Love & Crown Episode 4 Recap
> Love & Crown Recap
Ling Cangcang and Bai Chifan arrived at the Botang Pleasure Boat with an invitation. Ling Cangcang, determined to find useful information after spending heavily, was noted by the boat's owner. The owner, recognizing her as "one of them" from the "Willow wind, haitang moon" secret code, granted them special entry to the Green Haitang Chamber. A blind auction was in progress.
The rules stated that participants had three haitang flowers for three bidding chances, with failure to pay resulting in being thrown into the sea to feed the fish. Bai Chifan, seated in the privileged Golden Haitang Chamber, did not need to throw flowers but was still limited to three bids. He shocked everyone, including Ling Cangcang, by bidding extraordinarily high amounts for medicine.
He ultimately offered two fluorite night pearls, described as fine tributes from the Western Sea, to win the auction. While Ling Cangcang was away, Xiao Qianqing confronted Bai Chifan, who was secretly Emperor Xiao Huan. Xiao Huan accused his brother of orchestrating an assassination attempt shortly after learning of his arrival, seeing it as a political maneuver for the throne. Xiao Qianqing was enraged by the accusation.
Xiao Huan retorted by suggesting Xiao Qianqing's mother was behind the assassination, asserting that in Xiao Huan's experience, his brother always let their mother take the blame. The brothers drew their swords, engaging in a dangerous fight until Ling Cangcang intervened, stopping their conflict. Following the intense confrontation, Ling Cangcang and Xiao Huan ventured into the back of the boat, where they uncovered a human trafficking operation. Remembering Xiao Huan's previous plans, Ling Cangcang took action.
While Xiao Huan distracted the captors, she swiftly released the imprisoned children. Once the children were safe, she returned to fight side-by-side with him against the traffickers. Overwhelmed, the traffickers chanted a death oath and detonated explosives that tore through the pleasure boat. In a desperate moment, Xiao Huan shielded Ling Cangcang from the fatal blast, and they plunged into the lake. Underwater, Xiao Huan fell into a coma and suffered vivid nightmares.
In his dream, he was mocked for his ambition to reclaim the power he had once willingly relinquished. Waking from the nightmare, Xiao Huan's first conscious act was to grasp Ling Cangcang's hand and ask her to marry him. Just then, Luo Xianxue arrived, interrupting the proposal. Unfazed, Xiao Huan openly declared his deep affection for Ling Cangcang and his desire to take her as his wife, right in front of Luo Xianxue.
Ling Cangcang, firm in her belief that Xiao Huan was not a bad person, defended him against Luo Xianxue's accusations of manipulation and deceit, stating she could discern genuine intentions from a ruse. When Luo Xianxue asked if she had feelings for Xiao Huan, Ling Cangcang did not answer directly but requested three days to resolve her affairs before returning to the capital, insisting that Luo Xianxue must not harm Xiao Huan.
Xiao Qianqing, still frustrated by his brother's mistrust, presented Xiao Huan with a gift: Frostflame Iron. He stated this was his wedding gift and a gesture to prove his sincerity. He obtained it from the Prince of Yuzhang and reminded Xiao Huan of the two times he had saved his life, implying a debt was owed. Later, Xiao Huan explained to Ling Cangcang that he wanted her father's and master's approval for their marriage.
Ling Cangcang confided in Xiao Huan about her childhood, explaining her empathy for the trafficked children. She recounted how her father, often away on official duties, made her feel lonely. One day, she secretly followed him, only to be captured and kidnapped. It was her master who rescued her and brought her back to her father.
Her master later revealed his own daughter had suffered a similar fate and was never found, a tragedy that prompted Ling Cangcang to dedicate herself to treating him like her own father. Xiao Huan accompanied Ling Cangcang to meet her master. Prior to Ling Cangcang's arrival, Xiao Huan and her master, who was secretly the Ghost King, had a tense private exchange.
The Ghost King, quoting Grand Tutor Ling, subtly disparaged Xiao Huan, likening him to a "wolf pup" who was actually a "wolf." Their animosity was concealed the moment Ling Cangcang appeared. The Master, adopting the persona of a humble "farmer," deferred to Ling Cangcang's father regarding her marriage decisions. He then shifted the conversation to sword-making, expressing eagerness to receive the Frostflame Iron. Later that night, Xiao Huan and the Ghost King met again in secret.
Xiao Huan revealed his knowledge of the Ghost King's tragic past, specifically his deceased daughter and the deep meaning behind the sword name "Yangliufeng" and the "haitang blossoms" on Ling Cangcang's pendant, which he correctly deduced was his daughter's relic. Xiao Huan accused the Ghost King of manipulating Ling Cangcang. The Ghost King, however, claimed to be a mere "puppet" bound by circumstances, acting solely out of vengeance and gratitude, not malice.
He then expressed a profound desire to die, directly provoking Xiao Huan to kill him quickly. In return for his compliance, Xiao Huan promised to conceal the truth about the Ghost King's identity from Ling Cangcang. Ling Cangcang later found the exquisite sword her master had crafted, which she affectionately named "Yangliufeng." Her master then presented Xiao Huan with a sword he named "Wangfeng," declaring both as wedding gifts for them. Ling Cangcang, unaware of the sinister undertones, was overjoyed.
Moments later, however, she stumbled upon Xiao Huan in the process of killing her master. Devastated and repeatedly calling out for her master, she demanded to know why. Xiao Huan remained silent, offering no explanation. Overwhelmed by grief and betrayal, Ling Cangcang's love turned to intense hatred. In a later confrontation, now as Empress, she questioned her own identity—was she Ling Cangcang or the Empress of Great Qi?
She declared that "Bai Chifan" no longer existed, signifying the death of her trust and affection. The next morning, Emperor Xiao Huan, finding Empress Ling Cangcang awake, expressed his happiness. Ling Cangcang, however, harbored a deep resentment towards him, seeing his actions as manipulative and his kindness as disingenuous, particularly after he had killed her master. Xiao Huan urged her to look to the future and consider the living.
When Ling Cangcang expressed a desire to visit her family home alone for the traditional newlywed visit, Xiao Huan, aware of palace rumors circulating about their unconsummated marriage and the Empress being a political pawn, insisted on accompanying her to show his commitment. He presented her with a painting, a wedding gift from General Ling Jueding. Ling Cangcang, testing him, suggested moving Ling Jueding to a less arduous post in the capital so he could be closer to his family.
Xiao Huan deftly countered that a soldier like Ling Jueding would not desire a sedentary life, to which Ling Cangcang strategically agreed. Seeing her compliance, Xiao Huan agreed to wait for her outside her chambers. After a moment of poignant eye contact, they departed together for the Ling Manor.
