The King's Woman Episode 1 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
After Su Qin's grand alliance of the Six States failed six years prior, the power of these states diminished while Qin's might grew, its ambition to annex all other kingdoms becoming clear. Under the cloak of night, the Commander-in-Chief of Wey State, Gongsun Yu, along with his second disciple Jing Ke and granddaughter Gongsun Li, journeyed tirelessly until they reached Daliang City in the State of Wei. They paused for a rest at an inn.
Jing Ke, curious about the renowned Qin warrior Ge Nie's departure from Qin, sought his master's insights. Gongsun Yu explained that Qin's Chancellor, Lü Buwei, was a treacherous and cunning man. He had instigated discord between Lord Xinling and King Anxi to weaken the State of Wei, then maneuvered to have Consort Zhao's son, Ying Zheng, designated as crown prince to solidify his own political power.
Gongsun Yu believed Ge Nie left Qin because he refused to be associated with such individuals. He reminisced how their own State of Wey, in an attempt to counter Qin, had allied with Wei but was unexpectedly conquered and subjugated by Wei, forcing the King of Wey to relocate to Yewang, constantly under Qin's influence. He lamented that Lü Buwei's grand ambition was to unify all under heaven, and if the Six States did not unite, their destruction was inevitable.
Jing Ke praised Gongsun Li for her keen understanding of the world, noting her insights were far beyond ordinary. Gongsun Li readily accepted the compliment, stating that if she were not a woman, she would surely emulate her grandfather, joining the military to serve the nation. In Qin's Western Mountains' hunting ground, a swift arrow soared, felling a wild deer.
King Ying Zheng, dressed in a blue brocade robe with a crimson cloak, possessed an extraordinary demeanor, his face alight with a smile as he ordered the game to be taken away. Suddenly, Zuo Yi, a trusted subordinate of Marquis of Changxin Lao Ai, intervened, announcing that according to the law of the Western Mountains' hunting ground, any game acquired there must be surrendered to the Marquis.
Li Zhong, a chamberlain and Ying Zheng's confidant, found this absurd, questioning whether the Marquis's authority surpassed the King's. Zuo Yi, however, adamantly insisted on adhering to the law, even citing the Queen Dowager's decree. Ying Zheng's smile faded. Despite being the King of Qin, he was constantly restricted. He declared that while he enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, capturing the prey was not his ultimate joy.
Since a law existed, he would gift the deer to the Marquis of Changxin, then instructed Li Zhong to return to the palace. Upon returning to the palace, Ying Zheng and his brother, Lord of Chang'an Chengjiao, proceeded to Queen Dowager Zhao Ji's chambers. Zhao Ji was intimately reclining with Lao Ai, but they startled apart upon the King's unexpected arrival, her expression turning grim.
Ying Zheng informed his mother that preparations for his adulthood crowning ceremony were complete and he would soon depart for Yong City, with Chengjiao accompanying him. He subtly raised the morning's hunting incident, expressing his surprise that Marquis of Changxin now oversaw not only palace chariots and horses but even hunting activities. Zhao Ji claimed the Marquis was meticulous and attentive, and she entrusted him with these minor tasks to alleviate the King's burdens.
Lao Ai immediately offered to return the deer if the King desired it. Ying Zheng remained composed, stating there was no need, as the deer was beautiful, and since his mother rarely visited Changyang Palace, he would present it to her as a token of his sincerity. After leaving Zhao Ji's palace, Ying Zheng’s anger was palpable, deeming Zhao Ji and Lao Ai utterly shameless.
Chengjiao attempted to soothe his brother, urging him not to be upset by a lowly official. He mentioned rumors that Lao Ai was not a true eunuch but a male consort favored by the Queen Dowager. Ying Zheng, feeling constrained by Chancellor Lü Buwei's control over the court and the Queen Dowager's influence in the harem, realized that to assert his authority in court, he must first rectify the situation in the harem.
That night, Zhao Ji and Lao Ai awoke in terror to find their hands smeared with blood. Pulling back their covers, they discovered the bloody head of the deer Ying Zheng had hunted, a stark and chilling message. In Yuanyong City in the State of Wei, Gongsun Yu, Jing Ke, and Gongsun Li, after days of travel, finally met the legendary warrior Ge Nie. Their mission was to persuade him to join their fight against Qin.
