Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 13 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Zhuo Jiqing revealed himself as an official of the Imperial City Division, confronting Li Afan. Li Afan pleaded with him, recalling their past friendship and the true meaning of brotherhood, where friends support and protect each other. However, Zhuo Jiqing coldly dismissed her sentiments, stating his loyalty belonged to the Yun family, who gave him his life, not to her. As Zhuo Jiqing's men prepared to capture Li Afan, Li Yu, carrying a torch, bravely intervened to create a distraction.
Li Afan and Cao Qing managed to escape, while Cherry also fled. Tragically, Li Yu was fatally wounded by Zhuo Jiqing. In his final moments, Li Yu spoke to Li Afan, expressing that raising her was the most meaningful act of his life and offering her a dowry, lamenting that he would not live to see her marry. Zhuo Jiqing appeared visibly conflicted by Li Yu's death. Unbeknownst to them, all of this was Yun Jiayu's despicable conspiracy.
Despite Li Yu's sacrifice, Li Afan and Cao Qing were eventually captured by Zhuo Jiqing's forces. Tao Junran successfully escaped with Cherry. Meanwhile, in the Yun Mansion, Yun Jiayu expressed his anger to Zhuo Jiqing over Tao Junran's escape. Yun Jiayu, identifying himself as the prince of Westland, declared his long-held ambition to restore his country, an ambition fueled by Midland's destruction of his homeland and the death of his father.
Yun Jiayu later spotted Li Yu’s memento on Zhuo Jiqing, mocking him for forgetting his true allegiance and physically striking him. Earlier, Lian Qi had appeared, expressing his intention to save Li Afan and bring her back to Azureland, a goal he had long harbored, seemingly part of Yun Jiayu's overarching conspiracy.
Back in Midland, Zhuo Jiqing publicly denounced Li Afan as an Azurelander, falsely accusing her people of instigating the recent plague and inciting the populace to demand her execution as a sacrifice. To solidify his claims, Zhuo Jiqing's men revealed the mark of the three-legged crow on Li Afan's body, confirming her as the heiress of Azureland. The incensed crowd clamored for her death. Just as the execution was about to commence, Tao Junran burst onto the scene.
Tao Junran, reaffirming his vow to marry and protect Li Afan with his life, shielded her from an arrow, sustaining a severe injury. Despite Li Afan's desperate pleas to stay by his side, Lian Qi swiftly carried the weakened Li Afan away. Li Afan awoke in an unfamiliar room, disoriented and anxious about Tao Junran.
Lian Qi reassured her that Tao Junran, as a high-ranking official, would likely be safe from Zhuo Jiqing, but emphasized that returning to Midland was too dangerous for her. He then transported her to a secluded island, which he presented as her new home. Upon their arrival, the islanders greeted Lian Qi as the "governor." A local explained to Li Afan that the governor oversees the island under the "High Priest," the supreme ruler of Azureland.
This revelation led Li Afan to realize her mother might have been the former High Priest, though Lian Qi discretely prevented her from revealing her name to the curious locals. Meanwhile, Yun Jiayu, confident in his schemes, gloated to a captive Tao Junran that Li Afan was now with Lian Qi, Tao Junran had been dismissed, and nothing could stop his plan to restore Westland. Tao Junran was enraged by Yun Jiayu’s treachery.
Back on Azureland, Li Afan resolved to understand her new surroundings and plan her escape from Lian Qi. She encountered Ruby, the acting High Priest, who questioned Li Afan's presence. Lian Qi intervened, asserting that Li Afan's rightful position should be restored to her, a claim Ruby openly challenged. Lian Qi then explained to Li Afan that her true purpose in Azureland was to assume the role of High Priest.
Li Afan staunchly refused, reiterating her desire to return to Cloud County and Tao Junran. Lian Qi reminded her of the Midlanders' demand for her sacrifice and Tao Junran's current peril, stressing that Azureland was her real home and she must forget Tao Junran, as their differing worlds would prevent any harmonious future. Later that night, Li Afan attempted to escape Azureland with a small bundle of belongings, but Lian Qi intercepted her.
She confessed her intention to leave, but he insisted that Azureland was her true home and that he was there for her. Li Afan countered that it couldn't be her home without her father and Tao Junran, expressing her respect for Lian Qi as an older brother.
Lian Qi then revealed himself to be her biological brother, proving it by recalling intimate childhood memories: her stirring a hornet's nest at seven, tearing her pants while pawning pearls at nine, and defending their father by beating a boy at eleven. He explained that he had always secretly watched over and protected her, and that his mission was to safeguard their people and restore what was rightfully hers, even if she did not desire it.
He argued that the Midland emperor was persecuting them and that the Azurelanders were cordial and honest, contrary to Midlander propaganda. He pleaded with her to stay, promising to care for her and allow her to live freely. Li Afan, however, asserted her right to determine her own life and reiterated her desire to return to Midland.
Lian Qi challenged her, pointing out that Midlanders sought to sacrifice her and that her lingering feelings for Tao Junran prevented her from accepting her destiny. He then sternly informed her that she could not leave Azureland without his explicit permission. In a Midland dungeon, Yun He'an tearfully visited an injured Tao Junran, addressing him as "Yunzhi brother." She questioned Zhuo Jiqing about whether Tao Junran had been given "Breakbone Powder," a potent poison.
She then reminded Zhuo Jiqing of their friendship, threatening severe repercussions if Tao Junran were to die. On Azureland, Li Afan was exploring a bustling market when she witnessed a woman verbally and physically abusing her husband for upsetting their child. Outraged by the domestic violence and the prevailing matriarchal culture, Li Afan intervened, demanding the woman stop. The woman asserted her right to discipline her husband and accused Li Afan of trying to steal him.
Li Afan retorted by threatening to report the woman for domestic violence to the acting High Priest. A man named Liao Zhongyan introduced himself as the president of the Male Protection Association, an organization he founded to advocate for oppressed men, despite being its sole member. The abusive wife scoffed at him. Despite Li Afan's efforts, the beaten husband ungratefully told her to mind her own business.
Later, Li Afan discussed the incident with Liao Zhongyan, expressing her respect for his efforts under such challenging social conditions. Liao Zhongyan, revealing he had fled Ruby due to her tyrannical nature, pleaded with Li Afan to take him into her household, fearing a miserable fate if left alone.
Li Afan agreed to let him stay as a friend, but Liao Zhongyan, seeing her as a champion for gender equality, enthusiastically offered to become her "male maid," a proposition Li Afan found surprisingly agreeable. Shortly thereafter, Ruby's guards apprehended Liao Zhongyan. Ruby confronted him, asserting he could not leave without her permission. Liao Zhongyan informed her that Li Afan had already accepted him into her household, but Ruby dismissed this, stating that Li Afan was not yet the legitimate High Priest.
