The Mystic Nine Episode 15 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
After listening to Ninth Master Qi's persuasion, Ya Tou initially worried about disappointing everyone. She had planned to continue taking the medicine, even if ineffective, and quietly await her end. Ninth Master Qi, however, revealed a crucial truth: Er Ye's love for Ya Tou was so profound that if she were to pass away first, he would likely take his own life. To ensure Er Ye survived, a different approach was necessary.
Ya Tou found merit in Ninth Master Qi's words and, after careful consideration, followed his instructions to write two letters. One was addressed to Zhang Qishan, stating that the medicine could not save her life, only prolong it, and its severe side effects caused her immense suffering. She declared her intention to return all the medicine to Zhang Qishan, emphasizing that it must not be given to Er Ye if he were to request it.
The second letter was for Er Ye, explaining the entire situation and her firm decision. Meanwhile, Yin Xinyue, feeling bored at Zhang Qishan's mansion, began to explore. She stumbled upon Zhang Qishan's secret room and, out of curiosity, ventured inside. The room contained various antiques, and although the well-traveled Miss Yin wasn't particularly impressed by them, she was intrigued by the very existence of a secret room.
While touching and examining the items, she accidentally triggered a mechanism and fell into a trap, caught in a net. Zhang Qishan returned home, wondering about Yin Xinyue's whereabouts after being away for a couple of days. When he reached his room on the second floor, he found her in his secret room, ensnared in the trap. Unperturbed, Zhang Qishan watched, intending for her to stay there a little longer to learn a lesson.
Yin Xinyue, frustrated by his lack of sympathy, struggled, inadvertently activating another mechanism. Arrows shot from the walls of the secret room towards her. Zhang Qishan immediately sprang into action, rushing forward to rescue her. Yin Xinyue was unharmed, but Zhang Qishan sustained an arrow wound to his arm. After exchanging a few complaints, Zhang Qishan left, and Yin Xinyue noticed bloodstains on the arrow. Later, at dinner, Yin Xinyue waited a long time for Zhang Qishan to come downstairs.
Impatient, she went to his room to find him. She discovered him cleaning his wound. Feeling a touch of guilt, considering Zhang Qishan had saved her multiple times from danger, and she had often annoyed him, Yin Xinyue decided to change her demeanor. She intended to align with his wishes, hoping he would stop trying to send her away.
As she stepped forward to help him clean his wound, she inadvertently noticed a Qiongqi tattoo on his body, which appeared when exposed to heat. Zhang Qishan explained to Yin Xinyue that it was a unique tattoo of the Zhang family, made with pigeon's blood mixed with cinnabar, only appearing when heated. He described Qiongqi as a fierce and evil mythical beast from ancient legends, symbolizing his ill-fated destiny.
He warned her that a life with him would be difficult and urged her to return to Beiping. Yin Xinyue, however, found his explanation overly mystical and believed it was merely an elaborate excuse to make her leave. After Yin Xinyue left the mansion early that morning, her whereabouts were reported to Zhang Qishan by his servant.
The servant informed him that Yin Xinyue first went to the train station, then asked for directions to Er Ye's manor and headed there. The servant suggested that Zhang Qishan retrieve her, interpreting the situation as a minor spat between a married couple. However, Zhang Qishan simply ordered his lieutenant to be summoned. After receiving Ya Tou's letter, Zhang Qishan found the situation troubling. Ninth Master Qi, ever rational, advised him against indecision.
He argued that since Ya Tou was at the end of her life and the Carpesium had proven ineffective, their priority must be to ensure Er Ye's well-being. Zhang Qishan expressed concern that Er Ye loved his wife deeply and would never forgive them, nor would he be able to move past this, even if he eventually learned the truth.
Ninth Master Qi countered, emphasizing that this plan would not only preserve Er Ye's life after Ya Tou's passing but also encourage him to enter the mine, stressing the importance of prioritizing the greater good over personal sentiments. Feeling down, Yin Xinyue went to the Red Residence to chat with Ya Tou. Ya Tou offered her some homemade noodles.
As Yin Xinyue ate, she detected an unusual sour and sweet taste, realizing Ya Tou's taste buds must be failing and she had seasoned the noodles incorrectly. To avoid worrying Er Ye, who was also present, and to spare Ya Tou from sadness, Yin Xinyue bravely continued eating the noodles, praising them as delicious and claiming they would be a top-seller even in Beiping.
Er Ye, observing the scene, said he was tired of Ya Tou's noodles and wanted Yin Xinyue to be the fair judge. Ya Tou then explained she had prepared the noodles with a heavier flavor, tailored to Yin Xinyue's northern palate, to which Yin Xinyue enthusiastically agreed they were delicious. A servant then announced that Zhang Qishan and Ninth Master Qi had arrived to visit Ya Tou. Er Ye asked them to wait in his study.
Yin Xinyue, feeling awkward under the gaze of Er Ye and Ya Tou, quickly declared she would finish her noodles and return to her room. After Zhang Qishan and Ninth Master Qi greeted Er Ye and Ya Tou, Ninth Master Qi remarked on Ya Tou's improved complexion, attributing it to the expensive medicine, which he deemed well worth the cost. Er Ye thanked them for their help, promising to return the favor once Ya Tou fully recovered.
Zhang Qishan, however, cut him off. Yin Xinyue then asked Ya Tou why Zhang Qishan had come, calling him arrogant and questioning his "kindness" in visiting. Ya Tou revealed that Zhang Qishan was there to retrieve Yin Xinyue, but reassured her that they would not let her go, encouraging her to stay as long as she wished. Yin Xinyue, realizing Ya Tou had known, accused her of lying, maintaining that Zhang Qishan would never ask her to return. Ya Tou then inquired how long the two of them intended to quarrel.
