A Dream Within A Dream Episode 19 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
Her Ladyship sent an emissary with gifts, inviting Song Yimeng to stay at Fanghua Hall for a few days. Madam Song objected, arguing that the marriage between Song Yimeng and Nan Heng was not yet formalized, but Song Yude overruled her and agreed to the invitation. As Song Yimeng left the residence amidst the grand retinue, she understood the significance of Her Ladyship's gesture.
Upon arrival at Fanghua Hall, Her Ladyship praised Song Yimeng's admirable qualities, expressing her strong approval of her relationship with Nan Heng and stating her wish to entrust Nan Heng's future to her. Song Yimeng politely refused, explaining that her true purpose in coming to the palace was to annul the engagement, as she was determined not to marry Nan Heng. Her Ladyship, however, demurred, suggesting that the marriage was a matter of great importance and required careful consideration.
Song Yimeng, unable to accept such extravagant kindness while intending to break the engagement, resolved to find a way to repay the favor. Later, as Eunuch Yang brought medicine for Her Ladyship, she voiced her concern that the engagement might fall through. Thinking aloud, she proposed a plan to select concubines for Nan Heng, hoping this might make Song Yimeng change her mind.
Eunuch Yang questioned if this would help or hinder, but Her Ladyship explained that with Chu Guihong pursuing Song Yimeng, competition was needed for Song Yimeng to appreciate Nan Heng. Song Yimeng prepared several special tea drinks, which she called "bubble tea," and presented them to Her Ladyship to taste. While they enjoyed the drinks, Her Ladyship took the opportunity to announce she had something to discuss and summoned the wives and daughters of court officials to Fanghua Hall.
Upon hearing that Nan Heng was considering taking concubines, the women became apprehensive, fearing their daughters might be chosen. Her Ladyship initially showed interest in a young lady named Miss Jia. Madam Jia quickly made an excuse, suggesting instead that Song Yiting, Song Yimeng's younger sister, would be a more suitable candidate. Madam Song, Song Yiting's mother, immediately tried to shift the conversation to Madam Liu, claiming her daughter's birth chart was particularly auspicious and compatible with a prince.
Recognizing that none of the ladies were eager to marry their daughters to Nan Heng, the wives redirected their collective efforts to criticize Song Yimeng, portraying her as petty and unwilling to share a husband with others. Suddenly, Nan Heng appeared, pretending to have just come from the celestial prison where he had been interrogating fugitives. He deliberately adopted a menacing demeanor, effectively intimidating the assembly and defending Song Yimeng. The women were terrified and fell silent.
Nan Heng declared that Song Yimeng was the Imperial Consort he had painstakingly sought, stating that her honor was his honor. He warned that those who had disrespected him were already dead, and those who dared disrespect her could test their luck. The wives knelt, begging for mercy and promising never to speak ill of Song Yimeng again, fearing being sent to prison. Her Ladyship suddenly clutched her stomach in pain.
Nan Heng noticed she had drunk some of the bubble tea and realized it contained milk, which was harmful given Her Ladyship's weak constitution. Song Yimeng was distressed, admitting she didn't know Her Ladyship couldn't have milk, and insisted on personally preparing the medicine to help. Nan Heng watched her, concerned, and advised her to let the servants handle such tasks.
He cautioned her to be careful, warning that her actions could be misinterpreted as an attempt to harm Her Ladyship, making it impossible to clear her name. Song Yimeng muttered to herself that this was just a "brainless romance drama" and shouldn't be so complicated. She quietly thanked Nan Heng, who seemed surprised, questioning if she had lost her mind. Song Yimeng knew his earlier actions were deliberate and asked him to explain.
Nan Heng chose not to explain, stating that in the eyes of the world, he was already seen as a villain, implying explanation was pointless. Meanwhile, Song Yiting arrived to deliver a painting for Mr. Li (Li Shiliu). There, she encountered Yunlong and Shangguan He. Seeing Shangguan He, she immediately called him "lewd." Shangguan He retorted that her outburst was unwarranted as she didn't know the situation. As they prepared to leave, Shangguan He noticed the painting was of himself.
Song Yiting insisted on seeing Mr. Li. Shangguan He, seeing an opportunity while Mr. Li (the Chief) was away, decided to impersonate him. While waiting, Song Yiting had a servant clean the table, commenting that things outside were dirty as she was used to cleanliness. When Shangguan He, disguised as Mr. Li, arrived, she quickly explained her cleanliness obsession.
Pouring a cup of tea, Shangguan He remarked on the seventy-three paintings she had sent in three days, suggesting her sentiment was excessive and hoping she would give up. Song Yiting was direct, declaring her affection for him and stating that she didn't care about social status and would find a way to make him like her.
Shangguan He repeated his refusal, citing the disparity in their status – she a high-born lady, he a man living by the sword – calling it a "cloud and mud" difference. However, Song Yiting's persistence and unconventional proposals regarding supporting him financially and allocating specific days for them to meet, even offering payment for his time, seemed to make Shangguan He hesitate. He claimed he needed time to think and quickly left.
Back at Fanghua Hall, Her Ladyship gave Song Yimeng an opportunity to interact with Nan Heng by asking her to deliver snacks he had forgotten. On the way, Nan Heng encountered his uncle, who reminded him about his upcoming provincial assignment. His uncle suggested Nan Heng solidify his position by marrying Song Yiting as well, thereby securing the Song family's influence. He proposed marrying both sisters, one for virtue and the other for looks, to completely control the family's power.
This conversation was overheard by Song Yimeng, who was hiding nearby, reminding her of a scene from the original plot involving Nan Heng and Song Yiting's affair. Song Yiting waited all evening but received no reply from Mr. Li. Disheartened, she left but accidentally touched a mechanism on the wall. This opened a hidden passage leading to a laboratory where she unexpectedly discovered a section of the Qianyu Moon-Cleaving Blade.
Meanwhile, back at Waning River Crescent, Yunlong and Shangguan He were discussing Song Yiting's visit and Shangguan He's impersonation. They were then alarmed to discover that the Qianyu Moon-Cleaving Blade was missing from the hidden lab. Realizing it had been stolen, Shangguan He decided not to pursue immediately but instead sent a message to Song Yiting, requesting a meeting in the Song Residence garden at noon the next day.
