The Autumn Ballad Episode 31 Recap
> The Autumn Ballad Recap
After carefully examining the remains, Liang Yi confirms his father died from Anling poison, which is initially undetectable and takes days to produce a distinct odor. He concludes that the true culprits are not Yuan Lang, but Northern Liangs, and that Mr. Zhan, the Imperial Physician, was likely coerced into administering the poison since he couldn't have detected it so soon after death.
Qiu Yan notes that Noble Consort Guo, a close family friend, sent Mr. Zhan to diagnose his father, raising suspicion. Meanwhile, Qin Xuan is confronted by Qiu Min about his whereabouts. He admits he visited Qiu Yan, prompting Qiu Min to question why he still pursues Qiu Yan, who she describes as selfish and manipulative.
Qin Xuan, visibly annoyed, concedes that Qiu Yan is indeed exceptional in many ways that Qiu Min cannot emulate, lamenting that he is not good enough for her. He also reminds Qiu Min that she once drugged him, making him mistake her for Qiu Yan. Liang Yi suspects Noble Consort Guo is a Northern Liang, a fact Qiu Yan had observed at the border.
She explains that Northern Liang merchant daughters wear a large ring on their right index finger from childhood, leaving a permanent mark, which she saw on Noble Consort Guo. Liang Yi deduces that if Noble Consort Guo is Northern Liang, her son, the Crown Prince, also has Northern Liang blood. He believes his father either discovered this secret or was close to the truth.
To confirm, Liang Yi and Qiu Yan seek out Hei Laosan, an old human trafficker Liang Yi's father had hired years ago. Hei Laosan confirms that Liang Yi's father investigated a Northern Liang girl, then about 12-13 years old, who was smuggled from Mozhou to the capital, and that he took her indenture contract. Given Noble Consort Guo recently celebrated her 40th birthday, the timing aligns.
Liang Yi deduces that his father obtaining this proof made Noble Consort Guo kill him, and she then preemptively killed Mr. Zhan and framed Liang Yi for continuing the investigation. Elsewhere, Qin Xuan and his aide, Beixue, uncover unusual Northern Liang activities in the capital. Qin Xuan recounts returning goods to Northern Liang merchants who refused to open their boxes publicly; he later discovered the hidden contents were Anling blossom petals.
He saw one merchant, with a fierce face and a mole between his eyebrows, deliver these petals to another Northern Liang. Qiu Yan identifies this man as one of Noble Consort Guo's assassins, concluding that Noble Consort Guo has a network of Northern Liang spies disguised as merchants. Shi Xiaoxiao secretly meets Liang Yi, concerned about Madam Jin's welfare. She reveals that the Main Administrative Office, despite their official duty, is deliberately providing rotten food to Madam Jin.
Shi Xiaoxiao suspects this mistreatment is not Yuan Lang's order but rather an act of revenge from lower-ranking officials. She provides Liang Yi with the guard schedules and numbers at the Marquis's residence, enabling him to plan Madam Jin's rescue. Before the rescue operation, Liang Yi attempts to send Shi Xiaoxiao back to the Royal Academy for her safety, even arranging land for her. Shi Xiaoxiao questions why he protects her but allows Qiu Yan into danger.
Liang Yi states that Qiu Yan has chosen to share his fate, and he won't disappoint her, but he doesn't want Shi Xiaoxiao to die for him or owe him. Shi Xiaoxiao, hurt by his dismissal of her feelings, finally confesses that she lied about Madam Jin's situation. She had conspired with Yuan Lang to lure Liang Yi out of the Ministry of War's hay storage, as Yuan Lang promised to spare Liang Yi's life and help her marry him.
She warns Liang Yi that if they don't leave the storage, Yuan Lang will set it on fire. As they attempt to escape the hay storage, Liang Yi realizes they are being pursued not by Yuan Lang's men but by the assassins who had previously hunted him, and they are cornered. Liang Yi declares they cannot involve Shi Xiaoxiao. Overhearing him, Shi Xiaoxiao injects Liang Yi with a narcotic-laced needle, knocking him unconscious.
She instructs Qiu Yan to take Liang Yi and escape while she and Yao Gai disguise themselves to lure the assassins away. Shi Xiaoxiao tells Qiu Yan that her sacrifice is for herself, as she cannot bear the thought of Liang Yi remembering Qiu Yan forever if Qiu Yan died for him; instead, she wants Liang Yi to remember her for all his life. Later, Yuan Lang discovers the bodies of Shi Xiaoxiao and Yao Gai, ordering their respectful burial.
Qiu Yan tends to Liang Yi until he regains consciousness, then sorrowfully informs him of Shi Xiaoxiao's sacrifice. Liang Yi is heartbroken, reflecting on his past use of her without considering her feelings. Qiu Yan delivers Shi Xiaoxiao's final message: she couldn't die with him, but he must never forget her. Eunuch Liu arrives at the Liang Residence to take Madam Jin to the palace, stating it's Noble Consort Guo's command for Madam Jin's safety.
Qiu Yan and Liang Yi meet with Qin Xuan, revealing they have returned to the Marquis's residence, now the safest place after Yuan Lang's search. They learn from Qin Xuan that Shi Xiaoxiao and Yao Gai were found dead, and Qiu Yan asserts that Noble Consort Guo was responsible for their deaths. Eunuch Liu then brings Madam Jin's bracelet to Liang Yi, inviting him and Qiu Yan to meet Noble Consort Guo.
Upon their arrival, Noble Consort Guo directly questions Liang Yi's lack of deference. Liang Yi demands to know his mother's whereabouts, and Noble Consort Guo promises Madam Jin's safety if Liang Yi cooperates. Liang Yi accuses her of his father's murder. Noble Consort Guo openly admits to killing Liang Yi's father because he investigated her origins. She advises Liang Yi and Qiu Yan to leave the capital permanently to ensure Madam Jin's safety.
Qiu Yan confronts Noble Consort Guo about framing Liang Yi and sending Northern Liang assassins. Noble Consort Guo denies sending the assassins, claiming she only sent eunuchs to stop Liang Yi from investigating his father's case, as she feared old secrets would resurface. She admits her Northern Liang identity but insists she has never harmed Dashuo. Liang Yi concludes there is another group of Northern Liangs involved, actively trying to frame Noble Consort Guo.
Noble Consort Guo then reveals the full truth: she is the daughter of a Northern Liang traveling merchant, kidnapped and sold into the palace, rising to become Noble Consort with the Emperor's favor and Liang Yi's mother's help. Six years ago, after her son became Crown Prince, she discovered Liang Yi's father's memorandum exposing her origins. She hid and destroyed it before the Emperor could read it.
When Liang Yi's father was injured by Duke Lu, she seized the opportunity to poison him and bury the secret. Liang Yi asks if the memorandum included the indenture contract, knowing his father would have provided such evidence. Noble Consort Guo states she never saw the indenture contract, leading them to believe someone took it beforehand and knew she killed Liang Yi's father.
She then raises the possibility that this mysterious individual, and the Northern Liangs currently pursuing Liang Yi, are the same group. Noble Consort Guo implores Liang Yi to help the Crown Prince uncover the truth and eliminate Northern Liang spies, stressing the Crown Prince cannot act himself due to the risk of exposing his foreign bloodline and facing charges of deceiving the Emperor. Liang Yi questions why he should help his father's murderer.
Noble Consort Guo appeals to his sense of duty, trusting he will not prioritize personal vengeance over the safety of Dashuo and the Crown Prince. She promises to commit suicide as atonement once the truth is fully revealed.
