A Dream Within A Dream Episode 33 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
Nan Heng woke to find Song Yimeng asleep by his side. He pretended to still be unconscious. Song Yimeng, believing him asleep, carefully opened his clothes to check his wound, noting it was still seeping blood. Nan Heng suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
Fugui heard the commotion and entered, concerned about Nan Heng's injury, but Shangguan He quickly pulled him away, urging him not to disturb the couple, which Fugui misinterpreted as them being in a private intimate moment, lamenting he had worried for nothing. Earlier, Shangguan He had spoken to Fugui, speculating that in about a year, they would be presenting a full-month gift to His Highness's baby.
He emphasized the need for them to work hard and save money in the coming year. Fugui was surprised by the perceived speed of events, calling Nan Heng a "late bloomer" who had now completely "opened up." Song Yimeng tearfully hit Nan Heng, demanding to know why he didn't tell her he was awake and forbidding him from ever lying to her again, explaining how worried she had been all night without daring to close her eyes.
Nan Heng apologized repeatedly, and Song Yimeng warned him she would bite him if he ever scared her like that again. Later, Nan Heng was finally able to sit up, and Fugui expressed relief at no longer being idle. Nan Heng complained that his injured arm made it difficult to eat. Fugui offered to feed him, but Nan Heng suggested Fugui was too clumsy, implying he would prefer Song Yimeng to do it. Song Yimeng agreed to feed him.
Nan Heng then specifically sent Fugui on an errand to buy "Xu Gong's Pickled Veggies" from the south of the city, insisting Fugui go himself despite the distance and Fugui's protestations that he hadn't seen Nan Heng in a long time. Song Yimeng proceeded to feed Nan Heng porridge, blowing on it first to cool it. Shangguan He presented Nan Heng with the monthly expense report for Waning River Crescent.
Nan Heng instructed him to call for Song Yimeng to review it. Song Yimeng arrived and protested having to work right after getting married, suggesting they should be on a honeymoon. Nan Heng explained that while there would be time for leisure, it was her duty as the Crown Princess to assist him with his affairs. Song Yimeng complained this wasn't in her "job description" and regretted taking on the role.
Nan Heng feigned that his wound was starting to hurt, prompting Song Yimeng to agree to read the ledger. She struggled with the ancient script, mentioning specific entries like "Water tank maintenance," "River dolphins," and names like "Chui Chui and Ben Ben," confessing her poor education in cursive. Nan Heng insisted she read because his dizziness from the injury made his vision blurry, which he blamed on her.
Song Yimeng retorted that it was a "script mechanism" that made him take the hit and that she had saved his life that night by stopping the bleeding. She started to mention something that happened the next morning, but Nan Heng interrupted her. Shangguan He tried to eavesdrop, but Nan Heng dismissed him, instructing him, as the Second Master of Waning River Crescent, to handle the Axe Gang who were causing trouble. Song Yimeng reluctantly continued reading.
Nan Heng then clarified that on the morning she mentioned, he wasn't "feeling her up" but was concerned about her. Fugui joined Shangguan He outside after also being dismissed by Nan Heng. They shared a drink and complained that Nan Heng seemed to care less about them since marrying Song Yimeng, describing him as being completely focused on her.
Fugui acknowledged Shangguan He's loyalty and capabilities, despite his flaws like putting on airs, and suggested they become sworn brothers as they had been through hard times together. Shangguan He agreed. However, when Fugui proposed they vow to "cut off love and desire" to dedicate themselves to Nan Heng, Shangguan He hesitated, finding it extreme. Fugui suspected Shangguan He was already in love, perhaps with Song Yiting, citing others calling her "Second Sister-in-law."
Shangguan He denied it, but Fugui became upset, declaring himself an enemy of the Song family and leaving Shangguan He to drink alone. Meanwhile, Chu Guihong awoke and was astonished to see his Father, Lord Qianyu, alive, as many had witnessed his death at the Pingrong Battle. He questioned why his father hadn't returned to the capital, where he, Rong Hua, and the entire Qianyu army had waited for him.
Lord Qianyu explained that Chu Guihong needed to understand his perspective; as the undefeated "Great Jing battle god," the shame of the Pingrong defeat was unbearable, and he had wished for death upon waking. He revealed that being under his wing prevented Chu Guihong from truly growing, and his absence was necessary for Chu Guihong to stand on his own.
He expressed genuine pride in Chu Guihong's achievements, which deeply moved his son, who noted his father had never been so affirming before. Lord Qianyu then proposed they join forces to reclaim what Nan Heng had "taken." Song Yimeng grew increasingly frustrated with studying the ancient ledger, stating her dislike for archaic texts and mathematics. Nan Heng explained he wanted her to learn about his world, especially since she would eventually be Empress.
