ep 2 spoilers ahead

Spoilers ahead:
2/81
Characters Introduced:
Queen Mother: Chu Wei Hou
Minister Zhang He: Delivers the He Shu Bi (precious jade)

1.Enraged that Qu Yuan stubbornly refuses to repent, the King of Chu orders his and Wu Ming's execution for the following day. This command is interrupted by the Queen Mother (the mother of his Queen), who asks him to reconsider executing Qu Yuan (Wu Ming should die, she admits). Her reasons lay in his family: she worries that the stability of the empire would be put at risk because the Minister of War/Qu family are important to protecting the empire. Also, Yuan'er's intelligence should not be overlooked. The Emperor argues that even if Qu rebelled he would still have the Zhao and Jing families. He also argues that it would weaken his authority if he released suspected traitors. Empress Mother compares the stability of the empire to a cauldron supported by the three families; if one were to disappear the entire cauldron would collapse (Chu is not that stable...)

2.The King visits the cell where Wu Ming is being held (I find this interesting since normally one might expect the prisoner brought to him, or he sends someone else). Wu Ming is unconscious, and there is a message on the wall--it appears to be a long poem that earns the king's disdain. He raises the Qu sword as if to kill him (the scene changes) then he visits Yuan'er. He throws the sword at him and calls for wine. Yuan'er assumes he is to be poisoned and sarcastically says he could become a wine spirit before drinking. He even thanks the emperor for sending him off (sarcasm). What follows is an interesting conversation about loyalty. Yuan'er challenges the King: do you really think this is about friendship, and the King agrees. This seems to earn Yuan'er's disdain. He essentially reminds him that there is no way he could kill every 'Wu Ming' who springs up and challenges him to use Wu Ming to mend a divide instead of creating more but the King believes that this effectively ends the problem because the son of an enemy will be dead.

3.Eventually, Qu Yuan becomes intoxicated and begins to brag about his reputation as a prodigy, which began when he was 16. He admits he once admired the emperor however he has lost his respect entirely because he chooses to solve his problems by cruelly killing (he killed King Yue, now he would kill his son)(it should be noted that no one talks to the King like this and could get you killed) The king asks him what he should do. Yuan does not directly answer the question but insists he would die a thousand times to uphold his beliefs and then Yuan'er blacks out from the drinking.

4.We learn that that the King already decided to free Wu Ming when he swung that sword (he cut his chains). The narrator relates that Wu Ming is released, the King pardoning him since he was only trying to avenge his father. It isn't clear what Wu Ming thinks however the emperor hopes to rebuild the relationship with Yue. Meanwhile, the Minister of War is given Yuan'er, on a stretcher. He seems dead. But he is extremely mad when he learns that he has been drinking all night while he was pleading for his life. At home he angrily lectures him for making poor choices and picking the wrong friends.

5.We learn that Yuan'er is extremely proud and the type who cares more about honesty than self-preservation. He insists that 1)the rules of their culture are bad 2)he didn't do anything wrong 3)the emperor let Wu Ming go because he heeded his advice (his father disagrees with all of this and each comment makes him more angry and convinced his son is foolish, impertinent, shameless, and selfish). He begins to beat him with a whip. Qu Yu asks to take the beating since Yuan'er hasn't learned martial arts and is weak. His father is angered more and hits him, and when Yuan'er defends his brother, his father is furious and beats them both. His mother is able to stop him but his father accuses him of spoiling him.

6.Yuan'er and You'er (elder brother) return to visit our female lead, Chou Nu. As she collects donations, she runs into the brothers. She ignores him, but Yu'er is more blunt and stands in her way, insisting she give his brother her attention. He goes so far as to pull rank. Yuan'er attempts to lure her into conversation by discussing poems. She quotes Qu Yuan's poems, and deeply admires him and believes that Yuan'er (remember, she does not know his name) could never understood the poems (...but he wrote them). Feeling a bit smug, Yuan'er asks her to tell him more about the poems(naughty). Eventually, a challenge is issued: can Chou Nu prove that he doesn't know more about the poems? It seems she has no choice as the crowd now wants to see her challenge (and hopefully humiliate a noble).

