Shadow Love Episode 20 Recap
> Shadow Love Recap
Jin'an, observing Li Shuang's low spirits, thoughtfully prepared warm wine for her. He explained his heightened senses allowed him to overhear her conversation in the side hall about her worries. Li Shuang, concerned about his extraordinary abilities, specifically asked if he could see through walls, which Jin'an denied, stating his senses were merely enhanced, not magical.
Li Shuang then voiced her deep unease regarding Prince Li (Su Muli), who, being high-ranking and powerful, considered the position of Crown Prince rightfully his. After holding a grudge for three years, Prince Li's arrival in Lucheng meant he would seize any opportunity to eliminate the Crown Prince (Su Muyang). Li Shuang, caught between protecting the Crown Prince and avoiding offending Prince Li, recognized the Li family and Changfeng Army as her vulnerabilities.
Jin'an offered to take responsibility for Su Muyang, assuring Li Shuang he could protect his life, even if he couldn't guarantee getting along with him. Li Shuang's concern shifted to Jin'an's own health, especially since the matter of the Man in Black (Xuan Yi Ke) had reached the capital.
Jin'an revealed his powers were growing, no longer needing to rely on the Lingxu acupoint, and that he would no longer use the "Man in Black" identity, choosing to be known only as Jin'an. Li Shuang expressed worry that his unpredictable bodily changes might harm him and suggested consulting Mo Yin. Jin'an stopped her, claiming he had already asked Mo Yin, who assured him he would be fine as long as he controlled his power.
Jin'an then inquired about Li Shuang's own health, asking if she had taken Lu Xin's tonic. Li Shuang reassured him she was well and hadn't experienced any discomfort since returning from Cang Mountain, believing she wouldn't suffer backlash if Jin'an could control his powers. Jin'an arrived to escort Su Muyang, who immediately questioned if Li Shuang had sent him. Jin'an stated that with Prince Li's imminent arrival in Lucheng, he was now responsible for Su Muyang's personal safety.
Su Muyang, still recovering from the assassination and poisoning attempts, acknowledged Prince Li's clear intention to kill him. He expressed concern that those around him would be in danger, asking if Jin'an feared death. Jin'an retorted that if Su Muyang died, Li Shuang would be the one to suffer, and by protecting him, he was ensuring Li Shuang's peace. He also confidently stated it wouldn't be easy for Prince Li to kill him.
Recognizing Jin'an's genuine care for Li Shuang, Su Muyang recalled Jin'an's past willingness to die for her. Jin'an acknowledged their mutual affection for Li Shuang, stating there would inevitably be a contest, and until a winner was decided, Su Muyang must stay alive. Later, while discussing Prince Li's arrival, Su Muyang asked his servant, Huai'en, about the Man in Black, wondering if he might be hidden within the Changfeng Army or the General's Residence.
A brief, unsettling flashback to his childhood revealed a traumatic moment with his father, underscoring the deep-seated impact of the hand injury he sustained after Su Muli pushed him off a cliff, a memory that still haunted him. Prince Li (Su Muli) arrived in Lucheng, intentionally avoiding meeting General Li (Li Shuang) at the post house, claiming fatigue. He confided in his attendant his plan to personally assess Li Shuang's allegiance.
Regardless of whether the Crown Prince lived or died, Prince Li was determined to eliminate him, believing that if he died, Li Shuang would be implicated even if she refused to surrender. In the General's Residence, Li Shuang formally greeted Prince Li, apologizing for the delayed welcome. Prince Li, feigning concern, spoke of intercepting impeachment memorials against the Li family, implying he had done Li Shuang a great favor and expected her support in return.
When Su Muyang arrived, he too apologized for his delay. Prince Li made a show of concern for Su Muyang's health, asking about his wounds and the poison. He then publicly criticized Su Muyang's guards for their inability to protect him or capture any assassins alive, before declaring he would assign his own "clever and reliable guards" to Su Muyang. Noticing Jin'an serving as Su Muyang's attendant, Prince Li questioned his presence in a house traditionally filled with female retainers.
He then cruelly mocked Li Shuang, suggesting she kept "a wife and a concubine" while far away at the border. Li Shuang attempted to defend herself, but Jin'an cleverly intervened, praising Prince Li's "exceptional perception" for knowing about Su Muyang's poisoning, which was not publicly known, implying Prince Li's complicity. Prince Li then demanded that Mo Yin, the miracle doctor who saved Su Muyang, be brought to dine with them.
