Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 20 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
A Fan, still reeling from past heartbreaks and fueled by a desire for vengeance against the Midlanders, resolves to assume the position of the High Priest of Azureland. To validate her lineage, she participates in a traditional underwater breath-holding challenge against Ruby to retrieve the sacred God of Water symbol; the first to resurface would lose. As A Fan and Ruby dive into the treacherous waters, the assembled crowd anxiously watches, fearing for the future of Azureland.
After a tense period, A Fan emerges, not only with the symbol but also having rescued Ruby, who had become ensnared in water weeds. Witnessing her bravery and compassion, the people hail A Fan as their rightful high priest. Now empowered, A Fan leads an audacious raid on Midland's arsenal. She explains to her followers that Azureland's vulnerability stems from its lack of weaponry, emphasizing that while they do not seek war, they must be prepared to defend themselves.
They successfully seize weapons before retreating amidst a frantic pursuit by Midland guards. Their next target is South Lin Island, where many Azureland citizens are forced into hard labor. A Fan boldly liberates them, promising to lead them back home. The grateful laborers cheer for their high priest and eagerly join her. However, as A Fan prepares to depart South Lin Island, Tao Junran intercepts her.
He earnestly pleads with her to abandon her path of revenge, warning that her actions will only escalate tensions and bring further conflict between their nations. Yun He'an, also present, expresses concern for Tao Junran's safety in the midst of the riot and urges him to leave. Heartbroken by Tao Junran's perceived betrayal, A Fan remains resolute. When one of her guards advises her to forget the "heartless man" and focus on their escape, A Fan agrees.
During the confrontation, A Fan wounds Tao Junran. Lian Qi then swiftly helps A Fan and her people escape. Later, Lian Qi confronts A Fan about her reckless night raids, expressing his deep worry and disappointment that she didn't confide in him about such grave matters. A Fan confesses that despite everything, she still yearns to see Tao Junran.
Though saddened by her enduring feelings for Tao Junran, Lian Qi agrees to facilitate a meeting, stating he cannot bear to see her in distress. Meanwhile, a recovering Tao Junran is with Yun He'an. She expresses her happiness to be by his side and shares her brother Yun Jiayu's elaborate plans, which she believes will restore Tao Junran to a position of even greater power. Unbeknownst to Yun He'an, Tao Junran is merely feigning reconciliation.
As a general, he is enduring the personal humiliation and feigning affection to gain Yun He'an's trust, hoping to expose Yun Jiayu's treacherous conspiracy to overthrow the existing regime. Yun Jiayu then arranges a private meeting with A Fan, sending her guards away. He reveals their shared bloodline, referring to her as his sister and recounting the history of their Westland royal family.
He claims that Midland, fearing Westland's strength, falsely labeled their father a tyrant, leading to Westland's downfall, their mother's flight, and A Fan's abandonment. Yun Jiayu implores A Fan to cast aside her personal affections and unite with him to exact revenge against Midland. He promises that with his control over Midland, the people of Azureland will finally be free.
To achieve this, he tasks A Fan with retrieving a crucial city defense map of Midland, hidden by their mother, the former high priest Xiahou Yuyuan, in a deep and perilous Azureland lake, a feat only possible for a descendant of the high priest. A Fan agrees. Although Lian Qi expresses skepticism about Yun Jiayu's narrative, A Fan insists that obtaining the map would give them strategic leverage, regardless of its accuracy.
A Fan dives into the dangerous lake and successfully retrieves both the city defense map and a hidden letter. However, before she can secure them, Tao Junran intercepts her underwater and seizes the map. Lian Qi takes an injured A Fan back home. Soon after, Tao Junran delivers the stolen city defense map to Yun Jiayu. Yun Jiayu then convenes with several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Zhang, to present the map and galvanize them for rebellion.
Prime Minister Zhang and the other officials enthusiastically pledge their allegiance to Yun Jiayu's ambitious cause. However, the rebellion hits a snag when Lord Liu secretly informs Yun Jiayu that the city defense map he possesses is a fake. While expertly crafted, Lord Liu points out subtle discrepancies between the map and the actual Imperial City layout, warning that using it would lead to significant military losses.
Enraged by this deception, Yun Jiayu immediately orders Tao Junran to be brought before him. Meanwhile, A Fan reads the letter from her mother, Xiahou Yuyuan. The letter reveals the devastating truth: her father, King Situ Tian of Westland, had betrayed Midland to confront Azureland, causing widespread chaos and suffering.
Her mother, deeply remorseful for the part she played, had hidden the vital city defense map and the letter in the lake, explicitly instructing A Fan never to let anyone use the map. This revelation shatters A Fan's belief in Yun Jiayu's narrative; she realizes that Midland had never betrayed Azureland, but rather, the King of Westland had deceived her mother.
She shares this shocking truth with Lian Qi, expressing profound regret and doubt about her alliance with Yun Jiayu, especially knowing that the map Tao Junran seized was intended for him. Lian Qi points out that Tao Junran's action of taking the map already signaled Yun Jiayu's lack of trust in her. Recognizing the immense suffering that war would inflict upon innocent people, A Fan resolves to prevent the conflict. Lian Qi reassures her, pledging that protecting her is his lifelong mission and that he will support her decision.
