Episode 11 recap: Mei Lin and King Jing Develop Mutual Feelings
In Episode 11, a shocking event unfolds overnight in the city of Xiyan, where ten beautiful women receive threats from a masked figure. Strangely, all of them bear burn marks on their wrists. The deputy commander quickly reports this to Yin Luo Mei, noting that only Mei Lin is absent from the list of burned women, raising suspicions about a possible connection to King Jing, Mu Rong Jing He.
Some speculate that he might be using his affection for Mei Lin as a cover to secretly collude with spies, leading to a proposal to detain Mei Lin for questioning.
Through further investigation, it is confirmed that Li Qing is indeed imprisoned in the Xishan mine, while the commander of the Lulin army, Yang Zhen, has secretly allied himself with the crown prince, Mu Rong Xuan Lie. Given this situation, Mu Rong Jing He believes that rescuing Li Qing must be approached with caution and should not be rushed.
At this critical moment, news arrives that Yin Luo Mei has uncovered the truth behind the burned beauties and has imprisoned Mei Lin in her residence. Meanwhile, the deputy commander attempts to torture Mei Lin in an effort to disfigure her, but Yin Luo Mei arrives just in time to stop him.
Confronted with Mei Lin's injuries, Yin Luo Mei is filled with questions. Suddenly, Mu Rong Jing He appears, openly admitting that he is responsible for the burns and warning Yin Luo Mei that if she harms Mei Lin, she will be his enemy.
On their way back, Mu Rong Jing He reveals to Mei Lin the crown prince's scheme: unable to directly target Mei Lin, the prince mimics her burns to frame her while using the beauties of Xiyan to win over court officials, all the while coveting the position of heir.
Worried for the safety of the other beauties, Mei Lin expresses her concerns, but Mu Rong Jing He reassures her that if he can secure victory, he will protect everyone and has already begun devising a plan to break the deadlock.
Yin Luo Mei remains skeptical of Mu Rong Jing He’s actions, reluctant to believe that he would do anything to harm the Da Yan dynasty. She confronts him again, and he lays bare his ambitions—his desire to seize the supreme position—and invites her to Mount Zhonglin in three days, promising to reveal everything then.
That same night, both Mu Rong Xuan Lie and Mu Rong Jing He learn of Zhang Yin's escape from prison. Enraged, Mu Rong Xuan Lie decides to pursue Zhang himself, unaware that this is already part of Mu Rong Jing He’s scheme.
Three days later, Mu Rong Jing He and Mei Lin cleverly use Zhang Yin's corpse to force the crown prince to deal with the spy issue himself. Faced with Yin Luo Mei's questions, Mu Rong Xuan Lie can only shift the blame to the Minister of War, Gan Ning. With his plan succeeding, Mu Rong Jing He departs, leaving Yin Luo Mei and Mu Rong Xuan Lie in a state of confusion.
Yin Luo Mei felt a mix of emotions as she recalled her past with Mu Rong Xuan Lie and Mu Rong Jing He, especially the time when Mu Rong Xuan Lie lost the archery competition due to a bow issue, and she generously helped him regain his confidence. Now, faced with the power struggle between the two princes, she decided to remain neutral and keep the Ping Nan army out of it. Seizing the moment, Mu Rong Xuan Lie confessed his feelings, vowing that even if she became empress, he would allow her to retain her military power, making her the unique female general of Da Yan.
Meanwhile, Mu Rong Jing He found Mei Lin and, noticing her left shoulder injury, personally tended to her wounds. On another front, Zhang Yin was taken to a secret chamber dedicated to the spirits of the Wei Bei army and unexpectedly encountered the still-living vanguard commander, Pang Qi, who was forced to admit his mistakes. Mu Rong Jing He promised to rescue him and seek justice for the fallen soldiers.
As night fell, Mu Rong Jing He drunkenly collapsed by the lotus pond, sitting beside Mei Lin and reminiscing about their shared moments, including the time she had bitten his lip. Mei Lin playfully suggested he bite her back, to which he mischievously plucked her stone hairpin as "collateral," promising to return it after toppling the crown prince.
The next day, Mu Rong Xuan Lie and Yin Luo Mei entered the palace to report Gan Ning's plot against King Jing, inciting Yan Di's fury. As Yin Luo Mei left the palace, she overheard Yan Di reprimanding Mu Rong Xuan Lie and felt a sense of injustice for him. Back in her room, she looked at Mu Rong Xuan Lie's vow and recalled Mu Rong Jing He’s deep feelings for Mei Lin, causing her inner turmoil as she began to reassess her emotional attachments.
Meanwhile, in the Zhan Yue Pavilion, Mu Rong Jing He meticulously arranged wildflowers symbolizing resilience and hope, his intentions clear. Mei Lin, equally concerned for him, felt a budding affection between them. Even the sweet snacks sent by Liu Momo brought her a sense of sweetness and happiness.
Comments(Episode 11)