The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Episode 32 Recap
> The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Recap
After Her Majesty the Empress Dowager fell ill, a maid reported that she had applied a facial mask after her afternoon nap and then began mumbling unintelligibly before losing consciousness. Duan Yunzhang immediately ordered Shuan to arrest Imperial Physician Yu Changya. Meanwhile, Jinfeng, with quick thinking, carried the Empress Dowager on her back and ran two laps in the room, which helped the Empress Dowager to spit out clotted blood from her throat.
An imperial physician praised the Empress's quick thinking and confirmed that the substance expelled had the same unique scent as the facial mask. Following this, Duan Yunzhang ordered a thorough search of every corner of the Lingshu Academy. While Liu Xie and Yongfu were sorting through old clothes, with Yongfu having just fondly found a scarf she had knitted for him when they first met (which Liu Xie initially tried to discard before relenting), Shuan arrived.
Shuan reported that Yu Changya had been arrested and that Duan Yunzhang intended to question him personally. Overhearing this, Liu Xie remarked that Duan Yunzhang was smarter than he had anticipated, acknowledging that Yu Changya's true identity would soon be exposed. He stressed that controlling the Xiyue Empire was paramount. Shuan estimated that the Xiyue troops would retreat from the border within six or seven days, but Liu Xie expressed skepticism.
He then declared his intention to save Yu Changya, believing it was time to put him to use. In another part of the palace, Xu Taifei received a letter and a gift of Molan Tea from Li Yuan. In his letter, Li Yuan expressed that he would never force her to do anything she didn't wish, hoping the tea, her favorite, would remind her of their bond. Xu Taifei, however, was furious.
She lamented her desire for a peaceful life with her child, accusing Li Yuan of believing she had betrayed him and attempting to poison her with the tea. She concluded that Li Yuan's ruthlessness was his own undoing. A maid then informed her that the antidote had been secretly placed in the Lingshu Academy.
Xu Taifei revealed her cunning plan, stating that Li Yuan could never have expected his poison to accidentally harm the Empress Dowager, as she had given the Molan Tea to the Empress Dowager earlier that day. She then instructed her maid to personally deliver a document to Liu Xie, emphasizing that their lives would be in danger if it fell into the wrong hands.
Duan Yunzhang personally interrogated Yu Changya, confronting him about the facial mask containing the highly poisonous Bolan Herb from Xiheng Mountain in Xiyue. Yu Changya explained that the herb was for its moisturizing properties. Duan Yunzhang then produced Yu Changya's clearance pass for the valley checkpoint, which allowed unrestricted travel between Donghao and Xiyue, accusing him of harboring hidden agendas. Yu Changya defended himself, stating he needed the pass to collect herbs and for self-defense in the unpredictable Imperial Harem.
He also questioned if Duan Yunzhang was fabricating charges for the Queen's sake. Duan Yunzhang countered that he initially suspected Yu Changya, but the obviousness of the poisoning method—using a Xiyue herb in a mask only Yu Changya could make—had cleared his suspicions, as Yu Changya would not have waited so long to act or self-incriminate so obviously. He then revealed his knowledge of Yu Changya's true identity as Crown Prince Li, the former Crown Prince of the Xiyue Empire.
Duan Yunzhang ordered Yu Changya to be sent to the Court of Judicial Review, but Liu Xie arrived to intervene, asserting his intention to handle the case himself. Duan Yunzhang warned Liu Xie not to overstep the boundaries of their relationship, to which Liu Xie advised against setting any such boundaries. Later that night, Duan Yunzhang summoned Yunchong, Xiaozhou, and Tang to discuss Yu Changya's identity.
He expected them to devise a plan to deal with Yu Changya; indeed, they initially offered various (albeit foolish) suggestions on how to kill him, but instead, they quickly pivoted to expressing sympathy for Yu Changya. Yunchong explained that the public believed Yu Changya, originally named Li Ya, was the cherished only son of the Xiyue Emperor whose father died prematurely, leading to him being hunted down.
He recounted how Li Ya, despairing, was about to jump from a rooftop when Liu Xie saved him. Yunchong also probed Duan Yunzhang, suggesting that he was capable of eliminating Liu Xie but chose not to, implying that Duan Yunzhang subconsciously perceived Liu Xie differently than others. Duan Yunzhang chuckled, guessing that Baiyu had put these thoughts into Yunchong's head.
