The Legend of Mi Yue Episode 42 Recap
> The Legend of Mi Yue Recap
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Ying Si and his ministers gathered to discuss the ongoing war at Hangu Pass. They reviewed the status of the allied forces: Zhao, led by Gongzi Ke, brought armed horsemen; Wei, under General Shen Cha, deployed its renowned Wei Wu square formation; and Han contributed its strength in bows and crossbows, with Crown Prince Huan at the helm.
Although Chu, led by Ling Yin Zhaoyang, had sent 200,000 troops, they were still en route, stalled by Qin's diplomatic efforts which caused discord among the five allied nations. While acknowledging the formidable strengths of the enemy, ministers highlighted Hangu Pass's natural defenses, which negated much of the cavalry's speed and archers' range, and emphasized the allies' lack of coordinated training as an exploitable weakness.
During the discussion, Gongzi Hua presented a groundbreaking new crossbow developed by captured Han crossbow craftsmen. He demonstrated its square arrows could pierce five layers of cowhide and noted its extended range compared to traditional bows, making it highly effective both at Hangu Pass and against the Yi Qu cavalry who had been disturbing Qin's borders. Ying Si praised the invention, remarking on Han's reputation for superior crossbows.
He then expressed his perplexity over Yan's initial involvement in the conflict, given his daughter Meng Ying's marriage there. A minister reported on the evasiveness of the King of Yan regarding Yi Hou (Meng Ying) and Gongzi Zhi, suggesting their situation was dire. Soon after, Mu Supervisor announced that Mi Yue and Mi Shu sought an audience. They had discovered a sealed letter from Meng Ying hidden within one of Su Qin's policy proposals.
Ying Si, initially suspicious of a forgery, summoned Su Qin. Su Qin authenticated the letter using Meng Ying's jade pendant and revealed the full extent of the crisis: following the late King of Yan's death, his timid and indecisive successor, King Kuai, had allowed Prime Minister Zi Zhi to seize control.
Zi Zhi, ambitious for the throne, had sent Meng Ying's three-year-old son, Gongzi Zhi, to Han as a hostage and then confined both Meng Ying and her son in the Han capital. With King Kuai now planning to abdicate to Zi Zhi, Meng Ying and Gongzi Zhi's lives were in imminent danger. Ying Si reacted with fury at the audacity of Zi Zhi and the weakness of King Kuai. Troubled by his daughter's plight, Ying Si sought counsel.
Mi Shu advised prioritizing the ongoing war at Hangu Pass, suggesting that Meng Ying would understand the need to defer her rescue for the greater good. However, when Ying Si consulted Mi Yue, she offered a different perspective. While acknowledging the national military strain, Mi Yue proposed sending a small squadron of light cavalry, disguised, to infiltrate Han and extract Meng Ying and Gongzi Zhi.
She underscored the strategic advantage: bringing Yi Hou (Meng Ying) and Gongzi Zhi back to Qin would allow Ying Si to potentially manipulate Yan's future, as Gongzi Zhi was a legitimate heir to the Yan throne. Persuaded by Mi Yue's insightful plan, Ying Si decided to dispatch Wei Ran with the light cavalry to the Han capital. Observing Mi Yue's influence, Mi Shu lamented that her own "purity" was useless, realizing Ying Si valued those who truly understood his mind.
Despite the swift action, the rescue mission encountered unforeseen challenges. Meng Ying was successfully brought back to Qin, but during their escape near the Zhao border, Gongzi Zhi was separated from the group and abducted by Hou Yong Zhao's forces. Wei Ran explained that after safely escorting Yi Hou, he returned to search for the young prince but was intercepted by Zhao's troops. Meng Ying desperately pleaded with her father to save her son, emphasizing his tender age.
Ying Si, though deeply pained, explained that Hou Yong Zhao's actions were a calculated political move to hold Gongzi Zhi as leverage against Yan. He assured Meng Ying that Zhao would not harm Gongzi Zhi, as the prince was a valuable asset – a future King of Yan. Overwhelmed by grief and a desperate desire to be with her child, Meng Ying impulsively offered to go to Zhao herself.