Jin'an found Mo Yin, who initially refused, complaining about being overworked at the General's Residence and disdaining "bureaucratic gatherings." Jin'an convinced him by acknowledging the critical situation and promising to consider Mo Yin's proposal to return to Wuling Mountain after the crisis. Mo Yin, still annoyed, likened Jin'an to a mere medicine utensil, but Jin'an ignored him. At the banquet, Prince Li subtly probed Mo Yin, asking if he was the legendary Man in Black.
Mo Yin deflected the question with self-deprecating humor, describing the Man in Black as hideous and unworthy of comparison to his own appearance, implicitly mocking Jin'an. Prince Li then shifted his attention to Li Shuang, casually questioning her report on Li Zhangyi's treason during the Lucheng battle. Li Shuang firmly stated she merely reported the facts, accusing Li Zhangyi of abusing Prince Li's name and potentially tarnishing his reputation.
Prince Li, feigning admiration, then approached Li Shuang with a toast, making an inappropriate comment about her fair skin outshining his concubines, and touched her. Witnessing this, Jin'an's emotions surged, and the Jade Linglong within him reacted, causing the ground to shake. Mo Yin quickly spilled tea on Prince Li, advising him to change his soiled clothes, and then escorted a struggling Jin'an away from the banquet.
Outside, Jin'an lost control as the shadow puppet inside him went berserk, leaving Jin'an unaware of his own actions. Mo Yin, exerting all his strength, managed to restrain him. Mo Yin revealed that if he hadn't intervened at the banquet, everyone there would have died. He insisted that Jin'an must leave with him immediately, as Jin'an was now the greatest danger to Li Shuang. Despite this, Jin'an refused to abandon Li Shuang in her precarious situation.
Li Shuang, suffering internal injuries from Jin'an's rampage, found Jin'an consumed by guilt. She reassured him she was fine and urged him to control his resentment. She understood Prince Li would not go too far due to the Changfeng Army's influence, but insisted that now was not the time to openly defy him. As Prince Li prepared to depart, he continued his humiliation, demanding Su Muyang kneel and serve as his footrest.
When Li Shuang protested, Prince Li insisted she do it instead. To protect Li Shuang, Su Muyang reluctantly knelt, allowing Prince Li to step on him. Jin'an observed the public display, realizing that if Su Muyang continued to yield, things would only worsen. Back in his room, Su Muyang, consumed by rage, smashed the room's furnishings. As Jin'an handed him a vase, he noticed Su Muyang’s supposedly injured hand move with perfect agility.
Su Muyang, caught off guard, froze for a moment before quickly reverting to his usual handicapped state. Jin'an then tried to calm him, urging him not to succumb to Prince Li's provocations and reminding him that a true general never gives up, even against overwhelming odds. Su Muyang then revealed another mission from his father: to find the Man in Black and bring him back to the capital for an audience.
Li Shuang quickly spoke up, expressing her trust in the Man in Black, asserting that the Changfeng Army's collective strength, not just one individual, turned the tide in Lucheng. She stated her willingness to trust the Man in Black, having fought alongside him and entrusted their lives to each other. Su Muyang, accepting her stance, dropped the topic.
He then tried to offer Li Shuang a drink, wishing her a happy birthday, but she declined, stating she hadn't celebrated her birthday in a long time and reminded him of his unhealed condition. Suddenly, Li Shuang felt dizzy. Jin'an, recognizing it as a backlash symptom, blamed himself for losing control again and causing her pain. Li Shuang, however, comforted him, reassuring him of her resolve to live for him and her mission.
She explained her purpose in supporting Su Muyang: with an incompetent Emperor and a cruel Prince Li, only Su Muyang, benevolent and kind, offered hope for a peaceful Taijin and a better life for its people. With such important work ahead, she affirmed her commitment to living well. Jin'an then led Li Shuang to a secluded, beautiful mountain spot, explaining it was a warm, blooming oasis year-round due to a hot spring.
He presented it as a birthday gift, having heard from Su Muyang that it was her special day. Li Shuang confessed it wasn't her actual birth date but the day her adoptive father, Grand General Li, found and raised her. Jin'an, also an orphan unaware of his true birthdate, suggested they make it their shared birthday.
He envisioned a future where, after overcoming their current difficulties, they would celebrate every year "to the fullest" and travel "hand in hand to many places" to "enjoy all the beautiful landscapes, year after year, for an eternity," echoing the sentiment of being "born together, as we'll die together."