7.(It seems Yuan'er is a celebrity; even the commoners are familiar with his poems) He recites a poem (that he wrote 2 days ago, about his Mountain Spirit). She doesn't know it, but because she believes she has read them all, she insists Qu Yuan would never write about a scantily clad woman, and that he would never write something so low class.

8. Qu Yuan is unnerved by Chou Nu's analysis of his poems: she clearly understands the desires he has embedded in the poems. She insists that Qu Yuan is a sorrowful person because he is unable to achieve his ambitions; Yu'er laughs and states that Yuan is not sad. Almost like he is trying to defend how exposed he feels, Qu Yuan insists that he has no deeper desires and would only write nonsensical poems. This deeply angers Chou Nu since he is speaking poorly of her idol. She kicks him. This angers You'er, who knocks her to the ground.This angers Yuan'er, and his brother (he is pretty narrow minded) accuses her of starting it! Brother Meng, from the troupe, naturally is angry and fights back (he doesn't know he is fighting a general).

9. Another fight unfolds: You'er hits Brother Mo so hard he spits up blood. Yuan'er only cares about Chou Nu but her little sister begins to slap him, accusing him of bringing only trouble (true). Yuan'er tries to apologize, and offers money to have him taken to a doctor but little sister slaps it away. The two brothers leave.

10.THIS IS IMPORTANT:
The King of Qin visits Zhang Li. Zhang Li explains he is worried for Qin's future. Why? He goes to a map and explains that the King has been campaigning against the three Jins for quite a while. Currently, Su Qin is trying to build an alliance with Ju. If he is successful, he will go to Chu, who could easily withstand a long military campaign due to their economic prosperity and history of political stability. If this happens, there is a strong chance that the three Jins will align with them. If Northern Yan sees this, then they will probably jump on board, and their will be six states against Qin. The message is clear: they need to ensure this does not happen.

Elsewhere, Ministers are giving gifts to the emperor. Zhang He offers up the He Shi Bi Jade, something which had been missing for years but has returned. Qu Yuan is there to represent his family and gives nothing but a lovely song.

11.In the gardens, the King explains to Yuan'er that he is the best poet, and he hopes he can use his intelligence to help the empire. Elsewhere, the official who delivered the elaborate lotus gift expresses anxiety at Yuan'er's appearance. Essentially he talks to his lady wife about how Yuan'er overshadowed all the other officials with his poem and also evaded execution--they conclude he is someone to watch out for and is a new favorite of the king.

12.Meanwhile, Yuan'er visits Chou Nu's home. He is upset at how poorly she lives. When she, Brother Mo, and Quing Er (her little sister/friend) arrive, Yuan'er tries to give her medicine for his injuries. She denies the offer and kicks him out. He yells at her that he cannot understand why she is refusing him when he could provide the best doctor, but she slams the door in his face (this is a complicated situation. Either she is worried that she may have to return the favor, or have to worry about gratifying the sexual needs of a much more powerful lord, or she is just prideful, I don't know--on the other hand she is making a risky decision if she could have access to a doctor)

13.He left the medicine there, and the more practical Quing Er doesn't care where the medicine came from and insists that if it helps Brother Mo then they should use it (I agree). Quing Er also tells Chou Nu that she thinks Yuan'er doesn't seem like a bad person? Chou Nu asks why, and Quing Er says his eyes are not bad (bwahahaahah oh if only life were that simple....). A terrible storm comes, and Yuan'Er waits outside in the rain. After some time, Chou Nu goes to the window but doesn't see him....

Comments: I like Yuan'Er's character a lot. I thought he would be 'naive' but he is in fact very smart and often uses his non-martial background as a way to deflect attention. I think he is a little too honest, and has the potential to be pretty ruthless. He is (I think) going to become increasingly clever. Ruthless too.

Chou Nu's character hasn't had a lot of screen time. So far we know she is intelligent, and stubborn. I don't know if she is playing it safe, but I sense she has some shields up because she is trying hard to keep Yuan'er at arms length, at a time when woman would kill for the chance to catch the eye of a powerful noble like Yuan'er so I want to know more about her.

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