Key to the Phoenix Heart Episode 21

The wheels of change move slowly

YuanJi is moving out of the house and everybody wants her to stay. Yao tries to have her consider him more than big brother but she’s not ready. LeJun has made it to Eagle King’s camp and frankly admitted exactly why she ended up there. He has taken her challenge and literally carried her off. JiaYu figured out the mine puzzle of the tokens. When put together they outlined where the mines and deposits were located. She set off to find where they could mine the ores needed for the control fireballs. The Regent has set himself up well and is popular with the people. Two years have elapsed and progress has been slow but steady with Beifu reforms. JiaYu and brother Cui have been trying to find the right ores and so far success has been with fireworks. This site could make purple. JiaYu and WuJi have corresponded and she believes him to be fighting bandits up north. She finds out that the grain canal workers were embezzled of pay and the official has returned JianKang for open season of bribing to get higher tier official position. She promises the family of the worker framed that she would get their money as promised. She replaces the corrupt official to discover WuYi in a sting operation. Together with Prince Qi they are trying to rid corruption and get the misappropriated funds back to the jobs and people they were stolen from. Prince Qi seems to be on good terms with WuYi now but is it all for show as he plots with sister up north? He has light armor made for JiaYu to help keep her safer as she travels through mine territory. She has been given a new title complete with seal and a decree is being issued to make it official when the episode ends. JiaYu learns he has a concubine and considers that the responsibility of all princes to create alliances for the good of the people. While surprised at this new attitude, she doesn’t seem the least bit upset at his marital status. She attends a family banquet and chides WuYi for hiding his mother’s gift when Yao showed up with same item different fur. His attendance was opportunity to see YuanJi. JiaYu surprised WuYi with some forward mess about him asking for what he wants. 😂🤣 He is most likely wondering if he will live long enough to get his wish.

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Two years later...

I didn't expect the time skip. 😯 But then, thinking about it a little, maybe this two-year skip did make some sense, because before that, everyone reached a conclusion of sorts.LeJun went to Northern Qin and met the Eagle King, who took her in with arms wide open—or, more precisely, brought her to his place, carrying her over his shoulder. I wonder how they are doing now, because since the time skip, they haven't been shown yet. 🤨JiaYu travelled around looking for minerals and mines, and even got Cui Shan'An as her apprentice or assistant (I wasn't sure which exactly), but he looked at her weirdly, so—does he fancy her? 🤨 However, she rushed back to Jiankang because of some corrupt officials. It turned out WuYi was already on the case and was actually pretending to be the bribe-taker.... Well, that went smoothly, didn't it? 😂 But they are both still acting as if they hadn't been separated for two years. Actually, their relationship seems even closer and more wholesome than before. Except for the fact that WuYi hasn't told her yet that he has only a few years left to live.... and before the skip he rejected the treatment Rui Sheng offered. This is one thing I am worried about a little—what if this is bringing us slowly to a sad ending? 😟Regent Prince Qi is now beloved among the people and seemingly has no ill intentions towards JiaYu and WuYi, even preparing gifts for her on being promoted to WuYi's official consort. But I do wonder what he is doing behind the scenes, because I remember how he and WuYi parted ways in the previous episode, and it wasn't that nice or friendly at all. 🤔 And the fact that he has taken that dancer who looks like JiaYu when she smiles as his concubine... red flag, much? 🫣Over these two years, YuanJi has stabilised the situation with the He family and now wants to travel, likely with that lover of hers. But I still root for Yao to win her heart and for her to stay at Prince Jing'an's mansion. I really hope something changes her mind or she eventually understands that maybe she sees him as more than just a big brother. 😔🤞Overall, this felt like a bridge episode.

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