I Will Never Let You Go Episode 18 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Yun Lang agreed to Little Shrimp's urgent request to arrange Hua Buqi's burial. As he looked at Hua Buqi, he found her hand tightly clutching a bunny lantern. Yun Lang mistakenly believed that Lotus Robe Knight had poisoned Hua Buqi and that she, in her final moments, chose to protect him. He was deeply saddened by this thought.
Little Shrimp then expressed that she couldn't reveal her identity yet and asked Yun Lang for his continued assistance, to which he promised to do anything if it meant saving Hua Buqi. Soon after, Mo Ruofei arrived, and Yun Lang immediately confronted him, accusing him of feigning poisoning.
He argued that if Mo Ruofei hadn't pretended to be poisoned, he would not have left the manor to seek an antidote, leaving Hua Buqi vulnerable, and Lotus Robe Knight would not have had the opportunity to poison her. Mo Ruofei asked how Yun Lang could be so sure of Lotus Robe Knight's involvement. Yun Lang reiterated that Hua Buqi was found holding the bunny lantern, which Lotus Robe Knight had given her.
Since Hua Buqi knew her poisoner but refused to name them, Yun Lang concluded she was protecting Lotus Robe Knight. Mo Ruofei, seeing Hua Buqi's demise and understanding her silence, tearfully ordered a grand funeral for her, instructing the staff to prepare a coffin and a funeral hall, announcing to outsiders that the Second Lady of Mo Manor had passed away from a sudden illness. He intended to inform the Prince Manor after the day's government money bidding concluded.
Mo Ruofei then tried to explain to Yun Lang that his feigned poisoning was a tactic against Mingyue Villa, but Yun Lang sharply retorted that Hua Buqi had become a sacrificial pawn in the struggle for the Imperial Treasury. Meanwhile, the Imperial Treasury bidding proceeded with Chen Yu presiding. He announced new rules, limiting each bidder to three chances within one incense stick's time, with the highest bid winning. The merchants voiced concerns about the tight timeframe.
In the final bidding round for the right to circulate government funds, Mo Manor and Zhu Manor were locked in competition, with Zhu Manor ultimately securing the rights by bidding 8 million and 300 taels, just slightly more than Mo Manor's final bid. Chen Yu then instructed Steward Zhu to pay 20% of the bid immediately and the remaining 80% within half a month.
At the Prince Manor, Seven Prince spoke with Liu Mingyue, reminding her of her promise regarding Biluotian now that the government funds issue was settled. Liu Mingyue assured him she would personally take him to Biluotian once the bidding was fully finalized. Shortly after, Mo Ruofei arrived at the Prince Manor and confessed to Seven Prince that Mingyue Villa assassins had infiltrated Mo Manor the previous night and tragically poisoned Hua Buqi to death.
He pleaded with Seven Prince to launch a thorough investigation into Mingyue Villa. Seven Prince was stunned and angered, questioning Mo Ruofei's oversight in protecting Hua Buqi. Mo Ruofei admitted to a lapse in security, stating he never imagined they would target Hua Buqi, and revealed that Yun Lang had discovered her already deceased in the early hours of the morning.
Upon hearing the devastating news from Mo Ruofei, Chen Yu was in disbelief and, without hesitation, quickly rode his horse to Mo Manor. There, he was met with the grim reality of Hua Buqi's lifeless body and the somber funeral arrangements. He questioned Yun Lang about the circumstances of her death. Yun Lang firmly reiterated his conviction that Lotus Robe Knight was the culprit, again pointing to the bunny lantern Hua Buqi held as evidence of her protection for him.
Seven Prince, having followed Chen Yu, also arrived at Mo Manor. After confirming Hua Buqi's death, he was visibly distraught. He instructed for Lin Dansha, known for her medical expertise, to examine the body. Lin Dansha's examination concluded that Hua Buqi had died from poisoning by a pit viper venom and a "five hidden flower," poisons commonly found in the north.
During the examination, Little Shrimp became anxious when A-Fu suggested examining Hua Buqi's heart, but Yun Lang intervened to prevent Lin Dansha from fully piercing the heart, while Lin Dansha noticed something unusual but kept quiet. Seven Prince then declared that the matter would be turned over to the Court of Judicial Review for investigation and instructed Chen Yu to return to the manor.
However, Chen Yu insisted on searching Hua Buqi's room for clues, declining to return with his father. In his carriage, Seven Prince questioned A-Fu about the Saintess bloodline, which he believed could only be severed by a sacred offering, wondering why Hua Buqi had died. A-Fu speculated that Xue Fei might have given birth to twins. Seven Prince lamented the persistent obstacles to his son's ambition to rule, feeling that heaven opposed them whenever they neared the Biluotian treasure.
