My Heart Episode 20 Recap
> My Heart Recap
Lu Yunxi, concerned by the Magic Power Army gathering outside the mansion, sought out Qi Yi for information. She inquired if he still resented her for exposing his past attempt to assassinate Lord Jin, but Qi Yi assured her he harbored no ill will. Lu Yunxi expressed her anxiety about not being privy to her father's affairs, saying that her ignorance only led to more worrying.
She then inquired about the large assembly of soldiers, fearing something significant was about to happen. Qi Yi revealed that Li An guild leader had been sighted at Lord Jin's Lilu Villa in No Magic Valley, and Lu Hongzhu was dispatching soldiers to arrest him. He explained that Li An was the same person who had tricked the magic girl into taking the magic power stone to No Magic Valley two decades ago.
When Lu Yunxi questioned why Li An was with Lord Jin, Qi Yi disclosed that intelligence suggested Li An guild leader had allied with Lord Jin, who was planning a coup. Lu Yunxi immediately believed this, internalizing that Lord Jin, possessing the secret imperial edict and allied with Li An, was indeed plotting rebellion.
Meanwhile, Lu Hongzhu addressed his troops, reiterating the narrative that Li An guild leader, who stole the magic power stone twenty years ago, was now colluding with Lord Jin in a rebellion. He commanded the Magic Power Army to march to No Magic Valley to arrest both of them.
Baihe informed Lu Qingqing that Lu Hongzhu had taken the elite Magic Power Army to Lilu Villa in No Magic Valley to arrest Li An guild leader, accusing him and Lord Jin of conspiring to rebel. Trapped by the barrier Lu Hongzhu had placed around her courtyard, Lu Qingqing exclaimed that she couldn't stand by and do nothing; she had to stop them.
A plan quickly formed: she would pretend to be gravely ill with a high fever, knowing that with her father and Qi Yi away, the Crown Prince would surely come to her aid. Baihe promptly relayed the false news, which reached the Crown Prince. Upon hearing of Lu Qingqing's supposed illness and confinement, the Crown Prince rushed to her.
Lu Qingqing apologized for misleading him but explained her urgent need to go to No Magic Valley and begged him to open the barrier. The Crown Prince, without further questions, complied. As Lu Qingqing and Baihe quickly departed, Lu Qingqing told the worried servants to blame her, not them, for her defiant exit.
It was only after her departure that the Crown Prince learned from a servant that Lu Hongzhu himself had also gone to No Magic Valley earlier that morning. Lu Hongzhu's Magic Power Army marched towards Lilu Villa in No Magic Valley, believing they were pursuing Li An guild leader and Lord Jin, who they thought were plotting rebellion. Lu Hongzhu even called out for Li An to reveal himself.
However, their path was a carefully laid ambush by Nangong Yixin's Red Face Army. Arrows rained down, and soon Nangong Yixin and Sikong Ying appeared. Lu Hongzhu demanded to know the meaning of the ambush, to which Nangong Yixin declared that Lu Hongzhu knew well the reason. Nangong Yixin directly accused Lu Hongzhu of being a merciless villain who murdered his father, the former King, General Han, and all of General Han's subordinates.
He presented the evidence: black marks, indicative of the forbidden Dark Lotus Seal, found on the victims' bodies. These accusations caused immediate disquiet and doubt among Lu Hongzhu's own Magic Power Army. Lu Hongzhu furiously denied the claims, calling them nonsense and accusing Nangong Yixin of colluding with the Red Face Army to stage a rebellion against the Qiyuan continent. Nangong Yixin, unwavering, vowed that Lu Hongzhu would pay for his sins with his life.
A Red Face Army soldier also chimed in, reminding Lu Hongzhu of his past invasions and massacres in No Magic Valley. With old and new grudges on the line, the two sides plunged into a fierce battle. During the chaotic battle, Sikong Ying was injured, prompting Nangong Yixin to tell him to retreat with their men while Nangong Yixin personally pursued the fleeing Lu Hongzhu to Thin Strip of Sky.
