The Legend of Mi Yue Episode 68 Recap
> The Legend of Mi Yue Recap
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The Yiqu King gradually recovered from his injuries, much to Mi Yue’s profound relief. Overjoyed, she shed tears, and they embraced. The Yiqu King expressed his surprise at her tears and vowed to protect her, promising to do something great for her. He initially asked what "Bride Gift" she desired for their marriage, suggesting horses, cows, and sheep. However, Mi Yue clarified that was not what she truly sought.
The Yiqu King then realized her true ambition: her return to Qin was for the future of the kingdom, a sentiment she had repeatedly voiced while delirious. He offered the full military might of Yiqu to help her and her son, Ying Ji, reclaim Qin and seize control of its vast territory, even suggesting a direct assault on the capital, Xianyang. Soon after, Mi Yue's brother, Wei Ran, arrived, initially to the Yiqu King's displeasure.
Wei Ran assured Mi Yue that Ying Ji and Yong Rui were safe, but warned of the escalating danger in Xianyang. While Chu Lizi and Yong Rui had gathered support for Ying Ji, they lacked the military strength to guarantee a swift victory against Empress Mi Shu's forces. Mi Yue proposed a clever strategy to avoid a bloody conflict: she would act as bait to lure Empress Mi Shu into opening the palace gates.
She instructed Wei Ran to spread rumors that she had been captured by the Yiqu people once more. Meanwhile, Wei Yan and Wei Yi were consumed with worry over their precarious situation. Wei Yi expressed a fleeting hope that Mi Yue wouldn't immediately pursue them as long as Gongzi Hua and the other princes maintained their armed defiance. Empress Mi Shu, however, discovered Wei Yi's fake pregnancy and her plan to kidnap Gongzi Zhuang.
She coldly dismissed Wei Yi's scheme as a foolish dream and angrily chastised both Wei Yan and Wei Yi for harming Gongzi Zhuang, regardless of the fake pregnancy. Word reached Empress Mi Shu that Mi Yue was indeed in the Yiqu King's hands. Seeing an opportunity, she decided to negotiate for Mi Yue’s release. The Yiqu King discussed Mi Shu's offer with Mi Yue, which included significant amounts of grain, silk, and gold.
Mi Yue, however, advised him not to agree immediately. She urged him to demand more, specifically cities and land, emphasizing that a higher price would make her seem more valuable to her adversary. The Yiqu King, recognizing the wisdom in her words, agreed to make exorbitant demands. Du Jin, an envoy from Empress Mi Shu, met with the Yiqu King, delivering the proposed initial payment. The Yiqu King feigned anger, claiming the offer was insufficient.
He insisted on personally escorting Mi Yue to Xianyang with his warriors and receiving the full promised compensation upon her arrival in Xianyang, before handing her over. Du Jin, under pressure, conceded to the Yiqu King’s terms, agreeing to allow a limited number of Yiqu troops into the city to prevent unrest. Mi Yue advised Du Jin to demonstrate genuine loyalty to Empress Hui for future rewards, reminding him of his past service and previous promises.
Back in Xianyang, Gongzi Zhuang mysteriously vanished after receiving a letter. Empress Mi Shu confronted Feng Jia, who confessed his allegiance to Wei Yi, revealing her treacherous alliance with Empress Wu (Wei Yi). During a tense confrontation in the grand hall, Empress Mi Shu, wary of the Yiqu King, had her imperial guards on high alert. The Yiqu King, feigning ignorance of her Prime Minister, exchanged veiled barbs with Mi Shu.
He noted the physical resemblance between Mi Shu and Mi Yue but remarked on their vastly different dispositions. Mi Shu attributed this to their different mothers and Mi Yue’s undisciplined upbringing. Empress Mi Shu presented the promised gold, silk, and other gifts to the Yiqu King and then demanded Mi Yue. Mi Yue was brought in, unbound. The Yiqu King commented on her unbound state, declaring that Mi Yue’s worth was now "priceless."