He then observed Chen Yu's intense grief, realizing his son's feelings for Hua Buqi were romantic love, not mere sibling affection. A-Fu recalled Chen Yu's unusual behavior of secretly preparing food for Hua Buqi in the kitchen. Concerned, Seven Prince ordered A-Fu to prevent Chen Yu from attending Hua Buqi's funeral, fearing that his true emotions would be exposed in front of the many dignitaries present, causing unwanted suspicion. Meanwhile, Chen Yu entered Hua Buqi's room, clutching the bunny lantern.
He was overcome with grief, remembering their past encounters and his growing, suppressed feelings for her. He realized he had loved her, lamenting that this realization came only after her death, questioning why fate had made her his sister. Mo Ruofei then approached Chen Yu, suggesting that Yun Lang's suspicions about Lotus Robe Knight, fueled by the bunny lantern, had merit, and theorizing that Lotus Robe Knight might have ties to Mingyue Villa, killing Hua Buqi to frame them.
Chen Yu, however, expressed doubt, recalling how Lotus Robe Knight had saved them at Tianmen Pass. He vowed to personally uncover the true killer of Hua Buqi and ensure their suffering would be worse than death. Chen Yu later sought out Liu Qingwu, directly confronting her and asking if she was responsible for Hua Buqi's death.
Liu Qingwu was surprised by the news and vehemently denied involvement, explaining that she had already withdrawn all her people from Mo Manor and was solely focused on her conflict with Liu Mingyue, reiterating her desire to cooperate with Chen Yu. Chen Yu believed her. He then visited his friend Yuan Chong, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
He confided in Yuan Chong about Hua Buqi's death and the Mo Manor's accusation against Lotus Robe Knight, asking if Yuan Chong believed it. Yuan Chong found the situation suspicious, suggesting Mo Ruofei might be fabricating a scapegoat. Chen Yu then poured out his heart, admitting that what he once thought was pity for Hua Buqi, due to their similar lonely backgrounds, had blossomed into love.
He confessed his desperate longing to be with her and questioned if he deserved divine punishment for loving his supposed sister, lamenting that he only recognized his feelings after her death. The thought of Hua Buqi being alone pained him deeply, and he expressed his inability to give her what she truly desired: Lotus Robe Knight. Elsewhere, Lin Dansha revealed to her brother, Lin Yuquan, that Hua Buqi was in fact faking her death.
She explained that during her examination, she found no poison in Hua Buqi's heart, and her body remained soft and uncolored, inconsistent with several hours of death. Lin Yuquan considered spreading this news to Xiao Jiufeng, hoping to secure an antidote as they hadn't failed their task. Lin Dansha also realized Yun Lang seemed to be aware of Hua Buqi's fake death, as Yun Lang already knew about it. Lin Yuquan advised her to focus on spreading the news first.
Lin Dansha then approached Yun Lang directly, asking if he would marry Hua Buqi if she were still alive. She confessed her own affection for him, lamenting that his heart was solely for Hua Buqi, evident in his bloodshot eyes from staying awake all night. She expressed envy for Hua Buqi, a "naughty girl born a beggar," who garnered so much affection.
Yun Lang, upset, told her to stop, emphasizing Hua Buqi's difficult life and unmourned death, asking what she could possibly envy. Lin Dansha then revealed her knowledge of Hua Buqi's fake death, explaining that Hua Buqi had taken a special medicine to halt the poison.
Yun Lang, who already knew about Hua Buqi's fake death, pleaded with her to keep it secret, begging her not to expose Hua Buqi, who needed to leave the capital safely, and offering to do anything in return. Lin Dansha seized the opportunity, demanding that Yun Lang marry her. While Yun Lang initially hesitated, citing propriety, Lin Dansha insisted, stating her brother would formally propose.
She then threatened to expose Hua Buqi's fake death if he refused, trying to convince him that it would simplify matters for both the Prince Manor and Mo Manor. Yun Lang, hating being threatened but prioritizing Hua Buqi's safety, reluctantly agreed to marry Lin Dansha, warning her not to provoke him further. Lin Dansha, despite knowing his feelings, was content to stay by his side and even offered to watch over the coffin, which Yun Lang declined. On the day of Hua Buqi's funeral, A-Fu intercepted Chen Yu, preventing him from attending, explaining that Seven Prince understood his feelings and was acting in his best interest.
