Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 29 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
Zhou Youdu selected a high-quality jade thumb ring for Fang Haishi and had Fang Zhuoying deliver it. Fang Zhuoying informed Haishi that the wedding supplies had arrived before she did, creating a lot of work for him and his companions, but Youdu had been a great help. When presented with the thumb ring, Haishi felt it was too expensive a gift to accept and intended to return it, despite Fang Zhuoying’s urging not to.
Upon returning to Zhaoming Palace, Fang Haishi presented a congratulatory gift to Fang Jianming, who seemed to prefer to be alone, prompting Haishi to leave. Later, Emperor Di Xu questioned Fang Jianming’s insistence on sending Fang Haishi back to Huangquan Pass immediately, especially when Tianqi City needed capable people for the upcoming wedding. Fang Jianming stated Haishi's secondment was due and requested approval for her return.
Princess Yanling arrived and expressed her desire for Fang Haishi to stay longer, praising his reliability and diligence in managing the wedding preparations with Ji Chang. She even suggested he remain to attend the wedding banquet. However, Fang Jianming remained firm, citing Haishi's public duties, and stated that all wedding arrangements should follow the Princess's wishes.
He then summoned Fang Haishi, reiterating that her secondment was over and she must return to Huangquan Pass without waiting for the wedding, prioritizing official business. Fang Jianming then advised Haishi to consider marriage, suggesting she could resign from the army, change her identity, and live as a woman again, offering to help arrange a marriage for her.
Fang Haishi, hurt and finding it ironic, retorted that he knew her true feelings and questioned why he would say such a thing. That evening, Ji Chang reported to Emperor Di Xu on the wedding preparations. He detailed the extensive arrangements required, but admitted his hesitation to make final decisions without Di Xu's approval, prompting Di Xu to instruct him to be more decisive.
Later, Consort Ti Lan waited for Di Xu, expressing her wish to accompany him back to Jincheng Palace and discuss a wedding gift for Fang Jianming. Noticing her cold hands, Di Xu showed his concern for her. Just then, Fang Haishi arrived, urgently seeking Di Xu’s permission to return to Huangquan Pass as scheduled. Di Xu, aware that Fang Jianming was pushing her away, offered to let her stay until after the wedding.
However, Haishi insisted that her master had placed great trust in her, and she could not disappoint him. Respecting her resolve, Di Xu granted her permission to depart. Before her departure, Fang Haishi met with Zhou Youdu to bid him farewell and returned the expensive thumb ring, stating she could not accept such a valuable gift. Youdu reluctantly agreed to keep it for her until her return.
Fang Haishi then visited the Jifeng Trees in Zhaoming Palace, reflecting on her time there. She mused about seeing Jifeng Flowers with Fang Zhuoying and Zhou Youdu, but never with Fang Jianming, feeling as if her life had been an illusion. She privately informed Fang Zhuoying that she would leave early the next morning without formal goodbyes, promising to guard Huangquan Pass diligently.
The next morning, Haishi spoke with Fang Jianming, mentioning that the thumb ring he had given her was slightly too big. He offered her a new one, but she cherished the old one, asserting that anything from him was precious. She then left him a letter, acknowledging her past stubbornness and bidding him farewell. Fang Jianming watched sadly as she rode away from the city.
Di Xu showed great favor to Consort Ti Lan, providing her with new clothes and asking her to accompany him in receiving Princess Yanling's farewell salute, an honor traditionally reserved for an Empress. He also gifted her a thumb ring that belonged to his father. Meanwhile, at the Princess’s Mansion, as wedding preparations were in full swing, Huku warriors disguised as deliverymen infiltrated the estate.
During the wedding ceremony, after the rites were performed, Princess Yanling offered a toast to Emperor Di Xu. Upon drinking, Di Xu suddenly collapsed, poisoned. The Princess, smirking triumphantly, seized a dagger and held it to Fang Jianming’s throat, denouncing Di Xu as a tyrant. Just then, Su Ming arrived with a large contingent of Huku warriors, claiming he was there to help the Princess rid Dazheng of its "scourge."
He asserted that he had not defected but was framed by a jealous Fang Jianming, and accused Di Xu and Fang Jianming of systematically eliminating the Six Wing Generals. Seeing this, many court officials quickly switched their allegiance to the Princess. However, this was all an elaborate trap. Fang Haishi had noticed the Huku warriors entering the city and, suspecting a plot, had hidden during the day and returned to the palace at night.
Disguised as an eunuch, she learned of her master's plan from Di Xu. She explained that she returned because she trusted that her master and the emperor were already aware of the Huku presence. Di Xu confirmed that Fang Jianming wanted her to leave to protect her, but Haishi chose to stay and fight.
Su Ming was shocked when Fang Haishi appeared, and even more so when the "dead" Emperor Di Xu sat up unharmed, mocking that he would have missed a good show. Di Xu revealed that the Beifu Army were his loyalists, not rebels, and ordered the traitors to be eliminated. In the ensuing chaos, Yingnian, the princess's guard, unleashed a volley of poisoned arrows to create a diversion. Fang Jianming shielded Haishi, while Ji Chang was wounded protecting Di Xu.
As Yingnian sacrificed himself to cover the Princess's escape, her path was blocked. Haishi urged the "princess" to surrender. Upon learning of Yingnian's death, the woman, realizing her revenge had failed, collapsed in despair. Meanwhile, Fang Jianming pursued Su Ming, and despite the lingering effects of the feigned poison, he killed Su Ming, avenging his father and the other slain generals. Later, Haishi discussed the day's perilous events with Zhou Youdu and Fang Zhuoying, expressing sympathy for the fake princess, believing she must have had a profound reason for her actions.
