The Eternal Love 2 Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

The Eternal Love 2 Synopsis

Qu Xiaotan, who has lost all her memories, and Mo Liancheng, who is scheming and plotting reunited, experiencing the Dong Yue Kingdom’s dispute for the Crown Prince position, and finally defeating their rivals to continue their happy lives.

The Eternal Love 2 Recap

Episode 1 Recap

After the Dark Emperor's explosion on Xuanling Continent, a powerful gravitational force reversed time and twisted space, pulling Mo Liancheng and Tan'er into a black hole. Mo Liancheng discovered the reality of parallel worlds, where a qualitative change in energy levels can trigger a new dimension, creating a time-space furcation where past and present selves coexist. He found himself on a strange continent, realizing he had failed to protect Tan'er, who had been pulled into a time-space crack and disappeared.

He searched desperately for her, and just as he was losing hope, he discovered he had arrived in her hometown. Believing he could find her because their Life Bond remained, he quickly absorbed modern knowledge and became a successful antiquarian to acquire more resources. Nearly a year later, Mo Liancheng finally found Tan'er. However, this version of her, Qu Xiaotan, had no Soul Bead, no Life Bond, and did not recognize him.

He realized that time, not just space, had been twisted, and he had found a past version of her who had never met him. Despite this, Mo Liancheng was determined to protect her, moved by her smile when she asked if he wished to buy a house. He also noticed that others were watching her.

One day, Qu Xiaotan, a real estate agent, was reprimanded by her manager for using a listed property to shower due to a broken water heater at home. Her manager then urgently tasked her with delivering documents to a major client, Mo Liancheng, giving her only ten minutes. At his villa, Qu Xiaotan found the door's access panel unresponsive. Mo Liancheng claimed he forgot his keys and password, and goaded her into climbing the wall.

Grumbling to herself but desperate for the commission, she agreed, boasting that wall-climbing was her specialty. As Qu Xiaotan scaled the wall, Mo Liancheng casually opened the door from the inside, announcing he had remembered the password. Furious, she remained perched on the wall and asked for help getting down. He refused, citing it was improper for a man and a woman to touch. She muttered a curse, calling him a "sissy," and eventually slipped.

Mo Liancheng rushed to catch her, but she later accused him of letting her go, which he denied. Deciding to endure his antics for the commission, she moved on. Later, while presenting house layouts, Mo Liancheng abruptly asked her to marry him, explaining that as a non-native, marrying a local would allow him to purchase another property. Flustered but tempted by the prospect of a wealthy, handsome husband, Qu Xiaotan hesitated.

Seeing this, Mo Liancheng quickly retracted the offer, saying it was inappropriate, leaving her disappointed. Mo Liancheng then went to practice calligraphy. Qu Xiaotan eagerly followed to grind his ink, privately complaining about his silence. She accidentally spilled ink on his clothes and, while cleaning it, noticed a tattoo on his chest. After she had looked her fill, he instructed her to hand-wash his clothes.

Their interaction was interrupted when a woman named Lin Ke stormed in, calling Mo Liancheng by his name and demanding to know who Qu Xiaotan was. Mo Liancheng coldly introduced Lin Ke as a business partner, told her his personal affairs were none of her concern, and warned her not to visit his private residence unannounced again. Humiliated, Lin Ke, who had come to invite him to dinner, left in anger.

That evening, Qu Xiaotan posted on social media, warning other agents about a "wretched young man." Moments later, Mo Liancheng called, stating he was downstairs and telling her to come down immediately. He drove her to an upscale restaurant, explaining that he was hungry and eating alone was sad. He dismissed her questions about Lin Ke and gave her his own steak, claiming it wasn't cooked to his preference.

As she enjoyed the meal, he playfully suggested that marrying him would allow her to eat such food often. After dinner, back in the car, Mo Liancheng had Qu Xiaotan add him on WeChat, giving her the password "0529". Just as she finished, he sensed danger and pushed her out of the car. An instant later, a massive object crashed onto the car, destroying it.

Qu Xiaotan was stunned, and her shock grew when a doctor confirmed that Mo Liancheng, despite being inside the wreck, was completely unharmed. Feeling indebted to him, she reluctantly agreed to take care of her "savior," who feigned injury and demanded she make him tea and cut fruit. Later that night, exhausted, Qu Xiaotan fell asleep on the kitchen floor while peeling an apple. Mo Liancheng gently carried her to her bed.

Watching her sleep, he silently vowed to protect her and cherish this second chance, determined to live peacefully by her side, no matter the cost. The next morning, Qu Xiaotan woke up to find Mo Liancheng in her bed. Startled, she accused him of crossing a line. Feigning innocence and injury, he retorted that as a "badly injured patient," he had no idea how he got there.

Episode 2 Recap

Qu Xiaotan, browsing her social media, notes the lack of appealing men and decides her university crush, Yuan, while not as handsome as Mo Liancheng, is worth a like. Immediately after, Mo Liancheng calls her. Still grappling with the emotional aftermath of the previous night, Qu Xiaotan ignores his call and, out of spite, accepts Yuan's sudden invitation for a date. Unknown to her, Mo Liancheng has already arrived at her apartment, only to find she is not home.

At the bar, Yuan compliments Qu Xiaotan's appearance and reminisces about their university days, but his demeanor makes her uneasy. She excuses herself to the restroom, and while she is gone, Yuan secretly drugs her drink, intending to take advantage of her. Feeling dizzy, Qu Xiaotan is led away by Yuan in his car. On the road, their car passes Mo Liancheng’s, though he does not notice them at the time.

When Mo Liancheng arrives at the bar, he shows Qu Xiaotan’s photo to a server, who confirms she just left. Noticing a strange residue in a cup on her table, Mo Liancheng recognizes signs related to the Xuanling Continent. This chilling realization leads him to deduce the girl he had just passed in Yuan’s car was, in fact, Qu Xiaotan.

Mo Liancheng tracks Yuan to a factory, easily subdues him and his thugs, and brings a still-unconscious Qu Xiaotan back to his home. The next morning, she awakens in Mo Liancheng’s arms. Startled, she pushes him away, accusing him of overstepping. Mo Liancheng retorts by reminding her of her actions while unconscious, suggesting she enjoyed being close to him.

Confused and vaguely remembering a bar, Qu Xiaotan humorously wonders if she fantasized about him so much that she ended up at his house drunk. Mo Liancheng clarifies that Yuan answered her phone when he called, claiming she was heavily intoxicated, so he went to pick her up. Qu Xiaotan challenges his supposed kindness, asking why he didn't just take her home. Annoyed, Mo Liancheng sarcastically comments on her poor taste in men.

Their argument escalates when Qu Xiaotan discovers he logged into her WeChat account. Outraged, she accuses him of spying on her and playing with her feelings, asserting that she just wants a normal life. Mo Liancheng tries to explain that he is only protecting her, internally admitting he acquired an ancient bed to prevent her return to Dongyue and must eliminate the Soul Hunters to ensure her safety, but Qu Xiaotan dismisses his words as preposterous.

Qu Xiaotan’s manager calls, threatening to fire her if she doesn’t immediately go sign the contract with Mr. Mo. Left with no choice, Qu Xiaotan complies. After Mo Liancheng signs the agreement, she prepares to leave, but he stops her to tell a story. He recounts a tale about the Eighth Prince of Dongyue and his wife from another world who, after being separated, were reunited in her world.

However, the prince discovered she was from a time before she knew him. He resolved to make her fall in love with him again, despite his own clumsiness. Qu Xiaotan assumes it's a fantasy novel, but Mo Liancheng reveals he is that prince and she is his wife. Unsurprisingly, she dismisses his story as a fabrication.

Despite his earnest warnings that someone is trying to kill her and only he can protect her, Qu Xiaotan remains unconvinced, tells him to calm down, and leaves, believing he is either crazy or taking her for a fool. Anticipating her disbelief, Mo Liancheng follows her by car, feeling a sudden, inexplicable pain in his chest. As Qu Xiaotan walks, a car pulls up beside her.

A mysterious woman mutters something, and Qu Xiaotan, appearing mesmerized, obediently gets into the vehicle. Mo Liancheng witnesses this and gives chase. The car speeds towards a cliff where, to Mo Liancheng’s horror, Qu Xiaotan gets out and jumps into the sea without hesitation. Mo Liancheng instantly leaps in after her. In Dongyue, the Grand Prince Mo Yihuai and the Second Lady, Qu Tan'er, are deeply in love. Mo Yihuai vows he will never marry anyone else.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, pondering a past edict that foretells the Eighth Prince Mo Liancheng's death at twenty-five, summons Mo Yihuai. He announces Mo Yihuai's arranged marriage to Qu Pan'er, the eldest daughter of Lord Qu, a strategic match. Mo Yihuai vehemently refuses, declaring his undying love for Qu Tan'er. Enraged, the Emperor threatens to execute Qu Tan'er. Just as Mo Yihuai is about to reluctantly concede, Mo Liancheng arrives.

Hearing of the betrothal, Mo Liancheng cynically suggests Mo Yihuai is choosing power over love, as the concubine-born Qu Tan'er offers less political advantage. In response, a distraught Mo Yihuai proclaims he would rather die with Qu Tan'er than marry Qu Pan'er. This defiance infuriates the Emperor, who strips Mo Yihuai of his princely title and banishes him to his manor. At the Qu residence, Qu Tan'er lies unconscious after having thrown herself into a lake.

The doctor declares her dead and advises the family to prepare for her funeral. As the household mourns, she suddenly sits upright, startling everyone. Unbeknownst to them, it is not the heartbroken Qu Tan'er who has awoken, but the modern Qu Xiaotan, whose consciousness has transmigrated into the body. Confused, Qu Xiaotan wonders aloud where she is. Her maid, Jingxin, explains that she is in her home in Dongyue and has been unconscious for three days. Bewildered, Qu Xiaotan rushes outside, confirming she is in an unfamiliar, ancient world. Elsewhere, Mo Liancheng also regains consciousness, realizing he too has returned to Dongyue.

Episode 3 Recap

Waking in a daze, Qu Xiaotan found herself on a bed, with a maid named Jingxin feeding her porridge. Xiaotan asked for a mirror to check her appearance, but the blurry copper mirror left her longing for modern cameras and photo-editing software. She comforted a crying Jingxin, declaring herself the "queen of real estate agents" and vowing to overcome any hardship.

From Jingxin, Xiaotan learned she was in the body of the Qu family's second daughter, who had a stepmother known as the Grand Lady, a half-sister named Qu Pan’er, and was involved in a dramatic love triangle with her sister and the Grand Prince. Curious about her new family's wealth, Xiaotan inquired about their assets, only to be told by Jingxin that as the daughter of a concubine, she had enough for daily needs but no extra money for luxuries.

This shattered Xiaotan’s fantasy of being a rich socialite. She then slyly asked Jingxin about the most handsome man in Dongyue. Jingxin revealed that the Eighth Prince was widely considered the most handsome, though she personally found the Grand Prince more appealing. Jingxin cautioned Xiaotan not to let her father or the Grand Lady know about their conversation, fearing punishment. Determined not to be bullied in this new world, Xiaotan decided to escape the Qu mansion.

Despite Jingxin's pleas, Xiaotan, confident in the wall-climbing skills she gained as a real estate agent, scaled the high wall and fled, noting the family’s lax security. Unbeknownst to her, the Eighth Prince observed her actions from a distance, finding her interesting. Out on the streets, Qu Xiaotan unsuccessfully questioned passersby about strange astronomical phenomena. Meanwhile, the time-traveling Mo Liancheng, disguised in a hat, followed her.

When Xiaotan passed a sugar figure stall with no money to pay, she performed a unique dance to earn a treat, attracting a large crowd. From the second floor of a nearby inn, the Eighth Prince also watched the spectacle. Suddenly, a cavalry unit charged through the street, and as the crowd scattered, Xiaotan remained in their path.

The time-traveling Mo Liancheng moved to save her but was stunned when he saw his other self, the Eighth Prince, descend from the building to rescue her. This confirmed his suspicion: the space-time rift had brought him back to Dongyue in the fifteenth year of Yuanning, where he now faced his past self. The soldiers, led by General Wei, proceeded to the Qu mansion and arrested everyone.

General Wei announced an imperial edict: the Minister of Revenue, Qu Jianglin, was stripped of his title and exiled for corruption. All his assets were confiscated, and the female members of his household were to be enslaved. The eldest daughter, Qu Pan’er, was sent to Noble Consort DuGu's palace, while the second daughter, now inhabited by Qu Xiaotan, was sent to the Eighth Prince’s mansion as a slave.

The time-traveling Mo Liancheng witnessed these unexpected events, noting that Qu Tan’er was not betrothed to him as she should have been. He suspected his arrival had caused a "butterfly effect" altering history and wondered to himself about the whereabouts of the Soul Bead. Noticing General Wei's uncharacteristic involvement in court politics, Mo Liancheng decided to remain hidden and observe, believing Qu Tan’er would be safe in the Eighth Prince’s mansion while he formulated a plan.

Qu Xiaotan and Jingxin became maids in the Eighth Prince’s mansion. During Chief Butler Zhou’s lecture on household rules, Qu Xiaotan spotted the Eighth Prince. Believing him to be Mo Liancheng, she excitedly called out his name, declared him her boyfriend, and rushed towards him. Guards restrained her, and Chief Butler Zhou punished her with sweeping duties.

Xiaotan remained convinced that the Eighth Prince was Mo Liancheng, who had also time-traveled, and resolved to find a way to approach him and find a way back to her own time. Jingxin, demonstrating her loyalty, pledged to handle the chores so Xiaotan's hands wouldn't be roughened. Touched, Xiaotan declared Jingxin her best friend and asked to be called "Xiaotan."

Meanwhile, the time-traveling Mo Liancheng sought out Liu Qianshui, revealing he knew of Liu's origin from the Xuanling Continent, his quest for the Soul Bead's host, and his possession of the Soul Wandering Flute. He demanded a disguise, which Liu Qianshui agreed to create. Mo Liancheng then inquired about Dongyue's political situation and learned of rumors that Noble Consort DuGu was using black magic on the emperor, whose health was declining.

Realizing his father's life was at risk, Mo Liancheng resolved to stay hidden, protect Qu Tan’er, and foil the political schemes, hoping he could also prevent the tragic fate of his elder brother, the Grand Prince. Liu Qianshui offered Mo Liancheng lodging in his courtyard. Later, Qu Xiaotan got the opportunity to clean the Eighth Prince’s study. When he entered early, she excitedly called out "Mo Liancheng."

The Eighth Prince, recognizing her as the "crazy girl" from the street, admonished her for her impudence. Before she could be punished, Yu Hao arrived with an edict from the Empress Dowager summoning the Eighth Prince to her palace. As they departed, the Eighth Prince inquired about Xiaotan's identity. Yu Hao explained she was the Qu family's second daughter, whom the Grand Prince wished to marry, but who had reportedly lost her memory after falling into a lake.

Confused and fearful about why the Eighth Prince had acted so coldly, Qu Xiaotan wondered if she had been mistaken. Shortly after, the time-traveling Mo Liancheng, now successfully disguised, appeared in the courtyard where she was sweeping. Recalling Yu Hao's earlier warning, Xiaotan instinctively bowed. However, Mo Liancheng pulled her into an embrace from behind and reassured her, "Tan'er, it's so good to see you safe. I won't let you be in danger again. I will never leave you."

Episode 4 Recap

Mo Liancheng, in his disguised form, approaches Qu Xiaotan, asking about her well-being in the Prince's palace and if she has been mistreated. He then adopts a serious tone, advising her that her status has changed and the palace is rife with internal conflicts and treacherous individuals, urging her to be cautious and avoid reckless actions. Qu Xiaotan is bewildered by his sudden shift in demeanor from coldness to tenderness.

She speculates that he must be Mo Liancheng, believing his initial harshness was a reaction to her past rejection of his confession, and resolves to change her approach. In the imperial palace, the Empress Dowager informs the Eighth Prince that Noble Consort Dugu was behind Qu Jianglin's demotion. She instructs him to treat Qu Jianglin's family with kindness, particularly Qu Tan'er, who is now assigned to his palace.

Qu Tan'er is not to perform hard labor and should instead be promoted to Lady Steward. The Eighth Prince, perplexed by the order to promote her beyond merely exempting her from labor, questions the reason. The Empress Dowager firmly states that she has her own rationale and he need not inquire further, so he assents.

Back at the Prince's palace, Qu Xiaotan confronts the Eighth Prince, repeatedly apologizing and offering to try a relationship with him, under the firm belief he is Mo Liancheng. The Eighth Prince, deeming her words absurd and impertinent for a maid, scolds her and threatens punishment for her unruly behavior. However, he immediately instructs Yu Hao to promote "Miss Qu" to Lady Steward, exempting her from menial tasks.

The Fourteenth Prince observes this interaction, finding Qu Tan'er amusing and playfully suggesting she would bring happiness to his brother if they were to marry. Still confused by the Eighth Prince's contradictory actions, Qu Xiaotan internally concludes that his initial rejection was due to him being a grudge-bearing Scorpio, but her persistent displays of affection have earned her a promotion, leading her to believe continued effort will eventually make him acknowledge their connection.

That night, Mo Yihuai, desperate to see Qu Tan'er after being confined for half a month, demands to leave his palace. He is informed that Qu Tan'er drowned herself days ago. Mo Yihuai vehemently denies this, his heart shattered, and attempts to take his own life to join her. A cloaked figure, Mo Liancheng in disguise, intervenes, urging Mo Yihuai to compose himself and reminding him of his father, the Emperor.

Mo Yihuai dismisses this, believing his father only favors Noble Consort Dugu. Mo Liancheng then reveals that Qu Tan'er is not dead, halting Mo Yihuai's desperate actions. Mo Yihuai orders Yun Ying to immediately verify Qu Tan'er's safety. Later, Mo Liancheng infiltrates the imperial palace. He observes Noble Consort Dugu attending to the Emperor, noting her significant rise in status and suspecting the Emperor's recurring headaches are linked to the medicinal soup she administers.

As Mo Liancheng makes his escape, his movements attract the attention of palace guards, prompting a pursuit. Though he successfully evades them, Noble Consort Dugu, without seeing his face, recognizes his unique martial arts style. Noble Consort Dugu immediately summons General Wei, convinced that the intruder in the Emperor's study was the Eighth Prince, who must have discovered her scheme of drugging the Emperor. She declares it is time to eliminate him.

General Wei expresses hesitation, citing the Eighth Prince's meticulous nature and his own lack of incriminating evidence, in addition to the Soul-Suppressing Pearl's unknown whereabouts. Noble Consort Dugu reminds him that the Eighth Prince was responsible for the massacre of his family, a blood feud he must not forget. She then unveils her plan, revealing her identity as a survivor from the Dayu Dynasty, which was destroyed by the Emperor's clan.

With the First Prince already losing power and the Emperor controlled by her drugs, she believes that weakening the Eighth Prince's influence will plunge Dongyue into chaos, providing the perfect opportunity for her to avenge her clan and restore her fallen nation. In the Eighth Prince's study, the Fourteenth Prince enters while his brother is playing chess, expressing concern about the impending designation of a Crown Prince and the political turmoil caused by Noble Consort Dugu.

The Eighth Prince calmly replies that they will deal with challenges as they come. Yu Hao then informs the Eighth Prince that the brilliant strategist Liu Shang is rumored to be coming out of retirement. The Fourteenth Prince is excited, praising Liu Shang as an incomparable genius whose strategies could bring peace to the world, and hopes they can recruit him. Later, Qu Xiaotan, determined to get the Eighth Prince to acknowledge her, attempts a new strategy.

She boldly declares her affection for him, praising his physique, alluring voice, and wealth, claiming she has been smitten since he was injured saving her. She suggests they try dating and let their feelings develop. The Eighth Prince scolds her for her disrespectful and nonsensical behavior. Frustrated, Qu Xiaotan calls him narrow-minded, questions if he is too attached to his princely status, and suggests they should work together to return home since they are from the same place.

Before their argument escalates, a steward rushes in and pulls Qu Xiaotan away to be punished for her disrespect. The Eighth Prince then orders her to kneel for six hours, and when she protests, he remarks that she seems to have "lost her mind." That night, after her punishment, Qu Xiaotan complains to Jingxin about her aching knees, baffled by the Eighth Prince's refusal to acknowledge her despite her persistent attempts.

Suddenly, a knock at the door reveals a wooden box outside. Inside, Qu Xiaotan finds two sachets and a mysterious note warning her not to flirt with other men, which she finds baffling. Qu Xiaotan then volunteers to serve the Eighth Prince during his bath, replacing Jingxin. Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Prince questions Jingxin about Qu Xiaotan's unusual behavior and strange vocabulary, such as "go die," which Jingxin explains is a recent change since her lady's drowning attempt.

In the bathing chamber, Qu Xiaotan bombards the Eighth Prince with questions about modern concepts like "skyscrapers, planes, and cars," asking if he's fallen recently or has a twin brother, hoping for a clue. Growing impatient, she boldly attempts to pull open his robes, declaring she will find the "truth" by checking for a specific scar. After a brief struggle, she succeeds, but to her dismay, finds no mark on his chest.

Realizing she has made a grave mistake and that he is not Mo Liancheng, Qu Xiaotan is consumed by despair at the thought of being trapped in this world as a maid with no hope of return. In the imperial court, General Wei presents a joint memorial from several high-ranking ministers, accusing the Eighth Prince of dereliction of duty. The memorial claims that recent fires in the capital were due to the Capital Army's delayed response.

General Wei further implies that the army's loyalty solely to the Eighth Prince suggests a desire for unauthorized power. The Emperor is enraged. When the Eighth Prince is summoned, he perceives Noble Consort Dugu's trap. Recognizing his father's inherent distrust, the Eighth Prince admits fault rather than offering a defense that would only intensify suspicion. The Emperor strips the Eighth Prince of his command over the Capital Army, assigning it to General Wei, and reclaims the Royal Command token.

Overwhelmed by despair, Qu Xiaotan laments her fate, blaming Mo Liancheng for her predicament of being trapped in a "three-no's" place: no freedom, no security, and no entertainment. Meanwhile, General Wei learns that the Emperor is planning a hunting expedition to test the Eighth Prince's loyalty. On Noble Consort Dugu's orders, he schemes to use this opportunity to frame and eliminate him. During the hunt, assassins attack the Emperor with arrows bearing the Eighth Prince's unique emblem.

The Emperor instantly suspects treachery. However, as another volley of arrows flies, the Eighth Prince shields the Emperor, sustaining an injury himself. When General Wei arrives and points out the emblem on an arrow, the Emperor, now convinced of his son's loyalty, declares it a malicious frame-up and breaks the arrow. Later, the Fourteenth Prince angrily explains to his brother how the hunt was clearly a trap set by General Wei.

The Eighth Prince acknowledges the treachery but is more intrigued by the mystery of who fired the arrow that saved him, marveling at the unknown person's intelligence in foiling the scheme. Yu Hao then mentions a rumor that the brilliant strategist Liu Shang has recently arrived in the capital, though his whereabouts remain unknown.

Episode 5 Recap

Qu Xiaotan’s demeanor towards the Eighth Prince underwent a swift change, prompting Jingxin to question why she was suddenly bringing nourishing soup after previously criticizing him. Qu Xiaotan explained that as a dependent, she had no choice but to be subservient, especially after offending the Prince multiple times. She saw his recent injury from the hunting expedition as an ideal opportunity to curry favor and improve her living conditions.

She even elaborated on her choice of trotter and soybean soup, claiming its collagen could both heal wounds and beautify. Meanwhile, in the study, the Eighth Prince and Fourteenth were discussing matters when Yu Hao announced the arrival of Liu Shang. As Qu Xiaotan entered with the soup, she saw Liu Shang, and an inexplicable connection passed between them. The Eighth Prince, observing their interaction, felt a pang of displeasure.

Liu Shang, a man of exceptional talent, came seeking to assist the Eighth Prince. He revealed that he was responsible for thwarting the plot at the hunting ground. Having been in Dongyue for some time covertly observing the political landscape, he discovered General Wei Zongheng had stolen the Eighth Prince’s exclusive arrows and anticipated the conspiracy.

He then monitored Wei’s assassin at the hunting grounds and fired a second arrow only after the assassin had acted, ensuring the Prince suffered only a minor injury while the scheme was foiled. Fourteenth eagerly suggested using this to undermine Noble Consort Dugu. However, both the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang advised caution, noting that the Emperor was already wary of the Eighth Prince and further investigation might arouse more suspicion.

Liu Shang then proposed a strategy to help the Eighth Prince secure the Crown Prince position. Citing his knowledge of astronomical phenomena, he predicted a destructive, decade-rare flood in the Yellow River. He advised the Prince to proactively deliver food to the affected areas, which would garner support from influential court ministers. The Eighth Prince, however, remained skeptical of the prediction and of Liu Shang’s motives.

Liu Shang explained that over ten years ago, the Eighth Prince had saved a drowning child in Nan city, and he was that child. The Eighth Prince remained deeply suspicious, unsettled by Liu Shang's uncanny ability to anticipate his thoughts and particularly wary of how Liu Shang recoiled from his touch. Before leaving, Liu Shang recommended a hot spring on Yumen Mountain for the Prince's injuries.