Confronting him there, Nangong Yixin scorned Lu Hongzhu for abandoning his troops, while Lu Hongzhu retorted that Nangong Yixin's ambush was equally dishonorable. Nangong Yixin declared that for a despicable person like Lu Hongzhu, any means were justified. He vehemently reminded Lu Hongzhu of his disregard for human life and the murder of Nangong Yixin's father, vowing to end him that day.
Just as Nangong Yixin was about to deliver the fatal blow, Lu Qingqing suddenly appeared, interposing herself between them. She pleaded with Nangong Yixin, admitting her father had done many wrong things but begging him not to kill him. Nangong Yixin insisted that not all wrongdoings could be corrected and urged her to step aside, reminding her of Lu Hongzhu's heinous acts.
Lu Qingqing, however, stood firm, declaring that regardless, Lu Hongzhu was her father, and if Nangong Yixin wished to kill him, he would have to kill her first. Faced with Lu Qingqing's desperate plea and self-sacrifice, Nangong Yixin hesitated, allowing Lu Qingqing to lead a bloodied and defeated Lu Hongzhu away. No sooner had Lu Hongzhu escaped Nangong Yixin's blade than he seized Lu Qingqing, holding her hostage.
He demanded that Nangong Yixin throw down his sword and reveal Li An guild leader's whereabouts, pointing out that Nangong Yixin's red mask was indeed Li An's. Nangong Yixin refused, condemning Lu Hongzhu as a heartless monster willing to sacrifice his own daughter for revenge.
Lu Hongzhu, in turn, threatened to kill Lu Qingqing if Nangong Yixin did not cooperate, explicitly stating that he had only adopted her for the magic power stone within her, and if she stood in his way, he wouldn't hesitate to be cruel. A heartbroken Lu Qingqing questioned how her father could have changed so drastically.
Seeing Lu Qingqing's life in imminent danger, Nangong Yixin, who did not know Li An's whereabouts, offered a different exchange: the true imperial edict, which he revealed was in his possession, proving Lu Yunxi's copy was fake. He declared that to him, Lu Qingqing's life was more important than the throne. As Lu Hongzhu reached for the edict, Nangong Yixin seized the moment, throwing the edict towards him and simultaneously striking him.
As Nangong Yixin struck Lu Hongzhu, Lu Hongzhu simultaneously retaliated, injuring Nangong Yixin. Lu Qingqing rushed to Nangong Yixin's side, distraught and crying over his new wounds. She bitterly confronted Lu Hongzhu, heartbroken that he would use his daughter's life as a bargaining chip for Li An guild leader, showing no regard for their years of kinship. She condemned his cruel deeds in No Magic Valley, contrasting them with Nangong Yixin's kindness and repeated self-sacrifice for her.
With a clear understanding of good and evil, Lu Qingqing declared that by saving Lu Hongzhu this one last time, she was repaying his years of raising her, effectively severing their relationship forever. Lu Hongzhu and Qi Yi encountered the Crown Prince after fleeing No Magic Valley. The Crown Prince, noting Lu Hongzhu's injuries, questioned why he had deployed the army without royal consent.
Lu Hongzhu, seizing the opportunity to sow discord, claimed he had acted urgently upon intelligence that Lord Jin was colluding with Li An guild leader to rebel. He accused Lord Jin of setting up an ambush with the Red Face Army in No Magic Valley.
When the Crown Prince expressed disbelief about his brother's involvement with the Red Face Army, Lu Hongzhu intensified his deception, asking if the Crown Prince still believed Lord Jin was an honorable sibling with no ambition for power. He asserted that Lord Jin had even revealed an imperial edict that day, explicitly naming him as the successor.
Lu Hongzhu further accused Lord Jin of having long plotted for the throne and of having approached Lu Qingqing solely to obtain the magic power stone. With both the edict and the magic power stone supposedly in Lord Jin's possession, Lu Hongzhu urged the Crown Prince to reconsider his trust. Doctor Wu confronted Nangong Yixin, scolding him for forcibly using magic despite repeated warnings, which led to his silver needles snapping and direct damage to his heart.
