Ashes of Love Episode 17 Recap, Plot

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At the Heavenly Hall, Rat Immortal boldly accused Heavenly Empress Tu Yao of abusing her power to strengthen the Bird Family. He detailed how she had inducted twenty thousand new members, promoted eight new generals, indulged Princess Sui He's factionalism, and consolidated power by unilaterally opening the Heaven Realm's granaries to the Bird Family after the Floral Realm ceased its food supply.

The Heavenly Emperor was visibly angered by this disclosure, though Tu Yao attempted to dismiss it as a minor issue, with Xu Feng interceding for her. Rat Immortal continued his scathing indictment, describing Tu Yao as a ruthless figure who slandered others, killed immortals, and allowed Fire Immortal to wield military force arrogantly, displaying neither motherly grace nor tolerance. He confessed to attempting to harm Xu Feng during his Nirvana and releasing a rat at Tu Yao's birthday banquet.

These actions, he claimed, were all part of a plan to expose her cruelty and turn Water Immortal and the Floral Realm against her. He declared he was acting for justice, ready to die. When Rat Immortal mentioned "Lize Su Li," the Heavenly Emperor abruptly cut him off, accusing him of malicious intent and harming Fire Immortal, and immediately ordered his execution.

Rat Immortal accepted his fate, subtly telling Lord Dong Ting that his "Master" would be entrusted to his care, implying a deeper conspiracy. Heavenly Empress then tried to implicate Water Immortal and Su Li, but the Heavenly Emperor silenced her, highlighting Water Immortal's peaceful nature and Run Yu's existing engagement to Jin Mi. He swiftly closed the case and publicly cleared Run Yu's name.

The Heavenly Emperor, seeking to pacify Water Immortal, proposed an early wedding for Run Yu and Jin Mi. However, Water Immortal expressed reservations, noting Jin Mi's low cultivation. Run Yu, employing a shrewd strategy of "retreating to advance," suggested postponing the marriage to allow Jin Mi to spend more time with her father and gradually acclimate to the Heaven Realm's customs under his guidance. The Heavenly Emperor agreed.

Heavenly Empress then attempted to propose a marriage between Xu Feng and Sui He, but the Heavenly Emperor dismissed her, ordering her to focus on cultivating herself, ensuring the well-being of future generations, and strictly managing her inner palace and the Bird Family, implicitly rebuking her for the turmoil Rat Immortal had exposed. Outside the hall, Run Yu confronted Xu Feng, acknowledging his deep affection for Jin Mi and urging him to relinquish this "hopeless love."

Run Yu highlighted the intense reactions of their parents to the name "Su Li," implying it was one of the Heavenly Emperor's significant romantic entanglements and noting that Su Li possessed a Fire Spirit Pearl, similar to the Heavenly Empress's, suggesting her importance. Xu Feng, however, remained uninterested in his father's romantic history.

Run Yu further elaborated that Jin Mi's mother, Floral Immortal Zi Fen, harbored a grudge against the Heavenly Empress, making any union between Jin Mi and Xu Feng impossible. He pointed out the Heavenly Empress's recent attempt to implicate Water Immortal and himself, and Water Immortal's evident reluctance regarding Jin Mi's engagement to him. Xu Feng, though, remained skeptical of the rumors against his mother. Run Yu reiterated the Heavenly Empress's well-known ruthlessness towards dissidents, stating he had said enough.

Xu Feng declared his intention to question the Heavenly Empress directly and refused to give up on Jin Mi. Run Yu then cautioned Xu Feng to be mindful of their existing engagement to avoid casting aspersions on Jin Mi's reputation. Xu Feng then sought out the Heavenly Empress to question her directly about the rumors of her conflict with Floral Immortal Zi Fen and Rat Immortal's accusations of her killing immortals.

The Heavenly Empress feigned deep hurt, accusing Xu Feng of trusting rumors over his own mother. She skillfully manipulated him, lamenting the Heavenly Emperor's perceived favoritism towards Run Yu and his neglect of Xu Feng's own marriage to Sui He, emphasizing Sui He's significant power within the Bird Family, which she believed was crucial for Xu Feng to secure the position of Heavenly Emperor.

Xu Feng, however, reaffirmed that he regarded Sui He only as a sister and harbored no ambitions to replace his father. He then disclosed that a "thief" seen fleeing Rat Immortal's mansion had been traced to her palace, warning her that secretly keeping shadow guards was a grave taboo and advising her to "deal with it early" to avoid further angering the Heavenly Emperor.

