The Legend of Mi Yue Episode 32 Recap
> The Legend of Mi Yue Recap
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A servant informed Mi Shu that the recent celestial phenomenon of "double star accompanying the moon" was considered an inauspicious sign. Mi Shu, however, seemed more concerned with the political implications. She understood that Wei Yan’s bold move of sacrificing her own son, Ying Hua, by proposing he lead an attack against their home state of Wei, had softened the King of Qin's earlier fury.
Mi Shu feared that if Ying Hua achieved military victory, Wei Yan's influence could be resurrected. To counter this, Mi Shu decided to distract the King. She reasoned that an ill omen needed a joyous event to balance it, so she planned an elaborate birthday celebration for the King, even though he typically did not celebrate it. She instructed her servant to summon Mu Qing, the Yongxiang Ling, to meticulously organize the festivities.
As the King of Qin's birthday approached, Mi Yue, like the other concubines, prepared a gift. She meticulously sewed a garment for the King, showing it to her maids who praised her exquisite needlework, acknowledging Aunt Kui’s help. Mu Supervisor arrived, commending Mi Yue's thoughtful gift, particularly the auspicious "lucky beast" embroidered on it, which symbolized longevity. He remarked on her transformation from a simple maiden to a charming woman since entering the palace.
Mu Supervisor then requested Mi Yue to ensure the King's happiness and alleviate his worries during the upcoming birthday celebration, a task Mi Yue readily accepted. Meanwhile, Wei Yan discussed with her son, Ying Hua, that the King of Qin had approved her memorial to wage war against Wei, meaning Ying Hua would be sent to battle. Ying Hua assured his mother he would not disgrace them.
Wei Yan confessed her apprehension about him going to war, yet stressed that in Qin, military achievements were the sole path to prominence, a consequence of Shang Yang's reforms that abolished hereditary official positions in favor of merit. She cited how even noble families like Prince Si's were struggling without military contributions. Wei Yan advised Ying Hua to foster good relations with Prince Si and to seek counsel from Chu Li Zi, the Zong Bo, to advocate for his interests.
The King of Qin was deeply troubled by recent unrest. He discussed with an attendant how several old noble families were exploiting the "double star accompanying the moon" omen, spreading rumors of impending famine, divine retribution, and even plotting to reinstate the old hereditary system. The King acknowledged that while Shang Yang's reforms had greatly enriched and strengthened the state, they had alienated these old families, whose grievances were now resurfacing.
He affirmed his commitment to these irreversible reforms, despite the growing opposition. When Mu Supervisor reminded him it was time for his birthday celebration at Jiao Fang Dian, the King of Qin expressed his lack of enthusiasm. Mi Yue then encouraged him to attend, hoping to lighten the mood. On the day of the birthday banquet, Mi Shu meticulously managed the final decorations.
Despite not being invited, Wei Yan arrived with a gift, which Mi Shu accepted, reminding her attendants that it was a day for forgiveness. The concubines gathered, some commenting on Mi Shu’s extensive preparations and the King of Qin’s historical disinterest in birthday celebrations. Upon the King’s arrival, he acknowledged Mi Shu’s hard work and the concubines’ gifts. However, he declared he had to meet an old friend and asked them to enjoy the festivities in his stead.
He then summoned Mi Yue to accompany him. Mi Yue offered a brief apology to a visibly distraught Mi Shu before departing with the King. Later, Mi Shu questioned Mu Supervisor about the King's reluctance to celebrate his birthday, but he respectfully declined to disclose details, leaving Mi Shu utterly dejected by the wasted preparations. The King of Qin took Mi Yue to a solitary tomb in a desolate area.
Along the way, he playfully asked about her silence, to which she replied she would speak when he wished. He admitted he admired her composed demeanor and asked her not to change. At the tomb, the King performed a solemn wine offering. He spoke wistfully to the deceased, stating that no one had ever matched his caliber, and expressed disappointment that Gong Sun Yan had failed to fill that void.
He called the tomb's occupant his lifelong enemy and benefactor, recalling how he had harshly punished him—even ordering his body dismembered and displayed—to assert his authority over the old noble families and alleviate foreign pressures, thereby securing Qin’s stability. He believed the deceased had died without regret. Mi Yue, discerning the King’s profound respect and sorrow, correctly deduced that the buried individual was Shang Yang.
When she inquired why such a great figure was interred in such a barren place, the King explained that Shang Yang was executed as a traitor, and his dismembered remains were later collected by followers who attempted to transport them to Wei. They were intercepted, and a local guard then hastily buried the remnants in this spot. Mi Yue realized the King had been secretly visiting and mourning Shang Yang in simple attire for years.
The King then revealed that Shang Yang's death day was, in fact, his own birthday, which was why he had never celebrated it. He made Mi Yue promise to keep this sensitive information a secret, emphasizing its profound political implications, and she assented. Mi Shu remained deeply upset by the King of Qin's blatant favoritism towards Mi Yue on his birthday. Her maids grumbled, accusing Mi Yue of using "fox spirit" tactics to charm the King.
