A Dream Within A Dream Episode 18 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
His Majesty ordered Eunuch Liu to carry out the punishment publicly, and Nan Heng was severely whipped thirty times, blood soaking through his clothes. Mr. Song stood by without speaking, while Chu Guihong was utterly defeated. His Majesty showed no concern for Nan Heng, instead pressing hard on his wound and blaming him for the bleeding that would affect his upcoming birthday.
Fugui felt it was unfair to Nan Heng, but Nan Heng understood His Majesty well, knowing his actions today were not merely for seizing military power. Fugui worried Nan Heng's influence would be greatly diminished once he was sent to his fief and had to dispatch ten thousand troops eastward. Despite his injuries, Nan Heng changed into Li Shiliu's clothes and sneaked into the Song Residence, wanting to see what Song Yimeng was up to.
He found Song Yimeng in the woodshed, where she was eating well despite being on a hunger strike to resist the imperial order. She invited him to join her. Nan Heng, posing as Li Shiliu, said Nan Heng hadn't troubled him but merely wanted to cooperate since he knew the Waning River Crescent was searching for the method of weapon forging. Song Yimeng complimented his clothes.
He replied that Shangguan He had them made, which led Song Yimeng to misunderstand, telling him he didn't need to explain his past with Shangguan He. Meanwhile, Chu Guihong sat amidst straw, numbing himself with alcohol. He recalled the Pingrong battle years ago, when he had requested aid from Nan Heng and had come to realize he was wrong to blame Nan Heng for a death during that conflict.
However, help never arrived, leading to the defeat and death of the Qianyu King. Chu Guihong harbored deep hatred for Nan Heng. He remembered the Qianyu King's advice not to be burdened by loyalty and righteousness. His father had told him to destroy the Qianyu Military Manual to prevent Nan Heng from obtaining the method of weapon forging.
Though Nan Heng claimed to have burned the manual, his father had urged him to promise to destroy it completely if he ever found Nan Heng still possessed it, reiterating that it contained the forbidden method. Later, considering the trouble facing the Song family, Chu Guihong suggested resolving their old grievances with someone, presumably Nan Heng, and dealing with the matter together.
Song Yimeng discussed with Li Shiliu her plan to expose Nan Heng for secretly investigating the method of weapon forging, revealing his ambition. Li Shiliu felt heartbroken, asking why her perception of Nan Heng hadn't changed. Song Yimeng explained that she understood his character, realizing his suspicion, cunning, and ruthlessness stemmed from his difficult past, including being abandoned in the cold palace and treated unfairly on the battlefield. Despite this understanding, she believed he would eventually rebel.
She felt exposing him now was necessary for her own survival, but also to prevent greater harm to others. Li Shiliu accused her of trusting vague fate over a living person and questioned why she would harm him if she understood his plight. He argued that Nan Heng was sincere towards her and wouldn't kill her. Song Yimeng insisted she might die because of him anyway, as dictated by the rule and fate.
Li Shiliu urged her to break the rule and destroy fate, but she maintained that fate was unbreakable and the inevitable "iconic scene" would occur. She felt she could only use the rules to strike first. Li Shiliu asked if she had considered that Nan Heng would die if his actions were exposed, or if his fate simply didn't matter to her.
She hesitated, and Li Shiliu called her crueler and more ruthless than Nan Heng before walking away, deeply disappointed. Song Yimeng thought to herself that she didn't want anything bad to happen to him, but the script mechanism seemed to require it. Back at his residence, Nan Heng was distraught and drank heavily to numb his pain.
Shangguan He, also known as Second Master, and his men, including Fugui, were worried as Nan Heng had locked himself in and remained eerily silent after returning from the Song Residence. Shangguan He found Nan Heng sitting alone and noted that visiting someone last night must have hurt him again. Nan Heng lamented that she didn't care if he lived or died, though he shouldn't be surprised.
Shangguan He warned him that this "game of playing two roles" would only harm himself. He asked if Nan Heng would now cut off all ties and get rid of her. Nan Heng replied she could kill him, but he couldn't kill her. Shangguan He agreed that he couldn't bring himself to do it.
He reminded Nan Heng not to be impulsive and consider giving up the engagement he had fought Chu Guihong for, as it would make all his previous efforts meaningless. Song Yimeng, feeling distressed by Li Shiliu's words, decided she needed to recover and figure out how to persuade Li Shiliu to help her, understanding that her father, Mr. Song, was still determined to break off the engagement but would likely fail.