In a secluded area, Liu Shang met with Liu Qianshui, revealing that he was in fact Mo Liancheng from the future, wearing an elaborate disguise. Liu Qianshui cautioned him that the mask was not waterproof. When pressed for the identity of the Soul Bead’s host, Mo Liancheng cryptically told him to watch for the "Mars is close to Antares" celestial event.

He then revealed his secret: a space-time anomaly had brought him to this era, meaning two versions of himself now existed. Mo Liancheng asked why touching the First Prince or the current Eighth Prince caused an electric shock. Liu Qianshui explained that because he did not belong to this timeline, touching any blood relatives was a "prohibited zone" that triggered a warning. At the palace, Noble Consort Dugu was furious about the failed plot.

General Wei suspected Liu Shang’s interference and proposed a new scheme: to exploit the First Prince’s affection for his childhood sweetheart, Qu Tan'er, to sow discord between the brothers. With Qu Tan'er now a servant in the Eighth Prince's residence, they could manipulate the situation, let the princes destroy each other, and then seize control. Dugu approved and summoned Qu Pan'er. Qu Pan'er arrived at the Eighth Prince’s residence to see her sister.

After flaunting a valuable bracelet from Noble Consort Dugu, she deliberately dropped and broke it, then accused Qu Xiaotan of the deed. Chief Butler Zhou rushed in and immediately blamed Qu Xiaotan, but Liu Shang (Mo Liancheng) forcefully intervened, throwing Qu Pan'er aside and declaring Qu Xiaotan under his protection. He examined the bracelet, pointing out that its clean fracture proved it was broken intentionally. Cornered, Qu Pan'er claimed it was just a joke, enraging Xiaotan.

Liu Shang warned Qu Pan'er against further schemes and admonished Chief Butler Zhou for his biased judgment, ordering all staff to treat Qu Xiaotan with respect. Afterward, Liu Shang led Qu Xiaotan to a room that held many of their shared memories. He asked her to help him change his clothes, and as she reached for his belt, he leaned in and kissed her. Though initially stunned and angry, Xiaotan found herself unexpectedly enjoying it.

Liu Shang then casually asked about her love life; she admitted someone had pursued her, rating the suitor a "nine" in looks but calling Liu Shang a "perfect ten." He then dismissed her, warning her never to speak of their encounter. Later, Qu Xiaotan playfully told fortunes for the maids using her knowledge of zodiac signs. When Jingxin brought up a childhood prank they had played, Xiaotan claimed to have no memory of it.

This lapse left Jingxin perplexed, noting that her mistress seemed to be forgetting her own past. Subsequently, the Eighth Prince inquired about Liu Shang’s accommodations. Liu Shang expressed his satisfaction but requested Qu Tan'er's assistance as his Lady Steward. He provided a strategic reason: he wanted to inquire about her demoted father, Qu Jianglin, to aid in their planning. The Prince, again struck by Liu Shang’s foresight, agreed.

As a final warning, Liu Shang advised the Prince that Dugu and Wei would not give up and that he should increase his security. The Prince acknowledged his intelligence but reminded him of the importance of loyalty.

Episode 6 Recap

The Eighth Prince, though acknowledging Liu Shang's intelligence, expressed his desire for Liu Shang to remain loyal. Liu Shang reassured him, citing the Eighth Prince's life-saving grace and benevolent nature as reasons for his unwavering allegiance. To further prove his sincerity, Liu Shang presented the Eighth Prince with a special flagon featuring a thermal inner lining, explaining it would keep his wine warm.

This gesture, however, only deepened the Eighth Prince's suspicion, as Liu Shang seemed to know him too well. As his attendant reminded him it was time to visit the Empress Dowager, the Eighth Prince quietly instructed Yu Hao to closely monitor Liu Shang's every move. Meanwhile, Jingxin grew increasingly perplexed by Qu Xiaotan's behavior.

She found it strange that Qu Xiaotan claimed to have forgotten everything, including details of her past, and that her handwriting was now sprawling and messy, a stark contrast to the elegant script of the original Qu Tan'er. Just then, the Fourteenth Prince passed by and playfully teased Jingxin, offering her a box of high-quality Persian pomade. Jingxin politely declined, stating that as a humble maid, she had no need for makeup.

The Fourteenth Prince charmingly countered that he would admire her beauty, but Jingxin quickly excused herself, leaving him to ponder her unhappiness. Later, Jingxin found it peculiar that Liu Shang had summoned Qu Xiaotan merely to play chess without speaking, and had also asked her to prepare a pot of roses for him to collect that evening. As Qu Xiaotan remarked on Liu Shang's eccentricities, someone knocked at the door.

It was Mo Yihuai, the Grand Prince, who had eluded his guards to infiltrate the manor. He seized Qu Xiaotan's hand, expressing how much he had missed her. Recognizing him as a key figure in a love triangle she wanted no part of, Xiaotan pushed him away. In the process, a vintage pocket watch fell from his person. Mistaking him for a fellow time-traveler, she subtly probed if he was also a "fellow countryman."

Mo Yihuai misinterpreted her words as proof that she had become mentally ill and forgotten him. He pretended to play along, seizing the opportunity to take her away. Just as they were leaving, the Eighth Prince appeared, snatching Qu Xiaotan from Mo Yihuai's grasp. He declared that Qu Tan'er was now his consort's maid and future Princess, sternly warning his brother not to covet his woman. Though unwilling, Mo Yihuai had no choice but to depart.

The Eighth Prince then ordered Qu Xiaotan never to look at other men again. Surprisingly, Qu Xiaotan felt an inexplicable pull towards him. Their embrace was secretly witnessed by a hidden Qu Pan'er. The Eighth Prince, about to say more, spotted his own carriage approaching and quickly pulled Qu Xiaotan into an alley to hide. The Eighth Prince cautioned Qu Xiaotan not to reveal their meeting to anyone before swiftly departing.

Left alone, Qu Xiaotan was discovered by Yu Hao, who questioned why she was out after curfew. Thinking quickly, she claimed to be on the Eighth Prince's orders. This was overheard by the Eighth Prince himself, who was now in the carriage. He publicly denounced her lie, ordering Butler Zhou to deduct her monthly salary and threatening her with a flogging for any repeat offense.

Qu Xiaotan was left bewildered and infuriated by the prince's wildly inconsistent behavior, silently cursing the "drama queen." Elsewhere, the time-traveling Mo Liancheng, disguised as Liu Shang, was suffering from increasingly severe "forbidden area attacks." Liu Qianshui explained that this was a backlash for disrupting the natural flow of time. He warned that as Mo Liancheng's presence in this timeline continued, his senses would gradually fade until he vanished completely.

Liu Qianshui provided him with pills to alleviate the symptoms but cautioned that each dose would intensify subsequent attacks and accelerate his disappearance, urging him to find a way to return to his own time as soon as possible. The Ninth Prince, Jingkang, returned to the capital after a decade on the border and met with Mo Yihuai, expressing concern over his brother's predicament with Qu Tan'er.

Later, Jingkang had an audience with the Emperor and successfully pleaded for Mo Yihuai's house arrest to be lifted, convincing the Emperor that his elder son was deeply remorseful for his past defiance. Back in the Eighth Prince's study, Qu Xiaotan was serving as the prince deliberately wrote a letter, stating aloud that its contents could lead to the Grand Prince's downfall.

He instructed Yu Hao to guard it carefully, intending to use it as bait to test if Qu Xiaotan was a spy. Later, the Eighth Prince met with Liu Shang, questioning how he had predicted the Yellow River flood. Liu Shang claimed he had learned divination from a Taoist in his youth.

When the Eighth Prince suggested using Mo Yihuai's newfound freedom to incite conflict, Liu Shang advised caution, urging him to prioritize brotherly affection and recounting a painful (and likely fabricated) story of his own brother's death to emphasize his point. That night, a hungry Qu Xiaotan sneaked into the kitchen and found a basket of steamed dumplings. The Eighth Prince appeared and chastised her for breaking curfew again.

Qu Xiaotan complained that Butler Zhou had forbidden her from eating all day as punishment. Seeing her desperation, the prince softened and allowed her to take the dumplings, warning her to finish them all. The following day, Qu Xiaotan's attempt to sneak out was thwarted by the Eighth Prince.

After she admitted to being homesick, he proposed three new rules for her: first, she must not look him directly in the eyes; second, she could not approach him unless he initiated contact; and third, she was absolutely forbidden from entering his bedroom. This was a calculated move by the time-traveling Mo Liancheng, who recalled that his own love for Qu Tan'er in his original timeline began with suspicion.

He now intended to prevent his past self from falling for her and thus avoid becoming his own rival. Later, while serving tea, Qu Xiaotan diligently followed the new rules, keeping her head lowered. The Eighth Prince observed her submissive behavior and, after consulting with Yu Hao, learned she had been deliberately avoiding him. He misinterpreted her avoidance as a sign of shy affection, dismissing his suspicions and beginning to develop genuine feelings for her.

He even asked Yu Hao to bring him steamed dumplings, a food he previously detested. The Fourteenth Prince noticed the Eighth Prince's good mood and his sudden fondness for the dumplings. When the Eighth Prince asked what it meant if a woman suddenly avoided a man, the Fourteenth Prince concluded it was a sure sign of love.

Their conversation was cut short when Yu Hao rushed in with an urgent message: a key informant from the palace needed an immediate meeting. Suspecting it concerned the succession, the Eighth Prince ordered his horse, telling the Fourteenth Prince to go to the palace and gather information.

Episode 7 Recap

Qu Xiaotan complained to Jingxin about the Eighth Prince's moody personality, suggesting he must have experienced a significant childhood trauma or was simply a "drama queen." Jingxin mimicked the Eighth Prince's angry facial expressions, which Qu Xiaotan praised for its accuracy. Suddenly, Mo Liancheng appeared behind them. He startled Qu Xiaotan, who nearly fell, but he caught her in time. Seeing this, Jingxin discreetly excused herself.

Qu Xiaotan clarified to Mo Liancheng that since he had initiated the proximity, it did not count as her breaking their three-part agreement. Mo Liancheng was pleased by her adherence to their rules and affirmed that he had indeed been the one to approach her. Just as they were growing closer, the Eighth Prince's carriage returned. Startled, Mo Liancheng immediately released Qu Xiaotan and vanished, leaving her feeling both embarrassed and vexed.

Qu Xiaotan then muttered to herself, labeling Mo Liancheng a "terminal-stage drama queen" for his behavior. A scheme had been devised to lure the Eighth Prince out of his palace, with the dual purpose of exposing a disloyal palace spy and providing a timely warning to the Eighth Prince himself. After receiving a secret letter, the Eighth Prince left his residence. However, sensing that something was amiss, he quickly returned.

He questioned his guards about any unusual activity within the palace during his absence, to which they reported that everything had been normal. Perplexed, the Eighth Prince pondered the true intention of the person who had used the secret letter to lure him away. He instructed Yu Hao to immediately go to the palace, meet with their informant, and determine why the informant had failed to attend their meeting.

He further ordered Yu Hao to change their secret code at once if the informant had not sent the letter, as this could mean the informant himself had been compromised. Qu Xiaotan stormed back to her room, berating Jingxin for abandoning her. Jingxin, concerned, asked if the Eighth Prince had harmed her, but Qu Xiaotan confidently declared that no one would dare.

Noticing a collection of gifts, including a toothbrush and slippers, she initially believed they were from the Grand Prince. However, Jingxin clarified that only the Eighth Prince had visited. Angered by the Eighth Prince's frequent mood changes and the way he toyed with her, Qu Xiaotan decided it was her turn to play a trick on him. In the study, while serving tea, Qu Xiaotan boldly proposed a new work system for the palace staff.

She suggested a five-day work week, with eight-hour shifts, menstrual leave, and the freedom for maids to leave the palace during their time off. She argued this would improve morale and reduce errors. Instead of directly approving or disapproving, the Eighth Prince tasked her with a difficult math problem from Butler Zhou.

The problem involved a new salary distribution: 33 maids who had served for over three years were to receive twice the daily salary of the 57 maids who had served less, and the senior maids were to work three fewer days each month. With a total budget not to exceed 1900 silver taels, Qu Xiaotan had to calculate the exact monthly salary for both groups.

If she solved it, her system would be adopted; if not, everyone's salary would be withheld. Drawing on her modern education, Qu Xiaotan quickly solved the equation, presenting the precise amounts and noting that seven taels of silver would remain. Impressed by her intellect, the Eighth Prince praised her for solving a problem Butler Zhou could not.

Although he could not immediately grant her request for equal pay, he promoted her three ranks, making her equal to Butler Zhou, who wondered who this peculiar yet insightful woman truly was. The Emperor grew suspicious of the daily tonic soup from Noble Consort Dugu, as it no longer eased his headaches. When questioned, she deflected blame onto a pharmacist.

The Emperor dismissed her excuse, musing aloud about his lack of trustworthy people and Mo Liancheng's absence, before ordering the soup away. Realizing the Emperor had detected the increased dosage in his medicine, Noble Consort Dugu summoned General Wei. She warned him that the Emperor intended to name the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince and that they must act swiftly, or General Wei would face eternal disgrace.

General Wei reassured her that he had a plan in motion and would have an update by the following night. Enjoying her new status as an officer, Qu Xiaotan rode a homemade skateboard down a steep staircase, nearly colliding with two servants carrying a screen. The Eighth Prince witnessed this, but before he could act, Liu Shang intervened, pushing Qu Xiaotan out of harm's way as they both fell.

Seeing Liu Shang in apparent pain and bleeding, Qu Xiaotan rushed to help him. However, a visibly jealous Eighth Prince pushed her aside, insisting on helping Liu Shang himself. This direct contact triggered Liu Shang's "forbidden zone" effect, causing him extreme pain. The Eighth Prince misinterpreted this agony, believing Liu Shang was merely feigning injury to elicit Qu Xiaotan's sympathy. When Liu Shang regained consciousness, he found Qu Xiaotan resting on his chest, anxiously counting his heartbeats.

Amused, he briefly considered feigning more pain to tease her, but she urgently gave him a secret letter from an "old kook." The letter warned that a palace informant would act that night and that the Eighth Prince must be prevented from leaving the palace. Upon learning from a servant that the Eighth Prince had already departed, Liu Shang abandoned his pretense of injury and rushed out.

He privately acknowledged that both he and the Eighth Prince were "drama queens," but that Mo Liancheng was the true master of the art. Liu Shang arrived to find the Eighth Prince and Yu Hao surrounded by assassins. Recognizing the location as the same place where he had been trapped, Liu Shang warned the Eighth Prince of the ambush and joined the fight.

During the battle, the Eighth Prince was struck by how similar Liu Shang's fighting style was to his own. One captured assassin confessed that the Grand Prince had ordered the attack, threatening his family. Jingkang rushed to inform Mo Yihuai, the Grand Prince, of the situation. Mo Yihuai dismissed the assassin's confession, asserting that the ever-suspicious Mo Liancheng would see it as a setup.

Jingkang also reported that Liu Shang's fighting style was said to be remarkably similar to Mo Liancheng's. Determined to learn the truth, Mo Yihuai decided to visit the Eighth Prince's palace. The next morning, he saw Jingxin carrying a jade bracelet—Qu Tan'er's most cherished possession. Jingxin explained that due to her amnesia, Tan'er now wanted to sell it. She also revealed how indulgent the Eighth Prince was, even having a carpenter craft a skateboard for her.

Hearing this, Mo Yihuai grew concerned that Mo Liancheng was genuinely falling in love with Qu Tan'er. In the study, Mo Yihuai presented the sword that nearly killed the Eighth Prince, followed by a distinctive seal he had found in Wei Zongheng's residence. The Eighth Prince recognized it as his unique symbol for communicating with his palace informant.

Mo Yihuai then proposed an alliance: he would help eliminate Wei Zongheng's faction and restore the Eighth Prince's command of the Capital Army, on the sole condition that the Eighth Prince hand over Qu Tan'er. The Eighth Prince rejected the offer without hesitation, declaring that he and Qu Xiaotan were bound by a solemn promise of eternal loyalty and he would never trade her for military power. As Mo Yihuai prepared to leave, a guard announced Liu Shang.

The Eighth Prince noted Liu Shang's resemblance to the mysterious man who had once saved him and questioned Mo Yihuai's persistent interest in his household. After Mo Yihuai left, Liu Shang argued that the Grand Prince was likely innocent, pointing to the assassin's overly consistent story and Mo Yihuai's calm demeanor.

Liu Shang suggested that Noble Consort Dugu was the primary suspect and that Qu Tan'er could be used as a bargaining chip to turn the two factions against each other. The Eighth Prince noticed Liu Shang's immediate and strong opposition to using Qu Tan'er in such a scheme, sensing his unusual concern for her, which left him unsettled.

Elsewhere, Mo Liancheng met with the Fourteenth Prince, who commented on his changed attire and new fondness for steamed dumplings, attributing both to a woman's influence. From this, Mo Liancheng realized with dismay that the Eighth Prince was falling for Qu Tan'er, making his past self his current rival. To interfere, Mo Liancheng advised Qu Xiaotan to brew the coldest possible tea for the Eighth Prince, hoping it would displease him.

Back in the study, Minister Wu urged the Eighth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince to resolve their differences and support General Wei. The Eighth Prince realized Minister Wu had defected to Noble Consort Dugu's side but was in an awkward position. Just then, Qu Xiaotan served the ice-cold tea. The Eighth Prince, finding it undrinkable, ironically remarked on its "fitting" coldness for the tense atmosphere.

He then firmly dismissed Minister Wu, publicly praised Qu Xiaotan for her "meritorious" service, and ordered hot tea instead. Internally, Qu Xiaotan fumed, feeling like a pawn manipulated by the "split-personality" prince's contradictory demands. She secretly told Jingxin that after serving the tea, they would meet Mo Yihuai at their secret rendezvous in an hour.

Episode 8 Recap

Mo Yihuai met Qu Xiaotan in the suburbs, believing she was Qu Tan'er. He presented her with a watch, intending it to be their secret code. Qu Xiaotan, however, immediately suspected the watch might be a time machine and questioned him using scientific terminology. Puzzled, Mo Yihuai explained that he had once disassembled the mysterious object and found intricate gears inside, which he thought might be what she meant by a "time machine."

He concluded that her peculiar behavior stemmed from mental trauma after her suicide attempt, which only intensified his pity for her. He promised to help her leave the palace, even if it meant abandoning his status as a prince. Hearing this, Qu Xiaotan, excited by the prospect of returning home to her parents and enjoying modern food, declared her happiness was in Mo Yihuai's hands and embraced him.

Mo Yihuai felt a surge of joy, convinced that Qu Tan'er had never forgotten their feelings for each other. At that moment, Mo Liancheng appeared, coldly kissing Qu Xiaotan over Mo Yihuai's shoulder. He then warned Mo Yihuai to respect himself, asserting that Qu Xiaotan was his woman, before taking her and departing. Back in his palace, Mo Yihuai was consumed by fury.

Qu Pan'er entered and tried to provoke him, remarking that while he suffered, Qu Tan'er was thriving in the Eighth Prince's palace and toying with the men there. Her words only fueled Mo Yihuai's rage. He retorted that Qu Pan'er, as Qu Tan'er's older sister, should not believe rumors and slander her, especially when she was in a difficult situation under Mo Liancheng's watch.

Mo Yihuai then cut her off, vehemently stating that his heart only belonged to Qu Tan'er and told her to leave. Meanwhile, Noble Consort DuGu anxiously awaited news. Wei Zongheng reported that the Eighth Prince had not retaliated against the Grand Prince, suspecting he had seen through their scheme and was biding his time. Noble Consort DuGu agreed they must strike first and ruin the Eighth Prince's reputation.

Wei Zongheng then presented a vial containing the highly dangerous eggs of the Ghost Face Blood Spirit, and they decided it was time to use Qu Pan'er as their pawn to administer the poison. Upon returning to the Eighth Prince's palace, Qu Xiaotan furiously scrubbed her mouth, determined to remove the "stink" of the Eighth Prince's kiss.

Jingxin tried to calm her, but Qu Xiaotan continued to vent, calling the Eighth Prince a "late-stage schizophrenic" and noting his shocking resemblance to a man also named Mo Liancheng from her time, whom she blamed for her transmigration. Her rant was interrupted when Yu Hao announced that the Eighth Prince would be going on an outing and had ordered her to ride in his carriage. Despite her refusal, Jingxin quickly agreed on her behalf.

In the suburbs, Qu Xiaotan deliberately kept her distance from the Eighth Prince. He, in turn, ordered her to stay within three feet of him. In defiance, she walked backward and accidentally tumbled into a large pit containing several skeletons. The Eighth Prince also fell in while trying to save her. Feigning a chest injury, he allowed Qu Xiaotan to massage him, and she noted his chest was surprisingly firm, comparable to the modern Mo Liancheng's.

To escape, she suggested climbing out on his back, but the Eighth Prince dismissed her idea and instead lifted her towards the edge. Just as she was about to grasp it, he intentionally let go, pulling her back into his arms. The move made Qu Xiaotan's heart flutter. Undeterred, she prepared to try again, rubbing soil on her hands for better grip.

Seeing her persistence, or perhaps out of impatience, the Eighth Prince used his martial arts skills, carrying her out of the pit. Qu Xiaotan then confronted Yu Hao, who had been nearby, and realized she had been manipulated; the pit was a setup to toy with her. Liu Qianshui visited Mo Liancheng (currently disguised as the strategist Liu Shang) and found him practicing his swordplay with unmasked anger.

Liu Qianshui questioned if his identity had been exposed and delivered newly refined medicine, advising him to leave the court's conflicts for his own safety and search for the Soul Bead with him. Mo Liancheng declined the offer. After Liu Qianshui left, Mo Liancheng reflected that he was staying not for himself, but to protect Qu Tan'er, the host of the Soul Bead.

He observed the intense love in the Eighth Prince's eyes for her, recognizing it as the same love he himself once had. The Eighth Prince entrusted the "Thousand Li Territory" painting, his birthday gift for the Emperor, to Qu Xiaotan for safekeeping. The next day, he, accompanied by Qu Xiaotan and Liu Shang, went to the palace. After delivering the painting to the royal treasury, they attended the birthday banquet.

Noble Consort DuGu performed a captivating dance for the Emperor, drawing widespread applause. After the dance, various gifts were presented. Mo Yihuai offered a sword named Dragon Shadow, which pleased the Emperor. Next, the Eighth Prince presented the "Thousand Li Territory." Noble Consort DuGu interjected with a sarcastic remark, but the Eighth Prince skillfully responded with a vow of loyalty that moved his father.

However, as the Emperor stepped down to examine the scroll, he suddenly cried out in pain, his hand stung. General Wei and Noble Consort DuGu rushed forward, while Mo Yihuai accused the Eighth Prince of treason and ordered the arrest of both him and Qu Xiaotan. With the imperial doctors unable to identify the poison, Liu Shang stepped forward and requested to treat the Emperor.

He used a candle flame to cauterize the Emperor's hand, forcing out a parasitic worm, then bit the Emperor's fingertip to release the poisoned blood. The Emperor slowly recovered. Liu Shang explained that the poison was a Ghost Face Blood Spirit, a rare, highly venomous creature that proves fatal within a short time. Noble Consort DuGu tried to shift the blame to the Eighth Prince, claiming his strategist had confessed.

However, Liu Shang continued, revealing that the poison's other bane was red arsenolite, which was used to seal its container and turns black upon contact with alkaline water. He proposed that everyone who had touched the birthday gifts dip their hands in alkaline water, guaranteeing the true culprit would be revealed. The Emperor granted his request.

Episode 9 Recap

Following Eunuch Xue’s preparation of what was presented as alkaline water, all palace maids who had handled the imperial birthday gifts were gathered as per Liu Shang’s instructions. At Liu Shang’s signal, Qu Xiaotan stepped forward to be the first to dip her hands into the basin, and the other maids followed. After everyone had immersed their hands, Liu Shang asked them to present their palms for inspection.

To the court's surprise, only Qu Pan'er’s hands were clean, while everyone else’s were stained black. Liu Shang revealed that the basin contained walnut water, which blackens the skin on contact. He deduced that Qu Pan'er’s clean hands proved she was the culprit, as guilt had prevented her from actually putting her hands in the water. Startled by the revelation, Qu Pan'er fell to her knees, confessing that she had tampered with the painting out of jealousy toward Qu Xiaotan.

She claimed she only intended to damage the artwork to have Qu Xiaotan punished, not to harm the Emperor. Qu Xiaotan, angered by her sister's maliciousness, thanked Liu Shang for his timely intervention. Liu Shang examined the poison Qu Pan'er produced, identifying it as the eggs of the Ghost Face Blood Spirit.

He noted that the eggs are invisible to the naked eye and require time to hatch, conceding that Qu Pan'er might have been unaware of the poison's true nature. However, he pressed her, questioning how a mere palace maid could obtain such a rare and potent poison and urging her to reveal the mastermind to clear herself of attempted regicide.

