The Autumn Ballad Episode 27 Recap
> The Autumn Ballad Recap
Three days passed, and a eunuch presented memorials to the Emperor. Initially, the eunuch believed Liang Yi had handled matters properly, but the Emperor unexpectedly learned that the Empyrean Fairy was no longer a virgin. Enraged, he immediately summoned Qiu Min to the palace. Upon Qiu Min's arrival, she immediately denied Wang Shun of the Royal Academy's accusations as slander. Yuan Lang then proposed a physical examination to confirm her chastity.
The Emperor agreed and instructed palace staff to take her to a granny. However, Qiu Min stopped them, admitting she was indeed no longer a virgin. Qin Xuan then intervened, clarifying that Qiu Min was indeed still a virgin when she consecrated the Dengxian Pearl, thus invalidating Wang Shun's false accusations. He further explained that Qiu Min had only given herself to him yesterday, confirming their mutual affection.
Noble Consort Guo then supported their account, stating she had personally overheard their conversation and seen the bloodstain from the previous night, leaving no doubt. A senior official then explained that the Empyrean Fairy's mission was solely to consecrate the Dengxian Pearl while still a virgin, which would not affect its efficacy. After completing this task, the Empyrean Fairy's vessel, though retaining spiritual wisdom, would also experience ordinary human desires.
He further clarified that the Empyrean Fairy was inherently a deity of strong emotions, and therefore Qiu Min's actions, though unconventional, were understandable as an expression of the Empyrean Fairy's true nature. Realizing his faulty investigation and rash judgment, Yuan Lang apologized and requested punishment. The Emperor, acknowledging Yuan Lang's good intentions but criticizing his hasty nature, penalized him with a year's salary deduction and prohibited his promotion for one year, advising him to reflect and temper his character.
Seizing this opportunity, Noble Consort Guo, who admitted she had delayed informing the Emperor about the affair to find a chance to plead for the young couple, boldly proposed an imperial marriage for Qin Xuan and Qiu Min. The Emperor granted her request. Back at his residence, Qin Xuan's father was furious that such a significant matter had been kept from him.
Qin Xuan, however, refused to open his door, instructing his attendant to tell his father not to inquire about the imperial marriage and that he wished to be stubborn this once. Despite his inner turmoil, Qin Xuan found some solace, believing he had finally helped Qiu Yan with this sacrifice. Meanwhile, Qiu Yan, under her alias Su Yiwan, visited the Qiu residence to congratulate Qiu Min on her imperial marriage.
Qiu Yan pressed Qiu Min about Wang Shun's claims regarding her chastity. Qiu Min initially dismissed the question, asking why Qiu Yan cared now that the matter was settled, but then unleashed years of pent-up resentment. She accused Qiu Yan of always prioritizing her own future and the Qiu family's interests, neglecting Qiu Min's struggles, even recounting how Qiu Yan had turned her away as a child when she sought comfort.
Qiu Min expressed deep jealousy over Qiu Yan always gaining the affection of their mother and Qin Xuan, while she suffered profound humiliation. She then shockingly revealed how she secured Qin Xuan: she confessed to lying to him about Qiu Yan's death and drugging his wine with an aphrodisiac from the Royal Academy, which she had secretly taken with her when she escaped.
She asserted that all her current gains were a direct result of Qiu Yan's supposed past "ruthlessness" and neglect. Unbeknownst to them, Qin Xuan had arrived at the Qiu residence to propose marriage and had wandered to the annex, where he overheard this damning confession. Distraught by Qiu Min's revelations, Qiu Yan stormed out and immediately confronted Wang Shun, furiously whipping him with a cane. Liang Yi soon arrived, addressing Qiu Yan as "Wan'er" and calming her down.
For the onlookers, he quickly fabricated a story, claiming Qiu Yan was merely jealous because Wang Shun had introduced a lady to him. Despite Wang Shun's godmother vehemently denying the introduction, Liang Yi ordered Song Jin to take Wang Shun to the Firewood Office. Later, Liang Yi gently scolded Qiu Yan for her impulsiveness, reminding her that the Royal Academy's guards were highly trained, and checked her for injuries while offering comfort.
Back at the Qiu residence, after their parents discussed the wedding arrangements, Qin Xuan requested a private conversation with Qiu Min. He immediately confronted her, revealing he had overheard her entire confession to Qiu Yan. He expressed profound disgust, realizing he had been manipulated by the very person he had thought he had wronged.
