A Dream Within A Dream Episode 35 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
A screenwriter, invited to Waning River Crescent, finds this world, with its people and stories he didn't create, remarkably interesting and even more compelling than his own work. Song Yimeng explains she brought him there to teach him to respect characters. She sees the people in this script world as real, living individuals, not mere props, and asks him to be lenient, allowing them to live as they wish.
She warns that forcing the story back to its original path would cause many deaths, and she and Nan Heng would not tolerate it. The screenwriter, feigning consideration of her request, is actually plotting how to destabilize or destroy these characters. Zhou Xueyi arrives at Waning River Crescent, creating a scene. She confronts Shangguan He, accusing him of ruining her daughter Song Yiting's intended marriage to the Eighteenth Prince Nan Rui.
She demands he go to the Song Residence and tell Yiting he doesn't want her, so Yiting will give up on him and marry into the royal family. Shangguan He refuses to abandon Yiting, stating he is willing to marry her if she is willing.
He understands Yiting desires a life of freedom with a kindred spirit, not just a conventional marriage, and promises to tell her this himself, adding he would happily accompany her on an unrestrained life journey or marry her with full ceremony if she desires it, or even be married by her. Mrs. Song, enraged, calls him insane.
Song Yimeng remarks to the screenwriter that his creation of a character like Mrs. Song, who tries to break up couples, suggests he has suffered deeply in love in the real world, and notes this conflict could have been avoided if he had written the story differently, suggesting marrying Yiting to Nan Heng.
An imperial physician examines Nan Heng, noting his condition has worsened unexpectedly and seems to be a severe illness triggered by his past injury, rather than just the injury itself. The physician can only prescribe tonics to regulate his energy and blood flow, recommending observation. Unexpectedly arriving at the Song Residence, Lord Qianyu announces he is officially adopting Shangguan He as his son.
This bestows Shangguan He with the status of the Chu family, making him a suitable match for Song Yiting in societal terms. Mrs. Song is left speechless, unable to object based on status. Song Yimeng is pleased, seeing this as a positive step that resolves a long-standing family issue and prevents Yiting from being forced into a royal marriage.
Lord Qianyu immediately pushes for the marriage contract between the Song and Chu families to be signed, and Song Yimeng believes they have finally settled the family's ongoing conflict. Later, Lord Qianyu (Chu Guihong) reveals to his father that his motive for orchestrating this marriage arrangement is to target Nan Heng, believing Nan Heng is close to death. Fugui teases Shangguan He about becoming a Chu family member.
Shangguan He finds Lord Qianyu's sudden actions suspicious, believing there's more to it. Nan Heng attempts to dismiss Fugui, but Fugui lingers and overhears Nan Heng telling Shangguan He about the existence of a "script world" where they are characters. Shangguan He is initially shocked but then finds the idea explains his existence and unusually handsome appearance. He asks about his fate, hoping for a desirable ending, perhaps more favored than Nan Heng's.
Nan Heng reveals Shangguan He has no predetermined ending in the original script; he was likely born from the script world's own processes and could "come suddenly and go suddenly," perhaps disappearing without a trace. Shangguan He is stunned by the possibility of disappearing, especially in relation to Song Yiting. Nan Heng instructs him to use his new status as Lord Qianyu's adopted son to investigate Lord Qianyu's next moves.
Shangguan He questions why some "paper people" have more power than others, prompting Nan Heng to reveal he is the "male lead." At Song Residence, Song Yude expresses hesitation about the marriage contract despite signing it, questioning why Chu Li (Lord Qianyu) is helping Shangguan He and Yiting.
Song Yimeng reassures him, suggesting Lord Qianyu is trying to prove himself in this world and resolve Song Yude's long-standing problem of marrying off Yiting, acknowledging Song Yude's reluctance for a royal marriage. Song Yude feels relieved that the family conflict is finally settled. However, Mrs. Song finds Song Yude and informs him that Yiting refuses the marriage unless Shangguan He expresses his feelings for her in person.
Song Yimeng later speaks with Yiting, arguing that Shangguan He's previous statements at Waning River Crescent clearly showed his deep care and affection, and a formal confession is just a formality. Yiting feels unheard, having expressed her feelings repeatedly without receiving a direct verbal response from him. Song Yimeng critiques Yiting's passive approach to love, comparing it to her general tendency to "lie there doing nothing" in life, contrasting it sharply with Nan Heng's considerable efforts in their own relationship.
