The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Episode 5 Recap
> The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Recap
Liu Jinfeng intercepted Shen Ao outside the hall, demanding to know the truth about Duan Yunzhang’s condition. Shen Ao reluctantly revealed that Duan Yunzhang had suffered from asthma since childhood, a serious illness that, with improper care, could be fatal and caused immense suffering. He further explained that he had developed a special medicine to cure it, which, administered one drop per day, could lead to a complete cure in 21 days.
However, Duan Yunzhang refused to take it, deeming the human testing conducted during its development unethical. Shen Ao warned that the medicine operated on the principle of fighting poison with poison, and consuming the entire bottle at once would be deadly. Liu Jinfeng, despite the warning, took the entire bottle, asserting that she would administer it to Duan Yunzhang herself.
Feeling sympathetic about Duan Yunzhang's long-standing illness, Liu Jinfeng went to the kitchen to prepare a cough-calming herbal soup for him. She expressed her desire to take good care of "Xuan" to Sufang. While Sufang went to fetch honey, she noticed Liu Jinfeng pouring the entire bottle of Shen Ao's medicine into the soup. Sufang immediately reported this to Duan Yunzhang, who reacted with anger, remarking that Liu Jinfeng was "Scorpion Liu's" daughter and just as cruel.
Sufang suggested that Liu Jinfeng seemed genuinely caring, but Duan Yunzhang dismissed it as an act, eager to see how long she could maintain her pretense. Liu Jinfeng then presented the soup to Duan Yunzhang, who, suspecting poison, tried to avoid drinking it. In their struggle, much of the soup spilled. Duan Yunzhang then challenged her to drink the remaining soup herself.
Liu Jinfeng initially claimed she didn't need it as she was healthy, but when Duan Yunzhang indignantly asked if she considered him already dead, she quickly explained that the soup contained "vitality water," a special herbal extract from Xianpa Village, meant to vitalize his body. Duan Yunzhang then feigned dislike for being called weak, so Liu Jinfeng, lamenting that the soup was getting cold, drank the rest herself, mentioning that her mother had given her an extra bottle.
She then grew nostalgic, realizing how much she missed her mother. Duan Yunzhang, whose own mother had passed away young, shared fond memories of his father taking him to Qingcheng Mountain to watch the sunset. Inspired, Liu Jinfeng asked him to take her there, suggesting they could practice palace rules during the hike. Duan Yunzhang, however, inwardly suspected she was trying to lure him out of the palace for an attack. He agreed to consider her request before leaving.
Afterward, Duan Yunzhang entrusted Su Jingtang with a critical task to be carried out outside the palace the following day, overriding Su Jingtang's desire to protect him personally during his excursion. Later, Sufang subtly inquired about the jade bottle of medicine. Liu Jinfeng confirmed it was Shen Ao's asthma cure but explained she had decided not to use it, choosing to respect Duan Yunzhang's preference after overhearing his reluctance to take it.
Sufang immediately relayed this conversation to Duan Yunzhang, who questioned if Liu Jinfeng truly said those words. The next morning, Sufang woke Liu Jinfeng, informing her that Duan Yunzhang was waiting to take her to Qingcheng Mountain. Liu Jinfeng, initially feigning indifference, excitedly sprang up. She noted that Duan Yunzhang had given Su Jingtang the day off, just as she had given Sufang a rest, leading her to believe they would have time alone.
Meanwhile, Liu Xie received intelligence about their outing and quickly dispatched men to follow them. Yu Changya, witnessing this, appeared thoughtful. At the summit of Qingcheng Mountain, Duan Yunzhang dismissed the guards, desiring privacy. Liu Jinfeng was delighted, finding the beautiful sunset and Duan Yunzhang's zither playing incredibly romantic. After a lengthy period of playing, Liu Jinfeng grew restless, though Duan Yunzhang continued, inwardly wondering why she had not yet made a move against him.
Yu Changya observed them from a distance. As Duan Yunzhang recited a poem, a group of bandits, secretly arranged by Duan Yunzhang, suddenly seized Liu Jinfeng. When she claimed to have no money, they demanded she strip, threatening to kill her "lover." Liu Jinfeng dramatically refused, declaring she would rather die. Yu Changya, masked, then intervened, rescuing Liu Jinfeng. Duan Yunzhang followed closely, and after Liu Jinfeng bit Yu Changya, she rushed into Duan Yunzhang’s arms.
As a group of black-clad figures surrounded Yu Changya, Liu Jinfeng pulled Duan Yunzhang away, urging him to flee. Yu Changya, after defeating his attackers, also made his escape. During their flight, Duan Yunzhang feigned an asthma attack. With no one else around, Liu Jinfeng bravely carried him on her back, running until she found a mountain cave. Upon waking in the cave, Duan Yunzhang found Liu Jinfeng offering him wild fruits.
She then insisted on applying chewed herbal medicine to his hand wound. Despite his initial revulsion at the unhygienic nature of the saliva-covered herbs, he reluctantly allowed her to apply it, seeing her genuine concern. Meanwhile, Liu Xie sent a messenger to Yu Changya, warning him that his impulsive actions could jeopardize their alliance. Yu Changya explained that he had only intervened on Qingcheng Mountain because he saw Liu Jinfeng in danger.
He then sent a defiant message back to Liu Xie, demanding to be brought into the palace soon, or he would force his way in, emphasizing their mutual need for each other. Back in the cave, Liu Jinfeng gently draped a cloak over Duan Yunzhang, which reminded him of his father's similar care during his childhood. She grew angry, believing that "Scorpion Liu" was bullying "Xuan."
Duan Yunzhang, amused, commented that he wouldn't believe Liu Jinfeng was Liu Xie's daughter if the Grand Chancellor hadn't insisted, given her tendency to side with him. Liu Jinfeng asserted that "Xuan" was her husband, not an outsider, and she would stand up for anyone bullied by Liu Xie. Duan Yunzhang then suggested they share the cloak. Liu Jinfeng expressed a wish that they wouldn't be found, hoping to enjoy another day together and skip the upcoming relative banquet.
Duan Yunzhang, observing her genuine nature, began to doubt her complicity with Liu Xie. He then surprised her by revealing he had sent Su Jingtang to Xianpa Village to bring her mother for the banquet. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Liu Jinfeng resolved to diligently learn palace rules to honor him and her mother. The next day, guards located Duan Yunzhang and Liu Jinfeng, bringing them back to the palace.
Immediately upon his return, Duan Yunzhang began drafting a decree to thoroughly investigate Xie Jun’s case. However, an eunuch presented a memorial from Censor Zhang, who had volunteered for border duty. Duan Yunzhang was then informed that Censor Zhang had already left the imperial city with his family. Enraged, Duan Yunzhang realized this was Liu Xie’s doing. Liu Jinfeng enthusiastically prepared gifts for her mother and sought Sufang’s suggestions for palace activities, but found all her ideas unsatisfactory.
She planned to ask "Xuan" later but was reminded by Sufang to memorize the names of the dozens of imperial relatives for the upcoming banquet, much to her dismay. In the imperial court, Liu Xie proposed Wang Qian as Censor Zhang's successor, a clear move to replace Duan Yunzhang’s allies. Duan Yunzhang understood this as Liu Xie’s growing impatience. After court, Duan Yunzhang went to Duan Yunchong to inspect a new crossbow, inwardly contemplating that the time for decisive action had come.
