Lost Track of Time Episode 27 Recap
> Lost Track of Time Recap
Mu Ze brought Lu Anran to pay respects to Xiao Ying. Xiao Jingque, enraged, tried to stab and kill Lu Anran to avenge her brother. Mu Ze intervened, pulling Lu Anran away and sternly warning Xiao Jingque. He stated that if she continued to provoke his woman, he would not even leave her with a complete corpse. He reminded her that he had warned her and her brother to behave, but they never listened.
Now, she dared to kill his woman and would soon climb over his head. Mu Ze declared that she brought this upon herself and should blame no one else. He strictly warned Xiao Jingque not to provoke Lu Anran from now on and to stay quietly in Prince Qing's residence, or it would mean certain death. Mu Ze then told Lu Anran that he brought her there to show Xiao Jingque the consequences of opposing her.
However, Lu Anran was not pleased, feeling a sense of sorrow for the fallen. Mu Ze assured her he understood and would not treat her the same way. Later that night, Xiao Jingque met with Commander Liang and other loyal soldiers of the Xiao Army. She requested their help to kill someone. Commander Liang affirmed their unwavering loyalty, stating they would fulfill her wish even at the cost of their lives. These soldiers then ambushed Mu Chuan in a forest.
Mu Chuan fought fiercely against them, but despite his martial prowess, he sustained severe injuries. Meanwhile, Xiao Jingque arrived at Lu Anran's courtyard with wine. Dong Qing tried to turn her away, reminding her that Mu Ze had forbidden her from entering. But Xiao Jingque, proclaiming herself the Princess Consort of Qing, insisted on a drink with Lu Anran. Lu Anran permitted her entry.
Xiao Jingque openly taunted Lu Anran, noting that while she feared provoking Lu Anran within the mansion due to Mu Ze's protection, as a woman, she could see Lu Anran's true affection for Mu Chuan in her eyes, despite Lu Anran's attempts to hide it. Xiao Jingque then revealed her purpose, directly asking if Lu Anran was in love with Prince Qi.
She stated that since her brother died because of Lu Anran, she would not allow Lu Anran's beloved to live peacefully. She wanted Lu Anran to experience the same pain of loss she felt. Xiao Jingque gloated that even though Prince Qi was skilled and could fight ten men, he would be no match for thirty. Lu Anran, realizing Xiao Jingque had orchestrated Mu Chuan's assassination, became furious and tried to attack her.
Xiao Jingque remained unfazed, declaring that Mu Chuan's death bells would toll today. She urged Lu Anran to hurry and see him one last time, rather than wasting time with her, to lessen any regrets. As Lu Anran rushed off, Xiao Jingque poured wine on the ground, mourning her brother. Lu Anran rushed to Shen Changqing's residence. Dong Qing, present there, tried to reassure Lu Anran that the doctor was treating him and he would be fine.
However, upon seeing Shen Changqing distraught, Lu Anran was led to Mu Chuan's "body." Dong Qing wept, telling Shen Changqing how much Lu Anran relied on her family in Su City and on Mu Chuan. Without Mu Chuan, she feared for Lu Anran's future. Lu Anran knelt beside Mu Chuan's still form, heartbroken. She recalled Mu Chuan's words about regretting their last meeting.
She confessed that their last encounter, when she set a trap and used him, was now a source of unbearable regret. She acknowledged her self-righteousness, feeling she had lost everything in the end. Lu Anran revealed that the woman in the shadow play she told him about was actually herself. She questioned who would believe that in her nightmare, the Lu family was gone, and he was dead.
She explained that she married Mu Ze solely to protect Mu Chuan and the Lu family. Lu Anran further lamented how she had pushed Mu Chuan away and hurt him, believing she was protecting him, only to realize she had trampled on his genuine feelings. She wished she had told him sooner, especially when he came looking for her in Su City, that she loved him.
She poured out her heart, declaring that in this terrible world, only Mu Chuan brought her joy in this "sinister hell." Feeling she had lost everything, Lu Anran reached for her hairpin, intending to take her own life. At that moment, Mu Chuan spoke her name, startling her. He apologized, stating he just wanted to know the answer. It was all an elaborate ruse concocted by Mu Chuan and Shen Changqing, a feigned death to ascertain Lu Anran's true feelings.
Overjoyed that he was alive, Lu Anran embraced him, then instructed Shen Changqing to take good care of Mu Chuan before quickly departing back to Prince Qing's residence. After Lu Anran left, Dong Qing, who had been listening from outside, angrily confronted Shen Changqing, asking how they could play such a trick on her mistress. Shen Changqing explained that he had rushed to save Mu Chuan after receiving word, ensuring Mu Chuan's survival despite his serious injuries.
