The Love Lasts Two Minds Episode 11 Recap
> The Love Lasts Two Minds Recap
At the public hearing, Yuan Qinhe pressed Zuo Yanxi, asking where the murderer was if he had been in pursuit. Zuo Yanxi explained that he was pursuing the murderer but was intercepted by Yuan Qinhe and her companions, which allowed the killer to escape.
Yuan Qinhe questioned if he was blaming them for hindering his pursuit, but Zuo Yanxi clarified that the murderer was highly skilled in Qing Kung and intimately familiar with the local terrain, suggesting he would have escaped regardless. Magistrate Li then turned to Jing Ci for his perspective. Jing Ci vouched for Zuo Yanxi, highlighting his noble character as Lord He’s foster son and his primary duty to heal, emphasizing that Zuo Yanxi had never frequented brothels.
Jing Ci argued there could be no personal animosity between Zuo Yanxi and either Xiaoyu or Fu Manqing, thus no motive for murder. He concluded that Zuo Yanxi was truthful, merely investigating Xiaoyu's case when he encountered the murderer. Jing Ci further explained that Xiaoyu's message to Fu Manqing, "Secret Note Inside," led them to believe a crucial letter was hidden within the rouge pot.
They had hastened to Floral House, only to find the rouge scattered and no letter present. Jing Ci confirmed that Zuo Yanxi did not possess the letter, suggesting the real culprit arrived before Zuo Yanxi, killed Fu Manqing, and made off with the secret note. He also considered the possibility that the murderer could have hidden or destroyed the note after fleeing through the window.
Despite Jing Ci's detailed defense, Yuan Qinhe remained convinced of Zuo Yanxi's guilt, pointing to the dagger found in his hand. Jing Ci countered, explaining that Zuo Yanxi's personal sword would be less practical in close combat than a dagger, and his medical knowledge could account for the limited blood loss by puncturing an acupoint to stop bleeding before removing the dagger.
Magistrate Li, relieved that both Mu Beiyan and Zuo Yanxi were cleared of suspicion – Mu Beiyan being left-handed and Xiaoyu killed by a right-handed assailant, along with Jing Ci's arguments for Zuo Yanxi – ordered their release, eager to avoid Lord He’s potential wrath. Mu Beiyan took a moment to praise Yuan Qinhe for clearing his name. Later, Zuo Yanxi visited Jing Ci in his room.
Jing Ci, aware that Zuo Yanxi was being deceptive, confronted him about why, as the leader of the Shadow Guardians with numerous skilled subordinates, he chose to personally investigate the Floral House case. Zuo Yanxi confessed that while minor issues wouldn't warrant his direct involvement, the fact that both the Elder Princess and Xiaoyu had their little fingers removed compelled him to act.
He explained that removing a little finger and presenting it to the Emperor was a specific reporting custom of the Shadow Guardians after completing a mission. Zuo Yanxi suspected that someone was privy to this secret rule and deliberately mimicked it after the murders to cast suspicion on the Emperor, strongly believing these recent cases were connected to the attempts on Jing Ci's life.
Jing Ci theorized that the enemy's strategy was to allow the investigation to proceed until the true culprit was nearly identified, then reveal the Shadow Guardians' involvement. At that point, any investigator, realizing the Emperor's hand in the matter, would abandon their pursuit. Zuo Yanxi questioned if Jing Ci was truly prepared to continue, acknowledging the arduous path ahead, especially given Jing Ci’s previous reluctance to meddle in such affairs.
Jing Ci responded, stating that once embroiled in such events, he had no choice but to follow through. Zuo Yanxi, however, shook his head, asserting that Jing Ci was not simply "powerless." He believed Jing Ci was drawn into the situation because Feng Mianwan, with her fervent determination, had charged ahead, and Jing Ci, unable to disengage, had followed her into the turmoil. Jing Ci denied this, but Zuo Yanxi insisted his denial was pointless.
He claimed that even if Jing Ci witnessed Feng Mianwan harming him directly, he would refuse to believe her intentions were truly malicious, concluding that Jing Ci was hopelessly smitten with her. Jing Ci, with a hint of pain, responded that Feng Mianwan would not remain Constable Yuan indefinitely; she would eventually return to her identity as Yuan Qingli, marry, and have children, at which point he would naturally be able to let go.
Zuo Yanxi, seemingly amused by this, then provocatively suggested that since Mu Beiyan seemed quite fond of her, he could easily persuade him to return to the capital and arrange their marriage with Mrs. Yuan. This remark visibly agitated Jing Ci, causing him to cough up blood. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Yuan Qinhe was washing clothes. Xiaolu voiced her displeasure over Jing Ci defending Zuo Yanxi, believing them too close, but Yuan Qinhe playfully chastised her.
