Episode 8 recap: Mei Lin and King Jing's Outing during the Shangsi Festival
In Episode 8, when confronted by Yin Luo Mei, Mei Lin explains that she infiltrated the marriage delegation to kill Mu Rong Jing He, seeking revenge for Qingzhou. At that moment, Yue Qin arrives, offering to help Yin Luo Mei investigate, but her true intention is to assist Mei Lin in getting out of trouble. However, Yin Luo Mei confirms that Mei Lin is not a spy from the West, but rather a lost child of Qingzhou. Still, Mei Lin's exceptional martial skills necessitate further investigation.
Listening from the shadows, Mu Rong Jing He realizes that the Eastern Palace has been quiet lately because they intend to use Yin Luo Mei against him. Since Mei Lin has managed to maintain a clean identity, Mu Rong Jing He isn't worried about Yin Luo Mei uncovering anything; he just needs to follow the lead to find Zhang Yin.
Considering that Yue Qin has helped Mei Lin and shares a close friendship with his father, Mu Rong Jing He refrains from sending people to capture Shu Mo. Instead, he uses the excuse of supervising Mei Lin’s embroidery work to move into Honglu Temple to live with her. Meanwhile, Mei Lin, Yue Qin, and Princess Zi Gu share drinks, and Zi Gu, in her drunken state, tries to encourage Mei Lin to pursue a relationship. However, Mei Lin does not respond directly, prompting Shu Mo to rush in and urge Zi Gu to return to the palace.
Zi Gu is anxious that her brother has not taken the initiative to confess to Mei Lin, while Yue Qin believes that matters of the heart require mutual willingness. Back in her room, Shu Mo applies medicine to her arm and contemplates that if she can secure a way to help Zhang Yin escape, she might also find a way to help Mei Lin. To that end, she informs Mu Rong Jing He that she has obtained a pass from a black market dealer that leads to the West, and that they could have a plan in place by the night of the Shangsi Festival to escort Mei Lin out of Zhao Jing.
The next morning, Mu Rong Jing He forcibly moves into Honglu Temple, leading Mei Lin to suspect he has made progress in his investigation, though he does not disclose anything. Crown Prince Mu Rong Xuan Lie has the Yulin Guards keeping an eye on the embroidery room, forcing Mu Rong Jing He to share a bed with Mei Lin. It becomes clear to Mei Lin that Mu Rong Jing He has many rules for sleeping, and his frequent insomnia stems from living in constant danger.
To help Jing He sleep peacefully, Mei Lin knocks him out and sits by the bed all night to watch over him. When Mu Rong Jing He wakes up, he is somewhat annoyed at Mei Lin for unexpectedly knocking him out.
As Mu Rong Jing He was scolding Mei Lin, he inadvertently discovered that she had lost her sense of taste. Mei Lin candidly explained that she completely lost her taste after the great fire in Qingzhou.
Soon after, Qing Yan reported to Mu Rong Jing He that Shu Mo planned to meet Zhang Yin during the Shangsi Festival. Mu Rong Jing He instructed Qing Yan to find a remedy for restoring taste. Meanwhile, Princess Zi Gu was being pulled by the noble consort to practice etiquette. Wanting to slack off, she hid behind a rockery and discussed how inscrutable Yan Di was, just as Mu Rong Qian happened to be standing nearby.
Yin Luo Mei personally entered the palace to meet her aunt, the noble consort. The consort was aware that Yin Luo Mei had feelings for Mu Rong Jing He, but it was clear to anyone that Mu Rong Xuan Lie was interested in Yin Luo Mei. Mu Rong Xuan Lie took the initiative to approach Yin Luo Mei, inviting her to watch the fire dragon at the Shangsi Festival and pray for the soldiers of Dayan. Yin Luo Mei had no choice but to agree.
On the night of the Shangsi Festival, Mei Lin and Mu Rong Jing He pretended to be a loving couple, enjoying a sweet and charming time together. Qing Yan followed Shu Mo and informed Mu Rong Jing He, but when Mu Rong Jing He brought Mei Lin over, they coincidentally ran into Mu Rong Xuan Lie and Yin Luo Mei.
Seeing Mei Lin nearby made Yin Luo Mei uncomfortable, so she took Mu Rong Xuan Lie away first. Suddenly, Mei Lin caught a whiff of sulfur and turned to see a suspicious-looking man. In a swift motion, he entered Qingyin Pavilion. Mu Rong Jing He and Mei Lin went to the room opposite Qingyin Pavilion to observe secretly.
Shu Mo waited a long time without seeing Zhang Yin, so she stood up to go upstairs, unaware that Yue Qin was following her. From her position on the second floor, Mei Lin happened to witness this scene and was curious as to why Yue Qin was there.
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