailing citizens of Zuimeng City. Later, Qingning approached Ye Xiudu, who pulled her aside to ask if their “intimate” encounter the previous night was real. Qingning, feigning hurt, reaffirmed their supposed romantic connection, claiming he had confessed his love to her. Ye Xiudu, troubled, vowed to take responsibility.
Qingning then mentioned she had recognized Yu Qingluo from the Four-Kingdom banquet seven years prior, where Yu Qingluo was the wife of Yu Zuolin, a Fengcang Kingdom officer. Yu Qingluo, overhearing this, stepped forward to explain that Yu Zuolin was indeed her ex-husband who had framed her and pushed her into Chaobai Lake seven years ago. She had been rescued by Jin Liuli, lost her memory, and reinvented herself as Yu Qingluo, shedding her former identity as Han Jiangxue.
She then looked at Ye Xiudu, asking if he still believed her and if her past changed anything. Ye Xiudu confirmed his belief in her and stated her past didn't matter. However, he emphasized that like her transformation from Han Jiangxue to Yu Qingluo, he also wished to start a new life, implying their relationship was over. Nevertheless, he promised to continue assisting with the plague.
Separately, Qingheng received reports from Feiyu confirming the plague was under control and that the assassins in the Star-gazing Tower bore Xiuluo Sect tattoos. He surmised that the Xiuluo Sect, rather than targeting Ye Xiudu directly, was using the plague to disrupt the Four-Kingdom Contest. Qingning, presenting Qingheng with the firethorn pollen cure, reiterated her desire to accompany Ye Xiudu to Jinglei Kingdom for more flowers.
Qingheng, fully aware of her feelings for Ye Xiudu and the danger posed by Xiuluo Sect’s ambush in Jinglei Kingdom, refused her request and confined her to Yueya Pavilion for her safety. He then summoned Ye Xiudu, who reaffirmed his commitment to taking responsibility for Qingning. Qingheng then commanded Ye Xiudu to marry Qingning after the Four-Kingdom Contest, to which Ye Xiudu agreed.
Later, Jin Liuli found Yu Qingluo feeling down, as Yu Qingluo was preparing to depart for Jinglei Kingdom to find more antidote. Yu Qingluo explained that Ye Xiudu had chosen to forget their past and embark on a new life, unaffected by her revelations. She confided in Jin Liuli that she would not give up. She had decided to change her strategy, recognizing that Ye Xiudu’s amnesia was a result of saving her. She intended to make him fall in love with her all over again, a declaration that Jin Liuli enthusiastically supported, offering her full assistance.