Fugui admits to Nan Heng that he overheard their conversation about the script world. After initial shock, he accepted it, reasoning that since he has never experienced the world outside the storybook, this world is real to him. He reveals he overheard that Nan Heng has been coughing up blood and questions why Nan Heng hid it, realizing it was to protect the plan against Lord Qianyu and also to prevent Song Yimeng (the太子妃) from worrying.
Fugui passionately declares his unwavering loyalty, asserting that he was written into the story specifically to protect Nan Heng and that he understands all of Nan Heng's thoughts and plans. He insists that his own safety must be included in the plan and demands to know the specific details, stating he cannot be at ease otherwise. Nan Heng acknowledges Fugui's loyalty and concedes, promising to include him in future discussions, although calling him "too much."
Fugui reminds Nan Heng that he is the truly dependable one, unlike Shangguan He who might disappear. Upon returning home, Song Yimeng detects the smell of medicine on Nan Heng and expresses concern for his health, insisting on checking his injury despite his claims of being fully healed. She then questions him about his visit to Waning River Crescent with Lord Qianyu and Shangguan He's adoption.
Nan Heng redirects, stating Lord Qianyu is adapting to this world and helped facilitate the engagement by pressuring Mrs. Song. Song Yimeng then becomes openly affectionate, expressing her deep love for him using a quirky analogy (prioritizing him over an ATM) and promising to shift the dynamic by actively pursuing him from now on. Concurrently, Nan Rui prepares to buy Dongting red oranges, recalling a past negative event associated with them.
Rong Hua stops him and asks him to step aside for a conversation. At the Song Residence, Nan Heng observes as Lord Qianyu presents lavish engagement gifts to Song Yude. Song Yude mentions that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau found no suitable wedding date within the next six months. Nan Heng finds Lord Qianyu's detailed knowledge of Song family affairs (like Yiting's reluctance) and his seemingly omnipresent involvement ("How is it you're everywhere?" ) highly suspicious.
Lord Qianyu then excuses himself to use the restroom. Song Yimeng finds Shangguan He and encourages him to confess his feelings to Song Yiting, questioning his hesitation now that the path seems clear. Shangguan He reveals that Nan Heng told him about being a character from a storybook and he fears suddenly disappearing, leaving Yiting alone. Song Yimeng attempts to reassure him that this won't happen, based on her own understanding of the script world.
Suddenly, Duan Shanhu rushes in with urgent news that Waning River Crescent has been compromised or "stolen." Nan Rui arrives at Waning River Crescent with Song Yiting, having arranged to meet her there, and publicly proposes to her. He declares his love and intention to marry her, explicitly stating he is there to "steal the bride" because he cherishes her deeply and cannot bear to see her marry someone who seems indifferent. Nan Rui gives a countdown.
Yiting looks towards Shangguan He, who remains silent at first. Seeing his lack of response, she accepts Nan Rui's proposal during the countdown. Shangguan He then calls out to her. He asks Yiting what kind of love she truly desires, acknowledging the possibility of his own sudden disappearance. Yiting firmly replies that she wants a love unbound by origin or destination, implying freedom from constraint and obligation.
She states that if he were to leave her, she would hold his memory dear but move on to find other loves, as there are plenty of other men in the world, and she would not waste her youth grieving. This blunt and unyielding response seems to free Shangguan He from his hesitation and fear of the future. He walks towards Yiting and kisses her publicly.
Nan Rui, who had pre-arranged for Rong Hua to scatter flowers during his proposal, watches as the scene unexpectedly transforms into a celebration of Shangguan He and Yiting. Song Yimeng arrives and finds the unfolding events very strange. Nan Rui admits to her that Lord Qianyu instructed him to orchestrate this "fake proposal" and "bride snatching" stunt specifically to provoke Shangguan He into action. As the screenwriter emerges from the restroom, Nan Heng intercepts him.
Nan Heng reveals he sees through the screenwriter's attempts to manipulate events, stating he believes the screenwriter is altering things, such as influencing the engagement and Nan Rui's proposal, because he wants to force the script back onto its original path after seeing how much it has changed. The screenwriter implicitly confirms Nan Heng's suspicion by admitting he wants to return to his own world.
He explains there are additional rules in the script world: one way for him to return is by ensuring Nan Heng and Song Yimeng complete the script's "iconic scenes" all the way to the ending; the other rule is that anyone who attempts to change these iconic scenes will suffer a backlash.