Back at his residence, Liu Xie received a report that Li Yuan, with 5,000 Xiyue soldiers, had retreated to the valley checkpoint and set up camp, refusing to return to Xiyue territory despite low morale. Liu Xie viewed this as Li Yuan "digging his own grave," awaiting a crucial item. A letter was then shot into his room; upon reading it, Liu Xie declared, "This is it," and decided that the Xiyue people should resolve their own affairs.
Meanwhile, Yongfu recalled a night many years ago when Liu Xie brought an unconscious boy to her, instructing her to hide him as he had suffered greatly, promising to retrieve him later. Yongfu saw a unique jade pendant on the boy, which helped her identify his background. Her young daughter, Jinfeng, also saw the boy and commented on his "fish mouth" and "long eyelashes." Yongfu decided to name the boy Yu Changya.
Jinfeng later visited Yu Changya in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, directly asking if he had entered the palace with intentions to harm Duan Yunzhang. She reminded him of their shared upbringing and her reluctance to turn friends into enemies. Yu Changya reassured her that they would not be enemies, subtly adding that they had known each other first. Outside, Duan Yunzhang waited for Jinfeng.
He confessed that he had been informed of her visit immediately but did not intervene because he trusted her. He believed her visit had answered his unspoken question, stating she had affirmed she would always choose him. Liu Xie then approached Duan Yunzhang, suggesting they use Yu Changya as a captive to compel Li Yuan and his soldiers to retreat.
Duan Yunzhang rejected the idea, citing it would tarnish the Donghao Empire's reputation and violate his promise not to attack Xiyue warriors. He challenged Liu Xie, questioning his ability to smuggle Yu Changya out of the imperial capital, but Liu Xie confidently asserted he would succeed. After Liu Xie departed, Duan Yunzhang instructed Shuan to relay an order to Su Jingtang to guard Yu Changya closely, certain that no one could spirit him away under his watchful eye.
That night, Yongfu, disguised, infiltrated the prison and rescued Yu Changya. As they fled, Jinfeng stumbled upon them. Recognizing Yongfu, Jinfeng quickly diverted the pursuing guards by pointing them in the wrong direction, allowing Yongfu and Yu Changya to escape. Yongfu carried Yu Changya to the palace gate, where Liu Xie was waiting. Liu Xie playfully chided Yongfu for the trouble she caused but had Zhang Qian take Yu Changya away.
Duan Yunzhang confronted Jinfeng, angrily asking if she had released Yu Changya. She admitted to doing so but denied her father, Liu Xie, had instructed her. When Duan Yunzhang demanded a plausible explanation, Jinfeng insisted that trust should not require one. Feeling hurt and disbelieved, Jinfeng announced she would return to the palace to await punishment, adding, "My mother told me only bad guys would always suspect that others want to hurt them."
Her words triggered a distant memory for Duan Yunzhang: a younger version of himself, having run away from the palace due to harsh discipline from his tutor, encountered a young girl. The girl, who would not reveal her name, shared her mother's wisdom that teachers punish for good reasons and that "only bad guys would always suspect that others want to hurt them." Duan Yunzhang mused, "It's her?" realizing the girl he met long ago might have been Jinfeng.
Later, in Xiangluo Hall, a distraught Jinfeng, upset by Duan Yunzhang's lack of trust and his constant suspicion of Liu Xie, threw a lucky charm that Duan Yunzhang had given her. Liu Xie, who had been outside, picked it up, noting it was a relic of Consort Li and had been scratched. He offered to have it repaired by a craftsman outside the palace and then return it to her.
Subsequently, Su Jingtang reported to Duan Yunzhang that Yu Changya could not be found within the palace, though a lucky charm, presumably Jinfeng's, was discovered in the prison. Duan Yunzhang ordered a wider search outside the palace. Liu Xie arrived, exchanged tense pleasantries, then, referring to the lucky charm Su Jingtang had found, subtly advised Duan Yunzhang to hold onto it carefully and not lose it.
In her chamber, Jinfeng still fumed about Duan Yunzhang's mistrust, particularly his conviction that Liu Xie sought to harm him and that she sided with her father. She pondered who should apologize first, eventually deciding she would initiate the apology the following day.
