My Dear Destiny Episode 18 Recap
> My Dear Destiny Recap
After her return to the palace, maids find Consort Ling's tastes have changed, noting she now dislikes her formerly favorite pastries. Her changed demeanor is interrupted when King Lv Ao summons her to join him for a bath at Yunting Pool. When Mi Qiqi learns of the summons, she grows jealous but tries to hide it. Soon after, while having tea with the Consort Dowager, Qiqi herself is summoned to attend to the King at the pool.
The Consort Dowager advises her to go, suggesting the situation might not be what it seems. Elsewhere, the disgruntled General Ling, stripped of his military authority, drunkenly boasts about overthrowing the king. His tirade is cut short when masked assassins kill his men and attack him. He is rescued by Lv Che, who tends to his wounds and further fuels his resentment by lamenting how a man of his talents is wasted under Lv Ao.
Finding a token belonging to Wei Xun's guards, General Ling becomes convinced that Lv Ao ordered the hit, falling for Lv Che's manipulation. The tension escalates at Yunting Pool. Qiqi is infuriated as Lv Ao openly favors Consort Ling, who is secretly the Wu sorceress Sanshenghua in disguise. When Qiqi tries to stand between them, Lv Ao dismisses her.
Consort Ling, hoping to charm the king, offers to perform a sword dance with his Yinxue sword but finds herself unable to draw it. In retaliation for Lv Ao's behavior, Qiqi splashes Consort Ling with cold water, only to be pulled into the pool herself. A panicked Lv Ao immediately rescues her, revealing his true concern. The encounter deepens Sanshenghua's suspicion, as she notes Qiqi's resemblance to her junior sister.
Blocked from seeing Qiqi later, Lv Ao tries to appease her by personally catching cicadas when she complains about the noise. Meanwhile, Consort Ling's suspicion about Qiqi's identity grows after hearing that she has changed since her "resurrection." She organizes a lake outing to test her, forcing Qiqi to attend by threatening her maid. At the gathering, Consort Ling fails to bait Qiqi into using her now-nonexistent Wu power.
However, Qiqi inadvertently exposes her familiarity with the Wu clan's written language during a word game. As Lv Ao arrives, Sanshenghua uses her power to make him fall into the lake. Qiqi watches in alarm, but Lv Ao emerges from the water and gives her a passionate kiss in front of all the other consorts, declaring he wants everyone to see.