After Xu Feng departed, a furious Heavenly Empress immediately ordered her subordinates to investigate the true cause of Floral Immortal Zi Fen's death four thousand years ago and to uncover more information about "Su Li." Water Immortal, burdened by the knowledge of Rat Immortal's sacrifice, lamented that the immortal's wish for justice remained unfulfilled. The Heavenly Emperor then visited Luo Lin, pressuring him for any information he might have had from Rat Immortal.

Luo Lin maintained that he knew no more than the Heavenly Emperor, but the Emperor highlighted Luo Lin's close relationship with Rat Immortal through their shared love for chess. Luo Lin expressed regret that Rat Immortal's silence prevented him from recognizing Jin Mi sooner and from fully understanding the suffering Floral Immortal Zi Fen endured.

He subtly criticized the Heavenly Emperor's hasty execution of Rat Immortal, a decision the Heavenly Emperor defended by citing the need to preserve the "Heavenly family's face." The Heavenly Emperor then reminded Luo Lin of his trust and care, expressing hope that Luo Lin would not disappoint him. After the Heavenly Emperor left, Luo Lin sighed, concluding that the Heaven Realm was no longer a suitable place for him to reside.

Meanwhile, by Dongting Lake, Yan You awaited Rat Immortal, though he knew the immortal would not arrive. He recalled a conversation with Rat Immortal, revealing his own involvement as the true attacker of Xu Feng. Rat Immortal had taken the fall for him after a Fire Spirit Pearl was lost in the attack, instructing Yan You to stay out of it and relay a message of patience to their "Master," thus sacrificing himself.

Luo Lin and Wind God returned to the Floral Realm with Jin Mi. They expressed profound gratitude to Chief Peony and Mr. Hu for their unwavering care in raising Jin Mi. It was decided that Luo Lin and Wind God would stay in the Floral Realm until Jin Mi fully recovered, during which time they would also teach her magic.

Wind God prepared a flower cake for Jin Mi, who, enjoying it, remarked on her mother Zi Fen's similar fondness for the treat, though their personalities were quite different. Curious about her mother, Jin Mi asked Wind God for stories. Wind God recounted Zi Fen's origin as a lotus petal before Buddha, who mistakenly entered the cycle of reincarnation. Despite his Master's warning about altering destiny and incurring karmic backlash, Luo Lin intervened and saved Zi Fen's soul.

The three, Luo Lin, Wind God, and Zi Fen, then lived happily together, cultivating their powers and creating idyllic scenes of "wind, flower, snow, and moon." Jin Mi wondered why Zi Fen had fallen for the Heavenly Emperor instead of her wonderful father. Wind God explained that the Heavenly Emperor, then merely the second prince, had seen Zi Fen in a dream and was instantly captivated. He tirelessly searched for her, eventually finding her in the Human Realm.

Knowing her love for opera, he frequently invited her to performances, subtly winning over the naive Zi Fen. Wind God lamented that such "deep love with shallow fate" often leads to a nightmare, and revealed she too had learned to sing opera because Zi Fen loved it. Wind God declared her bond with Zi Fen as strong as Luo Lin's and considered Jin Mi her own daughter, promising to accompany her and Luo Lin every day.

Jin Mi struggled with her cultivation, complaining that practicing magic was harder than being Xu Feng's page boy, and even the gentle Wind God was stricter than Xu Feng. Luo Lin appeared and explained that his intention wasn't for her to gain magical prowess for his own pride. He aimed to cultivate her temperament, to prevent her from becoming a "greenhouse flower." He spoke of his eventual passing, emphasizing that she must learn self-reliance.

True cultivation, he taught, was about developing discernment, self-respect, self-love, and self-improvement, enabling her to live with a clear conscience, independent and unyielding to anyone. Luo Lin then led Jin Mi to Xuan Ling Lord Doumu. Xuan Ling Lord Doumu observed Jin Mi and revealed that she was a "dying person," rendering the removal of her "Jialan seal," a spiritual seal, pointless.

Distraught, Luo Lin pleaded with his Master to save Jin Mi, vowing to repay the four great kindnesses and help beings in hardship. Xuan Ling Lord Doumu offered a parable about saving a tiger that then harms many, explaining that compassion without wisdom can cause greater harm.

She instructed Jin Mi to approach, placing incense ash in her hand, imparting profound wisdom: "Love produces worries and fears; without love, you will be free from worries and fears," hoping it would guide her through her trials. Jin Mi, emboldened, seized the opportunity to ask Xuan Ling Lord Doumu to revive her best friend, Rou Rou. Xuan Ling Lord Doumu consented, saying they would meet soon, though their reunion would ultimately lead to another farewell. Despite the dire prognosis, Luo Lin still tried to ask for the seal removal again.

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