Qing Luo Episode 4 Recap
> Qing Luo Recap
Upon discovering that Nan Nan was missing, Yu Qingluo, Ye Xiudu, and Mo Xian immediately set out together to find him. Mo Xian quickly found a letter, which Ye Xiudu passed to Yu Qingluo. She recognized Nan Nan's handwriting, believing it to be a crucial clue left for them. Meanwhile, Li Zifan received reports of two more guards found dead, both killed by a nine-section whip.
Learning that Yu Qingluo and Ye Xiudu had left the villa in a hurry to search for Nan Nan, Li Zifan's brow furrowed in concern. Following the clues, Yu Qingluo and Ye Xiudu soon found Nan Nan tied to a tree. Anticipating an ambush, Ye Xiudu cautioned Yu Qingluo to wait while he went to rescue Nan Nan, promising to bring him back safe. Yu Qingluo, handing him a dagger, emphasized that both he and Nan Nan must return unharmed.
As Ye Xiudu engaged Lianhun, Yu Qingluo spotted men in black lying in wait on a nearby hillside. She unleashed her poisonous scorpions, "Dabaihe," to deal with them, then subtly moved to free Nan Nan. When Lianhun gained the upper hand against Ye Xiudu, Yu Qingluo intervened by throwing poison powder, temporarily blinding Lianhun. Ye Xiudu seized the opportunity, using the dagger to kill him. Mo Xian noticed a distinctive tattoo on Lianhun and the other assassins.
Yu Qingluo recognized it as the same tattoo seen on the individual who attacked Jin Liuli, leading her to suspect that these attackers were all members of the Xiuluo Sect. Ye Xiudu tasked Mo Xian with investigating the Xiuluo Sect's leader, expressing concern about a potential conspiracy against the Ye family, given the recent strange illness afflicting Minister of Revenue Ye Haoran, the murder of a doctor, and their own pursuit by assassins.
Back at the mansion, a mysterious figure, identified as Ji Sanniang, was found among the contestants, attempting to "treat" Xiangling. Yu Qingluo exposed her malicious intent, revealing that Ji Sanniang was planning to use Blood Silkworm Magic to control Xiangling with a so-called "blood pill." Li Zifan and Mo Xian quickly subdued Ji Sanniang, who was then captured by Yu Qingluo's personal guards. Nan Nan proudly revealed that he had sent "Xiaobaihe" to alert the guards.
Yu Qingluo then administered a snow lotus pill to Xiangling, who soon recovered and expressed her gratitude. Recognizing Yu Qingluo as the renowned mysterious doctor, Li Zifan promised to keep her identity a secret. When Yu Qingluo asked for her prize money for winning the Medical Competition, she was annoyed to learn that Ye Xiudu had already claimed it. Considering Ji Sanniang's crime as merely greed and not warranting death, Li Zifan ordered Wu Ge to release her.
He then personally presented Yu Qingluo with the esteemed Shennong Pharmacopoeia. Yu Qingluo inquired if Li Zifan had ever seen a jade pendant with a magpie standing on a plum blossom branch, but he had not. She then pressed him about their past relationship. Li Zifan recounted the prevailing rumor that Han Jiangxue was an adulteress, divorced by Yu Zuolin, and subsequently committed suicide out of shame.
Yu Qingluo strongly refuted this, stating that she was rescued from the Chaobai River with a stone tied to her foot, indicating she was murdered. She firmly believed she was wronged and asked Li Zifan to uncover the truth. Li Zifan then revealed that the Medical Competition was held under His Majesty's orders to find a miracle-working doctor for Minister of Revenue Ye Haoran, who suffered from the same strange illness as Xiangling.
Despite Yu Qingluo's victory, Li Zifan advised her against going to the capital, fearing retaliation from Yu Zuolin. He explained that seven years ago, Yu Qingluo's father, Director Han, was part of a medical team that participated in the Four Kingdom Contest on behalf of the Fengcang Kingdom. Due to a strategic error by the team leader, Lord Ye, the entire team, including Director Han, was wiped out, leading to the decline of the Han family.
At that time, Yu Qingluo was already married to Yu Zuolin, and the Yu family subsequently lost favor with the Emperor. Shortly thereafter, the Yu family announced Jiangxue's death. Just three months later, Yu Zuolin married Li Ranran, the Prime Minister's daughter, swiftly rising from Commandant to General of Agile Cavalry within six years.
