The King's Woman Episode 14 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
Ying Zheng, enraged by Tianming's disappearance, vows to investigate who orchestrated it and ensure punishment. He then praises Han Shen for his quick thinking in locating the prince and asks what reward he desires. Han Shen humbly states that maintaining palace peace is simply his duty and requires no reward. Ying Zheng presses him, questioning the unusual bravery of a guard in requesting a search of the Southern Palace and his deep concern for Tianming's safety, subtly implying suspicion.
Han Shen deflects, explaining that the prince's safety is crucial for Great Qin's stability, as his disappearance would invite disdain from other states and endanger Ying Zheng. Wei Lieutenant Li Zhong then interjects, asking Han Shen about an injury on his armor. Han Shen claims he got hurt in a martial arts competition outside the palace, an idea he says he invented. Gongsun Li intervenes, reminding the Chamberlain that Han Shen is their savior and His Majesty is grateful.
This, along with Han Shen's well-founded explanation, temporarily allays Li Zhong's doubts. Ying Zheng insists on rewarding Han Shen, who requests a few days off to visit his sick mother. Ying Zheng grants the leave, and Gongsun Li privately wonders if Han Shen is enacting a plan. Ying Zheng then tells Gongsun Li he is pleased she finally referred to Tianming as "his" son and that he is tired from the search, excusing himself to rest.
Madame Min, showing her kindness, visits Gongsun Li. A servant informs her that Gongsun Li is resting, exhausted from the search for the prince. Not wishing to disturb her, Madame Min leaves behind special jujubes from Zhao state, knowing Gongsun Li enjoys them, and a skin cream prepared by royal physicians, recommending them for restoring qi and blood after childbirth and delaying aging. She promises to visit again another day.
In his fiefdom, Lv Buwei receives numerous invitations from various states like Chu, Zhao, and Wei, all eager for him to serve as a minister. Despite these offers, Lv Buwei, assessing the weaknesses of these states, privately confides in his retainer, Sikong, that his true desire is to return to Qin, believing that no other state would genuinely value him. Sikong warns him that King Zheng is highly suspicious and returning to Qin might be unsafe.
Lv Buwei acknowledges King Zheng’s constant monitoring but believes if Zheng wanted him dead, it would have happened already. He suspects his former retainer, Li Si, of slandering him to maintain his own position. Lv Buwei decides to wait, predicting that Ying Zheng's impatience will lead to a direct confrontation. Meanwhile, Li Si learns of the constant overtures from other states to Lv Buwei.
He speculates that Lv Buwei is either deliberately inflating his value or using these overtures to provoke Ying Zheng, banking on their "father-son" relationship to secure a grand return to Qin. Recognizing the threat to his own hard-won power, especially given his past as Lv Buwei's retainer and their current animosity, Li Si seeks an audience with Ying Zheng.
He informs the King that Lv Buwei, far from being idle, is entertaining numerous important figures and is being courted by states like Chu with offers of high ministerial positions. Li Si warns that Lv Buwei's extensive knowledge of Qin's internal affairs and military strategies could be disastrous if he served another state. Ying Zheng then asks about the threat of the Six States' alliance.
Li Si argues that while such an alliance is difficult due to their current weakness, the greater danger lies in Qin's own powerful marquises. He emphasizes that Lv Buwei, with his vast wealth and influence, is the only marquis capable of posing a significant threat to Ying Zheng. Convinced of the urgency, Ying Zheng immediately commands Zhao Gao to prepare for a secret journey to Luoyang with Li Zhong to personally investigate Lv Buwei.
Before departing for Luoyang, Ying Zheng visits his mother, Zhao Ji, in the Southern Palace. He informs her that he is going to see Lv Buwei, which Zhao Ji interprets as an attempt to mock her due to his disapproval of her past relationship with Lv Buwei. Ying Zheng asks if she ever regretted coming to Qin with Lv Buwei.
Zhao Ji dismisses the idea of regret, stating that without Lv Buwei, King Zichu, being too weak, would never have returned to Qin or become Crown Prince, and neither would she and Ying Zheng have come to Xianyang. She feels she was merely a tool for both men. Ying Zheng reflects on this, questioning if the world would still be his if Lv Buwei hadn't brought them to Qin, and if he had remained simply Zhao Zheng, an ordinary person.