Just as Liu Shang interrogated Qu Pan'er, a nearby soldier drew his blade and lunged at her in an attempt to silence her. Liu Shang swiftly intervened and subdued him. The Eighth Prince identified the soldier as Shi Jue, a trusted subordinate of General Wei, and sarcastically commented on the General's poor discipline. Shi Jue denied any involvement from General Wei, claiming his actions were motivated by a personal vendetta against the Eighth Prince.

He stated that three years prior, the Prince had humiliated his older brother, Shi Yang, driving him to suicide. Having made his statement, Shi Jue then took his own life, ensuring General Wei would not be implicated. Witnessing this, General Wei knelt and admitted to negligence, offering to die to atone for his failure. However, Noble Consort DuGu intervened, stating that further bloodshed on the Emperor's birthday would be inauspicious.

The Emperor agreed, sparing Wei Zongheng from death but stripping him of his noble title and demoting him three ranks. The Emperor then rewarded the two princes for their roles in protecting him. The Grand Prince, Mo Yihuai, received ten thousand taels of gold, while the Eighth Prince, Mo Liancheng, was given the Royal Command token.

This gesture signified the Emperor's renewed trust in Mo Liancheng, but Qu Xiaotan privately noted the disparity, feeling the token was a lesser reward than the gold. Later, the Eighth Prince expressed his gratitude to Liu Shang, acknowledging the danger of the situation. However, he remained suspicious, questioning how Liu Shang knew of the rare Ghost Face Blood Spirit. Liu Shang vaguely explained that he had traveled extensively in the southwest, hinting at a complex past.

When the Eighth Prince offered him a reward, Liu Shang requested Qu Xiaotan, clarifying that he wished for her to serve him in the Snow Courtyard. Though visibly displeased, the Eighth Prince, bound by his promise, reluctantly agreed. The next day, Qu Xiaotan animatedly recounted the banquet's events to other maids, lavishly praising Mister Liu Shang's heroism and declaring him far superior to the Eighth Prince. Overhearing her, a jealous Eighth Prince pulled her aside and confronted her.

Realizing her mistake, Qu Xiaotan launched into effusive flattery, proclaiming the Prince's strategic brilliance and unmatched handsomeness. Mollified, he offered her a choice for her part in the affair: be married to Liu Shang or receive one thousand taels of gold. Without hesitation, Qu Xiaotan chose the gold, also lamenting that the Eighth Prince had received only a token while the Grand Prince received a fortune.

Meanwhile, Eunuch Xue returned Noble Consort DuGu's gifts to her chambers, informing her that the royal kitchen would now exclusively manage the Emperor’s meals. After the eunuch’s departure, a humiliated Noble Consort DuGu despaired that her long-held plans for restoring her kingdom were now in vain. Her maid, Mixue, suggested that they could make use of Imperial Doctor Gao. Seeing an opportunity, Noble Consort DuGu immediately summoned him.

When the doctor arrived, she demanded he diagnose her with a "joyful pulse," indicating pregnancy. When he truthfully stated she was not pregnant, she threatened him with beheading for the crime of "peeping at a Royal Noble Consort." Terrified, Imperial Doctor Gao reversed his diagnosis and falsely confirmed the pregnancy, for which she "rewarded" him. Back at the Eighth Prince’s residence, Qu Xiaotan received two valuable gems as a reward.

She excitedly discussed her plan to use them as a "first pot of gold" to invest in property, delivering a spirited speech on being an "independent woman" who doesn't need a man to build her own life. Intrigued, the Eighth Prince presented her with a mission: Liu Shang had personally requested her to serve him in the Snow Courtyard, and he was offering double her pay to do so while secretly observing Liu Shang's every move.

Qu Xiaotan initially refused, citing propriety and her need for time to contact the Grand Prince about returning to her own world. The Eighth Prince clarified that she was not being "sold" but assigned a duty, ordering her to spy on Liu Shang and report anything unusual. To address her concerns about a man and woman sharing quarters, he produced a document outlining "Three Orders and Three Bans."

The orders were to maintain secrecy, stay by Liu Shang's side, and note every detail. The bans were to keep an arm's length distance, not enter his inner chambers past the screen, and to invoke the Eighth Prince's name should Liu Shang make any intimate advances. The Eighth Prince sweetened the deal further: for every suspicious detail she reported, she would receive a monetary reward and one fulfilled wish, including the possibility of leaving the residence.

She would also be promoted to Female Chief Housekeeper, a rank higher than the butler. Enticed but wary, Qu Xiaotan shrewdly insisted on a written agreement, playfully titling herself "Royal Spy." The Prince, though irked, agreed to all her terms, including her promotion, new clothes, better food, a spacious room, and having her maid Jingxin join her. Assured of the terms, the Eighth Prince prepared to sign the contract.

Episode 10 Recap

Qu Xiaotan excitedly led Jingxin to their new room in the Eighth Prince's palace, a spacious, south-facing sunroom in a prime location. Jingxin was immediately impressed by its grandeur. Declaring that good friends share everything, Qu Xiaotan presented Jingxin with beautiful new clothes. Overjoyed, the two began to play, imagining themselves as Dongyue's top models and practicing their catwalk. Their playful antics escalated as they started roleplaying.

Jingxin announced the arrival of the Eighth Prince, while Qu Xiaotan, fully immersed in the role, adopted his persona. She declared she was on an imperial visit in casual clothes and demanded low-key behavior, then theatrically rebuked Jingxin for impertinence, threatening to confiscate her gold.

Continuing her impression, Qu Xiaotan spoke of the Eighth Prince's "deadpan" demeanor, explaining that it concealed a gentle and merciful heart, and that his generosity stemmed from his nature as a "strong, determined person with great tenderness." Unbeknownst to them, the Eighth Prince and Fourteenth Prince approached, drawn by the lively sounds. Upon opening the door, they found Qu Xiaotan in the midst of her dramatic performance. The Eighth Prince, observing her intently, simply said, "Go on."

Jingxin, spotting the princes, immediately dropped to her knees in fright, desperately trying to signal Qu Xiaotan, who, with her back to the door, remained oblivious and grew even more animated. Only when she finally turned around did Qu Xiaotan see the Eighth Prince's stern expression and abruptly halt, mortified. Recovering quickly, she apologized, insisting that despite her jokes, her gratitude was genuine. The Eighth Prince, feigning displeasure, commented on feeling thirsty.

Seizing the opportunity to defuse the awkward situation, Qu Xiaotan quickly offered to serve tea and led Jingxin away. The Fourteenth Prince, stifling his laughter, then remarked to the Eighth Prince that although Qu Xiaotan was rash, she seemed to understand him quite well. Though the Eighth Prince feigned displeasure, he was secretly pleased by her praise. Just then, Liu Shang appeared, formally greeting the Eighth Prince.

He stated he had come to invite Qu Xiaotan to the Snow Courtyard immediately. After receiving the Eighth Prince's reluctant approval, Qu Xiaotan departed with Liu Shang. The Eighth Prince watched their retreating figures, his brow furrowed and his grip tightening on his teacup. In the Snow Courtyard, Liu Shang instructed Qu Xiaotan to familiarize herself with the surroundings, explaining that from then on, only the two of them would inhabit the space.

Qu Xiaotan, observing the bridges, streams, and roses, found the decorating style surprisingly feminine, remarking that it seemed more suited for a princess than an advisor. Liu Shang agreed, noting it was very suitable for the Eighth Princess. Qu Xiaotan confessed that she not only loved the courtyard but also felt a strong sense of deja vu.

While she had no specific memories, she had always dreamed of owning such a place, and it was uncanny how perfectly it matched his arrangement. Liu Shang mused that perhaps the Snow Courtyard had been waiting for her. Qu Xiaotan then began to ponder the odd situation, wondering about the true nature of the relationship between Liu Shang and the Eighth Prince, especially after recalling the Prince secretly drawing Liu Shang's portrait.

Meanwhile, Liu Shang gazed at Qu Xiaotan, inwardly affirming that regardless of this life or the next, she would always be the sole owner of the Snow Courtyard, and he would wait until they fell in love again. Back in her room, Qu Xiaotan fretted over her upcoming meeting with Mo Yihuai, the Grand Prince. Having already accepted the Eighth Prince's generous silver, new clothes, and housing, she felt obliged to fulfill her commitment to Liu Shang.

She decided to send Jingxin as her messenger, explaining that Mo Yihuai's status as the Grand Prince made direct communication risky. To inquire about returning to her world, she drafted a letter in English and modern slang, hoping the obscure language would allow him to respond freely. Jingxin delivered the letter, but Mo Yihuai found the writing indecipherable. Ingeniously improvising, Jingxin offered her interpretation.

She claimed the letter expressed Qu Tan'er's deep remorse for being unable to meet him, promising to make it up to him wholeheartedly next time. Jingxin continued, fabricating that Qu Tan'er's love for him made her uneasy and that her days in the Eighth Prince's palace were filled with anxiety. Finally, Jingxin explained that the letter suggested meeting by the river, a familiar spot, as the palace had too many prying eyes.

Convinced of Qu Tan'er's profound affection and distress, Mo Yihuai was deeply moved. The next day, Qu Xiaotan presented herself at the Snow Courtyard. She intended to strictly adhere to the Eighth Prince's "Three Bans," specifically the rule about maintaining an arm's length distance. However, Liu Shang's subtle methods proved too formidable. He casually quoted the arm's length rule, making Qu Xiaotan realize she had already broken it by standing too close.

When she admitted she could not play the zither, he offered to teach her, pulling her gently but firmly towards him. As their four hands moved in unison over the zither strings, a melody filled the courtyard. After their musical interlude, Liu Shang instructed Qu Xiaotan to serve tea, adding a reminder about the ban on entering his inner chamber, which was demarcated by a screen.

After she served the tea, he asked her to bring him lighter clothes from his inner chamber. Though hesitant, she reasoned that as long as she didn't cross the screen, she wouldn't truly break the second rule, and perhaps could even catch a glimpse of his physique. However, upon entering the partitioned area, Liu Shang asked her to bring the tea inside. Frustrated at having now broken the second rule, she resolved to at least check his muscles.

As she moved closer, Liu Shang took a piece of gauze and gently blindfolded her, explaining it would make them both more comfortable. He then admonished her, reminding her that a woman must be reserved and should never casually peep at a man's body. With her eyes covered, Qu Xiaotan's other senses sharpened. She noticed Liu Shang's scent was strikingly familiar, reminiscent of the mysterious client who had once wanted to buy her house.

She asked Liu Shang if he believed in fate, then proposed introducing him to a "bosom friend" whom she believed he would get along with perfectly. She described this friend as someone who also loved changing clothes, was a neat freak who adored white, enjoyed enigmatic music, and was clever but used his intelligence mainly for decoding things. She hinted that her current predicament was deeply connected to this person.

Liu Shang, picking up on her detailed knowledge, asked if this "bosom friend" was her beloved. Qu Xiaotan sadly replied that even if he were, she could not return to him. Jingxin returned with a reply from Mo Yihuai, a long letter in classical Chinese.

Qu Xiaotan struggled to read it, joking that Mo Yihuai’s "English" was even worse than her own, but she recognized his use of her modern slang (Laotie/buddy) as confirmation that he was indeed her "fellow countryman." Jingxin interpreted the crucial sections: Mo Yihuai also felt the palace was too risky for a meeting and suggested a private rendezvous by the water near willow trees at midnight.

Qu Xiaotan excitedly realized that since she arrived in this world by falling into water, her departure might also involve it. His use of the phrase "let's go to the fairyland" further solidified her belief. Overjoyed, Qu Xiaotan shared a celebratory toast with Jingxin using snacks instead of wine. That afternoon, as she prepared to leave, she was unexpectedly intercepted by Liu Shang, who questioned her hasty departure, stating he had not granted her leave.

Liu Shang then instructed Qu Xiaotan to serve him during his bath, a ploy to prevent her from meeting Mo Yihuai. As they entered the bathing area, Qu Xiaotan tried to sneak a peek while he changed behind the screens. Liu Shang, having removed his mask to reveal Mo Liancheng's face, anticipated her mischief and swiftly pulled her into his embrace to hide his identity. He then playfully pushed her out, remarking that her naughty character needed to be curbed.

Just then, the Eighth Prince's voice was heard from outside. The Eighth Prince had arrived with wine as a housewarming gift. Qu Xiaotan quickly opened the door, informing him that Liu Shang was bathing. Hearing this, the Eighth Prince’s expression immediately soured and he questioned if she had violated his "Three Bans." Qu Xiaotan quickly reassured him that she had adhered to all the rules, falsely claiming she neither played the zither with Liu Shang nor peeked at him.

She explained that Liu Shang was extremely cautious, using both screens and curtains, and had even instructed her to wait outside. She then added, as an observation of her own, that she found it suspicious he would burn incense while bathing. When the Eighth Prince asked how she knew about the incense if she hadn't entered, Qu Xiaotan explained that Liu Shang had given her a gauze to cover her eyes. The Eighth Prince, already suspicious, found Liu Shang’s excessive caution highly unusual, concluding that he must be hiding a secret.

Episode 11 Recap

The Eighth Prince, Mo Liancheng, entered Liu Shang's bathing quarters, claiming he brought fine wine and was unaware Liu Shang was bathing. Liu Shang, dishevelled and seemingly caught off guard, had only just managed to don a human skin mask. He politely requested time to dress properly before they were to discuss matters in the study. Mo Liancheng agreed, but as Liu Shang turned away, he subtly sighed in relief.

Mo Liancheng, with keen hearing, immediately questioned the sigh and began to approach. At that moment, Qu Xiaotan, who was observing the scene with great amusement, meekly interjected, asking to be excused so as not to "bother" the two men "playing in the water." Mo Liancheng halted his investigation, stopped Qu Xiaotan, and instructed her to return with him, while also telling Liu Shang to take his time.

Unseen by Mo Liancheng, the moment he and Qu Xiaotan exited, Liu Shang's human skin mask slipped from his face and fell to the floor. Later, over a meal, Qu Xiaotan confided in Jingxin about her observations, jokingly speculating that even if Mo Liancheng wasn't gay, he surely had some "special interests." She then expressed her fervent desire to return to her own time with Mo Yihuai, even if he wished to remain in Dongyue.

Jingxin, however, questioned Qu Xiaotan's apparent nonchalance about her connection with Mo Yihuai. Jingxin then tearfully confessed her deep concern about Qu Xiaotan's drastically changed personality since her fall into the water, noting how she had become both happier and strangely unfamiliar. Unable to maintain her disguise, Qu Xiaotan admitted the truth: she was not Qu Taner and was not from this world.

Jingxin, who had already harbored suspicions due to Qu Xiaotan's inability to recall family heirlooms and Mo Yihuai's love token, was devastated. She pressed Qu Xiaotan about the real Qu Taner's whereabouts, heartbreakingly asking if her lady would ever return. Qu Xiaotan, a victim of the same strange phenomenon, tried to reassure Jingxin, promising to treat her as well as Qu Taner had. But Jingxin, grief-stricken, rejected the offer, stating she only wanted her real lady back.

Meanwhile, Mo Liancheng was dining with the Fourteenth Prince. The Fourteenth Prince playfully teased Mo Liancheng about peeking at Liu Shang bathing. He then inadvertently revealed that an imposter, adopting Liu Shang's elegant dressing style, had recently met with him while posing as Mo Liancheng. Alarmed, Mo Liancheng pressed for every detail of the encounter.

The Fourteenth Prince recounted how the impostor had acted unusually cautiously and seemed surprised when he mentioned Mo Liancheng's fondness for steamed dumplings, which was due to Qu Taner. The impostor had then hastily departed, cautioning the Fourteenth Prince not to speak of their meeting. Yu Hao added that Qu Taner herself, upon her initial arrival at the mansion, had attempted to flee while claiming she was acting on Mo Liancheng's orders, suggesting she too had encountered this mysterious impostor.

Concluding that a sophisticated imposter was indeed at work, Mo Liancheng pondered the motive and the identity of this person, especially given his apparent interest in Qu Taner. He resolved to use Qu Xiaotan as bait to expose him. Later, Qu Xiaotan was grumbling to herself about having to do chores, frustrated by Jingxin's continued anger. The Fourteenth Prince approached her, seemingly concerned about her workload, but quickly began to subtly probe about Jingxin's whereabouts and preferences.

Qu Xiaotan, seeing through his thinly veiled interest, playfully teased him about being too young for romance. The Fourteenth Prince, trying to sound mature, boasted about an "important job" he was about to do for Mo Liancheng that would astound everyone. Before he could reveal more, Mo Liancheng called him away. Shortly after, Qu Xiaotan encountered Mo Liancheng himself. Mo Liancheng attempted to engage her in conversation, questioning her previous remarks about his "mystifying" behavior.

Qu Xiaotan, still troubled by Jingxin's sadness and Mo Liancheng's usual eccentricities, was in no mood for games and curtly rebuffed him, citing discomfort. Suddenly, a contingent of soldiers burst into the mansion, announcing they were under Noble Consort DuGu's orders to apprehend Qu Taner. The butler's protests were ignored, and Qu Xiaotan was seized. As Qu Xiaotan screamed for help, a figure resembling Mo Liancheng appeared and ordered the soldiers to stop.

To Qu Xiaotan's astonishment, Yu Hao immediately attacked this figure. Just as Qu Xiaotan wondered if Yu Hao was rebelling, the figure, realizing it was a trap, skillfully fought off Yu Hao and leaped over a wall to escape. Moments later, the true Mo Liancheng, accompanied by the Fourteenth Prince, emerged from a different direction, dressed differently. Yu Hao reported to the real Mo Liancheng that the impostor had escaped but was still trapped within the sealed mansion walls.

After some questioning, Mo Liancheng learned that only Liu Shang had been seen attempting to enter his study. Highly suspicious, Mo Liancheng immediately ordered Yu Hao to surround Snow Courtyard, Liu Shang's residence. Yu Hao's search yielded no sign of Liu Shang, prompting Mo Liancheng to order a full lockdown of the entire mansion. Just as Mo Liancheng contemplated his next move, Liu Shang calmly appeared, carrying a painting.

Mo Liancheng sternly questioned how Liu Shang could be so oblivious to the major commotion. Liu Shang explained that he had been intensely focused on restoring Mo Liancheng's personal "dragon-cloud picture" at Butler Zhou's request, having accidentally stained it while drying it. Butler Zhou corroborated the story, adding that Liu Shang had been so engrossed in the painting's beauty that he had intended to keep it for closer study.

Though still harboring doubts, Mo Liancheng had no choice but to accept Liu Shang's alibi and withdraw his forces. Later, Mo Liancheng discussed the situation with the Fourteenth Prince and Yu Hao. The Fourteenth Prince reiterated that the impostor was likely within the mansion and unusually concerned for Qu Taner, making Liu Shang the prime suspect despite his alibi.

Yu Hao provided a crucial piece of evidence: the impostor's fighting style was uncannily similar to Mo Liancheng's, even mirroring specific flaws Yu Hao had observed during their childhood training. Mo Liancheng recalled Liu Shang's martial prowess during a past ambush, confirming the similarity and deepening his suspicion of Liu Shang. Back in their room, a shaken Qu Xiaotan and Jingxin reunited. Jingxin, deeply concerned, immediately checked Qu Xiaotan for injuries and expressed outrage at her being used as bait.

Qu Xiaotan, touched, confessed that Jingxin was more than just a friend; she had come to see her as family and pleaded with Jingxin to finally let go of her anger. Jingxin, tearfully, admitted that she too had come to regard Qu Xiaotan as a trusted friend, someone with whom she could "live and die."

She acknowledged that Qu Xiaotan was not to blame for Qu Taner's absence and solemnly vowed to continue protecting Qu Xiaotan as if she were her own lady. In the prison, Mo Yihuai visited Qu Pan'er. Her initial joy at seeing him quickly turned to despair as he coldly stated his visit was solely because she was Qu Taner's sister. He reaffirmed that Qu Taner was his only love and he had no desire to mislead Qu Pan'er further.

As he left, the heartbroken Qu Pan'er was approached by a mysterious cloaked man who handed her a letter. The letter, from her father Qu Jianglin, informed her that he had meticulously planned their family's restoration and assured her that her current predicament could be resolved if she followed his instructions. Empowered, Qu Pan'er then requested an audience with Noble Consort DuGu.

She astounded the Noble Consort by speaking the consort's native language and revealing her knowledge of the Noble Consort's ambition to restore the Dayu nation. Qu Pan'er offered the Soul-Suppressing Orb in exchange for her freedom, promising its aid in the Noble Consort's grand scheme. To further test Liu Shang, Mo Liancheng dispatched Butler Zhou to invite him on an outing to the countryside. Liu Shang initially demurred but quickly agreed when he learned Qu Xiaotan would also be attending.

Before the trip, Mo Liancheng instructed Yu Hao to select a location near water, hinting at a plan to expose the truth. On a clear, pleasant day, Qu Xiaotan joyfully explored while Mo Liancheng and Liu Shang followed, exchanging veiled barbs and subtle probes. During a moment of flower picking, Qu Xiaotan accidentally splashed mud on Liu Shang's hair. Mo Liancheng tried to seize the opportunity to test him, but Liu Shang skillfully avoided any revealing moves.

Mo Liancheng then "accidentally" dropped his imperial ring into the water, pressuring Liu Shang to retrieve it after Yu Hao feigned an inability to swim, and Mo Liancheng even pointed out Liu Shang's childhood spent by the river. Just as Liu Shang prepared to dive, a guard suddenly reported that the impostor had been sighted near the mansion. Mo Liancheng, feigning urgency, immediately departed with Yu Hao to pursue the impostor, leaving Qu Xiaotan and Liu Shang behind.

After Mo Liancheng and Yu Hao left, Qu Xiaotan considered retrieving the valuable ring herself. As she peered into the water, she became disoriented by her own reflection and began to fall in. Liu Shang instinctively reached out to steady her, but both tumbled into the water. As they emerged, sputtering, Qu Xiaotan watched in stunned disbelief as Liu Shang's features shimmered and changed, revealing Mo Liancheng's true face. A human skin mask floated idly on the water's surface, the final piece of the elaborate deception.

Episode 12 Recap

Upon seeing Liu Shang's true face, Qu Xiaotan recognized him as Mo Liancheng. Initially shocked, she quickly became enraged, calling him a liar and a psychopath. Mo Liancheng tried to calm her, promising to explain everything once they were out of the water. On the riverbank, as they dried their clothes, Qu Xiaotan demanded answers.

Mo Liancheng explained that after she jumped from the cliff, he followed her into the sea, where they were pulled through a space-time rift that brought them to this parallel Dongyue. Mo Liancheng further explained that he had concealed his identity as Liu Shang to protect her, fearing that the modern Eighth Prince would try to extract information about him from her. He claimed that no one understood the Eighth Prince better than himself. Still skeptical, Qu Xiaotan pressed him.

Mo Liancheng then reiterated the story he had once told her in the modern world, revealing that he was the Eighth Prince from that tale and she was his wife. He explained how he had lost her, traveled to her time to protect her, and then inexplicably returned to Dongyue with her, insisting their love was destined.

Unconvinced, Qu Xiaotan mentioned her suspicion that Mo Yihuai might also be from another time, as she had seen a modern-looking pocket watch on him. Mo Liancheng realized she was referring to his own watch, which he had accidentally dropped, and sternly warned her to stay away from Mo Yihuai. Despite her playful teasing about his jealousy, the conversation led to their reconciliation.

However, Mo Liancheng instructed her to keep his identity a secret from everyone, including Jingxin, promising a full explanation later. Back at the Snow Courtyard, as Mo Liancheng removed his human-skin mask, Qu Xiaotan remarked on how handsome Liu Shang was, playfully suggesting the Eighth Prince might have been attracted to him. A jealous Mo Liancheng pushed her onto the bed, accusing her of being infatuated with the mask and using the Eighth Prince as an excuse.

Their banter was interrupted by Butler Zhou, who announced that the Eighth Prince had returned and requested Liu Shang's presence in the study. Mo Liancheng cheekily told the butler to have the Prince wait, as he was busy dealing with a "naughty little mouse" on his bed. Mortified, Qu Xiaotan urged him to go. Before leaving, Mo Liancheng promised he would never leave her again and reminded her to keep his identity secret.

In the study, the Eighth Prince told Liu Shang he had failed to catch the imposter. He now believed there were two different impersonators, as the one he chased today was a much less convincing look-alike than the one who had previously caused trouble. Probing subtly, Liu Shang suggested the imposter might not be an enemy, or even floated the "fantastical" idea that the man could be the Eighth Prince himself.

The Prince scoffed at this but vowed to capture the culprit. Liu Shang then returned the thumb ring the Prince had dropped in the river, a gift from the Emperor. He used this as an opportunity to advise the Prince to mend his strained relationship with his father by seeking a meeting through the Empress Dowager, knowing the filial Emperor would likely visit her for the upcoming solar term.

The Eighth Prince agreed and immediately had Yu Hao deliver a letter to her. Later, under the moonlight, Qu Xiaotan and Mo Liancheng shared wine. Sensing she still didn't believe his story, he challenged her to explain all the strange coincidences.

