Butterflied Lover Episode 7 Recap
> Butterflied Lover Recap
The Honorable had repeatedly pressed Ling Changfeng at the Ningcheng Dept. to meet Shen Qin at the PM's Mansion for marriage matters, but Ling Changfeng continuously avoided him. One day, while patrolling the streets during a heavy snowfall, Ling Changfeng saw Tang Qianyue sheltering under a corner eaves. As their gazes met, a young man returned with an umbrella and invited Tang Qianyue to see a shadow play, leading her away.
Ling Changfeng's light faded, and he turned to resume his patrol, unaware that Tang Qianyue glanced back at him. That evening, Ling Changfeng returned home earlier than usual. He rang the copper bell at his gate, expecting Tang Qianyue to greet him as she usually did, but she was not there. His spirits dropped as he entered the residence, only for them to lift instantly when Tang Qianyue arrived moments later, ringing the bell herself.
She had brought sweet osmanthus wine from Lady Qin of Chunyue Wine Shop, explaining it was a special gift from Lady Qin. Tang Qianyue shared that while people in the town seemed to fear Ling Changfeng, she found him to be a man "cold on the outside, warm on the inside." As they drank together, Tang Qianyue found the sweet osmanthus wine delightful and drank quickly, despite Ling Changfeng's warning.
She playfully remarked that Ling Changfeng's kindness would make her drunk even without the wine. Feeling tipsy, she confided a secret: she had an intense desire to bite him. Later that night, as Ling Changfeng held the sleeping Tang Qianyue, he was deeply conflicted. Unable to decide her fate, he used a book to guide him, counting pages to determine whether to let her marry or keep her with him.
When the final page indicated she should marry, Ling Changfeng tore it out and burned it, symbolically ensuring she would not be given away. The next day, The Honorable confronted Ling Changfeng, furious that he had turned down the marriage with Lady Shen from the PM's Mansion, asking why he would reject such a suitable match. Ling Changfeng declared his right to refuse anything he disliked and provocatively suggested that The Honorable could consider marrying Lady Shen himself.
Enraged, The Honorable called him a "rebellious son," throwing an object and demanding to know if Ling Changfeng's actions were for "that wild girl" from his mansion, questioning Tang Qianyue's background and their improper living arrangement. Ling Changfeng firmly stated that Tang Qianyue was "his person" and The Honorable had no right to interfere. Meanwhile, Tang Qianyue witnessed Mr. Tian harassing an old woman begging in the street, accusing her of stealing his moneybag.
Tang Qianyue intervened with unusual strength, lifting Mr. Tian off the ground, which prompted him to exclaim that she was a monster. The old woman, Ms. Yuan, then used her powers to make Mr. Tian forget the incident and took Tang Qianyue to her home. Ms. Yuan, despite her youthful appearance, revealed she was over sixty and identified Tang Qianyue as a unique Dienu.
Tang Qianyue, recognizing her own strange urges, including her desire to bite Ling Changfeng, expressed fear of accidentally harming him and her wish to be a normal person to stay by his side. Ms. Yuan offered a painful process to remove the Dienu mark, and Tang Qianyue bravely accepted. For this, Tang Qianyue disappeared for seven days. Ling Changfeng returned home to find Tang Qianyue missing and frantically searched every corner of the city.
Guard Lu expanded the search to the countryside, and even examined unclaimed bodies, but found no trace of her. Ling Changfeng grew increasingly distraught and despondent, lamenting her sudden disappearance without a word, wondering about her whereabouts and safety. On New Year's Eve, he sent his guards home to celebrate, taking on the night watch himself, burdened by his worry. That evening, as Ling Changfeng returned home, he saw lights in his house.
Pushing open the door, he was overjoyed to find Tang Qianyue. He scolded her for leaving without a letter or a word, causing him immense worry, asking what would happen if she had been in danger. Tang Qianyue apologized, requesting to keep her reasons a secret for now. They shared a meal, and Ling Changfeng commented on her improved cooking.
As they watched sky lanterns float into the night, Tang Qianyue explained that people write wishes on them, believing the lanterns carry their hopes higher with the wind, making them more likely to come true. She then shared her own wish: "to be there for you all my life, by your side all the time." She acknowledged that her staying might be improper, given his impending marriage. Ling Changfeng agreed, then produced a Marriage Certificate he had prepared long ago.
He explained his desire for her to stay as his wife and asked if she was willing. Tang Qianyue eagerly suggested they marry "today," and Ling Changfeng, touched by her sentiment, agreed. They became husband and wife that very night, wishing each other a Happy New Year and celebrating their union. However, a concluding thought lingered: these beautiful days were destined to become mere memories, and it was time to face reality.
