The Heiress Episode 17 Recap
> The Heiress Recap
Wang Zhongyu was confined by Prime Minister Wang, who called his son a disobedient brat for neglecting family duties and sabotaging his plans. Prime Minister Wang ordered Wang Zhongyu to stay and reflect, announcing that he and his younger sister would return to the capital tomorrow. Wang Zhongyu defiantly declared that if Han Shiyi died, he would not live alone.
Prime Minister Wang, enraged, wondered what spell Han Shiyi had cast on him and instructed his guards to watch Wang Zhongyu closely. The sealed-off village suffered from a lack of food and medicine, with bodies constantly being removed. Wang Xiyuan arrived to bring food to Wang Zhongyu. Wang Zhongyu, desperate to save Han Shiyi, pleaded with his sister to inform Chen Yanyi that Han Shiyi was in danger in the epidemic area, no matter the cost.
Wang Xiyuan agreed to help. Prime Minister Wang had deliberately allowed Wang Xiyuan to leave, knowing she would alert Chen Yanyi, thereby luring him into the infected village for elimination. He explained his strategy to Second Prince Chen Yanhao, stating that Chen Yanyi, despite his shrewdness, would be swayed by "love," referencing the widespread rumors in the capital about Chen Yanyi and Han Shiyi's relationship.
Prime Minister Wang reassured Chen Yanhao that once Chen Yanyi was dead, the Emperor would have no choice but to name Chen Yanhao as his heir, given the Seventh Prince's frailty and the Third Prince's lack of talent. Chen Yanhao consented to the plan. Chen Yanyi's subordinates urged him not to venture into the dangerous area, emphasizing that his safety was crucial for the future of the state.
However, Chen Yanyi declared that he had already made one mistake by allowing Han Shiyi to enter that perilous place and would not make another. He ordered Lord Lu to oversee Licheng in his absence. Wang Xiyuan was subsequently sent back to Zhangzhou. Meanwhile, Han Shiyi discovered the cause of the disease in the village.
A little girl named Tianniu, who had been following Han Shiyi, revealed that people, driven by hunger, had been pulling dead pigs and rabbits from the river and cooking them. She noted that her brother fell ill after eating them, but she, repulsed by the stench, had not. Han Shiyi observed that most of the sick were men, with few women afflicted.
Han Shiyi confirmed with a woman that her husband had eaten the rotten meat, while she had not due to the smell. Han Shiyi instructed her to warn all villagers to stop consuming the dead animal meat, identifying it as the source of their illness. Wang Zhongyu attempted to stop an elderly man from retrieving more corpses, explaining the danger, but the man countered that not eating would also lead to starvation.
Han Shiyi intervened, reassuring the villagers that help and food would arrive soon, promising to find a way to save them. Han Shiyi realized she was merely bait in a trap set for Chen Yanyi. She feared he would fall for it. To ensure a message reached Chen Yanyi, Han Shiyi carried the little girl Tianniu to the mountaintop, and after the girl reached safety, Han Shiyi, exhausted, fell from the cliff.
A little girl, Tianniu, later found Chen Yanyi and presented him with a hairpin, relaying Han Shiyi's urgent message: "Don't enter the village. They are waiting for you to enter the village, so they can burn the village. If you don't enter the village, Han Shiyi won't die." When Chen Yanyi asked how she got out, Tianniu explained that Han Shiyi had carried her to the mountaintop and given her the hairpin, asking her to seek out Prince Qi.
Despite the warning, Chen Yanyi, along with Jiye and other subordinates, intercepted government goods and disguised themselves as officials to enter the village. Jiye tried to go in his stead, but Chen Yanyi insisted on entering himself, emphasizing his commitment. Inside the village, Wang Zhongyu, weakened by hunger and injuries, hallucinated Chen Yanyi's presence. When Chen Yanyi, in his disguise, finally appeared before a delirious Han Shiyi, she initially believed it to be another dream.
