Ashes of Love Episode 16 Recap, Plot

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Run Yu presented Jin Mi with the engagement letter signed by the Heavenly Emperor and Water Immortal four thousand years prior. His own name was also on the document, leaving only Jin Mi’s signature. Though she expressed hesitation about her handwriting, Run Yu reassured her, and Jin Mi signed the letter. Run Yu complimented her calligraphy, remarking that it looked professionally guided.

Jin Mi explained it was the result of a century of practice, forced upon her when she served as Xu Feng’s page boy. Run Yu noted that while Xu Feng excelled at the Fei Bai style for individual characters, using it throughout would appear frivolous. He then offered to teach Jin Mi more refined styles like running-cursive and Wei tablet script, but Jin Mi, weary of more practice, resisted, stating she was already accustomed to her current style.

Run Yu then offered Jin Mi a rare Beast of Dreams, suggesting it could accompany her and eventually serve as her mount. Jin Mi delightedly accepted, saying riding it would be far easier than flying and playfully asked the beast not to gain too much weight. Jin Mi then directly asked Run Yu when they would begin their "spirit training," a practice for cultivating spiritual power.

Run Yu, avoiding a direct answer, instead proposed to affectionately call her "Mi'er," which Jin Mi happily agreed to. She then commented on an epiphyllum in Run Yu’s courtyard, noting its reluctance to bloom. Run Yu shared a poignant legend of the flower's unrequited love for Supreme Immortal Wei Tian, who, having renounced worldly desires, never noticed its devotion.

Each midsummer night, the flower would sacrifice its year's essence to bloom for a fleeting moment, unaware that the immortal had long since transcended all earthly feelings. Jin Mi found the story tragic and considered the flower an ill omen, offering to replace it, but Run Yu insisted it was beautiful and wished for them to appreciate it together.

He informed her that he was off to set the stars for the night and reminded her of their rendezvous that evening. Meanwhile, Yan You attempted to trespass the Southern Heavenly Gate, but was spotted by Heavenly guardians. He was fortunately saved by Rat Immortal, who then noticed his incense burner in Jiazi Mansion had been subtly moved, confirming an intruder had been there, though the inner chambers remained undisturbed.

Yan You complained that Rat Immortal's actions at the Heavenly Empress's birthday banquet had caused him significant trouble. Rat Immortal countered, criticizing Yan You for having saved Jin Mi during the banquet, fearing that the Heavenly Empress and Xu Feng now suspected them both. Yan You argued that Jin Mi’s true form had been revealed, achieving their initial goal, and he could not bear to see her harmed by the "old hen."

Rat Immortal then directly asked if Yan You harbored feelings for Jin Mi. Yan You acknowledged Jin Mi's status as Water Immortal’s daughter, her engagement to Run Yu, and her closeness to Xu Feng. He predicted that Xu Feng and Run Yu would inevitably clash over Jin Mi, a development he welcomed for their plans. Despite this, he insisted on protecting Jin Mi, whom he considered a simple-minded close friend, and refused to let her be entangled in their schemes.

Rat Immortal then discovered that several letters from Lord Dongting to Water Immortal were missing from his mansion, confirming that his identity had been compromised. He urgently instructed Yan You to flee immediately while he devised his own escape. Yan You was reluctant to leave Rat Immortal behind, but was convinced to depart. A subordinate informed Xu Feng that the snake fairy had been sighted at the Southern Heavenly Gate.

Xu Feng immediately ordered additional troops to assist Lord Pojun in capturing Yan You, and also sent for Night Immortal, stating he would join the pursuit. Before leaving, Xu Feng instructed his attendant, Liao Ting, to deliver a gift to Jin Mi and convey his apologies for having to postpone their meeting. Liao Ting questioned Xu Feng's continued concern for Jin Mi, but Xu Feng dismissed his concerns.

Liao Ting arrived at Xuanji Palace with a gift of Zongzi for Jin Mi, but was intercepted by Kuang Lu. They immediately clashed, with Liao Ting asserting his duty to deliver the gift in person, hinting that Kuang Lu might try to withhold it. Kuang Lu, offended, reminded him that Jin Mi was engaged to Run Yu and therefore under Xuanji Palace's care.

Liao Ting retorted with the principle of "first come, first served," emphasizing Jin Mi’s prior acquaintance with Xu Feng. Kuang Lu countered that Jin Mi’s engagement to Run Yu had been established four millennia ago, implying Xu Feng was the one overstepping boundaries. Annoyed by Kuang Lu’s sharp words, Liao Ting left the gift with her, relaying Xu Feng’s apology and his need to reschedule, warning her of consequences if the message was not delivered.

