The King's Woman Episode 48 (Ending) Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
The majestic Great Qin palace stood imposing as King Ying Zheng sat on his throne, radiating authority. Following the highest ceremonial traditions, the envoys from Yan, Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang, were called to enter the court. Internally, Jing Ke affirmed his resolve to succeed, for General Fan, for Sir Tian Guang, for the trust of his Highness, and for the citizens of the world, declaring that King Zheng of Qin must die.
As they proceeded into the hall, with Qin Wuyang clutching the map and Jing Ke carrying Fan Wuji’s head, Qin Wuyang trembled under Ying Zheng's gaze and immediately knelt. Ying Zheng laughed at his display of fear. Jing Ke, however, remained composed. He presented Fan Wuji’s head, asserting that he personally took it, ensuring its authenticity.
Jing Ke then took the map from Qin Wuyang, identifying it as the richest lands of Yan, the Dukang region, vital for Yan’s surrender, and explained it was marked with local produce and population figures. Jing Ke requested to personally explain the map's details. Qin Wuyang attempted to warn Ying Zheng, but Ying Zheng, fully aware of Jing Ke's true intentions, assented. Jing Ke approached Ying Zheng, their eyes locking with a chilling intensity.
As Jing Ke began to unfold the map, Ying Zheng stopped him before he could fully reveal it. Ying Zheng coldly offered him freedom and a carefree life if he chose to stop now. Jing Ke scoffed, challenging Ying Zheng's understanding of "carefree." He produced a drawing by Gongsun Li, explaining her longing to travel the world with him.
He described how she imagined going to the beach, riding horses on grasslands watching sunrises and sunsets, and traversing rugged mountains and rivers, always with him by her side. This, Jing Ke declared, was the carefree life she yearned for, and the peaceful, war-less world the citizens desired—a realm Ying Zheng could never comprehend or attain as long as he lived.
Enraged, Ying Zheng kicked over the table, revealing a short sword hidden within the map, which Jing Ke quickly seized. The Huben Army guards instantly mobilized. Qin Wuyang was immediately impaled by countless spears, losing his life. Jing Ke was then surrounded by the guards, but Ying Zheng commanded them to retreat, announcing his intention to personally fight Jing Ke and proclaim it to the world. Ying Zheng stood ready with his sword.
Jing Ke leaped to attack but suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Ying Zheng advanced, revealing that Jing Ke had been poisoned with a potent Chu venom. Jing Ke valiantly fought on, but the poison weakened him, rendering his formidable martial arts ineffective. Ying Zheng, though sustaining a minor injury, gained the upper hand. He contemptuously placed his foot on Jing Ke’s face before turning away. Jing Ke, struggling, managed to rise and lunge at Ying Zheng.
Li Zhong, without hesitation, stepped in front of Ying Zheng, taking the blade himself. As Li Zhong fell, he muttered his last words, urging Ying Zheng to unite the world. Overcome with grief and a thirst for vengeance, Ying Zheng ruthlessly thrust his sword into Jing Ke. Jing Ke let out a final, bloody laugh before collapsing to the ground.
Just as Jing Ke breathed his last, Gongsun Li's voice echoed in his mind, apologizing for being late and telling him to wait for her. Meanwhile, Gongsun Li struggled awake in her chambers, feeling dizzy. As she pushed aside the bed curtains, she found the palace maids kneeling before her, adamantly preventing her from leaving.
They informed her they were under His Majesty's orders not to let her leave, even if it meant their lives, and that they were forbidden from using force against her. Determined, Gongsun Li firmly told them to move aside. She grabbed a short sword and forced her way past the multitude of guards outside her chambers.
Upon exiting Zhaode Palace, she found the path to the main hall heavily guarded, but she remained fearless, resolved that no one would stop her. The grand doors of the hall slowly opened, and Gongsun Li stepped in, silhouetted against the light. With tears in her eyes, she whispered to Jing Ke that she had arrived late. Jing Ke offered a faint smile, then passed away. Gongsun Li gently closed his eyes.
This sight ignited a furious rage within Ying Zheng. He dismissed all the ministers and turned to Gongsun Li, his voice heavy with suppressed emotion, asking if she found it strange that Jing Ke had still managed to reach the court despite being given a "sedating scent." Ying Zheng then called for Qing'er to enter.
Qing'er confirmed her identity as Ying Zheng's informant since Gongsun Li’s arrival in the palace, admitting she was aware of everything Gongsun Li and Jing Ke had tried to hide. It was Qing'er who had administered the specially-made poison, given to her by Ying Zheng, to Jing Ke, and subsequently given the sedating scent to Gongsun Li to prevent her from reaching the court. Gongsun Li’s tears flowed as she realized Ying Zheng had never truly trusted her.
Qing'er, with tearful eyes, explained that she did it to protect Gongsun Li, to spare her the pain of witnessing Jing Ke's death. Ying Zheng then confessed his love to Gongsun Li before dismissing Qing'er. Gongsun Li, her gaze unwavering, faced Ying Zheng. Since Jing Ke had failed, she declared it was her turn to complete the mission, not just for Jing Ke, but for the citizens of the world.
She challenged Ying Zheng, questioning how many lives he had taken for his ambition of unifying the land and becoming emperor. Ying Zheng insisted that war was merely a method to achieve ultimate peace, but Gongsun Li expressed her disbelief, affirming her intent to kill him. She stated that Jing Ke came to the court to kill him, and since he couldn't, she would fulfill that task.
Ying Zheng, his voice like cold steel, agreed that if she insisted on killing him, they should end their entanglement swiftly, with one sword stroke. Both suppressing their profound grief, they drew their swords and charged at each other. In a flash of lightning-fast motion, just as their blades were about to clash, Gongsun Li, unable to bear it, rotated her sword, striking Ying Zheng only with the hilt.
Ying Zheng, unable to halt his momentum, plunged his sword directly into Gongsun Li. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he hoarsely asked her why. Gongsun Li offered a gentle smile, explaining that only by losing the one he loved most would he truly understand the pain of such a loss. She urged him to always empathize with and care for his people to become a truly benevolent ruler, then she drew her last breath.
Overwhelmed by unbearable sorrow, Ying Zheng stumbled out of the hall, collapsing to his knees, raising his arms to the sky, and letting out a heart-wrenching wail of anguish. Having lost his beloved, he now understood the profound agony of such a loss, a feeling that would forever be etched in his memory. He was transported back to his youth, seeing himself, Gongsun Li, and Jing Ke gathered beneath a full moon, making wishes.
He remembered Gongsun Li's clear voice echoing her wish for a world free of war and filled with peace. Ying Zheng recalled Jing Ke wishing to master martial arts to help the citizens, and his own desire to become feared to protect those he cared for. Now, only he remained to witness the moon and govern the realm. From that day forward, his rule, his court, would no longer be cold and heartless, all because of the woman named Gongsun Li.