The Legend of Mi Yue Episode 4 Recap
> The Legend of Mi Yue Recap
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Following the former King's passing, Ju Ji, in a desperate act to save Mi Yue and Mi Rong from being buried alive with the late king, meticulously orchestrated her own death. She carved the character "否" (no) onto a turtle shell and used a white silk sash to take her life. On the silk, she inscribed a message: "Concubine asks the former King if he wishes to see Mi Yue and Mi Rong or not."
The next morning, her body was discovered along with the silk and the turtle shell, which had been cracked by fire, revealing the "no." Those present interpreted this as the former King's spirit manifesting, effectively sparing Mi Yue and Mi Rong. Wei Hou, seemingly convinced by this divine sign, reluctantly allowed Mi Yue and Mi Rong to live, stating that since the former King felt anguish at leaving them, he wished to keep two talents to assist.
Before her death, Ju Ji left a final message for Mi Yue and Mi Rong. She confessed that she had once used them as pawns in her struggle against Wei Hou, but ultimately came to love them as her own children. She explained that without them, every day of her life would be torture, emphasizing that the former King had a purpose in leaving them behind: to serve at his tomb and repay him there.
Thus, Mi Yue, Mi Rong, Wei Ran, and Aunt Kui were banished by Wei Hou to the former King's mausoleum to stand vigil. Mi Yue, deeply affected, vowed to care for both her brothers. In contrast to their exile, Princess Mi Yin, Qi Fei's daughter whose mother had tragically taken her own life years prior following the Xuzhou War, ingratiated herself with Wei Hou.
Wei Hou found Mi Yin sensible and decided to keep her in the palace as Mi Shu's companion. Life in the secluded cemetery proved to be a harsh but freeing experience for Mi Yue. Despite the meager provisions, she thrived, learning basic etiquette, music, and medical knowledge from Aunt Kui and Female Doctor Zhi.
Her mentor, Qu Yuan, also arranged for Huang Xie to regularly visit and deliver educational scrolls, promising a new section of the "Rites of Zhou" every ten days. During his visits, Huang Xie often discussed the merits of palace education, arguing that her informal learning was superficial compared to the comprehensive Six Classics taught in the court, which encompassed subjects like the Great Cloud Gate, Big Shao Summer, Big Wu, and Big Hu music.
Mi Yue, however, cherished the wide-open spaces and her unconstrained lifestyle, often playfully challenging Huang Xie's views. One day, Mi Yue experienced her first menstrual cycle. Terrified by the blood and pain, she feared she was dying. Aunt Kui, however, gently explained that Mi Yue was simply growing up and becoming a woman. Mi Yue initially resisted this, connecting womanhood to the plight of her mother, Xiang Fei, who had suffered in the palace.
Aunt Kui assured her that such matters were determined by fate and beyond their control. Huang Xie, though concerned, could not help. Despite the challenging environment, Mi Yue developed a keen understanding of medicinal herbs, often identifying plants and their uses, much to Aunt Zhi's admiration. Huang Xie continued his visits, bringing books and sharing stories, and their bond deepened, hints of affection growing between them. Meanwhile, King Huai began selecting new concubines.
He harbored an insecurity about his unusual body odor, which caused many candidates to distance themselves or feign ignorance. During the selection, Shang Rong'er claimed to smell only incense and was quickly dismissed. Another woman, Yunzhu, hesitated and struggled to answer, leading to her dismissal. However, a clever woman named Zheng Xiu approached the King.
When asked about his scent, she artfully described it not as an odor, but as a "special scent," an "imposing" and "captivating" aroma unique to the King, making all other men seem dull in comparison. Delighted by her flattering words, King Huai immediately favored her, offering her wine and engaging her in a game, which she eagerly accepted. Zheng Xiu quickly rose in favor, was later granted the title of Nan Hou, and bore the King a son.
Later that year, during the annual memorial for the former King, Zheng Xiu, having been reprimanded by Wei Hou for her lax observance of the rituals, wandered away from the solemn ceremony. She stumbled upon Mi Yue's humble dwelling near the cemetery and was stung by a plant she identified as "big scorpion grass," known for a bite worse than a scorpion's. Mi Yue, hearing her cries, rushed to help.
