The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Episode 35 Recap
> The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Recap
A messenger from Grand Chancellor Liu Xie arrived at Xianpa Village, informing Yongfu that everything had been resolved and they could return to the palace. The messenger also conveyed that things were going smoothly with Yu Changya. Excited to return, Jinfeng immediately began packing, but Yongfu stopped her, reminding her that she shouldn't rush back just because Duan Yunzhang allowed it. Instead, she should wait for him to come and personally pick her up.
Yongfu emphasized that as the Emperor's wife, Jinfeng also held a significant position, and her reputation, like his, was important. She instructed Jinfeng to wait for Duan Yunzhang to make the effort. Back at the palace, Duan Yunzhang summoned Yunzhong, Xiao Tang, and Xiao Zhou for advice on how to reconcile with Jinfeng. Yunzhong presented his findings from a questionnaire survey among maidservants, concluding that the top three ways to coax a woman were to give flowers, gifts, and warmth.
Xiao Tang suggested that the Emperor should showcase his best qualities, such as his perfect face, muscles, and martial arts. Xiao Zhou, who had been tasked with researching Xianpa Village's wedding customs, reported on traditions like drinking Wuyu Grass liquor, red date and peanut tea, having a cake of everlasting love, and spending three days in a grass hut on Xianpa Mountain to watch the sunrise and sunset as a symbol of eternal love.
Duan Yunzhang, finding their suggestions either unhelpful or already known, dismissed them. He explained he was eliminating the wrong options, having been caused enough trouble by them over the years. Meanwhile, in Xianpa Village, the Village Head, Niu Dali, gathered the villagers, announcing the arrival of an important person who had transformed their village. Jinfeng, overhearing this, secretly rejoiced, assuming the man was Duan Yunzhang, and wondered what grand gesture he had planned.
When she tried to inquire further, Niu Dali assigned Jinfeng's family the task of collecting branches from the mountain. Jinfeng protested, stating she was the Emperor's wife and questioning if she should still carry branches. The villagers, however, countered that the Emperor's wife was still a member of Xianpa Village and shouldn't be lazy.
Jinfeng, believing this was all part of Duan Yunzhang's elaborate romantic plan, went to the mountain, only to be knocked unconscious, put in a sack, and carried away. Elsewhere, Duan Yunzhang and Shuan arrived at Xianpa Village, seeing villagers gathered at the entrance. Duan Yunzhang, believing Jinfeng had arranged this welcoming party, felt flattered. However, Niu Dali approached them directly, identifying herself and demanding a resolution to "the problem."
Duan Yunzhang, still under the impression it was a game Jinfeng had orchestrated, sincerely offered to resolve it if they returned "his woman." Niu Dali, misidentifying him as the "shameless landlord Mr. Chang," furiously accused him of trying to steal a woman from their village after already cheating them out of their land. She rallied the villagers, who armed themselves with farming tools and charged at Duan Yunzhang and Shuan, forcing them to flee.
Jinfeng awoke to find herself in a cave, transformed into a makeshift wedding chamber. Yu Changya, dressed in a groom's outfit, stood beside her. He ordered his attendants to help the Queen change into a wedding dress. Jinfeng was stunned, exclaiming, "Yu Changya, you've really become an emperor?" She questioned his audacity, to which he calmly responded that his attendants were simply obeying a decree – his decree.
Duan Yunzhang and Yunzhong were captured by Niu Dali and tied up in a cowshed. Despite Duan Yunzhang's claims of being the Emperor, the villagers refused to believe him, mocking his lack of imperial demeanor and mistaking him for the "landlord Mr. Chang." Niu Dali produced a document, demanding he sign it to revoke an unfair clause and prevent future harassment.
Duan Yunzhang reluctantly complied, writing his name as "Duan Yunzhang," which Niu Dali found quite formal but dismissed, still calling him "Mr. Chang." After he signed, Niu Dali informed him that while this document would prevent future trouble from him, he still needed to make amends for his past actions against them, effectively keeping him and Yunzhong captive. Meanwhile, Jinfeng was forcibly dressed in a wedding gown in the cave.
She confronted Yu Changya, warning him that forcing a wedding would be meaningless, especially since she was already married. Yu Changya argued that her previous marriage was by decree and no different from the current situation. Jinfeng insisted she and Duan Yunzhang now shared true feelings.
