Let's Shake It! Season 1 Episode 20 Recap
> Let's Shake It! Season 1 Recap
Tang Qingyun, disguised as a palace maid, visited Li Yi in Donggong, bringing him red bean osmanthus soup. Li Yi immediately recognized her, thanking her and noting that only she would dare to visit him with Donggong under heavy guard. Tang Qingyun, referring to herself as Yun'er, pledged her unwavering support and companionship, but Li Yi remained unmoved.
Later, Tang Qingyun bravely confessed to the Emperor, claiming she swapped the birthday painting out of love-driven hatred for Li Yi, hoping to frame him. The Emperor was furious, reminding her that deceiving him was unforgivable. However, Tang Qingfeng arrived just in time. He reported that his investigation revealed Xiao Zhihe was the true culprit behind the swapped painting, a fact confirmed by a military guard.
Tang Qingfeng then defended his sister, stating that she was young and spoke recklessly but had no intention to deceive. The Emperor, swayed by Tang Qingfeng's sincerity and Tang Qingyun's supposed care for his son, forgave her and ordered Tang Qingfeng to arrest Xiao Zhihe to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Li Fu expressed concern to Yao Luoguli that Tang Qingfeng's investigation of Xiao Zhihe might lead back to him.
Yao Luoguli dismissed Xiao Zhihe as a mere scapegoat and assured Li Fu that they still held the advantage. He encouraged Li Fu to not just aim for the Crown Prince's position, but to seize the throne itself. When Li Fu showed reluctance to harm his father, the Emperor, Yao Luoguli produced a mask, which he used to control Li Fu, filling his mind with the desire for power.
Yao Luoguli then outlined a plan: they would make the Emperor sick and incapacitated, allowing Li Fu to issue an imperial edict abolishing the Crown Prince and thus assume control of the country. Tang Qingfeng later rebuked Tang Qingyun for her reckless actions, reminding her that deceiving the Emperor carried a death penalty and urging her to give up on Li Yi.
Tang Qingyun, however, tearfully explained that she acted out of urgency to save "Brother Yi" and would do anything for him. Tang General also intervened, scolding his daughter for her foolishness and emphasizing that the Tang family could not afford to be embroiled in palace disputes. Yet, Tang Qingyun remained steadfast, proclaiming her sincere love for Li Yi and vowing to marry no one else, regardless of his feelings for her.
Both Tang Qingfeng and Tang General were heartbroken by her devotion. While Tang Qingfeng was having a heartfelt conversation with his father about their family's past and the current political turmoil, Yao Luoguli rescued Xiao Zhihe from where he was being held, mocking Tang Qingfeng for abandoning his "apprentice." Meanwhile, Abe's locator, which tracked alien activity, suddenly activated. She rushed to Tang Qingfeng, calling his name urgently, and dragged him away.
Tang General, witnessing Abe's presence, was stunned by her striking resemblance to his deceased daughter, Tang Qingye. Li Fu gathered his subordinates, who pledged their loyalty and support for his ascension to the throne. He detailed his plan for a palace coup, explaining that a smoke signal from inside the palace would indicate the success or failure of their initial move.
He specified that a white smoke meant success and they could enter, while black smoke indicated failure, but they would still proceed with an invasion as Yao Luoguli had arranged for his people to be positioned inside and outside the palace. Li Fu strictly ordered his men not to harm the Emperor, only to seize power.
Yao Luoguli further assured Li Fu that Xiao Zhihe would serve as the scapegoat for poisoning the Emperor, and once secretly eliminated, Li Fu would be free from worry. Yao Luoguli continued to manipulate Xiao Zhihe, who was grateful for being rescued from potential imprisonment. Yao Luoguli instructed Xiao Zhihe that today would be Li Yi's "death day."
Xiao Zhihe questioned Yao Luoguli's motives, who chillingly stated they were simply "taking what they needed" – Xiao Zhihe seeking revenge, and Yao Luoguli killing his own targets, implying the Emperor and Li Yi would soon die. Upon realizing Yao Luoguli intended to murder the Emperor and not just frame Li Yi, Xiao Zhihe vehemently protested, stating he only wanted revenge on Li Yi, not to harm the Emperor. He accused Yao Luoguli of rebellion and questioned his true identity.
An intense struggle ensued, during which Yao Luoguli easily overpowered Xiao Zhihe with strange force, declaring that the plan was almost complete with just a scapegoat needed. Following the locator, Abe and Tang Qingfeng arrived just as Yao Luoguli was about to harm Xiao Zhihe. Tang Qingfeng immediately confronted Yao Luoguli, accusing him of being the mastermind behind the swapped painting and demanding to know his true intentions.
Yao Luoguli, unfazed, declared it was time to settle old and new scores. Tang Qingfeng then used his gouyu to attack Yao Luoguli, who struggled and cried out as he was consumed and turned into ash. As Yao Luoguli disintegrated, Abe witnessed a distinct entity, Zero, escape from his body, leading her to understand the deeper conspiracy at play.
Xiao Zhihe urgently warned Tang Qingfeng and Abe that the Emperor was in danger, prompting them to rush back to the Imperial Palace. At that moment, Li Fu's henchmen, disguised as eunuchs, presented a poisoned medicinal soup to the Emperor. Just as the Emperor was about to drink it, Li Yi intervened, warning his father that the medicine was poisonous. He subdued the disguised eunuch, who, before dying, released a black smoke signal.
Receiving this signal, Li Fu led his forces into the palace, surrounding the Emperor and his loyalists in Yangxin Hall. Li Yi, understanding the black smoke was a prearranged signal for rebellion, ordered the Emperor to be moved to safety. Li Fu stopped the Emperor from leaving, openly rebelling and demanding the throne. He boasted that his men controlled the entire palace.
