The King's Woman Episode 44 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
Fearing his spy network from Xianyang to Southern Chu had been compromised, Changping Jun, trembling and distraught, knelt before Madame Chu. He revealed that their agents along routes such as Yushang, Wangling, Xiling, and Yingdu had been systematically arrested and interrogated. Though these loyal spies had yet to betray the mastermind within the Qin palace, Changping Jun feared exposure was imminent.
He pleaded with Madame Chu, reminding her that her marriage to Qin was always meant to secure blessings for Chu. With Han, Wei, and Zhao already annihilated, and Chu, Qi, and Yan barely clinging to existence, he, as a prince of Chu, could only preserve the royal bloodline if he survived. Madame Chu understood his unspoken plea: he wanted her to confess to Emperor Ying Zheng that she was the architect of the treasonous plot.
Without hesitation, Madame Chu agreed to Changping Jun’s request, ready to face the Emperor for her motherland’s peace. She firmly warned him that he must never betray Chu in this lifetime, or she would return as a vengeful spirit to exact retribution. Changping Jun, deeply moved, promised to dedicate himself to the revival of Chu.
Later, Madame Chu visited Gongsun Li, expressing a poignant homesickness for Southern Chu’s warm climate, abundant rain, and blooming flowers, a stark contrast to the desolate sands and extreme temperatures of the Qin palace. Gongsun Li, sensing her sadness, asked if Chu was in trouble. Madame Chu dismissed her concerns, instead apologizing for her past animosity towards Gongsun Li.
Gongsun Li gracefully assured her she held no grudges, understanding Madame Chu's actions were for her state and the Grand Queen Dowager. Madame Chu presented Gongsun Li with cherished family treasures from Chu, insisting she accept them as a token of her sincere goodwill. She shared her mother's belief that she would have been a king or high minister had she been born a boy, lamenting that she could not do more for her state as a woman.
Madame Chu then praised Gongsun Li’s foresight and martial prowess, stating that had she been a man, she would have been an outstanding general, and that her current life in the Qin palace was an injustice. She then solemnly advised Gongsun Li to always secure a backup plan, no matter how much Ying Zheng favored her.
She warned that Ying Zheng, a man destined to rule the world, trusted no one fully and would sacrifice anyone—even his most favored consorts, ministers, or family—if they went against his interests. His outwardly righteous demeanor, she added, merely concealed countless dark secrets. She urged Gongsun Li to remember her words and take care.
Madame Chu then sought an audience with Ying Zheng, openly admitting her guilt in establishing a spy network and sending strategic secrets to Chu for over a year. She stated her readiness to accept execution for her treason. Ying Zheng, seeing through her confession, suggested she was protecting someone and offered to forgive her if she revealed the true mastermind in the main hall.
Madame Chu steadfastly refused, asserting that her marriage to Qin was always for Chu's benefit, and if his affection was lost, imprisonment in the cold palace or execution were indifferent to her. Ying Zheng, with a touch of remorse, embraced her. He confessed that he had never truly cherished her because he felt she belonged to the Grand Queen Dowager, and thus he could never fully trust her.
Now, compared to Lord Changping, he found he had no need for her at all. As a final act of mercy, he promised her a swift, painless death, and that her ashes would be scattered in her homeland after Southern Chu's inevitable fall. He then ordered Zhao Gao to prepare for her departure. Madame Chu bowed, forcing a faint smile to conceal her tears.
Meanwhile, as Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang prepared to depart, Gao Jianli appeared, expressing his profound disappointment in Jing Ke. He accused Jing Ke of being thoroughly manipulated by Yan Dan into sacrificing his life for the crumbling Yan royal family. Gao Jianli insisted that Yan Dan’s sincere exterior concealed only superficial selfishness. Jing Ke conceded that Yan Dan was indeed using him, but asserted that he, too, was using Yan Dan.
He declared his unwavering determination to kill Ying Zheng, not for Yan Dan, but for himself. He spoke of his deep-seated hatred for the Qin king who had annihilated his Wey state, killed his master, and left countless people destitute. Gao Jianli, unwilling to let Jing Ke throw his life away, challenged him to a duel. During their fight, Jing Ke clearly held back, only shaving off a few strands of his hair.
Frustrated that no one understood his resolve, Jing Ke thrust his sword into the doorframe and cried out that he must kill Ying Zheng to avenge those who suffered under his tyranny. Gao Jianli, seeing Jing Ke’s unwavering resolve, relented, urging him to give his all and leave no regrets. Jing Ke then departed, his back resolute. Yan Dan hosted a farewell feast for Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang, joined by Wei Zhuang. Qin Wuyang inquired about Tian Guang’s absence.
Yan Dan cryptically stated that Tian Guang had gone far away and would be waiting for them. Jing Ke’s pained expression revealed his understanding that Tian Guang had sacrificed himself to ensure their mission. Jing Ke then bluntly told Yan Dan that he was not assassinating the King of Qin for Yan or for Yan Dan, but for the oppressed people of the world, and most certainly for himself.
He accused Yan Dan of cloaking his own selfish desires in the guise of righteousness. Yan Dan did not deny it, admitting that years of humiliation as a hostage in Qin had fueled his profound hatred for Ying Zheng. Jing Ke simply stated that their shared purpose was sufficient. From a distant mountain, Gao Jianli played a sorrowful tune on his instrument, with Gai Lan standing beside him. Jing Ke acknowledged their farewell with a knowing smile.
After bidding his last goodbyes, Jing Ke, Qin Wuyang, and Wei Zhuang mounted their horses and rode towards the distant mountains, knowing their journey would lead to an uncertain fate. As they vanished from sight, Jing Ke’s somber recitation of "The wind blows, the river freezes; the hero fords, never to return!" echoed, while Yan Dan knelt in farewell, and Gai Lan wept uncontrollably. Back in her palace, Madame Chu found a white silk ribbon already hanging from a beam.
Her attendant, Shangyi, tearfully pleaded with her not to be left alone. Madame Chu, however, felt no regrets; she was happy to die for her mother state. She gave Shangyi a cherished comb, an heirloom from Chu, as a keepsake to remember her by, instructing her to leave the room for an hour and not witness her death as she might be frightened. Madame Chu walked towards the silk, her final thoughts a wish that Great Chu would thrive.
She lamented not being a man to fight on the battlefield for her state, accepting this as her ultimate sacrifice, a true Chu soul born and dying for Chu. With a final, silent wish for Chu’s prosperity, she kicked away the stool. The devastating news soon reached Gongsun Li.
Her attendant reported that Madame Chu had confessed to Ying Zheng about sending secret reports of Qin state’s strategies to save Southern Chu, and the Emperor had granted her a white silk. Gongsun Li instantly realized that Madame Chu’s earlier visit was her final farewell. She rushed to confront Ying Zheng, demanding to know what had happened.
Ying Zheng calmly replied that the identity of the rebel was not important; what truly mattered was who ultimately paid the price for the crime. His words left Gongsun Li profoundly shaken.
