The Love Lasts Two Minds Episode 24 Recap
> The Love Lasts Two Minds Recap
At Prince of He's residence, Yuan, feeling unwell and tipsy, was cared for by Mu Beiyan, who offered her freshly roasted chestnuts. As she looked at the chestnuts, a fleeting memory of Jing Ci peeling them for her caused her to frown in thought. Mu Beiyan noticed her expression and asked if something was wrong.
Yuan dismissed it, then remarked that since the Emperor had decreed Mu Beiyan would inherit the title of Prince of He, he should be focusing on "real business." Mu Beiyan asserted that accompanying her in investigating the truth behind her kidnapping was indeed real business, declaring that his wife's concerns, no matter how small, were paramount to him.
Shortly after, Mr. Nian, sent by Mrs. Yuan, arrived to take Yuan back to prepare for the royal autumn and winter hunting expedition at Mount Wan’an, which Mrs. Yuan would attend to serve the Emperor. Yuan was also invited to join for recreation. Mu Beiyan encouraged her to enjoy herself and promised to await her return in the capital. Meanwhile, at the Dyeing Workshop, Lord Ye discussed the upcoming Mount Wan’an hunting, noting Jing Ci's presence among the royal family.
He expressed suspicion that Jing Ci (Marquis Duan) was feigning illness, and, reflecting on Mrs. Yuan's close relationship with the Emperor and how she couldn't compare to Consort Jing's influence, lamented their past failed attempts to eliminate Jing Ci. He instructed Jiang Tan to accompany him to Mount Wan’an to eliminate Jing Ci (Marquis Duan), seeing the crowded hunting grounds as a prime opportunity.
Separately, in the Collections of Medicament, Jing Ci approached Zuo Yanxi, requesting his assistance and company for the hunting expedition. The Emperor then officially announced the start of the hunt, urging everyone to demonstrate their bravery and skill. In the Palace of Phoenix, Wang Zesheng was furious that she was forbidden from attending the hunt while Princess Changle, Yuan, and even Consort Qiao were going.
Aunt Zhixia attempted to calm her, explaining that Jing Ci's decision was for Wang Zesheng's safety, distinguishing her from the more active Princess Changle and Yuan (formerly Feng Mianwan). Unconvinced, Wang Zesheng accused Jing Ci of wanting to rekindle his relationship with Feng Mianwan, lamenting Feng Mianwan's persistent presence since Zhaozhou and vowing to get rid of her. During the hunt, Jing Ci and Lord Qing conversed about their lack of enthusiasm for hunting.
Lord Qing explained his martial skills were for defense, not for taking lives, especially given the current hardship faced by the people. They decided to return to camp. Elsewhere, Princess Changle encountered Zhao Yan while hunting and asked if he had seen Yuan, who had been chasing a pheasant. Zhao Yan suggested they return to camp as it was getting late, and Princess Changle agreed. Yuan, having successfully hunted a pheasant, found herself remembering Jing Ci and pheasant soup.
Later, Lord Bo shot a pregnant rabbit, which angered Lord Ye, leading to an exchange of insults before Lord Bo rode off. Yuan then met Lord Ye and they returned to camp together. Jing Ci then sought out Princess Changle for a private conversation. Upon her return, Zhao Yan questioned her meeting with Jing Ci, expressing concern about their unmarried status and the potential impact on their reputations, prompting Princess Changle to tease him about being jealous.
At the subsequent imperial feast, Lord Ye reported no success in hunting, while Yuan proudly presented her catches, highlighting a plump pheasant suitable for soup. Yuan noticed Marquis Duan's empty seat, and the Emperor inquired about his whereabouts. A eunuch reported that Marquis Duan might have wandered far in the vast hunting grounds and that search parties had been dispatched.
As Jing Ci was returning, he was intercepted by a eunuch who claimed Lord Qing urgently requested his presence at his camp. Jing Ci followed. The eunuch, who was Jiang Tan in disguise, offered him poisoned tea. Jing Ci, having recognized Jiang Tan and her expertise in poisons, feigned drinking the tea and collapsed, instructing the eunuch to find Lord Qing first.
Jiang Tan, believing Jing Ci was dead after checking his pulse, muttered that she had to do this for herself and Zuo Yanxi. She then quickly fled into the forest, with Fu Xiaohan covertly trailing her. Back at the feast, Yuan grew concerned by Jing Ci's prolonged absence. Lord Ye soon pretended to be intoxicated and was escorted away.