Li Yi fiercely condemned Li Fu for his treachery and for attempting to harm their father, vowing to "clean up the portal" on the Emperor's behalf. Just as the tension escalated, Tang Qingfeng arrived, apologizing for his delay. The Emperor immediately ordered him to subdue the rebellious Li Fu. Li Fu scoffed at Tang Qingfeng's presence and ordered his troops to attack.
However, Xiao Ruyi arrived with reinforcements, stating that Li Fu had falsely issued orders to seal the palace, but she and General Tang had arrived in time. Together, Tang Qingfeng and Xiao Ruyi managed to subdue Li Fu and his rebel soldiers. Abe approached Li Fu, taunting him for his failed rebellion and subtly signaling him to take her hostage as a means of escape. Li Fu understood and immediately seized her, threatening to kill her if anyone moved.
Tang Qingfeng, seeing this, ordered Xiao Ruyi to stay and protect the Emperor, while he alone pursued Abe and Li Fu. In a secluded hut, Abe confronted Li Fu, ridiculing his naivety and revealing that he had been manipulated by Yao Luoguli, who was actually Zero in disguise. She claimed only she could save him, but in return, he had to divulge the secrets of the Tongtian Tower.
Desperate to save himself, Li Fu began to explain that the tower, though ordinary, had been transformed by the "National Teacher" and contained many strange things he hadn't fully understood. Suddenly, Zero appeared, confirming his identity to Abe and then attacked her, choking her. Terrified by Zero's appearance, Li Fu seized the opportunity to escape. Tang Qingfeng arrived just as Zero was interrogating Abe for the location of the eye of the universe and attempting to kill her.
Tang Qingfeng intervened, and in the ensuing struggle, both he and Abe fell unconscious. When they awoke, they were relieved to find each other safe. Tang Qingfeng questioned Abe about Zero and Li Fu, learning that Zero was a space pirate who had been parasitic on Yao Luoguli and had manipulated Li Fu.
Realizing a larger conspiracy was at play, Tang Qingfeng decided that Li Fu held crucial information and could not die yet, despite the Emperor's order for his immediate execution. He instructed his subordinate to protect Abe, forbidding her from following him into further danger, and then went alone in pursuit of Li Fu. Tang Qingfeng found Li Yi confronting Li Fu. Li Fu, facing defeat, claimed he had allowed Li Yi to seize the throne.
Li Yi, however, revealed his sinister plot: he confessed that he had intentionally sent Yao Luoguli (the "National Teacher") to Li Fu, manipulating him with promises of the throne and even orchestrating the swapped painting at the Emperor's birthday banquet. Li Yi declared that only he was destined to be Emperor, not Li Fu. Li Fu, terrified by Li Yi's cold calculation, begged for his life, appealing to their brotherhood.
Li Yi hesitated, showing a flicker of compassion, but Zero, who had seemingly possessed Li Yi, quickly took over and mercilessly killed Li Fu. After the act, Zero instructed Li Yi to meet him at the Tongtian Tower. Once Li Yi regained control, he showed remorse over Li Fu's lifeless body. Tang Qingfeng witnessed this chilling scene. Li Yi then coldly ordered Tang Qingfeng to take Li Fu's body back, cementing Tang Qingfeng's disappointment in Li Yi's ruthless transformation.
At the Tongtian Tower, Zero showed Li Yi a vision of the vast universe and predicted the downfall of the Datang Dynasty within a century. Li Yi, refusing to accept this fate, declared his ambition to unify the world and secure Datang's eternal prosperity, no matter the cost. Zero confirmed that if Li Yi could acquire the eye of the universe, all his desires for supreme power would be fulfilled.
Knowing Zero was injured, Li Yi provided numerous captured alien creatures for Zero to absorb energy, promising a continuous supply. They then forged a pact: Li Yi would help Zero obtain the eye of the universe, and in return, Zero would help Li Yi gain Abe's affection and control of the world.
Xiao Zhihe confessed his wrongdoings to the Emperor, explaining that he was driven by a desire for revenge for his deceased father and was bewitched by Yao Luoguli (the new National Teacher), who was connected to alien forces. Tang Qingfeng vouched for Xiao Zhihe, stating he was not acting of his own free will, and requested that Xiao Zhihe be allowed to serve under him to investigate the rebellion.
The Emperor, acknowledging Tang Qingfeng's plea, granted Xiao Zhihe a chance to atone for his crimes by assisting in the investigation. Suffering from a prolonged illness due to the pain of losing his son, the Emperor summoned his ministers and, with a weak voice, appointed Li Yi as regent to oversee all governmental affairs, instructing them to provide full assistance. The ministers unanimously accepted.
Ji Le was troubled by her inability to find the energy source needed to safely return the eye of the universe to Duoxing before the upcoming Seven Stars Alignment. Duan Fei questioned why Ji Le had sent Abe on this mission, knowing her feelings for Tang Qingfeng. Ji Le revealed that she saw it as an opportunity for the two to reconcile, a realization that amused Duan Fei.
Later, Ji Le communicated with Abe, who reported her significant discovery: Zero was in Chang'an, possessing Earthlings and moving among the princes, with unknown motives. Ji Le, greatly alarmed by this news, urgently instructed Abe to accelerate her search for the energy source before Zero could find it. Just as Abe was asking Ji Le for reinforcements to combat Zero, their communication abruptly cut off due to interference.
Ji Le's subordinate reported that a large force of Datang royal soldiers was attacking Xingzu Village. Ji Le, realizing the gravity of the situation, went to confront the invaders, sensing that the impending Seven Stars Alignment was connected to this attack. However, Zero ambushed and killed Ji Le. With Ji Le eliminated, Zero entrusted the eye of the universe to Li Yi for safekeeping, indicating a shift in their alliance's dynamic.
