A Forbidden Marriage Episode 9 Recap
> A Forbidden Marriage Recap
The Valley Chief expressed his deep dissatisfaction with Jin Buhuan for allowing Yuan Yingxing to escape the trap with Yao Fu's help. He reminded Jin Buhuan that he had been chosen for his decisive and calculating nature, and was even meant to inherit Biluo Valley and marry Lu Xuanxuan. Jin Buhuan apologized, stating he underestimated the support Yuan Yingxing still had after the fall of the Shengyue Sect, and pleaded for another chance.
The Valley Chief, however, was frustrated, highlighting the many opportunities he had given Jin Buhuan and his simple request for Yuan Yingxing’s head. Just then, news arrived that Yuan Yingxing was nearby. Seizing the moment, Jin Buhuan requested a team of elite archers to surround and kill the injured Yuan Yingxing, a plan the Valley Chief agreed to, demanding Yuan Yingxing’s head.
Jin Buhuan then rallied his archers, assuring them that capturing an injured Yuan Yingxing would be an easy task. He directed them to Yuan Yingxing's location, south of their current position, and instructed them to wait for his flute signal. When Jin Buhuan encountered Yuan Yingxing, he feigned loyalty, claiming he had finally found his Chief. Yuan Yingxing, however, saw through the deceit, remarking on Jin Buhuan's reported desire to kill him.
Jin Buhuan continued to profess his unwavering loyalty, but Yuan Yingxing challenged him to prove it by showing his heart. Realizing his deception had failed, Jin Buhuan ordered his archers to fire. Yuan Yingxing used his flute to deflect the arrows, the powerful vibrations causing immense pain to Jin Buhuan and his men. Jin Buhuan was captured while trying to flee.
Yuan Yingxing declared that if Jin Buhuan were not a Shengyue Sect disciple, he would have shared the fate of the others. He chastised Jin Buhuan for betraying the sect after receiving its grace and, as punishment, severed one of Jin Buhuan's arms, leaving him crippled. Shortly after, Yuan Yingxing encountered Yao Fu. Seeing his bloodied state, Yao Fu expressed concern and asked what Jin Buhuan had done.
Yuan Yingxing, however, ordered her away, lamenting that everyone he trusted, including her and Jin Buhuan, had betrayed him. He then showed her the Shengyue Token, stating it would have been their wedding token had she not betrayed him. Yao Fu insisted she never intended to betray him. Upon Jin Buhuan's return to Biluo Valley, the Valley Chief was further enraged by his dismembered arm and failure, especially after providing archers and setting a trap throughout the valley.
He questioned Jin Buhuan’s promises and guarantees, assuming a leak led to Yuan Yingxing's escape. Jin Buhuan once again begged for another chance, but the Valley Chief mocked him for becoming a cripple, stating he could not possibly marry Lu Xuanxuan off to such a man. Immediately after, Lu Xuanxuan, the Young Chief, returned to the valley. Her father, the Valley Chief, angrily demanded to know the whereabouts of the offerings.
Lu Xuanxuan explained that Yunmen disciples had unexpectedly found Qingmu Fortress and rescued all nine children. Despite cutting off all clues and ensuring everyone in Qingmu Fortress was dead, her father was furious, accusing her of failing to protect the children and tarnishing their family name. He commanded her to go to Qinglai City at once, under any pretext, to eliminate the children and prevent them from revealing their secrets.
Before Lu Xuanxuan departed, her father gave Jin Buhuan one last chance, promising to officiate his wedding to Lu Xuanxuan if he killed Yuan Yingxing, but voiding the engagement if he failed. Jin Buhuan vowed to make Yuan Yingxing die without a burial place. Separately, Wangyue, Ling Yin, and Mingyang were closely observing Yang Qing. Mingyang wondered if Yang Qing had realized Wangyue's true identity as the Saintess.
Wangyue, however, sensed that Yang Qing likely knew but chose not to acknowledge it. Ling Yin and Si (Fire Hall Master) playfully bickered about Yang Qing's perceived coldness towards Wangyue since Si's arrival, with Si being blamed for scaring Yang Qing off. Wangyue admitted that Yang Qing’s attitude towards her had indeed changed. Despite Ling Yin pointing out the flaws in her cover story, Wangyue was determined to get Yang Qing to take them to Yunmen.
That night, she snuck into Yang Qing's room, attempting to use a sleeping powder to compel him. Yang Qing, unaffected by the powder, gave Wangyue a chance to leave voluntarily before he forcibly removed her. He revealed his knowledge of her past association with the Shengyue Sect and warned her about the dangers of being linked to a fallen sect.
