Lost Track of Time Episode 19 Recap
> Lost Track of Time Recap
Mu Chuan reported to the Emperor, explaining that Lu Qingzhou had been framed for secretly colluding with the North. He revealed that his investigation showed Lu Xinran, Lu Qingzhou's own daughter, had deliberately orchestrated the scheme for revenge. Mu Chuan implored His Majesty to deliver justice for Master Lu. The Emperor, aware that Prince Qing was already investigating the matter, was surprised Mu Chuan had unearthed information.
Mu Chuan clarified that he had simply stumbled upon the truth: Lu Xinran was not insane but sought revenge due to a grudge. When asked about Lu Xinran, Mu Chuan confirmed she had jumped to her death, leaving no direct evidence. The Emperor reflected on the sisters' actions, questioning if it was a desperate family feud or a veiled attempt to expose the Lu family's true intentions, asking if Mu Chuan had clarified this.
The Emperor then presented his terms: if the Lu Family relinquished their entire shipping business to Dahan, he would dismiss the accusations as a mere family farce, thus ensuring Lu Qingzhou's safety. Mu Chuan vehemently opposed this, accusing the Emperor of "taking advantage of their difficulty" and "grabbing with power."
He passionately argued that it was unjust to seize the assets of the Lu Family, who had built their success from nothing through countless hardships, and that such an act would dishearten merchants across the nation. The Emperor countered that a "tiny merchant" controlling Dahan's crucial waterways was unacceptable, especially when the royal family itself relied on them for shipping, and he could not ignore such a threat.
Desperate to help the Lu family, Mu Chuan sought out Mu Ze, asking him to join him in court to testify and help clear their name. However, Mu Ze dismissed the idea, asserting that no one could sway the Emperor's decision, and that the Lu Family, controlling Dahan's shipping lifeline, had already been shown great mercy by being allowed to thrive for so long. He concluded that the Emperor would never let such an opportune moment slip away.
Mu Chuan, enraged by Mu Ze's cold calculation, accused him of condoning "grabbing with power" and questioned how the Emperor could exploit their misfortune. Mu Ze simply stated, "This is royal politics. If I were His Majesty, I would do the same." Unable to reconcile with Mu Ze's pragmatic view of power, Mu Chuan angrily departed. Unknown to Mu Chuan, Mu Ze harbored his own designs.
His subordinate, Nanxing, expressed worry that if Lu Anran accepted the Emperor's terms, they would lose all influence over her. However, Mu Ze revealed that he still held Lu Xinran's forged letter. He intended to use this evidence to clear the Lu family's name, but only if Lu Anran humbled herself before him. He anticipated that Mu Chuan would not remain passive and would escalate the situation, thereby hindering the Emperor's complete takeover of the Lu family's assets.
Mu Ze wondered whether Lu Anran would ultimately bow to him or to the Emperor, confident that her intelligence would guide her choice. Meanwhile, Ling Xi informed Lu Anran that Lu Xinran's body had been sent to Su City for burial and shared her concern about Lu Qingzhou's imprisonment. She also relayed Mu Chuan's assurance that he would find a solution. Lu Anran, however, expressed a premonition that any reversal of fortune might come at a steep personal cost.
Inquiring about the family business, Lu Anran received dire news from Ling Xi: Lu Xinran's actions had caused a severe downturn, leading to the Lu Family struggling to make ends meet for the first time in memory, with the Hanjing Wharf having to use deposits to pay its shipmen. The only silver lining, Ling Xi noted, was that many shipmen were resigning, which ironically helped balance the books.
Lu Anran promptly issued a series of directives: all existing goods must be delivered swiftly, the managers of the thirty-six ports were to finalize their current orders, no new orders were to be accepted this month, and a crucial meeting would be held at the Lu's Mansion in Hanjing on the first day of the next lunar month.
Despite Ling Xi's report of widespread rumors about the Lu Family's impending collapse, Lu Anran firmly declared that as long as she stood, the Lu Family would not fall. She privately lamented how close she had been to leading the Lu Family's fleets to safety in a distant land. Mu Chuan met with Lu Anran, asserting, "What belongs to you is yours. I won't let others take away your belongings."
Lu Anran, however, questioned, "What if I volunteer to send them away?" She acknowledged his tireless efforts throughout the day, recounting how he had visited Prince Qing's mansion, hoping he would serve as a witness, and then the Hanjing Mayor's mansion to investigate the forged letter of collaboration and search for any evidence related to the North. She then directly asked him about the outcome of his endeavors.
