The Long Ballad Episode 19 Recap
> The Long Ballad Recap
Mimi, in gratitude for Mu Jin’s help, brought him lamb bone soup, only to find him passed out in the tent. His feet were covered in blood—his earlier puncture wound from stepping on a nail had become inflamed and infected. Worried, Mimi hurried to apply alcohol to his body to help lower his fever. The next day, Mu Jin woke up to find his clothes had been removed.
He was flustered and irritated by Mimi's boldness, but she was only concerned about his well-being. Mimi recalled how her own mother had died from a fever after stepping on a rusty nail, and was immensely relieved that Mu Jin was safe. Touched by her concern, Mu Jin felt warmth in his heart and accepted her close care. After recovering, Mu Jin went to find Asher Sun and volunteered to go to Yunzhou with Mimi to procure supplies.
Asher Sun agreed. Upon learning Mimi was going to Yunzhou, Li Changge took the initiative to make her a pouch and even gave her pocket money. Though her needlework was clumsy, Mimi cherished it like a treasure and truly regarded Li Changge as family. Leyan was working to make a living at the embroidery workshop.
When she learned that a batch of fabric had been returned, she cleverly suggested to Madam Chai that they take the fabric to the market to sell. Hao Dou was on the road searching for Leyan. Wei Shuyu had also been tirelessly looking for her. The two met at an inn, and upon seeing that Wei Shuyu had caught a cold, Hao Dou, though outwardly aloof, reminded him to take care of himself.
He also relayed Li Shimin’s edict: Shuyu was to return to Chang’an, while Hao Dou would continue searching for Leyan. Later, Hao Dou saw a handkerchief embroidered by Leyan in the hands of Lord Hu. Upon inquiring, he learned that Leyan was still in Yunzhou and immediately turned back. At the western embroidery workshop, Leyan heard there was a caravan heading south from Yunzhou.
She planned to join them to return to Luoyang, and promised to repay Madam Chai in the future. Before she left, the embroidery workers all went out together to sell fabric. While selling, Leyan happened to run into Mimi, who was out with Mu Jin gathering supplies. Mimi had intended to buy some fabric, but upon hearing Leyan mention family, her expression darkened and she left in a sour mood—having lost her own family.
While continuing to stroll with Mu Jin, Mimi realized she had lost her pouch when she tried to pay. After thinking it through, she was certain Leyan had stolen it and stormed off to confront her. Leyan defended herself, insisting the pouch was hers, but Mimi would not relent. She described the pouch in detail and snatched it from Leyan’s hand in public.
Leyan was stunned that Mimi could recognize the pouch Li Changge had made, and felt deeply wronged to be accused of theft. Leyan returned to the workshop in tears. Madam Chai assumed she was upset about poor sales, but Leyan handed over all her earnings—which were quite substantial. Madam Chai secretly gave some money back to Leyan, telling her to take care of herself on the journey to Luoyang. Leyan hugged Madam Chai, full of heartfelt gratitude.
Madam Chai distributed wages to the departing embroiderers, advised them to be careful on the road, and personally escorted Leyan out of the city, reminding her once again to take care. Mu Jin searched along the way for the lost pouch, and when he pulled out another identical one, Mimi realized she had wrongly accused Leyan. She returned to the marketplace to find Leyan, but she was already gone. The two identical pouches were clearly both made by Li Changge.
Not knowing Leyan’s identity, Mimi decided to ask Li Changge about it. Because of this incident, she and Mu Jin were delayed in leaving the city and ended up staying in Yunzhou to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with the townspeople. Their relationship grew closer. Mu Jin shared with Mimi his past as a slave—how Asher Sun had rescued him from childhood abuse and how he’d since followed him to serve in the Eagle Division.
He hoped Mimi would consider the Eagle Division her home, but she remained silent and gave no reply. Meanwhile, on the grasslands, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Asher Sun gave Li Changge a glowing stone. His concern for her was clear—he wished for her peace and happiness on the grasslands. The next day, Mimi brought both pouches to show Li Changge.
Upon learning that Leyan had been selling fabric in Yunzhou, Li Changge immediately suspected she had run into trouble and rushed off without hesitation to find her. Meanwhile, Asher Sun received an urgent message from the Great Khan and decided to lead an expedition—something he did not plan to tell Li Changge.
