Rebirth For You Episode 9 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Empress Han Tongxin ordered a fire to be set in the Treasure House and intentionally left a small opening in the door, hoping to teach Princess Jia’nan a lesson. Han Tongxin, despite being the Emperor's Empress, resented that Emperor Zhao Yi only cared about Princess Jia’nan. The fire intensified, trapping Princess Jia’nan and causing her to be overwhelmed by smoke, despite an initial attempt to leave an escape route.
Li Qian, learning of the fire, immediately rushed to the Treasure House to rescue Princess Jia’nan. Inside, Princess Jia’nan, believing her life was ending, kissed Li Qian, wanting to act on her feelings before it was too late. Li Qian vowed to save her. He carried Princess Jia’nan out. As Zhao Xiao arrived with his men to help, Li Qian gently placed Princess Jia’nan in a visible spot for Zhao Xiao to find, then discreetly hid himself.
Zhao Xiao discovered Princess Jia’nan and brought her back to safety. Upon regaining consciousness, Princess Jia’nan was informed that Zhao Xiao had rescued her, leading her to believe that her kiss with Li Qian in the fire was a hallucination. She also assumed The Book of Supreme Weapons had been destroyed in the blaze, feeling a pang of guilt towards Li Qian.
Meanwhile, Li Qian, heartbroken by the impending marriage of Princess Jia’nan to Zhao Xiao, drowned his sorrows in alcohol, questioning his own thoughts as she was about to be married. Emperor Zhao Yi, hearing of Princess Jia’nan's peril, hurried to Longevity Hill, displeased by Zhao Xiao's presence near her. Marquis Jinghai, Zhao Xiao's father, was delighted by the news of the Grand Empress Dowager's approval of the marriage, seeing it as greatly beneficial for Nanmin.
Li Qian discovered that Min Xi, who had previously offended Prince Qing Tai of Yongqing State, was dead. He suspected Prince Qing Tai's involvement and decided to report it to Empress Dowager Cao, advising his friend Jin Xiao to keep silent for now to avoid international issues. Empress Dowager Cao hosted a banquet for Prince Qing Tai at Longevity Hill, which Emperor Zhao Yi also attended, claiming he was there to join the festivities.
During the banquet, Prince Qing Tai boldly proposed marriage to Princess Jia’nan, citing her eligibility and Mu'an's diplomatic relations. Empress Dowager Cao responded that Princess Jia’nan was already betrothed to Zhao Xiao. However, Prince Qing Tai argued that without a formal imperial edict, the betrothal was not yet official. He then challenged Zhao Xiao to a competition, with the winner earning Princess Jia’nan's hand, threatening to sever diplomatic ties if his challenge was refused.
Princess Jia’nan, learning of these developments, rushed to the scene, only to hear Emperor Zhao Yi, influenced by Qing Tai's threats and his own jealousy of Zhao Xiao, reluctantly agree to the competition. Li Qian was determined that Princess Jia’nan must not marry the cruel Prince Qing Tai. He sought out Zhao Xiao and offered tactical advice for the upcoming duel, cautioning him about Yongqing's dueling style and suggesting agile footwork to strike weak points.
The first round of combat between Zhao Xiao and Prince Qing Tai concluded in a draw. Prince Qing Tai then proposed a horse battle, a challenge Emperor Zhao Yi hesitantly accepted despite the known advantage of Yongqing's horses. Li Qian realized Zhao Xiao was severely injured internally from the first round.
Despite Jin Xiao's protests and concerns for his well-being, Li Qian insisted on taking Zhao Xiao's place, declaring he would rather die than let Princess Jia’nan marry Prince Qing Tai. The horse battle commenced, with both combatants in full armor, their identities indistinguishable. The match was fierce, and in a critical moment, Li Qian took a deliberate injury to win the golden trophy.
Left with no other choice, Emperor Zhao Yi issued an oral decree betrothing Princess Jia’nan to Zhao Xiao and granting him the title of Fiancé of Princess Jia’nan. Princess Jia’nan, watching the victorious rider, briefly thought she recognized "those eyes." Empress Han Tongxin, however, found Zhao Xiao's sudden prowess in the second match suspicious, suggesting he might have been "possessed."
