Jade's Fateful Love Episode 23 Recap
> Jade's Fateful Love Recap
Xingyi returned with Su Nian a few days ago, but Yueling seemed reluctant to talk to her. One day, while playing chess with Yueling, Zhou Shiyu brought up a case from over a decade ago, revealing it was an unjust verdict. He explained that the entire Liu family was executed, except for a six-year-old girl who was taken away and forced into the life of a musician.
This girl, driven by a desire for revenge, joined the Roufeng Sect and became an assassin. Yueling immediately realized he was talking about Su Nian, whose original name was Liu Nian. Learning of Su Nian's tragic past, Yueling's attitude softened considerably. She instructed Xingyi to bring Su Nian to eat with them and even prepared a special Rib Soup, saying it was good for replenishing qi and blood.
When Yueling said they were now family, Su Nian felt a warmth she hadn't known, realizing this was the feeling of family. She vowed to cherish everything she had. Yueling began secretly writing marriage vows, looking up poems in old books. Zhou Shiyu found her and saw a line she had copied, noting it was a poem written before parting and teasing her about wanting to leave him. She agreed it wasn't suitable.
She found another line, "On high, we'd be two love birds flying wing to wing. On earth, two trees with branches twined from spring to spring," which Zhou Shiyu found good but suggested they write their own. Together, they crafted a vow incorporating syllables from their names: "The flashy jade has brought us together, getting us through adventures. On the day we get married, even the stars will congratulate us." Yueling was pleased.
Soon after, Zhou Shiyu's betrothal presents arrived at the Princess's Mansion. A long list of items was unloaded, filling the mansion with a festive atmosphere. The extensive gifts, including gold, silver, silk, jade, and various goods, impressed everyone, including Xingyi, who remarked on how rich Zhou Shiyu was. Meanwhile, Zhou Zhixuan heard from Qin Siyuan about Zhou Shiyu's extravagant display of wealth for the betrothal and felt disheartened and dejected.
Despite Qin Siyuan's comfort that Zhou Zhixuan's own wedding would be even more spectacular, he remained unhappy. Zhou Zhixuan cared most about fairness; because of his status as a baseborn prince, he felt he always lagged behind Zhou Shiyu, whose mother was the Empress. He longed for fairness and wanted to prove himself.
Qin Siyuan pointed out that perhaps he wasn't just after the position of heir but wanted to outdo Zhou Shiyu, but Zhou Zhixuan insisted his only goal was the heir position, which was why he constantly troubled Zhou Shiyu. Qin Siyuan still felt that Zhou Zhixuan was truly striving for fairness regarding the status of baseborn princes.
In the Princess's Mansion, following Beishuo etiquette for the betrothal day, all the yellow candles were replaced with red ones, making the mansion look as bright as if the wedding were that day. Zhou Shiyu then sent the wedding dress he had commissioned from the best embroiderers. As everyone admired the beautiful gown, they suddenly collapsed, poisoned.
Two jade pendants belonging to Yueling and Zhou Shiyu glowed, and the couple found themselves transported to a future scene in the court, amidst conflict, where they were both killed. The jade pendants glowed again, bringing them back to the Princess's Mansion. Realizing what had happened, Zhou Shiyu immediately ordered all the red candles blown out.
Su Nian (Liu Nian) examined the candles and identified them as containing the Roufeng Sect's Cold-stone Poison, which, when burned, released a smoke that killed quickly upon inhalation. They were shocked at how close they had come to death. Elsewhere, the Taoist Master observed the stars and informed the Prime Minister, Zhou Jingyuan, that the two jade pendants he feared had lost their power. Zhou Jingyuan was delighted, exclaiming "Heaven helps me!"
He boasted of successfully creating discord between Gao Yuan, the North Prince, and the Emperor, believing the Lord of the South (Gao Yuan) would now serve him. He declared his plan was on track. A report then arrived stating that the North Prince and Princess Yueling had suddenly extinguished all the red candles, and Zhou Jingyuan wondered how they knew the candles were poisoned.
