The Legend of Dugu Episode 14 Recap, Plot

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The Emperor humiliated Yuwen Yong during a morning court session, criticizing his work as useless and ordering him to kneel outside the palace for six hours. Despite his frail health, Yuwen Yong had to endure the punishment. The Queen, feeling sympathetic, tried to send cushions, but Yuwen Yong politely declined. He explained that the Emperor’s punishment was meant to vent his anger, and using cushions would only further infuriate him and cause him to overthink matters.

Yuwen Yong deliberately endured the full punishment without comfort, hoping to expose the Emperor's cruelty towards his own brother to the assembled ministers and the public. Yuwen Hu observed the scene from a distance. When his aide asked if he would intervene, Yuwen Hu explained that Banruo already suspected him of orchestrating rumors to frame the Dugu family.

Helping Yuwen Yong now would only reinforce the idea that he supported Yuwen Yong in a bid for the throne against Yuwen Yu, further fueling family discord. He simply could not afford to get involved. Yuwen Yong continued to kneel until 3:45 AM, his knees red and swollen, making it difficult for him to stand when he finally rose.

Back at his residence, he refused a doctor, instructing his aide not to let Jialuo know of his injuries to spare her worry. He expressed his belief that the Emperor’s reign would not last long, citing the growing influence of Yuwen Yu, supported by the ambitious Banruo and the sway Yuwen Hu held over them. Yuwen Yong revealed his strategy of outwardly complying with Yuwen Hu to help him gain more power, which, in turn, would destabilize the Emperor's position.

He intended to ruin the Emperor's future just as the Emperor had ruined his chance with Jialuo. Shortly after, an imperial edict arrived, summoning Yuwen Yong back to the palace to accompany the Emperor to Xing Royal Park, a clear attempt to further torment him. Yuwen Yong resigned himself to the situation, acknowledging it was another test of endurance.

Yang Jian visited a sick Dugu Xin to bid farewell, as his business in the capital was concluded and he planned to return to Puban. Dugu Xin, despite the canceled marriage, regarded Yang Jian like a son. Yang Jian conveyed his sole wish for Mantuo to live a happy and comfortable life. Dugu Xin apologized for the broken engagement and asked Yang Jian to deliver a letter of apology to his father, explaining his current inability to travel.

He also warned Yang Jian to be cautious if Yuwen Hu was indeed behind the recent rumors. As Yang Jian left, he encountered Jialuo, who was carrying medicine for her father. He apologized for his harsh words on the street previously. Jialuo brushed it off, stating she had forgotten it but admitted feeling wronged and misunderstood at the time. They wished each other well before parting.

Jialuo reflected on her recent time at Jici temple, where she found perspective among the less fortunate, realizing her own troubles were small in comparison. She advised Yang Jian to stay positive for his father and expressed her regret for not taking better care of her own. Dugu Xin praised Jialuo for her maturity and care during his illness, though Jialuo urged him to recover quickly so she could return to Jici Temple, where many people were waiting for her.

When she mentioned Yuwen Yong's frequent visits, Dugu Xin admitted he understood that Banruo had intended to match them. He acknowledged Yuwen Yong's kindness to Jialuo after her engagement was called off and felt they would be a suitable pair. However, he regretfully told Jialuo that they could not be together. The Emperor had become suspicious due to rumors suggesting Yuwen Yong wanted to marry into the Dugu family to gain support for the throne.

Given Mantuo's recent troubles and his ongoing rivalry with Yuwen Hu, Dugu Xin insisted Jialuo must keep her distance from Yuwen Yong for their safety. Jialuo, understanding the grave implications, agreed to follow her father's wishes. Dugu Xin promised to find her a good husband, and Jialuo assured him she would abide by his arrangements. Back at the palace, the Emperor continued his cruel torment of Yuwen Yong.

He asked the Queen if she had ever ridden in a carriage pulled by a man, then ordered Yuwen Yong, his "good brother," to pull his carriage through the park. Despite objections from ministers and the Queen, who reminded the Emperor of their shared blood, the Emperor dismissed it as a "joke between brothers" and insisted Yuwen Yong proceed, even whipping him and urging him to go faster.

