Under the Power Episode 1 Recap, Plot

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In the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, the powerful Grand Secretary Yan Song orchestrated the wrongful beheading of Grand Secretary Xia Ran. Following this, Yan Song systematically eliminated other political rivals, solidifying his and his son's immense power across the court. By the 37th year of the Jiajing era, Japanese pirates, led by Wang Zhi, launched rampant attacks on the Ming Dynasty's coastal cities.

In the same year, the Ministry of War's coastal defense map was stolen, prompting Lu Yi, son of the Embroidered Uniform Guards' commander Lu Ting, to be tasked with its investigation. Inside the Imperial Prison, the sounds of punishment echoed. Lu Yi observed a prisoner who, despite suffering under torture, continued to deny everything.

Known for his ruthless methods, Lu Yi offered the man a chance: if he could guess why he was imprisoned in three questions, he would be spared. The prisoner, though claiming ignorance, inadvertently revealed his knowledge of the Ministry of War and a recent loss.

Lu Yi deduced that the prisoner already knew the reason for his imprisonment, pressing him until he admitted the coastal defense map was stolen and that Cao Kun, a Director of the Ministry of War, was the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Yuan Jinxia, disguised as a young man, entered a bustling restaurant with her colleague Yang Yue. Without a word, she brazenly took a table full of dishes and began to eat with gusto.

The annoyed diners demanded the waiter remove her, but he was startled into compliance by Jinxia’s Department Six badge. Jinxia, while eating, flirted with a young woman named Cao Ling'er. Her companion, Li Dan, expressed his displeasure, but both he and Cao Ling'er sprang to their feet in fear when Jinxia announced herself as Constable Yuan Jinxia of Department Six. Jinxia then produced a wanted poster for Li Dan.

Panicked, Li Dan snatched and ate the poster before lunging at Jinxia. During their struggle, Jinxia's hat was knocked off, revealing her long hair and her identity as a woman. Annoyed, Jinxia swiftly tied her hair back with chopsticks. As Li Dan attempted to flee, Yang Yue threw a wine cup to stop him, but Li Dan used Cao Ling'er as a human shield.

Jinxia rescued Cao Ling'er, remarking that eloping with such a man was not worth it, before giving chase. Yang Yue was left sighing, noting Jinxia’s habit of leaving him to deal with the aftermath. Lu Yi’s investigation revealed that Cao Kun’s promotions were entirely due to Minister of War Xu Lang's recommendation.

While a map theft would harm Xu Lang's newly appointed position, Lu Yi considered the distinct possibility that Cao Kun was a spy planted to infiltrate Xu Lang's circle. Elsewhere, the captured Li Dan desperately pleaded with Yuan Jinxia for his freedom, offering gold bars as a bribe—a sum worth ten times the official reward. Jinxia, feigning concern about losing her job if the bribe became public, accepted the gold.

She then instructed Yang Yue to take Li Dan to prison and ensure Cao Ling'er was well cared for, while she departed for a new assignment, keeping the gold. Shortly after, Lu Yi received a secret report that something had happened at Cao Kun’s mansion.

Yang Chengwan, the head constable of Department Six and Jinxia's master, informed her that a fire had broken out at Cao Kun's residence at midnight, with Cao Kun himself in the room where the blaze occurred. Jinxia, using her toolkit, examined the charred remains. She noted the absence of soot in the victim's mouth and nose, concluding that the person had died before the fire. She also identified a metal fragment in the chest.

Mrs. Cao confirmed it was from an arrow wound Cao Kun sustained on the battlefield ten years prior. Based on this, Jinxia confidently identified the deceased as Cao Kun and concluded that he had been murdered. Yang Chengwan then announced that the Three Judicial Offices had issued a document, promising a reward of fifteen taels of silver to whoever solved the case. A chaotic scramble ensued as constables tried to claim the case.

