Catch Up My Prince Episode 9 Recap
> Catch Up My Prince Recap
Lu Ranran was released from the Department of Internal Punishment, much to the surprise of the guards, who commented on her lack of physical injuries. She overheard them saying that the Second Prince, Zhao Chenyao, had specifically watched over her, making her wonder if he had saved her because he still found her useful. Soon after, Zhao Chenxuan rushed to greet her, expressing his immense relief and concern that the Empress Dowager might have harmed her.
However, despite Zhao Chenxuan's attention, Lu Ranran felt a pang of disappointment that Zhao Chen Yi wasn't there. Meanwhile, Zhao Chen Yi confronted Xin'er, convinced she was involved in the silk flower incident that led to Lu Ranran's imprisonment. He questioned if she had framed Lu Ranran, reminding her that the Empress Dowager had found the silk flower as evidence.
Xin'er challenged him, asking if he would believe her if she denied it, then criticized his unconditional trust in Lu Ranran, which she felt was unlike his trust in her, which was merely based on her being his teacher's daughter. She accused him of being too deeply embroiled in Lu Ranran's alleged schemes.
Zhao Chen Yi tried to de-escalate, referencing his promise to her teacher, but Xin'er retorted that he had also promised to clear her Yu Family's name and help her seek revenge—a promise he hadn't kept. She then declared that if he couldn't fulfill his word, he shouldn't mention their future plans together again.
As Xin'er left, Zhao Chen Yi warned her that pursuing revenge would endanger her life and undermine any efforts to restore her family's reputation, but Xin'er dismissed his concerns, stating he didn't need to worry about it. Moments after Xin'er's departure, Zhao Chen Yi coughed violently and vomited blood. His servant immediately expressed concern, attributing his injury to Zhao Chenyao's excessive force and worrying that his martial arts abilities would now be exposed.
Zhao Chen Yi, however, brushed it aside, stating that nothing else mattered as long as Lu Ranran was safe. Alone in her room, Lu Ranran fondly reminisced about her cherished moments with Zhao Chen Yi, recalling their conversations about stars and a poem they had shared about united hearts. She sighed, thinking that telepathy was indeed a difficult thing.
At the same time, Zhao Chen Yi gazed at a calligraphy scroll, a reminder of teaching Lu Ranran to write, focusing on natural flow and relaxed wrist, a scroll that also bore the line from the poem about united hearts. His servant then informed him that Lu Ranran had returned safely, and Zhao Chen Yi quietly left, telling his attendant not to follow him. Later that night, Lu Ranran checked her game's favorability scores.
She noted Zhao Chenxuan had 50, Zhao Chenyu 40, and Zhao Chenyao 30, but Zhao Chen Yi's score remained a disheartening zero. Frustrated, she muttered about his cold-heartedness, feeling he showed her kindness but no love. When she heard a knock, she eagerly called out for "Sugar Cane the Fourth," only to be met by Zhao Chenxuan, who playfully asked if she was waiting for him. Her disappointment was evident when she realized it wasn't Zhao Chen Yi.
Just as Zhao Chen Yi was on his way to see Lu Ranran, he spotted Zhao Chenxuan leading her away, causing them to miss each other. Zhao Chenxuan, noticing Lu Ranran's somber mood, brought her to a rooftop to share his mother's homemade Cherry Blossom Wine, which he explained was reserved for important people. Lu Ranran, sensing his romantic intentions, tried to deflect by reminding him of his morning classes.
Zhao Chenxuan, however, continued to express his desire to explore new things with her and asked if she would join him. Lu Ranran, recognizing she couldn't reciprocate his feelings, reiterated that she had her own path. She then abruptly pointed to the bright stars, prompting Zhao Chenxuan to declare he would pluck them for her if that was her wish. While stumbling back, slightly tipsy from the cherry blossom wine, Lu Ranran spotted Zhao Chen Yi.
Believing she was hallucinating due to the alcohol, she confronted him, playfully calling him "Sugarcane the Fourth" and accusing him of being heartless. She tearfully poured out her grievances, complaining that he hadn't visited her in prison and still hadn't come to her after her release, despite her waiting for his comfort and care.
She demanded to know why, despite her strong feelings for him, his favorability score in her game remained zero, asking if he was heartless or just teasing her. His confused attendant tried to understand her "favorable impression score" comment. As Lu Ranran continued to cry about his lack of affection, she finally passed out.
Zhao Chen Yi gently took her hand, then carried her back to her room, whispering that he did like her and had always been good to her, but couldn't let anyone know, calling her a "Silly Pig." The next morning, Lu Ranran woke up in her bed, her head throbbing. She remembered nothing of the previous night, attributing her memory loss to excessive drinking, and simply went back to sleep.
For several days, Zhao Chen Yi was troubled by dreams of Yun Zhu, wondering if there was some connection. He soon received a report from his servant confirming that Yun Zhu's background was clean, her household registration normal, and she had befriended Lu Ranran after entering the palace. The servant then revealed that Yun Zhu had just been crowned a consort but was inexplicably sent to the Cold Palace.
