Ever Night Episode 5 Recap, Plot

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The Emperor sincerely apologized to Li Yu, expressing his desire for her to remain by his side, wishing only to see her happy and well. He vowed to defend her against any who might try to harm her, regretting the suffering she endured during her time away. Moved by his words, Li Yu requested the release of Xia Hou to Tuyang City.

She explained that Xia Hou commanded the crucial Wei Bei Army, and if he remained in the capital, the Golden Horde and Yan State would exploit the situation by pressing their borders. To prevent enemy nations from profiting, she preferred to let him go, a decision that pleased the Emperor, who saw her as truly grown. Meanwhile, Sang Sang had found the cheapest shop in the entire alley, a large space for only fifty taels of silver a month.

The alley was notably empty, with all other shops closed, hinting at a past search or mishap involving the previous owner. Despite the slightly unsettling atmosphere, Ning Que found the shop to his liking, deeming it spacious. He instructed Sang Sang to clean up the premises while he focused on his studies and preparations for the Academy entrance exam, trusting that the rental agency would uphold their agreement and allow them to open their calligraphy business.

Inside the palace, Li Hunyuan was seen fighting with his younger brother, Xiao Liu Zi, over a fragrance sachet. Xiao Liu Zi cried out to the Emperor, claiming Li Hunyuan had kicked him. The Emperor sternly reprimanded Li Hunyuan, questioning his lack of humility as an elder brother and recalling a past incident where Li Hunyuan had harmed the child of a Censor Official. He expressed concern over Li Hunyuan's brutal behavior, doubting his suitability for future responsibilities.

Li Hunyuan, however, claimed he had no interest in such responsibilities. Li Yu attempted to mediate, suggesting the boys were just playing, but the Emperor dismissed her interjection. Later, as Ning Que and Sang Sang's calligraphy shop officially opened, Chao Xiao Shu arrived as their first visitor. He praised Ning Que’s scrolls, calling the calligraphy masterly, and inquired why Ning Que chose to rent a shop that had been empty for three months.

Ning Que replied that the quiet environment, with a store in front and a residence in back, was appealing. Chao Xiao Shu then revealed that he owned all the shops on that alley. Despite this initial surprise, Ning Que confidently stated his belief in a stable future. Finding Ning Que unusual, Chao Xiao Shu proposed a bet: if Ning Que's shop could survive, he would waive three months of rent.

His companion, however, doubted Ning Que would last, recalling how previous tenants had fled due to rumors. Li Yu confronted Li Hunyuan about his behavior. Li Hunyuan defiantly claimed that Xiao Liu Zi had mocked him for not having a mother and accused the Queen of instigating the incident to harm him. Li Yu challenged him for having called the Queen "Mother" earlier.

Li Hunyuan explained that he was compelled to do so to avoid being harmed by the Queen, especially given Li Yu's absence from the palace. Li Yu admonished him for failing to learn patience and for his continued recklessness, reminding him of their deceased mother. Li Hunyuan insisted on Xiao Liu Zi's culpability, attributing it to the Queen's backing. Li Yu warned him to understand their precarious situation, emphasizing that the Emperor now favored Xiao Liu Zi more and more.

She cautioned that one false move could lead to their banishment by "that woman," leaving them with no hope of recovery. Li Hunyuan pleaded for help, not wanting to leave the palace, and Li Yu agreed to help if he promised to listen to her and stop doing things that displeased the Emperor.

Li Hunyuan also mentioned Xiao Liu Zi had taken the sachet, which Li Yu revealed was originally a gift from her to the Queen, though she knew the Queen likely wouldn't want it. The following morning, Xia Hou was released and immediately departed the capital to return to his post. Meanwhile, Ning Que took Sang Sang to Franic, the best cosmetics store in Tang State.

Sang Sang expressed a desire to have fairer skin and be prettier but was hesitant to spend money. Ning Que, however, insisted on buying her their signature product, rose bud water, along with the cheapest facial moisturizer available. Sang Sang, delighted, took care not to spill the precious items, eager to return home and use them. Ning Que playfully teased her about her looks, encouraging her to use the products to become even more beautiful.

Li Yu learned that Chongming, the Crown Prince of Yan State, was at Red-sleeve House. She immediately went to see him, remembering his once intelligent and ambitious demeanor from when he was a hostage prince in Tang State. Now, Chongming appeared disheartened, living a life of indulgence. He lamented his inability to protect Li Yu from being married off to the grassland.

Li Yu urged him to gain power if he truly wished to protect her, revealing that Yan State had changed. His brother, Long Qing, was cultivating at West Shrine, lauded as the "Son of Light" and favored by the King of Yan State, with even royal officials considering him more suitable for the throne. She questioned if Chongming would truly yield his rightful position, but Chongming, seeing Li Yu as naive, simply stated that Long Qing was "not so simple."

