The King's Woman Episode 10 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
It was late in Gongsun Li's chambers when a figure in black, later revealed to be the Queen Dowager, Zhao Ji, stealthily entered and began to strangle Gongsun Li. Ying Zheng, hearing the commotion, rushed in. Zhao Ji, who had escaped from her confinement in the Southern Palace, was disoriented. Gongsun Li, startled, realized the woman was Ying Zheng's mother. Ying Zheng, his face grim, had Zhao Ji taken away.
Afterward, Gongsun Li inquired about Zhao Ji, but Ying Zheng, considering his mother a lifelong disgrace, was reluctant to speak further about her to Gongsun Li. Upon leaving Gongsun Li, Ying Zheng went directly to the Southern Palace to confront Zhao Ji. He informed her that Marquis Wenxin, Lü Buwei, had been driven out, and told her to behave. Zhao Ji vehemently denied Lü Buwei's departure, believing he would not abandon her.
Ying Zheng sternly told her to be more rational, emphasizing that the Great Qin was now his to command. Zhao Ji then accused him of killing Lao Ai and her children. Ying Zheng countered that she had never acted like a mother to him, instead indulging in desires with the Chancellor and other men, making him a laughingstock among the people. Zhao Ji pleaded to be sent to Lü Buwei.
Meanwhile, Gongsun Li's pregnancy continued to progress, much to Madame Chu's dismay. Madame Chu was anxious and had specifically found a Chu musician, hoping to curry favor with Grand Queen Dowager Huayang as the King's affections were not with her. Soon after, Zhongchang Attendant Zhao Gao arrived, stating he was investigating Gongsun Li's miscarriage incident. Zhao Gao had discovered the truth of the miscarriage incident and gone to Madame Chu.
Madame Chu subtly shifted blame to Grand Queen Dowager Huayang and offered Zhao Gao a bribe, a top-quality jade from Chu, to ensure his silence. Zhao Gao accepted the bribe, agreeing that her words were reasonable and promising to speak highly of her to the Grand Queen Dowager. Zhao Gao then reported to Ying Zheng that his investigation yielded no suspicious findings. Ying Zheng, however, sensed Zhao Gao was withholding information, and was about to punish him.
Gongsun Li intervened, pleading for Zhao Gao's life. She argued that further investigation would involve too many lives, and since she and her child were now safe, the matter should be dropped. Ying Zheng, despite his initial anger, relented, and Zhao Gao, grateful, quickly left. Ying Zheng then asked Weiwei Li Zhong if an outsider could have been responsible for the poisoning. Li Zhong affirmed the Qin palace's strict security, especially the harem, making outside infiltration impossible.
However, he did mention an instance a few days prior, shortly after Gongsun Li entered the palace, where a man was arrested in the outer palace area for trespassing. Gongsun Li, hearing this, became visibly anxious. She knew the trespasser was most likely her Senior, Jing Ke, and felt uneasy, knowing that trespassing was a capital offense, typically involving severe torture, and if the person survived, hard labor.
Alone later, she gently stroked her unborn child, thinking Jing Ke was suffering for her. After many days of bed rest, Gongsun Li's fetus finally stabilized. To prevent any further incidents, Ying Zheng declared that from that day forward, he and Gongsun Li would eat all meals together. Gongsun Li, however, did not appreciate his efforts, still believing Ying Zheng might have wished for her fetus to die.
Ying Zheng responded that while he did not care about the child, he wanted her to be alive. When dinner was served, Gongsun Li refused to eat, telling Ying Zheng to eat alone. He retorted that if she didn't eat, he wouldn't either. Gongsun Li childishly thought that if she could starve the King of Qin to death, it would be a great achievement, hoping to do the people a favor. Ying Zheng ultimately couldn't bear to see her starve.
When she still refused, he picked up a red date and attempted to feed it to her. Gongsun Li, uncomfortable with his closeness, reluctantly agreed to eat on her own. Far away, Jing Ke, shackled, was being led to a labor camp. During a break, Tian Guang approached a soldier and, after a brief exchange, secured Jing Ke's release through a bribe.
Tian Guang revealed he had followed Jing Ke since his departure and had difficulty tracking him down after his arrest for trespassing the Qin palace. He had hurried to arrange his release. Jing Ke expressed despair, wishing he had died in Qin prison, feeling useless as a warrior who couldn't protect his loved ones or the suffering people.
Tian Guang urged him not to disappoint Gongsun Li, who had sacrificed herself so Jing Ke could uphold his ideals, telling him that if he didn't cheer up, Gongsun Li's efforts would be in vain. Jing Ke, still grappling with his inadequacy, finally agreed to go with Tian Guang to the State of Chu. Later, Jing Ke, drunk and reeling, wandered aimlessly. In his intoxicated state, he recalled a past conversation where Gongsun Li had repeatedly suggested they retire together.
He deeply regretted that he had focused on his grand ideals for the common people of the world and neglected her, wishing he could have another chance with her. As he stumbled, he was confronted by members of the Danding Sect. Outnumbered, Jing Ke was easily overpowered. Just as they were about to inflict harm, Ge Nie and his daughter Gai Lan arrived.
Ge Nie, the renowned swordsman, threatened the Danding Sect members, calling them "Xiahou Yang's little dogs," and forced them to retreat, saving Jing Ke. The trio returned to Tian Guang's home. Gai Lan prepared a feast, warmly inviting them to eat. Jing Ke, however, was rude and dismissive, coldly complaining that Ge Nie and Gai Lan had meddled in his affairs.
Ge Nie, surprisingly, found Jing Ke's frank rudeness preferable to his earlier, more compliant demeanor when he sought to become Ge Nie's disciple. Ge Nie then challenged Jing Ke, stating that with his current skills, he couldn't save his junior sister. Jing Ke bitterly reminded Ge Nie of his past refusal to take him as a disciple. Ge Nie explained that he saw no need, as Jing Ke's master, Gongsun Yu, possessed swordplay on par with his own.
He then revealed that Gongsun Yu, whom Jing Ke might have thought of as kind and gentle, was known in the martial arts world as "Blood Shadow" – a nickname earned because wherever he attacked, blood flowed like blooming flowers.
