The King's Woman Episode 5 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
King Ying Zheng, determined to find Gongsun Li, ordered images of her to be posted across all Qin territory, from the grand capital of Xianyang to the wild forests and remote regions of the State of Wei. He had tasked his official Li Zhong to ensure the widespread posting of these wanted notices and even relayed a special command through Yao Jia, one of his closest confidantes, threatening Yao Jia with a horrible death if the mission failed.
Meanwhile, Gongsun Li's senior martial brother, Han Shen, saw one of the wanted posters and immediately became concerned. At the same time, Gongsun Li and Jing Ke, preparing to leave, were bidding farewell to their sworn sister Gai Lan and the Great Warrior Lu Goujian. Gai Lan, holding Gongsun Li’s hand, expressed her sadness at their departure, but Gongsun Li promised they would return soon.
Lu Goujian, fond of the two young martial artists, advised them to be cautious and urged Jing Ke to protect Gongsun Li. Jing Ke admitted his confusion as to why Qin was pursuing Gongsun Li so intensely. Gai Lan suggested it might be due to their brave resistance against Qin soldiers in the battle at Puyang, making them a perceived threat.
Lu Goujian, understanding the dangers of the Jianghu realm, gave them a letter to present to his friend, Tian Guang, a knowledgeable man from the Yan State, if they encountered any difficulties. Jing Ke expressed his gratitude, though Lu Goujian lamented his inability to fully protect them. Gongsun Li, however, saw it as an opportunity for an adventure with Jing Ke, even playfully suggesting they could "strengthen their bones and muscles by beating some more Qin soldiers." They then departed.
Back in the Chancellor's Manor, Ying Zheng arrived to meet Chancellor Lü Buwei, only to be told by Li Si, one of Lü Buwei’s retainers, that the Chancellor was ill with a high fever. Ying Zheng scoffed at the news, finding it odd that Lü Buwei, who always took such great care of his health, could fall ill. He suspected Lü Buwei was more concerned about losing his position than any illness.
Li Si, cautiously, quoted his own master, stating that if power rests with oneself, one can command strength, but if it rests with others, worry is useless. When Ying Zheng pressed on how to act when power is not in one's hands, Li Si responded that the world's power is like flowing water: if it flows elsewhere, one must scheme to cut it off at its source to monopolize it.
Li Si, revealing himself as a former disciple of Xun Kuang of the State of Chu and a grand-disciple of Meng Ke, then addressed Ying Zheng's disdain for Confucian teachings. Li Si argued that while Confucianism valued discipline, it could only lead a ruler to control a single region, like Duke Huan of Qi or Duke Wen of Jin. He stated that Ying Zheng's true ambition should be to "swallow the Six States and rule the world."
He further advised that to achieve this great task, internal stability was paramount, warning that a powerful subject leads to a weak ruler, but a strong ruler ensures subject compliance. Ying Zheng, having gained significant insight, departed without needing to see the Chancellor. Meanwhile, Gongsun Li and Jing Ke found themselves relentlessly pursued by Qin soldiers through a forest. They sought refuge in a dilapidated house.
Despite the cold and dampness, they dared not light a fire for fear of revealing their location. Gongsun Li, though, did not feel the hardship, her only wish was to find a quiet place to settle down with Jing Ke, far from the conflicts of the martial world, and live an ordinary life. Jing Ke, however, was torn.
While he yearned for a peaceful life with his junior sister, he felt bound by his duty to avenge their country and family, believing he could not seek such happiness until his obligations were fulfilled. In Xianyang, Ying Zheng's seemingly filial act of welcoming his mother, Queen Dowager Zhao, back to the palace was praised by the populace.
However, the Queen Dowager's two children with Lao Ai had met a tragic end during Lao Ai’s rebellion, a painful memory for Ying Zheng. Later, in a private conversation with Ying Zheng, Zhao Gao acknowledged the King’s profound suffering.
He pointed out that while many urged Ying Zheng to forgive Queen Dowager Zhao, few understood the deep wounds inflicted upon him, especially after his arduous journey to reclaim his place in Qin, only to face Chancellor Lü Buwei's overbearing ambition that controlled the court. Zhao Gao reminded Ying Zheng that a king must act decisively, or face dire consequences, emphasizing that the Qin state belonged entirely to the king.
That same night, Ying Zheng hosted a banquet for Lü Buwei and Queen Dowager Zhao. He subtly provoked Lü Buwei by having a musician play a song of Zheng Wei, which spoke of a married woman’s indecent grievances upon meeting another man, a clear allusion to Lü Buwei's past relationship with Queen Dowager Zhao.
Seizing the opportunity, Ying Zheng then confronted Lü Buwei, accusing him of spreading the rumor that Ying Zheng was his own son and not the former king’s, and of fabricating lies that drove away his own brother, Cheng Jiao. Despite his supporters' attempts to defend him, Ying Zheng stripped Lü Buwei of his Chancellor position, declared that he would personally hold all military power, and intended to establish new Left and Right Chancellor positions.
Queen Dowager Zhao was confined to a palace, forbidden to leave without his permission. Thus, Lü Buwei, a powerful minister, lost his authority, and Ying Zheng consolidated absolute control over the Qin government. While Ying Zheng celebrated his consolidation of power, Gongsun Li found herself in a perilous situation. She and Jing Ke were ambushed in a forest by Wind Forest Fire Mountain, an elite group working under Yao Jia.
During the confrontation, Jing Ke was gravely wounded by a poisoned sword while protecting Gongsun Li. Seeing Jing Ke fall, Gongsun Li, in a desperate act, held her sword to her own neck, threatening to take her own life if they did not let them leave. The leader of Wind Forest Fire Mountain, after a moment of consideration, conceded, instructing his men not to follow. Gongsun Li struggled to carry the unconscious Jing Ke, urging him to hold on.
Providentially, they encountered an elderly man. Gongsun Li was initially wary, but when the man introduced himself as Tian Guang of the Yan State, her worry turned to immense relief. She produced the letter given by Lu Goujian, which confirmed her identity as Gongsun Yu's granddaughter and Jing Ke as Gongsun Yu's beloved student. Tian Guang, who held great respect for Gongsun Yu, immediately took them to his home to tend to Jing Ke’s injuries.
Tian Guang revealed that while Jing Ke’s wound was not inherently fatal, the sword that struck him was coated with a lethal poison that had entered his vital channels. Without an antidote, Jing Ke would not survive beyond seven days. Gongsun Li was frantic upon hearing this.
Tian Guang confirmed that Wind Forest Fire Mountain, who inflicted the injury, worked for Yao Jia, Ying Zheng's close confidante, and their involvement indicated the King of Qin’s strong determination to capture her, treating her as his most coveted prize. Gongsun Li, an ordinary girl, could not comprehend why the King of Qin would want her.
Tian Guang explained that her exceptional beauty naturally attracted the attention of powerful men, and that she was likely being offered as a prized possession to the King of Qin. Heartbroken and blaming herself for Jing Ke’s predicament, Gongsun Li, without hesitation, resolved to go to the Qin Palace to obtain the antidote, fully aware that this desperate act was akin to a lamb entering a tiger's mouth.