Amidst the commotion, Jinxia swiftly snatched the document. Suddenly, Lu Yi appeared, seizing the document from her hand and disarming her of her handgun. The Embroidered Uniform Guards then surrounded the Cao mansion. Yang Chengwan quickly apologized to Lu Yi for Jinxia’s brashness. Jinxia, recognizing Lu Yi as Lu Ting’s son, demanded her handgun back. Lu Yi, questioning how a mere constable possessed such a sophisticated weapon, fired it, noting its compact design.

Jinxia proudly stated she had designed it herself, but Lu Yi dismissed its power as "average." Lu Yi ordered Cao Kun's body to be taken to the North Bureau for a re-autopsy. Jinxia, offended, questioned his doubt of her initial inquest. Lu Yi immediately countered, revealing the fragment she found was from a recent piece of iron, not something from ten years ago, thereby proving the body was not Cao Kun.

Lu Yi then asserted that the Embroidered Uniform Guards would handle the case, as Cao Kun was implicated in a case of treason already under their jurisdiction. Jinxia, angered, demanded her handgun back. Lu Yi refused, mocking her by claiming they were "even" for having scared each other. Incensed by his arrogance, Jinxia vowed to solve the case before him.

Upon returning home, Jinxia was taunted by a neighborhood child, but her adoptive mother, Yuan Daxiang, quickly intervened and drove them away. Yuan Daxiang often chided Jinxia for her constable profession, wishing she had married a wealthy pastry maker's son. She knew Jinxia secretly saved money from her meager earnings to search for her birth parents, which made her feel that Jinxia was ungrateful for all the effort she had put into raising her.

Lu Yi received a new report confirming that Cao Kun's daughter, Cao Ling'er, had eloped with a man named Li Dan, and Mrs. Cao had reported the incident to Department Six. Recognizing Li Dan as a key figure, Lu Yi immediately set out to apprehend him. Meanwhile, Jinxia was helping her mother sell dried bean curd at the market when Yang Yue arrived, informing her that Li Dan had escaped from prison.

Moments later, Li Dan himself stumbled into Jinxia's stall, pursued by Lu Yi, who kicked him into Jinxia's goods. Li Dan feigned ignorance about Cao Kun's whereabouts, but Lu Yi ignored his pleas and had him taken away. Undeterred, Jinxia boldly demanded two taels of silver for her ruined stall. Lu Yi casually instructed his men to give her the money. The next day, Lu Yi played a game of Chuiwan with the Emperor.

When Grand Secretary Yan Song arrived, Lu Yi subtly increased the force of his swing, sending a ball narrowly past Yan Song and startling him. Yan Song, despite his alarm, feigned graciousness and praised Lu Yi’s skill. Lu Yi, in turn, humbly dismissed the praise, attributing his position to the Emperor's favor. Later, Yuan Jinxia and Yang Yue, disguised as prison cooks, entered the Imperial Prison and located Li Dan.

Jinxia threatened Li Dan with the same gold bars he had used as a bribe, demanding to know Cao Kun's whereabouts. Shocked to see the gold again, Li Dan quickly confessed. Unbeknownst to them, Lu Yi was listening nearby and instructed his guards to stop feeding Li Dan, implicitly acknowledging that Jinxia had succeeded in getting the information. Afterward, Jinxia explained her deductions to Yang Yue: Li Dan’s generous bribe had immediately raised her suspicions.

Her investigation at the Cao mansion revealed that Cao Kun had withdrawn gold bars from his accounts multiple times just before the fire. Jinxia concluded that the gold bars Li Dan possessed were from Cao Kun, and that the elopement with Cao Ling'er was a pre-arranged escape plan. The plan was complicated only when Mrs. Cao, unaware of the arrangement, reported Li Dan to Department Six. Li Dan revealed two potential hiding places for Cao Kun.

Believing Cao Kun's affection for his daughter would keep him in the capital, Jinxia decided she would investigate within the city while Yang Yue searched outside. As they departed, Lu Yi, having overheard their entire conversation, watched them go.

Episode 2 Recap