Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Episode 31 Recap
> Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Recap
Feng Ruche, upon discovering Xue Jingkong, unmasked him and complimented his handsome appearance, though she no longer recognized him, identifying him only as her benefactor. She intended to leave, but a heavy rain began, forcing her to stay in the bamboo house. Inside, she noticed pear blossom pastries on a table, which were her favorite, and delightedly took one to eat.
Despite not remembering Xue Jingkong, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, commenting that he looked kind and special, and that being in his home felt like being home herself. She even showed him a communication device called Milliweb, which she made, explaining that one of a pair had died and she was searching for the missing half, hoping to find a forgotten person. Xue Jingkong coldly denied they had ever met, suggesting her efforts would be futile.
When the rain stopped, he promptly told her she could leave. Before departing, Feng Ruche, impressed by his wisdom, asked if she could seek his guidance for future problems and promised to visit again, hoping to enjoy the pear blossom pastries once more. Xue Jingkong, watching her go, silently acknowledged that she no longer remembered or loved him, and that the Flower Goddess’s power would not transfer.
He found solace in simply seeing her again in what he believed to be his final days. Back at the Silverwing Cavalry, Feng Ruche learned from a subordinate that Yun Muyang had disregarded her orders and led his men to Nanyu City to assassinate Wei Yuanting. She also discovered that Yu Guocong had personally taken three elite troops to support General Yun.
This news immediately raised Feng Ruche’s suspicions; she sensed a trap from Yu Guocong and ordered her forces to set off for Nanyu City at once. Meanwhile, Du Xianyin, worried about Yun Muyang, attempted to have Xuru use his powers to check on Wei Yuanting’s situation, but Xuru’s abilities were too depleted. Du Xianyin, despite her own declining health and the painful truth she carried about Yun Muyang's parentage, chose to shield him from his ancestry.
At the same time, Wei Yuanting, anticipating an attack, was already preparing his defenses and ordered the capture and execution of Kong Sang. On the way to Nanyu City, Feng Ruche intercepted Yu Guocong.
He confirmed that the Royal Mausoleum was indeed a trap set by Wei Yuanting and revealed his plan: to use Yun Muyang’s attack on the mausoleum as a diversion to weaken the palace defenses, allowing Yu Guocong and Feng Ruche to attack the palace and seize power. Feng Ruche accused him of sending General Yun to his death.
Yu Guocong argued that a king must be ruthless, but Feng Ruche, citing a saying that "a man of honor knows what must be done and what must not be done," declared that as Empress, she would never sacrifice General Yun. She promptly left with her forces to aid Yun Muyang. As Yun Muyang confronted Wei Yuanting, he found himself surrounded by a large number of soldiers.
Du Xianyin, witnessing the escalating battle through her heavenly eye, broke free from Xuru's desperate attempts to stop her. Xuru warned her that her un-plated wings and festering back wound meant flying or fighting would be fatal, but Du Xianyin was determined to save Yun Muyang. She arrived at the battlefield and desperately shouted for Wei Yuanting to stop. Yun Muyang saw the blood seeping through her back, alarming him, but she did not disclose her severe condition.
When a soldier (Mu Xi) moved to strike Yun Muyang from behind, Du Xianyin courageously stepped in front of the blade, taking the fatal blow and collapsing into Yun Muyang's arms. Just as Yun Muyang was about to be overwhelmed, Feng Ruche arrived, her golden wings extended, leading her troops to reinforce him. In Yun Muyang’s arms, a dying Du Xianyin made him promise not to seek revenge for her or kill Wei Yuanting.
She told him not to be sad, explaining that she had been a mere pawn, but it was he who taught her how to love. She found solace in dying by his side, believing it was far better than dying alone, and urged him to never forget her, to always remember her throughout her life. Yun Muyang, heartbroken, finally asked if "what happened that night was real," implying they had long been husband and wife.
With her last breath, Du Xianyin recited, "Meeting you, it's like showering in the warm sunshine," revealing that in her tragic life, he was her only sunshine. She then revealed her name, Du Xianyin (meaning "slender rhythm"), and connected it to his, Yun Muyang (meaning "shower sunshine"), before she passed away. Xuru arrived moments later, deeply saddened by her death.
Meanwhile, Yu Guocong had successfully breached the Nanyu City palace and obtained an imperial seal of Lanzhou, ready to declare his authority. However, before he could issue his command, Feng Ruche, with her golden wings unfurled, appeared with another imperial seal.
She declared herself Feng Ruche, the true Winged Empress, and asserted her right to regain the throne of the Feng family, commanding all soldiers to abandon the traitor Wei Yuanting if they wished to avoid being labeled as traitors themselves. Witnessing her legitimate claim and the popular support she garnered, Yu Guocong, unwilling to be branded a rebel like Wei Yuanting, chose to submit to Feng Ruche.
Wei Yuanting, in his confusion, insisted he was the Empress, but was swiftly captured by his now defected forces. Feng Ruche then reinstated Yu Guocong as Emperor Yu, second only to herself, acknowledging his strategic contributions. The battle concluded, and a devastated Yun Muyang carried Du Xianyin's body away.
Feng Ruche later revealed that she had anticipated Yu Guocong's attempt to seize the imperial seal and had a fake one prepared, knowing her orthodox Feng family bloodline as the Empress of the Oracle would command allegiance where a mere seal might not. Years passed, and Feng Ruche, now a matured and wise ruler, sat on the throne of Nanyu City.
Her experiences and the sacrifices of her friends and family had transformed her into the Empress she was destined to be. She later returned to the bamboo house to seek Xue Jingkong, whom she now saw as a trusted hermit and advisor.
She explained her decision not to execute Wei Yuanting, citing that he could be used to restrain Yu Guocong and his army could be offered amnesty to stabilize the region, despite potential dissatisfaction from the Silverwing Cavalry, especially Yun Muyang. Xue Jingkong offered guidance by quoting Emperor Wulie Feng Ren: "The sage has no invariable mind of his own, he makes his mind of the mind of the people."
He elaborated that a good king prioritizes the people's will, ensuring prosperity and peace. Feng Ruche grasped that in a war-torn Lanzhou, the people yearned for an end to conflict, and all other matters could be planned later.
Realizing the depth of his wisdom, she knelt and asked Xue Jingkong to be her teacher, confessing that she also harbored a personal desire: she felt a profound sense of peace and security whenever she saw him and wished for him to remain by her side.
Although he initially hesitated, reminding her of her status as Empress, she insisted she was "Ah Che" to him, not just Empress, and pleaded with him to return to Nanyu City with her as her Master.