Yuwen Yong, already weakened, stumbled and fell, throwing the Emperor from the carriage. Enraged, the Emperor kicked and whipped Yuwen Yong, accusing him of attempting murder. A brave minister intervened, advising the Emperor to act with righteousness and sympathy. The Emperor, however, furiously accused his ministers of siding with Yuwen Hu and dismissed them, his tyranny evident to all. Upon learning of Yuwen Yong's severe injuries, Jialuo rushed to his residence.

She took over from his aide, gently applying medicine to his wounds. When Yuwen Yong, initially irritable from the pain, turned to scold who he thought was his aide, he was surprised to see Jialuo. He quickly covered himself, asking why she had come. Jialuo asked if his injuries were due to the rumors, expressing guilt. Yuwen Yong dismissed her concerns, saying he willingly endured the hardship. Jialuo then directly asked him if he liked her.

Yuwen Yong confessed that he had loved her since she saved him, but felt unworthy due to his low status and poor health, thus only approaching her as a friend until her engagement was broken. Jialuo, in turn, admitted her feelings for him, acknowledging he was the only one besides her father who was truly kind to her. However, she then urged him to leave the capital immediately.

She explained that the Emperor's suspicion about their relationship and a potential alliance for the throne put him in grave danger. She believed his only safety lay in leaving the capital as far as possible and not returning until the Emperor had forgotten about them. A heartbroken Yuwen Yong asked if she truly couldn't be with him, or if she was simply unwilling.

Jialuo, overwhelmed and confused by recent events, stated she didn't know how to answer, but reiterated that he must leave for his own safety. Yuwen Yong eventually agreed and departed the capital. With Banruo married and Dugu Xin ill, Jialuo stepped up to manage the household and attend social gatherings on behalf of the Dugu family.

Despite her weariness from caring for her father and learning household accounts, she felt it was her duty to prevent others from laughing at their family's plight. At a banquet hosted by the Zhou family, Lady Zheng, Zheng San Niang, began making disparaging remarks about the Dugu family, implying Jialuo brought bad luck and mocking Mantuo's scandalous actions. Jialuo was deeply hurt and on the verge of tears. Unexpectedly, Yuwen Hu appeared.

He initially complimented Lady Zheng’s beauty, then, to everyone’s shock, claimed she had been in his bed, vividly describing intimate details and comparing her to a common prostitute. Lady Zheng vehemently denied it, but Yuwen Hu was resolute, stating he couldn’t be mistaken. He then ordered her father, Zheng Junji, to send her to Qingxin Temple for "ten or eight years."

After Lady Zheng was disgraced and led away, Yuwen Hu turned to the other guests and sternly warned them never to speak ill of the Dugu family daughters, before making his departure. The other ladies whispered that Lady Zheng's reputation was completely ruined. In the aftermath of Yuwen Yong's departure and the relentless rumors surrounding the Dugu household, Jialuo became overworked and fell ill.

Her maid noticed Jialuo's deteriorating health, her quietness, poor memory, and lack of smiles, and found a paper on her desk with the words "Life is pain. Love is pain." The maid conveyed her worries to Banruo, who, despite her married status, rushed back to the Dugu residence. Banruo observed Jialuo's weakness and urged her to eat. Jialuo, however, vomited, leading Banruo to suspect she might be pregnant.

Jialuo quickly denied it, attributing her symptoms to exhaustion, lack of appetite, and sleeplessness. A doctor confirmed Jialuo had liver Qi stagnation, with weak heart and spleen, and advised her to resolve her emotional distress. Banruo tried to gently inquire about Jialuo's feelings regarding the canceled marriage and the rumors, but Jialuo denied being upset, claiming she never wanted an early marriage anyway. Banruo reassured her that Dugu family women were strong and that these troubles would pass.

Tearfully, Jialuo finally confessed her deep confusion and hurt to Banruo. She couldn't understand Mantuo's animosity, despite her kindness, or why Xiage would frame her when she had always treated her like a sister. She also felt blamed by Yang Jian and Cheng for Mantuo’s actions and questioned if she was inherently unlucky, citing her mother's early death, her father's current illness, and Yuwen Yong's demotion and move to Tongzhou, which she believed was due to his affection for her.

Banruo quickly dispelled Jialuo's self-blame, reassuring her that Dugu Xin's illness was Mantuo's fault, not hers. Jialuo admitted her struggle to remain strong, to eat, and to sleep, despite trying her best to uphold the Dugu family's honor. She lamented that while she had advised Yang Jian to "look forward," she herself felt lost. Banruo embraced her, comforting her and promising to always be there for her.

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