Love Through a Millennium Episode 17 Recap
> Love Through a Millennium Recap
Gong Ming told his mentor and Ying Yue that Wang Mang was resolute in his ambitions, and that killing him seemed the only way to stop him. However, remembering their past friendship and how Wang Mang had intentionally missed an arrow aimed at him, Gong Ming found himself unable to take Wang Mang’s life.
Instead, he planned to end Wang Mang’s political career, believing that using the ingenious "ways of dealing with the world" learned from the future was the only effective method against Wang Mang's machinations. He declared that he would rely on his mentor and Ying Yue for this. Ying Yue then stated she would seek help from a classmate studying traditional Chinese medicine to combine traditional and modern medical techniques for their plan.
Meanwhile, in the modern era, Lin Xiangxiang felt unwell and wanted to go home alone. Han Yufei offered her a ride, but she politely declined, opting for a taxi. He playfully teased her about being a "big star" taking a taxi, to which she retorted that she was just a newcomer, unlike the "national idol Han Yufei." Noticing the cold, Han Yufei kindly wrapped his scarf around her.
From a distance, Gong Ming observed this scene, his gaze lingering as he wondered if he had "seen wrong." Xiangxiang saw him and gave chase, but he vanished. Back in Western Han, the Wang family grew anxious because Emperor Cheng had still not addressed Empress Xu's rumored pregnancy. They felt they had lost the Queen Mother's trust, and she now demanded solid evidence of Empress Xu's alleged affair with Gong Ming.
Gong Ming and his mentor agreed to conceal the truth of the pregnancy. His mentor then went to see the Queen Mother, asserting that Empress Xu was not pregnant and that a thorough investigation would only legitimize the scandalous rumors, bringing further dishonor to the Han imperial family. However, the Queen Mother, finding his words evasive, suspected that Empress Xu was indeed pregnant and decided to inform Emperor Cheng.
Wang Mang, on the other hand, grew wary of how smoothly things were progressing, suspecting that Gong Ming’s mentor had a backup plan. His clan members, blinded by their eagerness to claim credit, dismissed his warnings, accusing him of envy and short-sightedness. The Queen Mother summoned Empress Xu and directly questioned her about the rumors. Empress Xu vehemently denied any affair with Gong Ming, reaffirming his loyalty and his death in service.
She also denied being pregnant and confidently agreed to a pulse diagnosis by the imperial doctor. To the astonishment of the Wang family, the imperial doctor confirmed that Empress Xu was not pregnant. This was due to Gong Ming's successful acquisition of a modern medicine that could suppress the pulse, making pregnancy undetectable. Gong Ming and Ying Yue discussed this success, and Gong Ming explained that convincing Empress Xu had required presenting Gong Ming's "suicide note."
Gong Ming revealed that his strategy of feigned evasiveness before the Queen Mother had made her eager to win, leading the Wang family to fall into their own trap and "dig their own grave." He noted that this was merely the first step, and the "chess game" still included Wang Mang. Enraged by the humiliation, the Queen Mother demanded that the Wang family designate someone to apologize to Emperor Cheng.
Gong Ming's mentor, Zhang Heng, then met Chun Yuchang, offering him a plan and informing him of Wang Mang’s ambitions to usurp the throne. He explained that both Chun Yuchang and Wang Mang were contenders for leadership within the Wang family, and Chun Yuchang viewed Wang Mang as a significant threat, thus he would seize the opportunity to eliminate Wang Mang.
Before the assembled Wang lords, Chun Yuchang harshly accused Wang Mang of wolfish ambition to change the dynasty, holding him responsible for the family's current predicament. Wang Mang tried to argue that Gong Ming's supposed witchcraft had manipulated the pulse, but Chun Yuchang dismissed him as desperate and reckless. Chun Yuchang then escalated his attack, threatening Wang Mang’s elderly mother and warning that his ambitions could lead to the extermination of their entire clan.
Faced with this threat, Wang Mang reluctantly agreed to apologize to the Emperor, taking the blame for the false rumors to demonstrate the Wang family’s loyalty. He requested a minor position as Cavalry Commandant, stating his intention to care for his mother and permanently leave the clan, thus ruining his political career.