Far away, in the Northern Lands, Long Qing observed a shaman leading tribesmen in a ritual, praying for the Lord of the Deceased to save them. Long Qing, however, proclaimed that Light would not be extinguished and Haotian would exist forever, praying for his people to safely survive the Eternal Night. The next morning, Long Qing confronted and killed the shaman. Zi Mo, whose secret mission was to kill Long Qing in the wilderness, attacked him.

Unexpectedly, the shaman briefly revived, draining Zi Mo’s Qi before collapsing dead. Zi Mo, weakened, asked Long Qing to kill him, but Long Qing refused, stating that the path of Haotian did not permit bloody slaughter but rather the use of light to expel darkness. Grateful for his mercy, Zi Mo then found a map to the Gate of Demonic Cult on the shaman’s back.

Long Qing told Zi Mo to take the map to Luo Kedi as a way to atone for his failed assassination mission. Long Qing then declared his intention to journey to the North to witness the true Eternal Night. Zi Mo pleaded with him not to return to West Shrine, warning that Luo Kedi targeted him, backed by the entire Jurisdiction Division.

Unfazed, Long Qing merely promised to meet him again in West Shrine, leaving Zi Mo to admire him as truly worthy of being called the Son of Light. Back in the capital, Ning Que and Sang Sang were strolling when they encountered Yan Se, a Master of Talisman from the South Branch of Sect Haotian. Yan Se was offering a peculiar deal: write a character and get a prize.

Ning Que initially dismissed him as a "shameless old man" cheating children, but Sang Sang expressed a desire for candied hawthorns, so Ning Que agreed to try. Swiftly, he wrote the character for "person" in the sand. Yan Se, recognizing the remarkable calligraphy, exclaimed, "My successor!" But by then, Ning Que had already grabbed the candied hawthorns and vanished with Sang Sang. Meanwhile, Zhuo'er found himself cornered by military soldiers in an alley.

Despite his valiant resistance, he was severely wounded. He managed to make it to Ning Que's door, desperately banging, but received no answer. With his pursuers closing in, Zhuo'er quickly hid a leather pouch containing a note among a pile of cabbages. He continued to fight and retreat, but his path was ultimately blocked, and he was struck down and killed, his body subsequently dragged away by the soldiers.

Later, Ning Que returned to his residence and immediately noticed bloodstains on his door. He then saw a group of soldiers carrying Zhuo'er's body past his home. Suppressing his grief, Ning Que calmly led Sang Sang inside. That night, Sang Sang discovered the leather pouch and the note Zhuo'er had left in the cabbage pile. Ning Que, clutching the note, rushed out, following the blood trail to the spot where Zhuo'er was killed.

Overcome with sorrow, he questioned who was responsible—the army, the Yulong Gang, or someone named on the note. The note, Zhuo'er's last investigative lead, revealed that Zhangyi Qi of the Military Department of Transportation was the Censor who had framed the General's Mansion. A memory of Zhuo'er introducing himself as "Little Black" and declaring Ning Que his brother flashed through Ning Que's mind. He then vowed to eliminate all those responsible for his brother's death.

Zhangyi Qi, having been tracked by Ning Que through Zhuo'er's clues, entered Red-sleeve House. Ning Que, hovering outside, was approached by Chuyou Xian, who recognized him as a newcomer and offered to show him around. Inside the lively establishment, Ning Que covertly searched for Zhangyi Qi, noting his regular visits. He considered how Red-sleeve House, despite its crowds, might offer an opportunity to confront Zhangyi Qi, but he needed to extract information about other co-conspirators rather than simply killing him.

Chuyou Xian explained that the "Hu Dance" performed there originated from Yue Lun State. Lady Jane, the head of Red-sleeve House, observed Ning Que, noting his strong presence and his resemblance to an old acquaintance. She summoned him. Ning Que, surprised not to meet a courtesan, learned of Lady Jane's respected status in the capital. He told her he was from Wei City, recommended by the army to take the Academy entrance exam.

Lady Jane questioned his presence there if he was serious about his studies, contrasting him with Chuyou Xian, the wealthy son of one of the Seven Nobles in the East City, while Ning Que appeared to be struggling financially. She expressed concern, stating she would not have spoken to him had he not resembled her old friend. Ning Que, caught off guard, explained his visit was merely out of curiosity after seeing a "lovely lady" upstairs. Lady Jane then instructed her attendant, Xiao Cao, to show him around before sending him on his way.

Episode 4 Recap

Episode 6 Recap