He confessed that he had wanted to prevent her from ever coming to Dongyue so they could stay together in the modern world, but now accepted their return as fate, convinced they were destined to love each other in any time or place. Qu Xiaotan, however, was not happy, stating she just wanted a simple life selling houses, not a complicated connection to him or Dongyue.

Mo Liancheng admitted his own pain, facing the woman he loved who no longer trusted him. Tearfully, Qu Xiaotan asked if he, like Mo Yihuai, only saw her as a substitute for Qu Tan'er. Mo Liancheng replied that she underestimated both his love for her and the Grand Prince's love for Qu Tan'er, asserting that he could always distinguish her, even when she and Qu Tan'er shared a body.

Realizing she was jealous of her past self, he proposed they drink the night away. The next morning, Qu Xiaotan woke up enraged to find herself in Mo Liancheng's bed. Cursing him, she stormed out, only to run directly into the Eighth Prince. Moments later, a similarly disheveled Liu Shang emerged from the room. The suspicious Eighth Prince questioned why Qu Tan'er was in the Snow Courtyard so early, wearing yesterday's clothes.

She hastily claimed all her other clothes were being washed and fled. The Eighth Prince then discussed a serious matter with Liu Shang. Following his advice, he had gone to the Empress Dowager's villa to see the Emperor, but the Emperor had just left after being told Noble Consort DuGu was unwell. The Eighth Prince lamented how the consort's vigilance made it impossible to see his father.

Liu Shang reassured him that as long as the consort's child was unborn, the Emperor would have to see his sons eventually. He then suggested that instead of seeking a meeting, they should make the Emperor "want" to see him. Their talk was interrupted by Qu Xiaotan, who brought a basin of water for them to wash up. Both men declined, but she playfully insisted on washing Liu Shang's face, chasing him with a wet towel.

Seeing their easy familiarity, the Eighth Prince's jealousy flared. He sharply rebuked Qu Xiaotan for her "imprudence" and, when she protested, angrily confined her to her room to reflect on her actions, forbidding her from coming to the Snow Courtyard again. He then commanded her to accompany him to the palace the following day.

After she left, Liu Shang deftly smoothed things over, explaining to the still-suspicious Eighth Prince that his earlier comment was merely a reference to Qu Xiaotan's unrestrained behavior. Their discussion then returned to the matter of the Emperor, with Liu Shang advising against a direct visit, arguing they needed a plan to make the Emperor summon the Eighth Prince himself. Meanwhile, Noble Consort DuGu secured Qu Pan'er's release from prison.

Once Pan'er had recovered, DuGu demanded to know the location of the Soul Bead. Pan'er revealed it was in the Emperor's possession. Seeing the consort's frustration, Pan'er explained this was an advantage, as the Emperor was easily influenced by her. She added a crucial detail: the bead's power could only be unsealed by the blood of a Qu family member. Following Liu Shang's new plan, the Eighth Prince had a gift delivered to the Emperor—a painting of a young child.

The painting reminded the Emperor of his own neglected childhood, making him realize he had been cold to his own sons. Moved by this act of filial piety, he ordered Eunuch Xue to summon the Eighth Prince. However, upon hearing the news, a furious Noble Consort DuGu sent a maid to the Imperial Study with a false report that she had caught a severe cold and feared for her unborn child.

Just as the Eighth Prince and Qu Xiaotan were bowing to the Emperor, the maid burst in. Alarmed, the Emperor once again abandoned his son and rushed to the consort's side.

Episode 13 Recap

The Eighth Prince and Qu Xiaotan entered the palace, observing maids carrying lavish dishes, including ginseng, turtle, and crab. They learned these were for Noble Consort Dugu, who was pregnant and required daily tonics. A maid mentioned that the consort frequently experienced severe morning sickness, yet surprisingly continued to spend every night with the Emperor. Qu Xiaotan found this peculiar, noting that pregnant women typically avoid "cold" foods like crab and hide their morning sickness.

She wondered why Noble Consort Dugu seemed to disregard these common practices, and the Eighth Prince, finding her observations insightful, grew suspicious. Unbeknownst to them, Mixue, a maid from Noble Consort Dugu's palace, had overheard their conversation. Meanwhile, Noble Consort Dugu, desperate to conceive and thus validate her fake pregnancy, secretly summoned a male paramour. As the night bell signaled the Emperor’s imminent arrival, her lover quickly departed. Mixue then informed her of the Eighth Prince's suspicions.

Already harboring resentment towards the Eighth Prince, her primary rival for power, Noble Consort Dugu resolved to eliminate him. Later, in his study, the Eighth Prince recounted to Liu Shang how Noble Consort Dugu had thwarted his attempt to meet the Emperor, even after his "family happiness" painting had moved His Majesty. Qu Xiaotan, serving them, observed their growing closeness. Liu Shang remained undeterred, asserting that the consort's elaborate efforts betrayed her fear.

The Eighth Prince had Qu Xiaotan share her observations about the consort's strange pregnancy habits. The mention of pregnancy stirred a memory in Liu Shang of his late wife, who had been meticulously careful while expecting their child. Based on this and his knowledge that Noble Consort Dugu had never borne a child in his timeline, he confidently declared her pregnancy a fraud.

Before leaving, Liu Shang cryptically told the Prince to ask Qu Xiaotan about his lost ring, implying she knew more than she let on. The next morning, Qu Xiaotan found the Eighth Prince admiring a painting. After she playfully called him a "XueBa" (a top student), he explained that the painting, "Flying Dragon Emerging from Clouds," was from his ambitious youth. He intended to hide it, remarking that to achieve greatness, one must conceal their capabilities.

His words struck Qu Xiaotan as identical to what Mo Liancheng had once said, reinforcing her belief they were the same person from different times. When he noticed her smile, she mentioned Liu Shang's name, triggering the Prince's jealousy. He pulled her close, confessing his feelings and questioning if she still didn't understand his heart. He declared he would never force her, as he wanted her heart completely and was willing to wait.

He then left, leaving a bewildered Qu Xiaotan to process his sudden confession. At a royal banquet for the Yongye Prince, the Grand Prince stared intently at Qu Taner, prompting a jealous rebuke from the Eighth Prince. As they traded barbs, Noble Consort Dugu intervened, proposing a horseback archery competition between the two princes. She suggested the winner take Qu Taner as a concubine, framing it as an honor for the Qu family. His Majesty agreed.

That night, an assailant used a blowpipe to shoot a fine needle into the Eighth Prince's neck as he read, causing him to fall unconscious. The next morning, Yu Hao grew concerned when the Prince didn't emerge from his chambers. Liu Shang, sensing trouble, rushed in to find him collapsed. Panicked that the Prince would miss the competition, Qu Xiaotan feared the Emperor's wrath.

Liu Shang instructed Yu Hao to take her to the archery range to avoid suspicion while he stayed behind. He identified the poison as West Bee Needle, which induces sleep for at least a day. With no other choice, Liu Shang resolved to impersonate the Eighth Prince in the competition. As the pre-competition incense nearly burned out, the Eighth Prince's absence agitated His Majesty. Noble Consort Dugu seized the opportunity to sow discord, implying the Prince’s disdain for the event.

Just then, the Eighth Prince—actually Liu Shang in disguise—arrived on horseback. To Noble Consort Dugu's shock, he respectfully apologized to the Emperor, explaining his tardiness by claiming he had been securing the grounds from wild beasts for His Majesty's safety. Pleased by this display of filial piety, the Emperor praised him. The competition began, and the Grand Prince shot a perfect bullseye. As Liu Shang prepared to take his turn, the bewildered Noble Consort Dugu could only stare, wondering how he had overcome her poison.

Episode 14 Recap

During the horseback archery competition, Mo Liancheng galloped elegantly and shot his arrow, hitting the bullseye just like the Grand Prince before him. Qu Tan'er watched with excitement, and the Emperor expressed his delight at both princes' skill. However, Noble Consort DuGu suggested that since both princes were so exceptional, perhaps Qu Tan'er should be divided between them.

Outraged, Qu Tan'er declared that she was a living person, not an object to be controlled, and insisted that her future and marriage should be her own choice. Noble Consort DuGu, feigning hurt, complained to the Emperor that Qu Tan'er had disrespected her and her unborn prince. The furious Emperor immediately ordered Qu Tan'er to die to atone for her disrespect. However, Yongye's envoy interceded, requesting a chance for Qu Tan'er to decide her own fate.

The Emperor conceded, stating that if Qu Tan'er could shoot the final arrow and hit the target, she could choose her destiny; otherwise, she must die as commanded. Mo Liancheng stepped forward and asked the Emperor if merely hitting the target from her hands was sufficient, to which the Emperor affirmed. He then handed the bow to Qu Tan'er, who was hesitant and unsure how to even hold it.

Just as Noble Consort DuGu began to smirk, Mo Liancheng moved behind Qu Tan'er, enveloped her in his arms, and guided her hands to pull the bowstring and release the arrow. It flew true, striking the bullseye. Overjoyed, Qu Tan'er embraced Mo Liancheng. Though the Grand Prince accused Mo Liancheng of cheating, the Emperor acknowledged the shot and upheld his word. He then granted Mo Liancheng any wish he desired.

Mo Liancheng requested an item that originally belonged to the Qu family. Mistaking his intention for the Soul Suppressing Orb, which the Emperor claimed not to possess, he instead offered ten thousand taels of gold as a reward. Mo Liancheng accepted, and Noble Consort DuGu warned Qu Tan'er that this was far from over. Later, the carriage arrived at the Eighth Prince's palace. Yu Hao opened the door, only to find a sleeping Qu Tan'er inside.

Realizing the Eighth Prince had not returned with her, he immediately understood that the person at the competition was an impostor. Yu Hao quickly ordered the palace to be sealed. Qu Tan'er, now fully awake and informed, cursed Mo Liancheng, realizing he had tricked her. Meanwhile, Yu Hao rushed to the Eighth Prince's bedroom. Seeing a figure by the bed, he drew his sword, only to discover it was Mister Liu Shang delivering medicine.

The Eighth Prince then stirred and fully awoke. Liu Shang knelt, apologizing for his inability to awaken the Eighth Prince earlier. A somber Eighth Prince remarked on his father's dislike for broken promises. Yu Hao then revealed that the competition's victor was not the Grand Prince, but a fake Eighth Prince whose appearance and skills were identical to his master's. Yu Hao confessed that he had mistaken Liu Shang for the impostor due to his similar silhouette.

The Eighth Prince's suspicions toward Liu Shang were reignited, while Liu Shang feigned ignorance, expressing regret that he was busy making medicine and missed seeing the impostor. Qu Tan'er stormed into the Snow Courtyard to confront Mo Liancheng. Unfazed, Mo Liancheng pulled her into his embrace, teasingly asking if she intended to marry him as a thank you. Infuriated, Qu Tan'er jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow.

She realized he was genuinely hurt, a lingering effect from a previous injury. Mo Liancheng asked her to retrieve a box from his bedside. Qu Tan'er, mistaking the pills inside for chocolate, popped one into her mouth. Mo Liancheng immediately pulled her into a deep kiss, retrieving the pill. He then consumed it, remarking that with her kiss, the medicine tasted much better.

Though momentarily dazed, Qu Tan'er felt a sudden, inexplicable sadness upon seeing a rose tattoo on his chest. Unsettled, she pushed him away and fled to her room. There, she tossed and turned, her mind consumed by thoughts of Mo Liancheng. She told herself that she could not fall for him, that she was not a substitute for anyone, and that her feelings were merely a symptom of Stockholm Syndrome. She vowed to keep her distance from Mo Liancheng.

Later, Mo Liancheng, having run out of medicine, sought out Liu Qianshui. Liu Qianshui warned him to distance himself from the Eighth Prince and the Dongyue court, explaining that otherwise, his soul would completely dissipate, and his condition would become incurable, beyond even Liu Qianshui's ability to save him. Back in the Snow Courtyard, Mo Liancheng found Qu Tan'er blindfolded and professionally preparing tea.

He mischievously commanded her to fetch various items, then provocatively asked if she was blindfolded because she was afraid he would see in her eyes that she had already fallen for him. Qu Tan'er, unable to retort, indignantly ran off. Noble Consort DuGu's determination to eliminate the Eighth Prince grew stronger. She acquired a spell written with the blood of a spiritual beast, burned it to ash, and secretly added it to the Emperor's sweet soup to muddle his senses.

That evening, an unfamiliar eunuch arrived at the Eighth Prince's palace, bearing an imperial edict summoning the Eighth Prince alone to the palace. Both the Eighth Prince and Yu Hao sensed something was amiss, but the Eighth Prince felt compelled to obey. Qu Tan'er, still troubled by Mo Liancheng, found herself thinking of him even while buying street candy, musing that she might be jealous of the woman he truly loved.

Deciding to spend the night at an inn, she was checking in when Mo Liancheng unexpectedly appeared, behaving intimately. The innkeeper, misinterpreting their exchange as a marital spat, offered them the best room. Just then, a drunk guest caused a disturbance. Mo Liancheng swiftly pulled Qu Tan'er into his arms to protect her before subduing the man. Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince entered the palace. In a designated room, he noticed a strange mist seeping from a window.

As he approached, blades suddenly thrust through, striking him in the chest. Elsewhere, Noble Consort DuGu served the Emperor the drugged soup. As the Emperor's mind became clouded, an assassin dressed identically to the Eighth Prince attacked. The disoriented Emperor stabbed the assailant in the chest before the attacker fled. Yu Hao, having managed to get inside the palace, found the Eighth Prince collapsed. As he tended to him, shouts of "Catch the assassin!" echoed outside.

A mysterious black-clad figure appeared, fending off the imperial guards and allowing Yu Hao to escape with the wounded Eighth Prince. Later, imperial guards claimed the Eighth Prince was the assassin, citing the chest wound, but Noble Consort DuGu shrewdly argued that they should summon the Eighth Prince to verify the truth.

Episode 15 Recap

After the Eighth Prince sustained injuries, Liu Shang assured Yu Hao that the Prince’s condition was not serious. Yu Hao then probed Liu Shang about the identity of the master who had helped him rescue the Prince from the palace. Yu Hao described the man as highly skilled in martial arts, adept at using terrain, and effective with hidden weapons to create an escape route, noting that the tactics and body movement were remarkably familiar.

Liu Shang deflected, simply stating that the Eighth Prince was known for his noble virtue, so it was no surprise that a master would assist him. As an imperial edict arrived, summoning the Prince to the palace immediately, Yu Hao worried about the Eighth Prince’s severe injuries. Liu Shang advised him that the only way to save the Prince was to find a specific person.

Later, alone, Liu Shang reflected on his own weakening condition, noting that the medicine he took was becoming less effective and he was unsure how much longer he could continue guarding the person he protected, expressing a fervent hope that nothing would go wrong. Meanwhile, Mo Liancheng, disguised as the Eighth Prince, and Qu Xiaotan entered the palace. The Emperor immediately questioned Mo Liancheng about his whereabouts during the assassination attempt four hours prior.

Mo Liancheng stated he had been with Qu Tan'er. Noble Consort DuGu interjected, dismissing Qu Tan'er as merely a maid from the Eighth Prince’s palace and claiming her testimony was insufficient. Prepared for this, Mo Liancheng requested that a witness waiting outside be brought in. The innkeeper from the previous day entered and recounted how Mo Liancheng and Qu Xiaotan had been at his inn four hours ago, where Mo Liancheng helped him resolve a dispute with a dishonest customer.

He claimed that everyone in the inn could vouch for their presence, adding that the two had been embracing tightly. The Emperor, still skeptical, challenged Mo Liancheng to remove his clothes to prove his innocence. Mo Liancheng readily complied, and as the Emperor personally examined his chest, Noble Consort DuGu watched in disbelief, wondering why there was no scar where the imposter had been stabbed. Qu Xiaotan, however, saw the familiar mark on his chest and her heart ached.

Noticing Mo Liancheng’s pale face and trembling, she grew concerned. The Emperor, finally convinced, apologized for his mistaken judgment and dismissed them. As they left, Mo Liancheng silently mused that the pain he felt was not only from his father’s touch but also from his father’s doubt. After leaving the Emperor's presence, Qu Xiaotan immediately asked Mo Liancheng if he was alright, observing that he seemed to be suffering.

He brushed it off as mere nervousness, though he expressed happiness at her concern. She then asked about the origin of the scar on his chest. Elsewhere, the Grand Prince and Qu Pan'er received news from their informant that the Eighth Prince had escaped the trap. Qu Pan'er found it impossible to believe, given Noble Consort DuGu’s elaborate plan, but the news was conclusive: the Eighth Prince had safely left the palace, accompanied by Qu Tan'er.

As rain began to fall, Mo Liancheng explained the scar to Qu Xiaotan. He revealed that in a past life, he was stabbed in the chest for his beloved, a pain so intense it felt like death. However, the thought of never seeing her again was even more agonizing, compelling him to survive for her. Hearing his emotional confession, Qu Xiaotan felt a pang in her chest, realizing that this profound love and deep-seated memory did not belong to her.

She asserted that she was not “her.” Mo Liancheng earnestly told her that the "Tan'er" he loved was a diligent, optimistic, money-loving, food-loving girl with an irritating curiosity, and that she was the exact Qu Xiaotan from the future. He emphasized that she was never a substitute, but the person he was destined to protect for all his lives.

Pressing her, he declared he would endure anything to prove his love and gave her only one choice: to love him, as he would never let her run away again. With that, he pulled her into a deep embrace and passionately kissed her. When the real Eighth Prince regained consciousness, Yu Hao informed him that someone had impersonated him, providing an alibi to the Emperor with Qu Tan'er and a witness.

Yu Hao confirmed that the witness, an innkeeper, had since disappeared and his inn had changed hands. The Eighth Prince was shocked and immediately inquired about Qu Tan'er, who Yu Hao reported was resting in her room after catching a cold. Meanwhile, Noble Consort DuGu interrogated Eunuch Hu about the aftermath of their failed plan.

Eunuch Hu, a loyal general who had served her father, reported that he had eliminated all the hired assassins who attempted to flee, leaving only one alive for interrogation. He revealed that he had found fragments of her secret letter in the assassin’s stomach, which the man confessed to swallowing to prevent its discovery. As further proof, he confirmed the testimony matched that of other tortured assassins.

Satisfied that all traces were erased, Noble Consort DuGu offered Eunuch Hu a cup of poisoned wine, framing it as a necessary sacrifice for the restoration of Dayu's glory. Eunuch Hu drank it without hesitation, declaring his death worthwhile for their cause.

Back in her room, Qu Xiaotan was troubled by the kiss in the rain, admitting to herself that she was bothered by the "Tan'er" Mo Liancheng spoke of—the woman who had shared life-and-death experiences and even had children with him. She felt that, despite his words, that "Tan'er" was not her, and she refused to be a substitute. As she was lost in thought, a black-clad Mo Liancheng entered.

Qu Xiaotan initially mistook him for the Eighth Prince, for which Mo Liancheng playfully said she deserved a "punishment." He then lifted her onto the bed and pressed his forehead against hers. Expecting another kiss, she closed her eyes, but he only teased her about having a low fever and told her to stay warm. Just then, the Eighth Prince called from outside, having heard she was ill. Mo Liancheng quickly hid as the Prince entered with a hand warmer.

The Prince then asked if she had noticed anything unusual about the person who impersonated him the previous night. Hidden, Mo Liancheng inadvertently made a sound while trying to leave. Qu Xiaotan quickly covered for him, feigning a complaint about an open window causing her cold. The Eighth Prince, however, grew suspicious and rushed outside to investigate the noise. The previous night's events fueled the Eighth Prince's suspicion of Liu Shang.

He instructed Yu Hao to set up a trap and summoned Liu Shang to his study. Upon his arrival, the Eighth Prince tested him by asking about his mother and recounting a story of saving a child from a reservoir in the south, implying it was Liu Shang. Liu Shang calmly corrected him, stating his parents died long ago and that the rescue had occurred at a reservoir in the west.

When the Prince directly asked how he had resolved the palace crisis, Liu Shang refused to answer, citing the need to protect him. He then warned the Prince not to repeat the mistake he made with General Lü Shang—a loyal general executed on false suspicions planted by an enemy. Contemplating Liu Shang’s words, the Eighth Prince realized that pushing him might be exactly what their enemies wanted and called off the trap.

Hearing of the confrontation, a frantic Qu Xiaotan rushed to Liu Shang’s room and began packing, urging him to flee. Liu Shang simply took her in his arms, playfully remarking that he only needed her. Just then, Yu Hao arrived with a token, informing them that Noble Consort DuGu had fallen and the Eighth Prince requested Liu Shang's presence at the palace to examine her. Despite Qu Xiaotan's protests, Liu Shang agreed.

At the palace, Imperial Doctor Gao had already assured the Emperor that the Consort and her fetus were fine. The Eighth Prince insisted on a second opinion from Liu Shang, a renowned "divine healer." Seizing the opportunity, Liu Shang remarked that the Consort’s sallow complexion indicated an unstable fetal condition. When asked for his advice, he bluntly stated that to ensure a stable pregnancy, the Noble Consort should not "exert herself at night." The Emperor, understanding the implicit accusation, was embarrassed but accepted the advice, instructing the Consort to rest well at night.

Episode 16 Recap

Liu Shang and the Eighth Prince engaged in a game of chess in the study, with Qu Xiaotan serving tea and incense nearby. Their bond had deepened since they worked together to thwart Noble Consort Dugu's schemes. The Eighth Prince inquired about Liu Shang's chess teacher, to which Liu Shang replied that he learned from a Taoist priest who also taught him the art of inference.

The Eighth Prince remarked on the peculiar sensation of playing against Liu Shang, feeling as though he was competing with himself. As Qu Xiaotan observed their pleasant conversation, Yu Hao entered with a report: the Emperor had not summoned Noble Consort Dugu to his chambers the previous night, and her palace remained closed with heightened security. The Eighth Prince instructed Yu Hao to proceed with their pre-arranged plan.

Curious, Qu Xiaotan asked about the news, but the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang merely exchanged knowing smiles, prompting Qu Xiaotan to playfully comment on them being "good friends." Liu Shang, unfamiliar with the term, asked for its meaning, and Qu Xiaotan explained it referred to friends drawn together by destiny, a sentiment the Eighth Prince readily embraced. Meanwhile, Noble Consort Dugu, increasingly pressured by the Eighth Prince, grew anxious about her fake pregnancy being exposed.

Despite a month with her male companion, she had yet to conceive. In her desperation, she lashed out at him, threatening to have him castrated if she didn't show signs of pregnancy by the next day. Under the cover of night, the Emperor quietly made his way to Noble Consort Dugu's sleeping quarters. To his horror, he found her and her male companion in bed together. In disbelief, he tore aside the bed curtains.

Startled awake, Noble Consort Dugu immediately knelt and pleaded for mercy, claiming she was coerced. Enraged, the Emperor summoned Imperial Doctor Gao and commanded him to re-examine Noble Consort Dugu's pulse, threatening to execute his entire clan if there was any error. Knowing he could no longer conceal the truth, Imperial Doctor Gao, trembling, confirmed that Noble Consort Dugu was not pregnant.

The Emperor, suppressing his fury, sat on the edge of the bed, observed the tearful Dugu, and let out a soft sigh. Soon after, the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang received news that the Emperor, having discovered Noble Consort Dugu's deception, had banished her to the Cold Palace, with her male companion and Imperial Doctor Gao slated for execution. Qu Xiaotan then realized the elaborate scheme they had orchestrated.

Liu Shang explained their meticulous planning: upon learning of the fake pregnancy, they had continuously monitored her palace. They discovered a pattern: whenever she sealed off her palace and increased security, she would have her male companion secretly brought in. By advising the Emperor not to visit her, they forced the desperate Dugu to act. All that remained was to subtly guide the Emperor to her chambers at the opportune moment.

Liu Shang further revealed that Eunuch Xue, the Eighth Prince's informant, was the one who conveyed news of Noble Consort Dugu's supposed illness to the Emperor, prompting his visit. After hearing the full extent of the plan, Qu Xiaotan expressed her immense admiration for Liu Shang. A jealous Eighth Prince, finding an excuse to send her away, confronted Liu Shang directly about his feelings for Tan'er.

Liu Shang’s forthrightness left the Eighth Prince with no recourse but to declare a fair competition for Tan'er’s affections, vowing not to use his princely status to gain an advantage. As they spoke, two cloaked figures suddenly burst into the study. One held a sword to the Eighth Prince’s throat, revealing himself as General Wei, who had come to avenge his family’s massacre.

With Noble Consort Dugu's downfall, General Wei felt he had no choice but to take this desperate action. He accused the Eighth Prince of sending the Capital army to burn down his mansion five years prior while he was away at war, leading to the death of his entire family due to political differences. Hearing General Wei’s accusations, Liu Shang seized an opportunity to fend him off, then questioned whether the fire at Wei’s mansion occurred during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

He explained that on that day five years ago, a grand banquet was held in the palace, and the Eighth Prince had recalled the Capital army to provide security, making it impossible for them to have committed arson. When General Wei remained unconvinced, Liu Shang stated that palace records could verify his claims.

He then asked General Wei if the arsonists bore a specific mark identifying them as members of the Hongshun Hall, an organization of rebels from the previous dynasty. Liu Shang revealed that several other fires had occurred in the city that same day, all attributed to three recently apprehended Hongshun Hall rebels, whose interrogation exposed that Noble Consort Dugu herself had instigated the arsons.

