Shadow Love Episode 26 Recap
> Shadow Love Recap
Su Muyang, having secretly gained control over the former Crown Prince's associates and the Emperor's palace staff, arrived at the imperial chambers. The Emperor, feeling ill and calling for servants, struggled for water. Su Muyang greeted his father, wishing him good health, then somberly remarked that today was Su Muli's burial day. Su Muyang was very proud.
He added that it was a pity the Emperor couldn't see Su Muli off on his final journey, especially since Su Muli was his most beloved son. The Emperor, however, still questioned why Su Muli was killed in Lucheng, refusing to believe Su Muyang's public declaration that the man in black was responsible. He reasoned that a mere jianghu rogue would not dare to murder Prince Li.
Su Muyang, feigning concern, urged his father not to be angry and to protect his health. He explained that all palace staff were occupied with Su Muli's funeral, and he had sent the Emperor's personal attendants away, offering to personally serve the Emperor his medicine. As Su Muyang poured the medicine, the Emperor noticed his right hand was perfectly intact, much to his shock.
He confronted Su Muyang, accusing him of being involved in Su Muli's death, given their long-standing animosity. Su Muyang grew furious, his years of devoted service and humiliation seemingly meaningless in his father's eyes, who only cared for Su Muli. He bitterly questioned if the Emperor believed that he, Su Muyang, was the one who should have died in Lucheng. Su Muyang then recounted his painful past, how his mother, of humble birth and never favored, died young.
As a prince, he had to tread carefully, even the lowest eunuchs disrespecting him. Then, suddenly, the Emperor called him to serve at his side and even named him Crown Prince. Su Muyang revealed he was overjoyed then, believing his father finally acknowledged their bond and sought to compensate him. However, he now understood the truth: he was merely a pawn, destined to be sacrificed on a fated day, his life exchanged for the Emperor's eternal reign.
The Emperor, realizing Su Muyang knew the truth, was stunned. Su Muyang recalled an incident when he fell into the water, was rescued, and suffered a high fever. The Emperor stayed by his side all night, holding his hand and comforting him. But now, Su Muyang wondered if the Emperor's fear was of losing his own flesh and blood, or merely losing the person destined to face calamity for him.
Suddenly, the Emperor was gripped by severe abdominal pain, coughing up blood. As he lay dying, Su Muyang revealed the final truth: the daily elixir the Emperor had been consuming had been secretly laced with a slow-acting poison by Su Muli, destined to take the Emperor's life after Su Muyang's own predicted demise. With this revelation, the Emperor succumbed to the poison and died. Su Muyang then legitimately ascended the throne.
Meanwhile, at Wuling Mountain, Mo Yin and his companions found themselves unable to remove the Jade Linglong from Jin'an. Jin'an was disheartened, struggling with the pain and the uncertainty. Mo Yin offered him a bowl of porridge, explaining that he had added blood ginseng to help sustain Jin'an's vital energy, as he wouldn't last long otherwise. Jin'an anxiously questioned Mo Yin's confidence, wondering why the Jade Linglong remained unremoved.
Mo Yin explained that they were trying to purify Jin'an's blood, as they first needed to sever the blood pact between him and Li Shuang. If the blood pact remained, the Jade Linglong would continue to take root, eventually becoming impossible to remove. This was why Mo Yin had previously mentioned that removing the Jade Linglong would cause Jin'an to forget Li Shuang. Jin'an reflected on the prospect of forgetting, wondering if it even mattered.
Mo Yin gently advised him that all attachments in this world stem from fate, and if he and Li Shuang were destined, they would surely meet again. He returned a hairpin to Jin'an, which he had found near the quicksand. Mo Yin believed Li Shuang, thinking she was certainly going to die, had left it as a keepsake for Jin'an.
He hoped that cherishing this memento would give Jin'an the strength to live on, as only by living could they possibly meet again. Fearing he might lose control again and harm innocent people, Jin'an had locked himself away. He began carving his memories of Li Shuang onto the walls, hoping to preserve their shared past.
