The Legend of Mi Yue Episode 40 Recap
> The Legend of Mi Yue Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
King of Qin, having learned of Zhonghang Qi's confession, grew suspicious of Zhang Yi. When Zhang Yi sought an audience, the King of Qin tested him with questions, and Chu Li Zi openly voiced his suspicion regarding Zhang Yi's involvement in the Jade annulus case. Though Zhang Yi was indignant, the King of Qin placed him under house arrest.
During their discussion, the King of Qin recalled Zhang Yi's past poverty in Chu, questioning how he could have possessed the Jade annulus. Chu Li Zi acknowledged this but suggested it might have been a deceptive tactic. He noted that Zhonghang Qi, a spy from the five allied states, confessed under torture with highly detailed information, making it difficult to dismiss Zhang Yi's connection to the Jade annulus.
Chu Li Zi concluded that given the jade's sudden appearance in Xianyang and Zhang Yi's fervent efforts to acquire it, it was hard to say he was entirely uninvolved. The King of Qin, while finding parts of the confession strange, believed the circumstances warranted Zhang Yi's confinement. Zhang Yi, feeling unjustly accused, retorted that a man of his intellect wouldn't choose a jade over gold for escape.
Chu Li Zi later, when asked by the King of Qin, argued that while Zhang Yi's arrogant character clashed with his own, he didn't believe Zhang Yi was disloyal. He found it unlikely Zhang Yi would abandon his prestigious position as Prime Minister. However, he conceded that desperate times could lead to desperate measures, like accumulating wealth for an escape.
Ultimately, Chu Li Zi maintained that until the true origin of the Jade annulus was discovered, Zhang Yi would remain a suspect. The King of Qin was left in a difficult position, reflecting on the dilemma of trust and suspicion when the fate of Qin was at stake. Meanwhile, Mi Yue awakened from her poisoning, disoriented and initially not recognizing the King of Qin. He called for a physician to attend to her.
Once she was more coherent, the King of Qin presented her with the Jade annulus, explaining that while the box it came in contained a poisonous needle, the jade itself was harmless. Mi Yue carefully examined the jade, recalling the legend of Bian He, who cried tears of blood that seeped into the true Jade annulus, leaving faint red veins visible in bright light. Observing the jade, Mi Yue declared it was a fake, precisely because it appeared perfectly flawless.
She deduced that the mastermind behind the scheme was not merely seeking profit, and the entire plot was far more intricate than it appeared. Ms. Tang and Guo Meiren visited Mi Yue, comforting her and urging her to rest. Mi Yue, however, was troubled by how her illness might have impacted others and noted the absence of Wanghou.
She inquired about Wanghou, and despite Aunt Kui and the others' attempts to shield her, Mi Yue insisted on knowing the truth, threatening to ask the King of Qin herself. Guo Meiren then revealed that Wanghou was under house arrest. Despite her frail health, Mi Yue sought an audience with the King of Qin, concerned about the implications of the case.
She explained that sleepless nights had led her to question the circumstances, and she had learned of Wanghou and Zhang Yi's involvement from palace residents. Mi Yue immediately suspected Zhonghang Qi and suggested a re-interrogation. However, the King of Qin informed her that Zhonghang Qi had committed suicide in prison by cutting his wrist with a broken pottery shard.
He also mentioned that new confessions from the merchant, Fan Jia, claimed Zhonghang Qi had instructed him to sell the jade only to Zhang Yi. The King of Qin found these new statements nonsensical. Mi Yue, however, saw a crucial discrepancy: if the Jade annulus was fake, then Zhonghang Qi's testimony about Zhang Yi stealing and selling it must also be false.
She reasoned that the poison needle in the box was likely intended for Zhang Yi, as the perpetrator would be aware of his history with the Jade annulus. Their unexpected struggle over the box and the King of Qin's decision to have them solve its mechanism had likely disrupted the original plan. Mi Yue argued that Zhang Yi was innocent, merely a pawn in a larger scheme.
When the King of Qin faulted Yong Rui for the mishandling of the case, Mi Yue defended him, explaining that Zhonghang Qi's suicidal resolve made it impossible for any interrogator to extract the real truth. The King of Qin then pointed out that Wanghou was the only one in the Qin palace who possessed an antidote to the specific snake venom, which she had consumed quickly after Mi Yue was poisoned.
Mi Yue countered that while Wanghou might have harbored ill will, it didn't automatically make her the poisoner. She explained that the venom came from highly poisonous snakes found in Chu, and the antidote, Huilong Dan, was specifically formulated for these Chu venoms. Therefore, Wanghou's possession of the antidote was merely a coincidence of her Chu origins, not proof of guilt.
