Episode 2 recap: Mu Zhuo Hua treated Liu Yan's illness.
Liu Yan and Yun Xiang Yue meet, but it is actually Yun Xiang Yue's maid who approaches. Yun Xiang Yue disguises herself as a maid and says she needs to go and remind the kitchen about a dish, but she is stopped by Liu Yan's guards outside. It turns out that Liu Yan has already recognized her as the real Yun Xiang Yue and praises her for her clever trickery.
Yun Xiang Yue asks Liu Yan why he won't let her go. Liu Yan explains that it's not that he doesn't want to, but he cannot do so as the soldiers also refuse. Yun Xiang Yue claims that everyone has their own grievances, and she is just a prostitute who knows nothing. Liu Yan promises to seek justice and vows to investigate whether Yuan Chengming is innocent. He also promises to help find his mother, Zhao Shi.
Yun Xiang Yue tells Liu Yan that her father is not a traitor but someone is using her and her mother's lives to blackmail him. Before Yun Xiang Yue can finish, someone suddenly enters and attempts to assassinate her. Liu Yan's guards engage in a fight with the assailants. Yun Xiang Yue suddenly coughs up blood and grabs Liu Yan, pleading for him to save her, but she dies shortly after.
It is revealed that Yun Xiang Yue was poisoned, and Liu Yan came into contact with her blood, allowing the toxin to spread through his bloodstream. Song Yun mentions that there are other sisters in the backyard who have fallen ill and hopes that Mu Zhuo Hua can help treat them. Mu Zhuo Hua agrees and goes to the backyard, where he coincidentally encounters Liu Yan, who is suffering from the effects of the poison. Mistaking Liu Yan for a servant who has been drugged by his mother to serve customers, Mu Zhuo Hua examines and treats him.
Mu Zhuo Hua gave acupuncture treatment to Liu Yan and discovered numerous old scars on his body. Mu Zhuo Hua unintentionally caught sight of Liu Yan's undergarments and was greatly shocked. Mu Zhuo Hua remarked that Liu Yan had many old injuries that would cause pain during rainy days, advising him to take care and keep warm. Additionally, Mu Zhuo Hua prescribed a medication for him.
Zhi Jian arrived just as Mu Zhuo Hua was leaving. Liu Yan assured them that he was fine and requested the Chengxiang to investigate the poisoning incident involving Yun Xiang Yue, as it would be more convenient for them to conduct the inquiry. Liu Yan found Mu Zhuo Hua suspicious and urged them to investigate further. Mu Zhuo Hua finally returned, much to the concern of the maidservant.
The next day, officials from the Chengxiang's office came to find Mu Zhuo Hua, informing him of a homicide case in the Xiaoqin Palace. All those who had visited the palace the previous day were to be interrogated. Mu Zhuo Hua appeared before the court and recounted the events of the previous day's medical treatment. He was astonished to learn that Yun Xiang Yue had already died, emphasizing that he had come to the capital to take the imperial examination and had only met Yun Xiang Yue briefly the day before, thus having no reason to harm him. The Chengxiang inquired whether Liu Yan had seen any suspicious individuals, but Mu Zhuo Hua did not mention Liu Yan.
Liu Yan showed the prescription to the personnel at the Imperial Hospital, who praised the effectiveness of the prescription, considering Liu Yan fortunate to have encountered a divine physician. Crown Prince Liu Chen learned of Liu Yan's illness and visited him intentionally.
After returning home, Mu Zhuo Hua deliberately informed the maidservant that he knew who the culprit was. Zhi Jian arrived and took Mu Zhuo Hua away, explaining that he was needed to treat an illness. Mu Zhuo Hua had already packed his belongings and followed him. Zhi Jian found it strange and asked if Mu Zhuo Hua was not afraid of any problems. Mu Zhuo Hua replied that it was his duty to treat people and that he had no wealth or possessions that others would covet.
When Mu Zhuo Hua saw Liu Yan, he immediately pleaded for mercy. Liu Yan asked Mu Zhuo Hua when he had recognized him, and Mu Zhuo Hua admitted that he had recognized him the previous evening. Mu Zhuo Hua explained the reasons: the calluses on Liu Yan's hands were indicative of long-term sword usage, but they had recently become thinner, suggesting that he hadn't practiced for a while. Secondly, Liu Yan's injuries had healed exceptionally well, indicating the use of high-quality medicine and a significant status. Lastly, Mu Zhuo Hua had seen Liu Yan's undergarments, which were made from luxurious materials. Putting these factors together, Liu Yan was the only plausible candidate.
Mu Zhuo Hua remarked that Liu Yan's temperament had improved somewhat, indicating the effectiveness of his medicine. He pledged to go to great lengths to assist Liu Yan.
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