Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 13 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
The Crown Prince, Yinreng, confronted Yinzhen, demanding the military power of his two banners to help him ascend the throne. Yinzhen refused to participate in such an unfilial act. Yinreng, who had been Crown Prince for thirty years without real power, felt deeply frustrated by Kangxi's indifference and his brothers' mockery. He told Yinzhen that Kangxi had left the palace, leaving the court under their control, and now was the best time to act.
Yinzhen implored him to reconsider, warning that his actions would deeply grieve Kangxi, who had favored him since childhood. However, Yinreng felt his father's love was conditional, stating that if Kangxi truly loved him, he would have passed the throne long ago instead of leaving him to wait for thirty years.
Yinreng admitted he had tried to impress Kangxi but was only given the title of Crown Prince with no real power, and even then, Yinzhen was appointed to assist him, while other princes mocked him behind his back. Yinzhen warned that if he didn't stop, he would lose his title. Yinreng, however, declared that Songgotu had everything ready. With an arrow already fitted to the string, there was no turning back; he would seize the empire before Kangxi's return.
Yinzhen stated that Yinreng would regret his decision, but Yinreng retorted he had no choice and detained Yinzhen, telling him to rest in the Eastern Palace until matters were settled, as he would still need Yinzhen's assistance. Meanwhile, Yinzhen's valet, Qin Zhu'er, relayed the grim news to Wei: Yinzhen was detained in the Eastern Palace with guards outside his door, making it impossible even for a valet to see him. With Consort De away, they had no one to inform.
Wei wished for Yinxiang's presence, believing he would have a solution. As she pondered, she recognized Yinxiang's falcon. She quickly wrote a message on a slip of paper, reading "The mutiny may happen in the imperial palace. Please reply soon. From Wei," and attached it to the falcon, imploring it to deliver the letter to its master, stating that all their hopes rested on it.
Simultaneously, ministers had been summoned to court by Yinreng and subsequently held captive by his private soldiers, heightening the tension within the palace. The falcon flew swiftly towards Yinxiang. News of Yinreng deploying troops and detaining ministers reached Yinsi and the Eighth Prince Party. Yintang eagerly suggested arresting Yinreng, but Yinsi argued that merely apprehending him for punishment would not be enough to resolve the crisis, as Kangxi might not punish him severely.
Yintang then understood Yinsi’s implication: they should eliminate Yinreng once and for all, and "exterminate Yinzhen and the others at one stroke to spare all later trouble." Wei, anxious for a reply, soon received a message from Yinxiang via the falcon.
His letter urged her to find a way to take Yinzhen out of the palace immediately to prevent him from being implicated in Yinreng's rebellion, emphasizing that she prioritize her own safety, and he would return as soon as possible. Wei silently affirmed she would keep Yinzhen safe and wait for Yinxiang's return. As Wei prepared to rescue Yinzhen, Yinti intercepted her. She confessed her intention to free Yinzhen, asking for his help.
Yinti dismissed her efforts as overestimating her strength and refused to assist, explaining that this was a power struggle among princes where brotherhood held no sway, and an outsider like her had no business meddling. He cynically described the princes as rivals from birth, using every trick to seize the throne, with survival being their ultimate "human nature."
Wei passionately countered that she did not understand their political intrigues or bear their burdens, but she knew she could not stand by when someone she knew was in danger. Yinti tried to stop her from risking her life, warning her that previous escapes were mere luck, but this time, meddling in the fight for the throne would surely cost her life. Wei, however, remained resolute, declaring her willingness to risk everything to save a life.
Yinti remarked that Yinzhen was lucky to have a devoted friend like her, but Wei insisted she acted out of conscience and would make the same decision for anyone in danger, including Yinti or Yinxiang. With her resolve firm, Wei, accompanied by Yinzhen's valets, Qin Zhu'er and Shun'er, devised a plan. They attempted to offer refreshments to the guards, which were rejected. Then, Qin Zhu'er created a diversion by setting a fire, drawing most of the guards away.
The remaining two guards were quickly subdued by Qin Zhu'er and Shun'er. Wei then found the key, unlocked Yinzhen's cell, and helped him out. Yinzhen expressed surprise that she was his rescuer. Wei urged him to leave quickly, informing him that Yinxiang was on his way back. In the main hall, Yinreng, now dressed in a dragon robe, savored his moment on the throne, believing he had achieved his dream. Suddenly, Yinsi burst in with his troops.
Yinsi mocked Yinreng's delusion of becoming Emperor by merely sitting on the throne in a dragon robe. Yinreng's personal guards were no match for Yinsi's forces, and the palace was soon overrun by Yinsi's men. Yinzhen, anxious to escape, tried to navigate through the chaos. Yintang and Yin'e's men were everywhere, meticulously searching for Yinzhen. Elsewhere, Songgotu was apprehended by Yintang's forces.
As Wei and Yinzhen rushed towards the palace gate, they found it guarded by soldiers, who began closing it. Without hesitation, Wei bravely stepped forward to stop them, determined to fulfill her promise to get Yinzhen out. Just as she was about to be attacked, Yinti intervened, firing an arrow that struck her assailant, then chiding the soldiers for bullying a defenseless girl. Yinti told Wei he could only help her this far, and she and Yinzhen continued their escape.