Reflecting on the situation, Lu Anran cited a proverb: "Things that are hard to come by are often hard to lose; things that are easily come by are often easy to lose," musing that perhaps fate deemed her path too easy. Mu Chuan pressed, asking if she was truly willing to abandon what she had built "little by little." Lu Anran confessed, "Of course not," but quickly added, "But living is more essential than anything. Isn't it?"
Mu Chuan, feeling powerless, expressed his deep frustration: "Although I am Prince Qi, I don't own military power. I can't safeguard you at all. You are willing to depend on me. But as for this issue, I can't help you with anything. I have never felt worthless as I felt today." He reflected on his past disregard for power, stating, "I thought such a thing unimportant.
But today, I understand that having a soft underbelly, I should use power as my armor." He then sought her counsel: "Anran, should I strive for this thing?" Lu Anran admitted she couldn't provide an answer. While acknowledging that people often live and die for power, she believed that "as long as you don't change your original aspirations, means are only tools."
Finally, Lu Anran declared her intention to meet the Emperor the following day, and Mu Chuan readily agreed to arrange it. The next day, Lu Anran was granted an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor, observing her, commented on her youth and her unexpected rise as the head of the Lu Family, noting that she appeared ordinary but acted with remarkable capability. Lu Anran humbly attributed their success to "a stroke of luck," denying any desire for personal recognition.
She then presented the Emperor with the Twin Fish Token, the symbol of authority over the thirty-six ports' ships, and the official transfer agreement, formally relinquishing control of the Lu family's shipping business to the crown. When the Emperor asked if she was truly willing, Lu Anran responded that just as all citizens bowed to His Majesty, so too did the Lu Family, and their possessions were now the Emperor's. She "didn't dare to be unwilling."
Impressed by her astuteness, the Emperor remarked that he "would like to talk with the intelligent." Lu Anran then requested to continue managing the Lu Family's shipping operations. She reasoned that Dahan's waterways were complex, and finding an immediate replacement would be difficult, potentially leading to disarray and tarnishing the reputation of the business she had built. Furthermore, she implied that the Emperor himself would not want the shipping enterprise to become a political pawn in courtly power struggles.
When subtly questioned about her ties to Prince Qing, Lu Anran cleverly stated that the Lu Family had offered no assistance to Prince Qing even at their peak, and now, with their reputation in tatters, they were utterly useless to him, effectively distancing herself from any imperial faction. The Emperor granted her request and invited her to walk with him. During their stroll, the Emperor inquired if Mu Chuan had ever spoken about his mother.
He then recounted his past: he had fallen in love with Mu Chuan's mother at first sight and, driven by his passion, had commanded his entire military force to her city gates, compelling her to marry him as his concubine. Despite his lavish treatment, she remained indifferent, even refusing to acknowledge Mu Chuan after his birth.
Ultimately, upon hearing that her true love had died in battle, she had hanged herself in the very spot she received the news, choosing to follow him in death. The Emperor lamented that both his former concubine and now Mu Chuan were "trapped by love," comparing them to birds, some of whom grow accustomed to captivity while others yearn even more for freedom.
He revealed that Mu Chuan, much like his mother, had professed his love for Lu Anran, declaring, "I like Lu Anran. In a way that I will marry no one but her," and had pleaded in court on the Lu family's behalf because he "didn't want to see her anxious." The Emperor dismissed such affections, likening them to seasonal comforts that lose their utility, and instructed Lu Anran to understand this.
He then sternly warned her, "I want you to stay away from Chuan. After you leave the court, you can't meet him anymore," adding a veiled threat that if she were to speak with Mu Chuan again, dire consequences would follow. He then announced that Lu Qingzhou, being "old and infirm," would be permitted to return to Su City for a peaceful retirement.
However, his ultimate peaceful passing, the Emperor underscored, would depend entirely on Lu Anran's unwavering loyalty to Dahan. Lu Anran, confronting the Emperor, questioned if he intended to inflict the same pain on Prince Qi as he had on the princess of the South. The Emperor retorted that she was unworthy of Mu Chuan's future, declaring, "Chuan is not yours but Dahan's," and commanded her to "Behave yourself."
As heavy snow fell, Lu Anran emerged from the palace, the Emperor's words echoing in her mind: "I want you to stay away from Chuan. After you leave the court, you can't meet him anymore. You don't deserve Chuan's future. Chuan is not yours but Dahan's." Simultaneously, chilling memories of Mu Ze's past threats resurfaced, where he had vowed to make her his concubine or even a "dog" in his mansion, asserting that she could never escape his control.