Mi Shu then bitterly confronted Mi Yue, reflecting on the three decades since they first met. She offered Mi Yue an "honorable death" if she would repent and kneel. Mi Yue defiantly countered that her death would not secure Mi Shu's control of Qin. Mi Shu boasted of her control over Xianyang and her alliances, threatening to crush Wei Ran and Mi Yue’s supporters.
When Mi Shu ordered her maid, Pearl, to silence Mi Yue, the Yiqu King intervened, reminding Mi Shu that Mi Yue was still under his protection. An argument ensued, and Mi Shu ordered the Yiqu King and his "savages" out of the hall, but the Yiqu King's men prepared for a fight. At this critical moment, Wei Yan and Empress Wu (Wei Yi) entered the hall with their faction.
They attempted to offer the Yiqu King more gold for Mi Yue, seeking to undermine Mi Shu. They tried to have Mi Yue chained and caged, but the Yiqu King and his warriors blocked them. The situation escalated rapidly as Chu Lizi and Sima Cuo arrived, bearing the late King Wen Hui’s testament, which explicitly named Ying Ji as the rightful successor.
Wei Yan attempted a last-ditch effort, claiming Empress Wu was pregnant with the future crown prince, but Chu Lizi immediately exposed Wei Yi's fake pregnancy. Realizing the full extent of Wei Yi's deception and her betrayal, Mi Shu bitterly condemned Wei Yan and Wei Yi. With the testament read and Mi Shu's schemes unraveled, Wei Yan and Wei Yi were arrested. Ying Ji was formally welcomed to the throne.
A distraught Mi Shu was forcibly removed from the hall, defiantly protesting that Ying Ji was an unfit king. With Ying Ji's enthronement, Mi Yue began to wield significant influence. On the imperial court, Yong Rui proposed that a new, honorable title be bestowed upon Mi Yue. Wei Ran seconded the motion, drawing a parallel to the revered "three mothers" of the Zhou Dynasty: Tai Ren, Tai Si, and Tai Jiang, suggesting the title "Taihou" (Grand Empress Dowager).
The ministers unanimously agreed, marking the official beginning of Mi Yue's regency, and she would forever be known to history as Empress Dowager Xuan. The state of Qin was in crisis, facing severe internal strife and external threats from powerful neighboring states. Mi Yue, Chu Lizi, and other key ministers deliberated on the pressing national issues. They concluded that it was imperative to first neutralize the five hostile foreign powers before addressing the internal rebellion of the princes.
Their reasoning was that without the instigation and support of foreign kingdoms, the rebellious princes would lose much of their resolve. Meanwhile, Mi Shu, accompanied by her personal maid, Zhenzhu, managed to escape Xianyang. She sought refuge with Gongzi Hua, and together they proclaimed a rival court. To rally support, they abolished the newly enacted laws, restored titles and privileges to the old noble families who had lost power, and spread rumors questioning the legitimacy of the late King's testament.
Yong Rui reported Mi Shu's actions to Mi Yue. Mi Yue, ever astute, believed that not all the princes were willing participants in the rebellion, nor was Gongzi Hua's alliance with them entirely unbreakable. She proposed that the court should offer these princes a clear path to reconciliation. To this end, she successfully persuaded Ms. Tang and Wei Liang Ren to align with her.
Wei Liang Ren pledged to convince her son, Ying Chi, to return with his forces and support the court, while Ms. Tang promised to persuade Gongzi Yong and his mother to surrender. Gongzi Hua, having gathered several princes including Gongzi Xuan, advanced on Xianyang, ostensibly acting on orders from the former Empress Hui. Mi Yue swiftly responded, ordering the Yiqu King and Bai Qi to lead the Yiqu warriors to intercept and engage Gongzi Hua's forces.
Simultaneously, she instructed Chu Lizi to immediately invite envoys from various states to Xianyang for urgent diplomatic discussions. As no minister was willing to undertake the sensitive negotiations with the foreign envoys, Mi Yue decided to handle them personally. She planned to employ a "easier first, harder later" strategy, beginning with the envoy from Yan, Su Qin.
