The Love Lasts Two Minds Episode 17 Recap
> The Love Lasts Two Minds Recap
Yuan returned to the county government visibly limping, explaining to Princess Changle that she had sprained her ankle after a fall. Princess Changle expressed concern and offered to let Yuan rest, excusing her from the ongoing investigation at Prince He's manor. Yuan, however, insisted she was fine and would just apply some herbal oil.
Later, Princess Changle confided in her maid, Yun Duo, that Yuan, despite her past, seemed genuinely changed and without complaint, leading Princess Changle to believe she might truly have lost her memory. However, she remained suspicious of Zhao Yan’s lingering affections for Yuan and instructed Yun Duo to keep a close eye on him. Princess Changle then led a search of Shuxin Clinic. Inside Zuo Yanxi's room, her men discovered Shenhun Grass.
A subordinate reported that the clinic’s records showed seven qian of the Shenhun Grass missing from its last recorded use. When confronted, Zuo Yanxi confirmed that Shuxin Clinic was the only place in Qinhe that stocked the rare herb, but he could not explain the missing quantity. Princess Changle pressed him, citing his previous argument with Lord He and his absence from home the night of the murder as strong evidence.
Zuo Yanxi vehemently denied any intention to harm his foster father, but Princess Changle, convinced of his guilt, ordered his torture. Zhao Yan immediately intervened, urging Princess Changle to reconsider. Meanwhile, Yuan informed Mu Beiyan, who was speaking with Your Highness Prince Ye in the mourning hall, that Princess Changle might be about to torture Zuo Yanxi. Mu Beiyan, enraged, rushed to the clinic with Yuan.
After Mu Beiyan departed, Your Highness Prince Ye was seen by Lord He's coffin, dropping joss paper into the fire with a sinister smile, muttering that Lord He should not blame him for his disloyalty. At the clinic, Princess Changle insisted on proceeding with the torture, dismissing Magistrate Jing's caution that Prince He's manor was not a yamen and that hasty action could disrespect Lord He's memory. Unfamiliar with Magistrate Jing, Princess Changle asked his identity.
He introduced himself as Jing Zhiwan, the county magistrate of Qinhe, prompting Princess Changle to accuse him of having a private connection with Zuo Yanxi and attempting to protect him. Just as she renewed her order for torture, Mu Beiyan burst in, declaring that no one dared harm a person from Prince He's manor.
When Princess Changle threatened him for obstructing her, Mu Beiyan retorted that his life was his own, and vowed that no one would lay a finger on Zuo Yanxi without going through him first. He then pulled Zuo Yanxi away, much to Princess Changle’s fury. Zuo Yanxi thanked Mu Beiyan for his protection, and Mu Beiyan affirmed his belief in Zuo Yanxi's innocence. Zuo Yanxi then advised Mu Beiyan to act with restraint during the mourning period.
Despite Mu Beiyan's insistence that Zuo Yanxi stay safe at Prince He's manor, Zuo Yanxi firmly declared his intention to return to the county government. He argued that as a suspect, remaining at the manor would only invite more criticism, and he trusted Magistrate Jing and Zhao Yan to clear his name. Mu Beiyan reluctantly agreed.
Still fuming over Mu Beiyan's defiance, Princess Changle was urged by Yuan to extend the search to Lord He’s detached courtyard, suggesting new clues might be found there, especially since the Shuxin Clinic search had yielded little. Magistrate Jing supported this, noting that previous investigations were restricted due to Lord He’s noble status. Princess Changle agreed and ordered a thorough search.
Before leaving, Princess Changle made a pointed remark to Yuan, suggesting she would be smarter if she focused less on men, and then ordered Zhao Yan to accompany her. Yuan and Magistrate Jing proceeded to search the kitchen in the detached courtyard. They found a maid fetching ice, who explained that Lord He and Lord junior enjoyed cold food, so the manor maintained an ice room to provide ice year-round for cooling fruits and making desserts like apricot-flavored almond tofu.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yan reported no significant findings to Princess Changle. Princess Changle dismissed Zhao Yan's concern about the whereabouts of Magistrate Jing and Yuan, remarking that they were inseparable, hinting at a romantic involvement, which prompted Zhao Yan to urge her to be careful with their reputations. Princess Changle decided to leave the detached courtyard without waiting for them. After leaving the kitchen, Magistrate Jing felt a sudden illness but concealed it from Yuan.
