Love Through a Millennium Episode 15 Recap
> Love Through a Millennium Recaps
Emperor Cheng was enraged by what he believed was Gong Ming's death, vowing to severely punish all who conspired against him and Empress Xu. A court physician reported that Gong Ming's meridians were severed, stating he was beyond help. Emperor Cheng angrily summoned those who claimed to have seen Gong Ming disappear, threatening to gouge out their "useless eyes" for allowing his loyal minister to die unjustly.
He blamed his own oversight for believing their lies and pledged to uncover the truth behind Gong Ming's murder and the false accusations against Empress Xu. Meanwhile, in the modern era, Lin Xiangxiang awoke, distraught by Gong Ming's presumed death. Her manager, Jin Jing, was deeply concerned, trying to comfort her. Lin Xiangxiang’s friend, Tianxiu, also called Jin Jing, relaying their mutual friend Fei's worry about Xiangxiang, who refused to go to the hospital and chose to return home.
Back in the Han Dynasty, Emperor Cheng's wrath spread throughout the Wang family, even jeopardizing the Empress Dowager's position. The family patriarchs, realizing the severity of the situation, decided that Wang Mang must bear the full responsibility for his errors. They confronted Wang Mang, stating that despite trusting his judgment in their plan, Gong Ming was shockingly shot to death in front of everyone.
They questioned how Gong Ming, his close friend, could have died when many, including themselves, witnessed him disappear, and the jade pendant's power was real. They speculated Gong Ming must have taken his own life. The elders concluded that to appease the Emperor's anger, Wang Mang had to take the fall. Wang Mang accepted his fate, stating he would obey their command.
Separately, Wang Mang questioned a humble servant about Gong Ming’s final moments, asking if he suffered or had any last words. The servant revealed that by the time he arrived, Gong Ming's body had already vanished, deepening Wang Mang's suspicion about Gong Ming's true fate. What the Han officials didn't know was that Gong Ming was not truly dead.
Days earlier, he had met with his mentor, revealing a dangerous plan to expose himself and the jade pendant's power, knowing it would put Empress Xu in peril. His mentor expressed concern for Gong Ming's life and asked if Ying Yue was aware of the scheme, to which Gong Ming replied he wished to keep her out of it.
Despite the risks, Gong Ming was resolved, prompting his mentor to agree to help but with a strict condition: if Gong Ming miraculously survived, he was never to return to the Great Han Dynasty, as he would be considered dead there, and all matters of the Han court would be left to others. In the modern era, Gong Ming had already pre-arranged with a doctor, foretelling his severe injury and appearance at the hospital.
When Gong Ming was critically injured in the Han Dynasty, his mentor confirmed his pulse was weak, indicating imminent death, and Ying Yue arrived, rushing to aid in his transfer to the modern era, tearfully praying for his safety. In the modern world, Lin Xiangxiang unexpectedly received a text message from Gong Ming, written days prior, apologizing for his impending disappearance and expressing his fear that his death would cause her pain.
He asked if she would come to him if fate allowed him to survive. Overjoyed, Lin Xiangxiang rushed to the hospital, frantically asking if a patient named Gong Ming had been admitted, only to be told no. Just as despair set in, Gong Ming appeared before her.
He expressed his joy at seeing her, and after she slapped him in anger and grief, he held her tightly, apologizing and admitting she was the last person he thought of before what he believed would be his death. He confessed his love, promising to "hold your hand and grow old together." Lin Xiangxiang reciprocated his feelings, relieved he was alive.
At home, Lin Xiangxiang was still upset, scolding Gong Ming for breaking his promise not to lose "even a single hair." Gong Ming explained that he had gambled on his friendship with Wang Mang, and indeed Wang Mang's arrow had narrowly missed his heart, and that he had no other option but this desperate plan. He confessed that at the moment of perceived death, he desperately longed to live and see her again.
He assured her he could no longer return to the Han Dynasty as he was now considered dead there, and with Lin Xiangxiang by his side, he had "nothing more to ask for." Emperor Cheng, though saddened by Wang Mang’s perceived role in Gong Ming’s death, spared his life due to their deep friendship, instead assigning him to a temporary sinecure to repent at home, while other Wang family officials were stripped of their ranks and exiled.
Zhao Feiyan, seeing Wang Mang's diminished status, broke her alliance with him and quickly aligned herself with Chun Yuchang, the Empress Dowager's nephew, who offered her family's support and flattered her with promises of becoming Empress. Wang Mang, overhearing an older Wang family member recount his bullied childhood and Gong Ming's past kindness, felt a renewed sense of bitterness, realizing that Gong Ming had indeed become an obstacle to his ambition.
He seethed, believing Gong Ming was still alive, mocking him for "living ignominiously" and hiding like an ant, accusing him of deceiving the Emperor and leaving him in despair. He vowed to make a comeback, recalling the childhood slights from Chun Yuchang and Ying Yue's unwavering loyalty to Gong Ming over him. Lin Xiangxiang, having missed considerable work due to her emotional turmoil, returned to filming.
Her manager, Jin Jing, joked about her erratic behavior, suggesting she might have bipolar disorder, but Lin Xiangxiang attributed it to being too immersed in her role and fatigue. Meanwhile, Gong Ming began to integrate into modern life, diligently studying simplified Chinese characters and learning about the world from Lin Xiangxiang’s books, including places like Spain. In the Han Dynasty, Empress Xu was still mourning Gong Ming's supposed death.
Chun Yuchang visited, expressing loyalty, but Empress Xu remained wary of the Wang family's true intentions. She soon discovered she was pregnant but decided to keep the news secret, fearing it could put her and the unborn child in further danger given the precarious political situation. However, Zi Xiu, Wang Mang's subordinate, uncovered Empress Xu's pregnancy and immediately informed Wang Mang, who saw it as a golden opportunity to regain his power and turn his fortunes around.
Gong Ming, despite his promise to Lin Xiangxiang, couldn't shake his concern for the Han Dynasty. As he and Lin Xiangxiang looked at potential new homes, his distraction was evident. Lin Xiangxiang confronted him, accusing him of still having his heart in the past and asking if he intended to return, despite his earlier promise to "hold her hand and grow old together."
When Gong Ming hesitated, citing Empress Xu's potential danger, Lin Xiangxiang angrily tried to throw away the jade pendant, declaring she would make it disappear so he could never return. Gong Ming quickly embraced her, apologizing for causing her distress. Wang Mang, however, met with Ying Yue, asking about Gong Ming's whereabouts. From her reaction, Wang Mang understood that Gong Ming was still alive, realizing Ying Yue would have killed him otherwise.
Wang Mang then informed the Wang family of Empress Xu's pregnancy and began spreading rumors that the child belonged to the deceased Gong Ming, aiming to frame her for infidelity and ensure her demise. While reading one of Lin Xiangxiang's modern scripts, Gong Ming learned of this vicious plot. Gong Ming's fear of Wang Mang's growing ambition intensified. The Wang family elders agreed to let Wang Mang handle the matter but warned him to be careful.
Further historical research revealed to Gong Ming that Wang Mang was destined to depose the Han Emperor and usurp the throne. It was then that Wang Mang, fueled by this new ambition, also privately vowed to crush the "old men" of his family who had abandoned him, recalling his mother's poisoning by the Wang family for trying to prevent him from entering officialdom.
Unable to ignore the impending crisis and Empress Xu's grave danger, Gong Ming made the painful decision to return to the Western Han Dynasty to intervene. Lin Xiangxiang, emotionally exhausted by the constant fear and uncertainty, declared she could no longer endure such a life and ended their relationship.