Later, Jin Mi, trying to break free from the playful Beast of Dreams, suddenly realized it was 7-9 PM, and she was late for her appointment with Xu Feng. Just then, Kuang Lu approached, presenting Jin Mi with the food box from Xu Feng. Jin Mi noted the "spiritual Zongzi" and Xu Feng's increasing generosity, but then learned from Kuang Lu that Xu Feng had cancelled their meeting due to an emergency.

Jin Mi, calling Xu Feng a "moody bird," then inquired about Run Yu, only to be told he had also been called away by Xu Feng for discussions. Puzzled by the coincidental cancellations, Jin Mi pondered Xu Feng’s underlying care for her. Kuang Lu then advised Jin Mi to sever all ties with Xu Feng and his attendants, stating that since her engagement to Run Yu was "destined," she should leave all "messy past events" behind.

Kuang Lu removed a red rope from the gift box as she spoke. Confused by Kuang Lu's words and the synchronized cancellations by both Xu Feng and Run Yu, Jin Mi speculated they might be secretly engaging in "spirit training" without her. Disappointed, she resolved to simply enjoy her Zongzi alone. Xu Feng and Run Yu discussed the capture of the snake fairy.

Run Yu expressed gratitude, remarking that he had feared their engagement would create distance between them, but Xu Feng remained supportive. Xu Feng assured him that this was a separate matter concerning Run Yu's reputation, and since the black-clad assailant had targeted him, he intended to clear Run Yu's name. A subordinate then reported that the snake fairy was heading towards Xuanji Palace. Run Yu immediately became alarmed, realizing Jin Mi was still there.

Inside Xuanji Palace, Jin Mi was enjoying her Zongzi when she heard a familiar voice. She called out for Yan You, who reluctantly revealed himself. Yan You explained that Lord Pojun was relentlessly pursuing him, forcing him to seek refuge there, and that he had come to bid her farewell. Concerned for her friend, Jin Mi tried to devise a plan, even suggesting a staged kidnapping with a knife. Yan You quickly dismissed her idea, fearing Xu Feng’s wrath.

Just then, Xu Feng arrived. He used his magic power to pull Jin Mi to his side, and Heaven guardians immediately surrounded Yan You. Jin Mi was distressed to see her friend outnumbered, but the guardians proved no match for Yan You. Xu Feng personally intervened in the fight. Run Yu also arrived, explaining that he needed to verify something to prove his innocence and assuring Jin Mi that Yan You would not be killed.

Run Yu then provoked Yan You, challenging his water-related magic, while Xu Feng suggested Yan You add fire-related magic to his repertoire. As Yan You was about to be defeated, Rat Immortal intervened, launching a powerful fireball. Xu Feng immediately recognized the magic as belonging to the black-clad assailant who had attacked him during his Nirvana. In a desperate move, Rat Immortal pushed Yan You to safety, but was himself struck by Xu Feng.

Realizing he had no other recourse, Rat Immortal declared his intention to face the Heavenly Emperor directly. As they fled, he gave Yan You a scroll containing the Bird Family's military deployment, which he had gathered while playing chess with Elder Yin Que, instructing him to deliver it to their master and not to look back. Yan You, though reluctant, eventually agreed to meet him at Dongting Lake in early March.

Xu Feng and the others brought Rat Immortal to the Heavenly Palace for trial. Rat Immortal confessed to his crimes of attacking Run Yu and Xu Feng. The Heavenly Empress arrived, demanding to know who was behind Rat Immortal’s actions and who dared to harm an imperial son. She presented letters found in Rat Immortal's mansion, claiming they were evidence of his correspondence with other fairies. Run Yu intervened, pointing out the bias in the Heavenly Empress's accusations.

Xu Feng, however, asked the Heavenly Emperor for his pardon, explaining that she was merely agitated out of concern. The Heavenly Empress continued to pressure Rat Immortal, accusing him of conspiring with Water Immortal, whose name appeared in the letters regarding a chess game in Dongting Lake. She then produced a manual detailing the "destroying ice" refining method, a forbidden water-related magic, claiming it proved a long-standing plot to assassinate Xu Feng and demanding a thorough investigation.

Water Immortal was summoned to the court. With everyone present, Rat Immortal boldly declared that he would expose the Heavenly Empress’s many misdeeds, starting with her abuse of power and her relentless efforts to bolster the Bird Family since ascending to her position.

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