He then rendezvoused with Jiang Tan in the forest, who confirmed the success of their mission, ensuring Marquis Duan’s death would be attributed to Lord Qing. Lord Ye gleefully anticipated that Marquis Duan would no longer be able to flirt with Wang Zesheng. However, to their shock, Marquis Duan appeared, accompanied by Zuo Yanxi, Fu Xiaohan, and A'heng. Jiang Tan was bewildered, insisting she had confirmed Jing Ci's lack of breath.
Jing Ci revealed that he possessed an internal skill capable of suppressing his breath, deceiving even skilled physicians, and that he had recognized Jiang Tan early on, allowing her plan to unfold as a trap. Jing Ci then laid out his evidence against Lord Ye.
He recounted discovering a distinctive badge at Lord Ye's former hideout in Qinhe, which, despite Lord Ye's swift murder of the craftsman, was found to be identical in material and pattern to Lord Ye's personal badge. Furthermore, the unique secret color porcelain teacups found at the destroyed hideout mirrored those Lord Ye exclusively favored among the imperial princes. Lord Ye acknowledged his oversight, then questioned if Jing Ci had intentionally used Wang Zesheng to provoke him.
Jing Ci denied manipulating Wang Zesheng, explaining instead that he had anticipated Lord Ye's move during the hunting and had enlisted Zuo Yanxi’s aid. Lord Ye, impressed by Jing Ci's cunning, admitted admiration, acknowledging Jing Ci as the only person to have successfully tracked his murderous deeds. At the imperial feast, Zhao Yan tried to intercede for Lord Bo, but the Emperor angrily dismissed his plea.
Lord Ye, in a burst of pent-up rage, openly confessed his deep-seated resentment stemming from his mother's lowly status as a prostitute from Bozhou and the constant humiliation and neglect he suffered from his father and siblings. He declared that he would make everyone witness the "power of a cripple." The Emperor, hearing of the negligent Qinhe magistrate, Li Fei, ordered his execution.
However, Lord Qing interceded, arguing that Li Fei's culpability was limited by the excessive authority granted to the Ministry of Water and Lord Bo. The Emperor, swayed by Lord Qing's reasoning, spared Li Fei but punished Lord Qing with a half-year salary cut and reassigned him to capital defense, while Lord Bo was confined to his palace. Jing Ci offered Lord Ye a chance to surrender, promising not to report his crimes if he ceased his activities.
Lord Ye scoffed, challenging Jing Ci’s lack of concrete evidence, citing only the teacup and a similar badge. Jing Ci retorted that Jiang Tan's murders in Qinhe constituted undeniable proof, urging Lord Ye to explain himself to the Emperor. A fierce battle erupted. A black-clad figure, Feng Ting, rushed in to protect Lord Ye. Jing Ci immediately recognized him as the assassin responsible for Lord He’s death. Distracted by this revelation, Zuo Yanxi was gravely wounded by Jiang Tan's sword.
Jiang Tan, shocked by her own action, dropped her weapon. Feng Ting quickly pulled Jiang Tan away, protecting Lord Ye as they made their escape. Jing Ci rushed to aid the injured Zuo Yanxi, taking him back for urgent medical attention. After the hunting concluded and everyone returned to the capital, Princess Changle found Yuan in a somber mood outside her tent.
She informed Yuan about Zuo Yanxi’s severe injury during the hunt and Marquis Duan’s decision to personally escort him back to the capital. Princess Changle also mentioned that Jing Ci had inquired about Yuan. Yuan, however, expressed her disappointment, feeling that if a man truly loved a woman, he would prioritize her and communicate directly, as she always prioritized him.
She believed that if Jing Ci had difficulties, he should have told her face-to-face, lamenting his apparent lack of trust in her. Upon their return to the capital, a new and unsettling case emerged: the bodies of a eunuch named Yin and a palace maid named Sese, both from Lord Ye’s palace, were discovered in a lake, seemingly drowned.
The Emperor, having tasked Princess Changle with the investigation after she had boasted of her skills, also assigned Yuan to assist her. Upon examining the bodies, Yuan noted that while Yin showed classic signs of drowning, Sese's body indicated she had been dead or gravely injured before entering the water, her stiffened state preventing Yin from releasing her even as he struggled. Yuan further confirmed this by observing that Yin's stomach contained water, while Sese's was empty. Given that the deceased were attendants of Lord Ye, Yuan concluded that an investigation at Lord Ye’s palace was imperative.
