Qing Luo Episode 8 Recap
> Qing Luo Recap
Nannan and Ye Xiudu were at the training grounds. While the other Night Guard members went to rest, Nannan remained, looking listless. He begged Ye Xiudu to teach him martial arts and allow him to join the Night Guard, despite Ye Xiudu's initial insistence that he continue studying. Ye Xiudu, playing along, agreed to train him using demanding Night Guard methods, which Nannan struggled to endure. During the training, Princess Xiangxiang arrived, calling out to Ye Xiudu and acting spoiled.
Ye Xiudu responded coldly. When Nannan accidentally bumped into her, he offered her a chicken leg as an apology, calling her his "disciple's wife." Princess Xiangxiang was surprised that Ye Xiudu did not object. Soon after, Yu Qingluo arrived, ready to lecture Nannan. Princess Xiangxiang, seeing Yu Qingluo, mockingly called her a "middle-aged woman." Nannan added fuel to the fire by telling his mother that Princess Xiangxiang was "Ye's future wife."
Ye Xiudu quickly clarified to Yu Qingluo that there was no engagement with Princess Xiangxiang, explaining he had previously refused the Emperor's proposal for a marriage alliance. Ignoring the unfolding drama, Yu Qingluo declared that she just wanted to lecture her son and dragged Nannan away. A subordinate informed Princess Xiangxiang that the "middle-aged woman" was the mysterious doctor who had been staying in Prince Ye's Mansion for some time.
Fuming, Princess Xiangxiang vowed to teach the mysterious doctor a lesson. Meanwhile, Luo Hanguo, with the help of a friend he paid with ten jars of wine, penned a love letter to Mo Xian. Upon receiving it, Mo Xian noticed its strong wine smell. Nannan was still upset and refused to eat, having previously refused to go to school because other children mocked him for not having a father.
Ye Xiudu consoled him, mentioning that Mingde Academy required students to fill out a registration form, suggesting he could fill himself in as Nannan’s father. Nannan, initially resistant and accusing Ye Xiudu of trying to take advantage, eventually agreed to the arrangement for school purposes, but insisted that outside of the academy, he would remain the master and Ye Xiudu the disciple.
The next morning, Yu Qingluo intended to personally take Nannan to school, only to discover that Nannan and Lord Yuyang had been up talking all night, and Ye Xiudu had already taken Nannan to school in his carriage, coaxing him with a Night Guard badge. Annoyed, Yu Qingluo ordered a carriage for herself. Princess Xiangxiang, informed by her subordinate Lengfeng that Lord Yuyang had registered as Nannan's father, grew furious.
Believing Yu Qingluo was manipulating the situation, she prepared to confront her with an imperial whip. At the school gates, Yu Qingluo and Ye Xiudu watched as Nannan, proudly displaying his Night Guard badge, happily interacted with his new classmates, gaining their admiration. Yu Qingluo was surprised and impressed. However, Princess Xiangxiang soon arrived, accusing Yu Qingluo of lying and trying to freeload at Prince Ye's Mansion.
Ye Xiudu intervened, telling Princess Xiangxiang that his family matters were none of her concern. Yu Qingluo retorted, suggesting Princess Xiangxiang was simply jealous and offering to prescribe medicine for her "eye disease." Enraged, Princess Xiangxiang attempted to strike Yu Qingluo with her imperial whip, but Ye Xiudu swiftly cut the whip in half. At that moment, Eunuch Yu arrived with an imperial decree. Princess Xiangxiang anticipated it would punish Yu Qingluo for her insolence.
To her shock, the decree instead praised the mysterious doctor for her skillful healing of Minister Ye Haoran, rewarding her with 1,000 taels of gold, appointing her as the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and bestowing upon her Qingnang Pavilion, a lavish mansion at No. 1 Xiyumen Street. Yu Qingluo accepted the decree. Princess Xiangxiang, dumbfounded, could only watch as Ye Xiudu instructed Mo Xian to escort her back to the palace.
Before leaving, Princess Xiangxiang threatened Yu Qingluo, vowing to make her pay twice over, to which Yu Qingluo defiantly replied, "Whenever you want." Later that night, Yu Qingluo, holding the jade pendant that was her only remaining token from seven years ago, pondered how to approach Ye Xiudu about its true origins. Ye Xiudu appeared, and as he began to express his affections, Li Zifan arrived, requesting to see Yu Qingluo about Nannan's biological father.
