Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 16 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Upon arriving in Azureland, Tao Junran, disguised as Deng Ran, was brought to Ruby's mansion. Despite the objections of Ruby's other male concubines, who cited Azureland's rule against men eating at the main table, Ruby insisted Deng Ran join her, even offering him her private chamber, the Lotus Pavilion. During the meal, Deng Ran recognized Nanshan serving as a humble servant. Later that night, Deng Ran secretly met with Nanshan.
Tao Junran revealed that Lian Qi had taken A Fan, who he confirmed was the true High Priest bloodline, and he was determined to bring her back. He explained that Lian Qi was likely guarding A Fan closely, making it difficult to approach her alone. To gain access, Tao Junran planned to use his position in Ruby's household to learn more about Azureland, believing that following Ruby would eventually lead him to A Fan.
Nanshan, acknowledging that Tao Junran had previously spared his life, expressed his desire to help but felt limited by his status as a mere servant. The other male concubines, jealous of Deng Ran's preferential treatment, confronted him in his room that night. Nanshan tried to defuse the situation but was insulted. Deng Ran asserted his lack of interest in competing for Ruby's favor, asking to be left alone, which only provoked the concubines further as they accused him of hypocrisy.
Ruby then stormed in, fiercely defending Deng Ran and reminding everyone that she could favor whomever she pleased. She ordered all the male concubines to receive twenty lashes as punishment for disturbing Deng Ran. After they left, Ruby attempted to get intimate with Deng Ran, but Nanshan quickly intervened, offering to help Ruby bathe and sleep, claiming she was tired. Ruby praised Nanshan's quick thinking and departed, leaving Deng Ran to muse on her persistence.
Meanwhile, A Fan was deeply missing her father and Tao Junran. Liao Zhongyan, the head of the Male Protection Association, confronted Ruby, demanding justice for her concubines whom she had punished harshly due to Deng Ran's arrival. Ruby retorted that her concubines were her property to treat as she wished and threatened Liao Zhongyan for trespassing. A Fan then arrived, declaring that Ruby could not harm Liao Zhongyan, who willingly followed her.
A Fan presented a medicinal sachet, directly accusing Ruby of using underhanded tricks, such as poisoning her food, which had embarrassed her at a recent meeting. Enraged, Ruby ordered her guards to seize A Fan and Liao Zhongyan. Before the situation could escalate, Deng Ran appeared, interrupting Ruby and claiming he had been delayed from their lunch plans. He swiftly escorted Ruby away, preventing a brawl.
A Fan watched Deng Ran leave, noting his striking resemblance to Tao Junran, but quickly dismissed the thought, reminding herself that he was Ruby's man. Later, Lian Qi pressed A Fan to embrace her destiny as the true High Priest and prepare for the upcoming annual Bell Contest for the Azure Festival. He explained that winning the contest would be a crucial step in gaining the people's acceptance and allowing her to reform Azureland's outdated customs.
Although A Fan was reluctant, believing she couldn't win against Ruby, Lian Qi insisted she could and revealed he had already registered her. Ruby, learning that A Fan was aware of her poisoning attempts and had entered the Bell Contest with the governor's support, became furious. She immediately ordered her subordinate to find skilled fighters to ensure her victory.
Back at Ruby's mansion, the male concubines confronted Deng Ran once more, this time blaming Nanshan for spilling their precious "Guaranteed Daughter Tonic," a costly concoction from a guru. Deng Ran offered them a "Baby Girl Pill" he had acquired for "study," which he claimed guaranteed a daughter. He then openly criticized their servile mindset and obsession with pleasing women, calling their behavior "pathetic."
Ruby arrived to his defense, dismissing the tonic as fraudulent and stating that Deng Ran had likely saved them from ill effects. She invited Deng Ran to join her Bell Contest team. Seeing this as a prime opportunity to get closer to A Fan, Deng Ran accepted. During the team selection for Ruby's Bell Contest entry, Deng Ran organized a weighted sprint to test the hopefuls' endurance and flexibility.
Elsewhere, A Fan rigorously supervised Liao Zhongyan's training for the contest, encouraging him after he passed an initial qualification round. She then accompanied him to a market to buy heavy stone weights, pushing him to choose the heaviest ones to enhance his physique. At the same market, Ruby and the masked Deng Ran were also present.
Ruby asked Deng Ran about his mask, and he explained it was to avoid unwanted attention, recounting how he was surrounded by women upon his initial arrival. A vendor, mistaking Ruby and Deng Ran for a loving couple, offered them free stone weights, which Ruby happily accepted despite Deng Ran's attempts to clarify their relationship. When Ruby and A Fan spotted each other, tensions flared, but Deng Ran stepped in, urging both women to maintain composure in public.
A Fan, increasingly convinced of Deng Ran's resemblance to Tao Junran, shared her deep longing for her fiancé with Liao Zhongyan and pleaded with him to help her escape Azureland. Liao Zhongyan, touched by her distress, promised to assist her when the chance arose. That night, Ruby visited Deng Ran in his room, openly expressing her desire for intimacy.
Deng Ran, repulsed but feigning innocence, tactfully deflected her advances by suggesting that true intimacy should develop naturally over time and not be rushed, hinting that her eagerness suggested she was only interested in his appearance. Ruby, momentarily taken aback, apologized for her impulsiveness and promised not to rush things, then left. Left alone, Deng Ran realized he could no longer stay in the mansion.
Meanwhile, A Fan dreamt vividly of Tao Junran coming to Azureland to rescue her, asking if she would leave with him, to which she tearfully agreed. She then awoke, the dream fading, still wondering if the masked man she saw earlier was truly her beloved Tao Junran.