Wangyue, convinced that Yang Qing's rejection stemmed from his feelings for Yao Fu, angrily confronted him about a hidden letter she found. Yang Qing explained that his relationship with Junior Yao was based on shared responsibilities within Yunmen, unlike his fleeting acquaintance with Wangyue, and that her secrets forced him to be cautious. Devastated, Wangyue accused Yang Qing of elitism, claiming he considered her an undesirable village girl unworthy of an esteemed Yunmen Elder.
Yang Qing, expressing that some things were more complex than she understood, stated that he couldn't reciprocate her feelings beyond gratitude. Wangyue, hurt, warned him that he would regret treating her this way. Later, Wangyue, heavily intoxicated, tearfully confided in Ling Yin, expressing her anger at Yang Qing for rejecting her despite her status as the Saintess, feeling inferior to Yao Fu.
Ling Yin comforted her, promising to help Wangyue make Yang Qing unable to leave her, hinting at a "Compliance Pill" she was developing. The following morning, the Yunmen disciples found themselves surrounded by angry villagers. A plague had broken out in the village, starting with the children they had rescued, causing sores and pus, and spreading to families.
The villagers accused Yunmen of harming them and demanded an explanation from Yang Qing, refusing to let them leave or see the sick children. Shang Huai, angered by the accusations, wanted to force their way out, but Yang Qing insisted they avoid conflict with the common people. Yang Qing, along with Jiang Yan, secretly left to investigate. Meanwhile, Wangyue, Ling Yin, and Mingyang were discussing the mysterious plague.
Ling Yin, concerned by the unusual nature of the disease, went to ask Fan Hao, while Wangyue and Mingyang waited. Fan Hao explained that local doctors had declared it a highly contagious plague, threatening the entire town, and the infected were quarantined and left to die. He suspected it was deliberate poisoning to frame Yunmen. Ling Yin, along with Mingyang, then went to the quarantined ward.
Despite resistance from guards, Ling Yin's medical expertise and persuasion, along with Mingyang's determination, allowed them entry. Inside, Ling Yin quickly confirmed the presence of poison and began treating the children by bleeding them and using silver needles to draw out the toxins. Yang Qing and Jiang Yan found Wangyue and Ling Yin bravely caring for the sick, while others kept their distance. Jiang Yan noted Wangyue and Ling Yin's kindness, challenging Shang Huai's blanket condemnation of Shengyue Sect.
Yang Qing agreed that Shang Huai's judgment was too extreme and reflected that Shengyue Sect might not be entirely evil, suggesting their differences lay in their perspectives and methods rather than absolute good or evil. Jiang Yan suggested bringing Wangyue and Ling Yin back to Yunmen, despite Wangyue’s known conflict with Yao Fu, also revealing he received a strange carrier pigeon from Yao Fu.
Dismissing further discussion, Yang Qing and Jiang Yan joined Wangyue and Ling Yin in helping the villagers. After Ling Yin successfully treated the sick children, the District Leader and villagers expressed their gratitude to Yang Qing and offered to let Ling Yin and her companions stay until everyone fully recovered. Later, Yang Qing approached Wangyue, who was still upset with him. She accused him of being fickle and a hypocrite.
Yang Qing playfully suggested he needed to learn her dialect to understand her insults. Wangyue continued to criticize him, questioning his integrity and reminding him of his past "marriage" proposal. Yang Qing, however, acknowledged her by her personal name, "A-yue," for the first time. Wangyue, delighted yet still wary of his connection to Yao Fu, then listened as Yang Qing expressed gratitude for her help and offered her lotus cakes he had bought.
Despite her initial refusal, Yang Qing left the cakes for her to eat or discard as she wished before departing. Wangyue smiled, pleased that he finally called her by her given name. Meanwhile, Yuan Yingxing and Yao Fu were still together. Yuan Yingxing was severely injured due to an ambush by Jin Buhuan, and Yao Fu cared for him despite her own injuries. Jin Buhuan, who had been secretly observing them, revealed himself.
Yuan Yingxing, aware of his presence, called him out. Jin Buhuan then dramatically declared his renewed loyalty, claiming his prior betrayal was a misguided attempt to rescue Shengyue Sect brothers imprisoned by Biluo Valley, believing only Yuan Yingxing could truly save the sect. Yuan Yingxing was skeptical, but Jin Buhuan presented a map of Biluo Valley, with the dungeon location marked, as proof of his sincerity and his long-standing desire to revive the sect.
Yao Fu, suspicious, warned Yuan Yingxing of a trap. Yuan Yingxing, ignoring her, ordered Jin Buhuan to open the map. As Yuan Yingxing examined the map, he was poisoned. Jin Buhuan, revealing his true intentions, declared it was Yuan Yingxing's day to die. Yao Fu bravely shielded Yuan Yingxing from an attack, ignoring his pleas for her to flee, and with a defiant declaration of trust, they both leapt off a cliff.
