Love of Thousand Years Episode 19 Recap
> Love of Thousand Years Recap
Tan Chuan met with Ting Yuan, making it clear her intention was to kill Li Yuan and seize his spiritual power. She revealed that she had formed a blood bond with the spiritual lamp, intending to carry out the task herself.
Ting Yuan was astonished to learn that this precious artifact had functions beyond merely capturing demons, but he also expressed concern about the life-threatening cost of the blood bond, which would condemn her to eternal suffering if the lamp remained unextinguished. Tan Chuan questioned why no weapons or spells could harm Li Yuan. Ting Yuan explained that Li Yuan was born with a "unique birth chart," which naturally repelled demons, making him invulnerable and spellproof.
This phenomenon was considered an auspicious sign, signifying the descent of a demon god. Ting Yuan revealed that Li Yuan did have a "soft spot" – on his fifteenth birthday, a sword from the Western Region made him bleed, indicating a vulnerability. From then on, Li Yuan would mysteriously disappear during the Ghost Festival. While he claimed to pray for the world, Ting Yuan suspected he became an ordinary man on that day.
He also mentioned his former sister-in-law, who died mysteriously on July 16, suggesting she may have discovered this secret. This vulnerability, he concluded, was their opportunity. Ting Yuan admitted his previous attempt to obtain a spiritual lamp was for this very purpose, but the one he borrowed, made by Fu Jiuyun, was fake and almost cost him his life.
He asserted that his goal was to eliminate all demons for the sake of the people and promised to find a way to save Tan Chuan after Li Yuan was defeated. However, Tan Chuan was unmoved, declaring that she sought only revenge and needed no rescue. Accepting he could not dissuade her, Ting Yuan shifted their discussion to planning Li Yuan’s demise, acknowledging that they first needed to locate him, as ordinary spells couldn’t get close.
Meanwhile, a sorrowful Fu Jiuyun sought solace in drinking with Meishan. Bai joined their conversation, complaining about his role as Fu Jiuyun's spy and feeling unappreciated. Meishan sided with Bai, chastising Fu Jiuyun for using him in such a manner, which was contrary to immortal rules. Fu Jiuyun, however, playfully bribed Bai with the promise of a painting, and Bai dutifully reported on Tan Chuan’s situation.
He relayed that Ting Yuan had promised to protect and spoil Tan Chuan after ascending the throne, but Tan Chuan maintained they were not like-minded. Fu Jiuyun and Meishan continued to discuss the dangers of the palace and Li Yuan's unique birth chart, with Fu Jiuyun expressing growing concern for Tan Chuan. Tan Chuan later woke Ting Yuan to share her strategy.
She planned to use "paper theurgy" to transform a piece of paper into a paper man, which she would place on Li Yuan. Once Li Yuan used his spiritual power, she would be able to pinpoint his exact location. She would suppress the paper man's spiritual power, making it appear as an ordinary piece of paper until the Ghost Festival, when Li Yuan's unique birth chart would supposedly become ineffective.
Tan Chuan proposed to personally carry out the mission by disguising herself as a palace maid delivering plain clothes. She explained that members of Western royalty would wear plain clothes made from apocynum venetum and straw during the Ghost Festival to worship the heavens. Ting Yuan agreed to arrange her entry, suggesting she pose as his mother's maid hoping to catch Li Yuan’s eye.
Tan Chuan, who claimed to have learned royal etiquette from storytellers, was ready to prepare for the infiltration. Lady Qiuhua prepared Xuanzhu for her potential selection by the Crown Prince, but Xuanzhu remained visibly indifferent. Maids arrived to measure Xuanzhu for plain clothes, explaining it was a custom in Gaodu for the Ghost Festival. Separately, Ting Yuan met with Tan Chuan, assuring her that all arrangements were complete.
He sternly warned her to be extremely cautious inside the palace, describing Li Yuan as ill-tempered and vicious, and emphasizing that no mistakes could be tolerated. Tan Chuan calmly assured him she would improvise. Concerned for Tan Chuan's safety, Fu Jiuyun woke Meishan and invited him to the palace. Meanwhile, Tan Chuan, now disguised as a palace maid, met Ting Yuan to practice Tianyuan royal etiquette.
To further assist Tan Chuan, Fu Jiuyun, under the guise of the renowned painter Gongziqi, entered the palace to paint for the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was greatly impressed by his "amazing" artwork and decided to change into more vibrant clothes for another portrait. As the Empress Dowager left, Fu Jiuyun subtly observed Tan Chuan. Suddenly, a seal within Fu Jiuyun’s body reacted violently.
It was a challenge from the demon king, who taunted that once his own "seven forces" were united, Fu Jiuyun's "revival" would be at hand. Alarmed, Meishan urged him to leave, but Fu Jiuyun refused, asserting that he had come specifically to confront the demon king. He admitted his actions were for Tan Chuan, as he could not idly watch her risk her life for revenge.
Fu Jiuyun then demanded Meishan release two layers of power from his body so he could immediately find the demon king. Tan Chuan confronted Fu Jiuyun, accusing him of tracking her. Fu Jiuyun, struggling to suppress the active seal, warned her against her foolish plan, insisting she could not kill Li Yuan alone.
He revealed his awareness of her plot with Ting Yuan, whom he called "stupid Doudou," questioning if her paper theurgy could truly kill Li Yuan and if Ting Yuan would genuinely care for her and her people after taking the throne. As his physical seal continued to react, Fu Jiuyun told her to stay away from him. Distraught, Tan Chuan threw a mirror to the ground and ran off.
Elsewhere in the palace, Li Yuan was surrounded by his consorts, playfully engaging with them and openly favoring Xuanzhu, whom he called "beauty." He forced her to eat pastries he personally offered. At the consorts' suggestion, he ordered Xuanzhu to dance. Zuo Zichen then arrived, announcing that the state preceptor wished to see Li Yuan. Before leaving, Li Yuan ordered Xuanzhu to perform for the other consorts, instructing Zuo Zichen to remain and watch.
With tears in her eyes, Xuanzhu danced, enduring the derision of the consorts, who mocked her as a "princess of an overthrown country." After they departed, Zuo Zichen urged Xuanzhu to stop being stubborn. Xuanzhu bitterly retorted that she was merely a "lowly," "dignity-less," "overthrown duke's daughter," reduced to providing palace entertainment. Zuo Zichen insisted that she still deserved happiness and must not marry the Crown Prince.