Nangong Yixin admitted his days were numbered but insisted there were still things he needed to accomplish. When asked how much time he had left, Doctor Wu could only respond that he had done all he could, and the rest depended on Nangong Yixin's fate.
Nangong Yixin then implored Doctor Wu to keep the true severity of his condition, including the relapse of his glacial poison and his limited time, a secret from Lu Qingqing, as he did not want her to suffer or be sad with him. Doctor Wu reluctantly agreed.
When Lu Qingqing later came to check on Nangong Yixin, Doctor Wu, honoring his promise, simply told her that Nangong Yixin had lost a lot of blood and needed rest, falsely adding that he was probably asleep. Relieved, Lu Qingqing decided to prepare food for him. Back at the Lu Mansion, Lu Yunxi, speaking with her servant, reflected on her father's growing obsession, feeling that everyone, including his own daughters, had become mere pawns to him.
She mentioned Qi Yi's revelation about her father's ruthless use of Lu Qingqing's life to threaten Lord Jin. When Lu Hongzhu returned, he further manipulated Lu Yunxi, claiming Lord Jin had ambushed him in No Magic Valley, and theorizing that Lord Jin must have sealed his magic, as a level seven magic user wouldn't need to lure him into an ambush otherwise.
Lu Hongzhu insisted that Lord Jin had manipulated Lu Qingqing to gain her trust and sealed his magic to stay close to her. Lu Yunxi was distraught, realizing she had been tricked regarding the true edict and fearing for the Crown Prince's throne if Lord Jin was not stopped. Separately, Nangong Yixin, while at Doctor Wu's, discovered a letter from Commander Sikong to "Brother Li An."
Reading it, Nangong Yixin deduced that Doctor Wu was in fact Li An guild leader, and that Lu Qingqing was his biological daughter, taken by Lu Hongzhu years ago. Nangong Yixin immediately confronted Doctor Wu, asking for the full story and the whereabouts of the magic power stone. Doctor Wu, confirming his identity as Li An, revealed that the magic power stone had been sealed within their daughter, Lu Qingqing, by her mother, the magic girl, right before she died.
He explained that Lu Hongzhu's relentless pursuit of him meant that revealing his true identity to Lu Qingqing now would put her in grave danger. He implored Nangong Yixin to keep this secret for the time being, which Nangong Yixin, understanding his paternal concern, agreed to do. Knowing his own impending death and wanting to ensure Lu Qingqing's safety by sending her back to Rong Yun, Nangong Yixin decided to push her away.
When Lu Qingqing came to check on his recovery, he initiated a harsh conversation, accusing her of conspiring with Lu Hongzhu at Thin Strip of Sky. Lu Qingqing was baffled by his sudden coldness and his attempts to send her back to her master. Nangong Yixin then stated his intention to kill her father, claiming Lu Hongzhu had murdered his father, the late Emperor, and had also used the forbidden Dark Lotus Seal on his victims.
Despite Lu Qingqing's emotional pleas and disbelief, Nangong Yixin remained resolute, concluding that they could not be together due to the past generation's grievances. When Lu Qingqing desperately tried to remind him of their past love, Nangong Yixin coldly confessed that he had never loved her. He revealed his true motive was to acquire the magic power stone within her, which he had discovered in Manghuang Forest.
He admitted to manipulating her feelings, letting her fall for him so she would willingly give up the stone, thus allowing him to avenge his father and claim the throne. Heartbroken and overwhelmed by his cruel words, Lu Qingqing ran away in tears. The Crown Prince, having overheard Nangong Yixin's cruel dismissal of Lu Qingqing, burst in and angrily confronted him, condemning him for betraying Lu Qingqing's genuine affection.
Meanwhile, Lu Qingqing, weeping outside, confided in Doctor Wu, who offered solace, advising her that what she saw and heard might not be the whole truth, and only her heart could discern it. Later, Nangong Yixin, now alone with the Crown Prince, explained his true motivations and dire condition.
He revealed that he had sealed his magic to control his glacial poison, but recent forced use during the battle had shattered the silver needles in his body, causing a fatal relapse. He admitted his days were numbered and entrusted the Crown Prince with the true imperial edict, which confirmed Lu Hongzhu as the traitor who murdered their father, the former King.
