The King's Woman Episode 41 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
Gongsun Li was deeply concerned when Queen Dowager's health rapidly declined, and the ailing mother expressed a desperate wish to see Ying Zheng, who had mysteriously gone missing. She dispatched Li Zhong to begin the search, promising to join once Queen Dowager's condition stabilized. As night fell, Gongsun Li led a search party through the streets of Handan. Their search led them to the city's southern district, where she eventually discovered Ying Zheng in a dilapidated house.
The grim scene was littered with corpses, and Ying Zheng sat amidst them, covered in blood, leaning against a pillar, silent and radiating a chilling aura. Gongsun Li rushed to inquire about his injuries, but he roughly pushed her hand away. He expressed profound self-loathing, confessing to having slaughtered countless people, even claiming his own father's life. He bitterly stated that Gongsun Li and Jing Ke should never have saved him back in Zhao State.
Overwhelmed with despair, tears welled in his eyes, and he urged her to leave him. It was then that Gongsun Li realized the boy she had rescued years ago was indeed Ying Zheng. Understanding that his ruthless nature stemmed from a childhood marred by bullying and trauma, she was overcome with a mix of sorrow and compassion. She embraced him tightly, vowing never to abandon him.
Ying Zheng, quietly sobbing, buried his head in her embrace, finding solace in her presence. Gongsun Li brought the unconscious Ying Zheng back and meticulously cared for him. The massacre had left Handan critically short on essential supplies like food and medicine, making a prolonged stay untenable. General Meng Wu arrived to report that Zhao Qian had fled, and Zhao Jia remained unaccounted for.
General Meng expressed his intent to continue the Great Qin army's northward advance towards Yan State, adhering to Ying Zheng's original campaign plan, especially now that General Li Mu was dead. Li Zhong intervened, suggesting further discussion with Gongsun Li. He gently asked if the day's bloodshed had frightened her. Gongsun Li admitted to being overwhelmed by the brutality, especially after realizing the underlying despair that drove Ying Zheng's actions.
Li Zhong emphasized the immediate need for Great Qin to pacify the populace. He warned that failure to do so would escalate the conflict from a two-state war into a devastating six-state struggle, leading to widespread misery. Gongsun Li gazed at Ying Zheng's face, contemplating the grave implications of their situation. Upon regaining consciousness, Ying Zheng immediately went to see Queen Dowager, expressing his desire to take her home.
Tearfully, Queen Dowager insisted that Handan was her home and she would not leave. She offered Ying Zheng some red dates, asking if he had forgiven her. Ying Zheng, visibly restraining his emotions, nodded slightly. Gongsun Li, watching from the side, was deeply moved. Seeing her son's forgiveness, Queen Dowager smiled, then offered dates to Gongsun Li as well.
But as Gongsun Li reached for them, the dates slipped from Queen Dowager's hand, and she peacefully closed her eyes, passing away. Ying Zheng let out a cry of anguish, lamenting his inability to repay his mother's kindness. Gongsun Li quietly exited, bidding farewell to Li Zhong, who assured her that the citizens of Great Qin would be grateful for her decision. Zhao Jia's army stood ready to confront the Qin forces, anticipating Ying Zheng's presence in a sedan.
However, the sedan curtain lifted to reveal a resolute Gongsun Li. She had deliberately lured Zhao Jia away to ensure Ying Zheng's safe return to Qin. Realizing he had been tricked, Zhao Jia furiously ordered his troops to show no mercy. Unfazed, Gongsun Li bravely led her forces into battle, and the clash of armies once again turned the ground into a river of blood.
Meanwhile, in Ji City, Yan State, Crown Prince Dan and Tian Guang meticulously confirmed Jing Ke's unwavering resolve to assassinate the King of Qin. Jing Ke firmly stated that he would not allow personal feelings to interfere and that this act would bring closure to his past. Crown Prince Dan, deeply moved by Jing Ke's determination, bowed in gratitude. Jing Ke returned the bow, acknowledging Crown Prince Dan's concern for the suffering people.
They discussed the formidable challenge of infiltrating the heavily guarded Qin palace. Jing Ke revealed his intention to openly visit the King of Qin. Tian Guang observed that while Jing Ke's Yuchang dagger was exceptional, his Huluo Sword Technique was designed for a pair of blades, meaning he could only unleash 60 to 70 percent of its true power with a single dagger.
Crown Prince Dan expressed surprise, realizing that finding a matching short sword would make Jing Ke virtually invincible. They agreed that despite this advantage, they must proceed with extreme caution. As the discussion concluded, Jing Ke saw off Crown Prince Dan and Tian Guang, only to be met by the unexpected arrival of Ge Nie, who had rushed there after receiving Jing Ke's letter about the assassination plot.
Tian Guang then accompanied Jing Ke to the renowned blacksmith Xu Furen, who was also Lu Goujian's teacher. Xu Furen proved to be eccentric and surly, initially rebuffing their request for a sword. However, upon learning that Lu Goujian was Jing Ke's junior master, Xu Furen accused Lu Goujian of stealing one of his swords and demanded Jing Ke return it in exchange for the Yuchang dagger.
During their brief exchange, Jing Ke observed that Xu Furen wore a vest adorned with daggers, confirming the blacksmith's profound obsession with swords. Seizing an opportunity, Jing Ke snatched the daggers, threatening to destroy them. Xu Furen, distraught at the thought of his "children" being harmed, pleaded with Jing Ke, who then returned the daggers and merely reiterated his request to borrow a sword.
Seeing that Jing Ke cherished the Yuchang dagger, which appeared newer despite being a hundred years old, Xu Furen, recognizing a fellow sword lover, finally agreed to lend him a sword. Jing Ke candidly revealed his intention to use the sword to assassinate the King of Qin, assuring Xu Furen that the sword would be remembered for thousands of years regardless of the outcome.
At the Jing Manor, Crown Prince Dan approached Ge Nie, hoping to enlist his formidable martial arts skills to assist Jing Ke in the assassination. Ge Nie, however, steadfastly refused, explaining that people of the martial arts world typically did not interfere in state affairs. He also emphasized that even the strongest martial artist could not stand against an entire army, rendering such a mission suicidal. Gai Lan, who had been listening outside, dropped her teapot in distress.
After Crown Prince Dan departed, Ge Nie instructed Gai Lan not to interfere, but her profound concern for Jing Ke's safety led her to storm off. She later found Jing Ke and urgently tried to dissuade him from the assassination. Jing Ke, resolute, stated that if sacrificing his life could secure the well-being of the world, then death held no regret for him.