Mi Yue concluded that the exquisite craftsmanship of the fake Jade annulus indicated the perpetrator must have been familiar with the real one, suggesting a Chu connection. She first considered King of Chu, then Zhaoyang, but dismissed both as lacking the necessary cunning. She believed a more calculating mastermind, one who feared and resented Zhang Yi's talent, was manipulating Zhaoyang.
The King of Qin then realized the mastermind was Gong Sun Yan, connecting his deep-seated hatred for Zhang Yi (who had caused him to lose favor and leave Qin) with his desire for vengeance. Gong Sun Yan aimed to prove his capabilities by orchestrating the multi-state alliance against Qin and framing Zhang Yi, thereby casting doubt on the King of Qin's judgment of talent.
Mi Yue urged the King of Qin to counter Gong Sun Yan's plot by doing the opposite of what he intended: to empower and re-employ Zhang Yi. When the King of Qin expressed concern that Zhang Yi might be too resentful to cooperate, Mi Yue proposed a strategy of "incitement" rather than mere invitation, appealing to Zhang Yi's competitive spirit and desire for revenge against Gong Sun Yan. The King of Qin agreed but pondered who could persuade Zhang Yi.
Mi Yue volunteered, asserting her unique understanding of Zhang Yi despite her recent illness. The King of Qin, convinced, arranged a carriage to take her to Zhang Yi's residence. Upon arriving at Zhang Yi's house, Mi Yue found him feigning drunkenness amidst a disheveled home. She instructed Aunt Kui to light incense to clear the air. Zhang Yi bemoaned his predicament, lamenting the lack of loyal servants.
Mi Yue then revealed the fake Jade annulus, informing him it was a forgery. Zhang Yi was shocked and distressed, recalling how the Jade annulus had nearly cost him his life multiple times, and was further exasperated to learn this latest incident involved a mere replica. Mi Yue, however, reframed his experience, arguing that the Jade annulus had inadvertently "made" him, forcing him out of Chu and into the esteemed position of Prime Minister of Qin.
She emphasized the cyclical nature of fortune and misfortune. She then presented the current situation as an opportunity for Zhang Yi to not only enhance his reputation but also exact revenge against Gong Sun Yan, whose fear of Zhang Yi's talent had driven this elaborate scheme. Moved by her words, Zhang Yi agreed to meet with the King of Qin. Zhang Yi met with the King of Qin, outlining his strategy to lobby the various states, beginning with Yan.
He highlighted the instability in Yan due to the weak Crown Prince and the influential Prime Minister Zi Zhi, as well as Yi Hou (Princess Mengying). He requested the King of Qin to write another letter to Yi Hou, believing that swaying Yan would create a domino effect among the other allied states. The King of Qin agreed and asked if Zhang Yi had any other requests.
Zhang Yi, still harboring bitterness from his past trials related to the Jade annulus, requested that if the true Jade annulus ever fell into Qin's hands, the King of Qin would allow him to personally smash it to vent his accumulated resentment. The King of Qin readily agreed, declaring Zhang Yi to be Qin's true treasure, more valuable than any jade. Zhang Yi, deeply touched, pledged his unwavering loyalty to the King.
Meanwhile, Mu Supervisor reported to the King of Qin that his investigation revealed Mengzhao Shi had spread the rumor, "whoever gets the jade gets the world," and that she had been instigated by Wei Yan. The King of Qin noted Wei Yan's long-standing animosity towards Wanghou and acknowledged that her initial accusation against Wanghou, though self-serving, had inadvertently led to Mi Yue's rescue.
Soon after, Gongzi Hua sought an audience with the King of Qin, presenting his well-thought-out proposals for improving the Qin army's armor, detailing adjustments for infantry, cavalry, and charioteers. The King of Qin praised his intelligence and competence, but then brought up Wei Yan's recent involvement in stirring trouble regarding the Jade annulus. Gongzi Hua immediately apologized for his mother's actions, promising to ensure she remained well-behaved and caused no further problems in the palace.
Later, Mu Supervisor visited Mi Shu, who expressed her feelings of being wronged and unable to defend herself. Mu Supervisor then informed her that Mi Yue had personally advocated for her innocence to the King of Qin, which led to the lifting of her house arrest. Mi Shu was visibly shocked and deeply moved by this revelation.
Mu Supervisor then subtly warned Mi Shu against bringing "unclean" items from outside the palace, implying that some of her dowry items might have been implicated in the recent troubles. He advised her to be meticulous in all matters to prevent future misfortunes or attempts to frame her. Understanding the underlying message, Mi Shu immediately instructed her maid, Zhenzhu, to find her dowry list to present to the King of Qin, hoping to dispel any lingering suspicions.