She relived the anguish of her previous life, the betrayal and the tragic end of her family, questioning why the suffering of that decade was now tormenting her anew. Feeling trapped within an "enormous cage" of "endless intrigues," Lu Anran reflected that "some caged birds are doomed to die in cages."
An inner voice, seemingly her past self, echoed the sentiment that she had "nowhere to escape" unless she could "upend the end that Mu Ze is not the emperor anymore," for otherwise, she would remain bound to him forever. This voice accused her of being naive, asking if she regretted her choices and asserting that "all of this is wrong from the beginning."
It claimed that no matter what she chose, she would never escape Mu Ze's grasp, nor could she save the Lu Family, only "get drown deeper and deeper," urging her to "face your destiny." Defiant, Lu Anran rejected this, vowing, "No. It's not. I will figure something out eventually. I will know how to save the Lu Family."
She realized that even with the chance to relive her life, fate offered no mercy, only repeated warnings, strengthening her resolve to challenge her unfair destiny. Lu Qingzhou was subsequently released and returned home. He immediately inquired about Lu Anran's ordeal and if anyone had caused her trouble. Lu Anran tearfully apologized for relinquishing the Lu Family's business to the royal family. Lu Qingzhou, however, assured her, "You did your best."
He reflected on his own past, recalling how he had built the family fortune from nothing and, despite its rise, had always resisted entanglements with powerful figures, now regretting if his virtuous stance had inadvertently caused her hardship. Having "figured it out," he declared, "Power and prosperity are water under the bridge. Just let them go. That a family stay together is better than anything," urging her to "give up everything" and return with him to Su City.
Lu Anran, however, firmly stated she "can't go back" yet, urging him to take care of his health. She promised to return and care for him once she "ends the disputes in Hanjing City," emphasizing, "I must take another shot." When her father again inquired about her well-being, Lu Anran, though admitting she couldn't escape her predicament, declared, "I won't go down without a fight. For the Lu Family or me, I must overturn the world."
Her father then pressed her on who she would choose among the difficult options, including Prince Qing, to which she responded that authority "shouldn't be the next best choice," preferring "no one than the worse." She reassured him, "Dad, you have to believe there will be a day when we meet again."
Meanwhile, Nanxing informed Mu Ze that Lu Anran had indeed surrendered the Twin Fish Order to the Emperor, thus resolving the immediate crisis for the Lu Family and removing Mu Ze's leverage over her. Mu Ze, genuinely surprised by her drastic action, praised Lu Anran's "boldness." He speculated that she had relinquished the entire shipping business to avoid marrying him, deeming her "cruel and resolute."
He then instructed Nanxing to dispatch a death squad to closely monitor Lu Qingzhou, vowing that he would "never let you fulfill your wishes easily." Ling Xi brought distressing news to Lu Anran: her brother had discovered that Mu Ze had secretly assigned men to follow Lu Qingzhou. Lu Anran expressed a deep weariness, feeling that despite always seizing "head starts," she invariably found herself "skating on thin ice, getting deeper and deeper."
She chastised herself as "only a smart aleck" and "too innocent," lamenting the lack of "firmness and control" in the world, where resolving one crisis only spawned another. She confessed to Ling Xi that she was simply tired, having only wished to protect the Lu Family, yet now feeling she had "protected no one and get nowhere to hide as well." Ling Xi gently reassured her that she had "tried her best."
Meanwhile, Mu Chuan's subordinate reported that Master Lu has arrived in Su City and informed him that while Lu Anran had surrendered the Twin Fish Order, the Emperor, impressed by her capabilities, had allowed her to retain management of the Lu's shipment, a decision deemed mutually beneficial.
The subordinate expressed hope that Lu Anran could "get over it," suggesting that without the heavy burden of the Lu family's fate or the need to advise Prince Qing, the "concerns between you and her" might lessen. Mu Chuan, however, believed Lu Anran had been "cornered" into her decision and "must grieve," feeling his inability to help her meant he couldn't even contemplate their future.
Later, as Ling Xi prepared for Lu Anran's meeting with Mu Chuan, she happily noted Mu Chuan's cheerful demeanor and encouraged Lu Anran to be more proactive in her affections. Ling Xi observed that Lu Anran "escape your minds all the time," while Mu Chuan "likes you publicly," yet Lu Anran "always conceal your minds without a confirmation." She asked directly if Lu Anran liked Mu Chuan.
Lu Anran likened Mu Chuan to "that bright moon," acknowledging that encountering him was her "only consolation" during her arduous journey. Yet, she felt she "couldn't try to shoot for the moon," believing he was destined to "shine bright in the sky as radiantly as the sun." Ling Xi, simplifying matters, urged her to simply meet him, share meals, and "always meet each other," excitedly preparing Lu Anran's attire.