However, Yin'e confronted Yinzhen at the gate, accusing him of abetting Yinreng's coup and attempting to usurp the throne while Kangxi was away. As Yin'e ordered his men to arrest Yinzhen, Wei bravely shielded him and was struck down, collapsing in Yinzhen's arms. Just as she lost consciousness, Yinxiang arrived with Kangxi's imperial guard. Yinxiang's timely arrival in the main hall prevented Yinsi from executing Yinreng.
Yinxiang, carrying Kangxi's decree, ordered Yinsi to stand down, stating that Kangxi would decide Yinreng's fate upon his return. Yinsi, acknowledging Kangxi's command, ceded control of the palace to Yinxiang. Later, Yinxiang reported to Kangxi, who had returned, that the rebels had been punished. Yinxiang then asked if Kangxi would see Yinreng, who had been kneeling outside the hall. Kangxi angrily refused, declaring he had no such son and never wanted to see him again.
He explained that he had doted on Yinreng due to his mother, Empress Hesheri's early death, having raised him personally after her passing and bestowed upon him the title of Crown Prince with high hopes. Yet, Yinreng had repeatedly disappointed him and, worst of all, plotted treason, leaving Kangxi profoundly disillusioned. Wei remained unconscious, calling out Yinzhen's name in her delirium. Yinxiang, deeply concerned, watched over her.
When Yinzhen arrived, Yinxiang, though visibly pained, told him Wei was recovering and asked him to take over her care before attempting to leave. Yinzhen stopped him, confessing his feelings for Wei. He admitted that while others saw him as a cold and calculating prince, Wei allowed him to relax and drop his guard, a feeling he found wonderfully liberating.
Yinxiang countered that his own history with Wei was far richer, beginning with misunderstandings and blossoming through shared laughter and tears, an affection outsiders could not comprehend. He argued that their continued rivalry would only harm their brotherhood and Wei herself.
Yinzhen, however, simply suggested they let Wei choose, then admitted to Yinxiang that he envied his carefree spirit, confessing he had always cared for Yinxiang without ever asking anything in return, but now, for Wei, he hoped Yinxiang would make a sacrifice. Yinxiang left without a word, Yinzhen's plea echoing in his mind as he grappled with the conflict between brotherhood and love.
The next morning, Wei, having dressed up, waited eagerly for Yinxiang, wondering what answer he would give her. When Yinxiang appeared, he remarked on her dressing up, teasing her that she must have done so for him. Wei denied it, claiming it was merely a thank-you for his saving her life.
Yinxiang then produced Yinzhen, and symbolically placed Wei's hand in Yinzhen's, revealing that it was Yinzhen who had rescued her at the palace gate and tended to her that night. He told Wei to "repay Yinzhen for his kindness" and suggested Yinzhen take her out for a walk while he attended to imperial duties. Wei, feeling a mix of disappointment and pique, agreed to go with Yinzhen, though her mood remained subdued.
Yinzhen, noticing her emotional state, acknowledged that he too had been "tricked" by Yinxiang into meeting her and that she was likely only accompanying him out of spite. He also admitted that he had seen her dressed up, waiting for Yinxiang. He offered to take her back to the palace, but Wei insisted she genuinely wanted to go out. Yinzhen took Wei to a secluded riverside spot where he often went to quietly reflect and stack small stones when troubled.
He explained that people traditionally put their worries into stones, forming mounds, and remarked that Wei was the first person he had brought to this secret place. Wei, observing the many small stone mounds, noted Yinzhen's hidden troubles. Yinzhen revealed that living in the Forbidden City meant carrying many burdens and unmentionable sorrows, some of which could not even be shared with Yinxiang. He admitted that he had told Yinxiang something that he knew would cause him pain.
As he comforted Wei, he confessed that people called him icy and inconsiderate, but meeting her had made him willing to change, and with her, he could truly smile again. Wei, feeling a new sense of strength, smiled. Meanwhile, Yinsi convened with his party, angered by Yinti's actions. Yin'e angrily demanded why Yinti had let Yinzhen go, accusing him of ruining their plan to implicate Yinzhen with Yinreng and allowing Yinxiang to become the hero who quelled the coup.
Yintang further chastised Yinti for sacrificing Yinsi's carefully laid plans for a woman, referring to Wei as a "femme fatale." Yinti, enraged by the mention of Wei, defiantly stated he did as he pleased. Yinsi intervened, calming the heated argument and acknowledging that what was done could not be undone. He expressed continued trust in Yinti, believing that despite his waywardness, Yinti was sensible and, given his deep aversion to Yinzhen, would surely have a well-devised plan in the future.
Yinti affirmed that he had his own strategy. Later, Yinxiang sought solace by practicing archery. Qin Shun'er remarked that he was just one arrow short of breaking Yinzhen's record, implying he had purposely missed. Yinti arrived at the archery range, taunting Yinxiang for always protecting Yinzhen's record. Yinti continued to provoke him, insinuating that Yinxiang was so loyal and righteous that he not only saved Yinzhen's life but also handed his beloved woman over to him.
Yinxiang angrily warned him to stop, but Yinti pressed on, accusing Yinxiang of being consumed by jealousy. Yinxiang retorted that Yinti knew nothing of his relationship with Wei or his bond with Yinzhen, stating, "Nobody can take away what's destined to be mine." Yinti countered, "That depends on who your rival is." Yinxiang then contemplated if he had made a mistake, but quickly reaffirmed to himself that Wei would not let him down.
