The Legend of Taotie Episode 35 Recap
> The Legend of Taotie Recap
Zhao Heng went to meet the emperor, who was eager to know about Zhu Chengbi's condition. The emperor was now aware that Zhu Chengbi was actually a Taotie. Zhao Heng immediately knelt and begged his father to pardon Zhu Chengbi in light of her contributions to protecting the city. However, the emperor had no intention of punishing her and instead emphasized that once she recovered, she must be brought to the palace.
Zhu Chengbi, worried that Chang Qing might get injured in the Northern Di, refused to take her medicine. Zhao Heng urged her to rest and recover, mentioning that the emperor was looking forward to tasting a dish made by her. He added that perhaps after she prepared the meal, reinforcements would arrive in time. Thinking of the people of Wu Xia, Zhu Chengbi finally relented and took her medicine.
In the military camp, food supplies had nearly run out, and the soldiers were unable to eat even simple meals. Many were starving, and without proper sustenance, they would not have the strength to fight on the front lines. The Second Prince heard rumors of grain being sold illegally in the streets. Disguising himself and his men, he investigated the matter and discovered that the grain being sold was actually military supplies.
Shocked, he realized someone was secretly selling off military provisions. Following the trail, the Second Prince eventually uncovered the culprit—the emperor’s father-in-law, the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke had falsified disaster relief reports, claiming that grain shipments had been looted during transport, while secretly siphoning off half of the military grain to sell for personal profit. Armed with this evidence, the Second Prince wrote a confidential letter and sent it to Zhao Heng.
Zhao Heng discovered that the emperor might be planning to use the Taotie's body to prepare a dish in pursuit of immortality. Alarmed, he urged Zhu Chengbi to leave immediately. To hasten her compliance, Zhao Heng falsely claimed that Chang Qing had been gravely injured, prompting Zhu Chengbi to rush back to the military camp.
However, the emperor, having been informed by a spy in Zhao Heng’s camp, arrived at the prince’s residence just as Zhu Chengbi was preparing to leave. The emperor personally met with Zhu Chengbi. When she saw the Son of Heaven, she did not kneel, as she had never feared anyone in the mortal world. The emperor candidly told her that he was not interested in preparing an immortal dish. Instead, he hoped she could cook a legendary "True Dragon Feast.
" According to folklore, ministers who ate the True Dragon Feast would align in unity, and the people would live in peace and prosperity. Believing his court to be fractured and even his safety unguaranteed, the emperor wanted Zhu Chengbi to prepare this dish. Zhu Chengbi hesitated, explaining that the True Dragon Feast required dragon offspring as an ingredient, meaning the emperor would need to offer his dragon lineage as a sacrifice.
The emperor reassured her not to worry about the ingredients, as he had his own plans. Meanwhile, Zhao Heng received the Second Prince’s confidential letter and rushed to the palace overnight to present it to the emperor. According to imperial law, Wu Xiang, who had been secretly selling military grain, should be executed. However, the imperial guards surrounding the palace were all under Wu Xiang’s control.
The emperor, worried that forcing Wu Xiang into a corner would provoke a desperate reaction, instructed Zhao Heng to keep the matter confidential. Wu Xiang, having learned of the emperor's plan to prepare the "True Dragon Feast," suspected that the Third Prince might be in danger. The Third Prince was still young and inexperienced, and as Wu Xiang’s daughter was his mother, Wu Xiang could not stand by idly. He secretly ordered poison to be added to the emperor’s food.
The Third Prince personally brought venison to the emperor, but the emperor, wary of potential foul play, ordered a servant to taste it first. The servant immediately succumbed to the poison and died. Enraged, the emperor had the Third Prince imprisoned. Many court officials pleaded for leniency on the prince’s behalf, but the emperor decreed that anyone who did so would be treated as an accomplice.
Later that night, Zhao Heng secretly met with the emperor, suggesting that Wu Xiang should be dealt with immediately. However, the emperor, ever shrewd and cautious, refused to act rashly. Zhao Heng then discussed the matter with Zhu Chengbi, proposing to exchange his life for that of Zhao Qu. Zhu Chengbi was puzzled, knowing that Zhao Heng was closest to Zhao Ai. Why would he risk his life for another brother?
Zhao Heng explained that Zhao Ai and Zhao Qu had been close since childhood, and if Zhao Qu were to die, Zhao Ai would be devastated.
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