I Will Never Let You Go Episode 8 Recap
> I Will Never Let You Go Recap
Hua Buqi, now residing in Mo Manor, spent time familiarizing herself with the sprawling estate, even noting a potential escape route. While exploring, she felt the festive atmosphere of the approaching New Year, learning from a servant about the bustling Lantern Festival in the capital and the Mo family’s tradition of watching the lanterns with Mo Ruofei.
Later, Mo Bo, acting on Mo Madam's orders, brought Hua Buqi a bowl of stew, urging her to drink it while it was still hot. Hua Buqi, sensing something amiss, feigned that the soup was too hot due to a "street beggar's ailment" and promised to drink it later, which Mo Bo allowed. Unbeknownst to her, Mo Madam and the Mingyue Villa's Master were plotting.
The Mingyue Villa's Master had just finalized a deal with the House of Zhu to secure the Imperial Treasury's operating rights, aiming to eliminate the Mo family as their primary competitor. She instructed Qingyan to infiltrate Mo Manor and assassinate both Mo Ruofei and Hua Buqi, believing their deaths would cripple the Mo family and leave them in disarray for the bidding.
The Master also revealed that Yaoling Manor had betrayed them, ordering Qingwu to eradicate the Lin family, take control of Yaoling, and then proceed to the capital for the Lantern Festival. Xiao Jiufeng then emerged, questioning the Mingyue Villa's Master about an earlier attempt on Hua Buqi's life. The Master, denying any such intention, claimed Qingwu had only been targeting Mo Ruofei, and Hua Buqi's presence was mere coincidence.
She insisted she had sent Qingyan to Mo Manor to protect Hua Buqi. Xiao Jiufeng, however, was dismissive, stating he would personally handle matters concerning Hua Buqi and instructing the Master to focus on securing the Imperial Treasury rights. He then left to attend the Northern Wilderness King's birthday banquet, brushing off the Master's concerns about the dangers of allying with the emperor's enemy, declaring he would use anyone useful to him.
Hua Buqi, still suspicious, later returned to the kitchen to drop off her bowl. She helped herself to some fresh pastries, then watched as Uncle Mo prepared her next bowl of soup, secretly adding a mysterious substance from a small container. Hua Buqi's vigilance heightened; she wondered if it was poison but couldn't understand why the Mo family would harm her, given her importance to the Seventh Prince and Mo Ruofei's past actions.
She suspected external forces, like the "black clad people," might be involved. When Uncle Mo delivered the soup, Hua Buqi, feigning eagerness, quickly drank it, but in reality, she poured the contents into a flowerpot. Realizing Mo Manor was no longer safe, she decided to escape during the Lantern Festival. Soon after, Mo Ruofei visited, showering her with expensive New Year's gifts, including an array of beautiful outfits, jewelry, and many shades of rouge, which he meticulously explained to her.
Hua Buqi could sense his genuine care but was torn, knowing Uncle Mo’s sinister actions. She subtly inquired about a suitable gift for Uncle Mo, then asked Mo Ruofei about her mother, Xue Fei, and her relationship with Mo Madam. Mo Ruofei, appearing uncomfortable, deflected her questions, claiming he knew little of the past and suggesting she ask the Seventh Prince.
He then quickly excused himself to greet his mother, leaving Hua Buqi alone with her growing suspicions that Mo Madam herself might be behind the attempts on her life, especially after realizing she was the daughter of her "godmother's love rival." Meanwhile, Mo Ruofei spoke with his mother, urging her to treat Hua Buqi kindly, emphasizing that Hua Buqi represented a significant opportunity for the Mo family's prosperity.
His mother, however, seemed detached, admitting she hadn't seen Hua Buqi in a while. Hua Buqi then overheard Xiuchun gossiping about the late Master Mo, revealing he had died of anger after Mo Madam, out of jealousy, tore up a portrait of his beloved concubine—a woman whose surname was Xue. The revelation confirmed Hua Buqi's deepest fears: she was the daughter of Mo Madam's rival, and the attempts on her life were very real.
