The King's Woman Episode 6 Recap
> The King's Woman Recap
Gongsun Li arrived at the Qin Palace in Xianyang after a hurried journey, passing through winding corridors and orderly palaces, finally reaching the King's Great Hall. Ying Zheng's voice was low, asking why she was not bowing. She promptly knelt and greeted him. Ying Zheng then remarked that she had lost some weight. Gongsun Li, surprised, lifted her head and recognized him as the Young Master Zhao she had met in Luoyang.
This revelation clarified many earlier mysteries for her, including his use of the royal "Guaren" pronoun and his free access to the King of Wey's manor. She confronted him, angered by his manipulative methods, particularly how he had used Jing Ke's injury to force her hand, despite her having helped him previously. Ying Zheng dismissed her accusations, claiming any goal required tactics and that he had originally wanted to protect her. He then plainly stated his desire: he wanted her.
Realizing her desperate situation and needing the antidote for Jing Ke, Gongsun Li agreed. They struck a deal: Ying Zheng would provide the antidote, and Gongsun Li would enter the palace in three months. This agreement was to remain a secret between them, and she warned him that if Jing Ke was harmed, she would never truly be his. Ying Zheng accepted the terms, also warning her of the consequences for her and Jing Ke if she broke the promise.
With the antidote, Jing Ke quickly recovered. Gongsun Li, however, was exhausted from her continuous travels and slept for a long time to recover. Later, Jing Ke questioned Gongsun Li about the antidote's origin. She fabricated a story, claiming she found an eccentric alchemist from whom she obtained it. She emphasized the hardships she endured to get it, adding that she would not have let that alchemist off easily if it had been a trick.
Jing Ke, unsuspecting, accepted her explanation and rested assured. Gongsun Li then turned and lay down, her back to him, tears flowing uncontrollably, hiding her true feelings about her secret agreement with Ying Zheng. Two months passed quickly. Gongsun Li cherished this time with Jing Ke, often joining him in exercises and sharing lighthearted moments. At Senior Tian Guang's suggestion, they took a stroll in the bustling city of Anyi. Watching the two happily leave, Tian Guang secretly sighed.
He worried about Jing Ke's deep affection for Gongsun Li and how he would react if he discovered the truth about her agreement with Ying Zheng. In Anyi, Jing Ke wanted to buy Gongsun Li some silk. The silk vendor, mistaking them for a young married couple, praised their compatibility, much to their amusement. As a troop of soldiers passed by, Jing Ke instinctively pulled Gongsun Li aside to hide.
He had not noticed that the wanted posters for Gongsun Li had already been removed; it was Gongsun Li who reminded him, and then he noticed. Jing Ke, surprised, questioned when and why. Gongsun Li vaguely attributed it to Qin realizing they had pursued the wrong person and quickly changed the subject to finding food. Jing Ke, not pressing further, agreed to go with her to find some food.
Unbeknownst to them, their senior martial arts brother, Han Shen, watched them from a nearby wine house, then pondered for a moment and walked in the opposite direction after they left. Back at Tian Guang's home, the three talked late into the night. Jing Ke expressed frustration over nearly two months of missed sword training due to his injury, feeling his sword skills must have become rusty. Jing Ke was eager to improve his sword skills.
Tian Guang then offered a suggestion: he knew a renowned warrior named Gao Jianli, known as the "Yanxiang Sword" from Yan state, whose swordsmanship was extremely high. Tian Guang believed that a duel with Gao Jianli would allow Jing Ke to grasp the essence of swordsmanship. Gao Jianli was currently visiting Qi State, which was not far, and Tian Guang offered to arrange a meeting. Jing Ke was thrilled at the prospect of meeting a master.
Gongsun Li, beside him, was also happy for him, but claimed she was too tired recently and wished to stay and rest. Hearing this, Jing Ke immediately decided not to go, prioritizing her well-being. Although she was happy to hear him say that, Gongsun Li insisted he seize this rare opportunity for his sword training, fearing she would feel guilty if he missed it for her.
Tian Guang interjected, vouching for Gongsun Li's fatigue and promising to personally care for her during Jing Ke's absence, assuring him he could focus solely on the duel. Convinced by their words, Jing Ke felt relieved and decided to go challenge him in a few days. In the Qin Great Hall, Ying Zheng conferred Li Si as Duyi. Li Si then presented a thorough strategic analysis of the current state of the world.
He asserted that while the remaining six states outwardly submitted to Qin, they secretly harbored resentment and were merely biding their time. He argued that Qin should expedite its annexation efforts, as delaying would only allow these states to grow stronger and potentially form an alliance against Qin, making conquest far more difficult.
Li Si proposed that for now, it would be better for Qin to first ally with Han to deal with other states, as Qin's strength alone was still somewhat insufficient for immediate full annexation. Ying Zheng listened thoughtfully.
