The First Jasmine (Mo Li): Ep 21/22 Recap - Spears and Grudges
Previous recaps: Ep 1-4, Ep 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20
Main characters:
Bai Lu as Ye Li
Cheng Lei as Mo Xiuyao/Prince Ding
Novel fan translation: Mo Li
Ep 21: Ye Li's bird flew away and her mom replaced it, but she knew it was a new bird. This is why she doesn't want any new pets (and probably something about why she's being cold with her husband).
We also have to imagine that a whole bunch of dead people also said that to Ye Li...
Looks like the marquis told everyone to arrive super early to meet the Cangbei envoy because he's a massive jerk. The outfits on them are the colours I love the most!
This man seems to have a major guest role, so we must learn his name
Okay... Mo Xiuyao killed Lei Tengfeng's father? And he's the envoy? That doesn't seem like good diplomacy... They have an argument about the princess's carriage, which isn't allowed in the capital because it's just too cool (only the emperor is allowed a carriage that cool). And may I say that rich/high status people banning other people from wearing their coolest clothes or whatever else is always the funniest thing to me. Rich people are so insecure. Oh no, if a peasant wears silk I won't feel special anymore! (Yes yes, I understand it's all about rank and whatnot, but I still think it's petty)
Anyway, Feng Zhiyao is all excited to meet his "sworn brother" again. They drink together. I'm almost certain this woman is actually the princess and the other one is a fake.
The headgear! (I would have a huge headache)
I was right! She's a fake. The real princess returns.
We see a random guy running away from black clad troops. He has something they want. The woman who faked being the princess used to be engaged to Mo Xiuyao.
Mo Xiuyao tells Ye Li about all the illustrious men who are attending the banquet for the princess. It's a matchmaking scheme. She says it's too bad he's already married or he could compete. He says no one would chose him and Ye Li feigns being insulted.
The marquis introduces Lin Tinglan to his creepy son and suggests they hang out, but Lady Lin firmly turns him down (good for her). At the banquet, Mo Xiuyao figures out that the princesses had been switched. One of the academics calls the princess a hypocrite for forcing her father to abdicate and ruling through her brother, which women shouldn't do. She points out that their country is basically ruled by a woman, how does he feel about treason? Ye Li is asked to give her opinion, she calls the scholar an idiot and then flirts with the princess.
Cannot be a Bai Lu character without being a little bi
General Lei Tengfeng proposes that they have some fun entertainment duels. Everyone seems nervous, but the Empress Dowager allows it. Lin Tinglan says she's too drunk but really she's taking a walk to find her love interest... nope she offers him a job and says she's a better bet than the marquis. He doesn't seem impressed. He leaves her handkerchief behind.
The man from earlier arrives at the Jing prefect office with a secret letter from Huaixi, which I believe is where the marquis comes from. Gu sends a man to the palace to get Mo Xiuyao. He leaves during the first duel. After reading the letter, he asks to see the emperor, but I have a feeling this eunuch has actually brought him to an assassination location. Look at the dust!
Ep 22: Yep, this place is full of assassins. They brought a lot of men to kill one dude in a wheelchair.
He actually starts by fighting them from his wheelchair which was very cool choreography but then! Ha ha ha! Die suckas, he can walk!
Lei Tengfeng wins another duel
He wants to up the stakes and offers 200 war horses if the other side wins, but in exchange he wants Mo Xiuyao's spear since it killed his father. However, Mo Xiuyao has stepped out and can't agree to the terms
He challenges anyone from the crowd. Zhou Tianyang tries to go, but his father makes him sit back down. Ye Li says they can easily part with a spear, but she doesn't want to give it to him because he isn't loyal. She points out his family history of supporting whomever is winning. He goes to attack Ye Li but is blocked!
The fight while both having flashbacks to the war eight years ago.. lol Mo Xiuyao is just punching him right now. He wins! They win the horses! That fight was very fun. Let's hope hiding that he can walk isn't treason or something.
Mo Xiuyao also gives the emperor the letter, which leads to the arrest of an official. The marquis isn't allowed to handle the case, it's given to Mo Xiuyao. The Duke of Huaguo arrives and says all the assassins and the eunuch who took Mo Xiuyao to the trap are dead. (He was the one who supported Mo Xiuyao's appointment way back at the start, so I think he's on their side).
Cangbei was trying to assassinate a weapon's inventor who was making a new type of crossbow. Other court officials imply the Marquis Muyang was involved, which he denies.
Dowager consort Qin tells Zhou Tianyang that he should go back to live with his mother. The Duke of Huaguo and Mo Xiuyao seem to have a very good relationship and he's excited that Mo Xiuyao has recovered. He also knows Ye Li's grandfather and asks how he is doing. Ye Li replies positively. The duke offers to petition for her grandfather to be brought back, but Ye Li says he's perfectly happy on the mountain (we doubt this).
The princess is shown the assassination order letter, she says it's rebels and they will be punished. They also ask her if she's found a man to marry, yes she has but not at the banquet. Will Feng Zhiyao get to be a prince consort? The Dowager Empress tells the consort she should leave the capital to visit her father during this messy investigation, but Consort Qin reaffirms her loyalty instead.
This is all related to the original weapon selling case.
Don't sell weapons to your enemy!
The princess is angry at Lei Tengfeng for not being diplomatic and threatens him. The woman who pretended to be the princess (Dier) was sneaking near the door, she's told to kneel in the courtyard right where Mo Xiuyao can see her when he comes to visit. The princess expresses a wish to see Master Zhi He, which is approved. Dier goes out to talk to Mo Xiuyao about her depressing life. This is clearly some sort of plot and I am wary...
Dier collapses in front of Wen Ran's carriage so she brings her home. Her name is Su Zui Dier. Wen Ran says she's been beaten and wants to keep her until she's better. Mo Xiuyao explains that they were engaged as children and haven't seen each other for a long time as her family was exiled after the events of 8 years ago. Ye Li says that's fine and to give her candy that she doesn't like.
This is clearly passive aggressive
Li Feibai makes it up to Li mountain. It's empty and decaying. Ye Ying is tidying up her house after the police messed it all up. She finds a box of letters to Ye Li. Han Mingxi is still working at Ye Li's store. Ye Ying sends the letters to Ye Li.
Ouu, angst in the preview for tomorrow!
I loved the fights today! Need to watch them again. I have to admit I'm a little disappointed we didn't see Mo Xiuyao being in pain or needing to recover from those fights, but maybe that will happen later.
Posted Jun 18, 2026, 12:26 PM UTC