Mo Yin had warned him that the more the Jade Linglong merged with him, the more it would consume his will, eventually turning him into an emotionless killing machine that might even harm or kill Li Shuang. Jin'an understood that this was why Mo Yin had said he would forget Li Shuang. Recalling a time when Li Shuang had cared for him when he was sick, Jin'an felt a reversal of roles, now needing her care.
He remembered an occasion where Li Shuang gave him a mask, thinking he liked the man in black, and suggested they make that day their shared birthday, referencing the saying, "We may not have been born on the same day, but we wish to die on the same day." She wished they could be "born together and die together, year after year, for an eternity."
Jin'an, deeply attached to these memories, wondered if all their past promises would become meaningless once the Jade Linglong was removed and he lost his memories. He vowed that even if he lost his memory, Li Shuang would help him remember her again. Li Shuang, too, had expressed her unwavering commitment to him, promising to find him no matter the distance if he ever forgot her. After days of unconsciousness, Li Shuang finally awoke, immediately calling out for Jin'an.
Lu Xin, who had been anxiously caring for her, informed her that it had been several days and Jin'an had been taken by Mo Yin, his fate uncertain. Li Shuang insisted on going to save him, but Lu Xin reminded her of her unhealed injuries. Just then, Huai'en arrived to deliver an imperial edict.
He congratulated Li Shuang on her recovery and informed her that while she was unconscious, the late Emperor had fallen ill, and the current Emperor had to rush back to the capital. He announced that His Majesty, Su Muyang, had now ascended to the throne and ordered her immediate return to the capital once she was fully recovered.
Li Shuang was greatly alarmed, repeatedly stating she had urgent matters and could not return to the capital right away, asking Huai'en to convey her message. Huai'en, however, stressed that Su Muyang, as the new Emperor, valued her greatly for saving his life but his word was law. He warned her that disobeying an imperial decree, especially as a frontier general, constituted treason punishable by implicating her entire clan.
He further added that if she sought to pursue Jin'an, the fugitive accused of assassinating Prince Li, she needn't do so personally, as his fate would be decided by imperial decree upon her return to the capital. Huai'en then instructed Lu Xin to take good care of Li Shuang, assuring them he would make arrangements for their prompt departure to the capital.
Lu Xin expressed her dismay at Su Muyang's actions, calling it a betrayal after Li Shuang and Jin'an had shown him kindness, yet he was now threatening Li Shuang. She offered to go to Wuling Mountain in Li Shuang's stead, but Li Shuang initially refused, deeming it too dangerous given Mo Yin's unpredictable nature and the unknown intentions of Wuling Mountain.
Lu Xin, however, argued that Wuling Mountain's inhabitants were mostly dedicated to medicine and unlikely to be malicious, though she admitted human nature was indeed unpredictable. She insisted on going, eager to settle scores with the "damn Mo Yin" who had fooled her, and to alleviate Li Shuang's worries about Jin'an. Li Shuang, though hesitant, eventually agreed. She gave Lu Xin a Qianji Needle for self-defense, explaining how to use its poisonous darts, and instructed her to be careful.
Li Shuang promised to arrange everything on her end and then go to Wuling Mountain to assist Lu Xin. Meanwhile, Mo Yin continued to grapple with the challenge of removing the Jade Linglong, unable to pinpoint the exact problem and worrying about Jin'an's deteriorating condition. He knew he had to find another method. Lu Xin, after a long journey, arrived at Wuling Mountain but was stopped by two guards.
She claimed to have an urgent matter for their master, but they stated the master was in seclusion and not seeing anyone, dismissing her as someone seeking medicine. Lu Xin insisted it wasn't about medicine, but rather a matter concerning Wuling Mountain itself, which could be disastrous if delayed. When the guards remained firm, she resorted to shouting for Mo Yin to come out, accusing him of avoiding her.
The guards reiterated that Wuling Mountain was secluded, warning her not to cause trouble. Lu Xin then shocked them by claiming she was pregnant with Mo Yin's child from Lucheng, challenging their notion of seclusion. Skeptical, the guards asked for proof. Lu Xin dramatically produced a Clear Moon Pearl, stating it was the last keepsake Mo Yin had given her.
