Unique Lady Season 3 Episode 2 Recap
> Unique Lady Season 3 Recap
At the banquet, Zhong Wumei confidently told the Emperor that Lin Luojing, as the Immortal Doctor's pupil, could cure the raging plague. He proposed that if she succeeded, the Emperor should grant a request from both him and Lin Luojing. Wen Ru Yu, however, immediately countered, asserting her own ability to cure the disease, worried about Lin Luojing's potential restoration to her status.
After the banquet, Lin Luojing vented her frustration to Xi Que, calling Zhong Wumei "savage" for rashly promising the Emperor that she could cure the plague without consulting her. She complained about having only basic medical knowledge and struggling to cure her own gastroenteritis, let alone a widespread disease. She felt caught between battling Wen Ru Yu and treating the plague, fearing her "disgraced" status would lead to more trouble.
Zhong Wumei tried to speak to her from outside her room, explaining that he took on the task to help restore her status, not to disregard her feelings. However, Lin Luojing, still upset, pretended to be busy with a chicken and told him to leave, mentioning Wen Ru Yu needed his attention. Zhong Wumei bid her goodnight and feigned his departure. After a moment of silence, Lin Luojing, curious if he had truly left, asked Xi Que to check.
Xi Que confirmed that Zhong Wumei had left, a white lie as he stood just outside the door. Lin Luojing grumbled about the "savage" leaving so suddenly, then stepped out, only for Zhong Wumei to swiftly press her against the door and kiss her, calling it "compensation." He then left, leaving Lin Luojing blushing and stunned. She chastised Xi Que for taking his side, explaining that "elbows out" meant not helping her but helping "that bad guy."
Xi Que agreed that the Prince was "a really bad person." When Xi Que asked if they should send the chicken to the kitchen, Lin Luojing declared, "Spare the chicken," having a sudden realization about it. The following day, Lin Luojing went to Baicao Tang, the biggest pharmacy in Sheng Jing, to buy heartbreak grass for the plague.
The boss, upon hearing her purpose, regretfully stated that the rare herb was out of stock, lamenting that he hadn't hoarded more to "make a profit." He then rudely dismissed her. Outside, she ran into Jiang Xuanyu, explaining that the cure for the disease depended on this herb. Jiang Xuanyu, understanding the urgency, took her back into the pharmacy. His presence immediately transformed the boss's demeanor from dismissive to fawning.
The boss then admitted that all the heartbreak grass had been recently bought out at a high price, leaving him completely out of stock. In a private room, Jiang Xuanyu explained his recent absence, stating he had been inspecting his family's salt business in the south on behalf of Meng's unwell father. He then offered Lin Luojing fine fabrics he'd brought from other places, needing a "beauty to be the model."
Lin Luojing, however, was preoccupied, expressing her distress over Zhong Wumei's boast to the Emperor about her ability to cure the plague. Jiang Xuanyu reassured her, saying, "All shall be well." She then updated him on Zhong Wumei, who was doing well after a victorious battle but was now entangled with Wen Ru Yu, giving Lin Luojing the chance to act as a "genius doctor."
She also inquired if he had persuaded Zhong Wumei to find her when she had run away, thanking her "good friend" for his devotion. Jiang Xuanyu, observing her, subtly expressed regret that they were "just friends." Lin Luojing, distracted, didn't fully catch his sentiment. He then offered her desserts from Nan Yan. When Lin Luojing again worried about finding heartbreak grass, Jiang Xuanyu confidently stated that he could acquire anything with money, though there was a "just. . ."
before he was interrupted. Jiang Xuanyu visited Wen Xiang Lou, where Xiao Lan, delighted to see him after his engagement to Miss Tang, greeted him warmly and praised his unchanging handsomeness. Jiang Xuanyu, somewhat stiffly, inquired about her well-being. Xiao Lan then lamented the decline of Wen Xiang Lou since Sister Yi Yi left, forcing her to manage the struggling establishment as both top performer and acting mistress. She stated, however, that seeing him brightened her spirits.
Jiang Xuanyu then revealed his true purpose, asking for a favor. Although Xiao Lan initially claimed money was not an issue, she happily agreed to help him find heartbreak grass after seeing a gold ingot, confident that among Wen Xiang Lou's many guests, someone would know its whereabouts. She promised to send it to him immediately, but then requested "something else" from him. At that moment, Meng, his fiancée, unexpectedly appeared.
Meng confronted Jiang Xuanyu, reminding him of his promise to avoid Wen Xiang Lou, especially since they were still observing a period of mourning for his father. She questioned why he would visit such a place immediately after returning from Nan Yan. Jiang Xuanyu quickly tried to explain that it wasn't what she thought; he truly needed a favor from the establishment.
Meng, however, suspected his true motive, having heard he'd encountered Lin Luojing, and asked if his visit was for her. He admitted that he had promised Lin Luojing he would help her find a herb for the plague in Sheng Jing. Meng then asked him to take her to her father after he had fulfilled his promise to Lin Luojing.
An official reported to the Emperor that Lin Luojing’s medicine had been distributed, and patients were recovering, with the situation improving across the regions. Lin Luojing had diligently worked, finding the Immortal Doctor's old books, creating instruments, and using heartbreak grass to develop an effective "herb juice" to combat the plague. She confided in Xi Que that she looked forward to returning to the Mansion once the plague was contained, but first, they needed to expose the real culprits.
In the imperial hall, the Emperor noted the envoy's continued illness despite the widespread recovery. Lin Luojing stepped forward, accusing the envoy of feigning sickness and challenging him to confess. She revealed her discovery that the plague originated from chickens smuggled from Little Britain, a detail she learned from a market vendor who bought them from the "chubby foreign envoy." Zhong Wumei further corroborated this, stating his own investigation confirmed the envoy’s actions.