Yuan observed that Mu Beiyan had become serious about finding the murderer. Magistrate Jing commented that with Lord He gone, the responsibility of the family now rested on Mu Beiyan. Yuan then proposed they go check on Mu Beiyan's progress. Magistrate Jing told her to go ahead while he returned to the county government to see Zuo Yanxi. Once Yuan was out of sight, Magistrate Jing coughed violently into a handkerchief, revealing blood.
Realizing his condition was worsening and his time was limited, he painfully resolved not to give Yuan false hope, believing it would only lead to her lifelong suffering. Yuan went to speak with Mu Beiyan. He thanked her, saying her previous actions had "woken him up" from his dissolute life, and Yuan affirmed his righteous nature despite his earlier recklessness. Soon after, Xin'er, a servant from Shuxin Clinic, arrived with more information.
She claimed to have seen Zuo Yanxi leave the clinic in a dark outfit the night Lord He was killed, heading out into the darkness. Xin'er also recounted a previous incident on the 29th of last month when, while Zuo Yanxi was out, she saw a shadowy figure, wearing Lord He's clothes and of a similar build, sneak into Zuo Yanxi’s usually locked room. This figure later had a long conversation with Xue Zhaoyi.
Xin'er noted that only masters with keys could access Zuo Yanxi's room when he was absent, suggesting the figure might have taken the Shenhun Grass. Yuan mentioned she hadn't seen Xue Zhaoyi recently. Mu Beiyan explained that Xue Zhaoyi was Lord He's concubine, who managed the household after his mother's death, and was reportedly bedridden with grief.
However, Xin'er contradicted this, revealing that Xue Zhaoyi was not sick but had been severely beaten by Lord He on the day of his death. She had been flogged and locked in the woodshed, barely alive the next morning, and the medicine she received was for trauma. Shocked, Mu Beiyan immediately rushed off to find Xue Zhaoyi. They failed to find her in her room, but a parrot outside repeatedly chirped "Moxiang! Moxiang! Silly one! Silly one! Come here!
Come here!" Mu Beiyan reacted with anger, explaining that "Moxiang" was Xue Zhaoyi's private nickname, used only by Lord He. He realized the parrot must have learned it from someone other than his father, implying a closer, perhaps illicit, relationship. He then dispatched his men to search for Xue Zhaoyi. Meanwhile, Magistrate Jing, while playing Go with Zuo Yanxi, was distracted.
He brought up Zuo Yanxi's earlier comment about Yuan and Mu Beiyan’s engagement being suitable, admitting he now found it logical due to his own worsening illness and limited time. Zuo Yanxi tried to reassure him about finding a cure, but Magistrate Jing expressed his fear of leaving Yuan alone to a lonely old age. Mu Beiyan's men eventually located Xue Zhaoyi on a cliff. Appearing disheveled and raving about ghosts, she suddenly leapt from the cliff to her death.
The following morning, Yuan presented Magistrate Jing with a new pouch she had spent several nights embroidering with mandarin ducks, urging him to use it instead of his old, worn one. Magistrate Jing, however, gently but firmly refused. He spoke of an old saying, "Clothes are better new, but people are better old," explaining that he cherished the "old friend" who had embroidered his original pouch.
He revealed that this person, whom he still longed to protect, was now married, and he felt unable to move on to a new relationship. Yuan, heartbroken, referenced their intimate night together. Magistrate Jing coldly denied anything had happened, stating she had merely fainted and slept, and the innkeeper's wife had changed her clothes. Yuan’s pouch slipped from her grasp as she questioned if truly nothing had ever transpired between them.
