The King's Woman Episode 36 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
As Han Shen's sword was poised to strike Ying Zheng, Gongsun Li swiftly stepped forward, shielding Ying Zheng with her body. Ying Zheng's eyes reddened upon seeing her. He choked back his emotions, confessing that he no longer had the right to give her happiness, fearing that forcing her to stay would only endanger her, just as Sir Han Fei had been.
He promised that Tianming, their son, would be returned to her the following morning, as he should logically live with his mother. Though this seemed like the best arrangement, both of them were tearful. With that, Ying Zheng hardened his heart and turned to leave, ordering his guards to return to the palace. As Gongsun Li watched him go, memories of their past joys flooded her mind, making her reluctant to part with him.
Inside his sedan, Ying Zheng observed the bustling prosperity of Xianyang City. As its King, he bore immense responsibilities. Wiping away his tears, he resolved to view Gongsun Li as nothing more than a beautiful, fleeting dream. The next day, Tianming arrived at the inn, escorted by Li Si. Gongsun Li was overjoyed, rushing out to embrace him. Tianming's soft voice brought her immense comfort.
Li Si explained that Ying Zheng had originally intended to bring Tianming himself, but he had departed at dawn with General Meng Wu for an expedition to Han State. With that, Li Si took his leave. Han Shen urged Gongsun Li not to dwell on these matters, suggesting that the three of them should now live freely, like "idle clouds and wild geese," detached from the affairs of Qin. Tianming, still young, happily agreed, eager to play and explore.
However, Gongsun Li remained worried about Ying Zheng's safety on the expedition. The expedition against Han State had been Li Si's suggestion, and he felt a sense of self-satisfaction that Ying Zheng had finally taken his advice. However, Madame Min pointed out that Ying Zheng's attack on Han was not purely strategic. She believed it was primarily to vent his rage over losing Sir Han Fei and to alleviate the pain of parting with Gongsun Li.
Li Si, initially perplexed, then understood, though he still assumed Ying Zheng intended a complete break with Gongsun Li. Madame Min corrected him, asserting that Gongsun Li's apparent fall from favor was, in fact, Ying Zheng's way of protecting her. She added that even if Gongsun Li were to return to the palace, she would not be afraid, confident that Gongsun Li's compassionate nature was a weakness she could exploit.
Madame Min then offered her support to Li Si in his ambition to become prime minister, provided he did not act against her own interests concerning Zhao. Since Gongsun Li's departure from the palace, Chu Liangren had grown unusually melancholic. The image of Han Shen charging at Ying Zheng for Gongsun Li's sake replayed constantly in her mind.
Despite her noble status as a princess of Chu, she reflected that she had never encountered a man truly willing to risk everything for her. She observed with a touch of envy how deeply both Ying Zheng and Han Shen adored Gongsun Li, despite Gongsun Li's humble origins and lack of typical courtly accomplishments. Chu Liangren admitted that even with Gongsun Li gone, her heart felt empty, leading her to question her previous intense hatred for Gongsun Li.
Her maid, Shang Yi, urged her to focus on regaining Ying Zheng's affections and her own status. In Yan State, Yan Dan's Grand Adviser returned to Ji City and met with him. He informed Yan Dan that Gongsun Li had been imprisoned in Yongxiang Prison in Qin, clarifying that she had bravely written a letter on their behalf to plead for leniency despite her own confinement. Yan Dan was shocked to hear of Gongsun Li's imprisonment.
The Grand Adviser also raised the issue of General Fan Yuqi, a Qin deserter, suggesting that harboring him would provoke Qin and that it would be safer to send him to guard the borders. Yan Dan, however, stubbornly refused, unwilling to abandon a loyal friend who had risked his life for him during his time as a hostage in Qin. As they stepped out, they found Jing Ke waiting.
Jing Ke admitted he had overheard their conversation about Gongsun Li's plight but expressed no worry, stating his belief that she would safely navigate this difficult situation, as she had many times before. Yan Dan was left puzzled by Jing Ke's seemingly detached attitude towards Gongsun Li. Jing Ke and Gai Lan ventured out of the palace to explore.
Gai Lan was drawn to a cosmetics shop, where the shopkeeper assured her that her products could win the heart of her beloved. Looking at Jing Ke waiting outside, Gai Lan's joy intensified. Later, on the street, Gai Lan noticed Jing Ke consistently avoiding her touch, suspecting he was still uncomfortable about their shared sleeping arrangement recently. Just then, Tian Guang found them, announcing that Prince Yan Dan had prepared a lavish residence for them in the city.
Jing Ke initially intended to decline, preferring a simpler life for a martial artist. However, seeing Gai Lan's obvious excitement, he reluctantly agreed. Upon seeing the magnificent and luxurious estate, both were astonished. Qin Wuyang arrived, spouting playful remarks about how a man's ability to earn money, not martial arts, provided true security, which Gai Lan disliked, prompting her to walk away, much to the amusement of the others.
Ying Zheng personally led the expedition, accompanied by the formidable General Meng Wu, with the Qin soldiers initially in high spirits and orderly formation. However, their fortunes soon turned. During the journey, Ying Zheng was separated from his forces by enemy attack and was now missing, and his whereabouts unknown. His disappearance in Han territory was a grave secret; if it became public, Qin army morale would collapse, jeopardizing the entire campaign.
Currently, only a few principal generals were aware, using the excuse of the King's illness to mislead others while secretly searching for him. Inside the Qin military camp, a soldier reported on the joint Han and Wei forces' resistance. Despite the unfavorable situation, Meng Wu adamantly refused to move their main camp, though he could not openly state the reason. When Qin's top martial artists reported no progress in locating Ying Zheng, Meng Wu grew increasingly distraught.
Unbeknownst to them, a soldier outside the tent had overheard their urgent discussion. As Gongsun Li and Han Shen were teaching Tianming martial arts, Li Zhong arrived with news of Ying Zheng's disappearance. He explained that during the expedition, Ying Zheng had been separated from his troops by enemy attack and was now missing, with his survival uncertain. Li Zhong emphasized the extreme secrecy required, as public knowledge of the King's disappearance would shatter army morale and invite enemy invasion.
Knowing Gongsun Li's familiarity with Han's terrain from her previous visit with Ying Zheng and her background in the jianghu realm, Li Zhong earnestly pleaded for her help in finding him, appealing to her past relationship with Ying Zheng. Deeply concerned for Ying Zheng's safety, Gongsun Li unhesitatingly agreed. The next morning, she was prepared to depart.
Han Shen, witnessing her resolute determination and recognizing that she was consistently considering Ying Zheng's position, realized the depth of her love for Ying Zheng. Gongsun Li openly admitted her profound affection for him, stating that she could not pretend ignorance while he was in danger. Seeing her unwavering resolve, Han Shen no longer tried to stop her. Gongsun Li entrusted Tianming to Han Shen's care and departed, leaving a heartbroken Tianming calling for his mother.
Li Zhong arrived in Han State and met with Meng Wu to devise a strategy for finding Ying Zheng. Meng Wu reported that even after four days of searching by elite martial artists, there had been no sign of the King, emphasizing the difficulty and the need for secrecy to avoid alerting the enemy.
Just then, a report came that the Han army had launched a major attack, not towards their camp, but encircling a mountain to their rear, as if searching for something. Both Meng Wu and Li Zhong were alarmed, fearing that word of Ying Zheng's disappearance had leaked. Meanwhile, Ying Zheng, disheveled and physically and mentally exhausted, wandered through the wilderness. His arduous journey was abruptly interrupted when he found himself surrounded by enemy soldiers.