The Mystic Nine Episode 16 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Yatou had been enduring her pain, feigning an improvement in her condition. Prior to this, she had confided in Yin Xinyue, expressing her feelings of unworthiness, being just an ordinary noodle seller compared to Er Yue Hong, a revered figure. Yin Xinyue reassured her of Er Yue Hong's deep love and commitment. One day, however, Yatou coughed blood and collapsed in front of Er Yue Hong, no longer able to hide the truth that her illness was terminal.
Er Yue Hong then realized that all the medicine was gone; Yatou had returned it to Zhang Qishan. Shortly before Yatou's collapse, she and Yin Xinyue were choosing clothes, with Er Yue Hong joining them and affectionately telling Yatou she looked beautiful in anything. This brief moment of joy was shattered when Yatou suddenly coughed blood and collapsed. Er Yue Hong immediately dismissed Yin Xinyue and frantically searched for Xie Jiu Ye and the medicine, only to discover it missing.
He was furious with his servants for their negligence. Yatou, in a weak voice, then confessed that she had returned the medicine to Zhang Qishan and refused to take it anymore. When Er Yue Hong asked why, she simply said she was cold and pleaded with him not to leave her alone.
Unaware of Yatou's true reasons, Er Yue Hong, desperate, carried her frail body through the pouring rain to Zhang Qishan’s mansion, hoping Zhang Qishan would give them the medicine. Zhang Qishan, aware of Er Yue Hong's impending arrival, hardened his heart and ordered his servants to lock the main gate. Er Yue Hong knelt outside, repeatedly pleading for the medicine, while Zhang Qishan remained inside, his eyes filled with tears but unresponsive.
He was bound by a promise he had made to Yatou to fulfill her wish, knowing that this painful act was necessary to save Er Yue Hong's life. He was willing to be misunderstood and hated if it meant preserving Er Yue Hong. In a flashback, it was revealed that Yatou had previously visited Zhang Qishan.
Knowing her illness was incurable and that the medicine (Lu Huo Cao) from Beiping could only prolong her life, she chose to stop taking it, confiding that she had dragged Er Yue Hong down for too long. She entrusted Zhang Qishan with the medicine, begging him to act as the villain and refuse Er Yue Hong, so that her husband, a passionate man, would live on and contribute to the country alongside Zhang Qishan.
Zhang Qishan, deeply moved by her sincerity and understanding her wish to protect Er Yue Hong, promised to fulfill her request at all costs. Outside, Er Yue Hong, seeing Zhang Qishan's unresponsiveness and apparent indifference to Yatou’s condition, felt utterly hopeless. He held Yatou, apologizing profusely for failing to get the medicine. Yatou, understanding the situation, just endured her pain, hoping that after her passing, Er Yue Hong would come to understand her and Zhang Qishan's difficult decision.
Listless, Yatou requested to eat a bowl of noodles. Er Yue Hong, without hesitation, carried her out to find a noodle shop. However, it was late, and all the shops were closed. Disappointed, Er Yue Hong could only carry Yatou back home. They sat embraced, looking up at the beautiful moon, sharing their innermost thoughts. The atmosphere was quiet, yet profoundly sad.
Er Yue Hong knew Yatou wouldn't survive, but he was powerless, and could only silently accompany her through the last moments of her life. Yatou's last words were, "The moon tonight. . . is so beautiful." After Yatou passed away, Er Yue Hong, consumed by rage, stormed into Zhang Qishan’s mansion with a sword and slashed at him. Zhang Qishan did not dodge, but stood firm, taking the sword strike to his chest. Er Yue Hong demanded Zhang Qishan's life.
Zhang Qishan's wife rushed to his side, scolding Er Yue Hong and tending to Zhang Qishan's injury, while Er Yue Hong, still furious, threatened to make Zhang Qishan's whole family pay for Yatou's death. Zhang Qishan calmly stated that if Er Yue Hong would accompany him to the tomb to investigate the Japanese conspiracy and save Changsha's citizens, he would gladly offer his life in exchange for Yatou. Later, at Yatou's mourning hall, Ninth Master paid his respects.
He then handed Er Yue Hong a letter from Yatou, which she had entrusted to him to deliver at the right moment. The letter, combined with Ninth Master's explanation, finally revealed the full story to Er Yue Hong. Ninth Master explained that the miraculous Lu Huo Cao from Beiping, while effective, also came with severe side effects like lethargy, hair loss, muscle atrophy, and deteriorating senses, which Yatou had already begun to experience.
Knowing her illness was incurable, Yatou had chosen to stop taking the medicine to avoid these effects from ruining her last precious moments with Er Yue Hong. This explained the painful truth behind Zhang Qishan's actions and her decision. Meanwhile, Chen Pi, after being rescued by Zhang Qishan, had been recuperating in the hospital. Once healed, he became full of vigor and left the hospital against the nurses' advice.
As he walked through the streets, he overheard people gossiping about Madam Yatou's death, causing his world to instantly crumble. He rushed back to the Red Mansion, looking incredulously at Yatou's mourning hall, finally realizing that his beloved Madam had truly died, and he had not made it in time to see her one last time. Shortly after losing his wife, Er Yue Hong began frequenting places of pleasure.
When Qi Tiezui went to find him, he saw Er Yue Hong with courtesans, his arm around their shoulders, his expression far from that of a grieving widower. Qi Tiezui reported this to Zhang Qishan, noting that Er Yue Hong's demeanor was even more flamboyant than usual, leading Zhang Qishan to suspect that something was amiss. When Qi Tiezui visited Zhang Qishan, Yin Xinyue was also present and brusquely told Qi Tiezui to leave, saying he should let Zhang Qishan recover in peace.