Xiaolu then reminded her of Jing Ci's previous actions, like rushing to her aid in Xialiang Village. Yuan Qinhe suddenly expressed a craving for pheasant soup and asked Xiaolu to buy a pheasant to make it. Xiaolu, though admitting she didn't know how, promised to learn. Jing Ci, passing by, overheard Yuan Qinhe's request for pheasant soup and a gentle smile touched his lips as he was transported back to memories of Feng Mianwan happily drinking his homemade pheasant soup.
As some constables approached, Jing Ci noticed Yuan Qinhe washing clothes barefoot in a wooden basin. He quickly intervened, helping her sit down, placing her feet on his lap, gently drying them with a cloth, and then putting on her socks. After the constables greeted them and passed by, Jing Ci abruptly departed. Yuan Qinhe found his actions utterly bewildering, yet couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her heart.
Xiaolu, upon hearing that Jing Ci had touched Yuan Qinhe's feet, was aghast. She exclaimed that an unmarried woman's feet should never be exposed, instantly branding Jing Ci a lewdster despite his gentlemanly facade. Yuan Qinhe, however, brushed off her concerns, stating that with her numerous male confidantes, she wasn't bothered by such trivialities. Xiaolu then observed that Yuan Qinhe seemed more proper now, avoiding her usual "caterpillar" male friends, but noted that Jing Ci wasn't one of them.
Later, Yuan Qinhe inquired if Xiaolu knew anyone named Jing Ci from their past. Xiaolu denied it, affirming that the only "Jing" she knew was Jing Ci, the county magistrate. Yuan Qinhe pondered why that name had surfaced in her dream. Back in their room, Yuan Qinhe bravely sampled Xiaolu’s pheasant soup, immediately gagging and accusing Xiaolu of attempting to poison her. Xiaolu defended her culinary mishap, explaining that she was only responsible for serving meals, not cooking them.
Later, they went to an eatery run by a Miss Jiang. While enjoying the meal, a customer inquired about the closure of the Floral House. Miss Jiang informed him that something had happened, leading to the deaths of the two most popular girls there, hence the temporary closure. The customer was astonished by the news of Xiaoyu's death, insisting it couldn't be true as he had seen her alive just last month at a friend's villa.
Overhearing this crucial detail, Yuan Qinhe promptly introduced herself as a Qinhe county constable and pressed him for more information. The customer revealed that Xiaoyu had a lover, a businessman from the capital, who would occasionally bring her to his villa in Qinhe. He added that the businessman, who had been frequently visiting Qinhe lately, was currently at his villa in Hanqiu Slope and preparing to return to the capital tonight.
Later, Xiaolu frantically informed Jing Ci that Yuan Qinhe had gone to Hanqiu Slope alone, having rushed there after learning a clue about a black cat from the eatery's customer. Yuan Qinhe had intended to consult Jing Ci but found him absent. Jing Ci immediately had a terrible premonition. He recounted that many years ago, Hanqiu Slope had been devastated by a plague, resulting in countless deaths, effectively turning it into a vast graveyard.
He questioned who would possibly construct a villa in such an ominous place, confirming his suspicion of a trap. Grabbing his sword, he swiftly departed to intercept Yuan Qinhe. Upon learning that Jing Ci had also gone to Hanqiu Slope, Zuo Yanxi decided to follow, reasoning that the eatery where Yuan Qinhe got her lead was the same one where Jing Ci had once almost been poisoned.
Knowing that Jing Ci, currently in poor health and under orders to monitor powerful figures like Lord Bo, should not be overexerting himself, Zuo Yanxi felt compelled to personally provide assistance, choosing to go himself rather than sending subordinates. Meanwhile, Yuan Qinhe trekked through the desolate Hanqiu Slope, noting the cold and damp, and fretting about the impending rain, eager to find the villa.
Later, Xiaolu frantically sought out Mu Beiyan, informing him that Yuan Qinhe was in grave danger at Hanqiu Slope. She explained that even Jing Ci had been visibly anxious, indicating the seriousness of the situation. Mu Beiyan, scoffing at Jing Ci's abilities, proclaimed Yuan Qinhe "his woman" and vowed to bring her back safely, despite Xiaolu's protests that Yuan Qinhe was a "young master," not a "woman."