Ge Nie challenged Gongsun Yu, stating that if Gongsun Yu could prevent him from leaving the city, he would agree to their request. A tense and masterful confrontation ensued, with the sounds of clashing blades. Despite the fierce contest, Gongsun Yu ultimately conceded defeat. Though Ge Nie preferred not to meddle in court politics, he respected Gongsun Yu. He informed them that as he left Qin, he had observed General Meng Wu leading troops out of the city.
He suggested that as Wei had long been a vassal of Qin, if Qin were to forcefully expand into its eastern territories, the King of Wei might cede Puyang in exchange for self-preservation. With this warning, Ge Nie departed. Understanding the grave danger to Puyang, Gongsun Yu, as its commander, considered it his duty. After reuniting with his eldest disciple, Han Shen, he learned that Qin forces were already positioned outside Puyang City.
Gongsun Yu instructed Jing Ke to escort Gongsun Li to safety. Gongsun Li vehemently protested, asserting her ability to fight alongside them. She argued that she also possessed the heart to protect the people and serve the nation, just like her elder martial brother and Jing Ke, and should not be sidelined, especially after her parents' sacrifice for her survival. The war soon erupted, plunging Puyang City into chaos, with countless casualties.
General Meng Wu's military campaign was swift, capturing Puyang within a day. As Qin's Four Great Masters—Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain—advanced with Meng Wu, Gongsun Yu bravely stood alone against them, ordering Han Shen to escort the civilians out of the city. Gongsun Li and Jing Ke waited anxiously at their designated meeting point, but her grandfather did not appear.
Overwhelmed by worry, Gongsun Li eventually learned from Jing Ke that her master would not be coming, having vowed to protect Puyang City until his last breath. Distraught, Gongsun Li rushed back, finding her grandfather critically wounded in a bamboo forest. Before he passed away, Gongsun Yu entrusted his granddaughter to Jing Ke, imploring her to live for herself, not for others.
Marquis of Changxin Lao Ai, fully aware of Ying Zheng's intent to eliminate him, seized the Queen Dowager's troop mobilization token. He brazenly declared the King in Yong City to be a false ruler, claiming the Queen Dowager had already established a new crown prince in Xianyang. Lao Ai then led his army towards Yong City, proclaiming his mission to "rectify the Qin bloodline" by assassinating the fake king.
At this critical juncture, Ying Zheng’s adulthood crowning ceremony had just concluded. Enraged by the news of Lao Ai’s rebellion, Ying Zheng immediately ordered his horse prepared, determined to personally slay Lao Ai to quell his fury. It was reported that General Meng Wu had already broken through Puyang, a victory presented as a tribute for Ying Zheng's coronation.
Ying Zheng personally led his forces, setting up an ambush that decisively crushed Lao Ai's rebellious army, though Lao Ai himself narrowly escaped. Ying Zheng then issued orders for a relentless pursuit of the traitor. With the rebels suppressed, it was time to confront Queen Dowager Zhao Ji. Ying Zheng, clad in black, his face hardened with resolve, pointed his blood-stained sword directly at Zhao Ji’s throat.
Just then, Chancellor Lü Buwei arrived, intervening to prevent the King from committing matricide. Ying Zheng, showing a flicker of leniency, stripped Zhao Ji of her title as Queen Dowager and exiled her to the Yong lands, where she would be kept under guard. Zhao Ji, in despair, lamented her lonely existence and her helplessness as a woman in a world consumed by ceaseless war and power struggles.
The next morning, in the Qin palace, King Ying Zheng stood tall before his bed as palace attendants meticulously dressed him. He drew a handkerchief from his robe, his mind drifting back to his youth. He remembered a time when he was a boy, nearly falling off a cliff, only to be bravely rescued by Gongsun Li and Jing Ke. He had scrapes on his face and deeper cuts on his hands.
Young Gongsun Li, noticing his injuries, surprisingly brought his injured hand to her lips, gently sucking on the wound as if to heal it. She then used her own handkerchief to wrap the wound, her face still filled with concern.
Afterwards, the three friends made wishes under the moonlight: Gongsun Li wished for everyone to be healthy and safe, for lasting friendship, and for the world to be peaceful with no more wars; Jing Ke hoped to master his martial arts and sword skills like his master, becoming a heroic figure who could alleviate suffering. Young Ying Zheng, however, wished to become someone feared by others, so that he could protect those he held dear. A palace attendant then announced that the ministers had gathered, prompting the King to proceed to court.