General Wei, realizing he had been manipulated, was overwhelmed with despair and attempted to end his own life as an act of atonement. However, the Eighth Prince intervened, preventing his suicide and thereby securing General Wei’s unwavering loyalty. Upon receiving news of Noble Consort Dugu's downfall, Qu Pan'er informed the Grand Prince, cautioning him that Liu Shang was intricately involved in this and the Eighth Prince's recent exoneration.

Just then, a guard reported that the Emperor had been afflicted by a sudden, severe illness that morning, leaving all imperial doctors helpless as the princes rushed to the palace. Hearing the symptoms—alternating heat and cold with convulsions—Qu Pan'er deduced that the Emperor's condition was due to withdrawal from the tonic soup provided by Noble Consort Dugu. She promptly offered to visit Dugu to obtain the antidote.

The Eighth Prince and Liu Shang hastened to the palace, where they found the Emperor unconscious. A eunuch reported no irregularities in the Emperor's diet, save for the nourishing soup he had been regularly consuming from Noble Consort Dugu. Liu Shang quietly told the Eighth Prince that the Emperor had likely been poisoned and advised him to seek the antidote from Dugu while he remained to attempt detoxification.

Simultaneously, Qu Pan'er reached Dugu first, proposing her release in exchange for the cure. Dugu revealed that the antidote required drinking the blood from a close kinsman's heart. Shortly thereafter, the Eighth Prince and Fourteenth Prince arrived. Dugu cunningly directed them to a remote location, using a "lure the tiger out of its den" stratagem to incriminate them. Learning that the Eighth Prince had left the palace, Liu Shang immediately deduced Noble Consort Dugu's sinister plot.

Witnessing the Emperor’s agony intensify to the point of vomiting blood, Liu Shang was filled with immense anxiety. He remembered that the poison was Soul-Stealing Powder, made from Soul-Stealing Grass, which he had encountered in the Xuanling Continent. He knew the only way to counteract the addictive poison was by ingesting the blood from a kinsman's heart.

With time running out, Liu Shang used some of his own heart blood to save the Emperor, an act observed by the Grand Prince. Liu Shang pledged his life on the efficacy of the medicine. When the imperial doctors expressed skepticism, the Grand Prince interjected, claiming he had ordered Liu Shang's actions. Just then, the Emperor began to awaken.

The Grand Prince, seizing the opportunity, announced that the poison required a kinsman's blood and publicly declared that the blood used was his own, taking full credit. He then asked Liu Shang for confirmation, leaving Liu Shang no choice but to silently acquiesce to the lie. Having stolen the credit, the Grand Prince remained puzzled by Liu Shang's knowledge of the cure and began to suspect he might also be of royal lineage.

Anticipating this scrutiny, Liu Shang had instructed Qu Xiaotan to purchase animal blood to create a blood bag. On their way back to the mansion, Mo Liancheng, still in his Liu Shang disguise, was ambushed by a man in a bamboo hat, who stabbed him in the chest. Qu Xiaotan, panicking, rushed him back to the mansion. In this moment of crisis, she confronted her true feelings, crying as she leaned down to kiss him.

As she kissed him, Mo Liancheng's eyes fluttered open. When she desperately tried to examine his wound, she discovered the blood bag concealed on his chest; he was unharmed. Mo Liancheng gazed at the tearful yet smiling Qu Xiaotan with deep affection, softly promising to take her back with him once all matters were resolved. To definitively ascertain Liu Shang's lineage, the Grand Prince intentionally ingested a dose of the poison, having Mo Jingkang’s blood prepared as a contingency.

With everything in place, the Grand Prince consumed Liu Shang's blood. To his surprise, it had no effect. Only after taking Mo Jingkang’s blood did his symptoms alleviate. At that point, he concluded with certainty that Liu Shang was not of royal blood.

Episode 17 Recap

Qu Xiaotan diligently attended to Mo Liancheng in the Snow Courtyard, but he playfully held onto her hand, complaining of discomfort from lying down too long. He insisted she massage him to his satisfaction before he would let her go. As she obliged, Mo Liancheng mused about near-death experiences, claiming he didn't see a bright white passage but rather a "normal-looking girl" standing over him, tearfully vowing to stay with him if he didn't return.

Qu Xiaotan, realizing he was teasing, called him a liar, and he responded by asking if she was finally admitting her true feelings. He then promised to appear whenever and wherever she needed him. Feigning annoyance, she quickly made her escape. Stepping out of Mo Liancheng's room, Qu Xiaotan encountered the Eighth Prince, who questioned her prolonged presence in Liu Shang's quarters.

She hastily explained that she and Liu Shang had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in the market that day, and she was unharmed thanks to Liu Shang's intervention. Though her explanation was reasonable, the Eighth Prince sternly told her never to mention other men in his presence again. Qu Xiaotan internally noted the striking similarity to Mo Liancheng's possessive remarks, feeling an uncomfortable shift in the atmosphere, and promptly excused herself.

The next morning in the study, the Eighth Prince cautioned Liu Shang about the impropriety of being alone with Qu Tan'er after You Time, despite her being his maid. Liu Shang conceded, promising to have Jingxin present after dusk. Their conversation was interrupted by Yu Hao, who announced the Emperor's recovery and summoned all princes to the Imperial Study, specifically requesting that Qu Tan'er accompany the Eighth Prince.

Liu Shang immediately suspected the summons concerned the succession to the throne, fearing the Emperor might favor the Grand Prince due to his recent perceived merit in saving the Emperor. The Eighth Prince, however, confidently stated that the Crown Prince's title was not immutable. Liu Shang, seeing the Eighth Prince's resolve, worried about a repeat of the Grand Prince's past tragic fate. He urged the Eighth Prince to consider their brotherhood, which the Eighth Prince sharply dismissed.

Upon arriving at the palace, the Eighth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince heard the imperial decree crowning Mo Yihuai, the Grand Prince, as the Imperial Crown Prince. Meanwhile, Qu Pan'er delivered a food box to Noble Consort Dugu in the Cold Palace. Dugu, initially overjoyed, believed Pan'er was there to rescue her. Qu Pan'er chillingly clarified she was there to help Dugu "escape from pain," implying Dugu’s demise.

When Dugu initially refused the food, Pan'er revealed that Mo Yihuai was now the Crown Prince and that Dugu's continued desire to restore her nation would make her a threat to him. Realizing she was being forced to commit suicide, Dugu defiantly declared that her clan, Dayu, would still rise and ensure Mo Yihuai and Pan'er met a bad end.

After Dugu consumed the poisoned food, Qu Pan'er instructed a servant to report that the Noble Consort had committed suicide to escape punishment. During the subsequent imperial audience, the Crown Prince requested the Emperor to grant Qu Tan'er the title of Side Consort. The Eighth Prince immediately interjected, asking the Emperor to sanction his own marriage to Qu Tan'er. Faced with both proposals, the Emperor directly asked Qu Tan'er for her decision.

Qu Tan'er, recalling her previous life as a "singleton" and her newfound popularity, momentarily fantasized about becoming Empress and owning all of Dongyue. Snapped back to reality by the Emperor, she boldly stated she wished to marry neither, as her heart already belonged to someone else. Outside the Imperial Study, the Crown Prince, misinterpreting her refusal as reluctance to be a mere Side Consort, promised to make her Empress once he ascended the throne.

The Eighth Prince interjected, asserting that forced love was undesirable. Back at the Eighth Prince's palace, he directly questioned Qu Tan'er if Liu Shang was the one who held her heart. She playfully evaded, claiming her heart was her own to keep, and quickly left the room. Qu Xiaotan hurried to the Snow Courtyard to check on Mo Liancheng's injuries.

Mo Liancheng, already aware of her refusal of both the Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince, greeted her with a comment about her loud knocking. Seeing her concern for his supposed wound, he gently pulled her into a warm embrace. Qu Jianglin, having successfully negotiated peace-through-marriage with Yongye, was reinstated to his post, ushering Princess Lan Yexi into the palace.

The princess, unlike women of Dongyue, was strikingly bold, carrying a whip and asserting that her people never parted with their weapons. She firmly declared that she would personally choose her husband, and she would keep her selection method a secret until the time was right. Mo Liancheng visited Liu Qianshui and discovered signs of a forced entry into his residence. They quickly realized the Soul Wandering Flute had been stolen.

Mo Liancheng expressed grave concern, explaining that if someone used a host and the flute to break the Soul Bead’s seal, the Dark Emperor would sense the Ling Power and descend upon Dongyue. He suspected the thief possessed Xuan Power superior to his own, given his previous efforts to conceal the flute. The immediate priority, he stressed, was to recover the flute to prevent history from repeating itself.

Mo Liancheng then solemnly revealed that Qu Tan'er was the host of the Soul Bead. He sternly warned Liu Qianshui against manipulating her to unseal the bead and travel to the Xuanling Continent, emphasizing that such an act would lead to a monumental disaster. Meanwhile, Qu Jianglin recounted to Qu Pan'er how his exile to the frontier had ironically led to a miraculous turn of fortune. He had stumbled upon a rare Soul Bead cultivation manual in Yongye.

This manual, annotated by Dongyue's founding emperor Mo Yifeng, promised immense Xuan Power to its practitioner. Qu Jianglin confirmed that he had used the manual’s power to locate and steal the Soul Wandering Flute, which allowed him to extract and sense the Soul Bead's power. He stressed the urgency of finding the Soul Bead's host, as only the host could fully release its Ling Power.

Qu Pan'er immediately suspected her sister, Qu Tan'er, whose personality had dramatically changed after her drowning incident and who had gained the affections of the Grand Prince, the Eighth Prince, and even Liu Shang. Qu Jianglin agreed with her assessment. The following day, Qu Jianglin requested the Emperor to permit Qu Tan'er to return to the Qu's palace, citing his desire for family reunion.

The Eighth Prince vehemently opposed, reminding the Emperor that Qu Tan'er had been taken into his palace by imperial edict. The Emperor then sought Qu Tan'er’s opinion. Qu Tan'er, now working in the Eighth Prince's palace and content with her work and the Eighth Prince’s good treatment, declared her loyalty to the Eighth Prince and her desire to remain. Impressed by her loyalty, the Emperor granted her request. An imperial banquet was held to welcome Princess Lan Yexi.

The Fourteenth Prince questioned the Eighth Prince about his apparent disinterest in the beautiful princess, highlighting the political support that a marriage alliance would bring. The Eighth Prince, however, stated that his heart was already set on another woman as his Wangfei. Princess Lan Yexi then removed her veil, revealing her stunning beauty, and posed a provocative question to the assembled princes: why were women responsible for bearing children, yet men held all the power?

The Crown Prince immediately responded with the traditional view of male superiority. Others generally agreed, but the Eighth Prince offered a more progressive perspective, suggesting that in the future, women might have the right to choose whether to bear children, advocating for gender equality. Pleased with his answer, Princess Lan Yexi personally presented the Eighth Prince with a treasured sword as a gift.

Episode 18 Recap

The Eighth Prince, frustrated by his calligraphy practice, revealed his annoyance to Liu Shang, who playfully mocked his lack of patience. The Eighth Prince was vexed that Princess Lan Yexi had chosen him as her desired husband and insisted that Liu Shang immediately discover her true intentions and return the dagger.

In response, Liu Shang subtly noted the Eighth Prince's reluctance for a political marriage, despite Yongye being a formidable power, then offered to use his ability to understand people's hearts to assist him. Meanwhile, Princess Lan Yexi was shopping and demanded to purchase a sword that had already been reserved. When the vendor refused, she became enraged, threatening to destroy his shop with her whip. Just as she was about to strike, Liu Shang intervened.

He calmly articulated her underlying frustration, acknowledging that as a royal, she was a pawn in political games, unable to choose her own marriage or beloved. He praised her as valiant, adept in both scholarly and martial arts, and as capable as any man, advising her to live freely and pursue her own path. Completely understanding her unspoken feelings, Princess Lan Yexi was impressed by Liu Shang's charm and insight.

After learning he was the Eighth Prince's advisor, she readily accepted the returned dagger. Upon returning to the palace, she informed the Emperor that she had chosen Liu Shang as her prince consort. The Emperor, initially assuming she meant his son Mo Liancheng, was surprised but ultimately approved of her choice. Upon hearing the news, Qu Xiaotan furiously confronted Mo Liancheng, accusing him of finding a "foreign mistress" and referring to Princess Lan Yexi as a "Smurf."

Mo Liancheng playfully teased her, asking if she was jealous and remarking on how "cute" a foreign princess could be. Annoyed, Qu Xiaotan pushed him onto the bed and playfully strangled him. Mo Liancheng, embracing her, confessed how much he loved seeing her anxious and jealous for him, as it proved she cared. Overcome by his tender words, Qu Xiaotan instinctively kissed him. Afterward, she realized she had been outmaneuvered.

Still bothered by the idea of Princess Lan Yexi, she snatched Mo Liancheng's human skin mask, determined to sabotage the marriage herself. Disguised as Liu Shang, complete with elaborate makeup and self-made high heels, Qu Xiaotan went to confront Princess Lan Yexi. She intentionally acted rude and unruly, but to her dismay, Princess Lan Yexi found her directness charming.

Qu Xiaotan then claimed she had a cold that had permanently damaged her voice, making it hoarse and unpleasant, but the princess declared she didn't mind his voice, finding it like heavenly music. Princess Lan Yexi then presented her with a jeweled dagger, stating that by accepting the gift, he would belong to her. Qu Xiaotan, tempted by the valuable jewels, accepted it and found herself trapped.

She frantically tried to push the princess away by claiming disgusting habits like nose-picking, farting, and spitting daily, but Princess Lan Yexi simply found him even more endearing, stating a true man should not be bound by trifles. Utterly defeated, Qu Xiaotan retreated, accidentally tripping and falling spectacularly outside the door. Meanwhile, Liu Qianshui examined Mo Liancheng, observing that his body was extremely weak, his senses were deteriorating, and he was being affected by a strong magnetic field.

Mo Liancheng confided in Liu Qianshui, revealing two other major concerns: Princess Lan Yexi's choice of Liu Shang as her husband and Qu Jianglin's apparent knowledge of Qu Tan'er's true identity, and his relentless efforts to keep her close. For Qu Tan'er's safety, Mo Liancheng declared his intent to leave Dongyue with her soon. He insisted Liu Qianshui increase his medicine dosage, despite warnings that the powerful pills could harm him.

Mo Liancheng emphasized he needed to be strong enough to protect Qu Tan'er, as everything he had planned would be meaningless without her safety. That night, Qu Jianglin visited Mo Yihuai at the Crown Prince's palace. After excessive flattery, Mo Yihuai, impatient, urged him to state his purpose. Qu Jianglin then revealed that the Eighth Prince was secretly using Liu Shang to win over Yongye, deeming him deeply cunning. Mo Yihuai, however, dismissed the small country of Yongye as insignificant.

Seeing this, Qu Jianglin shifted tactics, suggesting that Mo Yihuai must ascend the throne swiftly to reclaim Qu Tan'er. He proposed marrying Qu Pan'er first to secure an alliance with the Qu family, offering his own forces, cultivated during his time abroad, to aid Mo Yihuai's ascent. Mo Yihuai was visibly swayed by this proposition. Qu Pan'er, delighted to learn of Mo Yihuai's agreement to marry her, brought him a basket of his favorite dishes early the next morning.

However, Mo Yihuai remained cold and direct, stating that his heart belonged only to Tan'er and their marriage was merely a transaction for mutual benefit. Qu Pan'er, fully aware of this, declared that loving him was the most important thing in her life and she would endure any hardship to be by his side. Elsewhere, Liu Qianshui observed the night sky, realizing that the celestial phenomenon known as "Mars is close to Antares" was about to occur.

This meant Mo Liancheng would soon be able to return to modern times with Qu Xiaotan. Liu Qianshui resolved that once Mo Liancheng departed, he would return to Xuanling Continent with the clan chiefs. During Jingxin's absence from the Eighth Prince's palace for an errand, Qu Jianglin and Madam Qu seized her and brought her back to the Qu residence.

They inflicted "family punishment" upon her, demanding she find a way to trick Qu Tan'er into returning home and blaming Jingxin for Qu Tan'er's perceived disloyalty. Simultaneously, Mo Liancheng informed Qu Xiaotan that the portal back to their modern world would open at midnight that very night, thanks to the celestial anomaly. Overjoyed, Qu Xiaotan listened as Mo Liancheng explained he would first pay his respects to the Emperor, a final farewell, before meeting her.

He instructed her to use a pre-arranged shopping list as an excuse to leave early and wait for him by the sea-lake. As Qu Xiaotan excitedly prepared to gather her valuables, Mo Jingxuan, the Fourteenth Prince, rushed in to report Jingxin's disappearance. Inquiring with a maid who had accompanied Jingxin, they learned that the Qu family's butler had taken her back to the Qu residence. Considering Jingxin like a sister, Qu Xiaotan decided to go to the Qu estate herself.

She declined Mo Jingxuan's offer to accompany her, stating he shouldn't risk impropriety as a prince. Upon her frantic arrival, she found Jingxin severely tortured and near death. Enraged, Qu Xiaotan cursed at Qu Jianglin and Madam Qu, threatening to sue them and expose their evil deeds to the world. As she attempted to help Jingxin leave, a group of house guards, armed with wooden sticks, blocked their path. Time relentlessly passed.

The anomaly shimmered in the sky, and Mo Liancheng, having made all his preparations, anxiously awaited Qu Xiaotan. After some time, Liu Qianshui warned him that if he missed the precise moment the portal opened, he would lose his only chance to return. However, Mo Liancheng refused to abandon Qu Xiaotan, standing firm in his commitment not to leave her side. Consequently, he let the opportune moment to return slip away.

Episode 19 Recap

Qu Jianglin intercepted Qu Xiaotan and Jingxin at Qu's mansion, demanding to know if Qu Tan'er had heard of the Soul Bead and how to activate it. Qu Xiaotan vehemently denied any knowledge of it, prompting Qu Jianglin to threaten Jingxin's life. To save Jingxin, Qu Xiaotan feigned remembering the Soul Bead but claimed her memory was currently impaired due to "Mercury retrograding" and the immense pressure from their menacing demeanor.

Unsatisfied, Qu Jianglin ordered them to be confined to their room under strict guard. Later, Qu Jianglin confided in Qu Furen that he suspected Qu Tan'er was the Soul Bead's host due to her drastic change in temperament, a fact Qu Pan'er had also noted. He resolved to keep Qu Tan'er close to force out the secret.

When an attendant announced the Eighth Prince's arrival, Qu Jianglin instructed him to decline, feigning illness, and to do the same for all future visits from the Eighth, Fourteenth, and Grand Princes. Trapped in their room, Qu Xiaotan anxiously cared for the bruised Jingxin, worrying about Mo Liancheng waiting by the lake and fearing he might have already returned to the modern era. Suddenly, Mo Liancheng appeared at the window.

Qu Xiaotan apologized for missing their rendezvous, explaining that Jingxin's capture by Qu Jianglin had prevented her from leaving. Tears welled in her eyes as she expressed fear that she had hindered his return. Mo Liancheng reassured her, declaring that waiting for her had been far more challenging than waiting for any anomaly, as he had awaited her for "many lifetimes and kalpas."

He attempted to rescue them, but seeing Jingxin's injured state and the increased guards, Qu Xiaotan insisted he couldn't take them both. Realizing he could not extract them safely alone, Mo Liancheng promised to return and reluctantly departed. Meanwhile, a distraught Qu Pan'er returned home, lamenting to her parents that Mo Yihuai's heart was solely set on Qu Tan'er, leaving him indifferent to her.

Qu Furen consoled her, vowing to deal with Qu Tan'er once the Soul Bead's secret was revealed. Qu Jianglin then presented Qu Pan'er with a small bottle containing a powerful "Love-enchanting Gu" from Xiangxi. He instructed her to administer it to Mo Yihuai on their wedding night, assuring her it would make him devoted and wholeheartedly hers without causing him harm. Qu Pan'er was overjoyed, feeling as though she had received a precious treasure.

On the night of the wedding, Mo Yihuai returned to the bridal chamber heavily inebriated, showing no joy despite the festive decorations. He embraced Qu Pan'er, yet called out "Tan'er." Despite her deep love for him, Qu Pan'er could not help but shed tears of heartbreak. At the Eighth Prince's palace, Liu Qianshui examined Mo Liancheng, noting that even the most potent medicines were proving ineffective. He observed Mo Liancheng's declining health, predicting he was not far from losing consciousness.

Mo Liancheng, acutely aware of his deteriorating condition, decided it was time to entrust Qu Xiaotan's protection to someone he could trust. He also acknowledged the difficulty of accessing Qu's mansion, as Qu Jianglin was feigning illness, preventing both the Eighth Prince and Fourteenth Prince from entering. Back at Qu's mansion, Qu Xiaotan and Jingxin anxiously awaited rescue.

Unexpectedly, Qu Furen informed Qu Xiaotan that the Eighth Prince's palace was preparing for an imperial matrimony, claiming Liu Shang himself had agreed to it. Qu Xiaotan, outraged, dismissed this as a lie. Just then, the Fourteenth Prince arrived, visibly angry after hearing of Jingxin's beating. He fiercely warned Qu Furen against harming Jingxin again, then presented an edict from the Empress Dowager commanding Qu Furen to transcribe one hundred sutras as penance.

Seizing the opportunity, the Fourteenth Prince told Qu Xiaotan that Liu Shang wished to meet her in the woods outside the city in an hour, and using the Empress Dowager's summons as an excuse, he facilitated their immediate release from the mansion. The Fourteenth Prince escorted Qu Xiaotan to the outskirts and left. Qu Xiaotan found Liu Shang, only to see him standing intimately with Princess Lan Yexi.

Qu Xiaotan confronted Liu Shang, demanding to know if he truly intended to marry Princess Lan Yexi. Liu Shang responded with cold indifference, asking why not, and stated their "destiny had ended." Devastated, Qu Xiaotan called him a liar and defiantly declared she would completely forget him. Liu Shang then advised her to return to the Eighth Prince. Heartbroken, Qu Xiaotan watched Liu Shang and Princess Lan Yexi walk away side-by-side.

Concurrently, the Eighth Prince received a note from Liu Shang instructing him to wait for "Tan'er" at his palace gate at noon and to care for her, without asking why she was sad. At noon, a carriage arrived, and inside, the Eighth Prince found a distraught Qu Xiaotan. In her sleep, Qu Xiaotan cried out "heartless scoundrel," confirming the Eighth Prince's suspicion that her sorrow stemmed from Liu Shang's arranged marriage.

Upon waking, Qu Xiaotan demanded to be returned to Qu's mansion, stating there was someone in the Eighth Prince's palace she never wanted to see again. Reluctantly, the Eighth Prince agreed and ordered Yu Hao to prepare a carriage for her. After Qu Xiaotan departed, Liu Shang appeared visibly despondent. Princess Lan Yexi shrewdly deduced that he had used her as a shield to push his beloved Qu Tan'er away.

Liu Shang admitted his guilt, but Princess Lan Yexi graciously accepted the situation, stating that her feelings for him were her own concern. She expressed gratitude for having met him, declaring that even if she remained unmarried for life, she would have no regrets. Princess Lan Yexi then cautioned Liu Shang about an evil object in Qu Jianglin's possession that glowed with purple light, which she had witnessed Qu Jianglin using for cultivation.

That night, Mo Liancheng, cloaked in black, infiltrated Qu's mansion and stole the Soul Bead. Discovering the theft, Qu Jianglin immediately sealed off the mansion and ordered a meticulous search. The following day, Qu Jianglin reported the theft to the Emperor, asserting that only Princess Lan Yexi knew the Soul Bead's location. He accused the Eighth Prince and Princess Lan Yexi of conspiring to steal it, warning that its capture by another nation would threaten Dongyue.

After consideration, the Emperor granted Qu Jianglin permission to lead soldiers into the Eighth Prince's palace to search for the Soul Bead. Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince summoned Liu Shang to his study. Upon his arrival, the Eighth Prince pressed a sword to Liu Shang's throat, demanding his true identity. He revealed that he had spoken with Liu Shang's fellow disciples, who confirmed that the real Liu Shang had died long ago.

Unfazed, Liu Shang calmly told him to simply believe he was Liu Shang. As they spoke, Liu Shang suddenly clutched his chest in agony, and the Eighth Prince inexplicably felt a sharp pain in his own heart. Seeing no other way to conceal the truth, Mo Liancheng removed his human-skin mask, revealing a face identical to the Eighth Prince's. Stunned, the Eighth Prince's sword clattered to the floor.

Mo Liancheng confessed he was the Eighth Prince from the future, then extended his hand, challenging the Eighth Prince to take his pulse, knowing he had studied medicine with the late Emperor. The Eighth Prince's examination confirmed Mo Liancheng's pulse indicated he was nearing death, yet he still struggled to believe the incredible claim. At that critical moment, Yu Hao burst in, announcing that Minister Qu, bearing an imperial edict, was at the gates to search the palace.

