Lost Track of Time Episode 2 Recap
> Lost Track of Time Recap
Five years after her marriage to Mu Ze, Lu Anran's position as Princess Consort had solidified, yet the complexities of the imperial court continued to entangle her life. On her birthday, Prince Qing, Mu Ze, was absent, attending to state affairs. Lu Xinran expressed her discontent that Mu Ze had recently taken Xiao Jingque as a concubine, believing it was an affront to the Lu family.
However, Lu Anran understood Mu Ze's strategic choice to bring Xiao Jingque into the household due to General Xiao Ying's reputation as a brave and battle-wise military leader. She affirmed that as long as Mu Ze loved her, she was content with his chosen path to imperial power. Lu Anran, along with Lu Xinran, Lu Yun, and her son Yu, were celebrating when Xiao Jingque arrived, presenting a parrot as a birthday gift.
The parrot, however, spoke an insulting phrase, "Spring grasses rest after 5 years. There're no roads ahead now," which Lu Xinran immediately recognized as a taunt aimed at Lu Anran. Instead of directly punishing Xiao Jingque, Lu Anran noticed the expensive jewelry and fine silks Xiao Jingque wore, identifying them as gifts from various Hanjing officials, including icy jadeite from the Assistant Minister of Works's father-in-law and a golden hairpin from the Head of the Secretariat's Mansion.
She rebuked Xiao Jingque for openly accepting bribes, warning that such actions could implicate Mu Ze amidst a court investigation into corruption, with the Minister of Works being a prime target. Lu Anran ordered Xiao Jingque to return all the gifts, provide double their value in return, and confined her for a month for reflection.
Lu Xinran felt the punishment was too light, but Lu Anran explained that due to the Xiao family being Mu Ze's critical "right-hand man," her actions could only be a light touch. Meanwhile, Lu Yun, tired of being known only as Princess Qing's brother, expressed his desire to fight in Beilin to achieve recognition and become a strong supporter for his sisters.
Despite Lu Xinran's concerns about the danger, Lu Anran encouraged Lu Yun's ambition, and he vowed not to return without victory. Later that night, Mu Ze returned home, presenting Lu Anran with a box of fresh flowers as a belated birthday gift. Lu Anran appreciated him remembering her special day amidst his busy schedule. As the family, including Yu, enjoyed their reunion, a servant reported that Xiao Jingque had fainted.
Mu Ze and Lu Anran rushed to her, where a doctor announced Xiao Jingque was pregnant. Using her pregnancy as leverage, Xiao Jingque complained about her confinement. Lu Anran, seeing an opportunity to appear magnanimous, lifted the confinement order. However, Mu Ze did not stay with Xiao Jingque, choosing to leave with Lu Anran. Five months passed. Xiao Jingque, now visibly pregnant, was taking a walk when Yu, flying a kite, nearly tripped her. Enraged, Xiao Jingque struck Yu's hand.
Yu, crying, retorted with a childish threat against Xiao Jingque's unborn child, deeply unsettling her. Later that day, Lu Anran returned home from her work at the shipyard to a devastating scene: her son, Yu, had drowned. A maid, Mother Yun, tearfully explained that Yu had fallen into the pond while fishing. Another maid, Spring, then revealed she had seen a flustered Xiao Jingque fleeing from behind the rockery near the pond where Yu drowned.
Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Lu Anran grabbed a sword, determined to avenge her son, but was intercepted by Mu Ze upon his arrival. To protect Xiao Jingque for strategic reasons, Mu Ze orchestrated a cover-up. Lu Xinran was compelled by Mu Ze to falsely testify that she had seen Xiao Jingque at Moxuan Temple on the day of Yu's death, swearing on her future happiness and ability to have children to lend credence to her fabricated story.
Mu Ze then publicly declared Yu's death an accident due to Mother Yun's carelessness, claiming that Mother Yun and Spring had lied due to their close bond. He ordered both maids to be flogged to death. Privately, however, Mu Ze confronted Xiao Jingque in her chambers, accusing her of Yu's murder and pouring hot water on her hand as punishment.