Yu Qingluo, now convinced she was framed, resolved to go to the capital with Li Zifan to confront Yu Zuolin and confirm if he was Nan Nan's biological father. Li Zifan agreed to protect her. In the dungeon, Ye Xiudu discovered that Ji Sanniang had been replaced and escaped. He pursued her and found her being aided by Wu Ge, whom he killed for releasing her.
Ye Xiudu noticed the same distinctive Xiuluo Sect tattoo on Wu Ge, which intensified his suspicion of Li Zifan. Concerned for Yu Qingluo's safety, he rushed to her room, only to find a note from her that he misinterpreted as a cry for help. He also learned that Li Zifan, Yu Qingluo, and Nan Nan were heading to the capital and decided to follow. Li Zifan settled Yu Qingluo and Nan Nan at the Fulong Inn.
Yu Qingluo's guards complained about the inn's poor hygiene, but Yu Qingluo dismissed their concerns, subtly revealing her ownership of the establishment by noting it was one of her properties. Li Zifan offered Yu Qingluo a bowl of "Emerald & White Jade Soup," remarking it was her favorite, but she found it bland, again hinting at her forgotten past tastes.
Nan Nan complained about the inn's food, having eaten it for six years, and called Li Zifan "Tuoba Bloodhand," suspecting his intentions towards his mother and his desire to control him. Li Zifan suggested finding a teacher for Nan Nan in the capital, which Yu Qingluo agreed to. Ye Xiudu arrived at the Fulong Inn with Mo Xian and spotted the trio. Nan Nan immediately ran to Ye Xiudu, urging him to "teach that Tuoba Bloodhand a good lesson."
Ye Xiudu, still suspicious, grabbed Li Zifan's clothes, seemingly searching for a tattoo. Yu Qingluo, observing the scene, pondered if Ye Xiudu was interested in both genders. Ye Xiudu accused Li Zifan of colluding with Wu Ge and the Xiuluo Sect. Li Zifan vehemently denied any involvement, swearing his innocence. Yu Qingluo defended Li Zifan, which did little to assuage Ye Xiudu's suspicions.
Yu Qingluo, noticing Li Zifan's deferential manner towards Ye Xiudu, concluded that Ye Xiudu held a higher rank. She decided to ply him with alcohol to extract information but ended up getting drunk herself. The intoxicated Li Zifan, engaging in conversation with Ye Xiudu, claimed he and Yu Qingluo were childhood sweethearts. Ye Xiudu dismissed this as mere wishful thinking, implying Yu Qingluo harbored feelings for him.
Li Zifan, in turn, declared that he would never allow anyone, not even Lord Yuyang, to take Jiangxue from him again, before collapsing into a drunken stupor. Ye Xiudu then carried the unconscious Yu Qingluo to her bed. As she mumbled his name in her sleep, a smile touched his lips, and he gently kissed her forehead. The next morning, Yu Qingluo awoke to find Ye Xiudu sleeping beside her. Infuriated, she accused him of impropriety.
He claimed she had held him tightly all night, a statement she vehemently denied. At that moment, Nan Nan burst into the room, scolding Ye Xiudu for "teasing" his mother. Ye Xiudu quickly concocted a story, explaining he had stayed to protect Yu Qingluo from Li Zifan's advances, which Nan Nan readily believed. Still furious, Yu Qingluo threw poisonous powder at Ye Xiudu, temporarily rendering him speechless.
She then chastised her guards for allowing Ye Xiudu to spend the night in her room, only to be reminded that she herself had insisted on it while drunk, causing her to blush with embarrassment. Her anger softened as she witnessed Ye Xiudu patiently teaching Nan Nan to write. However, her pleasant mood vanished when Nan Nan again referred to Li Zifan as "Tuoba Bloodhand" and expressed his desire to move out of his home.
Seizing the moment, Ye Xiudu playfully encouraged Nan Nan to "run away from home." Nan Nan eagerly agreed, enticed by the promise of delicious crispy chicken in the capital. They left a note for Yu Qingluo, stating that Nan Nan disliked "Tuoba Bloodhand" (Li Zifan), was going to the capital with "Ye" to collect money, and instructed her to find them at No.1 Yumen Street. Yu Qingluo was utterly enraged upon reading the note.