Episode 20 Recap

Following Liu Shang's advice to avoid appearing guilty, the Eighth Prince allows Qu Jianglin to search his residence for the Soul Bead after he arrives with an imperial decree. The search proves disruptive but fruitless. Suspecting the Eighth Prince has hidden the bead, Qu Jianglin secretly uses his spiritual power to confirm its absence before departing. Immediately after, the Eighth Prince instructs Yu Hao to prepare horses, intending to report to the Emperor and preempt any slander from Qu Jianglin.

Meanwhile, Lan Yexi forces her way into the Qu mansion to see Qu Xiaotan. She initially antagonizes Xiaotan by claiming Liu Shang sent her to say he is marrying Lan Yexi and that Xiaotan should forget him. Seeing Xiaotan's furious reaction, Lan Yexi drops the act and confesses the truth: Liu Shang never agreed to marry her, as he loves only Xiaotan.

He concocted the story because his health is rapidly deteriorating—a condition Lan Yexi equates to death—and he wanted to entrust Xiaotan's care to the Eighth Prince. Moved by her own belief that one should spend any remaining time with their beloved, Lan Yexi reveals Liu Shang is at the Eighth Prince's palace. At Xiaotan's request, Lan Yexi helps her escape the heavily guarded mansion by having Xiaotan disguise herself as her maid.

Qu Xiaotan rushes to the Snow Courtyard, only to find it in disarray from Qu Jianglin's earlier search. A servant confirms Liu Shang has not been seen. In the tearoom, a place filled with their memories, Xiaotan is pained by his absence. As she attempts to write a letter to Mo Liancheng, she realizes that he had always been the one to pursue and forgive her.

This time, she vows, she will be the one to find him and bring him back. Unbeknownst to Xiaotan, who frantically searches for him, Mo Liancheng is hiding in Liu Qianshui's hut. His condition has worsened, and he has gone blind, struggling even to pour his own medicine. Back at the palace, the Eighth Prince finds Xiaotan’s heartfelt letter and finally understands she is a different person from Qu Tan'er.

He somberly reflects that it hardly matters who she loves, so long as it is not him. During her search, Xiaotan spots and follows Liu Qianshui to his hut, where she finds Mo Liancheng seated in the courtyard. When he remains oblivious to her presence just feet away, she realizes with horror that he is blind. Overwhelmed, Xiaotan tearfully confronts him, berating him for resorting to a "cliché drama" and pushing her away. Mo Liancheng stoically insists she leave.

Pretending to comply, Xiaotan waits until he believes he is alone. He then turns away, tears streaming down his face as he murmurs an apology to "Tan'er," despairing that he can no longer protect her. Witnessing his vulnerability, Xiaotan slaps him, crying out, "Your side is the only place I should be, isn't it?" Realizing she never left, Mo Liancheng abandons all restraint, pulling her into a fierce, passionate kiss.

He confesses that he followed her from the Xuanling Continent to her world and back to Dongyue, all to avoid losing her again. He admits his arrogance in assuming she belonged to him and his fear that she saw him only as a substitute, which caused him to waste precious time. Now, he declares his unconditional love, wanting only to be with her for whatever time they have left.

Xiaotan playfully teases him, but he clarifies that he loves the person who has always protected her—the one who took her out to eat and made her breakfast before she came to Dongyue, and the one who secretly sent her gifts and became a counselor just to watch over her after she arrived. Elsewhere, Qu Jianglin is enraged to learn that his search of the Eighth Prince's palace was fruitless and that Qu Xiaotan has escaped his mansion.

At the same time, Mo Yihuai suggests accompanying Qu Pan'er on a visit to her family home, and though she understands his true motive is his lingering affection for Tan'er, she sadly agrees. As Mo Liancheng and Xiaotan confess their feelings, Liu Qianshui goes to the Eighth Prince's palace to ask for help. Though suspicious of a trap, the Eighth Prince agrees to go with him to get answers.

Meanwhile, Qu Jianglin and his soldiers storm the hut, interrupting the couple. Believing Mo Liancheng to be the Eighth Prince, Qu Jianglin declares he has found the Soul Bead's hiding place and attacks. Just then, the real Eighth Prince arrives with Liu Qianshui. Stunned to see two identical men, Qu Jianglin realizes he has stumbled upon a major secret. He seizes Qu Xiaotan, demanding the Soul Bead in exchange for her life.

On Mo Liancheng's subtle signal, Liu Qianshui agrees to the trade. However, after confirming the bead's authenticity, Qu Jianglin betrays the deal, taking both the Soul Bead and Qu Xiaotan with him. The shock and exertion cause Mo Liancheng to cough up blood and collapse, unconscious. Liu Qianshui grimly notes the severity of his internal injuries and turns to the Eighth Prince, declaring, "Only you can save his life."

Episode 21 Recap

Qu Jianglin held Qu Xiaotan captive in the Qu residence, locking her in with Jingxin. He menacingly warned Qu Xiaotan that if she dared to play any more tricks, he would make Jingxin’s life a living hell. Qu Xiaotan fiercely told him to come at her instead and leave Jingxin alone. At that moment, a servant announced the arrival of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Surprised, Qu Jianglin ordered more guards to watch the two women before rushing off to greet his guests. Once he left, Jingxin expressed her concern over Qu Xiaotan being caught again and wondered about Mo Liancheng’s condition. Crown Prince Mo Yihuai, claiming to be accompanying Qu Pan'er on a family visit, quickly revealed his true intention to see Qu Tan'er.

Qu Jianglin made excuses, stating that Tan'er was ill from her work in the Eighth Prince's residence and that it was improper for Mo Yihuai to show such concern for his sister-in-law. Hearing this, Mo Yihuai, without regard for Qu Pan'er's feelings, turned and left with her. Meanwhile, Liu Qianshui watched over the unconscious Mo Liancheng, puzzled as to why Qu Jianglin could activate the Soul Bead's power when only its host should be able to.

The Eighth Prince asked Liu Qianshui about the bead's nature and how he and "Mister" (Liu Shang) came to possess it. Liu Qianshui deflected, saying it no longer mattered since Qu Jianglin had it. The Eighth Prince then pressed for Liu Shang's identity and Qu Tan'er's true background. Liu Qianshui admitted her identity was complex, but confirmed she was not the Qu family's second daughter. As for Mo Liancheng, Liu Qianshui said he had already explained himself.

The Eighth Prince confessed he struggled to believe Mo Liancheng's claim that they were the same person, so Liu Qianshui suggested he wait for Mo Liancheng to awaken and ask him directly. To aid Mo Liancheng, Liu Qianshui performed a ritual to connect the Eighth Prince's soul with Mo Liancheng's, intending to transfer some of the Eighth Prince's primordial spirit to him. He warned the Eighth Prince that he would see images from Mo Liancheng's memories.

During the connection, the Eighth Prince experienced Mo Liancheng's heart-wrenching pain and witnessed his history: seeing a modern version of Mo Liancheng leap from a cliff to save Qu Xiaotan, their shared past of deep love and countless trials, and the moment they unleashed a massive energy that twisted time and space, separating them.

The Eighth Prince then saw Mo Liancheng travel to Qu Xiaotan's world, a modern city, where he found a version of her from before they had ever met. He resolved to re-enter her life and win her love again, only to find himself clumsy and desperate. The Eighth Prince then encountered Mo Liancheng's primordial spirit in the mindscape.

He asked if the "Chengcheng" from Tan'er's letter was him and if he, too, was destined to lose Tan'er, expressing his fear of such heartbreak. Mo Liancheng replied that they were the same in their willingness to suffer for the one they love. The Fourteenth Prince, on his way to check on Jingxin, saw Qu Jianglin furtively transporting a large box out of the residence late at night.

Sensing something was amiss, he followed the procession to the Serene Soul Altar, a former imperial retreat for secluded cultivation. Realizing he needed to uncover the truth, he decided to return to the palace and inform the Eighth Prince. At the Serene Soul Altar, Qu Jianglin chained Qu Xiaotan to an altar and demanded to know why there were two Eighth Princes.

When she refused to answer, he smiled strangely, declaring that once he sacrificed her to the Soul Bead, all versions of the Eighth Prince would submit to him. He explained that after confirming the Soul Bead reacted to her, he was certain she was its true host. Qu Jianglin handed her the Soul-Wandering Flute and commanded her to play it to open a sealed jade box. Unfamiliar with the instrument, Qu Xiaotan's random notes failed.

Impatient, Qu Jianglin decided to forcibly absorb the Soul Bead's power, using his dark magic to pull her into the air. In a daze, Qu Xiaotan relived fragments of her past with Mo Liancheng, confirming his stories about their shared history were true. Mo Liancheng awoke to find the Eighth Prince unconscious beside him.

Realizing the Eighth Prince had sacrificed his own energy to save him, and knowing his own fate was sealed, Mo Liancheng begged Liu Qianshui not to transfer any more primordial spirit, unwilling to sacrifice his original self's life. Just then, Yu Hao reported that the Fourteenth Prince urgently needed to see him. Mo Liancheng asked Liu Qianshui to watch over the Eighth Prince and went to meet Fourteenth.

Upon learning Qu Jianglin had gone to the Serene Soul Altar, Mo Liancheng recalled that the altar was secretly built to honor the Qu family's guardianship of the Soul Bead. He immediately deduced that Qu Xiaotan was there and rushed to rescue her. Meanwhile, Qu Jianglin sent Qu Pan'er to deliver food to Qu Xiaotan. Desperate, Xiaotan confessed she was not the real Qu Tan'er and that their rivalry was a misunderstanding.

Pan'er admitted she had heard rumors from her father but lamented that it didn't matter if Mo Yihuai didn't believe it. Xiaotan then proposed a plan: Pan'er would help Mo Yihuai rescue her, touching him with her selflessness. Then, Xiaotan would publicly reject Mo Yihuai for Mo Liancheng, leaving the heartbroken prince vulnerable for Pan'er to comfort and win over. Convinced, Qu Pan'er agreed to the scheme.

Qu Pan'er presented Mo Yihuai with Qu Xiaotan's personal pendant as proof, telling him her father had imprisoned Tan'er in the Serene Soul Altar's secret underground chamber to use her as a sacrifice for the Soul Bead. Horrified but suspicious of Pan'er's motives, Mo Yihuai questioned her. Pan'er tearfully explained that despite her jealousy, they were sisters, and all she truly wanted was his happiness. Though still skeptical, he accompanied her to the chamber.

He found a weak Qu Xiaotan chained to the altar and rushed to her side. Upon waking, she looked at him with disappointment, asking why he had come instead of Mo Liancheng. As Mo Yihuai moved to free her, Qu Xiaotan saw her father approaching and cried out, "Father, don't!" Qu Jianglin appeared, enraged that she had betrayed him.

Episode 22 Recap

Mo Yihuai attempted to rescue Qu Xiaotan, but Qu Jianglin abruptly appeared and struck Mo Yihuai down from the altar. Seeing this, Qu Pan'er immediately positioned herself in front of Mo Yihuai, pleading with Qu Jianglin not to harm him. As they argued, Qu Jianglin, with a menacing smile, activated his dark energy. Mo Yihuai suddenly clutched his chest, struggling in agony as if millions of insects were tearing at his insides, before spitting out blood and collapsing.

Qu Jianglin calmly stated that he had just activated the poison within Mo Yihuai, warning that he would likely not survive for more than half a day. Distraught, Qu Pan'er demanded an explanation. Qu Jianglin laughed, revealing that it was her unwitting contribution: the "love-enchanting Gu" he had given her on her wedding night was actually a deadly poison, meant to facilitate his grand scheme.

Mo Yihuai, regaining some composure, furiously questioned if Qu Jianglin was attempting to rebel by murdering the Crown Prince. Qu Jianglin revealed his true ambition, declaring that the kingdom rightfully belonged to the Qu family. He asserted that without the Qu family's Soul Bead, Mo Yifeng, the late Emperor, could never have single-handedly eliminated the Dugu Clan and established Dongyue. Qu Pan'er was devastated upon realizing she had unintentionally harmed the man she loved.

Witnessing Mo Yihuai's critical state, she knelt before her father, begging him to spare Mo Yihuai's life. Enraged by her perceived weakness, Qu Jianglin scorned her, reminding her that Mo Yihuai never truly treated her as his wife, before turning and leaving, abandoning Qu Pan'er to weep over the unconscious Mo Yihuai.

Determined to save Mo Yihuai, Qu Pan'er obtained the detoxification method from her father: she would have to consume a Female Gu, which would then draw the Male Gu from Mo Yihuai's body into her own, neutralizing the poison in him. She resigned herself to this fate, believing that to die for Mo Yihuai would be her best possible ending, hoping that her sacrifice would ensure he remembered her forever.

With a final, tender kiss, she consumed the Gu, initiating the transfer. Meanwhile, Mo Liancheng arrived at the underground chamber to find it deserted, with only a few shackles remaining. Cautiously searching, he discovered a mechanism on a statue near the entrance. Twisting it revealed two stone tablets inscribed with ancient texts detailing how the Mo family had relied on the Qu family's Soul Bead to establish the Dongyue kingdom.

After deciphering the mechanism, he opened a secret chamber, which proved to be a memorial hall where Qu Xiaotan lay unconscious in the center. Mo Liancheng managed to awaken Qu Xiaotan, who initially believed he was merely a figment of her imagination, calling him an unprofessional illusion that took too long to appear. Seeing her longing, Mo Liancheng kissed her, which finally convinced her of his real presence.

As they prepared to leave, a flying sword shot towards them, and Qu Jianglin entered, laughing. Mo Liancheng sarcastically noted Qu Jianglin's enhanced martial arts, attributing it to the Soul Bead and warning him about the dangers of backlash from power not truly his own. Qu Jianglin scoffed, asserting that the Soul Bead had always belonged to his family. He then taunted Mo Liancheng to bring the "other Eighth Prince" and the "old weirdo" to join the fight.

Mo Liancheng, feigning ignorance, declared he was more than enough to handle him alone, and their intense battle began. Mo Yihuai regained consciousness to find Qu Pan'er by his side. She informed him that his poison had been removed. His tone softened, Mo Yihuai expressed his gratitude, admitting his past wrongs. As they prepared to leave, she paused and asked if he had ever, even for a fleeting moment, held any affection for her.

Receiving no response, she resignedly acknowledged that he was her inescapable fate. Mo Yihuai, though deeply grateful, confessed his inability to let go of Tan'er in this life. He promised that if they had a next life, he would repay her with his lifelong devotion, a pact she accepted with solace. As Mo Yihuai and Qu Pan'er emerged from their chamber, they witnessed Qu Jianglin and Mo Liancheng locked in a fierce battle.

Mo Yihuai rushed to assist, but failed to protect himself. Seeing Qu Jianglin's flying sword about to strike Mo Yihuai, Qu Pan'er flung herself forward, taking the blow. She collapsed, spitting blood, to Qu Jianglin's heartbroken anguish. Mo Yihuai cradled Qu Pan'er, but she revealed that she had transferred the Gu poison to herself to save him, meaning her life was already forfeit.

With her last strength, she asserted that only she was qualified to be the woman who sacrificed her life for him, not Qu Tan'er. Deeply moved, Mo Yihuai vowed that in this life, Qu Pan'er would be his one and only Crown Princess. With Qu Pan'er dying in his arms, a grief-stricken Qu Jianglin lunged forward to reclaim her body.

Mo Yihuai fiercely pushed him away, sending Qu Jianglin sprawling backward onto the altar, where he was impaled by a sword. Not sparing him a glance, Mo Yihuai carried Qu Pan'er's body away, warning Mo Liancheng that their conflict had only just begun. Before leaving, Qu Xiaotan paused before Qu Jianglin's lifeless body.

Acknowledging his evil deeds were for the Qu family, and that his daughter Qu Pan'er had also died, she kowtowed three times on behalf of her body and Qu Pan'er to sever their father-daughter ties. As they exited, Mo Liancheng explained the inscriptions: the late Emperor Mo Yifeng, his dearest friend, came from the Xuanling Continent.

After Mo Liancheng's death, Mo Yifeng used the Qiankun Seal to preserve his will, bringing it to Dongyue to nurture and building the entire kingdom for him. Mo Liancheng also revealed that another person secretly followed Mo Yifeng to Dongyue: Qu Xiangtan, the chief of the Qu Clan in Xuanling, who was the cause of his past demise. He explained that Xiaotan herself is Qu Xiangtan, which is why Soul Hunters had pursued her.

Overwhelmed, Xiaotan was gently reassured by Mo Liancheng that no matter the time or place, she was, and always would be, the only one he deeply loved. Mo Yihuai returned to his mansion, tenderly dressing Qu Pan'er's body in a new wedding gown. Before her death, she had told him that Qu Jianglin had hidden a secret manual and the Soul Bead in the Serene Soul Altar.

Mo Yihuai vowed to honor her final act of devotion by making use of them. Later, Qu Xiaotan reflected on the unwavering devotion of the women of the Qu clan, noting how one jumped into a lake and another shielded her beloved from a sword. Mo Liancheng playfully teased her that her own confession during a chaotic moment was comparatively "lame."

He reminded her of her past self's words and her playful demands for a divorce letter just to get his attention. Recalling these memories, Qu Xiaotan lamented that she seemed to be "like that" in every dimension. Mo Liancheng then revealed that in another timeline, they had spent two carefree years at this very location, and it was where their child, Yu'er, was conceived.

He shared the despair he felt after a great explosion when he awoke in her modern-day world, only to realize that time was also twisted; she was a version of herself who had not yet experienced their life together, making him feel as if he had lost a lifetime of shared moments. Xiaotan pondered if things would have been different had she simply accepted his marriage proposal when he first tried to buy her house.

Episode 23 Recap

The Eighth Prince stood alone by the window, drinking in the chilly night, admitting he deserved this isolation for having lost a key supporter. Mo Liancheng, present with him, insisted that he had secrets he could not reveal, which was why he had deceived the Eighth Prince. The Eighth Prince pressed him, asking if he still maintained that they were one and the same person. Mo Liancheng confirmed they were, explaining that he was the Eighth Prince from the future.

The Eighth Prince recalled the day their primordial spirits interflowed, during which he witnessed a scene where he and Tan’er were compelled to separate. He questioned if this was truly their future and expressed his difficulty in believing Mo Liancheng was indeed him. Mo Liancheng acknowledged the Eighth Prince’s disbelief but promised to prove it with more time. Just then, Yu Hao arrived to announce the Fourteenth Prince.

Before letting him in, the Eighth Prince challenged Yu Hao to distinguish between the two princes. Yu Hao, unable to tell them apart by appearance, asked a question only the true Eighth Prince could answer: how Yu Hao himself had entered the palace service.

Both Mo Liancheng and the Eighth Prince recounted the exact story: when the Eighth Prince was ten, he went hunting with his father, got trapped on a mountain after being tricked by his Eldest Brother, and was guided down by Yu Hao, the son of a woodman, who had remained by his side ever since. Unable to differentiate them, Yu Hao was forgiven by the Eighth Prince. The Fourteenth Prince then entered, visibly stunned to see two Eighth Princes.

He tested them by asking about his proudest childhood achievement. Both princes perfectly recounted how he had once lagged behind the Grand Prince during a horse race but had cunningly lashed the Grand Prince’s horse, causing it to run wildly until dusk, delaying the Emperor’s birthday banquet and earning the Fourteenth Prince a severe punishment. Realizing he had been played, the Fourteenth Prince accused his brother of finding an identical double.

The Eighth Prince then revealed that the person was none other than Mister Liu Shang. The Fourteenth Prince wondered why Liu Shang looked identical to the Eighth Prince, and the Eighth Prince stated he was investigating the matter. As a reward for rescuing Tan’er, the Fourteenth Prince was granted permission to move back into the Snow Courtyard, which was to be cleared of all servants and restricted to all without the Eighth Prince’s special permission.

Qu Xiaotan and Jingxin were relieved to have survived the ordeal and escaped the Qu manor. Jingxin expressed her belief that they were destined for good fortune, even offering hers to Xiaotan. Internally, Qu Xiaotan groaned, finding one Eighth Prince troublesome enough, let alone two. The Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng then entered. Jingxin discreetly left, sensing their need for privacy.

The Eighth Prince questioned Qu Xiaotan about when she discovered Mister Liu Shang’s true appearance and how she distinguished him from the real Eighth Prince. Qu Xiaotan replied that she found out when the Eighth Prince was searching for the "fake prince" at the palace. As for how she told them apart, she simply said the "fake prince" often engaged in flirtatious behavior.

The Eighth Prince assured her he would uncover the fake prince's true identity and prevent him from bothering her again. Later, Jingxin and the Fourteenth Prince approached Mo Liancheng, eager to learn about their future marriages. Mo Liancheng explained that while he came from the future, he had no knowledge of what specific events would unfold. Jingxin and the Fourteenth Prince expressed their confusion and disappointment, wondering what kind of "future person" he was if he didn't know the future.

Their conversation was interrupted by Yu Hao, who informed Mo Liancheng that the Eighth Prince was waiting for him in the study and all servants had been cleared from the area. The Fourteenth Prince decided to investigate the situation himself. In the study, the Eighth Prince expressed his discomfort with Mo Liancheng’s real face and requested that he wear the Liu Shang mask whenever they met.

To test Mo Liancheng’s claim, the Eighth Prince proposed three questions, stating that if all were answered correctly, he would believe him; otherwise, Mo Liancheng’s life would be at his mercy. First, he asked what he had grasped during his one-year-old catch ceremony. Mo Liancheng answered correctly: a black Go stone, which symbolized the Eighth Prince's aptitude for strategy. Next, the Eighth Prince asked about the only place he visited alone.

Mo Liancheng identified it as his mother’s grave, where he insisted on going alone to avoid being seen. Finally, the Eighth Prince inquired about his favorite food. Mo Liancheng replied that it was millet congee, lovingly made by his mother when he was a child, a taste that no other congee could replicate.

He also revealed the Eighth Prince's most detested food was steamed dumplings, which Mo Yihuai had mocked him for, calling him an orphan who deserved only such food after his mother's death. Mo Liancheng noted the irony that because of "someone," this despised food had now become a favorite, reflecting the unpredictable nature of destiny. The Eighth Prince was utterly convinced, remarking that if Mo Liancheng wasn’t another Eighth Prince, he must be a living Buddha.

He then asked Mo Liancheng the purpose of his visit from the future. Mo Liancheng explained he sought to prevent the catastrophe he had experienced: fratricide stemming from the dispute over the throne. He revealed that in his future, Mo Yihuai would die because of this conflict, and he did not want the Eighth Prince to repeat his disastrous path.

Meanwhile, the Grand Prince Mo Yihuai, having obtained the Soul-Suppressing Bead (Zhen Hun Zhu) and its accompanying secret manual, discovered an insert page with his imperial grandfather’s annotations. The text ominously stated that during times of immense astronomical change, a person from the future might emerge to alter the fate of Dongyue. This revelation deeply troubled Mo Yihuai.

A subordinate then reported having infiltrated the Eighth Prince's palace and overheard the Eighth Prince secretly conversing with a "Young Master Liancheng" from the future. This Liancheng had urged the Eighth Prince to prioritize brotherhood, warning that otherwise, the Crown Prince himself would die. Connecting this to the insert page and recent events, Mo Yihuai began to seriously question if there were indeed two Eighth Princes.

The Grand Prince Mo Yihuai reported to the Emperor about Qu Jianglin’s rebellion, subtly implying that the Eighth Prince had arrived at the Serene Soul Altar before him but had failed to stop the rebels, using sickness as an excuse. Back at his palace, the Eighth Prince received news of Mo Yihuai’s request for a meeting. He chastised Mo Liancheng, believing his impulsive actions at the Serene Soul Altar had exposed their secret.

The Eighth Prince noted that the person who saved Tan'er had weak eyesight and periodically used Xuan Power, traits that would make it obvious to a careful observer that he was not the true Eighth Prince. When Mo Yihuai arrived at the Eighth Prince’s study, the Eighth Prince deliberately instructed Qu Xiaotan to massage his shoulders, stressing that they needed to appear intimately affectionate to allay any suspicion. Though she complained internally, Qu Xiaotan dutifully complied.

After Qu Xiaotan left, the Grand Prince inquired about the source of the Eighth Prince’s Xuan Power. The Eighth Prince claimed to have recently met a highly skilled Master. Mo Yihuai then shrewdly asked if this Master was "Young Master Liancheng." The Eighth Prince feigned ignorance. Recalling that the Eighth Prince at the Serene Soul Altar had poor eyesight, Mo Yihuai tested him by abruptly pouring tea. The Eighth Prince, with perfect vision, precisely caught the stream.

This confirmed Mo Yihuai's suspicion that the person he encountered was not the Eighth Prince. As Mo Yihuai departed, he encountered Jingxin and the Fourteenth Prince. After the Fourteenth Prince accused Mo Yihuai of inappropriate behavior towards Jingxin, Mo Yihuai feigned gratitude for Jingxin's "reminder" and explicitly mentioned his intention to meet Mister Liu Shang, asking Jingxin to lead the way. The Grand Prince Mo Yihuai insisted on entering the Snow Courtyard despite the Fourteenth Prince's attempts to stop him.

