Love in the Clouds Episode 31 Recap
> Love in the Clouds Recap
After gradually calming down from the shocking truths, Ming Yi asked the Empress about the whereabouts of her biological child. The Empress claimed, "He is dead." She explained that she had ordered Bo Yulan to take the child to a safe place, but the child "died on the way." The Empress then muttered, "Retribution. All of it is retribution." She swiftly dismissed Ming Yi, stating, "That is the whole truth. I have told you everything you wanted to know."
The Empress then declared that Ming Yi was not her real child, merely "a tool to secure my position," and that she never saw her as her own. She coldly added that Ming Xin's ascension as Crown Prince was set, rendering Ming Yi useless to her and to Yaoguang Mountain. Just as the Empress finished speaking, Ji Bozai appeared to take Ming Yi away. As they departed, a luminous mark flashed on Ji Bozai's brow.
The Empress immediately recognized it as the unique mark of her own child, and a profound shock coursed through her. Despite her inner turmoil, she suppressed the urge to acknowledge him, letting them leave as Madam Meng's cries to seize the intruders echoed through the palace. After escaping, Ming Yi reunited with her biological father, She Tianlin, who first scolded her for her impulsiveness. Ming Yi, however, saw through his gruff exterior to the depths of his silent devotion.
She recounted how the Empress punished her whenever She Tianlin secretly brought her scallion pancakes, realizing it was not out of fear of spoiling her, but to prevent her from recognizing his true paternal love. She Tianlin then took her to a replica of the Bo ancestral home he had built, where he had long worshipped a portrait of her mother, Bo Yucen. Overcome with emotion, he confessed their shared history.
He revealed that he had saved Bo Yucen and her sister Bo Yulan after they escaped from Zhangwei Mountain. He and Bo Yucen fell in love and had Ming Yi, but the Empress discovered their forbidden relationship, leading to his imprisonment. By the time he was released, Ming Yi had been recognized by the Emperor as his eldest son. To stay by his daughter's side, She Tianlin promised the Empress he would never reveal the truth.
He tirelessly trained, rising from a warrior to a Venerable of the warrior ranks, and eventually became Ming Yi's master, all to protect and nurture her. Ming Yi, recalling how She Tianlin selflessly taught her forging despite the mountain's disdain for such crafts, deeply felt his unconditional love. During their heartfelt reunion, She Tianlin expressed his grave concern about Ming Xin's collusion with Zhushui Spiritual State.
Ming Yi admitted that she had detected Zhushui's spiritual power in Ming Xin and that he confessed the Emperor of Zhushui had revealed her identity. She Tianlin feared Yaoguang Mountain would be doomed if Ming Xin became Crown Prince. Ming Yi, still reeling from the revelations of her past, expressed that she was no longer Ming Xian and had no ties to Yaoguang Mountain's future.
She Tianlin, however, passionately reminded her that her true identity didn't change her inherent righteousness or her commitment to the Six Realms. He urged her to fight for justice, regardless of names or titles. Meanwhile, Ji Bozai interrogated Ming Xin, using the threat of Phantom Fire torture to extract crucial information.
Ming Xin revealed that the Heavenly Grief and Golden Millet Dream were not merely for winning the Qingyun Tournament but were part of a larger scheme involving something called the Sky-Swallowing Array, hidden within the Zhuojin Tower. Buxiu then reported to Ji Bozai that during her time in seclusion, Bo Yulan had frequently inquired about a child with a distinctive mark between his brows.
Ji Bozai realized that Bo Yulan's act of saving him from the Sunken Abyss was not accidental. He recalled his master's last words that the truth was hidden "within his reach." Ming Yi's earlier conversation with She Tianlin about ancestral portraits carrying memories, coupled with Ji Bozai's own forehead mark, led him to deduce his true origins. Ming Yi, after her conversation with She Tianlin, also pieced together the truth.
