The First Jasmine Episode 33

The different ways of grief

The story behind Lishan Academy is so tragic. 😭💔 And to think she almost reached those guards down there to let them know what had happened up on the mountain! 😔At one moment, I wondered if it was too soon to show her those graves, but then... probably not—when else if not now? 🤔 When the army comes up and reveals the truth to her on their terms? This was definitely better, with Xiuyao by her side to sincerely comfort and console her in her grief. 🥺❤️The other plotline I have my eyes on is Feng Zhiyao's. 🧐 I was kind of surprised and a little bit excited when he met Mingxi there, but nothing much happened in the end. I actually hoped Mingxi wouldn't have lied to him about Zuidie, but I believe he did it for his brother. And why did they zoom in on that guy hanging up paintings? 🤔

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Death before dishonor

He toasts to the guests assuring them he will take care of Ye Li and never leave her alone. He is lucky they do not know he already broke that promise. 😝After the meal, Xiu Yao gets Ye Li to lay down and rest. He tells her of fearing death before they were together. He then adds that with her he is no longer afraid because they will be together. He looks at her with such adoration. ❤️ While she slept, he explored the grounds and found the cemetery for the scholars. Ye Li had even made her own memorial tablet. It was heartbreaking to see that she had done all of this by herself.💔😭For the first time in a long while she had some real rest and woke up to find her husband hard at work chopping wood. He already had breakfast ready and bamboo shoots gathered so they hunted for mushrooms together to finish up meal supplies. He made a chair for her that would let her enjoy the moonlight in the courtyard. He mended the bed and windows and helped her copy the books that needed compiling. She showed him the best spot for seeing the moon but it was not a clear night. He chatted with her about scenes changing and needing appreciated no matter what light they were in. There was never nothing to see. The changing light just made different things visible. She teased him for acting like an old man rather than one in his twenties. They were supposed to see the moon and stars not speak on deep subjects. 😝He encouraged her to go to a different place. The bridge where statues of monkeys resided. She was told to not cross the bridge because monkeys had taken over. She would stay safe as long as she did not cross it. Xiu Yao told her no monkeys were there and as she turned back they disappeared from view and she was seeing what really was there. They continued their walk til they came to the cemetery. She looks down and sees her memorial first and then runs to each one. There is a flashback to what happened. The school was united in rejecting Guo Jin’s rule. They would not betray the emperor no matter the cost. It was not meant to be a death pact to defy her rule, but sadly, that’s what the epidemic did for them. The medicine supplies were waning and Ye Li was determined to get help. They were just as determined to believe in their doctor of medicine and that they would pull through. They did not want to cooperate with the new rule in any fashion and locked her up to prevent her from getting help from the guards. When everything was almost lost, she sent QingShuang to get help. But the poor girl was too sick and weak and died a few steps from the shed Ye Li was locked in. She breaks out to find everybody dead. At the palace the pompous Eunuch was telling his tale how they all ran away and only Ye Li was left on the mountain. Fortunately before more lies could be made up or believed the young Emperor comes in with Prince Ding’s assessment of the area. He confirmed that all were dead, but that they had died from a plague several years ago and only Ye Li was left. The Empress dowager sent an officer of the court to investigate. There is sounding signal that they will be coming and Prince Ding set it up for two days later to give Ye Li some time. The scene goes to Suixue Pass where it is far from the desolate scene it once was. The peace the princess had envisioned had come to pass. Spy Feng and his escort arrive and commenting how even painters are making a living. Their conversation is noted by someone. They run into MingXi and ask him what kind of death met Su ZuiDie. Either we are just told she was killed and died miserably, or he is lying through his teeth to not reveal his brother’s part in her rescue. Back to the mountain YeLi is talking about her missions coming down from the mountain. With the Marquis doing all the evil work he was doing, it was clear he had the consent of Empress dowager and something needed done to correct that. She tells him of her 4 dolls Lu Fangchu, Ye family , Marquis MuYuang, and Empress Dowager. We now finally know what happened In Lishan Academy and why. It was the last stand for the old Emperor and their refusal to accept the rebel Guo Jin who gained access to the throne by abusing and suppressing all opposed and choosing to rule by the same means. The empty mountain top has the remnants of the ideals they prized and paid with their lives to uphold. Here the histories were not rewritten to cover betrayal and deceit. But the ramifications for that stand was the loss of the great majority of the best and the brightest. This explains Ye Li’s determined purpose in righting that wrong when she descended the mountain.

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