Inside, the Eighth Prince was conversing with Mister Liu Shang, who was wearing his mask. The Eighth Prince, acknowledging that Mo Yihuai had likely noticed his normal eyesight, suggested Liu Shang leave to grant him and Tan’er peace. Liu Shang agreed, noting he had anticipated such a request. However, before Liu Shang could depart, Mo Yihuai and the Fourteenth Prince arrived. Mo Yihuai observed Liu Shang closely, noting his striking resemblance to the Eighth Prince.

He remarked on Qu Xiaotan’s new puddings and, to test Liu Shang, snatched a pudding from Qu Xiaotan’s hand. The Eighth Prince quickly asserted that as Tan’er's husband, he should be the first to taste it. Mo Yihuai then praised Liu Shang’s abilities, implying that if Liu Shang had been at the Serene Soul Altar, Qu Jianglin would not have survived so long—a veiled reference to the poor eyesight of the "Eighth Brother" that day.

Liu Shang claimed he had temporary poor eyesight from late-night reading but had since recovered. Mo Yihuai then presented a box and challenged Liu Shang to identify its contents solely by its external texture. Liu Shang correctly identified the object as a silver seal bearing the character "Mo," an imperial seal from the Dayu Dynasty.

He explained that in his original future, a local official discovered this seal and presented it to the Emperor, who bestowed it upon the Crown Prince. After Mo Yihuai left, both the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang acknowledged that the Grand Prince was now highly suspicious. The Eighth Prince, changing his stance, admitted his earlier suggestion for Liu Shang to leave was impulsive and earnestly requested he remain to help devise countermeasures.

Liu Shang readily agreed, but the Eighth Prince firmly added that he would never yield Qu Xiaotan. Liu Shang accepted this condition, promising to do his utmost. Qu Xiaotan, observing them, mused to herself that she must have saved the entire universe in her past life to be so fortunate.

Episode 24 Recap

The Fourteenth Prince informed the Eighth Prince that the imperial jade seal, recently recovered from the Xiahe River, had been secretly sent to the Crown Prince that morning, a fact unknown to the court. This reinforced the suspicion that Mo Liancheng might indeed be from the future. The Eighth Prince expressed his concern that if Mo Liancheng was truly his future self, it would complicate his pursuit of Qu Xiaotan.

The Fourteenth Prince suggested, recalling Jingxin's words, that women are most drawn to possessing what others cannot. The next morning, both the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang attempted to win Qu Xiaotan's favor with pastries. The Eighth Prince presented cream rolls, a delicacy previously enjoyed only by the Empress Dowager, while Liu Shang offered Tiramisu, a dessert of modern origin. Qu Xiaotan, claiming to be on a diet, called them "stupid teammates" for tempting her.

While the Eighth Prince joked about sending her to a famine-stricken province, Liu Shang demonstrated a better understanding of her, explaining that his Tiramisu was low-fat and sugar-free. He further charmed her by revealing that "Tiramisu" means "take me away" in Italian. Qu Xiaotan immediately abandoned her diet and devoured the dessert, prompting the Eighth Prince to quip that she was the real "stupid teammate" for eating so much.

Having observed Liu Shang's fighting style, Mo Yihuai noted its similarity to the person who fought Qu Jiangling in the Serene Soul Altar, yet Liu Shang showed no signs of vision problems. Recalling the Eighth Prince's uncharacteristically warm demeanor at the altar, Mo Yihuai grew more suspicious. Convinced Liu Shang could disguise himself as the Eighth Prince, he plotted to expose him.

He tasked the Ninth Prince with ensuring the Empress Dowager summoned the Eighth Prince to watch an opera the next day, creating an opportunity to corner Liu Shang. Later, the Eighth Prince questioned Qu Xiaotan why Mo Liancheng knew everything about Dongyue's future while she did not. She explained that Mo Liancheng was originally from Dongyue and had traveled to her world, whereas she had no memory of ever being in Dongyue.

The Eighth Prince then mentioned that while their souls were connected, he saw memories of her as the Eighth Princess, leading him to wonder if Mo Liancheng’s beloved was another woman who simply resembled her. This remark immediately made Qu Xiaotan jealous. Infuriated, Qu Xiaotan confronted Mo Liancheng, demanding to know if he loved the Eighth Princess or her. Mo Liancheng insisted they were the same person, which only angered her more.

She recounted seeing memories of a past life—their engagement, wedding night, and life bond—but argued that it felt like watching a movie about someone else, not her own experience. Instead of offering further explanations, Mo Liancheng silenced her with a series of kisses, stating they represented the memories she had seen—their engagement and their wedding night. The passionate display muddled Qu Xiaotan's already confused mind, making her forget her accusations entirely.

Returning to her room, Qu Xiaotan learned from Jingxin that the Crown Prince had interrogated her about the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang. Fearing a plot, Qu Xiaotan decided to use a "honey trap" to uncover Mo Yihuai's plan herself. The next day, Qu Xiaotan visited the Crown Prince's palace, feigning affection for Mo Yihuai. Her exaggerated behavior immediately made him suspicious. She pretended to beg him to rescue her from the Eighth Prince's palace.

Playing along, Mo Yihuai claimed to have a plan that would bring down both Liu Shang and the Eighth Prince. Her eager questions confirmed for him that she was acting on their behalf. Mo Yihuai invited her to stay for lunch, promising to reveal his plan then. He secretly sent a message to the Eighth Prince's palace, reporting that Qu Xiaotan was with him to lure his brother into a trap. Upon hearing the news, Liu Shang grew anxious.

With the Eighth Prince away at the Empress Dowager’s palace, Liu Shang disguised himself as the Eighth Prince to rescue her. Meanwhile, while waiting in the study, Qu Xiaotan discovered a secret compartment on a bookshelf. Before she could investigate, shouts of "assassin" outside forced her to quickly close it. When Mo Liancheng arrived, he was surrounded by soldiers. Mo Yihuai, believing him to be Liu Shang in disguise, brought Qu Xiaotan out to witness the unmasking.

He slashed Mo Liancheng's face with a sword but found no mask. Perplexed, he escorted them to the Eighth Prince's palace for a direct confrontation. Upon their arrival, Liu Shang emerged from within. Mo Liancheng and Qu Xiaotan instantly recognized that it was the real Eighth Prince wearing Liu Shang's mask. Faced with this undeniable proof, Mo Yihuai had no choice but to retreat.

Back in the Snow Courtyard, Mo Liancheng and the Eighth Prince developed a newfound mutual appreciation after the ordeal but were annoyed with Qu Xiaotan's recklessness. When the Eighth Prince tried to treat Mo Liancheng's wound, Qu Xiaotan intervened, explaining that Mo Liancheng was under a "mutual generation and restriction" punishment. Physical contact with a blood relative or his original body would cause his senses to deteriorate.

The Eighth Prince finally understood the true cause of Mo Liancheng’s vision problems and felt remorse. Meanwhile, a furious Mo Yihuai confronted Mo Jingkang for failing to detain the Eighth Prince. He remained suspicious that the person who visited his palace earlier was Liu Shang. Mo Jingkang offered a bold theory: perhaps Liu Shang's true appearance was remarkably similar to the Eighth Prince's.

This led Mo Yihuai to deduce that the man who rescued Tan'er was indeed the strategist Liu Shang, while the one at the Eighth Prince's palace gate was the Eighth Prince in disguise. Mo Jingkang concurred, positing that the core of the problem lay in Liu Shang's actual face. To win back their forgiveness, Qu Xiaotan tried to appease the two men, but Mo Liancheng declared they wouldn't forgive her as long as she saw them as "stupid teammates."

To maintain the ruse of the fight, Mo Liancheng also drew a fake scar on the Eighth Prince's face. That night, Qu Xiaotan set off fireworks, proclaiming that they represented the paramount importance the two held in her heart. The gesture worked, earning their forgiveness. Mo Liancheng reflected on the transient beauty of fireworks, comparing them to life, and mentioned he had seen them in her world but was always too busy to truly appreciate them.

The next morning, Qu Xiaotan found the two in a "cold war" over how to reward her. They had each selected a different house for her and couldn't agree. While they presented the options, they jokingly traded modern slang they had learned. Meanwhile, Mo Yihuai, having learned of their secret outing to view houses, arranged an ambush to finally confirm the truth about Liu Shang's mask.

As Qu Xiaotan deliberated, assassins attacked, and one fatally stabbed Mo Liancheng in the chest. After the assassins were repelled, a terrified Qu Xiaotan tended to the unconscious Mo Liancheng and, in her panic, removed his mask. The moment was witnessed by Mo Yihuai's hidden subordinate. In tears, Qu Xiaotan pleaded with Mo Liancheng to wake up, crying that she didn't want any house; she only wanted him.

Episode 25 Recap

That night in the Crown Prince's study, Mo Jingkang reported to Mo Yihuai that the Royal Command token had been easily retrieved from the Eighth Prince's palace. The theft occurred while the Eighth Prince's soldiers were in disarray, having left their posts to aid him after his recent attack. Mo Yihuai, satisfied, declared this a crucial step in his plan. He then inquired about the investigation into the Emperor's assassination attempt.

Mo Jingkang produced a secret letter, written by Dugu Yan to the assassins, which proved her intent to frame Mo Liancheng. Mo Jingkang explained that the assassins, members of the Hongshun Party, were captured by Dugu Yan's henchman, Eunuch Hu. They initially lied about destroying the letter to protect their leader, but Mo Jingkang uncovered their deception and obtained the evidence.

Mo Yihuai, holding the letter, affirmed his resolve to complete what Dugu Yan started and bring down the Eighth Prince. At the Eighth Prince's palace, Qu Xiaotan tearfully cradled the severely wounded Mo Liancheng while the guilt-ridden Eighth Prince stood by. Mo Liancheng reassured the Prince, stating that he was someone who did not belong there and that this tribulation might set things right. His only remaining wish was for the Prince to protect Qu Xiaotan.

As Mo Liancheng lost consciousness, Yu Hao arrived with unsettling news: someone had stolen the Royal Command token during the chaos. He also reported that Liu Qianshui, the only one who could save Mo Liancheng, was waiting outside and would only enter if Qu Xiaotan personally invited him. Once Liu Qianshui arrived, he sent Qu Xiaotan away to rest and began transferring his spiritual energy to Mo Liancheng.

As he did, the Eighth Prince experienced vivid flashes of Mo Liancheng's memories, seeing their past lives' joys and sorrows and the complex events of their modern existence. Tears streamed down the Eighth Prince's face as he became fully convinced of the time-traveler's identity and story. The next morning, a recovered Mo Liancheng was chatting with Qu Xiaotan in the Snow Courtyard when the Eighth Prince arrived.

He inadvertently revealed that he had seen everything about their past and present lives, leaving Qu Xiaotan feeling completely exposed. The Prince then asked about her calling Mo Liancheng "Si Niang Pao" and her constant demands for a divorce letter. Mo Liancheng mischievously fabricated elaborate explanations, claiming "Si Niang Pao" was a term of endearment meaning "the person who greatly satisfies the mother-in-law."

He then alleged that her requests for a divorce were a unique hobby, as she wanted him to "keep marrying her repeatedly." Annoyed and amused, Qu Xiaotan stormed off to cool down, but as she turned a corner, a figure holding a bell drugged and abducted her. Yu Hao returned to report Qu Xiaotan's kidnapping. The Eighth Prince blamed himself for teasing her, but believed the Crown Prince wouldn't harm her.

Just then, Eunuch Xue arrived with an imperial edict summoning Liu Shang to an audience with the Emperor. An uneasy Eighth Prince could only watch as Mo Liancheng departed for the palace. The Emperor, with Mo Yihuai, led Liu Shang to a stone bridge. Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared and threw the unconscious Qu Xiaotan into the water below. Without hesitation, Liu Shang leaped in to save her.

Although he rescued her, the water dissolved his human-skin mask, revealing a face identical to the Eighth Prince's. Mo Yihuai confessed to the shocked Emperor that this was a trap he had set to expose the deception. He argued that since the Eighth Prince had previously established his alibi by showing he had no new wound from the assassination attempt, a substitute must have been used.

He proposed that checking both men's chests for the real prince's distinctive old arrow wound would reveal the truth. Mo Liancheng, realizing they were caught, stepped forward. He declared the assassination was a setup to frame the Eighth Prince and unbuttoned his garment, revealing the tell-tale wound on his chest. Enraged by the deception, the Emperor ordered his arrest. The Fourteenth Prince tried to explain, but was silenced. The Emperor then demanded the Royal Command token.

The Eighth Prince, now exposed as the substitute, replied that it had been stolen. This news further infuriated the Emperor, who ordered both men to be taken to the Celestial Prison and forbade any visitors. Qu Xiaotan awoke to Jingxin, who explained that the Crown Prince had used her to expose Mo Liancheng's true identity, leading to both him and the Eighth Prince being imprisoned.

Frantic, Qu Xiaotan wanted to break them out, but Jingxin calmed her by revealing that the Fourteenth Prince was already seeking help from the Empress Dowager. In the imperial court, officials demanded the death penalty for the Eighth Prince for treason. Mo Yihuai, however, strategically suggested life imprisonment to neutralize him as a political threat. Meanwhile, in the Celestial Prison, the Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng were surprisingly calm.

Mo Liancheng broke the tension by cheekily asking if the Prince had seen his and Tan'er's "wedding night" during their soul connection. A flustered Eighth Prince insisted he only saw "fragments." On a serious note, the Prince expressed his gratitude, finally understanding that Mo Liancheng had given up a chance to return to his own world to save Dongyue. He vowed to trust him completely.

Mo Liancheng sighed, admitting he could disappear at any moment, and made the Prince promise to protect the naive Qu Xiaotan if he was gone. They agreed they had to escape and find the real assassin to prove their innocence. As the Emperor was about to sentence the Eighth Prince to life imprisonment, the Empress Dowager arrived. She argued that since the prince had entered the palace under an imperial summons, he was likely framed.

The Emperor relented, ordering Mo Yihuai and the Fourteenth Prince to jointly reinvestigate the case. Later, the Empress Dowager visited the prison, bringing Mo Liancheng food. She expressed her deep disappointment in him for deceiving the Emperor with a substitute, regardless of his reasons, and told him she could not help him further.

Episode 26 Recap

The Empress Dowager visited the Eighth Prince in the celestial prison, bringing him food. Inside a bun, the Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng, who was imprisoned with him, discovered a key. Mo Liancheng used the key to open the prison door, but as he was about to free the Eighth Prince, prison guards appeared.

The Eighth Prince urged Mo Liancheng to escape alone to find the evidence that would prove their innocence, assuring him that as a prince, his life was not in immediate danger. Outside the prison, Qu Xiaotan, the Fourteenth Prince, and the others were anxiously awaiting news. Qu Xiaotan was even considering breaking into the prison herself when Mo Liancheng returned.

The Fourteenth Prince informed Mo Liancheng that the Emperor had appointed him and Mo Yihuai to jointly investigate the assassination case. He also revealed that the Ninth Prince, Mo Jingkang, had been secretly collecting relevant evidence. This prompted Qu Xiaotan to recall a concealed box she had seen in Mo Yihuai's study, which might contain secret letters. Mo Liancheng decided they must infiltrate the Crown Prince's palace to find the evidence.

Late that night, Mo Liancheng and Yu Hao, dressed in black, stealthily entered Mo Yihuai's study. Following the location Qu Xiaotan had drawn, they found the concealed box, only to discover it was empty. Undeterred, Mo Liancheng searched the bookshelves thoroughly and found another hidden compartment. Inside were the Royal Command token and a secret letter from Du Guyan detailing the plot to assassinate the Emperor.

Meanwhile, upon learning that the token and secret letter had been stolen and that Liu Shang (Mo Liancheng's alias) had escaped from prison, an alarmed Mo Yihuai resolved to enact a new plan. Disguised as an imperial physician, Mo Liancheng gained an audience with the Empress Dowager. He presented Du Guyan’s secret letter to her, explaining that it could not only prove the Eighth Prince's innocence but also expose Mo Yihuai's treachery.

Despite his disguise, the Empress Dowager recognized him as her grandson, Cheng'er. Mo Liancheng then revealed his true identity as Mo Liancheng from a future timeline. Though perplexed, the Empress Dowager chose to believe him and took him in her sedan chair directly to the Imperial Study. Once there, Mo Liancheng disclosed Du Guyan's entire assassination plot and presented the secret letter. He also revealed that Mo Yihuai had concealed this evidence and stolen the Royal Command token.

Although the Emperor now believed the Eighth Prince was not the assassin, he was still angered by the use of a body double, believing it to be a sign of treachery. Left with no other choice, Mo Liancheng confessed his true identity.

To convince the skeptical Emperor, he recounted his journey to the Xuanling Continent, his meeting with his grandfather Mo Yifeng, and a childhood memory of a bamboo tube that was, in fact, the Qiankun Seal containing the soul of another. Hearing these intimate secrets unknown to anyone else, the Emperor finally believed Mo Liancheng. He immediately issued an imperial edict, ordering the release of both the Eighth Prince and Liu Shang.

Furthermore, he stripped Mo Yihuai of his title for his wicked schemes and lack of virtue, and appointed the Eighth Prince, Mo Liancheng, as the new Crown Prince and heir to the throne. Simultaneously, in the celestial prison, the Ninth Prince, Mo Jingkang, was attempting to poison the Eighth Prince. The Fourteenth Prince arrived just in time with the imperial edict, saving his life. Faced with losing the throne, Mo Yihuai was not disheartened.

He revealed his contingency plan: he had secretly deployed his forces and would now seize the throne by force. He instructed his subordinate, Yun Ying, to have the Central Commander besiege the palace from the northern gate, the Ministry of War advance from the southern gate, and his loyal Imperial Guards provide support from within. As night fell, Mo Yihuai, clad in armor, led his army into the imperial palace, plunging it into chaos.

Trapped in the Imperial Study, the Emperor hastily drafted a new edict to formally pass the throne to the Eighth Prince and entrusted it to Eunuch Xue for secret delivery to the Empress Dowager. He then ordered a cup of poison for himself. As Eunuch Xue tried to leave, he was intercepted by Mo Yihuai, who ordered him detained before storming into the study. The Emperor looked at Mo Yihuai with profound heartbreak.

He confessed that he had always loved Mo Yihuai and considered him the rightful successor, but Mo Yihuai's treachery had shattered his heart. Overwhelmed by guilt and resentment, Mo Yihuai claimed he was forced into this, driven by his desire for Tan'er, whom the Eighth Prince had stolen from him. The Emperor, aghast that his son would commit patricide for a woman, revealed that the marriage was arranged by the late Emperor's edict.

Seeing Mo Yihuai's unwavering determination, the Emperor's hope died. He drank the poison and, in his final moments, embraced his son, whispering that he did not blame him. After the Emperor's death, a shocked Mo Yihuai ordered a complete lockdown of the palace, decreeing that anyone who leaked the news would be executed.

Episode 27 Recap

Upon the Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng's return to their palace, an attendant delivered shocking news: the Emperor had passed away, and his dying oral instruction named Mo Yihuai as the successor to the throne. The Eighth Prince was stunned, asking Mo Liancheng if this was how events unfolded in the future he knew. Mo Liancheng, equally shocked, could barely speak, lamenting that in his original timeline, the Emperor should have enjoyed a peaceful retirement.

He was overcome with guilt, fearing his arrival had inadvertently led to the Emperor's premature demise. Qu Xiaotan attempted to comfort him, assuring him he had already done more than enough. The Eighth Prince, accompanied by the Fourteenth Prince Mo Jingxuan, rushed to the imperial palace. Mo Jingxuan immediately confronted Mo Yihuai, accusing him of plotting and usurping power. As the three stood in tense confrontation, the Empress Dowager arrived.

She sternly questioned Mo Yihuai about the heavy military presence outside the palace. Mo Yihuai claimed it was merely to bolster security after the Emperor's passing. The Empress Dowager, however, ordered him to immediately withdraw his soldiers to preserve the Emperor's final peace. Though displeased, Mo Yihuai complied.

She then dismissed the Eighth Prince and Mo Jingxuan, demanding a private explanation from Mo Yihuai regarding the Emperor's sudden death, noting that only he and the Ninth Prince Mo Jingkang were by the Emperor's side. Mo Yihuai tried to dismiss it as over-exertion from state affairs. At this moment, Eunuch Xue, the Emperor's personal attendant, appeared, weeping profusely before the Empress Dowager, and discreetly slipped a written imperial edict into her hand.

The Empress Dowager then warned Mo Yihuai that the Emperor's death was highly suspicious and he needed to provide a full explanation to her and the world. Despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Emperor's death, Mo Yihuai successfully ascended the throne. His first act as Emperor was to issue an edict declaring the Eighth Prince Mo Liancheng a traitor for insubordination and treason, condemning him to immediate execution.

His strategist, Liu Shang, was also sentenced to death for aiding a rebel. However, an official reported that the Eighth Prince's palace had been searched, but Mo Liancheng, Liu Shang, and Qu Tan'er were nowhere to be found. Enraged, Mo Yihuai ordered a comprehensive search throughout the capital to apprehend them. Meanwhile, as the Eighth Prince's group was fleeing, the Fourteenth Prince Mo Jingxuan and Jingxin were captured by imperial guards.

Qu Xiaotan instinctively moved to rescue Jingxin, but Mo Liancheng restrained her. He reasoned that engaging the guards would only attract more pursuers, and given Mo Jingxuan's status as a prince, his life wouldn't be in immediate danger. He stressed that a rescue needed careful planning, and their priority was to regroup with Yu Hao. Later that night, Mo Yihuai was informed that Mo Jingxuan and Jingxin had been sent to the dungeon.

He directly confronted Mo Jingxuan, asserting his new power as Emperor. He then attempted to coerce Jingxin into revealing Qu Tan'er's whereabouts, tempting her with the promise of making Qu Tan'er his Empress. Unwavering, Jingxin feigned ignorance. Infuriated by her defiance, Mo Yihuai ordered his men to torture her. Mo Jingxuan, horrified by Jingxin's torment, desperately pleaded with Mo Yihuai to stop, offering to endure the pain himself. Mo Yihuai, devoid of any brotherly affection, ignored his pleas.

He then instructed the Ninth Prince Mo Jingkang to spread a chilling message: if Qu Xiaotan and the Eighth Prince did not return, the Empress Dowager, Mo Jingxuan, and Jingxin would all be put to death. The Eighth Prince's group fled to the outskirts, only to find increasing numbers of Mo Yihuai's pursuers.

The Eighth Prince proposed creating a diversion to draw them away, but Mo Liancheng swiftly stopped him, explaining that they, being Mo Yihuai's primary targets, would be walking straight into a trap. Seeing their predicament, Yu Hao bravely volunteered to go, promising to avoid any mishaps. Mo Liancheng agreed, reminding Yu Hao of a secret meeting place he and Mo Jingxuan used as children.

He instructed Yu Hao to first gather intelligence on Mo Jingxuan's situation and then meet them at that location. In the dungeon, Mo Jingxuan was deeply distressed to see Jingxin severely injured and lying on a straw mat. He gently tried to offer her food. Jingxin, however, comforted him, expressing relief that she was there to suffer with him, rather than leaving him to endure it alone. Mo Jingxuan was profoundly touched by her selflessness.

Overcome with emotion and fearing that time was running out, he confessed his long-hidden feelings, revealing that he had fallen in love with her the first time he saw her smile at the Eighth Prince's palace. He desperately asked if she had any feelings for him. Jingxin, however, showed no joy. She explained that she was merely a humble maid, and he, a prince, should be matched with a lady of noble birth.

Even if she harbored feelings for him, she felt utterly unworthy of his affection. At their secret meeting place, Mo Liancheng pondered a mysterious mark on his hand, explaining to the Eighth Prince that it was a "Life Bond" signed in another timeline when he saved Qu Tan'er. He expressed relief that the current Qu Tan'er had not yet signed such a bond, which allowed him to potentially leave this timeline with peace of mind.

He then mused about the bond's magical ability to share life, wondering if it could also allow for sharing thoughts. The Eighth Prince, intrigued, asked if Mo Liancheng wished for him to know his thoughts, to which Mo Liancheng affirmed, wanting him to understand all he and Qu Tan'er had experienced. He promised to research how to make the Life Bond facilitate shared minds for the benefit of all three.

Soon after, Yu Hao arrived, reporting that the Empress Dowager was now under house arrest, and Mo Jingxuan and Jingxin were confined to the dungeon. He also warned that palace security was exceptionally tight, making rescue attempts difficult. Mo Liancheng deduced that since Mo Yihuai had imprisoned them, he likely wouldn't take their lives immediately. The Eighth Prince then asked Mo Liancheng if he knew their ultimate fate.

Mo Liancheng responded somberly that his presence had altered the timeline—Qu Tan'er should have long been the Eighth Princess, and the Emperor would not have died so prematurely. He concluded that he no longer knew how events would unfold and they could only do their best and leave the rest to fate. The Eighth Prince, in turn, vowed that he would never allow Mo Yihuai to act recklessly.