He exposed the envoy as a spy from Qi Yu who had been planning to incite conflict between Sheng Jing and Little Britain for years. Despite the envoy's protests of being framed, Lin Luojing presented the vendor's testimony, which was supported by other eyewitnesses and a document detailing the smuggling channels. Cornered, the envoy confessed his true identity as a Qi Yu native, expressing his hatred for Sheng Jing and daring them to punish him.
The Emperor, enraged by the use of infected chickens to harm his people, ordered the envoy's immediate arrest and severe interrogation. When the other two Little Britain envoys pleaded ignorance and reaffirmed their country's friendship with Sheng Jing, the Emperor was prepared to punish them for their earlier threats. However, Lin Luojing interceded, invoking the favor the Emperor promised her for curing the plague. She requested that the innocent envoys be spared since the true criminal had been apprehended.
The Emperor, acknowledging Lin Luojing's immense contribution, granted her request, sparing the envoys' lives but sending a warning to their king about the importance of shared fate between their nations. The envoys expressed gratitude to both the Emperor and the "Doctor." Zhong Wumei then urged the Emperor to restore Lin Luojing's status as his consort, arguing that she was unaware of her father's rebellion and had rendered great service by curing the plague and exposing a spy.
However, other officials strongly objected, citing her father's treason. The Emperor acknowledged Lin Luojing's contributions but, swayed by the opposition, declared his decision to confer upon her the title of Princess instead of restoring her former status. Zhong Wumei, deeply disappointed by his brother's refusal, muttered an apology to Lin Luojing, regretting not taking her away earlier. He then knocked her unconscious, and declared, "Let's go," carrying her out of the imperial hall.
The courtiers were left in an uproar, lamenting the King's audacious act and the Emperor's inability to control him. Lin Luojing awoke to find herself in Nan Yan, as confirmed by the System, which announced an update and the start of a new chapter: "Elopement." Zhong Wumei entered the room, finding her awake after nearly a day of sleep. Lin Luojing immediately accused him of again taking matters into his own hands and bringing her there without her consent.
Zhong Wumei claimed he brought her to Nan Yan to relax, enjoying its beautiful scenery, but Lin Luojing criticized his self-centered decision-making. He then informed her that he had told the innkeeper they were two couples and, since only two rooms were available, she would have to share a room with him. Lin Luojing refused, threatening to sleep on the street. She quickly conceded, agreeing to share but insisting he sleep on the floor while she took the bed.
Zhong Wumei readily agreed, and before she could protest, he sealed the "deal." Zhong Wumei tried to tempt Lin Luojing with talks of a great fabric shop and delicious sesame seed cakes, but she remained aloof, feigning disinterest. He eventually went off alone, saying "someone's losing the opportunity." Meanwhile, back in Sheng Jing, Wen Ru Yu was furious, telling the Emperor that Zhong Wumei had "dumped" her and they were now far away. She implored the Emperor to help her.
The Emperor, regretting his earlier actions, ordered his imperial guards to issue a warrant and bring Zhong Wumei back. Wen Ru Yu intervened, suggesting a secret search to avoid publicly humiliating her by revealing Zhong Wumei had abandoned her. She also warned the Emperor about Lin Luojing, painting her as a traitor's daughter who had committed "treason" by luring Zhong Wumei away, urging the Emperor to "punish that woman harshly" to prevent the dynasty from falling.
The Emperor challenged her, asking if she thought he was an incompetent ruler. Wen Ru Yu then subtly threatened to return to Bei Yu if Zhong Wumei did not return, implying Bei Yu's support was conditional. The Emperor reminded her of the shared danger from Qi Yu, which would destroy Bei Yu first if Sheng Jing fell. Wen Ru Yu, backing down, simply expressed her fear of Zhong Wumei not returning and becoming a laughingstock.
Later, on the streets of Nan Yan, Lin Luojing, with Xi Que, bought freshly baked sesame seed cakes. While engrossed in eating, she bumped into Zhong Wumei. He playfully asked if she was still mad, but she curtly told him to get out of her way, asserting they would "go separate ways," before walking around him. In a hidden location, Prince Jing Yuan received intelligence, showing vigilance towards a messenger from Sheng Jing.
Following this, a subordinate confirmed that their plan of transporting food and troops by water would proceed as scheduled. Elsewhere, Shan, Princess Wen Ru Yu's maid, was approached by Prince Jing Yuan. He subtly questioned her loyalty by observing a non-Sheng Jing pigeon, implying a connection to Bei Yu. Shan maintained her cover, claiming to be writing to her family.
Prince Jing Yuan then stated that he needed her help, indicating his awareness of her importance to the King of Bei Yu. Meanwhile, in a dark secret chamber, Lin Fei Yu, the Grand Chancellor rescued by Prince Jing Yuan, demanded that Jing Yuan fulfill his half-month-old promise, expressing his unwillingness to remain in hiding. Lin Fei Yu, aware of the increased palace security due to the plague, suspected Jing Yuan was behind it.
Prince Jing Yuan denied direct involvement, attributing it to the Zhong family's misfortune and divine assistance. He then revealed his need for Lin Fei Yu to unite with another powerful force: the King of Bei Yu, in addition to Lin Fei Yu's former allies and 100,000 Qi Yu soldiers, to ensure Zhong Shili's downfall. Lin Fei Yu, wary of a trap, reminded Jing Yuan that his own life would be forfeit if anything went wrong. Prince Jing Yuan reassured the Grand Chancellor that they shared the common goal of eliminating Zhong Shili, emphasizing that Lin Fei Yu's loyal followers awaited his triumphant return.
