The Legend of Dugu Episode 34 Recap
> The Legend of Dugu Recap
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Li Bing furiously confronted his son, Li Cheng, with evidence that Li Cheng's cousin, Mingyuan, had been plotting against Mantuo. Li Cheng tried to defend Mingyuan, claiming his cousin was merely confused and provoked by others. Li Bing scoffed at the idea of it being "just a moment of confusion," expressing deep disappointment in Li Cheng's soft temper and poor judgment.
He reminded Li Cheng that the child in Mantuo's womb was his own brother and that if anything happened to it, Li Cheng would bear the crime of fratricide, potentially losing his claim to the Duke of Longxi County title. Li Bing then accused Li Cheng of deliberately indulging Mingyuan and being ruthless, having secretly changed Jinniang's medicine to make her insane.
Li Cheng tried to explain that Mantuo herself had instructed him to do so, but Li Bing dismissed it as a baseless accusation, believing Mantuo only spoke well of Li Cheng to avoid ruining their relationship. Enraged, Li Bing banished Li Cheng to the distant Houfang city, forbidding him to return without his express command. As Li Cheng prepared to depart for Houfang city, only his Third Uncle, Mingyuan’s father, came to bid him farewell.
Li Cheng expressed regret for Mingyuan’s banishment, but his uncle assured him that Mingyuan's survival was enough. The Third Uncle then revealed that Mingyuan had been provoked by gossiping servants who discussed a second wife's child replacing the first wife's son as heir, implying a deliberate setup. Li Cheng, initially refusing to believe it, finally realized that Mantuo was the mastermind behind the plot, using her innocent facade to manipulate him and secure the heirship for her unborn child.
He lamented being fooled by her vicious nature but knew he could only learn from the bitter experience. Meanwhile, Mantuo, accompanied by Wang, observed Li Cheng's departure with satisfaction. Wang voiced concern about Li Bing discovering Mantuo's deception, but Mantuo dismissed it, confident that her child would be established as the heir by then. She believed that Li Bing would not easily remove an heir who was also a cousin to the crowned prince.
She also mockingly declared to herself that if Li Cheng wanted to blame anyone, he should blame his own father. In the imperial court, Yuwen Hu provocatively demanded that his daughter, the Duke of Xinxing County, be elevated to princess and married to Su Wei. Yuwen Yu was enraged, pointing out that Su Wei had been chosen by the former emperor to marry the ninth princess.
Yuwen Hu, undeterred, scoffed and proceeded to issue a decree on the spot, proclaiming his daughter Princess Xinxing with a substantial land grant, and appointing Su Wei as General of Chariots. Yuwen Yu, furious at Yuwen Hu’s brazen display of power, attempted to confront him physically, but Yuwen Yong intervened, cautioning Yuwen Yu against rash actions, as Yuwen Hu was clearly prepared for a confrontation.
Yuwen Hu then mockingly declared the court meeting adjourned due to the emperor's "illness," and ordered a subordinate to inform Banruo. Later, Yuwen Yu, seething with anger, vowed to kill Yuwen Hu. Banruo arrived, already informed of the day's events, and chided Yuwen Yu for his uncontrolled temper. She argued that conceding a princess title was a minor sacrifice compared to ruining their larger plans against Yuwen Hu.
Yuwen Yu, still fuming, accused everyone, including Banruo, of believing he was unworthy of the throne and threatened to abdicate. In his rage, he shoved Banruo, causing her to fall. Seeing blood, a panicked Yuwen Yu quickly called for imperial doctors, but was promptly ordered out of the chamber by the attending physicians. Banruo, having suffered a miscarriage scare, was ordered to rest.
From inside her chamber, she calmly instructed the royal doctors to do their best and asked them to summon Jialuo to manage palace affairs in her stead. Outside, a distraught Yuwen Yu kept vigil. Yuwen Hu soon arrived with his own physicians and precious snow lotus medicine for pregnancy, intent on entering Banruo's chambers. Yuwen Yu reluctantly allowed the doctors in but tried to block Yuwen Hu. Yuwen Hu, impatient, kicked Yuwen Yu aside, mocking his "useless emperor's prestige."
