Lost Track of Time Episode 24 Recap
> Lost Track of Time Recap
Steward Liu arrived at Lu Anran's courtyard, conveying Prince Qing Mu Ze's request for her presence in the study for a discussion. He then cunningly distracted Dong Qing by asking for a medicinal prescription, claiming he had a slight cold and wished to review her formula. Lu Anran, understanding the ruse, instructed Dong Qing to assist Steward Liu, thus ensuring she would go to the study alone.
Meanwhile, Mu Chuan was already in the study examining official documents when he heard the door open. He expected to see Mu Ze but was surprised to find Lu Anran. Immediately after she entered, the study door was locked from the outside. Lu Anran quickly realized this was a scheme orchestrated by Xiao Jingque to stage an adultery scandal. She noted that storming out would only confirm the accusations.
Mu Chuan, reflecting on his past feelings, admitted he had once been confused, hurt, and angry, but he now understood that their beautiful shared memories were the most cherished. He told Lu Anran he had truly liked her, but had since let go, and genuinely wished for her happiness. Lu Anran shed a tear and apologized.
Recognizing their compromised situation, Lu Anran asked Mu Chuan to turn his back to maintain propriety between a sister-in-law and brother-in-law alone in a room. Shortly after, Xiao Jingque rushed to Mu Ze, who had just returned to the mansion, to report that Lu Anran and Mu Chuan had trespassed into his study. She exaggerated her distress, claiming she had no choice but to lock them inside to await Mu Ze's judgment, knowing that his study was strictly off-limits.
Steward Liu corroborated her story, claiming to have witnessed their unauthorized entry and stating that all the household servants could testify. Mu Ze headed to the study and ordered the doors opened. Inside, Lu Anran feigned innocence, expressing her relief at Mu Ze's arrival and her confusion as to why she was locked in. Mu Ze directly questioned Lu Anran, who stated she had been summoned by the steward.
Mu Chuan interjected, accusing Xiao Jingque of using him as a tool to condemn Lu Anran, and declared he would be too ashamed to ever visit the mansion again if that were the case. Mu Ze allowed both Mu Chuan and Lu Anran to leave. Xiao Jingque, furious that her plan had failed, then openly accused Lu Anran and Mu Chuan of having a private affair and admitted to orchestrating the incident.
Mu Ze sternly chastised Xiao Jingque, making her kneel and reminding her of her place as Princess Qing. He forcefully slapped her face, warning her that Lu Anran and Mu Chuan were not to be trifled with or exploited, and that such schemes would cost her her position. Still fuming, Mu Ze ordered Steward Liu to be beaten to death with a staff for his complicity and commanded the other conspiring servants to slap themselves until they bled as punishment.
Later, Mu Ze visited Lu Anran, bringing autumn chrysanthemums to adorn her courtyard. He commented on the barren grapevines, subtly alluding to Mu Chuan's past gesture, and suggested that chrysanthemums were simpler to care for. He asserted that if she could meticulously tend to a difficult grapevine, these chrysanthemums would be no trouble. Lu Anran understood that Mu Ze's words carried a veiled warning, acknowledging his resentment towards her past with Mu Chuan.
She expressed that everything requiring meticulous care in the mansion became a liability for her. Mu Ze challenged her heartbroken demeanor, pointing out that she never fully trusted him, believing he only saw through Xiao Jingque's tricks rather than truly believing in her innocence. He claimed her passive stance was a tactic and warned her to cherish his gifts. Both Mu Chuan and Lu Anran had secretly copied the list of names they saw in Mu Ze's study.
Lu Anran entrusted her copy to Dong Qing to deliver to Shen Changqing, while Mu Chuan dispatched his subordinates to protect the farmers on the list. Dong Qing later informed Lu Anran that Shen Changqing had successfully rescued the farmers, though he had encountered Mu Chuan during the rescue. Lu Anran admitted she anticipated Mu Chuan would seek the list in the study and had asked Shen Changqing to ensure his safety.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ying reported to Mu Ze that the attempt to assassinate the farmers had been thwarted by "Jianghu figures" who seemed to know their plans. Mu Ze, connecting this to Lu Anran's recent presence in his study and her deep relationship with Shen Changqing of the Qinghe Gang, suspected her involvement. He ordered Shen Changqing's arrest, planning to use him as bait to lure Lu Anran and observe her reaction.
Lu Anran soon received a message, accompanied by Shen Changqing's personal jade pendant—a keepsake from his mother he never parted with—requesting a meeting at a suburban villa. Lu Anran deduced it was a trap set by Mu Ze, signifying Shen Changqing was under their control but likely safe for the time being. Resolved to rescue Shen Changqing, Lu Anran devised a plan. She confronted Xiao Jingque, accusing her of sending the deceptive message to frame her for an illicit meeting.
When Xiao Jingque vehemently denied it, Lu Anran further provoked her by suggesting Xiao Ying was behind it. To prove her brother's and her own innocence, Xiao Jingque reluctantly agreed to accompany Lu Anran to the suburban villa. Concurrently, Mu Chuan also realized that the mysterious individual who had helped rescue the farmers was Shen Changqing. At the suburban villa, Xiao Ying was surprised by his sister's arrival.
Lu Anran immediately accused Xiao Ying of meddling in the mansion's inner courtyard affairs and conspiring with his sister to frame her. She vehemently denied any collaboration with Shen Changqing to betray Prince Qing, declaring that she had severed all ties with him before entering the mansion and casting him as an "impulsive, brainless person" incapable of disrupting Mu Ze's plans.
Shen Changqing, tied up, angrily retorted that he knew nothing of any plans, and merely intervened to save lives in Qinghe Gang's territory, expressing his disappointment in Lu Anran for abandoning her integrity. At this point, Mu Ze emerged. Lu Anran confronted him, accusing him of never trusting her. Mu Ze defended his suspicion, citing the rapid rescue of the farmers after Lu Anran's presence in his study.
To prove her loyalty, Lu Anran seized a sword from Xiao Ying's side and, knowing Shen Changqing's heart was on his right side, plunged it into Shen Changqing's left chest. Mu Chuan arrived just in time to witness this. Enraged, Mu Chuan retaliated by stabbing Lu Anran before quickly taking the seriously wounded Shen Changqing away.
Despite her injury, Lu Anran stated that she accepted Mu Chuan's sword strike as a means to alleviate his pent-up resentment, and that everything she did was for Mu Ze. Later, a doctor informed Mu Chuan that Shen Changqing's sword wound had providentially missed his heart by an inch, and he would recover with three months of rest. Old Chen, a rescued farmer, confirmed to Mu Chuan that Shen Changqing had saved them.
Qinghe Gang members, led by Old Six, were furious and wanted to seek immediate revenge on Prince Qing. Mu Chuan, however, urged them to remain calm, promising to secure justice for Shen Changqing. Lu Anran's apparent sacrifice finally swayed Mu Ze. He visited her, expressing regret for his suspicions. He promised to let go of their complicated history and try to trust her. Lu Anran, exhausted, asked him to leave.
Immediately after Mu Ze left, Lu Anran sent Dong Qing to check on Shen Changqing. Dong Qing found Mu Chuan with her injured brother. Mu Chuan revealed that Lu Anran was the one who stabbed Shen Changqing. Shocked, Dong Qing nevertheless defended Lu Anran, insisting there must have been a crucial reason and arguing that Lu Anran had gone to the villa to save her brother from a trap that would have killed them both.
When Dong Qing learned from Mu Chuan that he had wounded Lu Anran, she angrily confronted him, questioning if he truly misunderstood their young mistress, or if she had tragically misjudged him.
