Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Episode 15 Recap
> Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Recap
Feng Ruche, undergoing punishment by squatting, found an unexpected companion in Fang Qimo. He approached her, offering a mask and trying to alleviate her discomfort, a stark contrast to his usual arrogant demeanor. He encouraged her to relax, stating that in his eyes, she was the best, regardless of Xue Jingkong’s opinion. However, Feng Ruche remained distant, coldly telling him to leave, which he eventually did, calling her ungrateful. After her strenuous punishment, Feng Ruche could barely stand.
To her dismay, it was her turn to clean the latrine. While inside, Lin Yuecong and her companions secretly locked the door from the outside, hoping Feng Ruche would be trapped inside for a long time. Feng Ruche, realizing she was locked in, called out for help but received no reply. Just as despair began to set in, Xue Jingkong arrived and opened the door. Feng Ruche thanked him for freeing her, but her relief was short-lived.
Xue Jingkong asked if she truly wished to stay, then advised her that fighting against scorn and sneers alone was difficult, suggesting she leave to resume her former life and happiness. Xue Jingkong insisted she was not suitable to be a warrior, dismissing her hard work as mere conceited tricks. His words left Feng Ruche profoundly disappointed. Reflecting on the insults of being called a "fake empress," Feng Ruche wished for miracles.
Meanwhile, Lian Yi and Tie Ying presented themselves before Qi Zhenxian, who had also summoned Du Xianyin. Lian Yi revealed that the portraits previously destroyed were mere fakes, and she had brought the real ones from Nanyu City. To everyone's astonishment, the three portraits, once unrolled, all depicted Du Xianyin’s face, leaving even Du Xianyin surprised. Du Xianyin feigned distress, claiming she was immoral and incompetent and offered to resign as Empress.
Qi Zhenxian, reluctant to lose her, became enraged with Lian Yi, accusing her of disobeying the Empress and ignoring rules, and promptly stripped her of her Deputy General title as a warning. Lian Yi clarified that her only feelings were gratitude towards Qi Zhenxian and Yun Muyang (Brother Yun) for their training and vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly. Du Xianyin secretly wondered who had replaced the portraits, speculating if her mother was involved or had sent another spy.
Despite the numerous challenges, Feng Ruche was determined to prove her capabilities. She removed the bracelet from her wrist and began training before dawn, resolute in her decision to remain in the Silver Wings Cavalry through her own strength. Over the next few days, Feng Ruche's skills improved, and she found herself growing closer to Fang Qimo. Xue Jingkong observed their developing closeness with jealousy.
One night, while Feng Ruche was training alone and repeatedly falling during her attempts, Lian Yi approached her. Lian Yi acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming assessment, which traditionally took 20 days of training to prepare for, and Feng Ruche had only eight days. Lian Yi noted that Xue Jingkong, being skilled in magic, would surely increase the test's difficulty.
When Feng Ruche affirmed her determination not to give up, Lian Yi offered to teach her some quick techniques, suggesting simplicity for nimble foes and speed for steady ones, always aiming to disrupt their rhythm. Under Lian Yi's guidance, Feng Ruche made remarkable progress. Feng Ruche continued her rigorous training, repeatedly falling from the rock-climbing wall at its most challenging points. Fang Qimo, moved by her perseverance, approached her with concern.
Initially, Feng Ruche brushed him off, but after a particularly hard fall left her in tears, Fang Qimo returned with water, gently encouraging her by saying people fall only to get back up. Inspired, Feng Ruche declared she wanted to try again, and Fang Qimo joined her, climbing with her. They encouraged each other, finally reaching the summit, cheering loudly in triumph.
Feng Ruche exclaimed that she wasn't the last, and Fang Qimo proudly declared he wasn't "just with a pretty face." As they descended, Fang Qimo helped the injured Feng Ruche. Xue Jingkong, who had prepared a water bag for Feng Ruche, witnessed their camaraderie and, feeling displeasure, casually gave the water bag to Lin Yuecong instead. He then placed a bottle of antifibrinolytic pills by Feng Ruche’s bed.
Later, Lin Yuecong and a friend returned to their room and discovered the pills. Mistakenly believing they were a gift from Xue Jingkong to Lin Yuecong, they praised his thoughtfulness. Feng Ruche, emerging from the latrine where she was changing, overheard their conversation. Lin Yuecong then offered one of the pills to Feng Ruche. Just then, Fang Qimo arrived with hot herbal medicine for Feng Ruche from Physician Jia, while Xue Jingkong approached holding some dried seedless plums.
In a defiant gesture, Feng Ruche chose Fang Qimo’s medicine, declaring her preference for his hot decoction over any bitter pills. She then pulled Fang Qimo away, suggesting they go fishing together. Lin Yuecong, meanwhile, eagerly believed Xue Jingkong's plums were specifically for her due to her dislike of bitter medicine, a notion he weakly confirmed.
Back in his tent, Xue Jingkong, out of jealousy, issued a new rule for Wuxiang Camp: "Male students aren't allowed to catch fish," with violators receiving twenty strokes of the cane, citing "safety of male students" as the reason. Fang Qimo, who had gone fishing with Feng Ruche, received his flogging.
Complaining about the bitter medicine he had to take and the arbitrary rule, he then paid twenty yuzhu to another student to swap beds, moving his own bed to be right beside Feng Ruche's, despite its proximity to the latrine. He continued to grumble about the strange rule.
