A Dream Within A Dream Episode 39 Recap
> A Dream Within A Dream Recap
Song Yimeng awoke, finding herself back in time once again, earlier than her previous loops. She urgently sought out Nan Heng and pleaded with him to dispatch guards to protect the Song family, fearing trouble for her sister Yiting and father if they delayed. Nan Heng was bewildered by her insistence.
To convince him, Song Yimeng predicted details of an imminent arrival, describing how Shangguan He would enter the room, dressed in teal, retract one foot at the threshold, and report on a secret infiltration of off-the-books Qianyu troops. Just as she predicted, Shangguan He arrived and confirmed the intelligence, explaining the soldiers were secretly transferred from the borders by Chu Guihong. Seeing her predictions come true, Song Yimeng revealed she had experienced these events twice before.
She implored Nan Heng to trust her and stop Chu Guihong's scheme, explaining that proceeding according to plan and completing certain "iconic scenes" leading to the "castle tower choice" were necessary for her to return to her world and secure a favorable outcome for Nan Heng. Meanwhile, the scriptwriter urged Chu Guihong to stick to the pre-planned plot and complete the necessary "iconic scenes" so he could return to his own time.
A butterfly flew in, and Chu Guihong felt a strong sense of déjà vu, wondering if events were repeating or if reincarnation existed in this world. The scriptwriter confirmed the existence of 'unlimited flow,' explaining Song Yimeng had experienced it when she first entered the script, repeatedly dying and restarting because the plot prevented her from marrying Chu Guihong while avoiding Nan Heng. This repeated cycle meant she was 'stuck with a bug.'
Chu Guihong realized that if she retained memories from her loops, she would possess foreknowledge, putting all his plans at risk. To counteract this, he decided to act preemptively and strike first. In the Imperial Study, Nan Rui was peeling a tangerine for the Emperor when he felt the scene was eerily familiar, asking if the Emperor had peeled a tangerine for "him" before, despite the Emperor's denial. Chu Guihong abruptly entered, snatched the tangerine, and declared it poisoned.
While Nan Rui was distraught, swearing he would never attempt such a thing, Chu Guihong claimed a report indicated a vendor was paid to poison the fruit specifically sold to Nan Rui, speculating the culprit was someone close to the Emperor and Nan Rui. He then suggested this pointed to Nan Heng's ambition. Nan Rui felt Chu Guihong's words about the culprit echoed something Nan Heng had previously said. The Emperor questioned Chu Guihong's accusation against his son.
Citing the potential for rebellion, Chu Guihong ordered the Emperor to remain in his chamber for safety, surrounding the area with Qianyu Army, effectively placing the Emperor under house arrest. He then ordered Rong Hua to secure an imperial edict from the Emperor authorizing an attack on Nan Heng.
Nan Heng and Song Yimeng arrived at the palace only to find they were too late; the Emperor had already ordered the Imperial Guards replaced, and the Qianyu Army controlled the area. Song Yimeng wondered why Chu Guihong had acted so quickly again, noting he had done so in a previous loop. They needed to rescue the Emperor. Nan Rui, having escaped through a small passage the Emperor had created as a diversion, found them.
He recounted the events, warning Nan Heng not to act impulsively and explaining that the Emperor was stalling while Chu Guihong sought an edict against him. Song Yimeng noted the difference from a previous loop where Nan Rui was widely seen as the poisoner, while this time only a vendor's testimony implicated him, making the accusation less credible. Nan Rui denied poisoning his father, and Song Yimeng confirmed Chu Guihong was the true poisoner who framed him.
She speculated that Chu Guihong's change in tactics meant he either anticipated their actions or had also entered the unlimited flow and gained memories. Nan Rui, confused by the talk of unlimited flow, was told it would be explained later. Nan Heng instructed Fugui to escort Nan Rui and his mother, the Consort, to Waning River Crescent for safety. Meanwhile, the scriptwriter confronted Chu Guihong, questioning his deviation from the plan.
Chu Guihong declared his intention to change his fate, stating he would not let the scriptwriter return to the modern world because that would put his fate back in the scriptwriter's hands. He wanted control over his own destiny and intended to trap the scriptwriter in the script world forever, even offering him a high position or threatening him with a gruesome fate if he resisted.
The scriptwriter cried for help, but Chu Guihong, having control of the Qianyu Army, ordered his men to seize him. The scriptwriter, protesting that he was Lord Qianyu, was dragged away, cursing Chu Guihong and vowing to write his death a thousand times if he ever returned. Chu Guihong, however, asserted that the scriptwriter would never return. Nan Heng believed their previous defeats were due to insufficient military strength. This time, he needed more allies.
He located the scriptwriter, now chained, who warned Nan Heng that Chu Guihong was insane and had 5,000 soldiers outside the city preparing to attack Nan Heng starting at Hai Shi (9 PM). The scriptwriter urged Nan Heng to finish the iconic scenes with Song Yimeng to survive. Nan Heng revealed that the scriptwriter had already died twice in previous loops, confirming the reincarnation was real and urging the scriptwriter to cooperate against Chu Guihong.
The scriptwriter, claiming he was just a writer and no fighter, begged to be freed to hide. Nan Heng refused, insisting that regardless of his identity, today he was Lord Qianyu and must fulfill that role. Feeling physically weak, Nan Heng discussed their dire situation with Song Yimeng. Chu Guihong commanded a large force, and the scriptwriter (Lord Qianyu) hadn't fully committed.
