A Dream Within A Dream Episode 22 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
Chu Guihong, representing the Capital Prefecture's office, arrived at Waning River Crescent intent on taking someone, believing him to be Shangguan Baihe, a criminal from an old case. He was met with resistance from Nan Heng, whom he addressed as Li Shiliu. Nan Heng declared that without his permission, no one would be taken. Chu Guihong pressed the matter, threatening to hold the entire Waning River Crescent accountable for harboring a criminal if the individual proved to be Shangguan Baihe.
Shangguan He himself stepped forward, stating his innocence and agreeing to go with Chu Guihong to clear his name. As he left, Shangguan He asked Nan Heng to speak with Song Yiting. Meanwhile, Song Yimeng reflected on the unavoidable, iconic scenes from her script, including one depicting her betrayal by her sister and husband. Her maid, Yinzhu, urgently informed her that Madam Zhou Xueyi was arranging a forced marriage for Song Yiting using her birthdate.
Song Yiting, refusing to be controlled, had argued with her mother and, determined to fight for herself, declared she would make things irreversible to completely sever her mother's hopes. Her plan was to elope. Seeking help, Song Yimeng went to Waning River Crescent looking for Li Shiliu, shouting that Song Yiting was in danger because she had gone to see Nan Heng.
Her distressed shouting caused a distraction during Shangguan He's apprehension by officials from the Capital Prefecture's office, leading to his return to their custody. At Zijin Pavilion, where her father and Song Yimeng's mother had pledged their love, Song Yiting met with Nan Heng, who was disguised as Li Shiliu. Song Yiting spoke of witnessing true love like her parents' and expressed her desire to find a similar partner, unwilling to settle for a blind marriage based solely on status.
She asked Li Shiliu how he truly saw her, promising to return his blade if he would speak honestly. Nan Heng, unable to give a direct answer, asked her to wait a few days. Song Yiting refused to wait, then used drugged incense. As Nan Heng struggled under its effects, Song Yiting stated her intention to ruin her reputation so that no one, from the Emperor down to commoners, could control her marriage.
Despite Nan Heng's pleas for her not to destroy her reputation, she insisted she had no other choice and, resisting his attempts to stop her, pulled off his mask, revealing him to be the Seventh Prince, Nan Heng. Song Yimeng arrived at Zijin Pavilion with others, including Nan Heng's subordinate, Fugui.
Nan Heng, injured and drugged from the encounter, quickly ordered Fugui to secure the area, take the blade, and seal off news, also commanding his troops to surround the Song Residence. Song Yimeng entered and found Song Yiting unconscious. She confronted Nan Heng, demanding to know what he had done to her sister. Nan Heng claimed Song Yiting had encountered mountain bandits and fainted from fright. He then ordered Song Yimeng and the others to leave.
At the Song Residence, Madam Zhou Xueyi was distraught and furious, accusing the Seventh Prince of ruining Song Yiting's reputation and demanding that Song Yude hold him accountable. Song Yude tried to reason with her, suggesting they wait for Song Yiting to wake and explain, noting the strangeness of the situation. Zhou Xueyi, however, was convinced Nan Heng had used "filthy tactics" and threatened Song Yude if he allowed Song Yiting to marry the prince.
The arrival of Nan Heng's Xuanjia Army, sent under the pretense of protecting the Song family from villains, further escalated the tension. Zhou Xueyi saw this as a threat and demanded to see Nan Heng, but was told he would explain his actions to the Emperor and the Song family the next day. Song Yiting, having regained consciousness and negotiated with Nan Heng, confronted him at the Song Residence.
Accusing him and his Li Shiliu persona of deceiving her, she laid out her terms for keeping his identity a secret: he must rescue Shangguan He, and he must promise to marry no one but Song Yimeng in his lifetime. Nan Heng accepted these conditions. Concurrently, Song Yimeng confronted Nan Heng at the Song Residence, calling him a hypocrite and accusing him of deliberately harming Song Yiting.
She questioned his sincerity, suggesting his current actions were merely an attempt to cover up his scheme to use the Song family alliance for power. Nan Heng maintained he was trying to make amends and asked for her trust. Chu Guihong intervened, exacerbating the situation. He questioned Nan Heng's trustworthiness, recounting Nan Heng's repeated deceptions of Song Yimeng and referencing a past event involving his aunt 19 years prior.
Chu Guihong declared he would no longer stand by, would not allow Song Yimeng to marry Nan Heng, and would reclaim the marriage contract. Nan Heng asserted the marriage contract was between him and Song Yimeng and Chu Guihong had no right to interfere. Song Yimeng stepped in, telling Chu Guihong the Song family's matters were not his concern, and reiterated her accusation that Nan Heng was feigning sincerity while pursuing power.
Madam Zhou Xueyi angrily confronted Song Yimeng, blaming her for the turmoil that had befallen the family, including the soldiers surrounding their home and Song Yude defying an imperial order (presumably regarding an arranged marriage for Yimeng). Calling her a curse, she warned Song Yimeng she would be haunted if the Song family was ruined because of her. Song Yimeng appeared distressed by these accusations.
Elsewhere, the Eighteenth Prince, Nan Rui, encountered Nan Heng on the street, angrily blaming him and Li Shiliu for Song Yiting's plight and vowing to avenge her. At the Capital Prefecture's office, Chu Guihong summoned Nan Heng, claiming important case information. He presented a disheveled person, identified as Shangguan He, and questioned Nan Heng about him, referencing his past as Shangguan Baihe, the ringleader of a three-prefecture theft case Nan Heng had handled three years ago.
Chu Guihong noted that official records stated Shangguan Baihe had been executed and asked how he could now be alive, implying Nan Heng's involvement and citing a recent fire that conveniently destroyed the relevant archives. He suggested this meeting was an opportunity for Nan Heng to prove he hadn't colluded or falsified records. Suddenly, men in black attacked during their discussion. Nan Heng was injured in the melee. The attackers seized the person Chu Guihong had presented and fled.
However, Nan Heng realized they had taken a substitute, not the real Shangguan He. Chu Guihong, initially suspecting Nan Heng of faking injury to cover the escape, quickly realized the attackers took the wrong person and deduced they were likely Waning River Crescent's Nightwalkers attempting a rescue. After the failed rescue attempt where the substitute was taken, the real Shangguan He remained at the Capital Prefecture's office.
A captured attacker was interrogated, claiming he was hired by a small beggar for money, not associated with Waning River Crescent or Nightwalkers. Chu Guihong dismissed this as false, insisting the attack was by Nightwalkers and accusing Nan Heng of hiring them. Nan Heng remarked that Chu Guihong was overly confident. Chu Guihong ordered his men to raid Waning River Crescent, stating they would fabricate evidence if necessary, having learned such methods from dealing with Nan Heng. Nan Heng responded cryptically, suggesting Chu Guihong should also be familiar with the art of escape.