Mi Shu, however, silenced them, noting that Mi Yue's appeal lay not in superficial beauty, but in her ability to understand the King's thoughts and desires, a quality the King valued highly. Mi Shu lamented that her own sincerity seemed unappreciated by the King. Feeling emotionally drained, she dismissed her maids. Aunt Kui, observing Mi Yue's melancholy, worried about the growing rift between the sisters.
She urged Mi Yue to visit Mi Shu, believing that an open conversation could mend their relationship. Mi Yue, though concerned, expressed her inability to reveal the King's secret. She then went to Jiao Fang Dian to see Mi Shu, who was still dispirited. Mi Yue attempted to console her, but Mi Shu, hurt and frustrated, pressed her to divulge details of her outing with the King.
Bound by her promise to the King, Mi Yue regretfully stated she could not share the information, even going so far as to refer to Mi Shu as an "outsider" in this matter. Mi Shu felt betrayed, reminding Mi Yue of their sisterly bond and her own unwavering honesty. Mi Yue apologized profusely, explaining her reluctance to offend or create distance, and pleaded for understanding. Still angry, Mi Shu curtly told her to leave.
On the bustling streets of Xianyang, Huang Xie overheard a street vendor discussing a palace order for herbs. The vendor complained that Female doctor Zhi was very particular, demanding specific "pine shell" and "green shell" varieties of fritillaria for her medicines. Huang Xie, recognizing the name, discreetly observed until Female doctor Zhi arrived to collect her order. He then approached her, revealing himself. Female doctor Zhi was stunned to see him alive, having believed him dead for a long time.
Huang Xie confirmed he had barely escaped death. Female doctor Zhi informed him of Mi Yue’s current status as a Bazi in the palace, information Huang Xie already knew. Sympathizing with their arduous journey, she listened as Huang Xie asked her to deliver a letter to Mi Yue, revealing that he was still alive. Female doctor Zhi agreed to his request.
As summer solstice approached, the King of Qin, feeling the unusually early heat, ordered Mu Supervisor to distribute ice throughout the palaces. He announced his intention to leave the palace for summer solstice to offer sacrifices to the earth. Recalling how he had upset Mi Shu and the concubines during his birthday celebration, he decided to compensate by bestowing valuable fabrics and jewelry upon his harem, tasking Mi Shu with managing the distribution to uplift their spirits.
Mi Yue later sought an audience with Mi Shu, finding her busy with the other concubines, meticulously counting and discussing the distribution of the King’s gifts, which included various silks like silk cotton, water patterned brocade, squared patterned brocade, crepe muslin, and a large quantity of different furs (fox, sable, wolf, and lynx). Mi Shu lamented the challenge of fair distribution, fearing endless disputes among the idle women.
Mi Yue offered a solution: distribute abundant items by headcount and scarce ones by rank, which Mi Shu accepted. Suddenly, Mi Yue was overcome with nausea from the strong smell of the furs. While some concubines made snide remarks about her delicate constitution, Mi Shu, genuinely concerned, immediately summoned a doctor. The doctor then announced that Mi Yue was pregnant. The concubines offered their congratulations, but Mi Shu's expression was a mixture of complex emotions.
The King of Qin soon arrived, overjoyed by the news. He tenderly reassured Mi Yue, declaring her and her unborn child more precious than any royal treasure. He confessed his long-held desire for a child with her. The King expressed his hope for a son, promising to take him on grand campaigns across the land.
Mi Yue, however, humbly stated her sole wish was for her child to live a life of peace, free from strife and worry, attributing this hope to her Chu people's belief in the Lord of Fate. The King of Qin, ensuring Mi Yue’s well-being, appointed two doctors for her care: Li Mi to manage her pulse and medicine, and Female doctor Zhi to personally oversee her diet.
He also sent two yellow birds, presented by Mu Qing, to entertain Mi Yue while she was confined during her pregnancy. Mi Yue, reflecting on her childhood love for hunting birds but never caging them, preferred the birds be hung under the eaves so they could sing freely, lamenting that caged songs were never truly pleasant. She felt a profound connection to the caged birds, seeing herself trapped within the palace walls, a far cry from her wilder, former self.
Aunt Kui, meanwhile, continued her needlework, making clothes for the unborn child, fondly reminiscing about making garments for Mi Yue, Rong Er, and later Ran. She expressed a wish that Mi Yue’s mother and Ju Ji could witness this joyous occasion, but Mi Yue mused that they would never have imagined her marrying into the Qin palace.
Later, as Female doctor Zhi brought Mi Yue her calming medicine, Mi Yue thanked her for her dedicated care, acknowledging their shared destiny from her own birth to her child’s impending arrival. Mi Yue inquired about Female doctor Zhi’s son, Jin-er, who was working in Xianyang. Female doctor Zhi happily revealed that Jin-er had married last year and his wife was now pregnant, making her a soon-to-be grandmother.
Witnessing Mi Yue’s radiant happiness and contentment in her pregnancy, Female doctor Zhi ultimately could not bring herself to deliver Huang Xie's letter and quietly burned it, choosing to preserve Mi Yue's current peace. Wei Liang Ren visited Ms. Tang, and the two women discussed Mi Yue's growing favor with the King. Unexpectedly, the King of Qin arrived and announced his decision to move Mi Yue to Qingning Hall to reside with Ms. Tang, who reluctantly agreed.
