Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 23 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Consumed by his unrequited love for Yun He'an, Zhuo Jiqing confronted her, expressing his willingness to do anything for her. He lamented that despite his devotion, her heart remained solely with Tao Junran. Yun He'an tried to silence him, but Zhuo Jiqing, in a fit of rage, struck a servant before knocking Yun He'an unconscious. Zhuo Jiqing then used Yun He'an's name to lure Tao Junran to the Yun mansion garden, where Tao Junran was drugged and rendered unconscious.
Meanwhile, Lian Qi had incapacitated Li Afan and entrusted Xiao Nanshan to escort her back to Azureland. During the journey, Li Afan regained consciousness and, appealing to Xiao Nanshan's past affection, convinced him to untie her, promising she wouldn't try to escape while the carriage was moving. Once untied, she feigned a stomachache, creating a diversion that allowed her to jump from the moving carriage and escape.
She then, accompanied by Xiao Nanshan, sought out Cao Qing and his group, who were searching for Tao Junran. Zhuo Jiqing took the unconscious Tao Junran from the Yun mansion, intending to kill him. Tao Junran, still groggy, questioned Zhuo Jiqing's elaborate plan, asking why he didn't just kill him at the Yun mansion.
Zhuo Jiqing revealed his deep hatred for Tao Junran, whom he accused of stealing Yun He'an's affections, explaining that he couldn't openly kill Tao Junran due to Yun He'an's potential sorrow. Instead, he planned to make it appear as though Tao Junran had actively escaped the Yun family and was then killed by Azurelanders. Tao Junran scoffed at his efforts, pointing out that Yun He'an had never truly cared for him.
Infuriated, Zhuo Jiqing ordered his men to kill Tao Junran. Just then, Cao Qing and Lian Qi arrived, deploying smoke bombs to create chaos and allow Tao Junran to escape. They split up to evade Zhuo Jiqing's pursuing forces. Zhuo Jiqing cornered Tao Junran and Lian Qi at the edge of a cliff. Li Afan and Xiao Nanshan rushed to their aid.
Tao Junran urged Lian Qi to let go of him, but Li Afan pleaded with Lian Qi to hold on, even threatening him if he didn't. In a moment of sacrifice, Lian Qi, recalling his past promises to Li Afan to protect her and ensure her freedom, entrusted her to Tao Junran's care, saying, "Afan, I entrust you to him." He then grabbed Zhuo Jiqing and plunged over the cliff, sacrificing himself and taking his enemy with him.
Witnessing Lian Qi's fall, Li Afan was overcome with grief and collapsed unconscious. Upon learning of Zhuo Jiqing's death and Tao Junran's survival, Yun Jiayu erupted in a furious tirade, deeming his subordinates utterly useless. Shortly after, Eunuch Wang arrived unannounced, revealing that he had intercepted Tao Junran's letter to the Emperor and swapped the real tiger tally for a fake one. He urged Yun Jiayu to accelerate his plans for rebellion.
Meanwhile, Yun He'an confronted Yun Jiayu about his increasingly drastic actions and demanded to know Tao Junran's whereabouts. Unmoved, Yun Jiayu ordered his guards to confine his sister to her chambers, forbidding her from leaving. Tao Junran, having learned from his subordinate that Yun Jiayu's soldiers were making moves, understood that the rebellion was imminent. With less than a hundred available soldiers in the city, the situation was dire.
Li Afan overheard their conversation and stepped forward, offering the support of the Azurelanders. She declared her determination to make Yun Jiayu pay for the injustices committed against her people. Tao Junran, worried for her safety, initially refused her help, pleading with her not to make him worry. However, Li Afan was resolute. Tao Junran and Li Afan eventually confronted Yun Jiayu.
Li Afan arrived bearing an imperial edict, which commanded the immediate arrest of Yun Jiayu for bribing an eunuch, stealing the tiger tally, and conspiring treason. Yun Jiayu, defiant, lashed out at Li Afan, blaming her and her mother for destroying his family and now thwarting his grand ambitions. He despairingly cried out to his ancestors that he had failed in his lifelong mission to restore their nation's glory.
As he feigned surrender to receive the imperial decree, Yun Jiayu lunged at Tao Junran with a hidden blade. Li Afan bravely intercepted the attack, taking the fatal blow herself and collapsing into Tao Junran's arms. Enraged by her sacrifice, Tao Junran unleashed his fury and killed Yun Jiayu. Distraught by Li Afan's critical condition, Tao Junran wept. To save her life, he transferred all his internal energy to the unconscious Li Afan, preserving her last breath.
This act, however, came at a heavy cost; his hair turned white overnight, and his own life hung in the balance. In the aftermath, the Emperor, having received Tao Junran's communications, the city defense map (which Tao Junran had given to Li Afan earlier), and the late Nanzheng's letters, finally understood the full truth behind the Azureland incident.
He learned of Xiahou Yuyan's unwavering loyalty to Midland despite being bewitched by the King of Westland, her sacrifice to protect her child, and the Azurelanders' long history of safeguarding Midland and rescuing its people. Recognizing their loyalty and past contributions, the Emperor issued an edict, granting amnesty to all Azurelanders, releasing them, and permitting them to return to their homeland to rebuild. The people of Azureland rejoiced at this long-awaited vindication.
Later, Cao Qing shared his plans with Tao Junran, revealing his intention to travel the world with San Yue Mei. He bid a heartfelt farewell to Tao Junran, thanking him for years of care and urging him to take good care of himself. As Cao Qing walked away, Tao Junran watched his departing figure, a profound sense of loneliness settling in his heart.