She also feigned morning sickness, further convincing the guards, who were now flustered and quickly reported the situation to Mo Yin. Mo Yin, disturbed by the news of a woman from Lucheng carrying his Clear Moon Pearl, allowed her to enter. Lu Xin immediately confronted him, accusing him of hypocrisy. She recalled Li Shuang's courteous treatment of him at the General's Residence, contrasting it with his act of separating Li Shuang and Jin'an and gravely injuring them.
She declared she had been blind to his true nature. Mo Yin acknowledged that Li Shuang must have explained the situation and claimed his actions were out of necessity. Lu Xin, however, dismissed his words as "fake righteousness" and demanded to see Jin'an. Mo Yin refused, stating Jin'an was too weak to receive visitors and reiterated that Wuling Mountain's affairs were not for her to question, ordering her to leave.
Lu Xin defiantly declared that she had promised Li Shuang to protect Jin'an, and if she didn't see him well, she would haunt Mo Yin as a vengeful ghost, even if she died here. Mo Yin, dismissing her threats and "little tricks," pointed out that she wasn't truly afraid, citing his rescue of her by the river as proof that he wouldn't let her die. Lu Xin then saw Jin'an, who was badly injured.
Jin'an, though weak, immediately asked about Li Shuang. Lu Xin assured him Li Shuang was fine. Mo Yin began to administer acupuncture to Jin'an, whose inner breath was chaotic and pulse extremely weak, a state that would have killed an ordinary person. Lu Xin questioned Mo Yin's rashness, asking what he had done to Jin'an. Mo Yin explained that removing the Jade Linglong was inherently difficult, and Jin'an was aware of the risks.
He then urged Lu Xin to leave and report Jin'an's safety to Li Shuang. Unwilling to leave Jin'an in such a dire state, Lu Xin refused, reminding Mo Yin of his superior medical skills, which even allowed him to cure Su Muyang's poison. She insisted she would not leave until Jin'an recovered. When Mo Yin called for guards to escort her out, Lu Xin, once again, revealed her trump card: she announced she was pregnant with his twins.
Mo Yin, indignant, accused her of ruining his reputation. Lu Xin, undeterred, threatened to spread his "romantic escapades" throughout Wuling Mountain if he didn't let her stay and supervise Jin'an's treatment. Elsewhere, Jin Wujian came to the Empress Dowager to beg for medicine. She immediately accused him of seeking drugs again and ordered him to commit suicide. When he hesitated, she taunted him for being useless, claiming he couldn't even manage to die.
She ridiculed his past failures and his present inability to bring her the promised shadow puppet. Declaring him a "waste" who was wasting resources, she decided to mercifully end his miserable existence. Jin Wujian, enduring her constant insults, finally reached his breaking point when she lunged at him, trying to strangle him. He fought back, questioning if his years of loyalty meant nothing.
The Empress Dowager retorted, asking if he was loyal to her or to the Brain-Devouring Powder, asserting that many desired her loyalty, but a "worthless person" like him never deserved to serve by her side. Jin Wujian, enraged, scoffed at her words, reminding her that he had diligently fulfilled every one of her commands for years. He questioned if she would be where she was today without him.
He then bitterly spoke of sacrificing his dignity, future, and everything human just to be by her side, wondering why she couldn't grant him this one small request. The Empress Dowager arrogantly claimed her success was due to her own schemes and efforts, ascending to power with her son, Yu, and that everything she had was deserved.
Jin Wujian then hit a raw nerve, reminding her that Duan Aoze had despised her, and if not for his creation of the Love-Binding Curse, she would never have conceived a royal child. She vehemently denied owing him anything, claiming it was she who saved his "dog life" when he betrayed his teacher and ancestors, allowing him to cling to existence. She furiously ordered him to shut up, then challenged him to kill her.
Jin Wujian, however, could not bring himself to harm her. She cynically observed that she knew he couldn't do it, then asked him if he would have treated her differently if he had met her earlier. Ultimately, she dismissed him as "pathetic." As he left, Jin Wujian declared that he would soon return, bringing the head of Duan Aodeng to her, echoing her dismissive "pathetic" remark.