Han Shiyi murmured about always dreaming of him and fearing her impending death. Then, she confessed, "I really miss you," and "I love you." Believing her end was near, she whispered to Chen Yanyi, "If there is a next life, I will definitely be with you." Chen Yanyi vowed that she would not die, reminding her of their promise to spend their lives together and urging her to keep her word.
Lin Rang's face was grim as he took Han Shiyi's pulse. Chen Yanyi, frantic, shook Han Shiyi and then knelt, pleading with Lin Rang to save her. Lin Rang finally revealed that Han Shiyi was merely unconscious from starvation. Enraged by the misdiagnosis and false alarm, Chen Yanyi kicked Lin Rang, who retorted that he was not an imperial doctor and threatened to abandon them.
Chen Yanyi stayed by Han Shiyi's side for two sleepless nights, promising never to leave her again. When Han Shiyi finally awoke, she noticed Chen Yanyi's unkempt beard and commented that he looked ugly. Jiye informed her that Chen Yanyi had not slept for two days and nights watching over her. Han Shiyi immediately asked Chen Yanyi to prevent Second Prince Chen Yanhao from burning the village.
Chen Yanyi explained that the villagers had bowel disease, not a plague, and that Lin Rang had already distributed medicine, leading to an improvement in their condition. He clarified that the disease stemmed from eating rotten animal carcasses from the river. Chen Yanyi assured her that rice gruel was now being provided.
When Han Shiyi asked about Chen Yanhao's explanation, Chen Yanyi reported that the Second Prince denied any intention of burning the village, claiming the lockdown was solely to control the epidemic. Though she had just recovered, Han Shiyi, still terrified of hunger, asked for chicken, duck, fish, and meat, but Chen Yanyi insisted she stick to bland rice gruel for her recovery. She devoured the simple meal ravenously.
Chen Yanyi entrusted Jiye with protecting Han Shiyi while he returned to the capital. Han Shiyi voiced her concern that the Emperor might have already tacitly approved Chen Yanhao's plan to burn the village. Chen Yanyi, however, assured her that the Emperor valued his reputation and would not allow Chen Yanhao to bear the responsibility if the incident became public.
In the capital, the Emperor was discussing Chen Yanhao's secret report, which he had suppressed, hoping Chen Yanhao understood his priority of controlling the epidemic. Chen Yanyi arrived and revealed that he had rushed back after learning Chen Yanhao planned to burn the village under false imperial pretenses, which would tarnish the reputation of the people, the court, and the Emperor. The Emperor initially dismissed it, defending Chen Yanhao's actions as a desperate measure.
However, Chen Yanyi disclosed that the villagers were suffering from a non-contagious bowel disease caused by eating rotten animal corpses, not a plague, and that the source had been identified. Realizing Chen Yanhao's reckless plan without proper investigation, the Emperor was furious and ashamed, calling Chen Yanhao a "disobedient son." Despite his anger, Chen Yanyi advised the Emperor to suppress the matter to protect the state's reputation, suggesting they deal with Chen Yanhao upon his return.
The Emperor agreed, acknowledging Chen Yanyi's wisdom and asking him to share more of the imperial burdens. Back at the Imperial College, the professor asked the students to share their experiences from the disaster area. Han Shiyi reflected on her past arrogance, stating that she now truly understood the profound meaning of "I grieve over people's lives beset with hardships."
Liao Jichang spoke of losing weight and feeling guilty about his privileged life, pledging to contribute more to the welfare of the people. Wang Zhongyu mused on the romanticized notions of rural life versus the harsh realities faced by the common people. The professor expressed satisfaction that these "children of rich families" had gained a deeper understanding of the struggles of ordinary citizens.
Under the table, Chen Yanyi subtly reached for Han Shiyi's hand, which she took, while Wang Zhongyu watched in silence. Later, Han Shiyi mentioned her impending marriage to Qin Wanning. Chen Yanyi, visibly affected, asked about his own fate. Han Shiyi confessed that being with Chen Yanyi had given her a new understanding of love and happiness, making her regret the engagement. However, she felt helpless to revoke her word.