However, Lu Anran harbored a secret, somber thought: tomorrow would be the last time, perhaps the last in this life, for Mu Chuan to stir her heartstrings. The next day, Lu Anran met Mu Chuan. Noticing his gaze, Lu Anran teased him, asking why he looked so surprised when Hanjing was full of more beautiful ladies, implying he hadn't seen enough of the world. Mu Chuan explained he was surprised because her attire was different from usual.
He then presented her with a handmade wooden rabbit lantern as a gift, asking her to open it only after she returned home, which piqued her curiosity. They decided to take a stroll, finding themselves at a market stall selling dingsheng rice cakes. Lu Anran recalled eating soft and sweet versions in Li City, remarking that these were tougher. The vendor, however, insisted on the authenticity of his recipe.
Mu Chuan, understanding the craft, explained that dingsheng rice cakes demanded immense patience, careful sifting of flour, and steaming each layer, implying the vendor's cakes likely suffered from shortcuts. Intrigued, Lu Anran decided to try making them herself. They worked together, sifting flour and grinding rice, a task Lu Anran found "interesting" but "a bit tired." Mu Chuan, ever attentive, insisted she leave "such physical work" to him.
An elderly woman at the stall, mistaking them for a married couple, urged Lu Anran to wipe the sweat from her "husband's" face and criticized her for being lazy, warning that their family would "collapse sooner or later" once children arrived. Mu Chuan, amused, quickly corrected her, explaining that in their household, Lu Anran was in charge and earned far more than he did; his "small business" merely supplemented her income.
The old woman remained critical, dismissing contemporary women as "all lazy." When Lu Anran finally tasted Mu Chuan's handmade dingsheng cake, she exclaimed, "Yummy!" Mu Chuan, pleased, promised to make them for her every day if she liked them. That evening, by the lake, Mu Chuan noticed Lu Anran observing him, to which she playfully replied that the madam from the market had commented on his handsomeness.
Mu Chuan sensed her contemplative mood, and Lu Anran confessed her weariness with worldly troubles, lamenting having missed tranquil "moonlight" moments like these. She expressed a desire to simply "drink alcohol and admire the moon," admitting that she once considered "drinking, shopping and idling" a waste of time, but now found them "good as well." Mu Chuan, understanding her previous disdain for such "boring pastimes," was surprised by her change of heart.
Lu Anran clarified, "The rarest thing in the world is to waste your time for others. I know how precious it is." Lu Anran then proposed they share "love at first sight" stories, to which Mu Chuan agreed, offering to go first.
Lu Anran began her story, narrating the tale of "Miss Wang" from Su City, who, at eighteen, fell for a guard and secretly became engaged, only for it to become a "love suffering she couldn't go through in this life." Miss Wang believed God had given her a second chance to be with her true love, but instead, it merely forced her to "ponder over her stupid love at first sight."
Mu Chuan, when asked for the ending, speculated that Miss Wang "seemed to return to be back where she was," but ultimately "she'd better abandon all and enjoy her every single day." Lu Anran concurred, adding, "Because she had no other choices." However, Lu Anran then offered her own "perfect" ending to the story: Miss Wang "stayed with the one whom she desired to live with forever. Since then, they lived seclusion, not caring about the world."
She mused that Miss Wang was "magnanimous" and only temporarily blinded by hatred, recognizing that "the past and the future both aren't the present," and excessive dwelling on them would "compromise today's scenery." Changing the subject, Lu Anran asked Mu Chuan what he would do if he had a second life. Mu Chuan replied he "wouldn't be a prince anyway," preferring to be "a person with a horse knocked around the splendid world."
Lu Anran then shared her own wish: "If I had a second life, I would like to marry one person. Grew old together after long missing. Stayed ordinary to death so as to avoid being picked up by God for an ordeal." When Mu Chuan asked about her earlier promised "love at first sight" story, Lu Anran pretended to forget, promising to tell him "afterwards," adding, "There's much time ahead of us"—a poignant lie given her true intentions.
She then unveiled a surprise for Mu Chuan: fireworks. As they lit them, Lu Anran expressed her heartfelt wish that one day, Mu Chuan's "improved rice will spread all over Hanjing," transforming "the golden fields" to be "as stunning as the fireworks." When Mu Chuan asked where she would be then, she replied, "I believe we will witness the day together," yet another bittersweet statement hinting at a future she knew she might not share with him.