Yu Changya countered, asking why Duan Yunzhang would cast her out of the palace at a critical moment if he truly loved her, and why he didn't tell her the truth and face adversity together. Jinfeng, reflecting on Duan Yunzhang's actions, grew angry, agreeing that he was opinionated and didn't respect her by throwing her out without consultation.
She declared it was not true love and vowed to teach him "how to be a husband and a man" when she saw him. Yu Changya then revealed Duan Yunzhang was nearby and called for him to come out. When Duan Yunzhang didn't appear, Yu Changya seemed puzzled, mentioning they had agreed he would arrive first. At that moment, someone reported that the Emperor of the Donghao Empire was trapped in the village.
Indeed, Duan Yunzhang and Shuan were being subjected to various strenuous village chores, forced to plow fields, feed chickens, and herd sheep, much to the amusement of Niu Dali and the other villagers. It was then that Yongfu returned to the village. Upon realizing Duan Yunzhang's true identity, Niu Dali was overcome with embarrassment and immediately apologized.
She explained that Jinfeng had shown the village girls a portrait of her husband, but admitted Duan Yunzhang didn't quite match the handsome image. Duan Yunzhang's frown sent Niu Dali to her knees, clutching his leg and pleading for him to punish only her and spare the other villagers. Duan Yunzhang agreed, and Niu Dali then requested a royal decree to permanently protect them from "Landlord Chang." As Duan Yunzhang was about to consent, Jinfeng returned, stopping him.
Duan Yunzhang, seeing Yu Changya still in the groom's attire, angrily questioned him about wearing it. Yu Changya explained it was a custom in the Xiyue Empire for the best man to wear the same attire, implying that if the groom treated the bride poorly, she could go with the best man. Duan Yunzhang, infuriated, ordered him to take it off at once. Niu Dali again pressed for the decree, but Jinfeng still refused.
After changing into his own groom's attire, Duan Yunzhang led Jinfeng to a quiet spot by the village to watch the sunset. He solemnly apologized for driving her out of the palace and hurting her, and confirmed that her father was not a bad person. Jinfeng emphasized that a couple should respect each other and face challenges together, insisting that next time, he must confide in her.
Duan Yunzhang then asked why she prevented him from issuing a decree to help the villagers. Jinfeng explained that such a decree wouldn't solve the root problem. She suggested instead that he issue a decree ordering all landlords across the land to stop bullying their tenants, which she believed would be truly effective. Duan Yunzhang, impressed by her wisdom, acknowledged her as a unique and exceptional Queen.
On their wedding night, following Xianpa Village customs, Duan Yunzhang added Wuyu Grass to wine for them to drink as cross-cupped wine. He mused that this was their second time marrying each other. The next morning, Niu Dali frantically rushed to Jinfeng, reporting that the "Mountain God's curse" had returned, causing many men in the village to collapse. She urged Jinfeng to check on Duan Yunzhang immediately. Jinfeng hurried back to their hut to find Duan Yunzhang still asleep.
After repeated attempts, he finally stirred, groggily complaining about being woken up so early and with such a crowd. After hearing the full story from Niu Dali, who explained that all men in Xianpa Village except the children had fallen unconscious overnight and were not expected to survive beyond seven days according to village records, Duan Yunzhang found the notion of women bringing bad luck to their husbands utterly ridiculous.
He declared they would go down the mountain to investigate, dismissing Niu Dali's fears of contagion, stating that as the Emperor, he was a true dragon and immune. At the edge of the village, Yu Changya informed everyone that a plague had broken out and suggested sealing off the village to prevent further infection. Many women pleaded to be allowed inside to care for their children. Duan Yunzhang was sympathetic and felt sealing the village was inappropriate.
Yu Changya, drawing on his past as a physician, explained that the plague's spread was still unknown and couldn't guarantee it wouldn't infect women if they entered. He asked Jinfeng to discuss with the villagers, and Duan Yunzhang told them they could decide for themselves whether to stay or go. Yu Changya also offered Duan Yunzhang and Jinfeng a medicinal potion to sprinkle on themselves, urging them to return to the palace before showing symptoms.
Jinfeng refused to leave, and Duan Yunzhang echoed her sentiment, asserting that as the Emperor and ruler of this land, he could not simply abandon his people. He was confident the villagers would also choose to stay.