Recognizing the plant, Mi Yue recounted how her own mother, Xiang Fei, had once been harmed by it, and applied a soothing herb to Zheng Xiu's hand. During their conversation, Zheng Xiu realized that Mi Yue, despite her simple attire, was also a princess. Touched by Mi Yue's warmth and generosity, Zheng Xiu promised to repay her kindness someday. Unbeknownst to them, Mi Shu had secretly left the memorial procession to search for Mi Yue.
When she found her, the two princesses embraced, overjoyed at their reunion after so many years. Mi Yue expressed her deep longing for Mi Shu. Mi Shu, in turn, shared her efforts to convince Wei Hou to allow Mi Yue and Mi Rong to return to the palace, also mentioning that Qu Yuan was working towards the same goal.
However, Mi Yue, having grown accustomed to the "wide and vast sky" and the freedom of the cemetery, refused to return, not wanting to live like the common people. Mi Shu argued vehemently, explaining that Mi Rong, now ten, needed formal education in the Six Classics and a proper title and manor to "settle down" when he came of age, lamenting their current life devoid of proper royal instruction.
Their reunion was soon discovered by Mi Yin, who immediately seized the opportunity to malign Mi Yue to Wei Hou. During the ongoing memorial, Mi Yin falsely accused Mi Yue of "forcibly calling Shu meimei away" from the sacred ceremony, labeling her as an "uneducated" and "shameless" influence who was leading Mi Shu astray. Enraged, Wei Hou stormed to Mi Yue's dwelling, condemning her as "unworthy" and accusing her of "dragging down Shu-er."
Mi Shu attempted to defend Mi Yue, taking responsibility for being late, but Wei Hou was unmoved. Aunt Kui then bravely stepped forward, asserting that as a slave, she should bear any punishment meant for the princess. Infuriated by this perceived insubordination, Wei Hou ordered Aunt Kui to be flogged twenty times with a staff, a severe punishment.
Both Mi Yue and Mi Shu pleaded for Aunt Kui, but Wei Hou coldly stated that enduring the flogging was Aunt Kui's "duty." After the brutal punishment, Mi Yue was filled with guilt and expressed deep hatred for Wei Hou. Aunt Kui, however, consoled her, explaining that the flogging was an inevitable display of Wei Hou's power, not a direct consequence of Mi Yue's actions.
She urged Mi Yue to choose "endurance" over "hate," emphasizing that their only path to safety was to return to the palace. Aunt Kui revealed her belief that Wei Hou was responsible for the deaths of both Mi Yue's mother and Ju Ji, and wished for Mi Yue and Mi Rong to "fend for themselves" in exile.
She impressed upon Mi Yue the urgency of seizing any opportunity to remind the clan courtiers and the King that they were still alive, thereby securing Mi Rong's future with a title and land, which would then provide a safe manor for them all. Mi Yue, finally understanding the gravity of their situation, resolved to endure for the sake of Mi Rong and their collective future. Soon after, Zheng Xiu, recalling Mi Yue's kindness, fulfilled her promise.
During a private moment with King Huai, she discreetly brought up the matter of Mi Yue and Mi Rong. She noted that Qu Yuan had already suggested their return, though Wei Hou strongly opposed it.
Zheng Xiu cunningly presented the argument that six or seven years of "watching over the coffin" was more than sufficient and that leaving "the King's flesh and blood" uneducated and living like "common people" outside the palace was an "improper" act that would make the Chu royal family a "laughing stock" among other states. King Huai, convinced by her reasoning and swayed by her charm, agreed to allow Mi Yue and Mi Rong to return.
Wei Hou, though displeased, had no choice but to yield to the King's decision. As a punitive measure, she assigned Mi Yue to Mi Shu's palace for menial labor. Mi Yin, upon hearing the news, expressed her satisfaction that Mi Yue would now be under Wei Hou's direct supervision in the palace, believing the "troublemaker" would no longer "stir up trouble."
