Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 35 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
Following his reunion with Fang Haishi, Fang Jianming led her into his bedchamber, which had been transformed into a wedding room. The two candles on the table, a gift Haishi had once given him, now bore witness to their union. As they exchanged intimate words and drank wedding wine, they prepared for a night of marital bliss. Fang Jianming gently settled Haishi onto the bed, and she blushed, ready to accept his affection.
However, just as they were about to consummate their marriage, Fang Jianming’s expression contorted in pain. He swiftly touched a pressure point on her, inducing sleep, before rushing out of the room and spitting a mouthful of blood. At that moment, Emperor Di Xu was in Yu'an Palace with Ti Lan, about to drink a bowl of ginseng soup, oblivious to the unease of the attendants.
Fang Jianming staggered in and threw a dart, knocking the soup bowl from Di Xu’s hand and revealing it was poisoned. Physician Li was summoned to examine Fang Jianming, who was already suffering. The physician identified the poison as Dawn Flower, a rare and virulent toxin from Zhunian with no known antidote. He explained that due to years of accumulated injuries and taking detoxification pills, Fang Jianming's body had some resistance, allowing him to survive for up to a month.
However, once the toxin spread through his meridians, his fate would be sealed. Accepting this, Fang Jianming urged Di Xu not to publicize the poisoning or blame Ti Lan, insisting there was more to the incident. Di Xu interrogated Ti Lan, who tearfully explained that an unknown person had threatened her brother Suolan's life to force her to poison the emperor. She had planned to defy the order, hoping to draw the blackmailer out.
Before she could continue, her attendant Bihong confessed to acting alone, stating she had poisoned the soup out of loyalty to Prince Suolan, who had once shown her kindness. Bihong then took her own life by striking her head against a pillar, absolving Ti Lan. Overcome with grief, Ti Lan collapsed. A physician, summoned to her side, discovered she was pregnant.
Deeply shaken, Di Xu ordered secrecy about the night's events and confined Ti Lan to Yu'an Palace, while tasking Physician Li with finding an antidote for Fang Jianming. That night, as snow fell, Fang Jianming endured the poison's agony as he returned to Zhaoming Palace. He was tormented by the thought that he could no longer keep his promise to protect Haishi and give her a peaceful life.
Meanwhile, at his mansion, Lord Chang learned of Haishi's return and, seeing an opportunity, sent an invitation to Zhaoming Palace. He planned to use his upcoming birthday celebration as a pretext to have her assigned to his residence. He confided in his steward that once Haishi was there, he would expose her female identity, using it and the past incident with Fang Zhuoying to force Di Xu to abandon the gravely weakened Fang Jianming.
He also stationed elite troops to watch the palace, ensuring she could not escape. The next morning, Haishi woke from a deep sleep, unaware of the night's turmoil. She found her master's study empty and wandered to Fang Zhuoying's former room. In a conversation with Fang Jianming, she admitted she still resented him for letting Zhuoying go, but acknowledged that as a prince of Huku, his return could bring peace.
She reaffirmed her earlier decision to retire from the military and expressed her desire to remain in the capital as his wife, to bear his children and build a home with him. During breakfast, Fang Jianming tenderly served her a bowl of her favorite fish congee. Haishi apologized for falling asleep first on their wedding night, and her innocent promise to be more attentive that evening pained him deeply.
Before they left for Dongyu Horse Ranch, he told her this would be the last time she would ever need to dress as a man. Thrilled, Haishi believed he intended to publicly announce her as his wife. She declared her unwavering commitment, aware that Fang family masters often met tragic ends, and slid the thumb ring he had given her onto her finger, smiling brightly at him.
At the horse ranch, Lord Chang presented Di Xu with twenty-four trained eagles for his birthday. He suggested Di Xu shoot a specific white-feathered hawk to bring good fortune to the empire. As the birds were released, one of the eagles suddenly dove towards Haishi. Fang Jianming instantly drew his bow, and his arrow whistled past Haishi’s head, severing her topknot and piercing the eagle.
In that moment, her long hair fell loose, revealing her female identity to the stunned court. The officials erupted in shock, and Di Xu, upon seeing the thumb ring on Haishi's hand, instantly understood Fang Jianming’s desperate plan. Lord Chang seized the moment, accusing Fang Jianming of treason for concealing Haishi's identity and demanding a full investigation of Jifeng Pavilion. As other ministers joined the chorus of accusations, Di Xu acted swiftly.
He embraced a stunned Haishi and declared she was a secret agent he had personally planted in Jifeng Pavilion. He then ordered an immediate return to the palace. During the hurried departure, Haishi confessed her guilt to Di Xu and pleaded with him not to blame Fang Jianming. Di Xu coldly warned her that to save her master, she must now act as if she were blind and mute. He then had her taken to a side hall in Jincheng Palace to await his judgment.