Song Yimeng declared she quit and would not be Crown Princess, telling him to find someone else. Nan Heng again feigned pain from his wound, but Song Yimeng saw through his act. Later, she suggested they sleep, and got into bed. She playfully bossed him around, asking him to pull up the blanket and adjust her pillow, teasing that he was getting revenge for past bullying.
She asked him to stop using formal address when they were alone, wishing for their life to feel more "real," noting how the "iconic scene mechanism" had suddenly been broken, making their story feel somewhat unreal.
Nan Heng suggested that perhaps she, as a "paper person" or "fictional figure," didn't have ideas of her own without his input, but she countered that perhaps he was also a fictional character in a scripted world, comparing it to a Russian nesting doll or "Zhuangzi's butterfly dream." Ultimately, she just wanted to avoid "involution" or being forced to work, explaining she didn't want to be bossed around and preferred stillness.
Nan Heng understood she didn't want to learn his world and suggested he learn hers instead, if she taught him patiently. Song Yimeng immediately jumped up, eager to teach him. She introduced him to math and English. She showed him the classic Pheasant-Rabbit math problem, and he quickly arrived at the correct answer for the number of rabbits. She was surprised by his quick understanding.
She then offered to teach him English, referencing the word give up he had used before, and was surprised he remembered its meaning. She teasingly asked if he had intended to give up on their relationship back then, calling him "so vengeful." When asked what he wanted to learn, Nan Heng expressed a desire to learn how to say "白首同心" (White Head Same Heart) and "长相厮守" (Long Enduring Love).
She proceeded to teach him the sounds of "白首同心" using Pinyin sounds interpreted through English, praising his efforts and noting her "American accent." As she instructed him to read the last sound, "心" (xin), focusing on a specific sound element (perhaps an 'R' sound, as noted in subtitles), he simply stared at her, and then he suddenly kissed her.
An imperial decree announced the creation of the Eastern Palace adjacent to the inner palace, ordering Crown Prince Heng to reside there to adhere to protocol and facilitate governance. Fugui was overjoyed, seeing it as proof he had chosen the right master and a sign of his own rise, having come from humble origins to reach the Crown Prince's palace. They prepared to move, carrying a plaque that read "Male Lead's Mansion."
Fugui wondered why only Nan Heng could use it. Song Yimeng saw the plaque and remarked on its peculiar inscription, which Nan Heng admitted he had never noticed before. Fugui, still puzzled, asked Nan Heng to explain what a "male lead" was, as Song Yimeng often used the term for him. They then departed for the Eastern Palace. Meanwhile, the Emperor informed Song Yude that he had bestowed many gifts upon Song Yiting, indicating his satisfaction with her.
He remarked that with Nan Heng married, it was time to consider Nan Rui's marriage, hoping both princes would settle down before he passed away, as his health was declining. The Emperor proposed marrying Song Yiting to the Eighteenth Prince Nan Rui, suggesting it would strengthen their families' bond. Song Yude was hesitant, claiming Yiting was ill-suited compared to Yimeng, citing her bad temper, impatience, and willfulness.
The Emperor saw these traits as strength, believing she could support and improve Nan Rui. Song Yude insisted Yiting had no feelings for Nan Rui and already cared for someone else, arguing that Nan Rui's feelings alone didn't mean he could marry her. He stressed he had only two daughters and couldn't marry both into the imperial family. The Emperor responded with irritation, accusing Song Yude of being argumentative and potentially offending him.
Distracted by the argument, Song Yude lost their chess game. In the village, Lord Qianyu, acting as a "charlatan" or "divine person," was helping villagers find hidden ginseng fields, earning their gratitude and gifts. Villagers called him "Master Chu." Chu Guihong found this behavior baffling and accused his father of being a fraud, swindling people. Lord Qianyu defended himself, stating he was genuinely helping the villagers prosper by revealing where the real ginseng was, calling it "not fake."
Chu Guihong demanded to know how he knew about the ginseng. Lord Qianyu claimed he had awakened a power of premonition when he was near death, allowing him to see the future. Chu Guihong questioned why this power didn't prevent their defeat at Pingrong.
Lord Qianyu urged him to let go of the past, reiterating his claim of premonition and revealing he had come to the village and befriended the residents in advance precisely to save Chu Guihong, as he knew his son would eventually flee there.
Chu Guihong was moved, realizing his father had been watching over him all along and knew about his struggles: being rejected by the Song family, Song Yimeng's feelings for Nan Heng, the Emperor's lost trust, Nan Rui giving up his claim, and his current isolation. Lord Qianyu confirmed he knew everything and that Chu Guihong was no longer alone.
He also mentioned sending the physician, Zhao, to save Nan Heng after the assassination attempt, which helped clear Chu Guihong's name, and that he had written to Rong Hua and Nan Rui. Finally, Lord Qianyu hinted that once the Emperor faced trouble, it would be their opportunity to return and make a comeback. When Chu Guihong pressed him for details about the Emperor's future, Lord Qianyu simply stated, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed," and told his son to wait for good news.
