The King's Woman Episode 20 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
Madame Min and Madame Chu encountered each other in a winding palace corridor. Madame Chu feigned ignorance, claiming Gongsun Li had intentionally attempted an assassination, but Madame Min was equally sharp, directly exposing Madame Chu's scheme. Unfazed, Madame Chu flatly denied the accusation. Madame Min simply warned her that those who do evil will eventually destroy themselves, before gracefully departing. Inside Zhaode Palace, the imperial physician confirmed Gongsun Li was out of danger.
Ying Zheng dismissed everyone, wanting to personally tend to her. He tenderly wiped her brow, noticing her worried expression even in sleep, and reached out as if to smooth away her sorrows. The next day, Gongsun Li awoke to find Ying Zheng asleep beside her. She instinctively reached out to touch his furrowed brow, but he stirred before she could. His first concern was her injury.
Gongsun Li explained that she had not intended to assassinate him that day; instead, she had charged towards the real assassin. She also expressed her suspicion that if someone wanted to frame her, the assassin seemed to be acting independently. Ying Zheng acknowledged that Qin was an enemy to the Six States, and countless individuals wished to kill him, but he also noted that the person who framed her was more vicious than the assassin.
Ying Zheng then offered Gongsun Li medicine, which she initially hesitated to take. However, recalling his previous domineering manner when feeding her dates, she relented. Ying Zheng's unexpected gentleness began to soften Gongsun Li's resistance towards him. Meanwhile, Jing Ke and Gai Lan walked through the bustling streets of Daliang.
Gai Lan chatted happily by his side, but the familiar scene stirred Jing Ke's memories of walking the same streets with Gongsun Li, causing him to momentarily lose himself in thought. The two then arrived at an inn, where they found Gao Jianli engaged in a display of internal force against Qin Wuyang from Yan State, drawing a crowd. Gao Jianli proved superior, and Qin Wuyang left in a huff after his defeat.
Jing Ke and Gai Lan greeted Gao Jianli, and they sat down to catch up. Gao Jianli revealed he was in Wei because Qin was assisting Wei in attacking Chu, leading to widespread suffering among the common people, which deeply concerned him. The three friends raised their cups, wishing for peace throughout the land, unaware that their conversation was being overheard by a discreet listener.
Ying Zheng personally went to assess Han Shen's injuries, ordering the imperial physicians to spare no effort in his treatment. On his return, Li Zhong reported that the assassin was from Wei, but the six palace guards from Huayang Palace had been refused interrogation by Grand Queen Dowager Huayang, who claimed they were not under the jurisdiction of Xianyang Palace. Ying Zheng was furious, indignant that a mere Huayang Palace dared to challenge the authority of Great Qin's king.
Li Zhong advised caution, fearing that angering the Grand Queen Dowager might provoke Chu into joining forces with Wei, placing Great Qin in a vulnerable pincer attack. He suggested postponing the matter. Ying Zheng, however, dismissed the warning, viewing the situation as an opportune moment to purge the harem. Inside Huayang Palace, Grand Queen Dowager Huayang summoned Li Si, who was also from Chu.
She presented him with a large jade zun adorned with a deer design, attempting to win him over as a trusted confidant. Li Si feigned a brief refusal before accepting the valuable gift. In return, Li Si revealed that an envoy from Wei had recently visited, hoping Great Qin would dispatch troops to attack Chu. Grand Queen Dowager Huayang was incensed upon hearing that Ying Zheng had already agreed to the proposal.
At that moment, a servant reported that Ying Zheng was approaching with the Chamberlain and Huben troops to arrest the six palace guards. Grand Queen Dowager Huayang was greatly alarmed. She adamantly insisted on protecting the guards, even resorting to threatening her own life. Unswayed, Ying Zheng still ordered their arrest. As tensions escalated between the two sides, Gongsun Li, dressed in red, arrived and pleaded on behalf of the Grand Queen Dowager.
At Gongsun Li's repeated insistence, Ying Zheng reluctantly compromised, exiling the guards to military service instead. Some time later, Gongsun Li inadvertently shared her insights on the current political climate and the vested interests between Chu and Wei. She argued that Wei was attempting to instigate a conflict between Qin and Chu, believing that if the two strong states fought, both would be weakened, ultimately benefiting Han and Wei.
Ying Zheng had an epiphany upon hearing her perspective and promptly ordered the withdrawal of his troops. In just a few words, Gongsun Li had averted a potential war. Jing Ke, Gai Lan, and Gao Jianli observed the Qin army withdrawing. Taking advantage of the unexpected turn of events, they suggested traveling to Mount Song for a few days.
As they discussed the five sacred mountains, Jing Ke suddenly comprehended the profound meaning of "Dai on the left, Hua on the right, balance the south, maintain the north," realizing that the "Huluo Sword Manual" was indeed hidden on Mount Song. Later, Ying Zheng and Gongsun Li visited Grand Queen Dowager Huayang in her majestic Huayang Palace.
During a simple banquet, Gongsun Li tasted the Yunmeng orange prepared by the Grand Queen Dowager and spoke about the phenomenon of "southern oranges becoming northern trifoliate oranges," drawing a subtle comparison about customs and nature. Madame Chu listened, unable to conceal her jealousy. However, it was Ying Zheng's subsequent words that truly ignited her envy.
He profusely praised Gongsun Li for her counsel regarding the Qin army's retreat from Chu, commending her intellectual and martial prowess, and openly declared his intention to make Gongsun Li his queen.