Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 22 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
A Fan was held captive in the dungeon under Yun He'an's cruel treatment. She had been arrested by Zhuo Jiqing on Yun Jiayu's orders, who suspected her and Tao Junran were colluding to deceive him with a fake city defense map, and that their public fallout was a ruse. Tao Junran secretly visited A Fan in the dungeon. He tenderly applied medicine to her wounds, expressing his sorrow for putting her in such a dangerous situation.
Tao Junran offered to take A Fan away from her captivity, but she refused, asserting that she was willing to endure the suffering for their cause. Instead, A Fan urged him to remain steadfast and continue their fight to ensure that those who had sacrificed their lives did not die in vain. Deeply moved, Tao Junran wept and embraced her, promising that once their mission was accomplished, he would whisk her away from worldly troubles.
They would live happily in seclusion as an ordinary couple. A Fan accepted, playfully reminding him that he still owed her a grand wedding ceremony. Tao Junran vowed to fulfill this promise, committing to love and cherish her for eternity. Soon after, Zhuo Jiqing arrived at the dungeon to interrogate A Fan. A Fan, as part of their ongoing deception, handed him a city defense map that Tao Junran had provided.
Later, Yun Jiayu received the map and instructed Zhuo Jiqing to keep a close watch on A Fan. He emphasized that holding her captive was their most significant leverage against Tao Junran, preventing him from making any rash moves. Meanwhile, Cao Qing, working as a spy for Tao Junran, secretly met with Lian Qi and Nanshan. Lian Qi had recently been rescued from Yun Jiayu's water dungeon by Nanshan and Liao Zhongyan, who tragically died during their escape.
Cao Qing explained that Tao Junran had been compelled to marry Yun He'an to save him and had subsequently traveled to Azureland to find A Fan, while he remained in Midland to gather intelligence. He informed Lian Qi that A Fan was now in trouble and that Tao Junran urgently wished to speak with him.
When they met Tao Junran, Lian Qi expressed profound regret over Liao Zhongyan's death, blaming himself for not having heeded Tao Junran's earlier advice to stay in Azureland. Tao Junran, however, urged him not to dwell on the past but to focus on A Fan's plight, emphasizing that they could not allow her suffering to be in vain. Lian Qi then asked Tao Junran about his plan.
As Lian Qi and Cao Qing later attempted to rescue A Fan from the dungeon, they were intercepted by Zhuo Jiqing and his guards. Zhuo Jiqing hypnotized A Fan, causing her to lose control and violently attack Lian Qi. Seizing this opportunity, Zhuo Jiqing tried to kill Lian Qi. In a desperate and heroic act, Ruby bravely threw herself in front of Lian Qi, buying him precious time.
She managed to pass an antidote to Lian Qi before being fatally stabbed by Zhuo Jiqing. With Ruby's sacrifice, Cao Qing urged Lian Qi to leave quickly, as they were being pursued. Later, Cao Qing entrusted Lian Qi with a small portion of a city defense map and a critical letter, asking him to deliver it to the Emperor. Back at Yun Mansion, Yun He'an was playing chess with Tao Junran when a servant reported A Fan's escape.
Zhuo Jiqing immediately suspected Tao Junran of colluding with outsiders to help A Fan flee and demanded to arrest him for investigation. However, Yun He'an fiercely defended Tao Junran, asserting that they had been together the entire time and threatened Zhuo Jiqing if he dared to harm Tao Junran. She dismissed Zhuo Jiqing and tried to resume the chess game with Tao Junran, clearly unwilling to accept his possible involvement in the escape.
Sometime later, A Fan woke up, surprised to find herself safe with Nanshan. Nanshan told her that Lian Qi and Cao Qing had brought her back. When Lian Qi and Cao Qing returned looking soaked, A Fan inquired about their whereabouts. Cao Qing quickly fabricated a story about going to the market for food, then informed A Fan that they needed to travel to Azureland.
A Fan was hesitant to leave without Tao Junran, but Lian Qi insisted she return to Azureland, reiterating his regret for the suffering she had endured since he brought her to Midland. A Fan reluctantly agreed but warned Lian Qi not to make any more decisions behind her back. Lian Qi apologized and promised Nanshan that they would eventually return to Azureland, their true home. Meanwhile, Yun Jiayu continued to execute his grand scheme.
He had obtained a city defense map (provided by Tao Junran via A Fan) which detailed a secret underground palace. With this information and the Prime Minister's long-standing cooperation, Yun Jiayu successfully stole one half of the Tiger Tally from the Emperor. Yun Jiayu gloated about his achievement.
However, as the Prime Minister spoke of his past connection to Yun Jiayu's mother, Yun Jiayu poisoned him, coldly stating that his mother had been alone underground for too long and now had company. This ruthless act solidified Yun Jiayu's resolve. After an unsuccessful attempt by a subordinate to locate A Fan, Yun Jiayu grew impatient and commanded that Tao Junran be brought to him.
When Tao Junran arrived, Yun Jiayu, now in possession of one half of the Tiger Tally, attempted to coerce him into surrendering the other half. He reminded Tao Junran that as they were now "family" through Tao Junran's marriage to Yun He'an, their fates were intertwined, suggesting they collaborate to forge a new world. Tao Junran agreed to hand over his half of the Tiger Tally but only on the condition that A Fan be released.
Yun Jiayu initially dismissed the idea of discussion regarding his "troublemaker" sisters, but eventually agreed to release A Fan. Separately, Zhuo Jiqing found Yun He'an arranging flowers, presumably for Tao Junran. Distraught, Zhuo Jiqing confronted her, begging her to forget Tao Junran and acknowledge his feelings for her, even with just a glance. Yun He'an, however, coldly reminded him of his subordinate status.
Heartbroken, Zhuo Jiqing questioned why his love for her was wrong, lamenting that despite all his efforts, she had never truly seen him, her heart belonging only to Tao Junran. Yun He'an angrily ordered him to stop.