Meanwhile, Lin Su privately met with Gao Yuan, analyzing the current situation and promising him everything he wanted on behalf of Zhou Jingyuan, causing Gao Yuan to gradually waver. Later, Lin Su from the Prime Minister's mansion came to see Zhou Zhixuan and delivered a message from Zhou Jingyuan, promising that the Prime Minister could give Zhou Zhixuan what the Emperor could not.
Yueling and Zhou Shiyu discussed the jade pendants, realizing they no longer had their power but had helped them enough. They knew the future they had witnessed must be changed. Yueling suggested cancelling the marriage, but Zhou Shiyu refused. She asked if he was scared, and he replied he wasn't. They agreed to face the future together, and Zhou Shiyu promised he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
They talked about going to Dongyu after the wedding, as Yueling was used to freedom and Beishuo had too many rules. Zhou Shiyu agreed to go and eagerly listed activities they could do there, like riding horses, watching the moon on the grassland, and visiting tribes. Yueling readily agreed to his plans. The wedding day arrived. Yueling was adorned beautifully, looking stunning.
As she prepared to leave, people praised her beauty and the skill of Qianqian, who had done her makeup. Zhou Shiyu arrived to retrieve her. When people inside blocked the door according to custom, Zhou Shiyu playfully insisted on entering, brushing aside concerns about decorum. He made his way in amidst congratulations, everyone commenting on Yueling's beauty and how they were a perfect match.
The ceremony proceeded with the traditional steps: removing the fan covering the bride's face, binding their hair together, drinking cross-cupped wine, and the three bows to Heaven and Earth, seniors, and each other. With the completion of the ceremony, they were married. Following tradition, Zhou Shiyu and Yueling were to go to the palace to greet the Emperor and Great Consort.
Zhou Zhixuan, still feeling resentful but accepting that Zhou Shiyu was now married, was surprised he hadn't received a reply to his request to enter the palace for the family banquet the Emperor usually held on such occasions. Deciding to go anyway, he was stopped by Yang Xu, who warned him that a major event was about to happen in court and advised him not to move around freely, offering him something to eat.
At the Princess's Mansion, Zhou Shiyu, worried about Yueling's safety during the trip to the palace and likely sensing danger, decided she shouldn't accompany him. He knocked Yueling unconscious, stating he would ensure her safety, and arranged for Lin Mu to take her to the Great Consort's residence as part of their plan. Zhou Shiyu proceeded to the palace alone. Upon arriving at the palace, Zhou Shiyu found Zhou Jingyuan sitting on the throne.
He sarcastically congratulated Jingyuan on successfully usurping the throne. Zhou Jingyuan claimed the throne was rightfully his due to his military achievements and his unwillingness to serve a young Emperor. He stated that the Emperor had suffered a sudden stroke that day and, before dying, had personally written an abdication decree in his favor. Zhou Shiyu dismissed this as a lie.
Zhou Jingyuan presented the decree, pointing to the Emperor's seal and advising Zhou Shiyu to be wise and not rebel. Zhou Shiyu called Jingyuan the true usurper. Zhou Jingyuan ordered his men to arrest Zhou Shiyu. Suddenly, Gao Yuan appeared with his troops. Zhou Shiyu addressed Gao Yuan, seemingly questioning his allegiance. Zhou Jingyuan told Zhou Shiyu to accept the situation, boasting that he now controlled the palace guards and held the families of ministers captive.
He ordered Gao Yuan to capture Zhou Shiyu. However, Gao Yuan turned his troops on Zhou Jingyuan instead, declaring Jingyuan was the one rebelling and ordering his arrest. Zhou Jingyuan brandished the abdication decree, but Gao Yuan dismissed it as fake and revealed that Jingyuan's soldiers were now under his command, thanking Jingyuan for his trust. An enraged Zhou Jingyuan called Gao Yuan a traitor.
Gao Yuan retaliated by mentioning Jingyuan's spy, Ping'er, whom he had hanged, and his sister, who was in a coma. Gao Yuan declared he would use Zhou Jingyuan's life to pray for his sister and then fatally stabbed him.
