A Dream Within A Dream Episode 13 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
Nan Heng had something on his mind and sought out Shangguan He to talk, which made Fugui jealous. Shangguan He told Fugui that Nan Heng was troubled by love for Song Yimeng and that Fugui, as his closest attendant, should help ease his burden. Fugui then took it upon himself to meet with a bookseller and provided materials to publish a book titled "Exceptional Love - Illusory Dream," detailing Nan Heng's supposed love story with Song Yimeng.
He instructed the bookseller to credit only himself and not Shangguan He for the project. Learning his mother, Noble Consort Gao Changrong, was ill, Nan Heng rushed to Fanghua Hall to see her. He discovered she was faking her illness because the Emperor had not visited her in three years due to issues with the Gao family, and she hoped to regain his attention. Nan Heng spoke to her, mentioning the Emperor had shown him much favor since his return.
His mother was pleased and urged him to serve the Emperor diligently and also to listen to his uncle's advice. Nan Heng reassured her and inquired about his childhood belongings, which she had ordered to be stored and untouched after he left for the battlefield. While looking through his stored belongings, Nan Heng saw calligraphy that reminded him of practicing with Chu Guihong as a child, at which time Chu Guihong had given him the Qianyu Military Manual.
Finding the manual, Nan Heng discovered a note with strange characters inside. He showed it to Shangguan He, suggesting it contained the method of weapon forging and was what agents from the Qianyu realm had searched for when he was sent to the cold palace. Shangguan He found the characters incomprehensible.
Nan Heng decided Song Yimeng should try to decode it, reasoning that she often spoke in peculiar ways and had previously offered to help him find the method of weapon forging. Shangguan He was assigned to monitor Song Yimeng as she worked on decoding the potential method of weapon forging, so her process could be recorded. Meanwhile, Song Yimeng was at a weapon forging room with people from the Nightwalkers.
They told her that Li Shiliu also sought the method of weapon forging to fight against Nan Heng, and that obtaining it for Li Shiliu would be better than letting Nan Heng get it to harm the public. Given the note, Song Yimeng recognized "Fe₂O₃" and realized it was a chemical equation. She expressed frustration at having to deal with chemistry as a liberal arts student in her current predicament.
Shangguan He watched as Song Yimeng mixed materials and poured them into a furnace. Seeing the contents turn green, she added water, which resulted in an explosion and toxic fumes. Song Yimeng emerged injured, complaining that she had warned them she was unsuited for chemistry. Later, Shangguan He reported to Nan Heng about the incident, complaining that he was always the one who got hurt and had almost lost his eyesight in the explosion.
Nan Rui complained to the Emperor, asking when his house arrest would be lifted and bringing up Chu Guihong's completion of the southern city renovation. He then accused Nan Heng of plotting to take his position as crown prince, claiming Nan Heng was colluding with officials after visiting the Song Residence. The Emperor questioned Nan Rui, pointing out his lack of evidence and calling his actions childish and impulsive.
He expressed concern about how Nan Rui would rule if left unsupported. Nan Rui left in frustration. The Emperor reflected that his indulgence of Nan Rui since his mother's death had resulted in his son's current spoiled and unambitious nature. Nan Heng requested an audience with the Emperor. He reported the completion of the southern city renovation, attributing the primary credit to Chu Guihong, supported by officials' memorials. The Emperor, skeptical of Nan Heng's motives, asked what he truly wanted.
Nan Heng requested the Emperor visit his mother, Noble Consort Gao Changrong, who was unwell and missed him. He also offered to propose lifting Nan Rui's confinement at the next morning court so Nan Rui could attend the Qingtan Musical Banquet with him. The Emperor saw this as negotiation and questioned if these actions were merely to get him to visit his mother.
Nan Heng responded that he was following the Emperor's past teachings on harmony, but still requested the visit. The Emperor accused him of lacking filial piety and negotiating, punishing him by ordering him to kneel and copy the "Classic of Filial Piety" ten times. He agreed to visit Noble Consort Gao Changrong only after the punishment.
As Nan Heng knelt, a flashback showed the Emperor yelling at a young Nan Heng near Guangde Gate, accusing him of leading assassins there and calling him a beast, expressing regret at his birth. Li Shiliu visited Song Yimeng while she was recovering from the explosion. Song Yimeng, injured and embarrassed, tried to hide under her covers and told him to leave the medicine and go away. Li Shiliu pulled back the covers, saw her injured state, and laughed playfully.
He insisted on applying the medicine for her himself, despite her protests. Song Yimeng became nervous and flushed, denying she was blushing. Li Shiliu commented it was his fault and he would accompany her next time. Song Yimeng told Li Shiliu she wouldn't give the method of weapon forging to Nan Heng because she believed he wanted it for rebellion and she hoped he could abandon his hatred. She stated her certainty came from a "script."
Li Shiliu questioned her trust, asking what she would do if he revealed what she said, and warned her against trusting others easily, claiming he was not the good person she perceived him to be. Song Yimeng insisted he was different. Li Shiliu said he was not different and abruptly left, leaving Song Yimeng confused. Later, Song Yimeng completed the formula.
Nan Heng examined it with Shangguan He, noting it was different from the Qianyu Military Manual but wondering if it was the correct method of weapon forging. He ordered Shangguan He to secretly find scholars who could recognize the characters. Nan Rui wrote letters expressing his feelings for Song Yiting and inviting her to the Qingtan Musical Banquet, ordering the letters to be burned afterward.
At Song Yiting's residence, someone informed her about Nan Rui's invitation and his planned attendance at the banquet, suggesting it was an opportunity for her to impress him. Song Yiting was upset, feeling she was being treated as a mere performer to be married off, questioning if her entire existence was only for marriage, and rejecting the idea that her only goal should be to marry a noble husband or become Empress.
Nan Heng decided to hold the Qingtan Musical Banquet at Waning River Crescent. He explained that the Nightwalkers' search for the method of weapon forging had required significant funds, and holding the banquet there would provide an opportunity to transfer necessary finances, as his mansion's funds were strictly monitored. Meanwhile, Song Yimeng was receiving treatment for her face injuries from two female attendants. They discussed her potential marriage prospects, mentioning Chu Guihong, Li Shiliu, and the Seventh Prince.
Song Yimeng reacted negatively to the mention of the Seventh Prince. The attendants revealed that servants were circulating a book titled "Exceptional Love," portraying her and the Seventh Prince as a perfect match. Song Yimeng dismissed this as another publicity stunt by Nan Heng, comparing it to "Illusory Dream," and insisted her relationship with him was merely cooperative.
The attendants teased her about her feelings for Li Shiliu, noting how she defended him, and urged her to consider marriage soon, beginning to discuss wedding preparations. Song Yimeng became frustrated by their focus on marriage. An attendant then informed her that her father, Song Yude, wanted to see her to discuss her marriage. Song Yimeng went to see her father, who asked about her face injuries. He then showed her the note with the strange characters.
Song Yimeng recognized it and asked where he obtained it. Song Yude explained he found it and recognized the writing as resembling ancient bronze inscriptions. He noted that rumors claimed it was the formula for the method of weapon forging.
