Fake Princess Episode 18 Recap
> Fake Princess Recap
Nong Ying desperately confronted a doctor, who angrily refused to give her medicine, asserting that she couldn't rob him. In a fit of rage, Nong Ying kicked him to the ground. The doctor then declared that putting out the fire would not save the medicine. Nong Ying, in turn, told him she would gladly kill him a hundred times if his death could save her master's life.
The doctor pitied her master, but Nong Ying vowed to search the world for the medicine if even one was left. He retorted that her master would be dead before she found it. Meanwhile, Chang Le questioned Leng Laoye about how he managed to lock himself inside his own mechanism. He admitted a momentary oversight while renovating a machine, which had some installation issues.
Chang Le noted that for someone capable of overhauling complex lock structures, such a "small mistake" of reversing all orientations was unusual. Eager to escape and in need of the treasure map, Leng Laoye agreed to Li Che's condition of exchanging the Shi Hongbo treasure map for his release. Chang Le quickly and skillfully deciphered Leng Laoye's self-designed mechanism. Once free, Leng Laoye immediately questioned Chang Le about her connection to the Duan family.
Chang Le, focused solely on the treasure map, told him not to ask too many questions. Leng Laoye, bound by his commitment to keep the entrusted box, initially refused to hand it over. After some haggling, they settled on sixty-six thousand six hundred taels of silver. As Li Che only had sixty-six thousand taels, Chang Le offered a used Nine-leaf copper lotus, valued at six thousand taels, as the remaining payment.
Leng Laoye, thrilled by the rare item he had always dreamed of seeing blossom, readily agreed and handed over the treasure map. He then warned them not to disclose their transaction, or any consequences would be their own. Li Che expressed concern about Chang Le giving away her hidden weapon, but she assured him it was a "scrap metal," especially since Leng Laoye, despite his reputation, couldn't even manage a low-level lock like the Eight-direction prayer lock.
Nong Ying was distraught, looking at the Huoyu lilac burnt to ashes. Chang Le and Li Che took the treasure map to meet the old man who had set the challenge. Without even looking, he declared the map fake. When they expressed confusion about why they were made to acquire it for such a high price, the old man revealed that he was the Stolen Saint.
However, Brother Qin corrected him, clarifying that he was the true Stolen Saint, and the old man was his Master. Brother Qin explained that making them get the treasure map was part of the "rules" and that the actual intention was for Chang Le to "clear away" Leng Yongnian, who was her senior.
Twenty years prior, Leng Yongnian had learned some of the Duan family's skill of running machines from Nianer (Brother Qin's master and Chang Le's senior's teacher) but had used it for fraudulent purposes, scamming people with fake treasure maps. By having Chang Le crack and publicize his unique secret room mechanism, Leng Yongnian would no longer be able to deceive others.
Brother Qin further revealed that he had gathered everyone in Rong City to meet his master and obtain the map for the Twelve Heavenly Lock Dungeon, which was crucial for rescuing Shitou and others. His master lamented that the dungeon, originally built for General Duan, had been repurposed as a tool for Liu Sheng's nefarious deeds.
After receiving the dungeon map, Brother Qin gave it to Li Che and promptly left with Chang Le for Xiaotu Mountain, despite Li Che’s protest that they should go the next morning. Brother Qin warned Li Che to stay away from Third Princess Arietty. Gongsun Mo woke to find Nong Ying heartbroken, crying hysterically about having crumbled the Huoyu lilac root. He embraced her, comforting her and assuring her they would find another one.
Across the city, news of Leng Laoye's secret mechanism being publicly exposed, offering his "treasure map" for free, spread rapidly through the streets. Leng Laoye frantically ordered his men to tear down the notices, but it was too late. Seeing his "cash cow" destroyed, he collapsed and wept uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Chang Le and Brother Qin arrived at Xiaotu Mountain.
Brother Qin gently touched a tombstone, pouring out his long-held feelings of longing for Nianer, whom he had buried there over three years ago. Chang Le, however, noticed the tombstone's orientation was unusual. It was facing Xiaoniu Mountain, but Brother Qin insisted he had built it facing Zhuzhu Mountain. Upon opening the coffin, they discovered it was empty. Back at the palace, Li Heng paid his respects to the Emperor and Empress.
The Emperor inquired about Third Princess Arietty's trip with Li Che, and she expressed her pleasure. Li Heng then politely invited Third Princess Arietty to stay at his residence for a few days to compensate for his inability to accompany her due to his illness. The Empress encouraged her to accept, suggesting that the two princes had different personalities and she would find a "new experience" with Li Heng. Third Princess Arietty reluctantly agreed.