Undeterred, Mu Beiyan set off, confident that once rescued, Yuan Qinhe would readily acknowledge their bond. Under the cloak of a dark night, Yuan Qinhe navigated the ominous woods, searching for the elusive villa. Suddenly, two masked assassins lunged at her. She fiercely defended herself, but after a few exchanges, one assassin's sword thrust directly at her throat. In that critical moment, Jing Ci arrived, swiftly parrying the blade. During the ensuing skirmish, one of the assassins fell, dead.
Yuan Qinhe immediately recognized the deceased as the very customer from the eatery who had misled her. Jing Ci, observing the body, noticed a distinctive red bracelet on the assassin's wrist, identical to those worn by previous attackers. Unbeknownst to them, Zuo Yanxi was also nearby, providing covert protection. As an assassin lunged at Yuan Qinhe with a sword, Zuo Yanxi deployed a hidden weapon, knocking the blade aside.
In retaliation, the assassin blew a whistle, and a snake launched itself from a tree branch, sinking its fangs into Yuan Qinhe's shoulder. Jing Ci swiftly decapitated the venomous snake and engaged the assassin, who, injured, quickly fled. Yuan Qinhe clutched her shoulder, her body weakening, and she collapsed into unconsciousness, caught by Jing Ci.
Zuo Yanxi pursued the injured assassin, who eventually leaned against a tree and removed her mask, revealing her identity as Tan, much to Zuo Yanxi's shock. Meanwhile, Jing Ci quickly built a bonfire. He cradled the unconscious Yuan Qinhe, carefully uncovering her shoulder to suck out the snake venom and apply a poultice. As he tended to her, he heard her mumble "pheasant soup" and then the name "Jing Ci."
This triggered a memory for him: an earlier time when Feng Mianwan was attempting to make pheasant soup for him, and he reassured her that she didn't need to learn, as he would always cook for her. A while later, Yuan Qinhe regained consciousness, confused by Jing Ci's actions. He explained that he was extracting the venom and applying medicine, grimly stating that without his swift intervention, she would have certainly perished.
Feeling a flush of embarrassment about Jing Ci extracting the venom from her shoulder, Yuan Qinhe quickly adjusted her clothes. She then recounted a strange dream where she was with him, yet the person in her dream didn't quite feel like the current Jing Ci. Jing Ci dismissed her confusion, explaining that hallucinations were a common side effect of snake venom. Yuan Qinhe playfully countered, suggesting it might instead be a case of "daytime thoughts leading to nighttime dreams."
Yuan Qinhe then questioned why, knowing she was a woman, they had maintained the pretense. Jing Ci explained that anyone with sight could discern her true gender, but the unspoken rule in official circles was "superiors act, subordinates imitate." Since the county magistrate chose to overlook her gender, everyone else naturally followed suit. Yuan Qinhe, realizing she had been lured into a deadly trap at Hanqiu Slope, expressed regret for her foolishness.
Jing Ci acknowledged her newfound understanding, then suggested that the assassins might have actually intended to kill him, not her. When Yuan Qinhe pointed out they had only lured her, Jing Ci cryptically responded that his enemies likely understood him better than she did. Yuan Qinhe then inquired about his sudden pain during their earlier fight, asking if an old ailment had resurfaced.
Jing Ci confirmed that he suffered from a congenital illness, a weakness he had carried since birth, noting his mother died giving birth to him. While years of medicinal treatments and martial arts training had helped him regain considerable strength, his condition was severely aggravated when he was betrayed, had his hamstrings severed, and was left in the wilderness to be fed to wolves.
He managed to escape with the help of a friend, but his body was too depleted to ever fully recover. Yuan Qinhe, shocked, asked who could have been so cruel to such a well-born and skilled individual. Jing Ci's somber reply was that it was someone he never believed would harm him.
Yuan Qinhe criticized his poor judgment in choosing friends, but Jing Ci firmly stated that for some people, once he chooses to trust them, he trusts them for life. Noticing Jing Ci's intense foot pain, Yuan Qinhe gently placed his leg across her lap and began to massage it, stating that if they were indeed as familiar as she felt they once were, there was no need for modesty between them.
Just as she was tending to him, Mu Beiyan, having hurried through the rain, called out for Yuan Qinhe. He immediately rushed to her side, expressing concern for her injury. Yuan Qinhe, surprised, asked why he had come. Mu Beiyan explained that Xiaolu had alerted him to her predicament. She thanked him, then asked if they had truly been very close in the past, admitting her memory of him was blank. Mu Beiyan, unfazed, declared it didn't matter and they could simply start anew, then proceeded to praise his own dashing appearance and popularity.
