A Dream Within A Dream Episode 36 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
After learning from the scriptwriter that changing iconic scenes causes backfire, Nan Heng's immediate concern was for Song Yimeng. The scriptwriter reassured him that Song Yimeng was unaffected as she had not successfully altered any scenes. He explained that Nan Heng was the only character in this world who had changed an iconic scene – the triple stabbing scene on his wedding day – by using the script's mechanisms against themselves.
The scriptwriter warned that if the plot continued to deviate from the intended direction, particularly if events like Song Yiting marrying Shangguan He occurred, the backfire on Nan Heng, as the initiator of these changes, would intensify, eventually leading to his death. Nan Heng expressed relief for Song Yimeng's safety, but shortly after the scriptwriter departed, he suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed, his condition worsening significantly.
Song Yimeng realized she had been manipulated by the scriptwriter, understanding that external forces deliberately influenced Nan Rui's recent actions. Meanwhile, Chu Guihong took the scriptwriter to a forest, holding a knife to his throat and demanding the truth. Under duress, the scriptwriter revealed the nature of the script world, explaining that Nan Heng was the protagonist and Chu Guihong was merely a secondary male character destined to die by Nan Heng's hand after Nan Heng ascended the throne.
Chu Guihong was devastated by this revelation, feeling betrayed that the script favored Nan Heng, whom he viewed as a villain responsible for his father's death and seizing his intended fiancée. He declared his resolve to control his own destiny. The scriptwriter attempted to bargain, promising to revise the ending and make Chu Guihong the protagonist if he cooperated with the upcoming iconic scene, the "city tower two-choose-one" scenario.
Skeptical, Chu Guihong mounted his horse and rode away, abandoning the scriptwriter in the forest. The scriptwriter cursed him, expressing disbelief at how unpredictable Chu Guihong had become. Elsewhere, Song Yiting thanked Nan Rui for his help, praising his pure heart and inherent kindness. She called him a rare and valuable man who would surely find a suitable partner in the future.
Nan Rui was pleased by her words, finding solace in their conversation and agreeing to become friends with her, recognizing his own worth beyond academic or political achievements. In the palace, the Emperor and the Noble Consort worried deeply about Nan Heng's sudden illness. Learning his condition was critical, the Emperor reflected on the hardships Nan Heng had endured and felt he owed him a great deal.
After the royal physicians examined Nan Heng, Song Yimeng stayed by his bedside, pressing him for the truth behind his sudden collapse, noting that the physician's diagnosis of sudden weakness and deficiency didn't align with his previous state.
Nan Heng, attempting to protect Song Yimeng from the truth about the backfire, lied and claimed the scriptwriter (in his guise as Thousand Feathers King) had poisoned him as a threat for not cooperating with the plot, but insisted he had obtained the antidote and would recover soon.
When Song Yimeng pressed him further, citing the physician's diagnosis which contradicted his story, Nan Heng maintained that he was the male lead and wouldn't die easily, suggesting the poisoning was merely a way to make him suffer for not complying. Song Yimeng then brought up the scriptwriter's apparent effort to push for a marriage between Shangguan He and Song Yiting, wondering about his motive.
Nan Heng, still concealing the truth about the backfire being triggered by plot deviation, speculated that the scriptwriter might be trying to recruit Shangguan He and the Nightwalkers to oppose him. He reassured Song Yimeng not to worry, but she made him promise never to hide anything from her again, threatening playful punishment.
Separately, Shangguan He visited Thousand Feathers King (the scriptwriter's guise), ostensibly to express gratitude for his perceived assistance in his relationship with Song Yiting, while subtly attempting to probe for information about the King's true intentions and nature. Shangguan He pledged his loyalty if the King would allow him to join his future endeavors.
Thousand Feathers King was cryptic and evasive, testing Shangguan He's understanding of the reality of the world they inhabited, stating it was a world of his creation. Shangguan He left but secretly returned to observe. He witnessed Rong Hua overseeing the movement of unregistered Qianyu Army troops towards the capital. Discovering through his subordinates that these were troops Chu Guihong had secretly brought back from the border, Shangguan He informed Nan Heng and Song Yimeng.
Song Yimeng immediately recalled the script's original plot point where the "city tower two-choose-one" hostage situation occurred after Nan Heng's enthronement, fueled by Chu Guihong's clandestine return and troop mobilization. Fearing the plot was still on track, she and Nan Heng decided to preempt the threat. Nan Heng planned to seek the Emperor's permission to deploy the Xuanjia Army.
Concerned for Song Yiting's safety given her potential role in the upcoming scene, Nan Heng arranged for Shangguan He to write a letter to Song Yude asking him to bring her to the palace, where she would be safer and her absence from the tower would disrupt the script's plan. Meanwhile, Chu Guihong, seemingly acting on the scriptwriter's plan, had Rong Hua poison tangerines and arrange for them to be sold on the street, knowing Nan Rui would buy them.
Indeed, Nan Rui purchased the tangerines, remembering they were his late mother's favorite, and brought them to the Emperor to offer comfort during Nan Heng's illness. Nan Rui peeled a tangerine and fed it to the Emperor, sharing a tender moment where the Emperor expressed pride in his son's growth. Shortly after eating the tangerine, the Emperor collapsed, spitting blood. The eunuch Liu Mingxi immediately entered and accused Nan Rui of poisoning the Emperor.
Panicked, Nan Rui fled the palace with Jixiang, hoping to find the Crown Prince, Nan Heng. However, they were intercepted by Chu Guihong's forces. Jixiang sacrificed himself, taking a sword intended for Nan Rui. Chu Guihong appeared and confronted Nan Rui, accusing him. However, before further harm could be done, Fugui arrived with the Xuanjia Army, acting on Nan Heng's orders, and took Nan Rui into custody.
As the Emperor lay unconscious and critically ill, court officials clamored for Nan Rui's swift punishment, demanding that Nan Heng take action as evidence appeared solid. Nan Heng fiercely defended Nan Rui, asserting his brother's innocence with such emotional intensity that he again coughed up blood. Witnessing the chaos and believing he was responsible for the Emperor's state and Jixiang's death, Nan Rui fell into deep despair, blaming himself and regretting trusting Chu Guihong.
Song Yimeng, remembering the city tower plot point coinciding with Nan Heng's likely ascension following the Emperor's condition, sought out Nan Rui. Finding him consumed by self-pity and calling himself useless, she urged him to overcome his despair. She told him that his self-recrimination was unproductive and that he needed to pull himself together, work with her to find flaws in the poisoning scheme to clear his name, and find a way to help the Emperor recover. She reminded him he was a legitimate prince and her brother, expressing her belief in his ability to overcome this crisis and face it together with her.