He feels that everything he has stems from Lv Buwei's actions, which also led to him being used. Zhao Ji insists he deserves his current position. Ying Zheng then asks a poignant question: if he were not the King of Great Qin and she were not the Queen Dowager, would she have abandoned him? Zhao Ji is distressed by the question, denying she would abandon her son.
However, Ying Zheng asserts that both she and the Grand Queen Dowager use him for their own power, status, and wealth, disregarding his feelings, and expresses a longing to sometimes be an ordinary person. As the end of the year approaches, Lv Buwei arranges for gifts to be distributed among his three thousand retainers, valuing their continued loyalty despite his fallen status. He declines another invitation from the Chu state, feigning illness.
To his astonishment, Ying Zheng arrives secretly at his manor in Luoyang. Ying Zheng, without preamble, confronts Lv Buwei about the offers from Chu and Zhao, accusing him of feigning humility while secretly plotting a comeback. He threatens to disband Lv Buwei's retainers, even suggesting he would kill them, implying they are useless to Qin if their loyalty lies with him.
Lv Buwei vehemently denies any disloyalty, asserting his unwavering support for Qin and swearing he has no intention of serving another state. He offers to dismiss his retainers and return to Qin alone if that would alleviate Ying Zheng's suspicions. Ying Zheng dismisses this, believing Lv Buwei to be opportunistic. Lv Buwei then appeals to their alleged father-son bond, claiming that despite his life of scheming, he would never betray Ying Zheng or Qin.
He declares that he has already enjoyed all the fame, fortune, and power he desires, and his only remaining wish is to see Ying Zheng rule the world and unify it. Ying Zheng appears moved by his earnest words. However, at that very moment, a commotion erupts outside the manor as Lv Buwei's retainers burst in, loudly congratulating him on supposedly becoming the Lingyin minister of Chu. Ying Zheng, realizing he has been deceived, becomes enraged.
He declares that he was foolish to almost believe Lv Buwei's pretense. Despite Lv Buwei's frantic attempts to explain it as a misunderstanding and offer his retainer Sikong Ma as a witness, Ying Zheng refuses to listen further. He asserts that as the King of Great Qin, he cannot allow Lv Buwei to return to Xianyang or serve other states and harm Qin.
Out of consideration for Lv Buwei's past contributions, Ying Zheng spares his life but orders him to be exiled to Shu, vowing never to see him again. Lv Buwei desperately pleads for reconsideration. Gongsun Li expresses her unease to Han Shen after he used the excuse of visiting his mother to request leave. Han Shen reveals his true intention: to take Gongsun Li out of the palace.
He explains that he has been meticulously mapping the palace's inner and outer guard rotations for over a year, all in preparation for her escape. Gongsun Li, concerned about Tianming and the increased security, asks about the risks. Han Shen assures her he won't endanger them and explains that Ying Zheng's unpredictable and aggressive temperament makes her position precarious, emphasizing that while Ying Zheng cherishes her today, he could imprison her tomorrow.
He believes the best opportunity for escape is when Ying Zheng is away from Xianyang, as palace security would be looser. Gongsun Li confirms she overheard Ying Zheng telling Li Zhong about an upcoming secret trip. To facilitate their plan, Gongsun Li offers a silk scarf given to her by Jing Ke as a token for Sir Tian Guang, who would recognize it. Han Shen then sends a messenger to Sir Tian Guang with a letter and the silk scarf.
Upon receiving the scarf, Tian Guang recognizes it as Jing Ke's love token to Gongsun Li, confirming Han Shen's message that he is about to take Gongsun Li out of the palace and requests that Jing Ke be informed. Later that night, Gongsun Li, disguised as a guard, accompanies Han Shen to Tianming's chambers. As Gongsun Li tries to comfort the crying Tianming, his cries alert a nurse and guards.
Though the nurse dismisses the guard's concerns, Han Shen realizes that Ying Zheng has significantly increased security around Tianming since his previous disappearance, making a covert extraction nearly impossible. Han Shen suggests they leave Tianming for now and return for him later. Gongsun Li adamantly refuses to abandon her son.
Han Shen insists that if they don't seize the opportune moment during the changing of guard shifts, when defenses are most lax, they might not be able to leave at all. He tries to reassure her, promising to return for Tianming once they are safe, having memorized the guards' patterns. Gongsun Li remains hesitant.