Wang Mang then lashed out at the Wang family, accusing them of hypocrisy, self-interest, abusing their servants, imposing exorbitant taxes, scrambling for power, and disregarding state affairs, declaring them deserving of punishment by all. Gong Ming acknowledged the cruelty of the method but believed it was necessary to distance Wang Mang from the political "place of turmoil" and allow him to live a peaceful life, hoping he no longer had the "power to reverse the tide."
Gong Ming planned to see Wang Mang one last time. Wang Mang informed his retainers that he was not simply resigning but being "expelled from the family," severing all ties. He declared his intention to serve as Cavalry Commandant and attend to his mother, advising his followers to "look after yourselves." He recognized Zi Xiu’s continued loyalty to the Wang family and deduced that Zi Xiu was now monitoring him on Chun Yuchang’s orders.
Shortly after, Wang Mang received an anonymous letter, presumably from Gong Ming, suggesting he was still alive. This enraged Wang Mang, who felt manipulated by a "dead man." Gong Ming waited to meet Wang Mang, but he never appeared. Suddenly, Zi Xiu attacked Gong Ming, saying he came to find Gong Ming after seeing the letter. Zi Xiu's attack caused both of them to time travel to the modern era, where they encountered Lin Xiangxiang.
Xiangxiang bravely shielded Gong Ming and was severely wounded by Zi Xiu. Gong Ming swiftly sent Zi Xiu back to Western Han before taking Xiangxiang to the hospital. In Western Han, startled market-goers spoke of seeing the "dead" official, Gong Ming, alive. Furious, Gong Ming confronted Wang Mang with his sword, accusing him of sending Zi Xiu to attack him and endanger Xiangxiang. Ying Yue intervened, pleading with Gong Ming not to harm his former friend.
Gong Ming warned Wang Mang that any further harm to Xiangxiang would result in his merciless retaliation. Witnessing the confrontation, Wang Mang’s mother fainted, leaving Wang Mang distraught. Gong Ming then resolved to leave Western Han permanently and remain in the modern world.
Before his final departure from Western Han, Gong Ming was informed that Wang Mang was not responsible for Zi Xiu's attack; Zi Xiu had acted independently out of loyalty to the Wang family, a fact Wang Mang himself had confirmed. His mentor, bidding him a sorrowful farewell, reminded Gong Ming of his earlier talk of future humans traveling to the stars and urged him to pursue this, fulfilling his mentor's lifelong dream.
Ying Yue also wished Gong Ming a peaceful life with his beloved, advising him to abandon his sword and avoid further power struggles, to "live as his heart desires" and "for what his heart wishes," and to find someone to grow old with, so that his life would not be in vain. Lin Xiangxiang regained consciousness in the hospital, immediately asking for Gong Ming. Her friend informed her that he had left in a hurry.
Disappointed, Xiangxiang felt that Gong Ming had abandoned her once again for the affairs of the Han Dynasty. Back in Western Han, Wang Mang learned from his servants that his mother had fainted from seeing the fierce confrontation between him and Gong Ming, and that she had recognized Gong Ming. He realized that Gong Ming had misunderstood his involvement in the attack.
Wang Mang was told that Zi Xiu had acted independently, driven by loyalty to the Wang family, and that Wang Mang, being expelled, was no longer in a position to harm Gong Ming. He reflected that his own situation was now similar to Gong Ming's—free from royal strife—and that he finally "no longer needed to be an enemy."
He pondered whether Gong Ming's rage stemmed from Xiangxiang's near-death experience, contemplating if he, now "useless," might have been better off dying by Gong Ming’s sword. His servant reminded him of his duty to care for his mother, and Wang Mang reaffirmed his decision to abandon officialdom and dedicate the rest of his life to her. In the modern era, Gong Ming arrived but could not find Lin Xiangxiang. He repeatedly called her.
She eventually answered, telling him over the phone that their relationship was over and there was no need for them to meet. Gong Ming, wanting to apologize for her injury, was cut off by Xiangxiang, who said it was unnecessary. She questioned where he had gone after leaving the hospital, feeling he had abandoned her. Gong Ming admitted he had returned to the Han Dynasty. Xiangxiang then asserted that it no longer mattered whether he went back to the past or stayed in the present, and asked him not to contact her again.