Li Che observed a newfound sharpness in Li Heng's gaze when their eyes met. Later, Nong Ying, bearing a gift of Jun porcelain, reported to Liu Sheng about the Crown Prince's recent activities. She recounted Li Che's sightseeing in Rong City, including admiring lanterns, boating, and climbing Rong Mountain. She specifically highlighted that Chang Le had prevented Third Princess Arietty from making a confession to Li Che.
Liu Sheng commended Chang Le's cleverness and Nong Ying's efforts, emphasizing the importance of preventing Third Princess Arietty from getting closer to Li Che. Nong Ying continued her desperate search for Huoyu lilac, but all her inquiries at various apothecaries were fruitless. A shopkeeper informed her that it was an "immortal grass" he had only heard of and never seen, assuring her that searching all stores would yield nothing.
Nong Ying, however, remained resolute, stating that this was her last hope. Later, Chang Le, Li Che, Brother Qin, and Gongsun Mo discussed their plan to rescue the hostages. Brother Qin, needing to examine the patrolling routes in Liu Sheng's residence for a safe exit, concurred with Gongsun Mo's suggestion to act on the Emperor's wedding day. This timing would ensure Liu Sheng's absence, allowing Brother Qin to scout, and the guards would be exhausted and relaxed after the festivities.
They all agreed it was the most foolproof approach. Following this, Gongsun Mo noticed Nong Ying acting unusually and asked Li Che to accompany him in following her. Li Che initially dismissed his concern, but Gongsun Mo insisted there was "surely something wrong." They trailed Nong Ying and Brother Qin to a "Mr. Know-all," a local information broker. Gongsun Mo directly questioned Mr. Know-all about Nong Ying's purpose. The broker initially refused to disclose his client's secrets, citing business ethics.
Gongsun Mo then subtly threatened to expose Mr. Know-all for having placed Brother Qin (Qin Feiyu) as a guard by Li Che's side, which was a breach of trust. Under pressure, Mr. Know-all revealed that Nong Ying had commissioned him to find Huoyu lilac.
He explained that Nong Ying, having no money, had offered her own life as payment; there was a large bounty on her in the south of the Yangtze River, and the deal was that if he found the medicine, she would turn herself in for the reward. Gongsun Mo vehemently rejected this, offering to pay any amount himself. Mr. Know-all insisted it was a jianghu rule that couldn't be broken and suggested Gongsun Mo discuss it with Nong Ying.
Even with an offer of triple the bounty, Mr. Know-all maintained that Nong Ying herself had to agree to change the deal. Gongsun Mo then explained the entire situation to Li Che, revealing that Huoyu lilac was his life-saving medicine. Enraged, Li Che declared he would send troops to Rong City to seize the medicine by force, even if it meant digging up the earth. Gongsun Mo stopped him, reminding him of the severe consequences of mobilizing troops without permission.
He also reiterated that Huoyu lilac was not to be found in Rong City and recounted how, during Nong Ying's previous attempt to acquire it without his knowledge, Dr. Xue had angrily burnt the root. Despite the setbacks, Gongsun Mo thanked Li Che for his kindness and affirmed his determination to obtain the medicine for him. Meanwhile, Zhu Yan was taken to Miaozhen Pavilion to have her wedding dress made.
Miss Dong discreetly arranged a meeting between Zhu Yan and Li Heng, explaining that she found Zhu Yan's story "a little touching." Upon seeing Zhu Yan, Li Heng impulsively proposed they escape together again. Zhu Yan calmly reminded him of their previous failed attempt and highlighted the practical difficulties: Eunuch Han would notice her absence within fifteen minutes, leading to a palace lockdown in less than thirty.
Li Heng, undeterred, declared he would fight his way out and would rather die than live without her. Zhu Yan chastised him for his "bull-like and mindless" recklessness, pointing out that if he died, she would still be forced to marry the Emperor and suffer alone. Zhu Yan then revealed she had always carried Duanchangsan, intending to take it on her wedding night.
However, she now understood she had to live, for Li Heng's sake, to give him hope so he could survive. She declared her willingness to wait for him, whether it be for a decade, twenty years, or even a hundred years. Li Heng, deeply moved, reciprocated her pledge, promising to wait for her for his entire life until they could finally be together.
They sealed their commitment, and Zhu Yan told him to return to the imperial harem, where she would wait for their day. Miss Dong, witnessing Zhu Yan's strength and resolve, called her a "strong and good girl," acknowledging that being alive was often harder than death, and offered Zhu Yan an ear should she ever need to talk.
