A Dream Within A Dream Episode 2 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
After waking up, Song Xiaoyu had a headache and complained about having to face a new plot progression—she needed to crack it quickly. Zhixia and Yingqiu were both confused and had no idea what she was planning. Song Xiaoyu, dressed in red, came out and noticed there was no wedding procession, which made her suspect she was no longer Song Yimeng.
She then learned that the current time was six months before the wedding, so she decided to fully enjoy herself. Zhixia explained the situation of the Song residence. Song Xiaoyu, realizing how luxurious the life was, found herself constantly pampered and even ordered that the grapes not be allowed to develop seeds. Yingqiu thought she was still delusional and wanted to call a doctor. But Song Xiaoyu was fully aware and declared that defying fate was the true path.
She asked Zhixia about Chu Guihong, but Zhixia instead began to talk about the battlefield glory of the Seventh Prince, Nan Heng. Back then, in the battle of Youcheng, Nan Heng made a bet with the opposing general to play chess. If he won, the general would release the captured Chu Guihong; if he lost, the general could take Youcheng. General Fang, confident in his army and having just killed Lord Qianyu, didn’t take Nan Heng seriously.
Nan Heng expressed that he wanted to personally kill Chu Guihong, feeling that after guarding the border for three years, he had been restrained by Lord Qianyu and thus sought revenge on his son. General Fang was gullible and agreed to the chess match. After one incense stick's time, Nan Heng won. General Fang wanted to record the chess strategy, and Nan Heng directly gave him the White Kiln Xuan Jade.
General Fang released Chu Guihong, and Nan Heng’s attendant, Fu Gui, dragged the prison cart and rushed back to the city gate, fearing the general would regret it. Song Xiaoyu interrupted Zhixia, asking why she was telling a story about Nan Heng, the great villain—she wanted to hear about Chu Guihong. She understood this was part of the forced storyline and only wanted to focus on her wedding.
Zhixia panicked, unsure why she spoke incorrectly, and upon trying again, once more brought up Nan Heng’s battle record—leading the Xuanjia Army to defeat thirty thousand enemy soldiers. After hearing this, Song Xiaoyu sighed that no one could escape the protagonist halo of Nan Heng and told Zhixia to continue. Back then, Chu Guihong had misjudged the enemy and caused the deaths of border soldiers, and Nan Heng was about to execute him.
The Eighteenth Prince, Nan Rui, rushed over and pleaded with Nan Heng to spare his cousin Chu Guihong, saying the emperor had issued an imperial decree. Song Yude arrived, dressed like a beggar, claiming he was traveling incognito to deliver the decree and ordered Chu Guihong to be detained and taken to the capital for now. Nan Heng, believing the emperor's decision was unjust, refused to accept the decree.
Hearing that Song Yude was also involved, Song Xiaoyu became worried he might be caught in the power struggle for the throne. She only wanted to stay far away from Nan Heng’s faction. Nan Heng led his troops back to the capital, stirring fear among the people, with rumors spreading that the emperor favored Nan Rui. The Chu family’s retainers blocked the way, believing someone was persecuting Chu Guihong and expressing deep dissatisfaction with Nan Heng.
After returning to the capital, Nan Heng sought an audience with the emperor, while rumors outside claimed he had colluded with the enemy. Nan Heng explained that he had only brought three hundred Xuanjia soldiers and had no ulterior motives. Nan Rui spoke up for Nan Heng, but the emperor thought he was too naïve and ordered Song Yude to teach him the ways of governance. Nan Heng remained kneeling, feeling deeply troubled.
The emperor assigned him a residence on the outskirts of the capital and instructed that he was not to enter the palace without summons. Back at the residence, Fu Gui was worried on his behalf, thinking Nan Rui had the support of Song Yude and Chu Guihong, though it wasn’t yet something to panic over. Nan Heng learned that Song Yude was the head of the Six Ministries and held significant sway in front of the emperor.
He planned to marry Song Yude’s legitimate daughter to solidify his own position. Knowing that Song Yude was nostalgic and protective, favoring his legitimate daughter Song Yimeng, Nan Heng told Fu Gui to bring Song Yimeng to the banquet the next day. On the day of the banquet, Song Yimeng didn’t want to attend but was forcibly taken due to the plot’s progression. The appearance of Song Yiting caused Nan Rui’s heart to flutter—he immediately stepped forward to please her and offered chrysanthemums of different colors, only to be publicly rejected.
