One and Only Episode 17 Recap
> One and Only Recap
Cui Shiyi departed back to Zhongzhou, Feng Qiao came to escort Cui Shiyi. Zhou Shengchen stood alone on the city wall watching Cui Shiyi leave. He used a squad of the Junior Prince of Nanchen's army to escort Cui Shiyi back to the capital, the purpose of which was to inform the world that Nanchen Royal Mansion would always be Cui Shiyi's strongest backing, and would always be Cui Shiyi's home.
Resting at a post station en route, Cui Shiyi looked at the first snow outside and couldn't help but think of Zhou Shengchen. She remembered the first New Year's Eve she spent with Zhou Shengchen. Zhou Shengchen had not returned to the mansion for half a year but rushed back on New Year's Eve and spent New Year's Eve with her by drinking a cup of pepper wine together. Past events were vivid in her mind.
The more Cui Shiyi thought, the less she could sleep. She got up in the middle of the night to look for Feng Qiao but unexpectedly saw Zhou Shengchen in Feng Qiao's room. It turned out that Zhou Shengchen had been secretly escorting her all along. Zhou Shengchen and Cui Shiyi met in the room. The room was not lit. Cui Shiyi also indulged herself for once.
She mentioned that she originally wanted to stay in Xizhou permanently and accompany Zhou Shengchen forever. It was just that she was one step away. An imperial decree of bestowed marriage from the palace shattered all her dreams and severed the future for the two of them. Looking at the sad Cui Shiyi before him, Zhou Shengchen was heartbroken.
He only told her that in the future, she should still wait for good news, that he defends the city, and that they would have a chance to meet again, and then allowed Cui Shiyi to cry and hug him tightly. After a long time, Cui Shiyi bid farewell to Zhou Shengchen. She only hoped that Zhou Shengchen wouldn't come when she gets married. The next day, Cui Shiyi returned to the territory of Zhongzhou.
Zhou Shengchen stood among the army watching Cui Shiyi off. Just then, Zhou Tianxing left the city with Xie Chong's remains. The two met. Cui Shiyi bowed farewell to the military advisor, bid farewell to the Nanchen Royal Army, bid farewell to Zhou Shengchen, and entered Zhongzhou city. The news of Cui Shiyi's arrival in the capital reached Liu Zixing. Liu Zixing was greatly delighted and prepared to meet Cui Shiyi. However, Consort Jin came with generous gifts.
She hoped Liu Zixing would remember the agreement between them. The Jin clan was willing to pledge allegiance to Liu Zixing, and the position of Empress must be reserved for the Jin clan. Liu Zixing only said he had not forgotten the agreement. To reassure the Jin clan, Liu Zixing also canceled his plan to meet Cui Shiyi. In the palace, Cui Shiyi accompanied her mother to meet the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager deliberately sent Cui Sanzhe and Xinghua away, leaving Liu Zixing and Cui Shiyi alone. Liu Zixing and Cui Shiyi had not seen each other for a long time. Cui Shiyi was unwilling to even look at Liu Zixing. She treated Liu Zixing with politeness, but her tone revealed a sense of indifference. On the other side, Xinghua nearly fell. Cui Sanzhe helped Xinghua up and learned that Xinghua was faking pregnancy. After returning, she was very angry.
Upon learning that even Cui Feng didn't know about Xinghua's pregnancy, she immediately had Cui Shiyi write a letter urging Cui Feng to return to the mansion. Xie Chong passed away from illness, and the power balance in the capital was lost. Zhou Shengchen concluded that a major event would definitely occur in the court within two months. He decided to stop in Shouyang to observe the developments in the capital at any time.
Cui Feng returned to the mansion after receiving the letter. Cui Shiyi told Cui Feng about Xinghua. After Cui Feng learned about this, he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he was not indebted to Xinghua. Cui Feng and Xinghua had long been estranged. Cui Shiyi could not bear to see Cui Feng in such pain. She came to plead with Cui Sanzhe to grant Cui Feng his wish.
One person for the marriage alliance matter is enough, referring to herself. Hearing Cui Shiyi's words, Cui Sanzhe also agreed to Cui Shiyi's request, willing to find a suitable way for Cui Feng and Xinghua to divorce peacefully. The Empress Dowager ordered the imperial physician to prescribe a labor-inducing medicine, wanting the Imperial Grandson to be born earlier so that she could make the child her new puppet emperor.
Liu Hui realized the Empress Dowager's ruthlessness and also knew that the Empress Dowager would definitely not spare him. He remembered the escape route Xie Chong had prepared for him, preparing for a final struggle with the Empress Dowager. Liu Hui came to see the Empress Dowager. He repeatedly pleaded with the Empress Dowager to spare him, saying he was willing to abdicate. The Empress Dowager did not believe Liu Hui's words.
She only said that they hadn't dined together for a long time. The two dined together. Liu Hui poisoned the Empress Dowager's wine. This poison was the last escape route Xie Chong had left for him.
