Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 19 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Distraught by Yun Jiayu's manipulative deception and the imperial marriage decree, A Fan returned to her mansion. Holding the marriage certificate, she tearfully confronted Tao Junran, demanding to know if he had truly married Yun He'an. Tao Junran explained that Yun He'an had threatened him, but A Fan refused to believe him. In a fit of despair, she stabbed him with a dagger, crying that she never wanted to see him again.
Confused by her actions, A Fan wondered why she had done such a thing. As Lian Qi prepared to deliver a fatal blow, Midlander agents swiftly intervened and rescued Tao Junran. Lian Qi reassured A Fan that he would always protect her and prevent Tao Junran from approaching her again, but A Fan’s heart remained with Tao Junran. Meanwhile, Tao Junran found himself chained in the Yun Mansion.
He angrily demanded Yun He'an release him, but she dismissed his pleas, explaining that even if she did, the heavily guarded mansion would prevent his escape. Yun He'an tried to be affectionate, but Tao Junran questioned her motives, asking what she truly wanted and if she was behind the killing of the Azurelanders. Yun He'an chillingly replied that the Azurelanders deserved to die. Tao Junran then noticed a flute that looked exactly like A Fan's.
When he confronted Yun He'an, she revealed that she, like A Fan, was a descendant of Westland royalty, and her mother was the former Queen of Westland. She insisted she was just as good as A Fan and implored him to treat her better. This revelation made Tao Junran realize Yun Jiayu's true intentions and his larger conspiracy. Tao Junran, seeing no other option, feigned compliance, seemingly accepting his situation.
Back at the Lian Mansion, A Fan drank in solitude, grappling with the day's events. Lian Qi found her and pledged his unwavering loyalty, promising to face any challenge with her and always remain by her side. He offered to share her sadness and her drink, asking only for a glance from her. Yet, A Fan's thoughts were consumed by Tao Junran, wishing his words of comfort were from him.
Later, while Lian Qi was distracted, A Fan escaped the mansion, telling his subordinate that she needed three days to find an answer and would return. Yun He'an had Tao Junran's chains removed and offered him food, but she admitted that his soup contained a substance designed to make him weak. Later, Yun He'an expressed her desire to celebrate her birthday immediately, during the Lantern Festival, to publicly declare Tao Junran as hers.
Yun Jiayu agreed, despite his own reservations, instructing his guards to keep a close watch on Tao Junran. While he was alone with Tao Junran, Yun Jiayu questioned his sincerity, asking if he truly intended to abandon A Fan. He warned Tao Junran that he was not as easily fooled as Yun He'an but offered him a chance, waiting for his response. A Fan returned to her old house, calling out for her father, Li Yu, but found only silence.
Her mind drifted back to happier times with him. She then made her way to the city, where she saw Tao Junran. Tao Junran only told her to return home quickly, saying nothing else to her. A heartbroken A Fan watched as Tao Junran instructed a guard to give a lantern to Yun He'an. Yun He'an, from her sedan chair, received the lantern, delightedly assuming Tao Junran had bought it for her.
Yun He'an later stood beside Tao Junran as Yun Jiayu announced a city-wide fireworks display for her birthday celebration. She asked Tao Junran if he would never leave her, holding the lantern she believed he had given her and claiming it was the only one she liked. Devastated, A Fan returned to Lian Qi's home, declaring that she was too tired to leave again. Lian Qi and his people worried about her changed demeanor.
Later, A Fan approached Lian Qi, announcing her decision to become the High Priest and seek revenge against the Midlanders. At a public assembly, Lian Qi formally introduced A Fan as the new High Priest, explaining that her bloodline, lost for eighteen years, had been restored. However, many in the crowd questioned her legitimacy, doubting that a mere birthmark of the three-legged crow could prove her identity, suggesting it could be faked.
Acknowledging their skepticism, A Fan admitted she had no physical proof of her identity. However, she reminded them that High Priests of the Azurelander tribe possessed extraordinary aquatic abilities, able to remain submerged for half an hour. To prove her authenticity, A Fan challenged Hong Yu to an underwater contest, throwing the Water God's symbol into the water and declaring that they would both dive to retrieve it, and the first to surface for air would lose.