Back in the dungeon, an individual arrived, claiming to be sent by the Empress Dowager to rescue Mo Jingxuan. Mo Jingxuan insisted on taking Jingxin with him, but the rescuer argued that escaping with an injured person would be impossible. Convinced that he needed to get out to help the others, Mo Jingxuan began to leave. Just as they reached the cell door, a guard noticed them.

The rescuer urged Mo Jingxuan to flee and stayed behind to block the guards. After Mo Jingxuan's successful escape, the "fallen" rescuer stood up. The Ninth Prince Mo Jingkang then emerged from the shadows, revealing that the entire rescue had been a meticulously planned ruse to use Mo Jingxuan as bait. Away from Qu Xiaotan, Mo Liancheng had an urgent, private conversation with the Eighth Prince.

He revealed that his senses were rapidly deteriorating, indicating that his time and form were quickly fading. He solemnly explained that all the visions he had shown the Eighth Prince were intended to convey the depth of his feelings for Qu Tan'er, ensuring that the Eighth Prince would know how to care for her after his departure. He entrusted Qu Tan'er's well-being entirely to the Eighth Prince.

Mo Liancheng then made a final request: when the Eighth Prince eventually reclaimed the throne, he was not to kill Mo Yihuai, whom Mo Liancheng described as a pitiful person. The Eighth Prince promised to honor his wishes. Mo Jingxuan, in disguise, attempted to pass through the city gates. A guard stopped him, but General Wei Zongheng appeared, vouching for Mo Jingxuan and allowing him to pass. This was observed by Yun Ying, who reported it to Mo Yihuai.

The Ninth Prince expressed concern about General Wei's involvement, but Mo Yihuai remained calm, stating that this actually simplified his plans. He instructed Yun Ying to only track Mo Jingxuan, not apprehend him. Mo Yihuai explained his cunning strategy: he anticipated that Mo Liancheng would leverage General Wei's forces for a counterattack. By turning their plan against them, he could lure them all into the palace and capture them at once, like "turtles in a jar."

Mo Jingxuan reached the secret meeting place, much to the Eighth Prince's relief. He explained that General Wei had saved him. General Wei, also present, offered his full support. When the Eighth Prince inquired about Jingxin, Mo Jingxuan expressed profound regret that he had been unable to bring her out. Mo Liancheng, however, remained cautious and questioned Mo Jingxuan about the details of his escape.

Mo Jingxuan insisted that the Empress Dowager had sent someone who sacrificed their life, but both Mo Liancheng and the Eighth Prince found the escape "too smooth" and suspected a ploy. Mo Liancheng deduced Mo Yihuai's true intention: he released Mo Jingxuan to reveal their location and gather intelligence on their plans, intending to lure them into the palace for a decisive ambush. General Wei was alarmed by this deduction, but Mo Liancheng quickly reassured him, unveiling his counter-strategy.

He proposed that the following day, General Wei lead his troops in a feigned attack on the main city gate, drawing Mo Yihuai's primary forces. Meanwhile, Mo Liancheng and the Eighth Prince would lead an elite strike force to assault the imperial palace, aiming to "capture the leader first" by seizing Mo Yihuai and rescuing the Empress Dowager and Jingxin. Liu Shang agreed to guard Qu Tan'er during the assault.

As the group approached the imperial palace, they saw that Mo Yihuai had indeed redeployed the majority of his forces to confront General Wei's feint, leaving the palace sparsely guarded. This confirmed Mo Yihuai had taken the bait. Mo Liancheng ordered their forces to split into two groups: one to storm the Imperial Study and secure Mo Yihuai, and the other to rescue the Empress Dowager and Jingxin.

The Eighth Prince voiced concern, suggesting both he and Mo Liancheng should go for Mo Yihuai. However, Mo Jingxuan volunteered to lead the rescue, confidently stating he knew their precise location. Mo Liancheng agreed, instructing him to take extra men as a precaution.

Episode 28 Recap

While waiting anxiously for news about the palace attack, Qu Xiaotan grew increasingly annoyed with Liu Qianshui’s casual demeanor and his questions about the Xuanling Continent and the Dark Emperor. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a severely wounded soldier. Claiming to be a messenger from General Wei, he reported that the attempt to conquer the city had failed and the Eighth Prince was ambushed, his fate unknown.

Distraught, Qu Xiaotan desperately pleaded with Liu Qianshui to go and rescue him. Initially hesitant, Liu Qianshui eventually relented after Qu Xiaotan threatened to jump into the river if he refused. He left, telling her to continue fishing. Shortly after his departure, Qu Xiaotan was captured by Mo Yihuai's men. Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng led their forces toward the Imperial Study. Finding it unguarded, they immediately sensed a trap.

Mo Liancheng quickly ordered Yu Hao to alert General Wei and the Fourteenth Prince to retreat, but it was too late. Mo Yihuai appeared with a large force and surrounded them. He gloated that General Wei Zongheng had already been defeated and the Fourteenth Prince captured, revealing he had anticipated their entire attack. To further demoralize them, he brought out the captured Qu Xiaotan. Remorseful and tearful, she apologized to Mo Liancheng, admitting she had been tricked.

Having crushed their tactical advantage, Mo Yihuai proposed a martial arts duel with the Eighth Prince, promising to relinquish his empire and all his beauties if the Eighth Prince won. The Eighth Prince accepted the challenge, stating that Mo Yihuai would be mocked by the world if he went back on his word. The duel commenced on the open ground outside the Imperial Study. Initially, the Eighth Prince held the upper hand with his martial prowess.

However, Mo Yihuai suddenly discarded his sword and unleashed a forbidden, evil magic he had learned from a secret manual. As the Eighth Prince was about to suffer a fatal blow, Mo Liancheng bravely intervened, shielding him from the attack. The blow proved devastating. As Mo Liancheng collapsed, Liu Qianshui suddenly appeared and swiftly carried him away. Seizing the opportunity, Yu Hao managed to lead the Eighth Prince to safety.

Their plan in ruins, the Eighth Prince and his remaining allies retreated to the Hidden Star Pavilion, a secluded place once used by their Imperial Grandfather for cultivation, which Mo Yihuai was unlikely to know of. Upon arrival, Yu Hao confirmed that General Wei's feigned attack had been discovered and that Miss Qu and the Fourteenth Prince were captured, cementing that they had walked into an ambush. The Eighth Prince lamented letting his soldiers die in vain.

Liu Qianshui examined Mo Liancheng’s severe injuries, which were a combination of the power of the Soul Bead and Mo Yihuai's use of Qu Jianglin's skills. He grimly stated that Mo Liancheng, whose life was already hanging by a thread, was now beyond saving. The Eighth Prince immediately proposed transferring his primordial spirit to Mo Liancheng, as he had done before.

Liu Qianshui vehemently warned against it, explaining that such a method was a last resort that could not be used frequently. He added that the Eighth Prince was also gravely wounded, and a forceful transfer would not only fail to save Mo Liancheng but would also jeopardize the Eighth Prince's own life. Overhearing them as he regained consciousness, Mo Liancheng accepted his impending demise. He reminded the Eighth Prince that they were originally the same person.

He gently entrusted Tan'er to the Eighth Prince's care, asserting that after he disappeared, the Eighth Prince would become the "only Mo Liancheng." Mo Liancheng then expressed his gratitude to Liu Qianshui for his guidance and acknowledged that he didn't belong in this time and space. With a final thought that his life had no regrets since both Tan'er and the Eighth Prince understood him, Mo Liancheng closed his eyes and his physical body dissipated.

In the palace, Qu Xiaotan, though unaware of the specific events, felt a sudden, sharp pain in her heart, as if she had lost something profoundly important. Jingxin tried to comfort her, assuring her that the Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng would recover under Liu Qianshui's care. But Qu Xiaotan's heart ached, filled with memories of Mo Liancheng, fearing she would never see him again.

Jingxin continued to offer solace, reminding Qu Xiaotan that she needed to take care of herself for their sake. The Eighth Prince sat by Mo Liancheng's empty bed through the night. Witnessing his grief, Liu Qianshui advised him not to be overly sad, revealing that Mo Liancheng had always known his fate.

Liu Qianshui then presented the Eighth Prince with the Qiankun Seal, explaining that he had used this treasure from the Xuanling Continent to extract Mo Liancheng's remaining will as a keepsake. He urged the Eighth Prince to swiftly rescue Qu Xiaotan and his brother, warning that Mo Yihuai was forcefully cultivating the Soul Bead, which would eventually lead him to qi deviation and doom. More dangerously, Mo Yihuai could become the second Dark Emperor.

The Eighth Prince sighed, recalling Mo Liancheng's past warnings against battling Mo Yihuai, but admitted that now, there was no turning back. Meanwhile, Mo Yihuai, frustrated by the escape, questioned Mo Jingkang about Qu Xiaotan. Mo Jingkang reported that she had been distraught, so he had sent Jingxin to accompany her. Mo Yihuai expressed his continued concern about the escaped "usurpers" and ordered an extensive nationwide search to find them, dead or alive.

Liu Qianshui then examined the Eighth Prince and found that he too had been seriously wounded by the Soul Bead, his primordial spirit damaged. Liu Qianshui explained that his own power could only temporarily prolong the Eighth Prince's life, but he was unable to heal him. He mused that perhaps if Mo Liancheng, with his medical expertise from the Xuanling Continent, were still present, there might have been hope.

Despite this grim news, the Eighth Prince declared he would not abandon his responsibilities, though he lamented that he would not be able to repay Mo Liancheng's sacrifice. Back in the palace, Qu Xiaotan feigned fainting. Jingxin called for guards, and Qu Xiaotan seized the opportunity, snatching a guard's sword and threatening to take her own life if she was not allowed to leave. Mo Yihuai arrived, trying to dissuade her.

He warned her not to attempt escape again, vowing never to let her leave his side and threatening to harm the Fourteenth Prince and Jingxin if she persisted. Qu Xiaotan reluctantly yielded, but sarcastically questioned whether trapping her truly brought him happiness. When Mo Yihuai tried to persuade her to return to him, Qu Xiaotan could no longer bear it.

She pushed him away and revealed the truth: she was not Qu Tan'er, but Qu Xiaotan, a woman from another world. She explained that after the original Qu Tan'er had jumped into the lake, she had inexplicably entered her body. She also revealed that Liu Shang was the Eighth Prince from another space and time, who came for her and had never stolen Qu Tan'er's heart.

Mo Yihuai, reeling from this revelation and the realization that his patricide and usurpation might have been for naught, became enraged. He choked Qu Xiaotan, desperately demanding to know where his Tan'er was. Unwilling to harm what he believed was Tan'er's body, he suddenly released her, vowing to make her remember her past love for him and force her to return to her former self.

Later, Mo Jingkang informed the Eighth Prince that Mo Yihuai had publicly announced his intention to make "Miss Qu" the Empress and would soon hold a grand ceremony. The Eighth Prince felt his helplessness, lamenting his inability to protect anyone and wishing Mo Liancheng were still there to help. Liu Qianshui then reminded him that while Mo Liancheng's physical form was gone, his spirit continued to exist in a state of chaos, awaiting a new vessel.

This sparked an idea in the Eighth Prince. Remembering Liu Qianshui's "Life Bond" spell that had once connected their spirits, he proposed a daring solution: to use his own body as a new dwelling for Mo Liancheng's spirit.

Episode 29 Recap

With Mo Liancheng's spirit sealed, the Eighth Prince proposed an audacious plan to Liu Qianshui: using a Life Bond spell, he offered his own body as a spiritual haven for Mo Liancheng. Liu Qianshui acknowledged the method, which originated from the Life Bond, could potentially integrate Mo Liancheng's fragmented soul, effectively making his primordial spirit whole again.

However, he warned of dire consequences should it fail, as it could plunge the Eighth Prince's own spirit into chaos, given Mo Liancheng existed only in spirit and the Eighth Prince's spirit was weakened. Despite the risks, the Eighth Prince expressed his unwavering willingness to proceed. Liu Qianshui, accepting the desperate gamble, took the Qiankun Seal and began the ritual. Mo Liancheng's spiritual form appeared, attempting to dissuade the Eighth Prince, warning that he might end up occupying his body.

Yet, the Eighth Prince calmly accepted this possibility, echoing Mo Liancheng's past words that they were one, and embracing this union was their only path to rebirth. Moments later, the Eighth Prince reopened his eyes, to the astonishment and joy of Yu Hao and Liu Qianshui. When asked by Liu Qianshui about his identity, the Eighth Prince smiled, declaring himself "The Eighth Prince, Mo Liancheng," signifying he was both the former and current self, united.

Meanwhile, trapped within the palace, Qu Xiaotan reflected on her journey, burdened by the thought that Qu Tan'er's disappearance and Qu Pan'er's death might be linked to her presence in Dongyue. Jingxin tried to comfort her, reminding her that she hadn't even arrived in Dongyue when Qu Tan'er disappeared, and Qu Pan'er died saving Mo Yihuai. Their conversation was interrupted by Mo Yihuai, who entered with several maids.

He demanded Qu Xiaotan to wear Qu Tan'er's preferred hairstyle and eat her favorite sweets, asserting his desire to eternally confine Qu Tan'er's body by his side, regardless of who resided within it. Qu Xiaotan defiantly refused, prompting Mo Yihuai to grow agitated. Unable to bear Mo Yihuai's delusional state, Jingxin pushed him, tearfully pleading with him to stop his self-deception, insisting that the real Qu Tan'er would never wish to see him like this.

Enraged, Mo Yihuai accused Jingxin of betrayal and ordered her imprisonment in the dungeon. Before leaving, he informed Qu Xiaotan that he had already announced her as the future Empress and would soon hold the coronation. Fearing for the lives of Jingxin, the Empress Dowager, and the Fourteenth Prince, Qu Xiaotan reluctantly complied. At a secret hideout, Mo Liancheng studied a map of the Imperial Palace.

Liu Qianshui, having successfully rescued Jingxin and the Fourteenth Prince from the dungeon, secretly made his way to Qu Xiaotan's residence. Qu Xiaotan was relieved to see him, immediately inquiring about Mo Liancheng's condition. Liu Qianshui assured her that Mo Liancheng was safe and that he and the Eighth Prince had successfully merged.

He then instructed Qu Xiaotan to seize an opportunity during the upcoming coronation ceremony to steal the Royal Command token from Mo Yihuai, assuring her that with the token, the tide of the situation would turn. Separately, the Fourteenth Prince navigated a secret passage, which his grandfather had only told to the Eighth Prince, to reach the secluded court where the Empress Dowager was confined. The Empress Dowager, deeply troubled, spoke with bitterness about Mo Yihuai.

She revealed that Eunuch Xue had risked his life to deliver the late Emperor's dying will, which exposed that Mo Yihuai had forced the Emperor to commit suicide after usurping the throne. The Fourteenth Prince was overcome with grief and fury upon hearing of Mo Yihuai's heinous crimes. As guards outside were cleverly distracted by Mo Liancheng's arranged diversions, the Fourteenth Prince quickly retrieved the crucial imperial edict and escorted the Empress Dowager through the secret passage to safety.

With the knowledge that Mo Liancheng was safe and their counter-attack plan was underway, Qu Xiaotan's resolve solidified. She ceased her provocations and instead adopted the persona of Qu Tan'er, feigning affection to win Mo Yihuai's favor. However, Mo Yihuai saw through her initial pretense. Changing her strategy, Qu Xiaotan deliberately provoked him during a conversation about the coronation, criticizing his transformation into a "cold and ruthless devil" unworthy of Tan'er's love.

As Mo Yihuai reeled in a moment of enraged distraction, she swiftly seized the Royal Command token. Later that night, Liu Qianshui infiltrated Mo Yihuai's study and swapped the official coronation edict with a forged one meticulously detailing Mo Yihuai's crimes. Having secured the Royal Command token, Mo Liancheng no longer had to remain passive.

He immediately dispatched Yu Hao to Ye City with the token and his personal secret letter, ordering Marquis Wuliang to mobilize the garrison troops and march them to the capital overnight. He then sent You Ming and Liu Qianshui to find General Wei, instructing him to lead his troops to the northern gate early the next morning. The strategic plan was to have two forces—one from the south and one from the north—converge and surround the Imperial City.

Meanwhile, Mo Liancheng, the Empress Dowager, and the Fourteenth Prince would covertly infiltrate the palace by blending into the guard of honor, aided by the foreman eunuch who owed Mo Liancheng a favor, to publicly expose Mo Yihuai's conspiracy. The following day, the coronation ceremony commenced with grandeur. Qu Xiaotan, adorned in a phoenix robe and crown, obediently walked towards Mo Yihuai, unaware that Mo Liancheng was hidden among the procession's guard of honor.

As the ceremony began, the ceremonial secretary began reading the edict. However, it was the swapped document that declared "Crown Prince Mo Yihuai murdered his father, the Emperor, usurped the throne, forged the edict, committed the most heinous crimes." The officials erupted in murmurs. Mo Yihuai quickly interjected, claiming the edict had been tampered with by plotters. At that moment, the Empress Dowager emerged with the Fourteenth Prince and Mo Liancheng, publicly accusing Mo Yihuai of being the true conspirator.

The Empress Dowager then instructed the Fourteenth Prince to read aloud the late Emperor's authentic final will. The document not only exposed Mo Yihuai's treachery but also explicitly named the Eighth Prince, Mo Liancheng, as the rightful heir to the throne. Upon examining the will's handwriting and the imperial seal's authenticity, the assembled officials unanimously turned their allegiance to Mo Liancheng.

Mo Yihuai, with no further reason to conceal his actions, openly admitted to regicide and usurpation, stating his willingness to do anything to obtain the world for his beloved Qu Tan'er. He then attempted to intimidate the ministers into continued loyalty. Just then, a frantic guard reported that tens of thousands of troops had surrounded the Imperial Palace—Mo Liancheng's reinforcements had arrived.

Mo Yihuai defiantly ordered his remaining forces to annihilate them, but another guard reported that most of his soldiers, upon seeing the Royal Command token carried by the approaching forces, had abandoned their posts and refused to fight. General Wei had successfully surrounded the palace, and the Ninth Prince, Mo Jingkang, had been captured.

Mo Liancheng then revealed that while Mo Yihuai had indeed replaced his military leaders with loyalists, the soldiers themselves only obeyed the holder of the Royal Command token. He further explained that Mo Yihuai's remaining loyal troops numbered less than a thousand, while Mo Liancheng had mobilized the garrison from Ye City overnight to join General Wei's veterans, forming a pincer movement around the Imperial City from both north and south.

Recognizing Mo Yihuai's utter defeat, Mo Liancheng offered to treat him and Mo Jingkang kindly for the remainder of their lives. The Empress Dowager then instructed the gathered ministers to withdraw.

Episode 30 (Ending) Recap

As rebellious ministers turned against him and his military power dwindled, Mo Yihuai, consumed by hatred, confronted Mo Liancheng. The two quickly engaged in a fierce battle. Mo Yihuai, having cultivated the demonic arts of the Soul Bead, unleashed formidable power. Fortunately, Mo Liancheng, whose memories had fully merged, also wielded powerful Xuan Power. Mo Yihuai's cultivation time was shorter, and gradually, Mo Liancheng gained the upper hand, striking Mo Yihuai back several meters.

In desperation, Mo Yihuai attempted to absorb more demonic energy from the Soul Bead. Seeing this, Qu Xiaotan, who was innately connected to the Soul Bead as its Host, instinctively rushed to shield Mo Yihuai, positioning herself between him and the artifact. Her action, under the Soul Bead's influence, unexpectedly awakened a fragment of Qu Taner's soul.

Mo Yihuai, who seemed indifferent to everything else—his cultivation of dark arts, imperial glory—was profoundly moved by Qu Taner's voice, calling him "Brother Yihuai." Their eyes met, as if bridging an entire lifetime. Qu Taner tearfully revealed that she had once visited Fangjue Temple to have their destinies foretold. It was there that she tragically learned their union was destined to be a bitter fate, and that she would one day witness Mo Yihuai's death in his pursuit of power.

The only way to break this fatal curse, she explained, was to await a person from another world, who would bring the chance for destiny to change. At that time, she would have to sacrifice her own life to save Mo Yihuai from his predestined demise. As Qu Taner spoke of meeting again in the next life before her form faded away, Mo Yihuai’s world lost its vibrancy.

He murmured repeatedly that he only ever wanted to be with her, before breaking into a heartbroken laugh and departing from the palace. Mo Liancheng, observing Mo Yihuai's profound grief, felt both a pang of sorrow and a sense of unease. Once Mo Yihuai left, he immediately rushed to Qu Xiaotan, who had fallen to the ground, and was relieved to find her unharmed. A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.

Mo Liancheng feigned his former cold demeanor, denying he was himself, which left Qu Xiaotan in disbelief. She insisted she could recognize his gaze even through a pile of cash, certain it was him. Yet, when she pulled open his clothes, she found the familiar scar on his chest was gone. Mo Liancheng then asked if she loved him deeply. Qu Xiaotan, without hesitation, declared that she would only love him in this lifetime.

A quiet joy bloomed in Mo Liancheng’s heart, though his expression remained serene. He instructed her to close her eyes, then leaned in and kissed her. He confirmed that he and the Eighth Prince had truly merged into one, assuring her that he would never disappear again and would protect her forever. With great joy and celebration, the palace was adorned with lanterns and vibrant decorations as Mo Liancheng and Qu Xiaotan prepared for their wedding.

Qu Xiaotan, resplendent in a crimson bridal gown and veil, was led by Jingxin. She performed the traditional wedding bows before Heaven and Earth and the ancestral tablets of the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor. After the vows were recited by Liu Qianshui, the couple exchanged rings, and Mo Liancheng openly kissed his bride. When Qu Xiaotan threw her bridal bouquet, Jingxin unexpectedly caught it, casting a shy glance at the Fourteenth Prince, who stood nearby.

Later, in the bridal chamber, as Mo Liancheng prepared to lift her veil, Qu Xiaotan suddenly stopped him, asking what made this wedding unique compared to their previous one. Mo Liancheng smiled, replying that the special thing this time was that he would not run away midway.

He affirmed that no matter the time, the present, the future, or the potential lives they might lead, they were destined to fall in love, and his Empress or Princess would always be her, and only her. As the moon rose, Jingxin arrived at a tavern as arranged with Qu Xiaotan for a meal, only to find the entire place deserted. As she looked around, a lantern bearing a note, "Would you like to marry me?" , ascended nearby.

Looking down, she saw the Fourteenth Prince standing below, his face flushed with anticipation. This time, Jingxin did not retreat, bravely deciding to embrace love. Qu Xiaotan persistently questioned Liu Qianshui about when the next celestial anomaly would occur. Liu Qianshui helplessly explained that destiny was difficult to defy and heavenly will unpredictable, as phenomena like "Mars is close to Antares" were already rare.

Mo Liancheng then inquired why Qu Xiaotan, despite being the Host, had not fully merged with the Soul Bead. Liu Qianshui mused that her ability to touch the Soul Bead's jade box and block its spiritual energy indicated a connection, yet he suspected she might not be the true Host, as the genuine Host of the Soul Bead would instinctively master the Soul Wandering Flute without instruction.

He subtly implied that Qu Xiaotan's lack of such instinct suggested another true Host. Time passed, but Qu Xiaotan and Mo Liancheng did not encounter any further anomalies, remaining in Dongyue. They soon welcomed their next generation, and after a difficult labor, Qu Xiaotan gave birth to a son for Mo Liancheng, named Mo Yunyu. Unbeknownst to them, Mo Yunyu's birth was accompanied by a celestial phenomenon, a harbinger of the Soul Bead's true Host being born.

The Dark Emperor's two Soul Hunters also detected this anomaly and intensified their search for the infant. In the blink of an eye, it was Mo Yunyu's first birthday, and during his "grasping age" ceremony, he tearfully picked up the Soul Wandering Flute. Liu Qianshui was instantly startled, realizing Mo Yunyu was indeed the new Host. He immediately resolved to return to Xuanling Continent to unite the various clans' powers against the Dark Emperor.

Mo Liancheng, hearing this, grew deeply worried. One day, Mo Liancheng and Qu Xiaotan, along with the Fourteenth Prince and Jingxin, were playing cards to pass the time. Little Mo Yunyu, just over a year old, sat playing under a nearby tree. When General Wei approached to playfully tease Mo Yunyu, the Dark Emperor's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

Mo Yunyu seemed to sense something amiss and began to cry, but fortunately, Mo Liancheng, having heard the commotion, quickly came over and carried him away. Amidst the scenic beauty of the lake and mountains, Mo Liancheng and Qu Xiaotan relaxed on a long corridor, drinking and chatting.

Qu Xiaotan persistently asked Mo Liancheng to build her the largest ship in Dongyue, hoping to carry the national treasury's gold, silver, and treasures back to her modern world, ensuring her journey wasn't in vain. Mo Liancheng teasingly remarked that someday, Dongyue's history books would record that in a certain year of Yuanning's reign, the Dongyue treasury was depleted, leading to the kingdom's downfall, all due to its "greedy Empress."

As they playfully bickered, Mo Liancheng pulled Qu Xiaotan into a tight embrace. He promised that whether he was Emperor and she his Empress, or he was King and she his Consort, no matter the time or their forms, he would always find her, fall in love with her, and marry her countless times, eternally bound and never separated.