After the competition, the Grand Empress Dowager, immensely relieved, sent valuable knife wound medicine to Zhao Xiao and asked Princess Jia’nan to deliver it personally. Princess Jia’nan reluctantly went and overheard Zhao Xiao thanking Li Qian for his help. Seeing Li Qian's own wounds, Princess Jia’nan's realization dawned: it was Li Qian who had truly rescued her from the fire and fought in the match. She fled in distress.
Angry yet concerned, Princess Jia’nan confided in Su Su, complaining about Li Qian's "cowardly" act of hiding his identity. Su Su suggested that Li Qian must love Princess Jia’nan to risk his life for her and questioned Princess Jia’nan's true feelings for him and her willingness to marry Zhao Xiao. Princess Jia’nan admitted she liked Li Qian but was frustrated by his behavior. Despite his severe chest wound, Li Qian insisted on continuing his patrol to avoid any suspicion.
Jin Xiao argued that Li Qian's sacrifice for Princess Jia’nan to marry Zhao Xiao was not worth it, especially since Li Qian himself loved her. Li Qian countered that while he envied Zhao Xiao, he preferred her to marry Zhao Xiao over Prince Qing Tai. Princess Jia’nan, deep in thought about Li Qian, played the zither and sent her maid, Qingke, with palace-grade wound medicine to Li Qian.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xiao visited Princess Jia’nan, offering her his late mother's treasured zither, Jiaotong, saying that she was now his most cherished possession and promising to cherish her for life. Princess Jia’nan politely declined, unwilling to take such a personal heirloom. Han Tongxin's maid spotted Qingke secretly delivering medicine and followed her, discovering Li Qian's injury. The maid reported this to Han Tongxin, who then sent her to investigate Zhao Xiao's injuries.
Though unable to get close to Zhao Xiao due to his guards, the maid retrieved medicine dregs. A physician confirmed that the medicine was for internal injuries and was incompatible with external wound treatment, revealing that Zhao Xiao's injury was internal, not the public "knife wound" claimed. Han Tongxin realized Li Qian had fought in Zhao Xiao's place, seeing it as a golden opportunity.
Separately, Li Qian, having found no clues about his mother in The Book of Supreme Weapons, decided to return it to Princess Jia’nan. Han Tongxin informed Prince Qing Tai of Zhao Xiao's deception. At a subsequent banquet, Prince Qing Tai publicly exposed the substitute fighter, accusing Mu'an of "shamelessness." Emperor Zhao Yi furiously questioned Zhao Xiao, who, left with no alternative, confessed that a subordinate had fought in his place.
Prince Qing Tai then demanded Emperor Zhao Yi immediately betroth Princess Jia’nan to him, threatening war with Yongqing's 200,000 cavalry if refused. Marquis Jinghai forced his son, Zhao Xiao, to kneel, scolding him for risking a war that would make him a "sinner known by later generations." Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Han Tongxin both urged Emperor Zhao Yi to prioritize national stability. Angered by their pressure to marry Princess Jia’nan to Yongqing, the Grand Empress Dowager feigned fainting.
Using her "unwell" state as an excuse, Emperor Zhao Yi immediately canceled the betrothal between Zhao Xiao and Princess Jia’nan, postponing any further discussions. The Grand Empress Dowager later admitted to her physician that she faked the faint to prevent Princess Jia’nan from being forced into a marriage with Yongqing. Li Qian, believing Princess Jia’nan was elsewhere, secretly entered her room to return The Book of Supreme Weapons but was caught by her.
Princess Jia’nan immediately recognized the book and accused him of lying about how he acquired it. She revealed that Zhao Xiao's deception had been exposed and their betrothal canceled. She then confronted Li Qian, asking how he truly felt about her given his actions of saving her and fighting for her. Princess Jia’nan confessed her love, asking him to abandon everything and elope with her. Li Qian, however, apologized and rejected her. Enraged by his refusal, Princess Jia’nan slapped him and called him "What a coward!"
