Unique Lady Season 3 Episode 23 Recap
> Unique Lady Season 3 Recap
Zhong Wumei and Zhang Ji were preparing to depart when a Qi Yu villager called out to them, accusing them of being the malefactors. Other villagers expressed confusion, but the accuser insisted that earlier that morning, he had seen Zhong Wumei and Zhang Ji stealthily searching for water sources in the village. He claimed they had not only poisoned the river branches but also intended to poison the Ju Xian Canal, which would harm even more villagers.
Another villager corroborated the story, stating she saw them by the river that morning and firmly believed they were the poisoners. Suddenly, Liu Xiuwen arrived. He proclaimed that taking advantage of the water shortage to poison the river that the Qi Yu villagers depended on was an act of pure evil. A father, whose son Zhong Wumei had just healed, defended Zhong Wumei and Zhang Ji, saying they did not seem like poisoners.
Liu Xiuwen then revealed Zhong Wumei's identity as the Prince Regent. He criticized Zhong Wumei for his drastic change in character, accusing him of torturing Lin Luojing and now unleashing his anger upon the Qi Yu people. Zhong Wumei demanded evidence. Liu Xiuwen explained that the Sheng Jing River has one mainstream with two branches, one flowing towards Sheng Jing and the other towards the Qi Yu clan. All checkpoints along these rivers were guarded by Zhong Wumei's men.
After the river flow was cut off, Liu Xiuwen heard Zhong Wumei sent people to investigate the source, yet no water was released from upstream. Instead, the water was poisoned, and in recent days, only Zhong Wumei had visited the village. He challenged Zhong Wumei, asking if he wasn't the poisoner, then who was, implying it couldn't be him.
Zhong Wumei defended himself, stating he and Zhang Ji were there only to investigate and wondered how they had become the alleged poisoners in Liu Xiuwen's eyes. Liu Xiuwen then ordered someone to produce Zhang Ji's water bag, which had been found by the riverside. With this evidence, Zhong Wumei found himself unable to refute the accusations, and the villagers prepared to detain them. Just then, Wen Ru Yu appeared.
She revealed that while drinking water by the river, she witnessed someone stealing Zhong Wumei's water bag. The thief escaped, but she claimed to have a method to catch the true poisoner. Wen Ru Yu and Zhong Wumei briefly reconnected. Wen Ru Yu revealed that Lin Luojing had sent her a distress signal using a token she had given Zhong Wumei previously, which is why she rushed to help.
Wen Ru Yu excitedly shared that she had met her destined love, Sir Feng, a talented scholar heading to the capital for imperial examinations. She asked Zhong Wumei to provide him with accommodation for his studies and to offer him support in the future. As she left, she told Zhong Wumei that she had sprinkled Bei Yu fragrance on the escaping thief, instructing them to follow the scent to find the culprit.
Liu Xiuwen, realizing his misjudgment and that he had been misled, apologized to Zhong Wumei for his oversight and wrong accusations. Zhong Wumei then advised Liu Xiuwen to be cautious, implying that the person who orchestrated the poisoning might be close to him. Liu Xiuwen then sent his men to follow the fragrance. Later, Liu Xiuwen confronted Jin Chen.
Recalling Zhong Wumei's earlier words, Liu Xiuwen now suspected that Jin Chen's men were responsible for stealing the water bag and poisoning the river. Jin Chen, realizing Liu Xiuwen's suspicion, offered another Han Shuang Xue's antidote as a token of sincerity to allay his doubts. Liu Xiuwen, observing Jin Chen's uncharacteristic willingness to part with the antidote so easily, decided to trust him one more time but sent his aide, Yi Yi, to verify the antidote's authenticity.
Jin Chen then revealed he knew the whereabouts of another page of the crystal bead and requested an elite troop from Liu Xiuwen for his protection, which Liu Xiuwen granted with a tiger symbol. Meanwhile, Lin Luojing was pacing anxiously. Jiang Xuanyu had been gone all day, and she worried about Zhong Wumei, fearing he might fall into a trap while trying to solve the problems. Xique tried to reassure her. Suddenly, they heard horse hooves approaching.
Lin Luojing realized their hidden location might be compromised and they needed to leave soon. As Zhong Wumei returned, Lin Luojing rushed to embrace him. They shared a tender moment, discussing their future children, with Zhong Wumei expressing his desire for both a brave and smart son like himself, and a wise and skillful daughter like Lin Luojing.
Lin Luojing, however, kept returning to her concerns about the unresolved issues in Sheng Jing, the unapprehended poisoner, and the possibility of helping Wen Ru Yu's Sir Feng. Zhong Wumei tried to reassure her, telling her to only think about him. He shared his frustration with Liu Xiuwen, who still harbored feelings for Lin Luojing.
Playfully, Zhong Wumei asked what she would do if he didn't return from his trip, to which she threatened to marry someone else, reminding him of his unfulfilled promises for a wedding and a child. Jiang Xuanyu briefly interrupted their moment. As Zhong Wumei departed, Lin Luojing chose not to see him off, believing that a reunion followed by another parting would be too painful for them both, especially with his many worries.
She hoped to spare him additional emotional burden. Despite her resolve, she felt an unsettling premonition, a deep anxiety that something bad was about to happen. Separately, Tang Meng informed Jin Chen about Lin Luojing and Jiang Xuanyu's hidden residence in a small hut, noting that it was guarded by highly skilled palace guards. She had marked the path for him. Jin Chen commended her for her decisiveness, remarking on how ruthless even a reclusive lady could be.
He reminded her that he still held leverage over her and needed her for one more task to lure them out, as he intended to outsmart the palace guards rather than directly confront them. Jiang Xuanyu burst into Lin Luojing's hiding place, holding a letter. It stated that Tang Meng had been kidnapped by the Feng Yun 12th Fortress, demanding a ransom of 100,000 tael, to be delivered by Jiang Xuanyu alone within six hours.
Lin Luojing cautioned him, as the Feng Yun 12th Fortress was known to be a gathering place for masters, and he might not be able to handle them alone. She suggested he take the palace guards, Jun and Hu, who were stationed outside. Jiang Xuanyu initially refused, stating they were there to protect her. Lin Luojing insisted, highlighting his many days of protection and the fact that both she and Zhong Wumei were indebted to him. She also noted the fortress's proximity and the secluded location of their current residence, making it unlikely to be discovered easily.
