Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Episode 47 Recap
> Novoland: Pearl Eclipse Recap
Ti Lan suddenly suffers from severe abdominal pain and bleeding, which a concerned Bizi immediately reports. Di Xu quickly summons Physician Li, who explains that Ti Lan's previous consumption of contraceptive decoctions had made her pregnancy unstable, and the recent erratic weather exacerbated the symptoms. Physician Li reassures them that with nourishing herbs, Ti Lan's condition will stabilize. Overcome with guilt, Di Xu blames himself for his past impulsive cruelty in forcing her to drink the decoction.
Ti Lan, however, shares the blame, admitting her own stubbornness and her past intention to use the medicine to end her life. Deeply moved, Di Xu declares his intention to name their unborn child as his successor, regardless of gender, citing historical precedents of venerated female emperors.
He also announces his plan to make Ti Lan his new empress after she gives birth, playfully dismissing her protests by explaining it is the only way to silence the constant nagging from his officials. Suolan arrives to visit Ti Lan, feigning concern. He proposes taking Ti Lan's personal Dragon Tail pendant, which she never parts with, to a priest in his delegation for a blessing.
Though Ti Lan hesitates, Suolan's persuasion about the added protection for her and the baby convinces her to hand it over. Later, Suolan meets General Tang Qianzi, using the pendant to verify a letter he sent. He paints a dire picture of Ti Lan's life, claiming she is confined and abused by Di Xu, who blames her for the fake Lord Chang incident.
He falsely claims that a fearful Ti Lan, covered in bruises and having recently bled, only revealed her plight to him under his persistent questioning. Reminding Tang Qianzi of how Di Xu nearly strangled Ti Lan and forced her to drink contraceptive medicine, Suolan lays out his treacherous plan: to assassinate Di Xu, enthrone Ti Lan's child, and make her the Empress Dowager Regent.
When a shocked Tang Qianzi questions what would happen if the baby is a girl, Suolan confidently declares that he has a newborn boy on standby; they can simply announce the birth of twins. Appealing to Tang Qianzi's loyalty by recalling Ti Lan's past kindness to him, Suolan overcomes the general's hesitation. He then returns the "blessed" pendant to an unsuspecting Ti Lan. Far away in Yuezhou, Fang Jianming and Fang Haishi settle into a peaceful life.
Jianming brings Haishi Jifeng Tree seeds, and together they plant them, dreaming of a future filled with simple joys: catching butterflies, fishing, painting her nails with madder, and having snowball fights with their future children and a dog. That evening, Haishi finds Jianming's cooking a little salty. He playfully laments that his skills don't match Di Xu's, reminiscing about the Emperor's signature dishes at past banquets.
He confirms that Empress Zizan looked identical to Ti Lan but had a different personality, one as candid as Haishi's. Jianming reflects on Di Xu's former harshness and his surprising leniency toward Haishi, musing that she must have been protected by Zizan's spirit. He confesses that he has always felt deep pity for the Emperor, whose world was crushed by Zizan's sudden death.
He expresses his relief that Di Xu now has Ti Lan's love, admitting he would otherwise feel guilty for spiriting Haishi away from the capital. When Haishi asks about his own happiness, Jianming lovingly declares himself the luckiest. Later, Haishi receives a carrier pigeon message from Zhang Chengqian confirming Di Xu and Ti Lan are well. She confesses to Jianming that she arranged for these updates, knowing he would still care. Jianming calmly accepts her reasoning.
Meanwhile, in Tianqi, Shaozi reports that General Tang Qianzi deserted his post ten days ago, killing two Jifeng Pavilion agents. A second report reveals that five days prior, soldiers in Huangquan Battalion were mysteriously poisoned, General He Yao was confined, and Tang's forces were marching on Tianqi. Di Xu assesses his forces at roughly 25,000 and orders the city gates closed for a full defense.
He instructs Shaozi to summon reinforcements but adamantly refuses to recall Fang Jianming, stating he has already granted him freedom. Di Xu establishes a "defense-only" strategy to hold out until help arrives. While stargazing, Haishi and Jianming receive an urgent message from Zhang Chengqian about Tang Qianzi's rebellion and Tianqi's dire situation. Haishi deduces that Tang, a clever man, must be rebelling for Ti Lan's sake, not for power.
Realizing reinforcements from other regions will be slow, Jianming concludes that their fastest hope is aid from Chen Heran in Yuezhou. They split up: Jianming rushes back to Tianqi, while Haishi heads to Yuezhou. Tang Qianzi's forces launch a relentless assault on Tianqi. Zhang Chengqian's defenders hold firm, but the battle is fierce. Di Xu, monitoring from the palace, sends nearly all his troops to the city walls and vows to join the fight himself if necessary.
For Ti Lan's safety, he orders Mu Deqing to move her to a secret chamber. However, before Mu Deqing arrives, men impersonating eunuchs appear, claiming to have Di Xu's orders to escort Ti Lan to safety. Bizi persuades a reluctant Ti Lan to go so she won't be a distraction. When Mu Deqing finds her gone and Di Xu learns she left with unauthorized eunuchs, he is furious. Soon after, the real eunuchs' and guards' bodies are found.
Enraged, Di Xu orders the Secret Force to find Ti Lan, even if it means turning Tianqi upside down. Ti Lan awakens in the sealed mansion of Lord Chang to find Suolan. He calmly reveals he orchestrated everything to see Dazheng fall and a Zhunian descendant take the throne. He cynically thanks her for being so "likable" that Tang Qianzi would rebel for her.
Ti Lan furiously condemns his plan as usurpation, but Suolan scoffs, quoting, "A thief loses his life, a usurper gains power," and asserts that Tang Qianzi alone will be branded a traitor. Suolan mockingly retorts that he is not cruel; he arranged her "rescue" and infiltrated a hundred soldiers into the city solely to protect her. He coldly forbids her from harming herself before the baby is born.
When Ti Lan asks if their father knows, Suolan confirms he is following the king's direct orders. Suolan and his accomplice gloat, confident that with Ti Lan as their hostage and the battle raging elsewhere, they can simply sit and wait for their victory.