Nangong Yixin reiterated that he never coveted the throne and, since his own attempt to kill Lu Hongzhu had failed, he was now passing that unfinished task to the Crown Prince. He clarified that his harsh words to Lu Qingqing were a desperate attempt to protect her from his impending death and ensure her safety by sending her back to her master.
He also revealed the recently discovered truth that Lu Qingqing was not Lu Hongzhu's biological daughter but the child of the magic girl and Li An guild leader, making Lu Hongzhu's obsession with her solely about the magic power stone sealed within her. The Crown Prince, now armed with the truth, vowed to protect Lu Qingqing. As Nangong Yixin finished, Lu Qingqing, still seeking answers, approached his room, but he coldly closed the door on her.
The Crown Prince intervened, urging Lu Qingqing to let Nangong Yixin rest. Sikong Ying eventually awoke from his injuries to find Wan Qing by his side, overjoyed and relieved. She gently chided him for putting himself in such danger, expressing how worried she had been during his days of unconsciousness. Sikong Ying then recounted a vivid dream: his soul had left his body, and an elder told him it was time to move on.
He had begged the elder to allow him a final farewell to his most important person. The elder agreed, and upon seeing Wan Qing's heartfelt bedside vigil and her whispered declarations of love, was so moved that Sikong Ying was granted more time to be with her, with the condition that if she would marry him, he could stay forever. He added that he woke up immediately after this.
Deeply touched, Wan Qing assured him that her declarations of love were real. Nangong Yixin, whose health was rapidly declining, confided in Doctor Wu that he wished to spend his remaining limited time visiting the children at the Ciyou Kindergarten and then returning to Lilu Villa to live out his last days, unwilling to simply lie in bed. Doctor Wu, heartbroken, expressed concern about Lu Qingqing's future grief if she were to learn of Nangong Yixin's secret.
Nangong Yixin, however, wished for Lu Qingqing to live a lighthearted life, free from the burdens and sadness, and hoped she would regain her past happiness. Doctor Wu, seeing Nangong Yixin's resolve, could only reluctantly agree. Meanwhile, Sikong Ying, learning from Doctor Wu about Nangong Yixin's terminal illness and his act of driving Lu Qingqing away to spare her pain, was deeply distraught.
He confronted Nangong Yixin, reminding him of his promise not to use magic and questioning his will to live. Nangong Yixin explained his unavoidable use of magic to save Lu Qingqing, leading to his fatal condition, and apologized for failing their mission against Lu Hongzhu. Sikong Ying, rejecting the apology, furiously demanded if Nangong Yixin was truly content with his revenge, if Lu Hongzhu was dead, and why he was giving up.
Nangong Yixin weakly reiterated that the Crown Prince now knew the truth about Lu Hongzhu killing his father and would complete his unfinished task. Sikong Ying, tears in his eyes, refused to accept this, begging Nangong Yixin to affirm his desire to live and not to dwell on leaving this world. Nangong Yixin, trying to convey his acceptance to his old friend, suddenly collapsed, unconscious.
Lu Yunxi, who had been reflecting on her father's cruel actions and her fear that Lu Qingqing might be turning against their family by staying with Lord Jin, eventually went to No Magic Valley to bring Lu Qingqing home. She expressed her worry about Lu Qingqing's recent ordeal at Thin Strip of Sky. However, Lu Qingqing, heartbroken by Nangong Yixin's earlier rejection, refused to return to her father's mansion.
The Crown Prince, who was with Lu Qingqing, intervened, stating that she had important matters to discuss with him and would stay in the palace for a few days. As the Crown Prince led Lu Qingqing away, promising to take good care of her as Nangong Yixin had entrusted her to him, Lu Yunxi watched with profound sadness.
She lamented in her heart that Lu Qingqing's affections were still for Lord Jin, even as the Crown Prince remained deeply devoted to her, constantly ignoring Lu Yunxi's own unwavering care and concern for his safety and the throne.
