The King's Woman Episode 26 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
The morning sun filtered through the clouds as Han Shen, Jing Ke, and Gongsun Li met on the road. Gongsun Li inquired if Jing Ke had perfected the Huluo Sword Technique, having witnessed it. Jing Ke admitted he hadn't fully perfected it, explaining he had to complete his training quickly to bring Gai Lan out of Mount Song, where she had accompanied him for about half a month.
Gongsun Li expressed relief that Gai Lan had been with him the entire time. Jing Ke then asked Han Shen to take Gongsun Li back to the palace. Gongsun Li looked at Jing Ke, simply thanked him, and then departed. As she left, Jing Ke reflected that despite their shared history, Gongsun Li consistently prioritized Ying Zheng, feeling that in her heart, Ying Zheng was more important than him. Later, Jing Ke returned feeling downcast.
Gai Lan, noticing his sadness, took the blame, saying she was wrong to suggest he rescue Gongsun Li as it only made him sadder. Jing Ke forced a faint smile, reassuring her it was not her fault and she should not blame herself. Meanwhile, in a cold prison cell, Li Si visited Han Fei, whose face was covered in blood. Li Si mockingly asked Han Fei how it felt to fall from a respected minister to a prisoner.
Han Fei countered, questioning why Li Si, his former schoolmate, would harm him. Li Si coldly retorted that Han Fei’s newfound favor with the King had become his greatest obstacle in securing the prime minister position. Han Fei vehemently stated that he only admired the King's virtues and wished to contribute his knowledge and strategies, never intending to compete for any position.
Li Si dismissed his words, announcing that the King, enraged by Han Fei's actions, had decided to dispatch his army to annihilate Han. Li Si then left, telling Han Fei to fend for himself. Han Fei was heartbroken, lamenting that his actions had brought disaster upon his motherland, his mournful cries echoing through the prison. Elsewhere, Madame Chu reclined on her bed, asking Shang Yi about the medicine prepared for Lord Changping.
Shang Yi quietly confirmed that everything was in order; Lord Changping drank a nerve-calming soup daily, and someone had already added a potent poison to it that would ensure a swift death. Madame Chu was pleased, believing that with Lord Changping dead, Li Si, owing her a great favor, would be completely subservient to her once he became prime minister. However, Zhao Gao received intelligence about Madame Chu's plot through his network.
As a native of Zhao, Zhao Gao harbored resentment against Han Fei for advising Ying Zheng to attack Zhao. He devised a plan to use the same poison Madame Chu intended for Lord Changping, disguised within a unique nine-eyes glass bead, to eliminate Han Fei. This scheme would not only kill Han Fei but also effectively frame Madame Chu and Li Si.
He meticulously instructed his subordinate to ensure the plan was executed flawlessly, highlighting it as a perfect strategy of "borrowing someone's hands to kill" and "hitting two birds with one stone." As Ying Zheng and Li Zhong led their army on the road, they encountered Gongsun Li and Han Shen. Ying Zheng immediately dismounted and embraced Gongsun Li affectionately, tenderly asking what had happened.
Gongsun Li, prioritizing urgency, told him she would explain her abduction later, emphasizing that the most critical matter was Han Fei’s safety. She asserted that his imprisonment was a result of a frame-up, endangering his life, and such an act by Qin would not be accepted by the world. She urged Ying Zheng to trust Han Fei, recalling the saying, "If you use someone, do not doubt him; if you doubt someone, do not use him."
She expressed fear that a treacherous official had framed Han Fei and requested his immediate release. Ying Zheng listened intently, falling into deep thought. Meanwhile, at the prime minister’s residence, Zhao Gao’s subordinate secretly swapped the nerve-calming soup intended for Lord Changping with a poisoned one and delivered it to Han Fei in prison. He subtly urged Han Fei to consider suicide as a noble act of loyalty to his state, given his apparent guilt towards Han.
Han Fei consumed the soup without much hesitation. Just as he did, Ying Zheng and Gongsun Li arrived at the prison. Zhao Gao's subordinate panicked and swiftly slipped away. Han Fei coughed up a mouthful of blood and, with his last breath, advised Ying Zheng to govern the world by law before losing consciousness completely. Ying Zheng deeply regretted Han Fei’s death, acknowledging that his own weaknesses – suspicion, envy, and cold-heartedness – had led to the tragedy.
