One and Only Episode 16 Recap
> One and Only Recap
Zhou Shengchen and Cui Shiyi returned to the military camp. Looking at the vast scenery, Zhou Shengchen only promised Cui Shiyi that he would take her to Yanmen Pass next spring. Cui Shiyi was very excited and looked forward to this. After returning to the military camp, Zhou Shengchen sent someone to Zhongzhou to find a way to meet Qin Yan and inquire about Xie Chong's death, as he suspected there was something strange about it.
Afterwards, Zhou Shengchen personally carried Cui Shiyi, who had sprained her ankle, back to her room. Cui Shiyi was very happy internally. Xie Yun came to see Zhou Shengchen. Zhou Shengchen told Xie Yun his true identity, that he is Xie Chong's biological son. The reason for living under a false name was the fear of retaliation from the Qi clan.
Originally, Xie Chong wanted to keep this secret from Xie Yun his whole life, but after much consideration, Zhou Shengchen decided to tell Xie Yun the truth. After hearing this, Xie Yun felt even more sadness and grief deep down. Cui Shiyi wrote a letter and sent it to Qinghe Commandery. She wanted to stay in Xizhou for the rest of her life to accompany Zhou Shengchen.
Unexpectedly, an imperial decree of bestowed marriage from the palace arrived in Qinghe Commandery, accompanied by the Cui clan's Imperial Attendant Cui. Cui Wenjun, who received this imperial decree, was very solemn. She only told Fourth Lady Cui to pack her clothes and accompany her to Xizhou. At the Nanchen Royal Mansion in Xizhou, Cui Shiyi was initially very happy about Cui Wenjun's arrival, but Cui Wenjun brought up the matter of the bestowed marriage.
Cui Shiyi was stunned and confused, and was reluctant to accept this marriage for a long time. Cui Wenjun came to Cui Shiyi's room. She knew Cui Shiyi's feelings for Zhou Shengchen, but the Cui clan and the Nanchen Royal Mansion were no ordinary entities. If the two sides were to intermarry, it would surely lead to disaster. Cui Shiyi was destined to be unable to stay with Zhou Shengchen for life.
Not for herself, but for Zhou Shengchen's safety, Cui Shiyi should let him go. Looking at the suffering Cui Shiyi before her, how could Cui Wenjun feel any better? Cui Feng had experienced this pain, and now her only daughter was also trapped in such agony. But she was powerless and could only quietly accompany Cui Shiyi. Cui Shiyi had always been sensible. She knew the situation was irreversible and only pleaded to stay for a few more days.
The Imperial Attendant Cui and the palace eunuchs were all at the post station. Cui Wenjun gave Cui Shiyi one day to say a proper farewell to the people of the Nanchen Royal Mansion. Cui Shiyi put on new clothes and dressed up properly as herself. She brought food and came to Zhou Shengchen's room, mentioning the time she first arrived at the Royal Mansion. The small dishes on the table were all made by her personally.
She fought back her sadness and drank heavily with Zhou Shengchen. Cui Shiyi could not hold her liquor. Zhou Shengchen carried her to the bed. Cui Shiyi, however, cried and hugged Zhou Shengchen. Zhou Shengchen responded to Cui Shiyi for the first time. However, separation was ultimately what they faced. Imperial Attendant Cui came to see Zhou Shengchen.
He brought the Empress Dowager's decree, requesting Zhou Shengchen to take Cui Shiyi as his adopted daughter, thus breaking the rumors among the public about a marriage alliance between the Cui clan and the Nanchen Royal Mansion. Cui Shiyi did not wish to become Zhou Shengchen's adopted daughter. Seeing Cui Shiyi so sad, Zhou Shengchen also decided to defy the decree for her sake this one time. Before parting, Cui Shiyi bade farewell to Zhou Shengchen.
She lightly stroked Zhou Shengchen's 'beauty bone', only saying that she didn't know what was so special about the bone that it could not only be praised by the world but also feared by the royal family. Cui Shiyi had been in Xizhou for many years but had never seen the whole city. Zhou Shengchen took her to explore every corner of Xizhou city. The two of them came to the Afang Palace, where he had never been before. Inside the Afang Palace, they inscribed their names. The Afang Palace had always been locked. Once they left this palace gate, this secret of theirs would forever be locked within.
