Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 1 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
Xu Qiangwei, an intern architect in modern Beijing, frequently commutes past the magnificent Forbidden City. She often sees the figure of an ancient man there. Wei is deeply fascinated by the Forbidden City, believing that touching its ancient walls allows her to connect spiritually with people from the past, even fantasizing that in a previous life, she might have been a minor palace maid behind its scarlet gates.
While indulging in these fantasies, Wei receives an urgent task from her supervisor, Hui, to retrieve important documents from the Forbidden City archives. Her company is working on a new project titled "Time Files," which integrates elements of the Forbidden City with the concept of time. Mr. Bei emphasizes the importance of utilizing time effectively and encourages all designers to participate actively.
Hui assigns Wei the task of collecting essential reference books from the Forbidden City archives for a meeting scheduled the next morning. Despite it being late afternoon, Wei promises to complete the errand. Upon arriving at the archives minutes before closing, Wei finds the staff member eager to leave. The staff member states it's too late to find the numerous books on her list and suggests she return the next day.
However, Wei insists on searching herself, and is given just five minutes. Impressively, Wei locates all the required materials with seconds to spare, astounding the staff member who claimed to be the only one working there. As Wei leaves, darkness falls, and she realizes she is lost within the vast Forbidden City. Her phone battery dies, adding to her predicament. She eventually stumbles upon a dimly lit palace where an old woman seems to be expecting her.
The old woman cryptically remarks that once inside this place, it's difficult to find a way out, as many people have become trapped. She then presses an antique lantern into Wei's hands, assuring her it will help her find her way. Holding the lantern, Wei continues through the eerie, darkening palace, hearing the caws of crows as the lamp itself seems to subtly change. Guided by its light, she eventually finds her way out of the Forbidden City.
Back in her apartment, Wei has the ancient lantern. A news report announces the imminent astronomical phenomenon of "Saturn accompanying the Moon," a rare event that last occurred over three hundred years ago in the 45th year of the Kangxi Era. The report describes it as a beautiful and romantic spectacle symbolizing hope, recorded in ancient texts as the "westbound Star in the seventh lunar month."
While studying the Forbidden City documents she retrieved, Wei discovers a mysterious design sketch, pondering if it might be an early work by Mr. Bei. Suddenly, a violent thunderstorm causes a power outage. The antique lantern emits an unusual glow, and the ancient man she had seen near the Forbidden City mysteriously appears in her living room. Terrified, Wei screams for help and flees to her friend's house.
She tries to persuade her friend to return with her, explaining she needs to finish an urgent sketch for her idol, Mr. Bei. However, her friend, fearing a ghost, adamantly refuses to go back. Left with no choice, Wei returns to her apartment alone. The ancient man is still there, sitting calmly at an antique desk, engrossed in reading a book. Wei, despite her fear, tries to confront him, asserting that she is not afraid.
As he appears oblivious to her presence, she begins to wonder if he cannot see her, or if she is experiencing a spatial overlap or a hallucination. Deciding he poses no immediate threat, Wei resumes working on her design sketch, completing her assignment through the night while the man continues to read, coexisting peacefully in the same room. The following day, Wei submits her design sketch.
Mr. Bei is deeply impressed by her work, which seamlessly blends ancient and modern architectural elements, displaying an ingenious use of spatial concepts and a stately demeanor. He praises her innovative idea to use changes in space and time as a central theme, integrating ancient and modern aesthetics. Mr. Bei notes that while her design is exceptional, it currently lacks a cohesive unity.
He advises her to consider different light sources, allowing sunlight into every corner during the day and revealing a starry sky overhead at night, reminding her that they share the same moon with their ancestors. Mr. Bei, recognizing her talent, assigns Wei entirely to the Forbidden City and Time project, instructing that all her other work be put on hold so she can dedicate herself to this task.
This special attention from Mr. Bei sparks jealousy among her colleagues, particularly Hui and another male coworker. Although Mr. Bei designates Hui to assist Wei, Wei politely declines, stating she prefers to revise the design independently and will seek Hui's guidance if she encounters difficulties, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Despite her new role, her colleagues continue to subtly undermine her, assigning her menial tasks like delivering urgent documents to Miyun and Daxing Construction.
Wei, recognizing their intentions, accepts the errands, viewing them as an opportunity to find further inspiration for her design. As she travels through the city, Wei reflects on her strange encounters. She muses that architecture can blend Eastern and Western styles, and ancient and modern elements. She also considers the cyclical nature of time, which can create infinite possibilities, concluding that encountering a few odd people or events is not so frightening and can even be a source of inspiration.
Meanwhile, in the 45th year of the Kangxi Era, the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang is roused from a midday nap by his Fourth Brother Yinzhen. Yinzhen observes that Yinxiang has been inexplicably dozing off during the day and even swearing in his dreams, finding his recent behavior rather peculiar. Yinxiang attempts to explain that he has repeatedly dreamt of visiting a strange place.
Later, while Wei is taking a bath at home, she sees Yinxiang in her bathroom, casually carrying a book. He deliberately feigns not seeing her, a subtle smirk playing on his lips as he observes her. Yinzhen had witnessed these "dreams," prompting him to wake Yinxiang with a snuff bottle.
