Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 21 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
After Wei's supposed death, Yinsi and Ming Hui, among others, returned to the cremation site to ensure her complete incineration. Yinti, heartbroken by their callousness, angrily confronted them and demanded they leave, urging them to let Wei rest in peace. Despite the raging fire, Wei's coffin and body were not fully consumed. Once Yinsi and his allies departed, Yinzhen immediately instructed his subordinates to put out the fire and rescue Wei from the casket.
This rescue was part of a meticulously planned scheme between Yinzhen and Qixiang. Qixiang, anticipating Yinzhen might resort to force, had provided him with a specially embroidered fire-resistant blanket to protect her body. Although saved from the flames, Wei remained unconscious, deeply affected by the poison. The renowned doctors summoned to treat her declared her condition irreversible. Enraged, Yinzhen threatened them with their lives, compelling them to find a cure.
One elderly doctor hesitantly proposed a perilous method: inserting silver needles into a vital acupoint near Wei's heart to extract the poisoned blood. He lacked the confidence for such a risky procedure, so Yinzhen himself performed it without hesitation. As her physical body lay in peril, Wei's soul was transported to the modern era. She found herself on a familiar public bus, the one she used to take to work.
There, she saw her close friend, Xiaoqiu, distraught and crying while on the phone, apparently upset over a breakup. Wei tried to reach out and comfort Xiaoqiu but discovered she couldn't touch her or make herself heard. Shortly after, Xiaoqiu encountered a man named Jiawei, who strikingly resembled the Crown Prince from Wei's life in the Qing Dynasty. Wei, recognizing this was her friend Xiaochun (Xiaoqiu's past life counterpart) and her destined love, felt a surge of happiness for them.
Wei's soul then drifted to her former workplace, where she overheard her colleague, Hui, discussing significant problems with a project Wei had once managed. Hui instructed her subordinate to keep the issues under wraps and spoke disparagingly of Wei, expressing her strong dislike and wondering if they had "feuds in their past lives." She also speculated about Wei's sudden disappearance, noting she had vanished without a trace.
It was then that Wei heard Yinzhen's desperate cries from the ancient world, drawing her soul back to her body. She awoke in Yinzhen's arms and immediately asked him to inform Yinxiang that she was alive. A doctor confirmed Wei was out of immediate danger but emphasized that the poison had damaged her body, necessitating a period of careful recovery. Yinzhen, relieved, announced his immediate return to the capital.
Meanwhile, Yinxiang was consumed by profound grief, standing outside in the cold without eating or drinking. His mind was filled with memories of Wei, especially their poignant conversation about the "first snow" being a day for declarations of love. Upon his return, Yinzhen found Yinxiang in this desolate state. He chose not to reveal Wei's survival, allowing his brother to grieve, seeing the deep love Yinxiang held for her.
Yinxiang spoke of Wei's lingering presence in every corner of his mansion, lamenting that she was "no longer in this world." As the first snowflakes of the year began to fall, recalling their shared memories, Yinxiang’s despair became overwhelming, and he collapsed. Yinzhen then instructed Qixiang to secretly care for Yinxiang and ensure his well-being, while maintaining the secret of Wei's survival.
In the imperial court, Emperor Kangxi officially reinstated the Crown Prince, declaring that he had been unjustly framed and was innocent. While Yinsi expressed unease about this development, Yintang and the others were overconfident. They dismissed the Crown Prince as a weakened rival and believed Yinzhen would be left powerless without Yinxiang's support. Yinti, however, shared Yinsi's caution, warning them not to underestimate Yinzhen and Yinxiang and to prepare for their potential resurgence.
Elsewhere, Ming Hui continued her elaborate flattery of Noble Consort Nalan, frequently visiting the palace with gifts and offering massages, all while receiving the Consort's praises. Yinti confronted Ming Hui, his rage fueled by his belief that she was responsible for Wei's death, and he nearly strangled her.
Ming Hui initially denied involvement, but then confessed her deep-seated hatred for Wei, explaining that she had always seen Wei as her biggest rival, especially given her own status as a concubine's daughter, and that her actions were driven by self-preservation. She then attempted to manipulate Yinti, suggesting that they were alike in their ambition and shared a common interest in eliminating Yinxiang, who always seemed to overshadow Yinti.
Yinti vehemently rejected her comparison, asserting that they were "never the same." Back at his residence, Yinxiang remained inert in bed, refusing food and water. Qixiang, acting on Yinzhen's instructions, conveyed Wei's supposed last wish for Yinxiang to live a full life. This message, intertwined with cherished memories of their love, stirred Yinxiang's will to survive. Although his longing for Wei was intense, he resolved to live for her. Meanwhile, Wei, slowly recovering from the poisoning, worried about Yinxiang.
Yinzhen kept them apart, emphasizing that Wei needed to fully recuperate for Yinxiang's eventual peace of mind. Another winter hunt commenced, presided over by the Crown Prince in Emperor Kangxi's stead. Yinzhen was notably absent, and the Crown Prince appeared subdued. Yintang, observing Yinxiang's supposed decline, openly mocked him, cruelly stating that Wei's was a "good death" as it had rendered Yinxiang "half-dead." Enraged by Yintang's words, Yinti fired an arrow at him.
Later, during the hunt, Yinti encountered a surprisingly revitalized Yinxiang. Both brothers intensely pursued a white deer, which plunged over a cliff. Yinxiang recklessly followed, but Yinti, motivated by brotherly concern, fired an arrow to startle Yinxiang's horse, preventing him from also falling. Yinxiang, now exhibiting a fierce determination, declared himself the "daring fighter" and ultimately won the hunt, having captured the most game.
At the subsequent victory banquet, Yin'e (Tenth Prince) further provoked Yinxiang, sarcastically commending his swift recovery from his wife's death and suggesting he would soon remarry. Yin'e continued his insults, disparaging Wei as "sharp-tongued and arrogant," implying she would not be missed. Yinxiang, seething, could no longer contain his rage and was restrained by his brothers before he could attack Yin'e.