She recalled that the Empress's child was reported to have died, but She Tianlin confirmed that the Empress herself had doubted Bo Yulan's account. He mentioned the Empress left a Tracing Mark on her son's brow, and Ming Yi speculated that Bo Yulan might have temporarily sealed this mark using Bo clan arts, leading the Empress to believe her child had perished. Concurrent with Ming Yi's realization, Ji Bozai uncovered his past by focusing on the portrait of Bo Yulan.
He witnessed a memory of Bo Yulan, fueled by her hatred for the Empress, abandoning him as an infant at the desolate border, which led to his suffering in the Sunken Abyss. Buxiu, upon witnessing this revelation, voiced his shock that Fairy Bo, who later risked her life to save Ji Bozai, was the very person who had cast him away. As Ji Bozai wept, Bo Yulan's portrait spontaneously combusted into ashes.
At the same moment, Ming Yi felt a sharp pain from her heart imprint, confirming the profound connection between them. That very night, Ji Bozai went alone to Yaoguang Palace to confront the Empress. She was distraught, tearfully lamenting her past actions and expressing her belief that he was dead. She asked if he resented her.
Ji Bozai, calm yet distant, acknowledged their unexpected meeting but stated that after twenty years of living without parents, she was merely a stranger to him. He then left without another word, despite her pleas to know what she could do for him. Later, Ji Bozai instructed Buxiu to allow Madam Meng to "rescue" Ming Xin, explaining that Ming Xin's escape was necessary for his subsequent plans, especially with the investiture ceremony approaching.
Buxiu, while respecting Ji Bozai's strategy, cautioned him not to open the Spirit Well until his spiritual power was fully restored, warning that doing so could cause an irreversible relapse of his Heavenly Grief. The day of the Sunlight Festival and Ming Xin's investiture ceremony arrived. As the Emperor was about to formally declare Ming Xin the Crown Prince, Ming Yi dramatically appeared as a female immortal, wearing Ming Xian's mask.
Ming Xin, furious at the interruption, tried to expose her as a traitor. Ming Yi, however, openly admitted she was a fairy, revealing that the Empress had used immortal arts to disguise her as a male immortal to take the place of the real Crown Prince. She then presented the full Recording Mirror, accusing Ming Xin of colluding with other realms.
She exposed how Ming Xin took the Heavenly Grief from Mu Qibai and poisoned her before the Qingyun Tournament, causing Yaoguang Mountain's defeat. Ming Yi further revealed that Ming Xin had become a pawn of Zhushui Spiritual State, seeking the Emperor of Zhushui's support for his claim to the throne, which would inevitably lead to Yaoguang Mountain's downfall. Madam Meng tried to deflect, questioning Ming Yi's true bloodline.
At this critical juncture, Ming Yi announced her intent to welcome Yaoguang Mountain's true Crown Prince. She reiterated that the Empress's own son was born without spiritual veins and was swapped, but that the real Crown Prince was kidnapped and, through suffering Heavenly Grief in the Sunken Abyss, ironically developed spiritual veins. At that moment, Ji Bozai appeared. The Empress, seeing the mark on his brow, was stunned.
She Tianlin then stepped forward and confirmed to the Emperor that Ji Bozai was indeed the Empress's son, while Ming Yi was his own daughter with Bo Yucen. Enraged by the long-held deception, the Emperor pronounced severe judgments. Ming Xin and Madam Meng were sentenced to the Ultimate Punishment for colluding with Zhushui Spiritual State.
The Empress was stripped of her rank and confined to the palace for later judgment, out of consideration for her being the true Crown Prince's birth mother. She Tianlin and Ming Yi, for deceiving all of Yaoguang Mountain, were also punished: She Tianlin was to suffer the Thunder Punishment, and Ming Yi's spiritual veins were to be abolished, followed by permanent banishment from Yaoguang Mountain.
Ji Bozai pleaded with the Emperor to release the father and daughter, arguing that their punishment was pointless now that he had returned. However, the Emperor refused, citing the need to uphold justice and expressing concern that Ming Yi's immense spiritual power could be a threat if she joined an enemy realm. When Ming Yi resisted the guards, the Emperor angrily summoned Ming Xian's own magical weapon, preparing to suppress her himself.