He had previously believed he was responsible for taking advantage of Qiu Min and had felt guilty for failing both Qiu Yan and Qiu Min, but now he saw that Qiu Min, whom he'd always thought of as docile and innocent, had used such "underhanded tactics" to scheme against him. Qiu Min desperately tried to claim she was merely lying to spite Qiu Yan, but Qin Xuan refused to believe her, stating he was disgusted by her lies.
He declared that while he could not defy the Emperor's imperial marriage decree and would take a post in the Ministry of War, they would only be a "couple in name," and he would never touch her again. Following Qin Xuan's cold rejection, Qiu Min rushed to Qiu Yan's residence, begging her to intervene and explain to Qin Xuan, believing he would still listen to Qiu Yan.
Qiu Yan firmly told her that since Qin Xuan had heard the truth directly from Qiu Min, there was nothing to explain, and Qiu Min needed to take responsibility for her choices. Desperate, Qiu Min made an astounding offer: she would completely step aside from Qiu Yan and Qin Xuan's relationship, even offering to raise any child they might have together as her own.
Qiu Yan was furious at Qiu Min's "deplorable thoughts," reiterating that Qiu Min must face the consequences of her chosen path and could only win Qin Xuan's heart by herself. When Qiu Min then emotionally blackmailed Qiu Yan by invoking their deceased mother's last words and Qiu Yan's promise to care for her, Liang Yi stepped in, calling Qiu Yan aside and dismissing Qiu Min.
Meanwhile, Yuan Lang confronted Shi Xiaoxiao, accusing her of colluding with Liang Yi and luring him into a trap by leaking Wang Shun's information. Shi Xiaoxiao fiercely defended herself, pointing out that Yuan Lang himself had interrogated Wang Shun and should have discerned any lies. She also explained that Liang Yi had become distant and excluded her from many matters since taking Qiu Yan as his concubine. She then threatened to end their cooperation if he remained dissatisfied.
Yuan Lang, realizing his mistake, apologized for his hasty accusations and reaffirmed his promise to her before leaving. Not long after, Qiu Yan met Qin Xuan, who informed her he would be taking a post at the Ministry of War early next month. Qiu Yan advised him to look forward and move past their shared history, and to forgive Qiu Min.
However, Qin Xuan expressed that he could never forgive Qiu Min for what she did, asserting that her actions had separated them. Qiu Yan corrected him, explaining that even without Qiu Min, they would not have ended up together. She confessed that in her moments of desperation, she had mistaken his kindness and her desire to seize an opportunity for love.
She admitted that avenging her mother and vindicating the Qiu family had always been more important than any man or romantic relationship. Qiu Yan apologized for not being able to fully reciprocate his feelings, offering to repay her "debt" in a future life. As Liang Yi arrived, having openly admitted to eavesdropping on their conversation as an "occupational habit" of the Firewood Office, he asked Qiu Yan if she regretted her decision.
She firmly stated no, as she had no lingering feelings and should not give Qin Xuan false hope. Later, Qin Xuan, upon receiving his new official attire for the Ministry of War, symbolically instructed his attendant Beixue to store away his beloved storytelling scripts, signifying his commitment to a new beginning. Qiu Yan then departed with Liang Yi, formally severing ties with her past romantic entanglements.
Soon after, the Qiu family men returned to the capital, filling the Qiu residence with excited anticipation, as Qiu Yan was especially looking forward to seeing her father. However, Qiu Yi was conspicuously absent, and only a coffin arrived, carried by the returning family members. Qiu Yan, still maintaining her identity as Su Yiwan, watched, devastated, as her eldest brother announced that Qiu Yi, their second brother, had succumbed to a "heat illness" on the journey home.
The remaining Qiu men, including Qiu Rong, made solemn vows to their ancestors and family, pledging to study diligently, abandon vices like gambling and frequenting brothels, and restore the Qiu family's honor. Overcome with grief, Qiu Yan stood before the memorial tablets of her father and mother.
She poured out her heart, expressing deep regret for her past misunderstanding that her father had colluded with the Old Madam to poison her mother, a belief stemming from her mother's alleged affair with Master Zhenyan, which her father inferred from a jade pendant. She lamented her long-held belief that her father was rigid, pedantic, and overly concerned with reputation.
She tearfully recalled his last desperate words during the family's raid, urging her and Qiu Min to escape, realizing then that his first thought was always their safety. Qiu Yan tearfully wished she could tell him she was wrong, that she had misjudged him, and expressed sorrow that he would never see her accomplishments or know how proud she hoped he would be of her. As someone approached, Liang Yi gently led her away.
