Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 14 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
While on Azureland, Li Afan intervened when she saw a woman abusing a man, coming to the man's defense. The man, however, ungratefully accused her of being nosy. Despite this, Liao Zhongyan, the head of the Male Protection Association, saw in Li Afan a future of gender equality and offered to stay with her.
Soon after, Hongyu, Azureland's acting High Priest, arrived, aggressively asserting that Liao Zhongyan was her man and demanding to take him away, but Li Afan blocked her. Li Afan declared that Liao Zhongyan was her friend and that she helps those in need. Hongyu scoffed, claiming her right as the island's High Priest to take any man she desired.
Li Afan then countered, reminding Hongyu that she was merely an acting High Priest, while Li Afan herself had been brought to the island by the Lord of the Island, suggesting her own legitimacy was greater. She warned Hongyu that if her identity as the true High Priest were proven, she would remember this slight. Despite Hongyu's anger, Li Afan publicly stated her claim over Liao Zhongyan, warning anyone who bothered him would be bothering her.
Hongyu, advised by her attendant to back down since Li Afan was brought by the Lord of the Island, begrudgingly left. Meanwhile, Tao Junran, imprisoned in the capital for protecting an Azurelander, was visited in his dungeon cell by Yun He'an. He was badly beaten, but Yun He'an tenderly gave him medicine, promising to marry him even if he did not love her, as she was completely obsessed with him.
Yun He'an then returned to her mansion and pleaded with her brother, Yun Jiayu, who had just been promoted to Envoy of the Bureau of Military Affairs for his role in capturing Tao Junran, to save him. Yun Jiayu refused, citing the long-standing animosity between their families and Tao Junran's crime of harboring an Azurelander.
He urged his sister to move on, offering to find her a better man, but Yun He'an was adamant, threatening to seek help from their Imperial Aunt, the Empress Dowager. True to her word, Yun He'an approached the Empress Dowager, who, out of affection for her niece, offered Tao Junran freedom if he agreed to marry Yun He'an.
However, Tao Junran vehemently rejected the offer, stating he would rather die than marry Yun He'an, as his heart belonged to Li Afan alone. Infuriated by Tao Junran's refusal, Yun He'an returned to his cell, confronting him. Tao Junran reiterated his love for Li Afan and his preference for death over marrying Yun He'an. Yun He'an then offered him a bowl of congee she had prepared, which contained the strongest and fiercest 'Huolingu' (aphrodisiac).
As the drug took effect, she shamelessly tried to force herself on him, expressing her deep love and the immense humiliation she felt from his constant rejection. To prevent her advances, Tao Junran severely injured himself. Undeterred, Yun He'an secretly brought him back to her family's mansion. Yun Jiayu was furious, questioning how she dared to bring a prisoner home.
Yun He'an believed Tao Junran would eventually accept the marriage, despite his earlier refusal, and that he simply didn't understand yet. Yun Jiayu pointed out Tao Junran's lack of gratitude for all she had done, but Yun He'an remained convinced he would eventually understand. She begged her brother not to harm Tao Junran and threatened to take her own life if anything happened to him. Yun Jiayu, exasperated, told her he would ensure her survival even if Tao Junran died.
While Li Afan was restless in Azureland, trying various means to escape, Lian Qi brought her food. Li Afan refused to eat, stating her disinterest in Azureland's history, national conflicts, or the High Priest position. She expressed resentment towards her birth parents for abandoning her in Biyun County for so many years and insisted she wanted to return to her simple life.
Lian Qi tried to make her eat, but Li Afan demanded he leave the room, saying she couldn't eat with him watching. Moments later, Li Afan attempted to jump from a high place, asking Liao Zhongyan to catch her, but Lian Qi intervened, preventing her escape and reminding her that all her efforts were futile, as he would always bring her back. Back in the capital, Zhuo Jiqing threatened Tao Junran by torturing his loyal servant, Cao Qing.
He gave Tao Junran a stark choice: Cao Qing's lowly life or Tao Junran's "worthless integrity." Cao Qing bravely urged Tao Junran to follow his heart and not worry about him. To save his loyal servant, Tao Junran reluctantly agreed to a fake marriage with Yun He'an, but he first demanded a meeting with her.
During their meeting, Tao Junran presented Yun He'an with a written contract, explicitly stating that their marriage would be merely a formality to save Cao Qing and would be annulled once Cao Qing was freed, ensuring Yun He'an's innocence. He again confessed his enduring love for Li Afan and his inability to give Yun He'an true happiness. Despite her heartbreak, Yun He'an, desperate to marry him even if only in name, agreed to the terms.
Yun Jiayu, upon hearing the news, was surprised but still ordered his subordinate to keep a close watch on Tao Junran, vowing dire consequences if he caused any more trouble. On the eve of his forced wedding, Tao Junran, alone in his mansion, gazed at Li Afan's wedding attire. He spoke to her as if she were present, lamenting their separation and shedding sad tears as he remembered their sweet moments together. In a poignant, private ceremony, he performed a symbolic wedding ritual with Li Afan's wedding dress, expressing his unending love for her.