She believed Nan Heng's desire for the Song family's power was a fixed setting and that she needed to prepare. Mr. Song arrived at Nan Heng's residence, stating he had been waiting for some time. He thanked Nan Heng for taking the punishment on his behalf and presented him with medicine for his lash wounds.
Mr. Song then revealed his true purpose was to ask about Nan Heng's actions outside the Imperial Study the previous day, questioning how much was genuine sincerity and how much was self-interest. Nan Heng answered that he wouldn't have insisted on the marriage without selfish motives, nor would he have given up military power without sincere feelings.
Mr. Song expressed his concern about the perilous path Nan Heng was on, fearing he could lose everything, become a prisoner, or even be executed. He worried how Nan Heng could protect Song Yimeng in such a scenario. As a father, he explained that Song Yimeng, though seemingly carefree, was sensitive, and marrying Nan Heng risked her being trapped in the palace if he succeeded, or losing her life if he failed.
He implored Nan Heng to release Song Yimeng from the engagement, offering to repay the favor. Nan Heng helped Mr. Song rise, stating he understood his concerns and had even considered letting go of his obsession with Song Yimeng. However, he found he couldn't. He confessed that while his past actions were for self-preservation, he now wished to clear the misunderstandings between them and build a life together.
He promised to protect her with all his strength and wanted to ask for her opinion, giving himself one last chance. Therefore, he could not grant Mr. Song's request. That night, Chu Guihong and his accomplice Rong Hua led men into Nan Heng's residence. They searched the premises, finding it took three days to locate a secret room. Nan Heng, having detected the intrusion three days prior and knowing they would return to the study, pretended to be absent.
Chu Guihong entered the study again and was confronted by Nan Heng. Nan Heng revealed he knew Chu Guihong was searching for the Qianyu Military Manual. Chu Guihong demanded the manual back, claiming it belonged to the Chu family and that he had given it to Nan Heng nineteen years ago when they were friends.
Nan Heng countered that he gave it to a friend, and Chu Guihong was no longer one, questioning why he wanted the book so badly, implying it held a secret. Chu Guihong declared it was the only thing his father left him and accused Nan Heng of killing his father. Nan Heng asked for proof and reminded Chu Guihong who had abandoned whom when he was trapped in the cold palace.
Chu Guihong vowed to find evidence of past wrongs and become more ruthless than Nan Heng until he begged for mercy. Nan Heng accepted the challenge and then burned the Qianyu Military Manual, further fueling Chu Guihong's hatred. Elsewhere, the Eighteenth Prince (Rui), determined to see Song Yiting, was initially blocked by a maid.
Song Yiting's mother, Mrs. Zhou, intervened and, seeing the Eighteenth Prince's interest, gave him Song Yiting's schedule for the month, telling him she had high hopes for him. The Eighteenth Prince thanked his potential mother-in-law. Song Yiting was shown being fitted for clothes, expressing indifference as it was her mother's arrangement, not her choice. The shop assistant mentioned preparing dresses to find a good husband, to which Song Yiting retorted by asking if a girl would die otherwise.
After her measurements, she left, receiving an umbrella as it was raining. The Eighteenth Prince appeared, claiming their frequent encounters must be fate and inviting her to a banquet. Song Yiting pointed out they had met 21 times in three days and wouldn't believe it. She bluntly told him she disliked men like him who blindly followed their father and lacked ambition. He stopped her, wanting to explain his motivation for marriage.
He revealed it wasn't for his father or to compete with Nan Heng, but to fulfill his late mother's last wish to marry an educated woman he could genuinely connect with and treat with a full heart. Song Yiting had heard enough and told him to stop following her. He protested, even claiming he'd save her over his mother if they both fell into a river.
In another part of the city, Shangguan He, buying cherries, found himself caught in the rain. He helped strangers avoid being hit by a rushing carriage, even giving one his umbrella. Song Yiting's carriage stopped nearby. Shangguan He lamented his expensive, new Jiangnan robe was ruined. Song Yiting called him a pervert. Later, Shangguan He complained bitterly to Nan Heng about Song Yiting's arrogance and her insult.
Nan Heng advised him not to provoke her, mentioning she was Song Yimeng's sister. Shangguan He countered that he had verified Song Yiting was born to Mrs. Zhou and wasn't close to Song Yimeng. Nan Heng insisted she was still a Song family daughter and reminded Shangguan He of the unresolved issue from the last time he rescued her, warning him not to cause trouble. Nan Heng sent him away through the back door, while Shangguan He argued that she was the one causing him trouble.