Nan Heng recalled that his uncle, Gao Changyin, had mentioned 3,000 private soldiers hidden outside the city, loyal to him, whom the capital authorities couldn't find. He had already sent Yao Qian and the Nightwalkers to locate them. His plan was to use a Crown Prince's edict, sent via Yao Qian, to offer these soldiers a choice: remain hidden and anonymous forever or make amends by joining Nan Heng to suppress the rebellion. He believed most would choose the latter.
Song Yimeng felt they needed even more people before the private army arrived to help delay Chu Guihong. She suggested rallying officials, martial artists, and even common citizens. However, efforts by Yunlong and Shanhu to recruit people proved difficult as everyone feared opposing Chu Guihong, who commanded significant troops. At Waning River Crescent, where the Song family had been sheltered, Song Yimeng decided to tell her father and sister about the script world.
Nan Heng spoke with Nan Rui separately, explaining the reincarnation and that Chu Guihong was the true villain who had harmed him multiple times. Nan Rui struggled to process the truth, needing time to digest it. Nan Heng outlined the military strategy: He and the Nightwalkers' main force would lure Chu Guihong's rebel army to the narrow Anhe Pier in the South City starting at Hai Shi (9 PM).
Because the South City's roads were narrow, Chu Guihong's army would have to divide into three routes to meet up. Song Yimeng, Shangguan He, Yunlong, Shanhu, and others would ambush Chu Guihong's reinforcements on these three routes. Simultaneously, Fugui would lead 300 Xuanjia soldiers, accompanying Nan Rui, into the palace to rescue the Emperor.
Nan Rui was hesitant, fearing Nan Heng's failure given his previous defeats with limited troops, and proposed a different plan where he would lead the Xuanjia Army to ambush Chu Guihong alone in the South City while Nan Heng lured him there. Nan Heng rejected this, insisting on his plan, assuring Nan Rui that the 300 Xuanjia soldiers and allies like Jixiang inside the palace were sufficient.
He gave Nan Rui a sword, calling him his brother and reminding him he was the 'heaven's chosen one' and the auspicious sign of Great Jing, capable of succeeding. They agreed that Nan Rui would protect the palace while Nan Heng protected the capital, hoping they could both survive this time. Back at Waning River Crescent, Song Yimeng informed Song Yude that Chu Guihong was launching a coup with less than three hours remaining.
Song Yude was shocked, questioning Lord Qianyu's involvement. Song Yimeng couldn't fully explain but stressed that failure to stop Chu Guihong would endanger Nan Heng and the entire Song family. Song Yude declared his duty to protect Great Jing and agreed to fight. Song Yiting immediately pledged to follow Song Yimeng. When asked, Zhou Xueyi hesitated, claiming fear and weakness, although Song Yimeng playfully reminded her of her strength.
The servants ran off, making Song Yimeng think they were abandoning them, but they returned shortly with tools found around Waning River Crescent, ready to join the effort for the Song family. Song Yimeng clarified they wouldn't be on the front lines but would go to the South City with the Nightwalkers to delay Chu Guihong's reinforcements. Before the operation, Song Yiting decided to marry Shangguan He immediately at Waning River Crescent.
She dismissed the need for traditional rituals and witnesses, stating their marriage was solely about them, and insisted on getting married that day. When Shangguan He made a conditional promise to marry her upon his safe return, she warned him that such promises often precede tragic ends for the men who make them, sometimes leaving no trace of their graves.
She gave him a choice: marry her now or she would cut his hair to tie it with hers in a symbolic union. When Shangguan He proposed using traditional vows, Song Yiting preferred a more modern phrasing, asking him to accept her as his partner, in all circumstances, until death. Both exchanged "I do"s. Nan Heng prepared for the mission, changing into attire suitable for operating with the Nightwalkers.
Song Yimeng remained hopeful, knowing that Yao Qian had found the hideout of Gao Changyin's private soldiers, with around 2,000 agreeing to help and expected to arrive in the South City before Zi Shi (11 PM). She realized that by stalling Chu Guihong's forces for just one more hour, they could receive reinforcements and change their fate. Reflecting on the scriptwriter's words, she saw that they were not mere characters but "holders of the pen," writers of their own story.
Nan Heng agreed, recognizing that everyone present would be a protagonist tonight. Song Yimeng embraced this realization, abandoning her past hope for a hero and acknowledging that the true hero was her own unwavering and unyielding self. United in their resolve, they agreed to fight with all their might and leave no regrets.
The plan was set: Nan Heng and the main Nightwalker force would lure Chu Guihong to Anhe Pier in the South City starting at Hai Shi (9 PM). Because the South City's roads were narrow, Chu Guihong's army would have to divide into three groups to converge. Song Yimeng, Shangguan He, Yunlong, Shanhu, and others would ambush these three groups of reinforcements. Simultaneously, Fugui, with 300 Xuanjia soldiers, would accompany Nan Rui to the palace to rescue the Emperor.
Nan Rui, praying to various deities for safety and victory for himself, his father, and Nan Heng, promised grand offerings upon their safe return. In the palace, under pressure from Rong Hua to write an imperial edict against Nan Heng by Hai Shi (9 PM), the Emperor instead remained firm and began writing an edict denouncing Chu Guihong. Meanwhile, Song Yude, the former Minister of War, prepared himself, practicing combat moves, despite claiming not to be nervous.
