Love of Thousand Years Episode 20 Recap
> Love of Thousand Years Recap
Following up on their plan to kill Crown Prince Liyuan, Tan Chuan explained to Ting Yuan that she had formed a blood pact with the Spiritual Lamp, using her own life force to power it. Ting Yuan revealed that Liyuan, born with an invulnerable fate, is only susceptible to harm on the Ghost Festival, his weakest day. Meanwhile, Xuanzhu felt degraded and powerless, especially regarding her forced marriage.
She tearfully asked Zuo Zichen if she held any place in his heart. When he hesitated, she declared that her fate was no longer his concern. Zuo Zichen then embraced her, confessing his feelings and promising he wouldn't let her marry Liyuan. He proposed they flee to Icefield Town and live a peaceful life. Xuanzhu agreed but worried about his position as Liyuan's aide and her mother's safety.
Zuo Zichen assured her he would arrange everything and told her to wait for his signal. Elsewhere, a sickly Fu Jiuyun was being tended to by Meishan, who regretted unsealing his power, which resulted in his return from confronting the demon king with a fever. Bai also appeared, complaining of pain and blaming Tan Chuan for breaking a mirror in anger. Fu Jiuyun, however, seemed focused on a challenge he had issued, stating it was time to settle the matter.
As Xuanzhu secretly packed to leave, her mother, Autumn Flower Lady, burst in with exciting news. She announced that Zuo Zichen had brought a message from Liyuan about a planned hunting trip and a specially arranged palace for them, seeing it as proof of the Crown Prince's affection and a sign that Xuanzhu was destined to become the Crown Princess. Feigning delight, Xuanzhu played along, pleasing her mother.
Later, Crown Prince Liyuan summoned Zuo Zichen and informed him that the Emperor had consented to his marriage to Xuanzhu as his legitimate wife. Citing their shared past, Liyuan entrusted Zuo Zichen with delivering the official decree. Visibly conflicted, Zuo Zichen accepted the task. Liyuan then ordered that Xuanzhu be brought to the palace immediately to observe a royal fast for the upcoming Ghost Festival.
On his way, Zuo Zichen was stopped by the Second Royal Highness, Ting Yuan, who privately warned him and Xuanzhu to stay away from Liyuan, adding that he valued Zuo Zichen's talent and wished him no harm. Zuo Zichen arrived with palace staff to formally announce the decree for Xuanzhu’s marriage and her immediate summons to the palace. While Xuanzhu was distraught, Autumn Flower Lady was overjoyed.
Zuo Zichen privately reassured Xuanzhu, urging her to go to the palace to earn Liyuan's trust, promising he would find a way to rescue her later. Soon after, Xuanzhu was escorted into the palace. Disguised as a maid, Tan Chuan infiltrated the palace and was stunned to learn Xuanzhu was the future Crown Princess. When she encountered Zuo Zichen, he saw through her guise and warned her to leave, stressing that she was no match for Liyuan.
Tan Chuan remained resolute in her mission. After she confessed that her past feelings for him were genuine, Zuo Zichen lamented that the "Yanyan" he knew was gone. Tan Chuan then warned him to stay away from Liyuan during the Ghost Festival, cryptically adding that if he sought revenge for his own father's death, his wish might soon be granted.
Liyuan, breaking his tradition of praying alone, announced that Xuanzhu would accompany him for the Ghost Festival prayers and tasked Zuo Zichen with the arrangements. Later, Zuo Zichen met Xuanzhu in private with an escape plan. He gave her a token, instructing her to leave through the south gate around 8 PM, where a carriage would be waiting.
He assured her he would handle one last thing and join her later, urging her to prioritize her own safety and leave without him if he was delayed. Anxiously waiting in a carriage past 9 PM, Xuanzhu felt abandoned. Recalling Zuo Zichen's words but fearing for his safety, she ordered the coachman to return to the palace.
Meanwhile, Tan Chuan, disguised as a clumsy new maid, helped Liyuan change into ceremonial robes, discreetly placing a paper tracking figurine on his back. Liyuan found her face familiar, but she deflected his suspicion. After she was dismissed, Zuo Zichen entered to attend to the prince. Returning to the palace, Xuanzhu found Zuo Zichen and Tan Chuan arguing.
Zuo Zichen was trying to stop Tan Chuan from proceeding with the assassination, offering to do it himself with a paper talisman to repay the debt his family owed hers. Seeing them, and hearing Zuo Zichen still call Tan Chuan "Yanyan," a furious Xuanzhu accused him of deceiving her, using her escape as a distraction to help Tan Chuan. Tan Chuan insisted that she must be the one to kill Liyuan for any of them to find peace.
Overwhelmed and declaring that her current life was worse than death, Xuanzhu snatched the talisman, vowing to go to Liyuan. Just then, an attendant arrived to summon her and Zuo Zichen to the Crown Prince. Liyuan led Xuanzhu to the abandoned Haotian Hall, a former royal library. He revealed that he fasts there alone each year on the Ghost Festival, which is also the anniversary of his mother's "disaster day," and now wished for her to accompany him.
He tested her loyalty, asking what she would do if someone plotted against him. Xuanzhu swore to protect him with her life. Elsewhere, Meishan worried about Xuanzhu's reliability, but Fu Jiuyun was confident she would succeed. Using the tracking figurine, Tan Chuan and Ting Yuan located Liyuan at Haotian Hall and moved to confront him.