Li Zifan revealed that his investigation showed the jade pendant was stolen from Prince Ye's Mansion seven years prior, "before" Yu Qingluo became pregnant with Nannan. Therefore, the jade pendant could not prove Ye Xiudu was Nannan's biological father. Troubled by this news, Yu Qingluo confronted Ye Xiudu with the jade. Ye Xiudu recognized it as the one lost by his family seven years ago, confirming that Yu Qingluo's assumption about him being Nannan's father was a misunderstanding.
He then pressed her, asking if her feelings for him were merely "fake" because of this misunderstanding. Overwhelmed and needing time to process the revelation, Yu Qingluo fled, leaving Ye Xiudu to ponder her emotional state. The next day, Jin Liuli attempted to comfort a despondent Yu Qingluo, asking if she truly liked Ye Xiudu. Yu Qingluo admitted that if she didn't, she wouldn't be so conflicted.
Jin Liuli realized Yu Qingluo was worried about Nannan's desire for his biological father. Knowing Nannan's fondness for Ye Xiudu, Jin Liuli suggested using fried spicy chicken as a way to subtly gauge Nannan's feelings about the situation. Yu Qingluo, taking the advice, prepared two pieces of fried spicy chicken for Nannan. However, Nannan returned home with a furious mother of a classmate, who accused Yu Qingluo of failing to discipline her child and showed off her son's bruised eyes.
Nannan defiantly declared that his classmate deserved the beating and that he had done nothing wrong. Angered, Yu Qingluo punished Nannan with a ruler. After Nannan ran off, Luo Hanguo explained the full story: Nannan's classmates had been mocking him and Yu Qingluo, spreading rumors that they were freeloading at Prince Ye's Mansion and that Nannan was a "fatherless wild child" pretending to be Lord Yuyang's son. Yu Qingluo immediately regretted her actions and went to Nannan's room.
She tenderly applied medicine to the wounds on his small hands and apologized for misunderstanding him. Nannan, holding back tears, confessed that while he liked Ye Xiudu, he wasn't his real father, and he didn't want his mother to be subjected to criticism from others. He reiterated his desire to find his true father. Understanding Nannan's pain, Yu Qingluo promised they would move to Qingnang Pavilion the following day.
Luo Hanguo, lamenting his own misfortune, complained that his love letter to Mo Xian, written with his friend's help, had been ineffective and that Mo Xian had ignored him. The newly acquired Qingnang Pavilion was beautifully decorated and situated in a pleasant environment, delightful to everyone.
Nannan was ecstatic, eagerly claiming a room of his own and listing his requirements: it had to be near the dining hall for easy access to fried spicy chicken, have a training ground, a study, and a weapon cabinet. Yu Qingluo indulged him, allowing him to choose freely. Meanwhile, Ye Xiudu diligently prepared for the Four Nations Competition, his archery skills visibly improving with constant practice.
Mo Xian reported that Yu Zuolin was conspicuously purchasing large quantities of Yuqiu grass and Guizhi grass. Despite these herbs having general health benefits, Ye Xiudu suspected foul play and ordered Mo Xian to continue surveillance. Mo Xian also informed him that Yu Qingluo and Nannan had moved to Qingnang Pavilion, leaving behind only the jade pendant. Ye Xiudu remained silent, letting out a quiet sigh.
Later, feeling restless in Qingnang Pavilion, Yu Qingluo found herself still thinking of Ye Xiudu. He soon appeared, confronting her and acknowledging her silence as an answer. He then gently blindfolded her and carried her to a hidden room. Unveiling her eyes, Yu Qingluo discovered a vast collection of medicinal herbs and plants. Ye Xiudu revealed this to be Luoye Garden, a dedicated pharmacy he had prepared specifically for her, far exceeding the collection on Yaowang Island.
He detailed his plans for their future home within Luoye Garden, including soundproof windows to alleviate her fear of thunder, a master bedroom for them, and a specially designed room for Nannan, complete with all his desired amenities and a personal cook for fried spicy chicken. He presented her with a newly crafted jade pendant, an identical replacement for her broken "joyful on the branches" one, intended as a protective charm.
However, this gesture only intensified Yu Qingluo's internal conflict, reigniting the words of Li Zifan about the jade pendant not proving paternity and Nannan's heartfelt plea for his biological father. She refused the new jade, explaining that "the original matching one is still the most suitable" and that "such differences are only temporary; problems will arise over time, and people's hearts are the same."
Ye Xiudu, sensing her rejection, asked if her feelings for him were all "wishful thinking" on his part. Yu Qingluo confirmed, stating that she had only acknowledged their relationship because she mistakenly believed he was Nannan's biological father. With the truth revealed, she declared that they must "go our separate ways," leaving a heartbroken and stunned Ye Xiudu unable to speak.
