Love of Thousand Years Episode 30 (Ending) Recap
> Love of Thousand Years Recap
After Fu Jiuyun, as the lamp's wick, was ignited and began to disappear, having put Tan Chuan into a deep sleep with a spell, Tan Chuan finally awoke. She desperately searched for Fu Jiuyun, scouring countless places but finding no trace. As she reached a clearing in the forest, she remembered that Fu Jiuyun had already ignited the spiritual lamp's wick, his soul scattering into ashes.
The bamboo where they had carved their promise of growing old together still stood, its inscriptions clear. Yet, the one who had made the promise was gone. Tan Chuan clutched the bamboo, heartbroken. Uncle Meishan, witnessing her pain, sought to break the curse placed on her by the Nanman demon king, a curse that would end her life in a year.
He explained that Fu Jiuyun, as an immortal born from the lamp's wick, would eventually gather his spirit and return. He assured her that before Fu Jiuyun went to sleep, he specifically asked Uncle Meishan to find her, heal her, and tell her to live on because he could not let go of her. Taking his words to heart, Tan Chuan resolved to live, holding onto the faint hope of Fu Jiuyun's return.
For days, Tan Chuan was consumed by longing, often imagining Fu Jiuyun standing in the distance only for his phantom image to vanish when she approached. Uncle Meishan diligently cared for her, often playfully scolding her for not focusing on her recovery. He expressed his belief in his medical skills, confident she would recover. Once the demon's curse was lifted, Uncle Meishan poured himself a drink to celebrate her recovery, though he often drank to cope with his own sadness.
Tan Chuan, however, grew increasingly lucid. She confronted Uncle Meishan, calling him a "liar" for giving her false hope. She questioned how Fu Jiuyun could return when the lamp's wick was gone. She realized Uncle Meishan's true motive: Fu Jiuyun wanted her to continue living and experience the world. But without him, she felt life had lost all meaning. She challenged Uncle Meishan, asking why he constantly drank and cried if Fu Jiuyun was truly coming back.
Cornered, Uncle Meishan broke down, admitting that Fu Jiuyun could not return. Hearing this, Tan Chuan declared that she would no longer wait for him. Years passed. Zuo Zichen, now a refined scholar dedicated to righteousness, had returned to Xiangqu Mountain, where he taught children. He was often seen with Mrs. Qiuhua, who helped him distribute clothes to the children.
Meanwhile, Ting Yuan diligently managed state affairs after ascending the throne, often working late into the night, much to the concern of his attendants. Though his days were outwardly peaceful, his mind often drifted. After recovering her health, Tan Chuan secretly returned to Tianyuan Kingdom to look for the spiritual lamp, missing Fu Jiuyun. Sensing her presence, Ting Yuan quickly followed her. However, just as he opened the gate, Tan Chuan and the spiritual lamp vanished into thin air.
Startled by this, Ting Yuan mused about a simple life in Xiangqu Mountain with someone, imagining them as an enviable couple and even calling out the names "Jiuyun" and "Chuan." At the same time, young Yanyan awoke in a fright, sobbing that she was not Yanyan, but "Chuan." She recounted a dream where an old gentleman told her she was Chuan and needed to start a new life.
Her parents, the Emperor and Empress, comforted her, believing she was simply ill or had a bad dream. Despite their reassurances, Yanyan insisted she was not herself. As Yanyan grew older, her demeanor changed dramatically. She became harmonious with Xuanzhu, her sister, a stark contrast to her previous self. Yanyan even took the initiative to introduce Xuanzhu to Zuo Zichen, whom she described as a talented scholar renowned for his music.
Although Xuanzhu was initially hesitant, Yanyan playfully insisted on them interacting, stating their father wished for Zichen to teach them liberal arts. However, Yanyan herself expressed little interest in such pursuits, stating she simply wanted to be beautiful. Later, Yanyan found herself struggling with her memories. She tried to play the "eastwind peach blossom" tune, only to realize she had forgotten it.
She also found herself mumbling about a "Chinese lute" while looking at a painting, though her maid, Xiao Cui, pointed out there was no lute in the artwork. Confused and crying, Yanyan confided in Xiao Cui about a recurring dream of a man in white. He was not frightening, but he told her she was about to forget him. She confessed she couldn't remember who he was, yet she knew she had seen him before.
On the Empress's birthday, her parents, the Emperor and Empress, announced Yanyan's engagement to Ting Yuan, the Crown Prince of Tianyuan. Ting Yuan arrived with numerous gifts collected by his father from across the lands. Yanyan surveyed the offerings, including several paintings from the Xiangqu Mountain Lord, initially deeming them unremarkable. However, as she looked closer at one particular scroll, she recognized a familiar face.
As the image of a man in white, Fu Jiuyun, became clear, Yanyan was overwhelmed with emotion. A song filled the air as she fixated on the painting, her longing pulling her into the scene. Within the painting, Yanyan found herself transported to a tranquil setting under a peach blossom tree, with a pipa resting nearby. Her beloved, Fu Jiuyun, stood waiting. Overjoyed, they rushed towards each other, embracing warmly, their reunion a culmination of long-lost memories and unwavering devotion.