Ying Si sternly rebuked her, highlighting the sacrifices made by Qin soldiers for her rescue and explaining that her surrender would only legitimize Zhao's actions and jeopardize Qin's position. He emphasized that state affairs must take precedence over personal feelings. Heartbroken and feeling like a mere pawn, Meng Ying left. Alone, Ying Si struggled with his own anguish, smashing a table in frustration. Later, Mi Yue confided in Aunt Kui, expressing profound sympathy for Meng Ying.
She reflected on Meng Ying's life—once a privileged princess with a wise aunt like Lady Ying, destined for a queen's position and a princely heir—now reduced to a state worse than a common woman. Mi Yue lamented the fate of women in a world dominated by men's pursuit of power, vowing that she would never allow others to dictate her destiny within such confines.
Meanwhile, Meng Ying visited Su Qin, offering him treasures as a token of gratitude for conveying her plea. Su Qin humbly declined the gifts, explaining that his actions were born of righteousness and a desire for mutual understanding, not material reward. Meng Ying was deeply moved by his integrity. Mi Yue, seeking to aid Meng Ying, used her son Ying Ji's innocent questions about a mother bird and its captured chick to subtly sway Ying Si.
This conversation occurred shortly after Ying Si received joyous news from Hangu Pass: General Sima's forces had achieved a decisive victory against the allied armies, beheading thirty thousand enemy soldiers and alleviating the year-long siege. Capitalizing on Ying Si's celebratory mood, Mi Yue gently urged him to reunite Meng Ying and Gongzi Zhi.
Ying Si initially resisted, citing the volatile political landscape and Hou Yong Zhao's formidable ambition, which he deemed comparable only to his own among the other timid or confused rulers of the various states. He feared that any concession to Zhao would only empower them further. Mi Yue countered by reminding him of Meng Ying's ultimate sacrifice for Qin, emphasizing that the loyalty and willingness to sacrifice for one's homeland stemmed from the state's reciprocal commitment to its people.
She argued that sometimes, personal concerns intertwined with national policy, and small concessions could lead to greater long-term stability and loyalty. Drawing from her own experiences of helplessness, she stressed the importance of extending help without constantly calculating immediate returns. Moved by her words and wisdom, Ying Si ultimately agreed to send an envoy to Zhao to negotiate Gongzi Zhi's return. Concurrently, Mi Shu, deliberately involving herself in state affairs, meticulously reviewed Su Qin's policy proposals.
While acknowledging his exceptional talent, she noted that his strategies largely mirrored those already implemented by Prime Minister Zhang Zi. She expressed concern that introducing another brilliant strategist with similar views could lead to factionalism and difficulty for Ying Si, recalling the cautionary tale of Gongsun Yan's departure. She concluded that Ying Si should ultimately make the decision himself.
Soon after, Su Qin requested an audience to elaborate on his policy, but Ying Si, observing no special endorsement from Mi Yue, declined to meet him. Later, the Gan Mao official returned from Zhao without Gongzi Zhi, reporting that Hou Yong Zhao had repeatedly feigned illness and evaded negotiations. Mi Shu then visited Meng Ying, ostensibly to offer comfort.
She subtly insinuated that Mi Yue, given her close relationship with Ying Si and previous ties to Zhang Zi, was deliberately hindering Su Qin's advancement to prevent a rival from emerging. Meng Ying, engrossed in making clothes for her absent son and an embroidered sachet for Ying Si, appeared forlorn. Mi Shu, noting Meng Ying's demeanor, correctly surmised her growing affection for Su Qin. Meanwhile, Su Qin faced increasingly dire circumstances.
Unable to pay his rent for two months, he was pressed by the innkeeper's servant. He attempted to sell his policy scrolls, but the servant informed him that the written bamboo slips were worthless. In a final act of desperation, Su Qin handed over his only black fur coat to the servant to pawn, despite the onset of colder weather, instructing him to take it and never bother him again.