Gongsun Li noticed a unique nine-eyes glass bead clenched in Han Fei’s hand, recognizing it as high-quality jewelry from the southern state of Chu, typically only owned by royalty. She inferred that Madame Chu, the only Chu royalty in the palace, was highly suspicious. Ying Zheng concurred, recalling Madame Chu's false accusations against Gongsun Li for rebellious intentions after her previous unauthorized departure from the palace. He also suspected Madame Chu of orchestrating Gongsun Li's recent abduction.
However, Gongsun Li disagreed regarding the abduction, believing such an elaborate scheme was beyond a woman's capability and suggesting it was more likely the work of Li Si, a suspicion she kept to herself, needing more evidence. Separately, Li Si and Madame Chu were also puzzled by Gongsun Li’s unexpected return to the palace and Han Fei’s poisoning. Li Si cautioned Madame Chu to be more careful in the future, suspecting an enemy spy might be close to her.
Madame Chu frowned, letting out a deep sigh. Madame Min visited Gongsun Li in her palace, offering heartfelt condolences. She voiced her own suspicions about Madame Chu and pointed out Madame Chu’s recent frequent interactions with Tingwei Officer Li Si. Madame Min wondered if their closeness was connected to Han Fei’s poisoning, noting that Li Si was known for his cunning and only acted if it benefited him. Gongsun Li, who already suspected Li Si, found these connections unsettling.
Before she could elaborate, Qing'er rushed in with shocking news: Jing Liangren had died. Gongsun Li was aghast. Upon hearing the news, Madame Chu rushed towards Huayang Palace, equally perplexed by Jing Liangren’s sudden death. However, she was intercepted on the way by Wu Fengyi, a trusted attendant from the Grand Queen Dowager’s palace. Wu Fengyi stated that the Grand Queen Dowager was unwell and needed quiet recuperation, therefore Madame Chu could not enter the palace.
This obvious evasion of Madame Chu made her feel even more helpless. Meanwhile, Madame Min and Gongsun Li arrived at Jing Liangren's residence and questioned the royal physician about the cause of her sudden demise. The physician's initial examination suggested poisoning by false hellebore. He explained that this wild herb was historically used during battles, added to the enemy's water supply to weaken their forces, and expressed surprise at its presence within the palace.
In the grand palace hall, Ying Zheng convened an assembly, not for a general banquet, but to expose Li Si’s machinations. Gongsun Li requested a re-examination of Han Fei’s silk document, arguing that if it was a communication with the King of Han, it must be written in Han script. Madame Chu attempted to obstruct this, but Gongsun Li shrewdly remarked if she perhaps thought it was written in Chu script, causing Madame Chu to fall silent.
Gongsun Li then requested that she and Lord Changping, who was fluent in the scripts of the seven states, verify the document. Li Si became visibly agitated, his composure faltering. Madame Chu, unable to wait, then interjected, demanding to see the silk document herself. Ying Zheng, enraged, produced the nine-eyes glass bead found in Han Fei’s prison.
He revealed that both Han Fei and Jing Liangren had been poisoned with false hellebore, and palace servants had already confessed, directly implicating Madame Chu. Madame Chu tearfully denied it, claiming she had given the glass beads to Han Zhangshi and that Han Zhangshi had provided the letter, asserting Han Zhangshi was behind everything. However, everyone present knew that Han Zhangshi was subservient to Madame Chu, rendering her claims mere excuses.
Li Si, then confronted, admitted his jealousy towards Han Fei’s favor but vehemently denied poisoning him. Ying Zheng sternly questioned both of them: if their target was not Han Fei, then who were they intending to attack? Neither could provide an answer. Ying Zheng then demoted Madame Chu to a fourth-rank Liangren and expelled her from Zhaode Palace.
Acknowledging Li Si’s meritorious service to Qin, Ying Zheng sentenced him to fifty planks and decreed that he must serve Great Qin for the rest of his life. Li Si repeatedly bowed, profusely thanking the King for sparing his life. Unknown to the King and others, the silk document was indeed written in Han script; Gongsun Li had orchestrated the entire revelation as a trap, using Li Si and Madame Chu’s guilt to expose them. However, she remained unaware that Han Fei’s death had actually been engineered by Zhao Gao, and the true culprit behind Jing Liangren's death was still unknown.
