The King's Woman Episode 22 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
The cave in Mount Song was cold, dark, and damp. Jing Ke, carrying an injured Gai Lan, unexpectedly discovered a stone door. They pushed it open, and it closed behind them as long-lasting lamps, designed by Mo Family warriors, lit up one after another, illuminating the space. Gai Lan explained these lamps, once lit, would not stop burning. She wondered why they were there, recalling her master's close ties with the Mo Family warriors.
As they cautiously moved forward, they found several ancestral tablets. Jing Ke recognized the names—Cao Mo, Zhuan Zhu, Yu Rang, Nie Zheng—from his master's tales. He specifically recalled Nie Zheng, the legendary warrior who assassinated the King of Han a hundred years ago, and how his master had revealed that the corpse found was a scapegoat, allowing Nie Zheng to live in seclusion, making his master, Warrior Gongsun's account seem true.
Jing Ke then uncovered a short sword inside a box. As he picked it up, the stone door closed even tighter. Simultaneously, images of a person practicing swordplay appeared before them. The inscription on the stone door read, "The Huluo technique achieved, the stone door will open." Gai Lan realized the images were likely the Huluo Sword Technique, which Jing Ke confirmed were "extremely rare" and "very profound and mystical" styles.
He believed mastering even half would allow him to dominate a part of the martial arts world. Gai Lan, having explored, found plenty of water but nothing to eat. She explained that if Jing Ke could not master the Huluo Sword Technique before their meager dry rations ran out, they would starve. Jing Ke, though frustrated by his lack of progress, vowed to open the door so they could escape, promising wine and meat, and immediately resumed his practice.
Meanwhile, in the military camp, Ying Zheng watched Gongsun Li sleep. Despite her insistence on a separate small bed, Ying Zheng had told her he would be unable to sleep if she didn't sleep on his bed, even threatening to stand and watch her. He chuckled to himself, wondering if she was truly asleep. Gongsun Li soon began to frown and murmur, troubled by a nightmare of her grandfather. She startled awake to find Ying Zheng sitting by her side.
He gently reassured her, "It is all right. I am here. I will protect you." She asked if he had truly stayed awake all night, and he confirmed it, urging her to go back to sleep, promising to protect her. Seeing his tender demeanor, so different from the stern king she knew, Gongsun Li's defenses slowly lowered. Back at the palace, the atmosphere was less serene. Shang Yi, flustered, reported to Madame Chu that Jing Liangren was pregnant.
Madame Chu was furious, having long wished for a child herself. She felt outmaneuvered by "that little slut" and her eyes flashed with murderous intent. Madame Chu summoned Jing Liangren, who, despite her visible nervousness, tried to deny the pregnancy to protect her child. Madame Chu pressed her, questioning how such rumors could spread if untrue, stating that "if there is a coming wind, then this hole is not empty.
There must be some evidence or it is impossible for a rumor like this to spread." She then ordered tea to be served, explaining it was a rare tea gifted by Grand Queen Dowager that could not be commonly drunk in the palace. Madame Chu, leveraging Ying Zheng's absence and her temporary supremacy in the palace, coerced Jing Liangren to drink it, threatening her position if she refused. Han Zhangshi watched in silence, too intimidated to intervene.
Jing Liangren, left with no choice, drank the tea, her eyes filled with resentment. Soon after, Madame Min learned of Jing Liangren's miscarriage. She lamented that Jing Liangren, young and new to the palace, had been too overjoyed by her pregnancy to keep it a secret, thus giving others an opportunity to harm her and her child.
Madame Min concluded that Jing Liangren's lack of caution was the cause, and even if Ying Zheng were to return, the lost child could not be recovered. Far from the palace, in the Qin military camp, Ying Zheng remained unaware of the tragedy. General Meng Wu, a seasoned warrior, questioned the wisdom of dispatching one hundred thousand soldiers to the Han state merely to invite a scholar. Ying Zheng, however, dismissed Meng Wu's warrior mentality.
He explained that King An of Han was "a dumb coward" who would surely panic and release Han Fei into Qin's custody when faced with such a massive force. Ying Zheng intended to "heavily use" Han Fei's strategies to conquer the Six States, proving that he was not a tyrannical king but rather, the Han King was an idiot. Days turned into a struggle for Jing Ke and Gai Lan in the cave.
Jing Ke was still far from mastering the Huluo Sword Technique, and their food supplies dwindled, leaving both of them emaciated. Jing Ke was frustrated, feeling that if he could not acquire the technique, they would starve to death. Gai Lan, worried Jing Ke would not have the strength to train, insisted on giving him her share of the food, reminding him that "ideas come suddenly and you just need to act according to your wishes."
Jing Ke was deeply moved by her selflessness but refused, though Gai Lan eventually persuaded him, emphasizing that their escape depended on his strength and that she was relying on him. Outside the Han capital, the sight of Meng Wu and Gongsun Li leading one hundred thousand Qin soldiers struck terror into the heart of the Han King and his officials, who watched from the city walls.
The Han King, fearing an invasion, frantically asked his officials for solutions and considered opening the gates to negotiate peace. Gongsun Li informed him that Qin had not come to seize land or women, nor for more tribute, but merely "to escort someone back." When Ying Zheng declared that "Han Fei" was the person they sought, the Han King, greatly relieved, immediately agreed. Ying Zheng and Gongsun Li successfully welcomed Han Fei to Qin and hosted a grand celebratory banquet.
During the feast, Han Fei, despite a slight stutter, boldly questioned Ying Zheng's true motive for unifying the world. Ying Zheng, far from being angered, welcomed the rare directness. He explained that since the Eastern Zhou dynasty, the world had been plagued by endless wars and suffering for its citizens.
His ambition was to unite all states, standardize writing, currency, and cart tracks, turning the world into one family, thereby ending wars and allowing the people to live in peace and recuperate. His words earned widespread praise, and Gongsun Li looked on with admiration.
Li Si, a former classmate of Han Fei under Teacher Xun Kuang, expressed his delight at their reunion in Qin, praising Han Fei's analytical skills and talent, even admitting his own inferiority, and suggested they "frequently exchange ideas." Despite the pleasantries, a subtle jealousy flickered within Li Si, fearing Han Fei might overshadow him. Later, Ying Zheng granted Han Zhangshi, a concubine from Han, to Han Fei.
Han Zhangshi, who was loyal to Madame Chu, dutifully greeted Han Fei and offered her service, stating she was "especially ordered by His Majesty to serve Minister Han Fei" because both were from Han. Madame Min’s maid worried that Madame Chu might use Han Zhangshi to influence Han Fei, who was now heavily favored. However, Madame Min dismissed this, believing Madame Chu's schemes were unlikely to succeed.
Instead, Madame Min pondered whether Han Fei truly submitted to Great Qin, given that he was still from Han and his counsel could significantly influence Ying Zheng's strategies against the Six States. She wondered if he would "do acts that will sacrifice other states just for his mother state," acknowledging it was "hard to say it now." The military expedition had brought Ying Zheng and Gongsun Li closer.
Back at Zhaode Palace, they playfully chased each other, laughing and jesting, before resting on a staircase. Ying Zheng, feigning exhaustion, declared he would sleep there. Gongsun Li, accustomed to his playful demands, sent for a pillow and bedding. But as she prepared to rise, Ying Zheng caught her wrist, pulling her back down to lie beside him, asserting his desire for her to stay and sleep with him. Their gazes met, a silent acknowledgment of the growing affection between them.