He then leaned in and whispered to Yuwen Yu, revealing that Banruo's previous child was his, not Yuwen Yu's. When Yuwen Yu dismissed it as nonsense, Yuwen Hu provided a shocking detail: a mole located three inches below Banruo's chest. This revelation left Yuwen Yu stunned and broken, collapsing to the ground.
Following Yuwen Hu's departure, Yuwen Yu, enraged and desperate for the truth, ordered the execution of the palace servants and began to interrogate those involved in Banruo's previous pregnancy, including a royal doctor's daughter. He summoned Jialuo to the palace, demanding to know the father of Banruo's last child and how long Banruo and Yuwen Hu had been deceiving him.
Jialuo feigned ignorance and tried to defend her sister, urging Yuwen Yu to trust his queen, but her words only fueled his anger. As Yuwen Yu's threats intensified, even placing his sword at Jialuo's neck, Banruo, having overheard the commotion, rushed in and dismissed the palace staff. She confessed that the previous child was indeed Yuwen Hu's, but claimed it was a desperate act to save Jialuo, who was imprisoned and severely injured at the time.
She reminded Yuwen Yu that he had refused her pleas for help then, fearing for his own life, which led to her entanglement with Yuwen Hu. Banruo questioned why men were allowed multiple partners while women were condemned for a single "mistake," especially when forced by circumstance. Yuwen Yu, heartbroken and overwhelmed, lashed out, calling Banruo shameless and unworthy of being his queen. Banruo retorted, reminding him that he wouldn't be emperor without her and her father's sacrifices.
Amidst their heated exchange, Yuwen Yu expressed his profound pain: his beloved wife had another man in her heart, and his eagerly awaited child was not his own. Banruo, in a desperate attempt to salvage their marriage, swore on her father’s name that her relationship with Yuwen Hu was over, that her current child was his, and that he was the only man in her heart.
She challenged him to kill her if he didn't believe her, promising not to complain. Jialuo rushed to protect Banruo. Overcome with anguish, Yuwen Yu threw his sword down and stormed out. Later, Yang Jian, worried by news of the emperor's outburst, rushed to find Jialuo. He noticed a sword wound on her neck, but she dismissed it as minor.
Jialuo reflected on her own stubborn temper, apologizing for any past offenses, and revealed that her sister, Banruo, had had a heated argument with the emperor, despite Banruo's true regret. Yang Jian reassured her that he didn't mind their arguments and urged her not to hide her true feelings from him. Jialuo then decided to confide in him, revealing the royal secret: Banruo and Yuwen Hu had a child together.
She explained that Banruo had confirmed this, but hadn't disclosed the child's current whereabouts to Yang Jian, only saying that "everything was arranged." Jialuo also confided that she felt responsible for the chain of events – from her own actions leading to her imprisonment to Banruo's desperate plea to Yuwen Hu and their father's suicide – which led to her forced marriage to Yang Jian. Yang Jian gently dismissed her self-blame, explaining that these events were destined to happen regardless.
He clarified that Jialuo's actions were driven by the need to protect her family, while Banruo's reliance on Yuwen Hu stemmed from Yuwen Yu's unreliability. He noted that both Yuwen Hu and Banruo prioritized power over love. Yang Jian described Yuwen Yu as someone who clung to the throne despite claiming disinterest, enduring the truth about Banruo and Yuwen Hu for political gain.
He philosophized that they were all mere chess pieces in the grand game of fate, incapable of fully controlling their destinies in such turbulent times. This conversation deeply moved Jialuo, prompting her to confess to Dongqu her newfound happiness at having someone to share her burdens with. Dongqu affirmed her feelings, noting Yang Jian's dedication to Jialuo, from flying kites with her to enduring a reputation for fearing his wife, and protecting her in public. Dongqu concluded that Yang Jian was a reliable and worthy husband, reminding Jialuo that it was unrealistic to expect absolute perfection.