He also clarified to Mu Chuan that Lu Anran had given him a list of farmers Mu Ze planned to kill, and her "stabbing" of Shen Changqing was actually a pre-planned act to save him from Mu Ze's trap. Realizing Mu Chuan had misunderstood Lu Anran, Shen Changqing urged him to be understanding. Mu Chuan then revealed he faked his death to uncover the full truth from Lu Anran.
Dong Qing scolded Mu Chuan for not trusting Lu Anran and for hurting her. Mu Chuan admitted his actions were thoughtless but confessed that he desperately needed to know the truth. He was astonished by Lu Anran's confession, acknowledging that the answer was "unbelievable," yet he believed every single word she said without a doubt. He expressed concern that now that Lu Anran knew he was alive, she might do something foolish.
That night, Mu Ze noticed Lu Anran's distress and went to Xiao Jingque's residence, questioning her attendant about what Xiao Jingque had done to Lu Anran. The attendant claimed ignorance, suggesting Xiao Jingque was merely grieving her brother. Mu Ze, however, suspected Xiao Jingque was the cause of Lu Anran's tears. He declared that Xiao Ying's death was his own fault for scheming against him.
He reminded Xiao Jingque that allowing her to remain as Princess Consort was his "final compensation" to her, and she should not overstep her bounds. Xiao Jingque, overhearing this cold exchange, was deeply hurt. Her attendant then informed her that her assassination plan had failed; Prince Qi was alive, and all of General Xiao's soldiers had perished. Xiao Jingque was devastated. Now fully understanding Lu Anran's heart, Mu Chuan sent her a letter she had once written to him.
On the back, in small script, he wrote a message to her, expressing his trust and regret, and reassuring her that he understood her intentions. He acknowledged that she was always thinking of others but rarely of herself. He envisioned a happy ending for her, where she would be united with the one she wanted to spend her life with, free from worldly concerns. Mu Chuan affirmed that he would not abandon her and that she should wait for him.
Later, speaking with Shen Changqing and Dong Qing, Mu Chuan admitted that his past hesitations had led to too many regrets. Now, he was resolute in his desire to rescue Lu Anran from Prince Qing's residence. Dong Qing expressed concerns about Lu Anran's safety in the palace, agreeing that she was in constant danger, walking "on thin ice." Mu Chuan then sought an audience with the Emperor, requesting Lu Anran's assistance for the upcoming dam closure.
He explained that her expertise in rivers was invaluable and necessary to prevent any accidents, especially with the sluice gates opening and the water level rising rapidly. The Emperor's aide questioned why His Majesty didn't press Mu Chuan on accepting the previous decree about military power. The Emperor responded that Mu Chuan would seek him out when the time was right, as there was no need to rush.
Armed with the imperial decree, Mu Chuan arrived at Prince Qing's residence, intending to use it as justification to take Lu Anran. Mu Ze confronted Mu Chuan, asking why he was there. Mu Chuan stated he was there to deliver the decree and requested Lu Anran to be present. Mu Ze, feeling Mu Chuan was there to "snatch" her, questioned if Lu Anran would ever return once she left. Mu Chuan did not answer, simply insisting on delivering the decree.
Lu Anran initially resisted, feeling it was improper as a married woman, and suggested Shanyue and the fleet could assist instead. Mu Chuan sternly reminded her that the dam project was vital to Great Han's water conservancy, and any mistake would be disastrous. He asked if she dared to defy an imperial decree. Realizing she had no choice, Lu Anran reluctantly accepted the decree.
As Mu Chuan left, Mu Ze, alarmed by the possibility of losing Lu Anran, confronted her, asking what she and Mu Chuan were scheming. Lu Anran professed ignorance, claiming she had just learned of the matter. Mu Ze embraced her tightly, begging her not to leave him, and made her promise to wait for him to bring her back to the residence after the dam closure. He then instructed Nanxing to have men follow Lu Anran.
On the day of the dam closure, Dong Qing disguised herself as Lu Anran, successfully deceiving Nanxing and Mu Ze's attendants, who followed her instead. Meanwhile, Mu Chuan, with Shanyue's support, intended to fake Lu Anran's death by having her "swept away" by the rapidly rising river water during the sluice gate release. He planned to send her out of Hanjing City.
Lu Anran was concerned about abandoning her family in Su City and leaving Mu Chuan to face Mu Ze alone. Mu Chuan reassured her that he had considered everything and asked her to trust him. He reminded her of the happy ending she had once envisioned in her shadow play story. Lu Anran dismissed it as merely a beautiful dream, but Mu Chuan vowed to make that dream come true.