He revealed that he knew the truth and that Lu Xinran's testimony was arranged by him to protect her, not because he cared for Xiao Jingque, but because he needed General Xiao Ying's military support. Mu Ze chillingly stated that he did not care about "losing a few children" but warned Xiao Jingque that she could not act without consequences. He then demanded "a price" for his protection, specifically the private soldiers that the Xiao family had amassed.
Xiao Jingque, terrified, immediately offered all her brother's secret soldiers to him. Mu Ze accepted, reiterating his warning not to provoke Lu Anran again, or he would not intervene. Back with Lu Anran, Mu Ze tried to comfort her, claiming Yu's death was an accident, but Lu Anran, witnessing his cold demeanor, questioned if he had ever truly loved Yu or even her. To escape her profound sorrow, Lu Anran buried herself in the shipyard, working tirelessly.
Five months later, she successfully completed the construction of the wheeled boat. Around the same time, Xiao Jingque gave birth to a son, filling the Prince's residence with celebratory excitement. Yet, Lu Anran found no joy and remained trapped in her grief. One day, while wandering alone in the garden, she encountered Mu Chuan, who was avoiding the festivities.
Mu Chuan, sensing her pain, offered her a silver bracelet he had received from an old monk, claiming it was for warding off evil and ensuring safety. He gently comforted her, sharing his own past experience of losing a loved one and encouraging her to live fully for those who are gone.
Mu Ze joined them shortly after and overheard Mu Chuan describing a girl he had fallen in love with at first sight—a quick-witted, ambitious woman whose eyes glowed when she spoke of her dreams. Mu Chuan expressed regret that he had waited too long, and she had since married another. Lu Anran advised Mu Chuan not to let similar opportunities slip away in the future.
Later that evening, seeking to mend their fractured relationship, Mu Ze released sky lanterns inscribed with prayers for Yu. Discovering Mu Ze's handwriting and finding a room filled with toys, some new and some of Yu's old ones, Lu Anran realized that he too grieved for their son. This revelation allowed her to forgive Mu Ze, and they reconciled, with Mu Ze assuring her that she was his only family.
He also shared news that Lu Yun had achieved a great victory and would be returning home in a few days. However, the joyous anticipation was short-lived. A new report arrived, stating that General Xiao Ying had returned victorious, but Lu Yun had tragically died. The report detailed that Lu Yun, after pursuing the enemy for thousands of miles, was ambushed and, despite fighting for seven days, succumbed to exhaustion. Only his helmet was recovered.
The news devastated Lu Anran, causing her to collapse. Doctors diagnosed her with an irregular pulse and severe depression, indicating that her condition was critical and could only be saved by "Wedelia wallichii Less," a rare blood ginseng that grew on shaded, damp cliffs. Mu Chuan, undeterred by the danger, immediately volunteered to search for it in Shixiu Mountain. Meanwhile, at court, General Xiao Ying publicly impeached Prince Yi, Mu Lin, accusing him of treasonous conduct.
He presented evidence that Prince Yi had instructed his uncle, General Qin Yekuo, to deliberately delay reinforcements, leading to General Lu Yun's death. Mu Ze further produced evidence found in Lu Yun's camp, proving Prince Yi had embezzled military funds, which was the true motive for withholding aid. Emperor Jing, enraged by his son's depravity, stripped Mu Lin of his title and confined him to his residence for life.
Mu Lin vehemently protested, accusing Mu Ze of framing him and arguing that Mu Ze, being of low birth and without a powerful mother, was unfit to be Crown Prince. The Emperor, overwhelmed by the chaos, collapsed. In the aftermath, Mu Ze sought out Empress Lin Wanzhen, his adoptive mother. He confided in her about his low-status birth mother and the indifference he faced growing up, acknowledging her pivotal role in raising him and Mu Chuan as her own.
The Empress, recognizing his long-standing ambition for the Crown Prince position, promised to persuade the Emperor to name an heir once he recovered. However, Mu Ze expressed his concern that General Qin had not been punished and Mu Lin's influence lingered. He feared that the Imperial Noble Consort might intercede on Mu Lin's behalf, potentially allowing him to regain power. Mu Ze pressed the Empress for further assistance, revealing his desire for more definitive action.
