Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 8 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Tao Junran and Cao Qing, along with their men, located A Fan. Tao Junran confronted Lian Qi, injuring him with a stab. As Lian Qi was being apprehended, A Fan revealed to Tao Junran that she overheard Lian Qi discussing a "sunken ship secret," which surprised Tao Junran. After the ordeal, Tao Junran returned A Fan's lost shakuhachi, an act that deeply touched her.
Meanwhile, Yun He'an, who was being held by Tao Junran, received an unexpected visit from her brother, Yun Jiayu. He presented a personal letter from the Empress Dowager, ordering Yun He'an's immediate return to the capital to be rewarded for her "medicine-finding" efforts. Yun He'an remained defiant and expressed her unwillingness to abandon Tao Junran. She urged Yun Jiayu to continue investigating A Fan, particularly to verify if A Fan could shed "blue tears."
During his visit, Yun Jiayu incidentally spotted A Fan's shakuhachi and was shocked to realize it was the other half of his father's precious instrument, immediately beginning to concoct a vicious plan. Tao Junran took A Fan to a master for her severe eye condition. The master revealed that A Fan's blindness was caused by internal 'wind poison' and stagnated blood, making it difficult to cure.
He offered a potent medicine called Huanqing Powder, warning that it was extremely dangerous and could even be fatal if she couldn't withstand it. A Fan, determined to regain her sight, bravely insisted on taking it, stating she would rather die than live in darkness. After consuming the medicine, A Fan's sight miraculously returned, overwhelming her with joy. She eagerly prepared to rush home and share the news with her father, Li Yu.
However, she suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed, losing her vision again. Believing she was dying, A Fan made a tearful farewell, entrusting her father to Tao Junran. Just as Tao Junran's heart sank, the master intervened, clarifying that A Fan was not dying but merely experiencing a severe headache and fainting spell caused by the medicine purging old blood and generating new. She would fully recover upon waking. This emotional rollercoaster deeply affected Tao Junran.
As Tao Junran prepared to leave, he sought the master's advice on a dilemma: what to do if a person he cared about turned out to be an enemy. The master offered a philosophical response, hinting at enduring connections despite adversity, suggesting Tao Junran ponder its meaning. In a cell, Tao Junran interrogated Lian Qi, pressing him for answers about A Fan's kidnapping and his conspiracy with Yun He'an. He also mentioned a missing merchant ship.
Lian Qi, however, stubbornly refused to reveal anything, daring Tao Junran to kill him. Tao Junran vowed to extract all his secrets before his eventual death. Shortly after Yun He'an's departure, Yun Jiayu moved into the house next door to A Fan. He approached her, feigning apology for his sister's past actions and presenting her with valuable gifts, including an exquisite shakuhachi. He complimented A Fan's unique shakuhachi and subtly requested to examine it.
Unsuspecting, A Fan handed him her shakuhachi, which Yun Jiayu secretly swapped for a fake. He then invited A Fan and Li Yu to "walk butterflies" with him at Frost Lake the following morning. Upon learning of Yun Jiayu's new proximity to A Fan, Tao Junran sensed danger. He immediately went to A Fan's home, urging her and Li Yu to move into the Tao Mansion for their safety.
A Fan declined, citing concerns about gossip and her unofficial relationship with Tao Junran, not wanting to upset his "fans." Yun Jiayu, who was present, interjected, advocating for A Fan's autonomy and further irritating Tao Junran. A Fan remained unaware of Yun Jiayu's insidious motives. The next day, Yun Jiayu took A Fan and Li Yu to Frost Lake to "walk butterflies."
While A Fan was enjoying herself, Yun Jiayu deliberately provoked a beehive, sending a swarm of hornets after them. He grabbed A Fan's hand and led her to escape, eventually jumping into the river to evade the stinging insects. As Yun Jiayu helped A Fan out of the water, he inadvertently saw a distinct birthmark on her neck/shoulder.
He immediately recognized it as the totem of the Southern Leader of Azureland, realizing A Fan was indeed the daughter of the Azureland's female leader. Tao Junran, having learned of the incident, rushed to the lake. Seeing a soaked and shivering A Fan, he swiftly carried her away in his arms, leaving a calculating Yun Jiayu alone by the water.