Shocked by the news, Zhao Chen Yi immediately instructed his servant, Xiao Bao, to make arrangements for her care, acknowledging her as Lu Ranran's friend. He specifically ordered that Lu Ranran should not be informed of Yun Zhu's predicament to spare her worry. Later, Xiao Bao, Zhao Chen Yi's attendant, attempted to deliver items to Yun Zhu in the Cold Palace, stating they were from Yun Zhu's friend, Lu Ranran.
However, he was intercepted by Xu Lang's guard, Ah Wu, who refused him entry and took the package, promising to deliver it. Ah Wu then reported this incident to Xu Lang, who was angered by Zhao Chen Yi's people approaching Yun Zhu, stating he was forced to act sooner than he had planned. Meanwhile, confined to the Cold Palace, Yun Zhu asked a eunuch to deliver a letter to Lu Ranran at Always Inviting Palace, requesting a meeting.
This eunuch was also stopped, this time by Xu Lang himself, who read the letter and became enraged at Yun Zhu's continued thoughts of Lu Ranran. Xu Lang instructed the eunuch to tell Yun Zhu the letter had been delivered, but he clearly had no intention of actually giving it to Lu Ranran. After her release, Xin'er visited Lu Ranran, bringing snacks and feigning concern. Lu Ranran, however, was wary, directly asking Xin'er what she wanted.
Lu Ranran then brought up the silk flower incident, pointing out that the Empress Dowager had taken the silk flower, which Xin'er had given her, as evidence. Xin'er quickly deflected, emphasizing that Zhao Chen Yi had given the silk flower to Lu Ranran and questioning why she was being implicated. Noticing Xin'er's nervousness, Lu Ranran politely but firmly dismissed her, stating she wasn't in the mood for company.
Alone, Lu Ranran mused that something was definitely amiss with Xin'er and the silk flower, resolving to ask Zhao Chen Yi for clarification. Xu Lang received a report that his ambush on Zhao Chen Yi had failed to kill him but succeeded in poisoning him with a potent "Mana-Depleting Poison," which pleased Xu Lang.
Meanwhile, Zhao Chen Yi lay severely injured in his palace, telling his concerned servant that he had been ambushed while secretly meeting Lord Ruan, who was now also in danger due to Zhao Chen Yi's actions. He refused to let his servant call an imperial physician, fearing it would expose his martial arts abilities and his secret injury.
Despite his servant's concern that the current medication wouldn't suffice, Zhao Chen Yi insisted, only asking him to fetch the medicine and cancel a meeting at Gentle Peach Pavilion. He realized he had been afflicted by the "Mana-Depleting Poison." Under Lu Ranran's continued care, the Crown Prince's health improved, and he expressed gratitude for her dedication. Both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess treated her with great kindness, asking her to take his pulse.
As Lu Ranran examined him, she realized that his persistent Chi deficiency was likely the reason for their inability to conceive a child. Recognizing their kindness and their deep regret over being childless, Lu Ranran decided to help them. She reassured them that with continued rest and their cooperation, she was confident she could help them fulfill their wish of having a child, a prospect that delighted the royal couple.
Days passed, and Zhao Chen Yi's injury showed no signs of healing, worrying his servant. The servant suggested seeking an imperial physician or even Lu Ranran, but Zhao Chen Yi adamantly refused, unwilling to involve her in his dangerous situation. He was relieved to hear that no one suspected anything outside and that Xu Lang hadn't made a move. Meanwhile, Xin'er was summoned to meet the Empress.
The Empress, observing Xin'er's features, found her familiar and soon recognized her connection to the disgraced Yu Family. Noticing Xin'er's attachment to a plain silk flower, the Empress probed its significance, then dropped a veiled threat about exposing Zhao Chen Yi for harboring a member of the Yu Family. The Empress then offered Xin'er her pity and help, effectively coercing her into a partnership by highlighting Zhao Chen Yi's limitations in protecting her and suggesting they join forces.
Lu Ranran went to Cherished Orders Palace to see Zhao Chen Yi but was told by Xiao Bao that he wasn't seeing visitors. She noticed a strong smell of medicine coming from inside and initially grew angry, believing Zhao Chen Yi was avoiding her. However, as she walked away, she suddenly recognized specific medicinal scents—dried rehmannia glutinosa, dipsacus, and crow-dipper—on Xiao Bao, realizing that if he was healthy, then Zhao Chen Yi himself must be ill.
Undeterred, Lu Ranran returned later that night, braving the rain, and insisted on seeing him. Despite Xiao Bao's attempts to stop her, she pushed past him, demanding to know if Zhao Chen Yi was injured. She burst into his room and was heartbroken to find him severely wounded. He tried to deny his injury, but she quickly inspected his wound, horrified to see it festering. As she worriedly questioned him, Zhao Chen Yi fainted.
Lu Ranran immediately sprang into action, getting hot water and gauze. She later explained to Xiao Bao that Zhao Chen Yi's wound hadn't healed and still smelled of blood, leading her to suspect he had been poisoned. She quickly wrote a prescription to replenish his blood and Chi, instructing Xiao Bao to prepare the medicine. As she stayed by his side, Zhao Chen Yi, semi-conscious, murmured for her not to leave. Lu Ranran reassured him that she wouldn't, telling her "Sugarcane the Fourth" that she wasn't angry with him anymore and just wanted him to recover quickly.