At Yaoling Manor, Qingwu confronted Lin Mantang, accusing him of colluding with Mo Ruofei, and brutally murdered him. Just as Qingwu's subordinates moved to kill Lin Dansha and Lin Yuquan, Xiao Jiufeng intervened, saving them. He offered them a chance to live if they became his spies in Mo Manor, tasked with protecting Hua Buqi and observing her until the right moment, after which he promised to extract them.
Lin Yuquan readily agreed, and Xiao Jiufeng administered a potent poison, promising antidotes every three months and the final cure upon completion of their mission. Xiao Jiufeng exulted in finally locating the Saintess, Hua Buqi, believing her discovery brought him closer to finding the other half of the map and entering Biluotian to claim its treasures.
He dismissed suggestions to bring her to Ghost Valley immediately, preferring to wait until he had the complete map, as she was safe for now in either the Prince Manor or Mo Manor. Lin Dansha, in a private moment, expressed her disdain for Xiao Jiufeng, comparing him unfavorably to "Brother Lotus Robe Knight." In the capital, Chen Yu received an urgent report from Han Ye: Yaoling Manor's owner had died mysteriously, and Lin Yuquan and Lin Dansha were missing.
Chen Yu found this highly suspicious and dispatched Han Ye to investigate, hoping to glean information from the panicked staff. Later, as Royal Concubine Gan prepared the New Year's Eve feast, Chen Yu overheard his father, the Seventh Prince, expressing worry about Hua Buqi in Mo Manor and his desire to bring her back to his royal residence.
Angered by thoughts of his own mother and his father's apparent favoritism, Chen Yu confronted the Seventh Prince with biting sarcasm, leading to a heated argument. Chen Yu then stormed out, refusing to attend the family dinner, preferring solitude. Simultaneously, Qingyan, who had infiltrated Mo Manor as a kitchen staff member, orchestrated her plot within Mo Manor, ordering her accomplices to hide concealed weapons within the God of Wealth fireworks, intending to assassinate Mo Ruofei when he lit them.
As New Year's Eve dinner concluded at Mo Manor, Mo Ruofei and Hua Buqi secretly indulged in meat dishes after Mo Madam retired, revealing their shared pretense of being vegetarian in her presence. Mo Ruofei comforted a tearful Hua Buqi, who was reminiscing about her past New Year's Eves with Uncle Jiu, promising her hundreds of strings of firecrackers to light.
Amidst the festive preparations, Mo Ruofei lit the traditional "Panlong Cannon" fireworks, which brought joy and excitement to the manor. Meanwhile, a melancholic Chen Yu was seen drinking alone, his thoughts drifting to Hua Buqi. Later, Mo Ruofei led Hua Buqi up to the Dragon Tower, entrusting her with the honor of lighting the grand firework as the new Lady of the Mo Manor.
He explained that lighting the fuse would not only set off the fireworks but also release countless copper coins, establishing her authority before the crowd. Unbeknownst to them, Qingyan, observing from below, planned for chaos to erupt. When Hua Buqi lit the fuse, hidden weapons, concealed within the fireworks by Mingyue Villa's agents, shot out, plunging the manor into pandemonium. Mo Ruofei immediately ordered the manor to be searched and the injured guards to be tended to.
Qingyan attempted to seize the opportunity to kill Hua Buqi, but Mo Ruofei, reacting swiftly, rushed to save her. Hua Buqi sustained only superficial wounds, and Mo Ruofei was relieved. His initial suspicion of the kitchen staff member, Qingyan, who he had just tested and identified by her alias "Qing'er", was dismissed after a brief "test," which seemingly confirmed her lack of martial arts.
Uncle Mo reported that the attackers had entered through the back gates, killing the guards stationed there, but left no identifying marks. Concerned that news of Hua Buqi's injury would reach the Seventh Prince by morning, Mo Ruofei decided to report the incident to the officials. Shortly after, Mo Madam, hearing of Hua Buqi's injuries, rushed to her side, despite Mo Ruofei's pleas for her to rest.
